Trouble in Paradise (Arianna and Nicholas)

Chapter 0603

Since that day, Tabitha had become increasingly silent.

She started zoning out often, sometimes staring at me or Nicholas, sometimes focusing on random things. Every time she drifted into this state, it would last for over ten minutes.

During these moments, we didn't dare to interrupt her. We could only stay nearby, trying to make noise in the hope of catching her attention.

Tabitha began to resist expressing herself. She wouldn't ask for a hug or a kiss on her own initiative, and she wouldn't even say when she was hungry. She would just wait silently until mealtime, but she couldn't eat much after a few bites.

Not knowing whether she actually wanted to eat, we hired a pastry chef specializing in children's nutrition. Every day, he would prepare small snacks for her, just in case.

His creations were adorable, and Tabitha liked to play with them in her hands. But she rarely ate them. After a while, she'd start zoning out again, squeezing and playing with them.

This went on for a week, and Tabitha lost five pounds. Nicholas and I were extremely worried, but there was nothing we could do except watch helplessly, heartbroken.

We checked the surveillance footage. From the moment Nicholas and I had argued to the kiss and physical contact it had all been witnessed by her.

Actually, our voices hadn't been very loud. The one thing she probably couldn't accept was when I slapped Nicholas. Even in her small world, that gesture didn't seem like an act of love.

For the sake of our child, Nicholas and I reached an unspoken understanding, displaying an unprecedented level of cooperation.

When we were at home, whether Tabitha was present or not, Nicholas and I would be very careful in our actions.

When Tabitha was around, we would also interact very naturally. We wouldn't deliberately show off our affection, but at least we would be respectful and courteous like a real couple.

In the morning, while Tabitha was eating, Nicholas sat down beside her with his tie in hand and stroked her hair. "Daddy has to go to work, and I'll be back at night. Will Tabitha miss Daddy?"

He waited for a response, but all he received was silence.

He thought he finally understood why I had been so nervous and why I had willingly stayed at Coral Villa. When he used Tabitha to threaten me, I must have thought about the Tabitha of the past. I must have been terrified.

Nicholas felt so guilty. He wasn't a good father or a good husband. Both women in his life

didn't like him.

When he first met Tabitha, she had liked him so much... He had ruined a good hand of cards. Could this broken family ever be fixed?

I saw the look of disappointment on Nicholas' face.

I took the tie from his hands and pulled him up from the chair, whispering in his ear, "Don't rush it. Don't let Tabitha think this is a big deal. Our goal isn't to force her."

After all, Tabitha was older now, and her condition was much better than it was when she was younger. Although I was comforting Nicholas, my heart ached even more.

When Tabitha was younger, she could freely express her dissatisfaction. Now, I didn't know if she was deliberately holding back or if something else was going on. She was still obedient, but it felt like she had locked herself away in a deeper place.

Nicholas lowered his head slightly in response to my movements. His fingertips lightly brushed my cheek

"I'm not in a hurry. My medical team has combined Tabitha's medical records with the information we provided and has formulated a special questionnaire for her.

With further tests, we'll have a treatment plan soon. My secretary just told me this morning. We're taking Tabitha there tomorrow morning.