Rift in the perfect picture

Nicholas fainted. His tall frame collapsed in front of me with a heavy thud. A passing maid saw through the slightly open door. She screamed and rushed in before rushing out again, followed by a crowd of others.

The divorce papers I was holding slipped from my hand, trampled underfoot in the chaos. They were all shouting, and their mouths kept moving. But to me, it felt like a silent film.

I never imagined I could be so indifferent toward Nicholas. I had loved him, hated him, been disappointed, and at times, hopeful.

Nicholas was carried out like a lifeless body, and this wasn’t the man I once had to look up to. He had made so many mistakes. Didn’t he deserve some punishment? I didn’t feel sorry for him.

Someone asked me, “Mrs. Hawk, we need to take Mr. Hawk to the hospital!”

Everyone was still shaken by Daniel’s death. They were terrified of losing their jobs since Nicholas was their boss now.

I wanted to follow them, but my legs felt like rigid stones, unable to take even a single step.

Frances heard the commotion and poked her head out from somewhere. She was dressed in luxury clothing, but there was none of the grace one would expect from Mrs. Hawk–just an air of someone who didn’t belong.

The fact that she was still in the Hawk family was something she had stolen.

The day after Daniel passed away, the lawyer specifically waited for Nicholas’s return to announce the will. Nicholas inherited 90 percent, and the remaining 10 percent went to me.

There wasn’t a mention of Claudia or Frances. In fact, the will explicitly stated they had to pack up and leave the manor immediately. Especially Claudia–she was banned from ever entering the Hawk manor again for life.

I thought Nicholas would at least honor Daniel’s last wishes. Even if he wanted to help them, he could’ve quietly bought them a place elsewhere.

But before they even had the chance to mourn or curse Daniel’s heartlessness, Nicholas made sure they stayed.

Without any hesitation, he firmly said, “You don’t need to move. You’re already used to living here.” With that, it was settled just like that.

Claudia threw herself into his arms and sobbed. “I knew you wouldn’t abandon Mom and me.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

That night, he came back to our room late, whispering into my ear. I wasn’t sure if he was explaining it to me or to his deceased father.

“I don’t want to lose any more family. Can you understand me?”

I didn’t respond, and neither would Daniel.

At this point, whether Nicholas and I remained married didn’t really matter to me. Aside from everything else, being Mrs. Hawk indeed gave me an advantage. But, maybe, I wanted to make things a little harder

for Nicholas.

However, when he collapsed in front of me, I didn’t feel any joy.

Frances rushed over and hit me. “What happened to Nick? It’s you, it must be you!”

Nicholas was her savior. Her entire life as a wealthy socialite depended on him. She was convinced that I didn’t want her and Claudia to have a good life.

I shoved her aside, watching her fall to the ground with no expression. As I walked past her, I paused deliberately.

“Do you still think you’re still the Mrs. Hawk who has someone backing you up? Before you lay a hand on me again, maybe consider your status. I’m the CEO of Jones Corporation and own 11% of the shares of Hawk Corporation. What do you have?”

I had secretly instructed Douglas to acquire some of the shares of Hawk Corporation. With Daniel’s will, I was now a legitimate shareholder. Talking to someone like her only worked when hitting them where it hurt the most.

Frances let out a shrill scream, her usual grace and poise gone.

“Ariana, don’t push me too far! I’ll tell Nick, and then I’ll make sure you…”

I smiled, leaning in closer until she instinctively shut up. “Go tell him then. See if he’ll take your side and punish me.”

As soon as I said that, I froze for a moment. I wasn’t sure where my confidence came from, the belief that Nicholas would still choose me.

But deep down, I knew. As long as it wasn’t Claudia, I always held my ground with him–even Frances couldn’t compare. Claudia was like an invisible wound on me, one that throbbed every time it was touched.

I looked down at the defeated woman beneath me and whispered, “Here’s a tip for you. I bet he would love a bowl of his mother’s soup right now.”