Trouble in Paradise by Three Way

Chapter 0675

The auction hall's large screen flickered, casting an unsettling light and filling the room with a sense of dread. The once-curious crowd now stared wide-eyed, frightened by Claudia's eerie smile and the sinister laughter echoing from the speakers. Nicholas spread his coat wide and wrapped me tightly in his arms. I could hear him repeating softly, "It's okay. Everything will be fine..."

But my entire body trembled uncontrollably in his embrace. Fine? How could anything be fine?

"Nicholas, why did you come here?" I mumbled the question to myself.

If he hadn't come, there would've been no one to shield me. I might have had to face everything alone, forcing myself to be strong.

I might have been compelled to confront the "so-called disgrace" head-on, instead of having my most unspeakable vulnerabilities laid bare before him.

The flickering light painted jagged shadows on his face. His eyes, looking at me, reflected worry and pain.

My face looked pale and hollow in his gaze, and for a moment, I felt lost. As long as he was here, all I wanted was to rely on him.

So much for not wanting to involve him or thinking I could handle things on my own. The moment I saw him, all those resolutions were swept aside.

I shook my head, closed my eyes tightly, and stumbled backward.

okay. I'll never let anything

much pain. He blamed himself for noticing too late, for failing to protect me, for making me feel

"Nicholas, you've already seen the photos. Looking at them again doesn't matter. This time, even if Claudia had nine lives, I'm sending her to prison!" Nicholas froze briefly before lifting his hand to block my camera

won't

finish, the screen suddenly jumped, and images began

these my

the only

erupted throughout the room. "Why are

with different women, many of whom looked incredibly young. The stream of images continued

had been taken at

showing images-it included text descriptions detailing the horrifying experiences of minors at

The narratives exposed how

and

beaten or drugged. There was no escape, no

tools to satisfy desires, each with

now playing a video. In the footage, Nelson grabbed a young girl's hair and smashed her head against the corner of a