Rift in the perfect picture

Even the glaring fluorescent lights above couldn’t illuminate a person

heart.

As the relevant authorities would investigate the incident, the truth would eventually be revealed. It might come late, but it wouldn’t be twisted by those with ill Intentions.

Claudia had gone mad just like Frances said. So, why would I believe a single word from her?

Noticing my lack of response, Claudia fell to the ground on her knees and cried out, “Ariana, I’m telling the truth! I want to live not for my own sake, but it’s for Nick! He’ll die without me!”

Nicholas would die without her… I took a few seconds to process her words, but I couldn’t help but laugh. This statement was truly too absurd.

If she had said something like this in the past, I would have thought that she was bragging to me. But now that I was no longer acquainted with Nicholas, his will to live or die for someorie else was no longer my

concern.

I did what I could before leaving. I left the rest to fate instead as I wasn’t so attached anymore.

Even if Nicholas bailed Claudia out in the end, so what? It would be a torment for him to be in the same space with the murderer of his father, anyway

With things ending on this note, I thought it’d be a pretty good ending no matter how things developed.

Nicholas‘ name had been a curse deeply imprinted in my past. Now, at last, I was truly separated from him, free to leave and live my own life.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

I sighed. “Claudia, you’re still young, so you might not understand how I feel for your brother. My feelings for him are complicated, and they’ve become so intricate that even letting go of him doesn’t make me regret it.

“What you said can no longer hurt me, so there’s no need for you to play these little tricks. You need to accept the consequences after making a mistake. No matter how you argue, you cannot escape the law’s punishment.”

Perhaps because I was bidding farewell to my past, I felt like giving Claudia some advice before we parted ways. I hoped she would still have the chance to understand this.

“No!” Claudia wailed. “Ariana, you’ve misunderstood me! It doesn’t matter if I die, but do you really want

Nick to die?

“He’s sick! He tends to harm himself really badly and has suicidal thoughts! Now that I’m not around him, he must’ve been hurting himself again!”

“W–What did you say?”

It took me some time to comprehend her words. I should’ve ignored them, but everything that happened last night happened to corroborate what she said.

No wonder he smelled odd. No wonder I vomited so violently after meeting him last night. It wasn’t some odd smell–it was the unmistakable scent of hospital disinfectant mixed with blood that even perfume couldn’t mask!

But…

1 recalled the medicine Nicholas used to hide and the way Ms. Gardner would only shake her head whenever I inquired about his health condition…

But he said he was fine when he was on the phone with Daniel. He said those things were merely to make me worry about him, and that was why there was no chance for us to reconcile. How could he genuinely be sick?

“Ariana! You must be wondering why Nick suddenly left and why I’m always with him when he calls, right?

“It’s because his condition is really severe now–he must be constantly monitored. He doesn’t want you to see how abnormal he is now, nor does he want you to witness how gruesome his wounds are. Do you understand the pride of a man like him?

“If you want him to die, just pretend I never said any of this.”

Claudia’s words chained me down like heavy iron shackles. I tried to leave and block this information out, but my legs wouldn’t obey.

Turning around, I glared at her and hissed, “I won’t believe a word you say. Where is Nicholas now? I’m going to find him and let him come pick you up!”

“I can tell you where Nick is now. He’s at a private hospital in the suburbs of Radiant City, but I advise you not to go see him right away. He’s only sick because of you. Every time he sees you or gets a call from you, new wounds appear on his body.

“Right now, I’m the only one who can stop him from harming himself. I can take you to him if you don’t believe me!”