Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter Dist

I felt as if I was floating above the clouds. The air felt light and gentle on my skin, and it was much easier to breathe here than it was in the private room.

Just as I was getting comfortable, my head hit something. hard. The pain was enough to rouse me a little–just barely. I opened my eyes only to close them again.

Someone pinched my cheeks.

I waved a lethargic hand. “Pete, please… Please, I need to… work,” I mumbled while barely conscious.

Pain blossomed on my face suddenly as the temperature dropped. I shuddered.

“Open your eyes, Ariana. Look at who I am!”

I opened my eyes. Somehow, Nicholas had appeared, and he was standing before me. He was staring at me with his dark eyes. There was a dark fire in those eyes. I felt as if I was dreaming.

“Honey?” I reached up and wound my arms around his neck. Honey, Pete is such a bad guy. Can you punish him for me? You have to punish him!”

I buried my head in the side of his neck while holding back tears. “Why aren’t you answering me?”

He looked at me calculatingly as he pushed me against the door of the car. “Ariana, did you not hear what I said to you?

Do you think I can’t support you? Is that why you went out to look for a job and asked Pete, of all people?”

His voice was cold and impassive. “Why do you want a job so badly? It’s a waste of energy, and it’s not like you’ll earn much.

“Everything you’re wearing right now was paid for by me. What else could you possibly need? You won’t even be able to buy the shirt you’re wearing with your entire monthly paycheck!”

He leaned closer to my ear. “You’ve made me angry, Ariana.

For real this time.”

His anger was relayed in the tight grip he had on my chin. My jaw felt as if it would dislocate at any moment now.

I narrowed my eyes and met his sharp gaze. It felt like daggers slicing into my skin..

I couldn’t quite hear what he was saying. All I knew was that his mouth was moving, and his expression was ferocious.

“My dad is gone. My mom doesn’t love me. No one wants me,” I sobbed. I was unable to hold back any longer. “And it hurts so much here!” I pounded on my chest.Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

The next day, I woke up on a familiar bed. I stared at the chandelier above me. My head was pounding.

How did I get back to Coral Villa?

I moved my hand over to the other side of the bed. It was cold. It didn’t seem like I had spent the night with anyone last night.

I pressed a hand against my waist. Then why do I feel so sore?

Wendy crept up to the door. When she saw that I was awake, she brought me a cup of tea. “Mr. Hawk said you drank quite a lot of alcohol last night, so I made you some tea to help with the hangover. Quickly have some while it’s still hot.”

I took the cup. “Where is he?”

“In the garden with Ms. Claudia.”

“Alright.”

Nicholas treated Claudia better than he treated me–I had already accepted this fact.

I gave a non–committal hum and went downstairs with the cup of tea.

If Nicholas ever had a child in the future, I could see him being a good father. He was willing to spend time with people he actually liked.

Out in the garden, Claudia bounded around Nicholas like a rabbit. At times, she would leap into his arms and wrap her legs around his waist as she laughed.

They made a pleasant picture, all lively and happy.

But this isn’t proof of their affair. They were siblings.

I did not believe that Nicholas and Claudia would ever be able to be together. I didn’t know who would be lucky enough to be the mother of Nicholas‘ children, nor did I know what would happen to Claudia.

But there was one thing I knew: I would be leaving this place

too.

If I stayed, my life would just be compromise after

compromise. It would give Nicholas the chance to hurt two women at the same time.