Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
The elevator started its ascent.
Jarrod turned to her. “Can’t go back now. How about staying here? I just bought it. Pick any room you fancy.”
Nicole laughed. “You’ve really lost it.”
To figure out which room she was in, he had bought an entire hotel at a financial loss. Only someone completely off their rocker would do something like that.
Nicole mocked, “If I switch hotels, are you planning to buy out each I move to?”
“Maybe. We could check out the beds in various hotels,” he suggested, bending down once more to kiss her.
Nicole pushed him away gently, showing she wasn’t interested.
Jarrod’s look turned frosty. “What’s the issue?”
Nicole leaned casually against the elevator wall, glancing at him.
“Lost interest.”
Jarrod’s gaze was meaningful, his voice soft. “Then how about we head to your room, try out that bed, and find out who can bring you to the peak?”
Nicole’s expression turned into a scowl as she looked at him. “You’ve lost your mind!”
Jarrod responded with a grin, “Madly, but only for you.”
A gentle smile flickered in Nicole’s eyes. Her actions since she came back were all about testing him, to find out if he still had feelings for her. It appeared that her charm was not lost on him, or maybe it was something deeper.
Yet, these things seemed minor. What really counted was his companies and assets. He might not be so easy to convince.
Nicole concluded with a tinge of sorrow that perhaps it was only her figure he was drawn to. When it came down to matters of importance, Jarrod’s more unyielding side came to the forefront. With that in mind, she realizes the full extent of his feelings toward her.
Nicole playfully lifted a finger, tilting his chin upwards. “Keep this in mind, Jarrod Schultz, whether or not I find joy in this has nothing to do with you. You barely even registered as a minor lover.”
“Nothing to do with me?” Jarrod allowed those words to escape his lips before acting further. Without waiting for her response, he reached for the buttons on her chest. “Let’s establish some connection then.”
Following this, he brought the elevator to a stop. A button was undone swiftly.
A shiver coursed through Nicole. Even if the elevator came to a stop, cameras were still watching. She gripped Jarrod’s arm tightly, her face pale and cold. “How dare you!”
Jarrod laughed even harder, his laughter taking on a mischievous tone.
He lowered his head, gently pressing his forehead against hers in a teasing manner. “Nicole, have you forgotten who I am?”
He tilted his head slightly, a playful smirk on his face. “If it’s something I desire, there’s no barrier I wouldn’t cross.”
While talking, his hand continued to explore, moving further without hesitation. He seemed unwavering in his intentions.
Nicole’s body tensed from the tingling sensation, her anger boiling to the point where she could only respond with laughter. Then, she reached out her slim fingers and pinched his chin. “I said no, Jarrod. Are you going to make me?”
Jarrod’s deep, dark eyes met Nicole’s bright blue ones. Noticing the disdain and chill in her gaze, he hesitated for a brief moment.
She gently tapped his cheek. “Try anything, and I won’t hesitate to call the cops on you.”
Just when Nicole was sure he would argue, he surprisingly chose to withdraw. His voice was even. “You think you’re clever, playing games with me.”
It was a declaration, not a question.
Nicole gazed up at Jarrod, her lips curling into a taunting smile.
“And what if I am? Maybe it’s time you stopped playing games too.”
“I’m in,” Jarrod said, gripping her wrist, his voice deep and resonant. “I’ll play your game, but you’re not to play with anyone else.”
Nicole let out a scoff. “Jarrod, who I spend my time with and how I spend it is up to me. Do you really believe you have any say in that?”
Jarrod’s heart skipped a beat. He knew all too well that his past behavior gave him no grounds to ask anything of her. Yet, despite this realization, he found himself unable to let go.
He looked at her, his voice gentle. “Nicole, I understand what’s going through your mind. You despise me and seek retribution. I have my boundaries. Please don’t push me too far. You’re free to handle me however you see fit.”
Nicole simply chuckled. “How am I supposed to know where your limits are if I don’t test them a bit? Do you really think a person who’s faced death would fear your so-called bottom-line boundaries?”
Nicole’s brazen and arrogant demeanor left Jarrod feeling powerless to retaliate. Unable to bite back, he clenched his molars and vehemently uttered, “Alright, Nicole. Have it your way.”
Nicole gave a small smile. “I appreciate the acknowledgment.”
The atmosphere in the elevator grew tense. She began to feel uneasy, her face turning a shade lighter. “Could you please release me now?”
Observing her pallor, Jarrod gave in, pressing the elevator button with a bit of force. He then drove her to her place of work.
Before she stepped out of the vehicle, Nicole extended her hand. “My phone, please.”
Jarrod took out her phone, unblocked himself in the contacts, and handed it back to her. He said with a casual tone, almost teasingly, “Had to ensure you didn’t block me out. How else are we supposed to interact?”
Nicole offered just a smile in response, choosing to remain silent.
Jarrod then inquired, “Got any plans for the weekend?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“I’ll come for you this weekend.”
Their exchange seemed to miss a connection.
Nicole offered no objection, and simply bid him a courteous farewell.
“I must go now.”
And with that, she walked away with poise.
Once out of sight, Nicole pulled out her phone and spoke to someone.
“Inform the head of the Hampton family about today’s event in detail.”
The Hamptons family. Nicole’s father’s demise was tied to a contract involving the Hampton family as a third participant.
Winning over the Hamptons required starting with Jarrod.
In the world of business, profits often led to priorities. Jarrod’s impulsive purchases at an inflated rate for her would inevitably strain his partnership with the Hamptons.
On the roadside, Jarrod remained seated in his car, watching her departure, and lit a cigarette.
His phone buzzed. It was Alec. “Mr. Schultz, should we downplay the recent news?”
Some board members were already questioning Jarrod’s rash decisions.
Yet, they felt powerless to intervene.
Alec considered minimizing the fallout for Jarrod’s sake.
Jarrod, raising an eyebrow, replied, “Let it be.”
He was intrigued to see how Nicole intended to bring him down.
Audrey lingered outside Cornell’s hospital room for a moment. His ward surrounded by bodyguards, she felt a bit nervous about getting caught.
Finally, as the bodyguards switched duties, Audrey ducked her head and slipped in quietly. Dressed as a nurse, she found it easier to blend into the background.
Nicole had even thoughtfully provided Audrey with a nurse’s badge for the hospital. It was even more unlikely for her to catch anyone’s eye.
Upon entering, Audrey found Cornell asleep, his eyes shut. She moved closer and noticed bruises on his otherwise handsome face that hadn’t healed yet.
His arm injury had healed up a bit, and he didn’t bother with a bandage. Underneath his clothing, there seemed to be a lump on his shoulder, likely covered in thick bandages.
Audrey suddenly felt sorry for him. He got hurt on his shoulder when he rescued her, and after that, he was beaten by her brother. He seemed to be severely injured by her brother.
Even in his sleep, Cornell’s expression was tense, his majestic eyebrows furrowed.
Without thinking, Audrey reached out, intending to ease the furrows on his brow.
As soon as her fingertips brushed against his forehead, his long eyelashes fluttered, and he abruptly opened his eyes.
Audrey’s fingers froze, caught in the act of withdrawing.
Cornell was slowly coming to, his mind still foggy from sleep. His deep gaze locked onto the delicate fingers before him as he coldly inquired, “What are you doing?”
Audrey found herself at a loss for words. She gave the Cornell a smack on the forehead.
This action snapped Cornell to full alertness, his gaze sharpening on her. His look conveyed a clear message: without a good explanation, there would be consequences.
Audrey’s heart raced, her voice deliberately high-pitched as she explained behind the mask, “Mosquitos here.”