Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Nicole felt a surge of apprehension, but recognized she had little choice. She needed to prioritize Austin’s and Kamilah’s safety, even if it meant sacrificing her own pride.
However, she resolved that if Vicki pushed her too far, she would take drastic measures that would surprise even herself. She hoped it wouldn’t come to that.
Back at the hospital, Jarrod finished his video meeting and was compelled by his doctor to return to bed for rest.
Alec, seeing him, dutifully reported, “Sir, Miss Lawrence called earlier, but I didn’t interrupt your meeting.”
Jarrod’s face, marked by impassive brows and eyes, masked his inner thoughts, rendering them unreadable.
Amidst the enveloping quiet, Alec broke the silence and declared, “Miss Lawrence requested to see the child, but I denied her. Your son has just started to smile again. I don’t want him to slide back into gloom.”
Jarrod’s reaction was muted, almost as if in agreement with Alec’s decision.
Breathing out a long sigh, Alec felt a weight lift off his shoulders.
??om
He was certain Jarrod, severely injured this time, would no Longer concern himself with Nicole or show any further interest.
It wasn’t just physical scars. Jarrod’s heart had taken a beating too.
A detached person like him, once wounded, would invariably shut himself off, exactly as he was doing now. He was desperate and heartbroken.
For a man, nothing stung more than seeing the woman he loved, love another.
Nicole had fallen for Roscoe, and forcing her to stay with Jarrod would only prolong their misery. Jarrod had shown restraint. He didn’t trouble her much, focusing his frustrations on Roscoe instead, which was commendable under the circumstances.
Jarrod asked no questions, prompting Alec to hold his tongue.
The pleas Alec had repeatedly made to Nicole on Jarrod’s behalf had fallen on deaf ears, which was truly heartbreaking.
As for the allegations that Vicki posed a threat to Austin, Alec kept vigilant. He closely monitored any potential danger to Austin.
Although he had yet to see any signs of Vicki’s malice toward Austin, he remained alert, just in case.
Alec harbored deep reservations about Vicki. Merely being decent momentarily wasn’t sufficient. One needed to demonstrate enduring goodness. Would Vicki genuinely regard Austin as her own, or would her feelings alter once she had a child of her own?
While Alec mulled over these doubts, Jarrod abruptly asked, “Go ask Dr. Burton when I’m scheduled for the surgery.”
“Surgery?” Alec asked, his brow furrowed in confusion, “Sir, which surgery are you referring to?”
With a serene expression, Jarrod simply stated, “Vasectomy.”
Alec was taken aback. He stood there, dumbfounded, for a long moment before stepping closer, his voice tinged with urgency. “What? Why?”
And how could Jarrod want a vasectomy?
Given Austin’s precarious health, it was uncertain whether he could grow up without complications. If Jarrod went through with a vasectomy, what would happen if something were to befall Austin?
Would the Schultz family then be left without an heir?
Jarrod remained expressionless, clearly having made his decision.
A vasectomy before marriage was indeed rare.
Noticing Jarrod’s silence, Alec tried to sway him. “Mr. Schultz, are you sure about this? Think about your family lineage. Families expand by having children. I’m sure your parents, watching over us from above, would want to witness your family grow.”
Alec consciously avoided any mention of Austin’s fragile condition, knowing Jarrod wouldn’t tolerate it.
To Jarrod, Austin was his only child, and he had no intention of having others. Jarrod, typically reserved and detached, didn’t believe he was suited to fatherhood. That was why he planned to marry Vicki. He wanted to ensure someone was there to look after Austin.
Jarrod had known Vicki for years. Unlike Doreen, he found Vicki had never crossed the line into wrongdoing so far. She was notably kinder.
Her gentle side made her an ideal candidate for motherhood.
Jarrod had also taken the precaution of drafting a will, placing Austin at the forefront as his primary heir, contingent on no unforeseen accidents.
This gave him confidence that Vicki would never mistreat Austin. If anything happened to Austin, Vicki would find herself without any support. He was confident she understood this and would act accordingly.
“There’s no need for delay. Let Dr. Burton handle it as soon as he can.” Jarrod’s decision to undergo a vasectomy was not just about his marriage.
It was also driven by a fear of manipulation and the possibility of another child. He was unwilling to accept a child that wasn’t brought to the world by Nicole.
Alec attempted to argue, but Jarrod remained unresponsive, his silence a clear sign that his decision was final. Once Jarrod made up his mind, no one could sway him.
Yet, Alec found it hard to come to terms with this decision. Even he, a man of modest means, understood the value of perpetuating the family line, be it through a son or a daughter. His desire was to bring a healthy child into the world.
Maybe his longing wasn’t about lineage at all, but rather a testament to his existence.
In Alec’s book, Jarrod’s choice seemed fraught with risks. However, since it wasn’t his life, all he could do was respect the decision.
As Alec was about to step out to make the call, Jarrod called out, “Wait a moment.”
“What is it, sir?”
Jarrod instructed, “Let Vicki know about this Alec was taken aback. Jarrod was planning a vasectomy and yet, he wanted his future wife to be informed. Was he trying to drive her away?”
Jarrod simply desired to test whether Vicki meant her previous words.
He had explicitly stated to Vicki that he wished to have no other children in this lifetime and asked if she could commit to a life with him under this term. Vicki had promptly agreed, without any reservations.
Instead of asking Vicki to undergo a female sterilization operation, which would entail a physical sacrifice, Jarrod respected her enough as his chosen partner not to impose such a demand. He decided to undergo a vasectomy.
By allowing Alec to leak the news to Vicki, Jarrod was providing Vicki with another opportunity. It was a chance to reconsider her decision.
Alec understood well that those determined to leave would do so regardless. Take Nicole for instance. Jarrod had experienced this painfully with Nicole.
Despite his desperate efforts to keep her, she left him coldly. Revealing such critical news before Jarrod’s wedding with Vicki seemed wise, allowing them to separate amicably early on if Vicki couldn’t come to terms with it.
Satisfied with Jarrod’s decision, Alec nodded and exited.
Meanwhile, Jarrod pulled out his phone and replayed Austin’s video once more. Austin resembled him strikingly, with the same furrowed eyebrows and piercing eyes. Yet, he wondered whether Austin shared his stoic demeanor.
Becoming a father had clarified many of his expectations. His relationship with Nicole was one of mutual destruction. Staying together meant binding each other with ropes. Aware of the toxicity of their bond, Jarrod was determined to shield his child from it.
Since change was impossible, Jarrod chose to purge his thoughts of Nicole. Dwelling on her only fueled his anger, jeopardizing his ability to remain a composed and rational father for Austin.
Jarrod set his phone aside, closed his eyes, and employed the meditation techniques his therapist had recommended.
Gradually, his emotions stabilized, and the anxiety within him eased significantly.
That evening, Nicole visited Kingbel Club as she had been directed.
Jemma spotted her and was taken aback.
Knowing of Nicole’s recent ordeal, Jemma had expected her to be recuperating. Yet, here she was.
Puzzled and concerned, Jemma furrowed her brows and approached Nicole, asking, “Why are you here? Are you feeling better now?”
Nicole nodded reassuringly. “I’m fine, and my injuries aren’t as severe as you might think.”
In truth, Nicole’s body hadn’t fully recuperated. While her injuries weren’t as grave as Jarrod’s, she had endured being trampled and suffered broken ribs during the incident. However, she opted to downplay her condition to spare Jemma from unnecessary worry.
Observing Nicole’s pale complexion, Jemma remained skeptical of her reassurances. Frowning, she insisted, “You still haven’t disclosed why you’re here today. Given your current state, you should prioritize rest and recovery.”
“I’m here today to cover a shift. A familiar client invited me,”
Nicole said.
“A familiar client?” Jemma was skeptical. “Who might that be?”
Nicole hadn’t been in the profession for very long, and Jemma had arranged all of Nicole’s clients thus far. Therefore, Nicole’s mention of a familiar client puzzled Jemma, who was unaware of anyone Nicole might be referring to.
Jemma’s concern was sincere.
Although Nicole couldn’t comprehend why Jemma exhibited such concern for her, she understood that there must be a valid reason behind it.
Regrettably, Nicole found herself unable to confide in Jemma about the truth.
Vicki’s warning echoed in her mind, reminding her of the consequences of disclosing any details about the events of tonight, or else, Vicki threatened to shun her from seeing Austin.
“Don’t worry, Jemma, it truly is a familiar client,” Nicole assured, opting for vagueness to evade further scrutiny.
Jemma sighed, expressing her exasperation, “You’re becoming increasingly audacious. I seem to never know you.”
Nicole smiled, responding, “That’s not entirely true. You introduced me to this profession, and I’ll always heed your guidance, my mentor.”
Jemma found amusement in Nicole’s words.
“I never realized you possessed such eloquence.” Jemma chuckled.