Trouble in Paradise

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The tension in the air seemed to dissipate when I saw Pete's name Telling Douglas to return to the hotel first, I answered Pete's call under: neon lights.

"Ariana." Pete's gentle voice came through the receiver.

"What made you think of calling me? Aren't you busy?" I asked, smiling.

"Yeah, but I missed you."

A smile spread across my face. Glancing up at the moon, I asked, "Are you

at home or out?"

Pete paused for two seconds before he replied, "I'm out, but I'm on my way back."

"There's a full moon tonight. Look up now, and it'll seem like we're looking at the moon together."

Pete chuckled, but he didn't respond. Just then, I caught a soft sigh escaping his lips. As I sensed something was off, my smile waned. His silence was a stark contrast to his usual boisterous self. Trying to keep things light, I probed, "There's a really bright star next to the moon. Can you see it?"

However, Pete quickly changed the subject. "Ariana, let's video call."

My heart skipped a beat. Video call? That seemed like an intimate gesture reserved for romantic partners. I had never video-called a man just for a chat before, not even Nicholas.

"I can't see the star. Let's video call, and you can help me find it," he said, sounding disappointed.

Pete seemed to be in a sour mood today. Perhaps work wasn't going well for him. Otherwise, he wouldn't still be out so late.

"Is that okay?" he urged again.

Clutching my phone. I at angeably run it was funny really-t wor still getting nervous over a video call when I was almost 30 years old

had expected to be greeted by a cheerful Pete, hoping that could somewhat cheer him up a bit. At bast I could make h and greet me like he used to

ng me

eam at me

But onscreen, Pete was staring at me insilence. Donning a black coat, he almost blended into the night. The cold breeze blew the thin wisps of smoke in front of him away, making him appear unreal

"Did you smoke?" I asked with a frown.

Pete brandished a cigarette between his fingers. Bringing to his lips, he took a long drag to the point that his cheeks hollowed out. The cigarette burned quickly, and half of it was gone in one püff en

"Why are you smoking so heavily?"

"This is the last one.

He grinned after exhaling a puff of smoke, and then the camera angle shifted to his toes. He flicked the cigarette to the ground and extinguished it with his foot.

"I always feel like you don't see me as a man. Isn't smoking normal?" he said.

I thought for a moment. "That's true. But I haven't seen you smoke before, so I was a bit surprised. That's all."

Pete snorted, suddenly looking roguish if it were Nicholas smoking, would you tell him to cut back?

Seeing the disappointed expression on his face pierced my heart. Why did he have to bring up Nicholas now?

"Advice is useless. If he wants to smoke, he will"

"So, you have told him to cut back."

I fell silent. He lowered his head, and his camera shook for appeared on screen again, he had already lit another cigarettesTêxt © NôvelDrama.Org.

I couldn't help but ask, "Pete, have you been drinking?"

Aiming the phone's camera at the sky, he said flatly. "Do I sound dr you? Help me find the star, Ari. I feel like the sky is completely dark

"The sky is supposed to be dark..." I was a bit confused.

bet

Pete narrowed his eyes and said softly. When you love someone, you WoTT about them. You don't love me, so it doesn't matter whether i smoke or not