Trouble in Paradise

I looked at Nicholas expressionlessly, waiting for him to continue signing. Claudia tugged on his sleeve, but he didn't react.

"He he." She chuckled unnaturally and said, "Nick, If you don't want to divorce Ariana, I'll be the first to agree." Her smile grew as she spoke, and she was even jumping with joy. Nicholas remained motionless. Everyone in the room held their breath while waiting for his signature. Suddenly, he tore the document into pieces and spoke with a trembling voice. "Do you want to go to jail? If you divorce me now, no one will care for you. I ask you again. Do you want to go to jail?" he shouted and eventually laughed.

I took a deep breath and replied, "It's none of your business. Sign the papers and leave with her."

Claudia shrugged and said, "Ariana, why are you so disobedient? You're worse than me. Nick, maybe we should just forget about it and take her out. I don't mind." Nicholas said indifferently, "Ariana, who are you waiting for? Pete?"

"Nick can get you out of here. Who else are you waiting for? I heard they shave your head in jail. I'd hate to see your long hair go."

She rummaged through her fluffy bag and pulled out a pair of scissors and an electric shaver.

"1

was

supposed to help a friend shave her dog." She turned on the shaver, and it buzzed menacingly." You hear that? It's terrifying."

I looked up, my eyes cold and sharp. "Shut up and get lost."

She pouted and hid behind Nicholas with tears welling up as she sought his protection.

"Nick, why is Ariana so mean?"

Nicholas stepped in front of her, taking the shaver from her hand. He stared at it in silence for a few moments before looking back at me.

He spoke calmly but firmly, saying, "You made a mistake and need to learn a lesson. If I save you this time, you'll do it again."

With a slight tilt of his head, he ordered, "I won't hurt you. I'll just take a lock of your hair as a warning to

you."

Without saying anything, I stared at him with reddening eyes. Now that I was in his grasp, there was nothing I could do to resist.

"Huh? Nick, isn't that too much? A woman's hair is very important! But Ariana, exchanging some hair for your freedom isn't a bad deal," said Claudia while blinking her innocent eyes. Despite her pure and kind appearance, she was as malicious as a ghost, making her extremely difficult to deal with.

In this two-against-one situation, I knew I couldn't win. With no family to support me, they could manipulate and humiliate me as they pleased.

They had come prepared, armed with scissors, knives, and even a shaver, all to disgrace me. "Trading hair for freedom. Is that your agreement, Nicholas?" I asked.

I already knew the answer, but I wanted to hear his response. My heart had been shattered, and perhaps it would stop hurting if I heard it from him.

He stood against the light, his expression hidden. I could only infer his foul mood from his clenched jaw. After a long silence, he finally spoke indifferently.

"Fine. A member of the Hawk family can't have a criminal record."

I laughed bitterly, letting my hair fall over my face to hide my tears. Claudia threw the scissors and shaver at my feet, and I reached for them. With one smooth motion, strands of hair fell to the ground. "But Nicholas, I'll prove my innocence on my own. I don't need to exchange anything with y

you."

I had told Neal everything, and I believed he would find the evidence to prove my innocence. I continued cutting, letting more of my hair fall. Each strand symbolized the burdens I wished to sever from this man. He bent down to grab my hand. With a trembling voice, he said, "That's enough! Why did you not stop after the first cut?"

"How can that be enough? It's not enough!" I was looking at him, but my eyes were unfocused. I wasn't able to see his expression.

Mechanically, I added, "This is the hair that I grew for you. Now I'm giving it to you."

When he tried to snatch the scissors from me, I evaded him and continued, "I used to dream of growing my hair long and becoming your beautiful bride. Now that I'm cutting it off myself, I hope to be free of you forever."