Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Jarrod’s gaze was icy when he interrupted her, “You lost your word? You probably don’t even know who the father of the child is. Since you crave that lifestyle, I’ll grant you that wish!”.
Suddenly, he lifted her effortlessly. He was surprised at her lightness. It weighed no more than a child.
Nicole, unsure of his intentions, was startled.
“Jarrod, where are you taking me? Let go of me. I’ve resigned from my company. You have no right to do this to me.”
Undeterred, Jarrod led her to his car and pulled her inside.
“You have no right?”
Jarrod’s laugh was cold as he threw a stack of documents in Nicole’s face.
“Read these and then talk to me about my rights!”.
The papers hit Nicole’s face, stinging her. She picked one up, her limited legal knowledge enough for her to spot the glaring loopholes in the Lawrence Group project detailed in the document.
Her hands trembled as she flipped through each page, only pausing when she saw her father’s signature and the company’s official seal on the last page.
She trembled, disbelief taking hold of her.
Jarrod watched her reaction, his voice icy.
“See, your father’s actions could land him in jail.”
Nicole’s voice trembled.
“It’s a forgery! My father would never sign this.”
Jarrod’s chuckle was bitter.
“Forgery? We have audio and video evidence. Your father signed it himself, while he was sick in bed. His trusted aide, Brett, handed it to him, promising him it would secure your position as heir.”
Nicole was incredulous.
“You bribed Brett?”
Brett had worked for her father for decades, always trustworthy.
Jarrod scoffed.
“You bribed him? He came to me, willing to betray your father for his benefit.”
Nicole’s world crumbled. Brett, the man she trusted, had deceived them.
Maddened, she shredded the documents and let the pieces fall to the floor.
Jarrod leaned against the car and casually lit a cigarette.
“Tear them up all you want. I can easily put them back together.”
Hearing this, Nicole acted irrationally. She started shoving the broken pieces into her mouth, swallowing them desperately.
Nicole continued to stuff more paper into her mouth, her actions becoming more and more frantic.
At first, Jarrod watched her with some amusement. However, as she persisted, his amusement turned to concern.
Did she really intend to swallow all those pieces?
Dropping his cigarette, Jarrod stepped forward to stop her. He got angry and said, “Have you lost your mind?
Spit them out.”
But Nicole seemed oblivious, her mouth tightly shut as she swallowed the dry, sharp fragments.
The paper scraped painfully across her throat, like a blade cutting through her.
Jarrod, now furious, gripped her chin firmly.
“Spit them out!”
Nicole, ignoring him, struggled to continue, her throat emitting a painful throat clearing.
With his fingers, Jarrod pried her mouth open and scolded her, “Are you crazy? Swallowing these won’t change anything. They’re just backups.”
Backups… Nicole realized. Of course, Jarrod wouldn’t have given her the originals. How funny! They were backup copies.
She let Jarrod take the paper from her mouth, her throat raw and sore. The bloody scraps of paper looked like diseased cells, a gruesome sight.
Jarrod dragged her out and began to rinse her mouth with mineral water.
He poured the water liberally, drenching Nicole thoroughly.
Standing there, Nicole stood passive, like a lifeless statue, unresisting as the water soaked her completely.
Beneath the torn coat, a black sweater tight to her body contrasted with the pallor of her skin.
Her severe illness had dimmed the radiance of her complexion, making her appear more vulnerable. Her slender figure, with its subtle curves and fragile waist, possessed an understated charm.
Her delicate face only added to her captivating presence.
Jarrod, who held the water bottle, tensed and his breathing deepened.
His hand involuntarily went to her waist and he tugged impulsively at the sweater, exposing the pale skin beneath.
Nicole snapped out of her daze, shivering with cold.
“Jarrod, stop!”
His eyes, cold and angry, bore into her.
“It’s only been a few days and you’ve already managed to raise eighty million. Were you that busy with the men?”
Nicole looked away, her silence heavy. She couldn’t reveal the source of the money.
Jarrod, interpreting her silence as guilt, felt a surge of anger. His handsome features twisted with disdain.
“Do you have any idea how someone as shameless as you is treated?” he sneered.
Then he shoved her against the hood of the car, his voice harsh.
“Kneel down!” he ordered, pressing his leg against hers to force her to obey.
Nicole knelt before Jarrod, her body weak and pressed against his knee.
Jarrod deftly undid his belt buckle with a silent snap.
Nicole’s face drained of color. She knew what he wanted her to do.
Indignant, she couldn’t hold back the words.
“Jarrod, isn’t Jamie enough for you? Can’t you wait until you recover from your illness?”
Jarrod let out a derisive chuckle.
“Isn’t this what you deserve? I wouldn’t treat Jamie like this. I appreciate her.”
His words stung, as if he belittled her and considered her a mere plaything to be used by men.
Embarrassment gripped Nicole, who clenched her lip between her teeth until she reddened.
Jarrod, unperturbed, cradled the back of her neck with his hand, eyes intense. He spoke softly, but firmly.
“Whether your father ends up in jail will depend entirely on my state of mind.”
He guessed Nicole had lied to him again, and his fury was rising.
He had almost forgotten the venom that lurked beneath her beautiful appearance.
In her mind, Nicole considered men mere pawns for her schemes. She hated herself for falling into her trap.
She was never sincere, always calculating and deceitful.
But he couldn’t let her go, using force to keep her close. He convinced himself it was his way of getting revenge, since she had played with his feelings. He wanted to make her suffer slowly.
Nicole shuddered and her eyelashes fluttered. She closed her eyes, refusing to show her tears.
Jarrod watched her and coldly commanded, “Open your eyes!”.
Reluctantly, Nicole opened her eyes, and the sparkle in her eyes dimmed.