Rift in the perfect picture

Chapter 0225

“Ariana!”

Claudia’s eyes flared with fury as if she wanted to burn me to ashes in an

instant.

Infuriated, she shrieked, “Do you think you’re safe just because you’re pregnant?”

She was so enraged by me that she was practically hopping mad, but she couldn’t do anything else aside from clenching her fists and glowering at me.

“A bastard! It must be a bastard! There’s no way you could be pregnant. You clearly-”

“Claudia!” I interrupted, feigning a heartbroken expression. “I treat you like a sister. How could you curse my child like that?”

My heart pounded. It felt as if it might leap out of my throat at any time.

The door opened slowly, and the staff was gesturing for us to go on stage. Thinking about what was about to happen, I couldn’t maintain my composure. I almost couldn’t suppress the urge to cry.

“Aspen… my dear Aspen… would you blame me?” I thought to myself.

I clutched my chest, my tearful expression falling right into Nicholas’s line of sight. Standing in the center of the stage, he frowned as he looked at us. He was visibly worried.

The reporters adjusted the angles of their cameras, all directing them

toward the back where we were about to step onto the stage. Once Claudia and I ascended the stage, the cameras would capture each and every move we made.

Propping one hand against my temple, I swayed slightly as if I was about to lose my balance. I sucked in a deep breath and feigned a pained expression as I said, “Claudia, can you forget whatever grudge you have against me for now? Let’s get through this press conference first.”

Chapter 0225

+25 BONUS

I stood in front of her, purposely taking my time to ascend the stairs. Knowing how hot–tempered Claudia was, I knew she absolutely wouldn’t remain behind me when she was already agitated by me.

“Quit the act!”

She darted forward, deliberately bumping into my shoulder as she squeezed past me. As she ran toward Nicholas, I let the effort she expended wash

over me.

Everything that happened In the next instant played out just as I had

imagined it countless times in my mind. Claudia would rush past me, and I would lose my balance and tumble down the stairs after she knocked into me. I would then collapse to the ground…

It felt as if someone had pressed a slow–motion button while I was in the air for one brief second. Everything that came into my view became exceptionally clear.

Nicholas, who always carried himself with a refined air, actually ignored Claudia for the first time and scrambled toward me.

“Ariana!” The way he frantically shouted seemed quite foolish.

My body hit the ground with a loud thud. As blood began pooling on the ground, I felt as if my heart had been hollowed out. My child…

“Ariana!”

Nicholas intended to help me up, but then, he saw the blood gushing from beneath me. His hands clasping my shoulders trembled as he tried to comfort me.

“It’s going to be okay. Everything will be okay.”

The flashing lights were so bright that I could hardly keep my eyes open. Finally, my tears had the right to flow freely. I couldn’t move, and every inch of my body hurt more than being cut through a thousand times.

I thought I deserved it.

Chapter 022

+25 BONUS

Nicholas scooped me into his arms, but his faltering steps belied his composure. He was probably equally helpless.

Holding me in his arms, he milled around in place twice before shouting at the reporters who were in our way, “Get out of the way! Get out!”

I clung to his sleeve and cried out in agony, “Honey… the child… our child…”

Tears streamed down my cheeks uncontrollably. Shifting my tearful gaze toward Claudia, I mustered all my strength and screamed, “Claudia! Why did you do that? You knew I was pregnant!”