Trouble in Paradise

13

The edge of the pendant scratched Hicholas' face, causing his cheek to bleed. He tilted his head as he watched the necklace fall to the ground. He looked like he had just been punched in the gut. Stop wasting your time on met Stop going crazy over met And stop interfering with my life! No matter who I am with, it will never be you!"

Nicholas slowly turned his head back toward me and narrowed his eyes to look at me. He didn't know. what was wrong with him, but he felt a sharp pain in his chest

"I admit that I've wasted a lot of time and effort on you, but I won't admit that I'm going crazy because of yout

He

ite placed a hand on his chest and scrambled to stand up His bloodshot eyes were red as he looked down at me. I'll only tell you that you are to keep your distance from other men!"

I gritted my teeth as i glared at him Anger coursed through my veins as I said, "You are my ex-husband! You better understand your place Clinging to me like this just makes you look desperate!"

I purposely emphasized the fact that he was my ex-husband to anger him. Then, I asked him one more time, "You will only be afraid to lose someone if you love them. Nicholas, do you love me?" Nicholas froze as he looked at me sharply.

"Ariana, if loving someone makes you afraid of losing them, then aren't you afraid that I leave today? Are you afraid that we'll never see each other again if I leave?"

He held my shoulders and dragged me up from the ground while shaking me roughly.

My body felt like it didn't belong to me. Instead, it felt like Nicholas could tear apart my body at any given moment before building me back.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

Due to his shaking, I couldn't see his face clearly. However, I could sense a deep and strong sense of pain enveloping me. My head hurt and I lost my strength to speak.

"Are you trying to ask me if I love you? Nicholas, I don't love you anymore. Losing you doesn't mean anything to me anymore.

"Nicholas, I've already told you that repeatedly back when I was in love with you. Now that I don't love you anymore, I'll tell you that I've moved on

Nicholas felt the veins in his temples throb

After a few seconds of silence, his tone was filled with a sense of self-righteousness. "Ariana, have I not treated you well? I've done so much for you. How could you move on just like that?"

I couldn't control the disappointment I felt. It was improper and unnecessary to argue about who was right and who was wrong after breaking up

At the very least, I was someone who dared to own up to my feelings and leave them behind without regrets. But Nicholas had never once owned up to his feelings. So what was I supposed to do?

"You have Claudia, Jasmine, and a father who truly loves you by your side. You've basically won in life You have such a happy life, so there's no need for you to worry if I've moved on or not

The edge of the pendant scratched Nicholas' face, causing his cheek to bleed. He tilted his head as he watched the necklace fall to the ground. He looked like he had just been punched in the gut. "Stop wasting your time on mel Stop going crazy over mel And stop interfering with my life! No matter who I am with, it will never be you!"

Nicholas slowly turned his head back toward me and narrowed his eyes to look at me. He didn't know what was wrong with him, but he felt a sharp pain in his chest.

"I admit that I've wasted a lot of time and effort on you but I won't admit that I'm going crazy because of you!"

He placed a hand on his chest and scrambled to stand up. His bloodshot eyes were red as he looked down at me. "I'll only tell you that you are to keep your distance from other men!"

I gritted my teeth as I glared at him. Anger coursed through my veins as I said, "You are my ex-husband! You better understand your place. Clinging to me like this just makes you look desperate!"

I purposely emphasized the fact that he was my ex-husband to anger him. Then, I asked him one more time, "You will only be afraid to lose someone if you love them. Nicholas, do you love me?* Nicholas froze as he looked at me sharply.

"Ariana, if loving someone makes you afraid of losing them, then aren't you afraid that I'll leave today? Are

you

afraid that we'll never see each other again if I leave?"

He held my shoulders and dragged me up from the ground while shaking me roughly.

My body felt like it didn't belong to me. Instead, it felt like Nicholas could tear apart my body at any given moment before building me back.

Due to his shaking, I couldn't see his face clearly. However, I could sense a deep and strong sense of pain enveloping me. My head hurt and I lost my strength to speak.

"Are you trying to ask me if I love you? Nicholas, I don't love you anymore. Losing you doesn't mean anything to me anymore.

"Nicholas, I've already told you that repeatedly back when I was in love with you. Now that I don't love you anymore, I'll tell you that I've moved on."

Nicholas felt the veins in his temples throb.

After a few seconds of silence, his tone was filled with a sense of self-righteousness. "Ariana, have I not treated you well? I've done so much for you. How could you move

on just like that?"

en

I couldn't control the disappointment I felt. It was improper and unnecessary to argue about who was right and who was wrong after breaking up.

At the very least, I was someone who dared to own up to my feelings and leave them behind without

So what was I supposed to do? regrets. But Nicholas had never once owned up to his feelings

"You have Claudia, Jasmine, and a father who truly loves you by your side. You've basically won in life. You have such a happy life, so there's no need for you to worry if I've moved on or not.

"Just let me go. There's no need for us to continue torturing each other."

I always seemed to lose control over my feelings whenever I saw him. Whether it was the regret or the unwillingness I felt after giving up so much for our relationship, I needed time to process it.

But I couldn't stand seeing him anymore. It didn't matter if I had to lower my pride as long as I could get him to stop bothering me.

I would start a new life, work hard, and find someone who truly loved me wholeheartedly. It was clear to. me that Nicholas would never be that someone.

Nicholas still wanted to say something when the phone in his pocket began to ring. It didn't vibrate, nor did it play its usual ringtone. Instead, a cute and flirty voice began to speak. "Nick, answer the phone. Nick, it's me calling you. Hurry up and answer the phone!"

The atmosphere was filled with awkwardness as we both froze.

Nicholas was a businessman. He had to attend negotiations and was always busy with his work. Yet despite all of it, he was still willing to let Claudia mess around like that.

I've always been stubborn.

Whenever faced a problem, I liked

to take it as a challenge and push through. However, the mere mention of Claudia's name was enough to fill me with a sense of defeat.

Even if I had already divorced Nicholas, even if Nicholas was still clinging on to me, even if I still wanted to be with him, how was I supposed to compete with Claudia?

I didn't lie. Losing me would not affect him. He still couldn't bear to send Claudia abroad.

But I was slightly curious as to how Claudia and Jasmine were supposed to get along. After all, one had nearly cost the other their life. Just the thought of them getting along felt amusing

"Your life is filled with excitement. There's no need for you to waste your time and emotions on me!"

Then, I raised my stiff arm and placed it on his chest, pushing him out of my house. He didn't resist, nor

arm and placed it on his did he struggle. He just moved along as I shoved him out of the door.