Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)
Chapter 629

Chapter 0629

The timing wasn't right. No matter what Nicholas said, I couldn't hear a word of it. Right now, all I could think about was how I'd face him tomorrow or every day after that.

Everything happening now was too much for our current relationship. I couldn't be sure if he'd want to take things further after this. And if he wanted more, what should I do?

Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through my waist. Nicholas' restrained voice followed.

"Are you even listening to me? I feel so defeated when you lose focus at a time like this."

"What do you mean, 'at a time like this'? You're the one doing this, not me!

I covered my face in frustration, my voice tinged with an unintentional sob. 'Nicholas, can you hurry up?"

I couldn't wait to leave the examination room.

Nicholas said pitifully, "I can't take it if I make it too fast."

I was speechless. It seemed as if to match his own words, even the sound of fabric rubbing behind me slowed down. Everything became gentle as if he were tenderly caring for something precious.

"Ariana, I'm sorry for what happened in the past. I promise to keep my distance from other women. Everything that made you misunderstand or hurt you won't happen again."

"Nicholas, don't say anymore." The sounds behind me stopped completely. He wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer.

I placed my hands on his arms, my nails digging in. His strong, firm arms weren't my support, yet they still held me tight.

The sight of red where my nails pressed against his scars made my heart clench. He didn't even flinch, as if he were used to this kind of pain. But I let go anyway, unable to hurt him like that.

My eyes filled with tears, unsure if it was because of his suggestive actions or his honest words.

I opened my mouth to tell him to let me go, but no words came out.

"No, I need to say this. Because after now, it's going to be hard for you to stay with me and hear what's in my heart. You keep telling me to look forward. But if you forgive me, you won't turn your back on me. Ariana, I feel so terrible. Can you turn around and help me?"

Nicholas only had less than a month left. He had to make the most of this limited time to keep me by his side, using whatever means necessary.

Hard tactics wouldn't work with me, so he'd softened. If baring his vulnerability was what it took, he didn't mind losing all dignity. Because it was me, he didn't care about being shameless.

Nicholas brushed his lips lightly against the back of my ear, his unrelenting touch like a puppy in heat.

His warm, damp kisses fell unpredictably, brushing places I wasn't prepared for. Each time I tried to push him away, he'd shift before I could.

At that moment, my mind and heart were both a mess, caught in the overwhelming sensation. I struggled to steady myself before speaking.

"You're not the one who's been hurt. You can't understand what I've gone through. There are so many things between us, and I feel like you still don't get it.

"Some things aren't your fault, but others are because of you. I don't want to go over each thing, reopening old wounds. So I'll just take the blame. Please stop making things worse."

I stood up, intending to walk away. But Nicholas refused to let go.

"Tell me everything one by one. Pull the knives you've stuck in my heart and put them in me!"

"There are things I think about now that still make my heart bleed. You...

Nicholas interrupted me. "Ariana, give me a chance to understand how much you've suffered.

"Do you really want to hear it?"

"Of course!"

"Alright. Then I'll tell you."

Recalling those events felt just as painful as having a knife twisted in my heart. But since he wanted to know, I figured there was no harm in telling him.

"Claudia is Frances' biological daughter. She knew how Claudia felt about you, so she didn't want me to have your children. The tonics we drank in the past were all poison, damaging my body!

"Nicholas, I didn't fail to carry our child because my body was weak. Someone made sure I couldn't."