Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

Chapter 0004

I used to love watching melodramatic TV shows, so I had a pretty good idea of the destructive allure of first love in a man's life. The more unattainable she was, the more he wanted her.

For Nicholas and Claudia, societal norms meant they could never be together. The Hawk family was too prestigious. Even without blood ties, they couldn't afford such a scandal. If Nicholas truly loved Claudia, even her faults would seem endearing to him.

How could I compete with that?

The surgery proceeded in silence and without complications. Afterward, I sat on the second floor and waited to get my medication.

The smell of disinfectant permeated the air and cleared my thoughts. In a moment of clarity, I messaged Nicholas. "If your had to choose between Claudia and me, who would you pick?" If he chose Claudia, I'd let go gracefully and wish them happiness.

I knew sending that message was impulsive, but if I didn't act on impulse, how could I ever convince myself to give up on the man I'd loved for so many years?

I clutched my phone while waiting anxiously. However, my message seemed to vanish into the void. There was no sign that he would respond. 0004

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After a long while, I couldn't resist going back to Claudia's ward.

Inside, Nicholas was delicately spearing apple slices with a fruit fork and offering them to Claudia with a tenderness I had never seen before.

I had come at the wrong time. If I had waited a bit longer, I might have caught undeniable proof of their affair and ended my internal conflict. When I called Nicholas out of the ward, he faced me with indifference.

"What's so urgent that it can't wait until we're home?"

"I'm waiting for your response," I said firmly.

Nicholas reached into his pocket for his phone. After reading my message, he pressed his tongue to the inside of his cheek. "What's this supposed to mean?"

He didn't show the slightest hint of being caught off guard. In his confident gaze, I felt myself appearing to be the

unreasonable one.

In a lazy tone, he asked, "Why the hell should I choose? What's gotten into you?"

Nicholas even casually pulled out a pack of cigarettes, only to put them away when he remembered we were in a hospital.

with the rosary beads

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reflected in his eyes. It left me feeling exposed and mortified. Even my conviction

waver.

I being

could he be

and holding it between us. "There's no need to injure yourself on purpose. Your body is a gift from your parents. "Claudia is sick, so I'm spending more time with her. What's

He thought I had deliberately hurt

injured thumb and made me gasp for breath. He didn't give me a chance to speak as his tone turned harsh. "Stop pretending. Do you

his accusations. He still looked the same. He was charming on the outside, but

"Go home. Don't come to the hospital unless

Chapter

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his choice. I stepped back, turned, and ran away. "From now on,

heard the ward door open and close behind me. "Nick, did you guys have

Wendy Keller immediately came to greet me. She took my shoes and

bandage on my hand and asked with concern,

nose tingle, and tears quickly welled up in my

me

cheapest thing in the world, and

from the hospital. No

on a

around, and now I felt utterly

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not right. Let me at least clean up a bit before I

cleaning, but Wendy

I noticed a pile of items that didn't belong to me accumulating

cartoon hair clips, cute figurines, and many other things couldn't even recognize. It dawned on me how divided my home

cleanliness, and sunlight streaming into every corner without obstruction. Yet, Claudia's presence was imprinted on every

anyone invading my private space, but Claudia had been living here

"Leave it, Wendy."

holding something shiny in her hand.

smiled and explained, "Go to the storage