Rift in the perfect picture

Without much thought, my brain seemed to spill out all the words that could help Nicholas live. He was the only thing I had on my mind now as my thoughts spiraled out of control.

This was the biggest compromise I could manage now As long as he was willing to come down from the rooftop, I could overturn all my plans from the past two months.

I didn’t understand why I could make such sacrifices in such a short time, but it definitely wasn’t because I still loved him,

I think I just didn’t want to regret it. I wanted to stop dreaming about a man leaping off a high building every night. I didn’t want to feel guilty because of my harshness and indifference toward him.

In short, I didn’t want to be tortured by guilt and regret.

I didn’t even have to think twice to make a decision, nor did I have to weigh the pros and cons. I just wanted him to live.

But what I didn’t know was that Claudia had disconnected the call before I could even finish my sentence

Kneeling on the ground, Claudia sobbed pitifully. “Nick, I’ve never had the warmth of a family until I met you. I thought everything would get better, and I finally had someone to rely on. I finally have a place called ‘home‘. But am I going to lose all that now?”

A wave of emotions coursed through Nicholas when he heard the word “home“. It was something he didn’t have either. After all, he had always cared for Claudia because of their similar fates.

She was really young when she first arrived at the Hawk family, always appearing timid even when she smiled.

He wasn’t that young anymore, and he could see how a little child worked hard to please others to survive in a new home–just like how he had tried to please his grandmother when he was little.

Not wanting another child in this world to suffer the same fate, he worked hard to open himself up for Claudia. He accepted her as his sister and also allowed himself to have a “home“.

“Nick, I already have nothing. I should be understanding if you think leaving this world will make you happier, but Mom will be arrested by the police if you’re gone. What would my fate be like by then?”Original from NôvelDrama.Org.

Staring at the handcuffs on her wrists, Claudia wept helplessly.

“Nick, I feel like it’s really unfair for you. Ariana knows you’re sick but ignores you. Even when she saw you standing on the rooftop, she’d rather be far away, afraid of seeing something ominous.

“I feel so indignant for you. You’ve treated her so well, yet this is what you get. I hate all of this–I hate that I can’t do anything to her. How I wish I could kill her to avenge you!”

Nicholas‘ heart skipped a beat. He hadn’t felt this way in a long time, as if it seemed harder for him to accept that I wanted to leave than to leave himself.

Seemingly having made up her mind, Claudia paled and said, “Nick, I’ll avenge you if you die!”

“For what?” he rasped, looking impassive.

“It’s for your sake! I will do everything I can to make Ariana pay for it!”

Nicholas had thought his departure would put an end to all entanglements, but the overwhelming hatred ignited in Claudia’s eyes was no joke.

He had never seen such an expression on her face. It was as if she were a different person from the obedient woman he knew. Could hating someone really change a person completely?

So, hating him to the bone made me treat him with such indifference. But in the end, he owed me. A sudden laugh escaped his lips, yet he seemed agonized.