Trouble in Paradise

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Nicholas's face emitted a ghostly, pale glow under the overhead light. Just. his gaze and one fleeting sentence from him were enough to render me powerless and desperate. He didn't even have to do anything else.

"Nicholas, we can have one last meal together if you'd like. But the rest is off the table."

It wasn't like I hadn't given him any chances. He kept choosing others instead. He said that he would send Claudia abroad, but I thought it was very unlikely. Claudia had injured herself again by cutting her wrist. Whenever Nicholas forced her to do things she didn't want, she would just harm herself.

Even if she bled herself dry in Radiant City, he would be able to keep her alive. But could he do the same while she was abroad?

If Nicholas wasn't prepared, how would he gamble with Claudia's life? I miserably realized that if one were to be hurt between Claudia and me, it

had to be me.

Sure enough, Nicholas was summoned away by Frances' call before he could even start eating. I sensed the palpable concern in Frances' voice as she said Claudia was running a high fever and was on the brink of death. Claudia had been calling for Nicholas. A strange sense of calmness settled over me.

Wendy, however, got up and stopped him. "Get a doctor if she's sick! What's the point of calling you there? Mrs. Hawk needs you more right now!"

Nicholas hesitated for a moment. "I'll be right back." Wendy fell

silent and dumped his food into the trash can. I swallowed the food in my mouth and glanced at Nicholas, who was putting on his shoes. "So you've decided to leave. If you leave, don't ever come back again." He balked, and his breathing grew labored. But he merely responded by

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slamming the door shut. The deafening noise immediately made me lose. my appetite.

Seeing that I had set down my utensils, Wendy couldn't help but weep. I knew she was heartbroken for me, but I was well past the age of needing someone to tend to my grievances.

Knowing that Pete was always up to a lot of fun tricks, I called him after dinner.

"Mr. Shelman, I remember you once spent a whole night setting off a million dollars worth of fireworks for one of your exes. How can I do that?"

The clamor from the other end of the line was tangible as he shouted, "I don't have an ex! Don't listen to rumors!"

I chuckled, not really caring whether he had an ex or not.

Sounding pleased, Pete continued in a lilted tone, "What are you up to?"

"Setting up fireworks, of course."

The answer was obvious.

"When do you want them?"

I thought for a moment. "The sooner, the better."

"Alright!" he said, sounding enthusiastic,

I heard him running as he added, "Leave it to me!"

I sank into the sofa, feeling a bit uneasy that Pete had agreed to my request so easily. He enjoyed

playing pranks on me when we were kids, and he'd always mess things up whenever I asked him to do something for me.

I could only remind him that I was going to pay.

Remembering that I still had some savings, the money from selling shares, and also the payment from Cindy's lawsuit, I contemplated for a while and added, "I want the grandest fireworks. It must be impressive!"

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Pete sounded smug as the sound of his car engine revving came through

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the receiver. "When have I ever used something subpar?"

"That's true."

Though he was raised under his father's strict hand, he was indeed pampered, as the youngest in the family always was.

I was about to hang up once everything was confirmed, but Pete started talking about his dating escapades. He either scared off a potential match or claimed that he liked men.

Still feeling quite sluggish, I mostly listened to him talk. Perhaps he was still uncertain about his future and the idea of marriage spooked him.

Just as I was trying to extract useful

information from his rambling and thinking of what advice I could offer him as an experienced friend, he suddenly adopted a solemn tone and said, "Ari, come down.