Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

In the hospital, Nicholas Hawk stood out conspicuously in the crowd with his tall stature and long legs.

"You don't need to be here. Go home," I heard him say as soon as I squeezed through. The bag in my hand left my grasp.

Nicholas' stepsister was admitted to the hospital late at night. It seemed my role was merely to bring some clothes over. I was treated no differently from a maid. Having been married to Nicholas for four years, I had grown accustomed to his indifference. Thus, I decided to find the doctor myself to understand the situation. The doctor explained that the patient had an anal fissure caused by sexual intercourse.

At that moment, I felt my heart sink to the bottom of my stomach.

As far as I knew, Claudia Quirk did not have a boyfriend, and yet it was my husband who had brought her to the hospital.

The doctor nudged his reading glasses and looked at me with some sympathy. "Young people nowadays love novelty and seek excitement."

"What do you mean?"

I wished he would tell me more, but he simply shook his head and ushered me out of the office.

The hospital was bustling even though it was one in the morning. While lost in my thoughts, I bumped into several people in the corridor.

Claudia's mother, Frances White, had remarried into the Hawk family. After I married Nicholas, Claudia expressed her unwillingness to stay in Hawk Manor, Nicholas' family home. Therefore, she had moved in with us into our marital home.

I had witnessed Claudia planting kisses on Nicholas' cheeks countless times. Initially, I thought their sibling relationship was just affectionate.

But now, perhaps they kissed each other on the lips when no one was around. Who knew?

I dared not dwell on that thought and stumbled to the ward.

Claudia's pale cheeks were streaked with tears as she clung to Nicholas' sleeve. She was murmuring something I couldn't make out, and she looked pitifully distraught.

The notion of eavesdropping through the walls like what was depicted on TV shows was utterly unrealistic. Modern doors had excellent soundproofing, especially when securely closed. Nicholas stood with his back to me. His expression was hidden from view and his voice was inaudible. Nevertheless, one thing was for certain-he must be feeling distressed.

My hand paused on the door handle, but in the end, I let it go.

outright would be irrational. Besides, I wasn't sure

of two equally powerful families. I had often felt fortunate to live in luxury and marry for

years of marriage flew by, everything changed. With my father's passing, my family's

my father's hard work from going to waste, I could only watch

company

in and create a scene based on mere suspicion, it might jeopardize what little remained of our already fading

one at home, I went straight to Claudia's room. Girls tended to have many thoughts on their minds, and where love was involved, it was hard to keep those feelings bottled

in college was routine for her. Whenever she needed money, she liked to cling to Nicholas' arm

making her a rather petite woman. She had a doll-like smile. Nicholas would fall prey to her cuteness, but he wasn't the only one. Every

was only a picture of her and Nicholas on

she visited Hawk Manor

then, Nicholas was already mature and poised despite his tender age. His youthful face, even when he was grumpy, could

went to Nicholas' study. I even searched through the contracts in the safe,

the morning, I picked up my phone and searched

answers were varied, but none of

various hotels, and there would be

to send a message to Nicholas that said, "Honey, are

the truth, especially considering it involved my sister-in-law. However, at the same time, I also knew Nicholas wouldn't come home. Instead, he would stay up all night tirelessly

My heart ached.

my surprise, five minutes later, I received a reply from Nicholas. It was a simple

indifference

scrutinized myself in the mirror. My bright eyes reflected a sense of innocence that was unfamiliar with the ways

best how this purity and the lingerie I wore

sat boldly on the couch in the living room, just so Nicholas would see me as soon as he opened the

until five in the morning, but there were no sounds of any cars pulling into the driveway. When I drifted off to sleep, my tears fell onto Nicholas' one-word reply on my

asleep when someone nudged my shoulder. I opened my eyes to see Nicholas'

was carefully dressed to impress. I greeted him with a