Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)

Chapter 0581

Nicholas' gaze was like an invisible rope, tightly binding my body and limbs in front of him. As I stared into his dark eyes, a sense of danger radiated from them, making me want to flee.

"There's nothing to see."

I quickly turned away, desperate to leave as fast as I could. His expression was so certain as if he was sure he could change my impression of him. And he really was confident. But I didn't want to play along anymore.

Instinctively, I raised my hands to my chest. And sure enough, a large hand brushed against my side, missing me by a fraction.

A small smirk tugged at my lips. I knew exactly what he was up to.

Before I could celebrate my small victory, his hand, brushing against my side, made a quick turn and gripped me tightly. In a dizzying twist, I found myself sitting on his lap, trapped between his body and the wooden desk.

I furrowed my brow and instinctively turned my head to look at him. "You said you wouldn't get close to me without my permission."

A mixture of disappointment and sadness flashed in his eyes. He slowly lowered his gaze, almost as if he dared not to look at me.

"Don't be so cold. I just want to show you the evidence."

His lips trembled slightly. Clearly struggling with explanations, he awkwardly said, "What happened today wasn't my doing."

I was taken aback. I didn't expect Nicholas to lock himself in the study for this reason. I would rather believe that he was simply angry about my accusation that everything was a setup by him.

He should have ignored me for days, not sought out some ridiculous evidence!

"I don't want to see it!" I gritted my teeth, a surge of unexplained anger rising within me.

"Let me go!"

"No."

Nicholas quickly grabbed a few papers from the fax machine and placed them in front of me on the desk, holding me even tighter. His sharp chin dug into my shoulder, sending a sharp, uncomfortable pressure through me.

I couldn't push him away, and the discomfort wouldn't ease. The sensation became unbearable, and my struggles grew more frantic.

"Nicholas Hawk!"

I was furious now, calling him by his full name. He didn't respond, only exhaling sharply through his nose.

I didn't know how a person could have two such different temperatures. His face was cold, yet his body was burning hot. Even the breath he exhaled was warm.

He waited until I calmed down before speaking.

"The people today were hired by Christopher. He's on the verge of bankruptcy and can't get loans from any bank, so he sent a few lowlifes to vent his frustration.

"This is my fault. I told him I'd take over his business, but he thought you were the one who cornered him. Look at the statements from the police; they've confessed everything."

I was familiar with statements. Just the sight of one made my hands tremble instinctively. Some memories would probably take me a lifetime to overcome and forget.

"Look!" Nicholas urged, rubbing his cheek against mine. "Those three thugs? They're only worth 200 a day to hire. This is the level Christopher's sunk to now."

"Level? What do you mean?" I asked softly, pinching the edges of the paper. Under his gaze, I tore the paper in half.

The sound of the paper ripping echoed in the air. For a moment, time seemed to freeze between us. His efforts, his explanations, all lost their meaning in that instant.

The tearing continued until the statement was nothing but snowflake-like fragments. I lifted my head and tossed the paper into the air.

A flurry of white filled the air. And for the first time, I felt a sense of exhilaration.

"Don't try to fool me with this. If you did it, just admit it. Maybe then I'd respect you a little." Confusion, disbelief, and helplessness crossed his face as he asked, "Why don't you believe me?