Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
If things were up to Jarrod, the consequences would be far more severe than just being disabled. How could Jarrod be kind and gentle to someone who opposed him!
The Nicole standing before him was a perfect example. Due to his brief hesitation, she had managed to betray him. He should have kept Nicole close, never allowing her the chance to leave his side.
Upon hearing this, Nicole’s expression crumbled completely. The chains that targeted Roscoe’s wrists and knees were designed not to kill but to incapacitate.
If this continued for a few more hours, not only would Roscoe lose the use of his legs, but his hands, which had once healed and saved lives, would also be beyond saving. No, she couldn’t allow this! Her life was a mess already. Roscoe couldn’t suffer the same fate because of her! That thought alone could drive her mad, utterly mad!
“Jarrod, what do you really want…” Nicole clutched at Jarrod’s lapels, her eyes brimming with tears as she demanded, “What do you really want? Tell me!”
“Did you ever think of today when you betrayed me?” Jarrod’s lips curled into a slight smirk. “Nicole, you know what I dislike the most. You shouldn’t have stepped on that. Do you really think his suffering stops here?”
Jarrod’s cold smile didn’t reach his eyes, making it even more intimidating than his words.
Suddenly, Nicole’s legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees with a heavy thump. “Jarrod, please, let him go. Don’t do this to him. It’s not his fault. It really isn’t…”
Nicole knew exactly who to plead with to make it count. The directive had come from Roscoe’s father, who was intimidated by Jarrod, leading to this moment. If Jarrod changed his mind, Roscoe would still have a chance.
Looking down at Nicole, who was pleading from the ground, Jarrod felt not joy but a wave of indescribable frustration. He tilted Nicole’s chin, his smile insincere. “Since you’re begging like this, I suppose I must give you a chance.”
Overwhelmed, Nicole’s mind was too clouded to tell if Jarrod was being genuine or just pretending. She grasped at Jarrod’s pant leg, her voice shaky. “Thank you, Jarrod. Thank you… I’ll keep my promise.”
“Don’t thank me yet,” Jarrod said indifferently.
He then shook off her hand and straightened the wrinkles she had made on his clothes. Turning to Alec, he commanded, “Tell Roscoe that as long as he agrees to go abroad and swears on Nicole’s life that he’ll never see her again, I’ll talk to his father and let him go.”
Nicole remained kneeling, motionless. Jarrod was too clever, manipulating the situation to make Roscoe swear on her life. He knew Roscoe wouldn’t agree.
A haughty smirk graced Jarrod’s thin lips. “Look, I’ve given him a chance. He could be free by now if he agreed.”
Jarrod found this choice more intriguing than simply letting Roscoe perish. Human nature was always so fragile. Sacrificing a woman seemed trivial compared to living with a disability. Since Roscoe couldn’t bring himself to do so, Jarrod decided to nudge things forward.
Alec relayed the message, making sure it reached Roscoe.
With a special glass between them, Nicole saw everything from her position while Roscoe couldn’t.
Facing this brutal torture, Roscoe clenched his teeth, silent and unyielding, showing no signs of surrender. As long as he could breathe, he wouldn’t give in. His stance was clear. He would never abandon Nicole.
Time ticked by slowly.
Roscoe’s steadfast refusal made Jarrod’s expression turn increasingly grim.
Feeling desperate, Nicole threw herself against the glass, pounding on it as she yelled, “Roscoe, just agree! You fool! Just agree!”
Roscoe, though he couldn’t hear or see the other side, still sensed Nicole’s presence due to the vibrations of the glass.
Roscoe made an effort to turn his head toward the glass, a fragile voice breaking through. “Nicole… I
can handle this. Don’t plead…”
“Don’t beg him for me…”
Such words only led to harsher beatings.
The enforcer, acting on orders from Roscoe’s father, was instructed to silence Roscoe if he said anything that might anger Jarrod. If it came to that, they were prepared to make sure Roscoe couldn’t talk at all.
The Watts family had turned prosperous with Roscoe’s father’s cold-hearted and decisive nature. Despite his affection for Roscoe, should Roscoe couldn’t grasp the bigger picture, Roscoe would be reduced to merely another expendable piece in the game.
As the hit connected with his body, a stream of fresh blood burst from Roscoe’s mouth. He wanted to curl up in pain, but, not wanting Nicole to see him suffer, he forced himself to bear it.
Despite the killing pain, Roscoe still managed a smile, Looking at the glass which now only showed his pitiful reflection, and murmured weakly, “Nicole, I’m okay…”
His once handsome face was now smeared with blood, making his smile appear grotesque.
Nicole pounded on the glass until her hands turned red and numb.
“Roscoe, you fool! Is it really worth it… Honestly, is it?” Her eyes were red, her voice raw from yelling, and her tears dropped like shattered pearls.
Jarrod was thoroughly displeased. This was not the outcome he had hoped for. Was this some over-the-top scene from a television drama?
Their strong bond only drove him further into madness.
Jarrod remarked to Alec, “He seems quite stubborn.”
The next second, the message was conveyed to the other side.
“Smack!” The enforcer delivered a brutal blow to Roscoe’s face with the chain, all on the command from Roscoe’s father, meant to calm Jarrod.
The enforcer was merciless, yanking on the chain so hard that it tore flesh and sent blood flying. That blow was enough to mar Roscoe’s features permanently.
“Ah! Ah!” At last, Nicole couldn’t bear it any longer and let out a scream.
However, she did not collapse. Rather, she dragged herself toward Jarrod, struggling every inch of the way.
Her tears clouded her sight. She couldn’t make out the path ahead, yet the scent of evil was unmistakable, even with her eyes shut.
In the chaos, Nicole had shattered a bowl and now gripped a fragment of porcelain in her hand.
With a desperate thrust, she tried to strike Jarrod, but her feeble body only managed to graze Jarrod’s shin. It was a minor wound, merely a scratch.
Nicole realized her current strength was insufficient to harm Jarrod, but her loathing was intense, and she didn’t know how else to express it. She clenched her teeth tightly and yelled, “Jarrod, go ahead and kill me! Kill me! What’s the point of torturing him? If you dare, just kill me!”
Jarrod seemed unaffected by her challenge. He stooped, took the piece of porcelain from her hand, and, pulling out a handkerchief, he gently wrapped her injury.
“Nicole, how long has it been?” Jarrod sighed, caressed her hair with a semblance of pity, and said, “You still haven’t learned, have you? Well, this time, I’ll make sure you do.”
With those words, Jarrod got up and moved indifferently toward the door, ready to leave.
But Nicole could not, and would not, let him leave through that door.
If he left, it would spell disaster for Roscoe. That simply could not happen. It was out of the question!
Nicole lunged at Jarrod once more, grabbing desperately at his legs, shaking as she pleaded, “Jarrod, I’ll do as you say. From now on, I’ll always obey… I won’t even think of defying you again. Please… Just vent your anger on me. Please don’t do this to him… I can’t bear to owe him any more… I really can’t…”
Nicole knelt on the floor, tears streaming down her face, her voice filled with a low, earnest plea.
Seeing Nicole fully yield, Jarrod experienced no pleasure. He was not a kind man, nor was he compassionate.
His tough experiences overseas had convinced him that those in power must never show weakness. Showing mercy could eventually lead to his downfall.
Nicole and Roscoe had plotted against him, and they needed to be taught a lesson. Yet, his intention was not to see Roscoe dead.
After all, the dead linger in memory longer than the living. He didn’t want Nicole to carry the memory of Roscoe for the rest of her life.
“Nicole, you should understand…” Jarrod crouched once again, his voice unusually soft. “I don’t really wish to punish you, but you never seem to learn. If I don’t make this memorable, you’ll take risks again, and my patience is wearing thin.”
“It won’t happen again. I promise I won’t…” Nicole gripped his arm, her eyes watery and red as she pleaded with bitterness.
Jarrod was familiar with her assertive, resolute nature. Her current vulnerable state, paired with her beautiful and appealing face, was truly pitiful.
Nicole’s eyes, pure and crystal clear, seemed particularly captivating when filled with tears.
Jarrod knew he needed to teach Nicole a lesson strong enough to quench any future rebellious thoughts.
Yet, at that moment, he felt an overwhelming desire just for her.
Jarrod was not one to deny his own urges. It had been five years since he had been intimating with a woman, and now, he found himself losing control.
Jarrod reached out, took hold of her chin, and pressed his Lips to hers in a deep kiss.
Caught off guard, Nicole’s eyes widened before she began to struggle with all her might.
Her resistance only drew a more intense, forceful kiss from him, biting her lips until they bled.
The metallic taste of blood lent a perverse thrill to the kiss.
Nicole, beautiful like a captivating dahlia, seemed all the more alluring and irresistible for Jarrod.
Throughout the past five years, despite his desires, Jarrod had never sought solace with another woman. He had restrained himself, keeping his yearnings confined to the dreams of Nicole, until reality seemed to fade away.
Nicole’s vigorous resistance led Jarrod to throw her forcefully to the floor. He spit out some blood, his lips stained a violent red, giving him the appearance of a demon. “Nicole, it seems you still don’t grasp the gravity of your situation.”
His frustration at having his moment of desire disrupted soured his mood significantly. Jarrod, clearly agitated, brushed his handsome face and reached for the door handle.
“Don’t!” Nicole clutched at him again. “Don’t leave… Not here…”
After a brief hesitation, she made a decision. “Change the place, Jarrod. Let’s go somewhere else.”
Jarrod glanced at the large glass behind Nicole and the scene unfolding beyond it. Then, he realized her intent. His lips curled into a sinister smile as he slowly said, “I think here is just fine.”
Nicole’s face instantly turned paler than snow.