Ever since I started seeing Nichs again, he had suggested I go visit his father. For Daniel, my return was good news. He said it might help improve Daniel''s condition.


    I wonder if Nichs''s fixation on me has something to do with his father too, given how good of a son he was. But I was not some miracle cure. I did not know in what capacity I should visit Daniel, and he had not forced me to.


    Daniel had sent a message. He told us to get along well, preferably having a child soon. He might even get to see a grandchild while he was still alive.


    Now, the Hawk family''s top priority was to not let anyone disturb Nichs and me. This showed that they were clearly against Nichs'' rtionship with udia


    Daniel had long been aware of udia''s feelings for Nichs. Today''s phone call likely meant she had used some ploy to gain the housekeeper''s sympathy.


    The housekeeper''s voice was mixed with a woman''s crying and the sound of ssware shattering. Even without her saying anything, I could sense a kind of hysterical madness.


    Clean up the broken items promptly. Don''t let her get hurt," Nichs said.


    I was genuinely surprised when he said this. If I understood correctly, it meant he was not nning to go back. I quietly took off the dress and pretended not to care, but I was somewhat moved.


    In all our years together, this seemed to be the first time he had chosen me over udia. But in the next second, I heard him tell the housekeeper, Tell udia not to upset Dad."


    1 froze, then smiled wryly. I had thought too much, I was truly a fool for being presumptuous. After hanging up, he tapped his fingers on the sofa armrest mindlessly. To avoid disturbing his thoughts of another woman, I left the living room for the bedroom.


    But, suddenly, I heard the rustle of fabric behind me. Turning around, I walked right into Nichs''s embrace. He hugged me while I held my dress.


    He took the dress out of my hands and wrapped my arms around his waist. I could tell he was not in a good mood. I said out of consideration, "You should go see udia. I promise I won''t tell your father."


    Nichsughed. He could not hide the disappointment in hisughter. His chest vibrated as heughed, and his voice resonated in my ears.


    *Ariana, if you had this understanding earlier, we wouldn''t be where we are today."


    The living room lights were dazzlingly bright. I looked up at him, but all I saw was darkness. It was as if he only allowed me to see the side of him he wanted me to see. I could not fathom what he really meant.


    I listened silently. Judging from his tone, he might be speaking his true feelings. Somewhat angry at how direct he was, I broke free from his embrace.


    "You don''t need to struggle to choose between us in the future. I won''tpete with her for anything -anymore."


    Even our marital home had been smashed to pieces. What could be left between us? Nichs did not care. He only cared about not letting the broken shards hurt his dear sister


    A sudden pain shot through my waist. Before I could react, the man in front of me had pinned me to the sofa. His dark eyes stared at me intensely.N?velDrama.Org content.


    "What if I want you topete?"


    As if I had heard some fantastical tale, I quietly listened to him speak. "When I learned you were going to settle in Lexton City, I didn''t do well I for a while. I think I can understand your past feelings now. But I need to confirm with you, do those feelings still exist?


    "Now I seem to have be who you once were." He cupped my face with both hands. "Ariana, I need to hear the truth."