Trouble in Paradise

"Long time no see, Nick!"

A strong, yet restrained voice interrupted us, drawing both Nicholas's and my attention. The next second, a large hand wrapped around my waist, pulling me into a warm embrace.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

A girl gasped. "Isn't this the legendary Mr. Shelman? He's famous both at home and abroad!"

I looked up to see Pete's relaxed smile. "Legendary' is a bit much. But the girl next to Nick certainly has a sweet tongue."

With a grin, he took the wine glass from my hand, raising it toward Nicholas.

"I saw your interview about your recovery, Nick. It's good to see you doing so well. As your friend, I'm happy for you. You two make quite the pair."

Nicholas didn't refute Pete's comment.

I finally noticed the young girl beside Nicholas. I had been away for three years. During that time, rumors swirled about a spark between Nicholas and Claudia. After all, she was the one who stood by him through his darkest days.

But after his recovery, Nicholas officially addressed their relationship in an interview. He made it clear that Claudia was the only daughter of the Hawk family and completely turned their relationship into that of siblings. Now, he was with someone else.

The girl was clean and pretty, with a fresh, innocent look like that of a recent college graduate. If she had no connection to Nicholas, there was no way she would be here.

The one by his side should be Beth, his trusted secretary who had accompanied him through countless battles.

Upon closer look, she and Claudia were fairly evenly matched, aside from the girl being a bit taller. The admiration in the girl's eyes was obvious, but Nicholas's expression remained cold and distant. "You two..." Nicholas's calm voice tinged with a trace of curiosity and pain.

He didn't bother clinking glasses with Pete. He set his drink down on a passing waiter's tray.

In that brief moment, I couldn't help but see a reflection of my past self in the girl.

There was a time when I felt proud just to stand by his side. I secretly admired him throughout my entire youth. Now that I was 30, I no longer felt the same fluttering excitement I had in my youth when I saw

Nicholas again.

I became more certain of my thoughts. Nicholas just needed a woman to maintain the facade of peace with Claudia. That woman could be me or someone else.

But I didn't return without selfish

reasons. When Tabitha pointed at the king in her fairy tale book, she looked up at me with wide, questioning eyes. My heart nearly shattered.

SA

Deena, Pete, and I always called Tabitha our little princess, but she was different from a real princess princess was supposed to have a king and queen by her side, along with her own little knight. She had none of that.

Unlike other kids, she couldn't even ask, "Why don't I have a dad?"

She didn't say a word and just kept it all bottled up inside.

I refused to believe that Nicholas couldn't find us. The only reason he hadn't contacted me or Tabitha in three years was that he simply didn't want to.

But I still harbored a selfish sliver of hope-what if he could just be there for her, fulfill his role as a father, even if only a little? Perhaps she would get better. For her sake, I was willing to let them meet. If there was even the slightest chance, I wanted to try.

But now that he had someone new by his side, that thought would never become reality.

I stopped trying to distance myself from Pete and let his hand rest lightly on my waist. I looked up at Nicholas again and said lightly, "We're doing just fine."