Trouble in Paradise

"Ari, that's not funny." Nicholas was stunned. His tone was very serious.

The incident with Jasmine had probably made him give up on the possibility of having a child. He had even told me that it was okay if we did not have any children.

Now that I suddenly said I was pregnant, anyone would struggle to handle such an emotional rollercoaster.

But I wanted to shock him. I had been planning to end things with him for a while. But out of consideration for our past, I could not bring myself to act against Claudia. Now, I had lost my chance to do so.

No matter how carefully I planned, I could not get around Nicholas's protection of her. I was always being led around by the nose by them.

But now, it was my turn. "Believe it or not. If you don't, I'll raise this child on my own." I did not explain further and casually hung up on him.

I had prepared the report from my first pregnancy check-up. Pacing to the window, I quietly waited for Nicholas's arrival.

"Baby, you won't blame Mommy, will you?"

The night was dark. The entire city was enveloped in fog, so I could not see anything. I did not know how long it was before I heard hurried footsteps breaking through the night. I knew it was him. The front door was easily opened by him. I turned around, and Nicholas was standing right behind me. His eyes were fixated on me.

His gaze was more mysterious than the night stars. I could easily get lost in them. I could not look away for a long time.

He strode over and pulled me into his embrace. The medical report fluttered like a piece of waste paper as it drifted somewhere. He did not care. Holding me tightly, his voice choked up. "Ari, you really have my child! We're having a baby!"

My hands were hanging at my sides before I lifted them. Clenching and unclenching my fists repeatedly, I finally rested my hands lightly on his waist behind his back.

"Honey," I called out to him softly, "how long has it been since we've properly hugged?"

I sniffled as my arms gradually tightened around him.

"I don't like the smell on you."

"Yes, yes. I'll quit smoking. For you, and for the baby, I won't smoke anymore."

I nuzzled his neck with my head. It was as if I was in a dream. But that light movement had clearly aroused him.

His hands cupping my face were trembling as if he did not know how to touch me. "You... I... Did it happen during our honeymoon?" He was so nervous that he was stammering.

"Yeah." I grinned. "You're a big guy. Why are you so nervous?"

His eyes were a little red. He just

looked at me while caressing my et

cheeks with his thumb. He pressed

his trembling lips gently against my forehead.

He praised me generously. "You're our family's greatest hero!" When he looked up again, his eyes were moist. Moved by his reaction, I lowered my gaze.

"Baby, although the man before me

isn't a good husband, he should be a good father: He's truly looking forward to your arrival. Take a good look. It's really a shame, you

ould

have been born safe and sound..."

"What's wrong?" He noticed my low spirits and lifted my face with his warm palms. "We're having a baby. Aren't you happy?"

Fighting the urge to cry, I said in a heavy voice, "I'm happy."

At the next moment, he captured my lips. He kissed them much more gently than before.

My body tensed up reflexively. I raised my hands to push against Nicholas's shoulders, but he grabbed my hands and put them back around his waist.

His voice was husky and sexy. "Hug me. Let me kiss you for a while."Exclusive content from NôvelDrama.Org.