Trouble in Paradise

Pete wanted to continue comforting me, but I stopped him. "Pete, I'm going back home."

He stood frozen in shock, his expression frozen. It took him a moment to process before he forced a smile. "Ari, you said you never wanted to go back."

Three years ago, he had flown back to bring me home. At the airport, Nicholas was as fragile as the pills scattered on the ground, and my memories felt shattered too.

Each fragment was painful. On the plane, I told him, "I never want to come back." I never wanted to see Nicholas like that again.

I shook my head. "I have to go back for Tabitha. She needs an environment that suits her better."Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org

"I-I can help you find one! If it doesn't work, we can start our own kindergarten, only accepting kids from our country. I'll find the best teachers for Tabitha and have a doctor on-site at all times-" "There's no need for that, Pete."

I understood why he was so good to Tabitha-it was because he cared for me. But we had missed our chance.

Although we were divorced, I had a child with Nicholas now. My focus was solely on Tabitha. I couldn't bring myself to care about anything else. This trip back had nothing to do with Nicholas.

Pete's facial muscles twitched involuntarily. For a moment, he almost couldn't hide the sadness that was creeping onto his face. His hand, buried deep in his pocket, clenched tightly.

It took him a long while to find his voice again. "Alright. Wherever you go, I'll go with you."

The atmosphere grew heavy, and I forced a lighthearted laugh. "Come on. How can you accompany me? You've only been in charge of the group for less than two years.

"Do you think your position in Shelman Group is that secure? If you leave, it won't take even a year before someone else takes over.

"You may not care, but I do. I helped you build this empire. I have a stake in it too!"

Goodbyes always felt suffocating, and I didn't like that. Once everything was said, it was time to leave. Without hesitation, I said my farewell and walked away. Even as I left the banquet hall, Pete was still standing there, frozen in place.

He had faced many challenges in life. He didn't feel sad when he fell out with his brother or when his father forced him to marry. Even on the day of his wedding, when I said I would never forgive him, he felt no sadness.

He knew he deserved it.

But why did I have to leave him when everything was getting better now? He thought he had a chance. He believed I had some feelings for him.

I had fought for his company and later helped him get through his divorce. He believed that meant something.

Pete pulled his hand out of his pocket and opened his palm, revealing a diamond ring. He had planned to propose to me at the celebration banquet today, but I had already decided to leave.

Lately, Hawk Corporation had been pressuring Jones Corporation. He had blocked all the information Douglas had sent, making sure I never found out.

He thought that if he could handle it for me, keep everything under control, I would never have a reason to return.

Was fate truly predetermined?

Even though he knew perfectly well that it was all a trap set by Nicholas, he also knew Tabitha wasn't part of it. He couldn't help but wonder... was it fated for me and Nicholas to cross paths?