Trouble in Paradise



The car jolted violently a few times.

I must have been heavily drugged because it looked as if a fist had sprouted on the window. The door flew open with a powerful pull, and Christopher was hurled out right before my eyes.

The thud of his body hitting the ground made my heart race. Although I couldn't see outside, the sound of heavy breathing and the clash of fists had me trembling uncontrollably.

Was I saved? It felt surreal. One moment, I was desperately planning my escape, and the next, I was suddenly safe.

My body went limp, sinking into the backseat. My already muddled mind blanked out, and all I could do was let my tears flow as relief washed over me.

Christopher's pleas grew weaker with each word. From his tone, I knew this wasn't some hallucination. I was really saved.

Only my tears seemed able to resonate with the magnitude of this unexpected rescue. I couldn't bear to imagine what would've happened if I had ended up on Nelson's bed.

Staring up at the dark car ceiling, I heard Christopher crying as he begged, "Mr. Hawk! She is fine! Please, I didn't do anything to her. I was just... I was just catching up with Ariana!"

His plea was abruptly cut short by the sharp impact of a custom leather shoe against his mouth. His head turned uncontrollably to the side as a few bloodied teeth scattered from his lips.

Nicholas frowned as he looked at Christopher with a frigid gaze. "And what exactly were you planning to do to her?"

Christopher shivered in fear. He finally realized why people had been telling him, "Nicholas Hawk is nothing like he used to be."

His last memory of Nicholas was from years back, during a negotiation.

Back then, Nicholas had a warm, polite smile and a courteous demeanor. Although his demands were uncompromising, he knew how to use the power of wealth that somehow didn't leave people feeling resentful. Christopher had even told others that Nicholas lacked the ruthlessness needed to be truly great.

Although Nicholas had now become one of the top business moguls in Radiant City, Christopher still thought of him as nothing more than a privileged heir who only knew how to throw money around. To him, Nicholas's success seemed like a result of opportunistic tactics at best.

While he had exercised some caution around Nicholas, it was more to avoid unnecessary trouble than any genuine fear. After all, people with a soft heart were the easiest to manipulate.

Clinging to that naive hope, Christopher smiled ingratiatingly despite his bloodied face.

"Mr. Hawk, I know you're a man of sentiment, but this fuss over a woman hardly seems necessary. Besides, Ariana came here on her own. I didn't force her into anything. When she was little, I even held her in my arms, and she used to call me 'Uncle Christopher'.

"Mr. Hawk, I'll bring a generous gift to apologize in person another day. Tonight was all my own fault, really! I fell on my own."

Pain burst across Christopher's chest as Nicholas ground his heel against his ribs, snapping one of them.

I had never realized how oddly soothing the sound of fists landing could be. Just as I was slipping into sleep, Christopher's pained scream yanked my mind back to full awareness.

I frowned. This constant tug between consciousness and exhaustion was making me feel like I was the one on the brink of death, not Christopher!

The door was wrenched open, and someone ducked into the car. I yelped, a cold sweat soaking through my clothes as terror surged up within me.

Nicholas didn't stop. He reached over and checked me over thoroughly.

"So you do know how to be afraid."Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.

I met Nicholas's icy gaze, feeling as if his very breath could freeze me to the bone.