Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Jarrod raised an eyebrow, glanced at Nicole, who was focused on her meal, and inquired, “Really? How exactly has he been treating you well?”
Caught off-guard, Doreen feigned bashfulness. “Jarrod, you’re being too nosy. Why must you know everything?”
Jarrod, toying with a cigarette, responded quietly, “If it makes you happy, then let it be. But remember, men like him won’t just be with you. They’ll be with others too.”
“Jarrod, what are you referring to?” Doreen feared Roscoe might overhear Jarrod’s remark. Moreover, there were other people present.
She disliked Jarrod’s disparaging remarks about Roscoe.
Nicole’s hands clenched tighter, her discomfort growing since she felt repulsed by Jarrod’s attitude.
Observing Nicole’s strained hands, Jarrod talked softly, “Thinking an illegitimate son can join our family is wishful thinking on his part.
He is fortunate enough to spend some time with you.”
“Jarrod, lower your voice!” Doreen caught sight of Roscoe approaching from the corner of her eye, stirring a pang of guilt within her.
“Did you feel comfortable with him serving you?” Jarrod looked at Nicole and asked abruptly. His focus was solely on her.
Doreen was puzzled, about to respond when a sudden cough interrupted.
“Ahem…” Nicole’s cheeks flushed as she coughed continuously.
Jarrod, offering a pat on Nicole’s back, commented coldly, “No rush.
We’re just getting started..
His words held a meaningful message.
“Ewww…”” Suddenly, Nicole retched.
Jarrod’s expression darkened.
The next instant, Nicole vomited.
Nicole’s vomiting was so severe that Jarrod was splattered with it.
The undigested food was evident in the mess.
Jarrod’s expression turned grim.
“Sorry, I…” Nicole managed to say between gasps, feeling a sharp pain in her stomach.
But she was unable to continue as she vomited once more. “Ugh!”
She quickly stood up, covered her mouth, and dashed to the restroom.
Jarrod, now smelling of the vomit, looked visibly upset.
A waiter approached and suggested, “Sir, we have facilities here where you can freshen up. There’s a room available for you to change.”
Jarrod, his expression unchanging, nodded in agreement. Once he received some clean clothes, he went to change, his mood clearly soured.
Doreen too decided to change her outfit.
Inside the restroom, Nicole managed to expel all the Shrimp and Grits she had eaten. Yet, the nausea lingered.
After exiting the stall, she rinsed her mouth and washed her face, trying to regain her composure.
When she looked in the mirror again, she saw Roscoe’s reflection.
Roscoe was casually leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets, seemingly waiting for her.
The room fell into a quiet, with neither of them breaking the silence.
Their eyes met in the mirror’s reflection.
Memories of their past life abroad surfaced in Nicole’s mind. Roscoe used to cook for her during weekends and even helped with childcare.
Despite his youth, Roscoe was surprisingly adept at looking after kids. Nicole had always been hesitant to handle the delicate child, but Roscoe naturally had a way with the little one. As a result, Austin grew fond of Roscoe.
Upon reflecting, Nicole acknowledged that her life shouldn’t be that carefree. Her parents couldn’t find peace. They awaited the day when she would bring them justice.
Behind her, Roscoe’s voice broke the silence. “Nicole, I didn’t.”
Nicole’s heart raced upon hearing him. Just those few words conveyed a whole message to her.
After years of shared understanding, Roscoe knew Nicole grasped his meaning. He was clarifying that he wasn’t in any relationship. Even without her asking for it, he felt compelled to explain.
Stepping closer, Roscoe met Nicole’s gaze in the mirror and affirmed, “Nicole, I will always be faithful to you!”
His love burned passionately, and his promises held formidable strength.
Yet, Nicole didn’t dare to reciprocate his feelings. She was on a challenging path, fraught with obstacles. It wasn’t right to drag anyone else into her troubles.
With a cool demeanor, Nicole responded, “Roscoe, your actions are your own concern, not mine!”
After Nicole’s words, a heavy silence enveloped the room.
Smiling, Roscoe said, “Nicole, I can see that you care about me.”
Nicole seemed to be unaware that whenever she lied, she unconsciously pinched the nail of her index finger.
Roscoe couldn’t help but smile upon noticing this. Realizing that she was deliberately provoking him, an act out of her care for him, he felt a surge of happiness so intense that his heart nearly leaped out of his chest.
Nicole was stunned. She hadn’t expected that Roscoe wouldn’t believe her words at all. With reddened eyes, she uttered with a cold determination, “Don’t do all those useless things. You know that I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself!”
Nicole couldn’t comprehend why Roscoe had abandoned his medical career to return to the notorious Watts family.
Nicole had harbored suspicions about Roscoe’s true identity long before.
During his time abroad, Roscoe was invariably shadowed by bodyguards.
Since they did not seem to be hired by Roscoe himself, it could only mean that he was from a wealthy background where his mere identity required protection.
Nicole had kept an ear out in her social circle, and heard whispers that Doreen favored the newly returned illegitimate son of the Watts family. However, she hadn’t expected it to be Roscoe.
The Watts family’s reputation was tarnished, engulfed in a mire of scandals.
Roscoe was so pure that Nicole had the inexplicable desire to shield him from all of it.
“I won’t do anything useless.” Aware that this wasn’t a good place to talk, Roscoe dropped his voice to a murmur. “Nicole, I’ll be waiting for you at our usual spot tomorrow at midnight.”
With a solemn shake of her head, Nicole whispered back, “I won’t be there.”
Roscoe was accustomed to her rejection and the sting of disappointment, and the smile on his face remained unyielding. “Then I’ll be there every night without fail.”
Nicole was at a loss for words.
Roscoe pressed on, “I noticed the ginger in your porridge earlier.
It’s too much flavor for you now, so don’t eat it. And don’t forget to take your medication when you get home.”
Tears brimmed in Nicole’s eyes. Roscoe’s kindness overwhelmed her. If she continued to refuse him, how would she be any different from Jarrod, a cold-blooded and ruthless person?
Roscoe’s and Nicole’s reflections swam in the mirror nearby.
Tilting his head slightly, Roscoe brushed away Nicole’s tears with his thumb. As his fingers wiped away the tears, he softly asked, “Do you love me, Nicole?”
Nicole trembled nervously.
Roscoe’s smile widened, and when he spoke, his voice carried a subdued but unmistakable joy. “You don’t need to answer. Time will tell.”
Once more, Nicole did not know how to respond. She was hesitant to say anything that would crush his hopes.
Roscoe looked at her and said in a resolute tone, “Nicole, give me some time. I’ll grow up.” He pledged to evolve into the partner Nicole needed, someone capable of protecting her.
Before Nicole could offer a response, a frigid voice sliced through the air. “What are you talking about?”
Jarrod’s icy face came into view. He was clad in a suit as cold as his demeanor. His penetrating gaze locked onto Nicole and Roscoe, harboring a hint of danger.
With a shudder, Nicole clenched her fists.
Roscoe, on the other hand, remained calm and composed. “Nothing important.”
“Okay,” Jarrod responded impassively, his features betraying no emotion. He moved closer, enveloping Nicole in a tight embrace, his arm encircling her shoulder.
Sensing Nicole trembling, Jarrod chuckled. “Your hand feels like ice.
Are you alright?”