Trouble in Paradise



Chapter 0657noveldrama

The journey was silent, and the car eventually stopped in front of a drab, gray apartment building.

Nicholas had been here before and was already familiar with the place. So, I followed him as he ascended the building floor by floor.

The child, who was around six years old, was well-behaved and sensible. Upon hearing the familiar voice of someone who had recently visited, he opened the door with all his might, his small hands reddened from the cold doorknob. He nervously glanced at me standing behind Nicholas. Though he seemed scared, he still managed a polite greeting. "Hello, miss."

I crouched down and took a deep breath. "Cory, are you hungry? I'll take you out for dinner, okay?"

Cory shook his head. He didn't approach my outstretched arms. Instead, he took two steps back. "My dad hasn't returned yet?"

"Your dad is out," I replied gently. "He asked us to take care of you. Come home with me for dinner, okay?"

"Thank you, but Ms. Leah asked me to have dinner at her house tonight. We already made plans."

I looked up at Nicholas silently. He explained, "The neighbor across the hall-I gave her some money to look after the child for a few days."

Nicholas' voice was so light, devoid of any emotion, but it brought a pang of sorrow to my heart in an instant. Jerry must have been a wonderful person to raise such a kind and well-mannered child.

Nicholas pulled me up and then walked over and scooped Cory into his arms. "Come with me. We'll tell Ms. Leah and it'll be fine. What do you feel like eating?"

I walked over and took Cory's little hand. "Yes, Cory. What do you want to eat? You can have anything you like tonight!" "I want Dad's tomato and scrambled eggs!"

His words left me speechless as if something had lodged in my throat.

Nicholas held Cory in one arm and wrapped the other around my shoulders, pulling me close before letting go.

"I can make pretty good tomato scrambled eggs too. And she loves it as well..."

The two of them walked farther and farther away. I composed myself and was just about to catch up when my phone rang. It was Claudia.

The moment I answered, her weak, tearful voice came through. "Ariana, I'm in so much pain. Please, stop targeting the Fisher family.

"Ariana, I'm going to die from this pain. For the sake of the four years we spent together, please, can't you let me go?" Her soft cries made me momentarily disoriented as if I had traveled back in time to years ago when she seemed like the sweetest sister in the world. I almost felt like this call wasn't meant for me, but rather for Nicholas.

Claudia continued sobbing and begging, saying that Nelson's failing business had driven him to treat her cruelly. She claimed she might die at any moment.

"Claudia, you chose to be with Nelson. No one forced you. So, whatever his quirks may be, it's not something you should be telling me about."

Claudia choked back sobs. "Nick abandoned me because of you. Where can I go now? I'm disabled, Ariana. Do you want me dead before you're satisfied?"

I sighed, feeling like reasoning with her was futile. "Your situation has nothing to do with me. Don't call me again in the future."

I was about to hang up when her voice suddenly turned sharp. "Ariana, you forced me into this! If I can't survive, I won't let you off either! You tampered with my mom's testimony, didn't you?"

Then, she burst into manic laughter. "Ariana, let's die together. Die together!"

I irritably hung up. If she thought she could use this to threaten me, it was utterly pointless.

When I went downstairs, Nicholas was standing worriedly by the car. Seeing me, he immediately came over. "Are you okay?"

I nodded at him, and only then did we get into the car.

As we left, Cory seemed to sense something. He leaned against the car window, staring at the gray apartment building until it completely disappeared from view.

Only then did he sit back in his seat, shrinking uneasily into a corner.