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

+25 BONUS

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.

toyed with the rosary beads on his wrist

+25 BONUS

eyes. It left me feeling exposed

waver.

I being

could he be so

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 wrong

He thought I had deliberately hurt

up in my eyes. At that moment, the anesthesia seemed to lose its effect. The pain radiated from my 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 think I can't see you're throwing a tantrum?

He was charming on the outside, but at that

usual commands, "Go home. Don't come

Chapter

+25 BONUS

impassiveness as his choice. I stepped back, turned, and ran away. "From now on, spend as much time with her as you

ward door open and close behind me. "Nick, did you

and opened the door, Wendy Keller immediately came to greet me. She took my shoes and

the bandage on my hand and asked with concern, Madam, did you hurt yourself? Should I call

kindness made my nose tingle, and

of four years couldn't even show me the compassion that our

was the cheapest thing in

just got back from the hospital. No need to

on a schedule. They

many people around, and now

+25 BONUS

alarmed. "That's not right. Let me at least clean up a bit before I go. I can't

for cleaning, but Wendy was

unfocused gaze settled on her busy figure, and soon I noticed a pile of items that

other things couldn't even recognize.

corner without

anyone invading my private space, but Claudia had

"Leave it, Wendy."

while holding something

smiled and explained, "Go to the storage room. I'll get