Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Alec departed to carry out the instruction.
Nicole, unable to mirror Jarrod’s calm demeanor, pressed him, “Jarrod, what do you mean by all
this?” Jarrod had promised she could see Roscoe, yet here she was, left waiting. And why was he arranging for porridge to be made? What was happening?
With Jarrod remaining mute, Nicole’s patience snapped. “The schemes that landed you in jail were all my work. If you’re seeking vengeance, direct it at me. Leave those who are blameless out of it. You must be aware that there is nothing between Roscoe and me.”
Nicole was desperate to make clear the nature of her relationship with Roscoe. She was aware that her current predicament could spell trouble for anyone connected to her. She was acutely aware of Jarrod’s tendency for spite and vindictiveness.
As Jarrod sat there, silent, Nicole’s unease mounted. She hastened to add, “Valentine’s Day was a mix-up. It wasn’t a date…”
Her voice broke into a fit of coughing.
When Nicole finally caught her breath, Jarrod chose that moment to speak, his tone relaxed. “You’re quite the chatterbox, aren’t you? Starting to feel scared?”
Jarrod spoke slowly, his presence always feeling a bit intimidating.
Nicole confronted Jarrod firmly, pressing her lips together. “Jarrod, I was behind the evidence presented by Roscoe. Now that you’re back, if you have any complaints, they should come to me.”
Just then, a waiter knocked and entered with a bowl of porridge and some sweet side dishes.
Jarrod’s face showed no emotion as he said, “Sit down and eat.”
Nicole thought Jarrod had lost his mind during his time away. Did he really expect her to sit down and eat? And with Roscoe missing, how could she even think of eating?
The worry was clear in Nicole’s eyes as she replied icily, “Jarrod, I need to see Roscoe.”
Previously, Nicole would have never brought up Roscoe in front of Jarrod, fearing Jarrod’s volatile reactions.
This time, however, Jarrod was surprisingly calm, maintaining his composure as he softly suggested, “Eat first and then we’ll talk. Don’t you realize you have a sensitive stomach?”
This did nothing but heighten Nicole’s anxiety. She clenched her teeth, her frustration growing. “I won’t eat. I’m not hungry. You promised I could see Roscoe if I came here.”
The mention of Roscoe’s name again made Jarrod turned frosty. He tapped his fingers on the table, his voice cold as he warned, “I’ll say this one last time. Eat your meal, or else…”
He stood up and walked over to Nicole, towering over her. “I wouldn’t mind feeding you myself.”
“I eat, and then you let me see Roscoe?” Nicole asked, taking a step back with a hint of caution. “Can I trust you, Jarrod?”
Jarrod let out a mocking laugh. “Do I really have no credibility in your eyes?”
“Not an ounce,” Nicole answered plainly. After all, Jarrod was always unpredictable.
Jarrod chided her, “Nicole, can’t you be a bit fairer?”
Jarrod lightly pinched her chin, examining her face before chuckling.
“At least I’m not like you, trying to poison me. One minute you’re sweet, the next, you’re a traitor.”
He was alluding to the time when he was stabbed, and despite her hidden motives, Nicole had tended to him.
Jarrod was shrewd, always conscious of Nicole’s numerous plots against him. In the end, Nicole didn’t bring herself to poison him, perhaps due to her conscience.
Nicole disliked his touch. It felt either too aggressive or too personal. She moved to the table and finished a bowl of porridge.
After a day filled with hunger and drinking, the porridge soothed her stomach remarkably. Nicole’s complexion gained some color. She lifted the lid to serve herself another bowl, planning to finish it off.
Just as she was about to eat, Jarrod stopped her. “No more,” he said, his voice tinged with disapproval as he took the bowl from her.
“Your stomach can’t handle too much at once.”
It was no secret to Jarrod that Nicole had had part of her stomach removed.
However, it was unexpected how his voice seemed to carry a hint of concern. Under normal circumstances, he would probably be livid at her. When something didn’t seem right, it usually meant something was off. Nicole couldn’t shake off a deep-seated unease about why Jarrod was being so composed.
Yet, her unease was short-lived, as things soon became clearer.
Jarrod suggested, “Now that you’re full, how about a show to help with digestion?”
As Jarrod smiled meaningfully, Nicole’s sense of alarm deepened.
“Whoosh!” The curtains in the hall drew back automatically. Behind them, a clear glass wall offered a full view of the room beyond.
There, Nicole saw Roscoe, who had been missing since the previous day.
He was huddled in a corner, bound by a thick, long chain. His clothes were torn and bloodied, hanging in tatters, and his knees looked severely damaged, revealing the bone beneath.
Even in that state, the torture went on without stopping.
Beside Roscoe, a shirtless bodyguard dressed in black swung a metal chain with relentless force.
“Snap! Each lash rang out, clear and painfully sharp. The sound buzzed in Nicole’s ears, drowning out everything else in her world.”
“Jarrod…” Her lips shook uncontrollably, her voice faltering.
“Jarrod, please, let him go. He’s innocent… Please, just let him go!”
Nicole clutched at Jarrod’s sleeve, her entire weight leaning on him, who seemed devil-Like, as she screamed, “Let him go! Jarrod! Please, let him go!” Her eyes were red, her voice raspy from her desperate pleas.
Jarrod’s expression remained stern, his handsome face showing no sign of empathy for her hysteria. “Nicole, I’ve been too lenient with you in the past. It’s time you grew up.”
A mocking smile played on his thin lips, cold and unsettling. “You should realize that not all mistakes can be made right, nor can every betrayal be forgiven.”
Nicole’s pupils dilated, her face turning ghastly. The man before her resembled a cold snake, finally unleashing his venomous words. It was the real Jarrod, no doubt about it! Nothing like the man who received accolades in court.
“Jarrod, what gives you the right to hit someone? You’re breaking the law, you…”
Before Nicole could finish, a burst of laughter cut her off.
“Oh, Nicole, you really are endearingly naive.” Jarrod yanked Nicole close, pinning her in his arms, his gaze as chilling as a serpent’s.
“Right now, I’m the law-abiding Mr. Schultz. Do you think I’d engage in such unlawful acts?”
Nicole gasped for air under his hold, squirming with all her might, her face flushed with effort. “Law-abiding? Bullshit! You’re a monster! Your act is completely sickening!”
“Sickening you said?” Jarrod suddenly yanked Nicole’s hair, forcing her to tilt her head back and freeze. He leaned in and whispered coldly, “I tried being good for you, but once you came back, I realized it’s all pointless, completely pointless.”
Jarrod had seen through it. Nicole would never forgive him, whether he was good or not. Why would he bother pretending to be a good person then? Was he supposed to be good, let Nicole have the Life she wanted, and just silently wish her well? Jarrod could never bring himself to just stand by and watch Nicole fall for others or lead a life without him.
“Stop it, you maniac! You’re going to kill him!” Despite the sharp pain in her scalp, Nicole didn’t back down. She kicked and punched, resisting with all her might, though it seemed to have no effect on Jarrod.
Jarrod spun her around to face the window, holding her tightly from behind and forcing her to look inside. “Do you know who took your lover away last night?” he asked.
Nicole stayed quiet, and Jarrod went on, “It was his father.”
Nicole’s eyes widened in shock. How could it be?
Jarrod explained, “He heard from the Hampton family that I’d be fine, so he decided to send Roscoe away for safety. But Roscoe wouldn’t leave, insisting on staying.”
“Why do you think he refused to go?” Jarrod asked, watching Nicole’s reaction in the reflection of the glass.
Nicole understood she was the reason behind Roscoe’s refusal to leave.
Roscoe had promised to never abandon her, under any circumstances.
True to his word, he never broke that promise.
Jarrod resented Nicole’s immediate comprehension, hinting at the unique, unspoken connection between her and Roscoe that made him envious.
Jarrod sneered chillingly, “You know, if he had just run away, I might have let the Watts family off the hook. But he had to play the hero.”
Jarrod grabbed Nicole’s chin harshly and pointed inside, making her focus. “See that? That’s one of the Watts family, isn’t it?”
Jarrod smirked. “Roscoe’s father surely knows his place. I merely took one property off his hands, and he hastily came here with Roscoe, makes a show of discipline right in front of me.”
Nicole shivered, her eyes filling with tears, her complexion ghostly pale. It had never crossed her mind that Roscoe’s father had ordered the savage beating of Roscoe himself. All for a piece of property, Roscoe’s life was deemed worthless. What about everything Roscoe had done for the Watts family? Did it count for nothing?
Reading her thoughts, Jarrod clarified coldly, “To the Watts family, an illegitimate son is nothing compared to their assets.”
“You can’t treat him like this. He’s a person, not an animal!”
Nicole protested.
Nicole banged on the glass in front of her, her sense of helplessness overwhelming despite the proximity. “No one has the right to do this to him!” she exclaimed.
Jarrod laughed at her naivety and responded, “How can the Watts family not have the authority to discipline a troublesome son? Remember, he chose to leave his medical career to come back to the Watts family.”
Jarrod slowly unveiled the harsh reality. “His father only instructed us to keep him alive. No other conditions. Even if he ends up disabled, the Watts family would accept him.”
Feeling Nicole shaking in his arms, Jarrod tightened his hold on her shoulders, trying to reassure her, “Look, Roscoe’s father’s decision shows his concerns to Roscoe. The worst scenario is Roscoe becomes disabled, so don’t worry too much.”