Trouble in Paradise



Chapter 0552

Not only did I want to slap Claudia, but I wanted to do it in front of everyone.

"Claudia, back when you were in school and I visited you, you had someone slap me across the face. That first slap was payback. This one now? It's the interest."

The moment I finished speaking, I delivered another slap to her right cheek. Claudia, who had just stood up, stumbled and fell before me. I was pleased.

In this world, there was always someone eager to play the hero for the so-called 'weaker party'. Seeing Claudia stunned from the slap, a voice quickly piped up in her defense.

"Ms. Jones, aren't you breaking the law? Do you know the sentence for intentional assault?"Property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

I tossed the microphone onto Claudia, watching her cower in fear. Satisfied, I shrugged and replied lightly, "Sorry, I don't."

"Ms. Jones, you're making excuses!"

"Ms. Jones, you've even shared legal knowledge on domestic social media platforms before. Were your degrees and certificates purchased? Were your past case victories just pure luck?"

I smiled warmly at them. "I suppose many of you don't know me. Allow me to introduce myself-Ariana Jones, Chairwoman of the Jones Corporation."

In the past, I only revealed my identity within a small circle. When handling external affairs, it was always Douglas who stepped in. So, it was only natural that they didn't know who I really was.

Their disbelief was written all over their faces. "That's impossible! We've never heard of that!"

"Then why do you think Claudia is causing a scene at my office building?" I offered them a kind reminder. "The truth is, I'm just a businesswoman."

I gestured toward Douglas, who stepped forward with his team to surround the reporters. Standing protectively before me, he spoke sincerely.

"Ladies and gentlemen, please hand over all phones, cameras, and recording devices. We'll compensate you three times their value, and you'll be free to go. However, if any media outlet happens to leak today's events..."

Douglas excelled at handling these situations, so I didn't need to concern myself further.

I stepped closer to Claudia, towering over her. She scrambled backward, her hands and feet fumbling across the ground in desperation.

Squatting down, I grabbed the collar of her dress. I asked innocently, "Why are you handling this yourself now? Isn't crying and making a scene usually enough for Nicholas to fix things for you? What happened? Not working anymore?"

Claudia's eyes flared with hatred.

"Ariana, don't get smug. Nicholas still loves me! When your scandalous photos surfaced, he didn't care much. But for me? He stripped completely in front of the camera! Isn't that proof enough? You think you've won, but you've actually lost to me!"

Her low chuckle grew into hysterical laughter. "Nicholas loves me! He loves me the most! And who are you, Ariana? Competing with me for Nicholas? How ridiculous!"

I stood up, looking down at her with a hint of pity. Her world was so small, revolving entirely around Nicholas.

She was 26, a time when women were often at their most independent and vibrant. Yet, she was still stuck in the years when she and Nicholas leaned on each other for comfort.

For them, was this connection a blessing or a curse?

"Claudia, you're wrong. Nicholas didn't strip for you," I said with absolute certainty.