Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)
Chapter 198

Chapter 0198

Daniel chuckled and said, "You underestimated how determined a man can get when he wants something. He wanted a family, so it was only natural that he went all out to get it."

Disappointment slowly filled my heart. It was truly pitiable because I wasn't the wife Nicholas wanted. However, he was the man I had to fight to get close to step by step. Daniel picked up the oxygen mask and took a few deep breaths. He closed his eyes and relaxed as though he were smoking marijuana.

In a coarse voice, he said, "That being said, you don't need to worry about anything. I will compensate you for your troubles.

"I promise that you will never have to worry about money, even if you spend money like water for the rest of your life. That way, I will also do right by your dead parents."

He talked about family, love, and responsibility as though they were products waiting for a price tag to be attached to them. Perhaps capitalists like him would always think that everyone was replaceable and that money could turn anything around. At that moment, Daniel was a father lying on his deathbed. He was spending his last breath planning for his son's future.

He was taking advantage of the situation when he demanded that I divorce Nicholas. The guy was going all out and didn't care if I hated him.

If I were to agree to his terms, then my marriage and my future with Nicholas would be the fruit of someone else's malicious

manipulation.

However, if I were to t

him down then a pitiable, dying did man would wither as he glan at me and blamed me internally

It felt as if I had walked into a room that hadn't been cleaned decades at that moment. The dust in the air was so thick ta couldn't breathe.

"You love my son?" said Daniel in disdain. "If that is true, then you should think about his situation."

I hesitated. After that, I tilted my gaze down and replied, 1 don't love him anymore."

When I uttered those words, it felt as though I had truly let everything go. It was just like how a drama series written for television would unfold. The mean mother-in-law would give the company president's girlfriend a fortune to break up with him. The only difference between those shows and my reality was that the person chasing me away was my father-in-law. His tone wasn't mean or anything either. That was just how reality worked.

People who grew up in rich families were always especially graceful. They had been wealthy their entire lives, so they wouldn't panic or lose their footing under any circumstances. Hence, even though Daniel didn't have much time left, he remained calm.

I thought it wasn't immoral to take the money and leave. Perhaps letting Nicolas make his own choices and have the marriage he fought for was a form of kindness.

I felt emptiness and lifelessness ooze out of my gaze when I shifted it slowly to look at Daniel. After that, I smiled and asked, "How much will you pay me?"

Daniel took a deep breath. His eyes shone with admiration when he looked at me. Nicholas 1 spoken to me as well. He wanted me to do whatever it took to divorce him.

My marriage had failed, and I no longer held hope for it. It couldn't

be saved.

Daniel put his mask down and replied, "I will have my lawyers discuss this matter with you in detail. They will make all the necessary arrangements until you are satisfied with the deal."

I arched my brows. The truth was that I was well aware of Nicholas' weakness. It was Claudia.

"Daniel, let's make this deal between just the two of us. Will you be okay with sacrificing Claudia for Nicholas' sake?"

"Claudia? I quite like her," replied Daniel with a smile. "Must we go that far?"

I looked right into his eyes and nodded. In a way, I was giving him a protective bubble. That way, he wouldn't faint once more over Claudia's issue.

Daniel's tone was eerily even when he replied, "She is just a bastard my wife had with some stranger. How can she ever compare to my son?"

I got up, helped Daniel put on his oxygen mask once more, and turned around to leave.

Frances had devoted half of her life and exhausted herself both physically and mentally for the Hawk family's sake. Yet, she and her daughter were both still so expendable to Daniel

It seemed that true love truly was worthless in a family like that

When I came, my entire body felt as heavy as lead, but it was completely light when I left. It seemed that letting go truly was the best medicine to save myself.

Unfortunately, I didn't expect that when I opened the door to the room, I would see a tall figure leaning against the wall.

The black suit, those black pants, and those black leather shoes that were so polished that they were shining...

My organs felt as though they were being mushed together in that instarit. It was the kind of pain that was akin to PMS. It couldn't kill me, but it tortured me so much that I wished I were dead.