Trouble in Paradise

I lowered my gaze, feeling ashamed. Calming myself down, I found the towel and wrapped it tightly. around me, finally feeling a bit more secure. By then, Nicholas had already reached the door.

I called out to him, "Aren't you afraid I'll take revenge on Claudia for what you did to me?"

He turned back with a cold laugh. "Mrs. Hawk, you never understood me."

I looked at him, puzzled. He added, "When a cat catches a mouse, it'd always play with it first. Have you ever seen a cat afraid of angering the mouse?"

"Mrs. Hawk, I'm waiting for you to beg me," he continued.

With those words, he slammed the door shut and left. I laughed bitterly and got up to follow him.

As he waited for the elevator, I changed the lock code of my door right in front of him. After successfully setting it, slammed the door shut!

In the days that followed, I didn't see Nicholas again. I began spending a lot of time between the police station and Jay Caldwell & Co.

I rejected any social engagements that would waste my time and focused entirely on the case. If I couldn't seek justice for myself, then what kind of lawyer would I be?

Some matters were inconvenient for me to handle personally, so Silas took care of many things for me, including the communication with the Hawk family.

The truth would always reveal itself. The parents of both families eventually learned about Claudia's plot to frame me. I expected a call from the Hawk family.

Frances had always treated me well, and I thought she would ask me to drop the charges against Claudia for the sake of our past relationship. But to my surprise, she didn't, nor did Daniel or Nicholas-they all remained silent.

The call came from my mom. She hadn't known I was detained, nor did she show any concern after I was released. But as soon as something happened to Claudia, she called me for the.

"Mom, you weren't like this before. Why have you changed?" I asked.

She had become harsh and no longer loved me. Had the entanglements of interests made her not prioritize even her daughter?

She sounded guilty as she said, "Ari, I heard from Nicholas about what happened. It's all a misunderstanding. I don't want to see you waste your efforts.

"Claudia will be released sooner or later. If you keep pressing your advantage, you'll have no place in the Hawk family in the future."

"Mom, I have evidence. How can you call it a misunderstanding? Mom, did Claudia consider my position when she framed me? Do you think I would still be alive to claim anything if I hadn't cleared my name?" "It's a clear-cut case. What's the point of arguing?" she asked.

I stayed silent. My mom, as if she was always right, continued to lecture me over the phone. "I'm calling because Nicholas still cares about your relationship, and he asked

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"But I know your character-you won't turn back until you hit a dead end. Has anything you insisted on ever turned out well? You've liked Nichoals for so many years, and now it's come to this?" "Morn, what are you trying to say?"

The helplessness of not being supported by my family who would understand that?

"Drop the charges!"

I said nothing more and hung up, feeling deeply hurt. My fists clenched as I punched my aching head. Then Silas called, adding to my headache.

His gentle voice on the phone was apologetic when he said, "Ariana, I'm sorry."