Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Then, managing to free one hand, she slapped him fiercely.
“Ahh!” Nicole let out a piercing scream, her voice steeped in desperation and fear.
Memories of past suffering came rushing back, and she cried out, “Jarrod, how many times do you plan to push me to the brink before you’re content!”
Her anguished cry seemed to crush Jarrod’s heart. He gazed at her, his aggression fading, and rasped, “I’m sorry, Nicole. I won’t coerce you, I promise..
Nicole was haunted by painful memories, tormenting her unbearably.
Jarrod uttered, “I owe you a life. Can you find it in your heart to love me once more?”
Nicole let out a hysterical cry, “Jarrod, I’d throw a party if you were gone! How can you still wish for my love!”
“Really?” Jarrod’s eyes reddened, and he laughed self-mockingly knew it. But if it brings you a moment of joy, it’s worth it to me.
Nicole was baffled, failing to grasp his meaning.
Suddenly, Jarrod slumped before her, his hands on her waist.
“Jarrod, I swear I’ll disable you if you touch me!” Nicole attempted to shove Jarrod away in revulsion, only to encounter something wet and detect a strong smell of blood.
Nicole felt a chill as she slowly retracted her hand from his stomach. She couldn’t see the color of her hand, only a swath of red.
Her hand shook, realizing she had inadvertently pulled off the seat’s headrest, its sharp metal edge piercing Jarrod.
Nicole’s hands were paralyzed with shock. She nudged him. “Jarrod…
Come on. Wake up…”
Jarrod was unresponsive, his breath barely noticeable.
Just then, her phone buzzed.
Recognizing the caller ID, Nicole answered with shaking hands, her voice trembling, “I think I’ve killed someone…”
Suddenly, the car door was yanked open. It was Alec, Jarrod’s assistant, who appeared.
Alec took in the bloody spectacle, shock written all over his face as he lifted the unconscious Jarrod, shouting, “Mr. Schultz!”
Nicole was still caught in a haze, mumbling to her phone, “I’ve killed someone…”
Without warning, Alec abruptly stepped forward, grabbed the phone from Nicole’s grasp, and hurled it against the seat. He was filled with loathing for Nicole, wishing he could banish her forever!
Even if Nicole had only accidentally hurt Jarrod, the Schultz family’s resources in a legal battle could ensure her punishment.
Yet, Alec was powerless to act against Nicole because Jarrod had explicitly instructed him to safeguard Nicole at all costs. Even if it meant protecting her when he himself was injured.
Alec clenched his jaw and warned, “If you don’t want to be taken away, then behave!”
Alec reclined Jarrod’s seat, instructed Nicole to sit at the back, and took the wheel himself.
With the seat reclined, Jarrod’s visage was just a breath away.
Moonlight cast on his usually stern features made him appear particularly ghostly and still, as though he was lifeless.
This was Nicole’s first glimpse of Jarrod in such a weakened state.
Her heart racing, she wanted to check if he was still breathing, but her hand was shaking too much to manage.
The nighttime highway was eerily quiet. The silence inside the car was even more intense than the stillness outside.
Nicole curled up, her thoughts in turmoil. She couldn’t wrap her head around the fact that she had actually stabbed Jarrod in her frenzy.
The moment she saw him drenched in blood, panic set in. A whirlwind of thoughts overtook her, mainly that it might be better if he was gone, putting an end to their shared turmoil. If he was gone, every complication, fixation, and animosity would dissipate.
Nicole even thought, if Jarrod wasn’t yet gone, she might find the resolve to strike again.
Yet, when faced with the chance, she discovered, to her dismay, she couldn’t follow through.
What she desired was to see Jarrod held accountable, to confess his misdeeds, and to acknowledge the manipulative contract that resulted in her father’s demise!
This was not the way she wanted it to happen. Otherwise, how would she distinguish herself from him, so devoid of empathy? Engaging in such a destructive act, how could she look her deceased parents in the eye if she were to meet her demise…
And then there was Austin. Nicole couldn’t abandon Austin. She needed to remain resilient until Austin’s health was fully recovered.
Resilient enough to outmaneuver Jarrod!
The car stopped at a secluded villa.
Immediately, attendants approached with a stretcher to transport Jarrod inside.
Medical professionals were already on site tending to Jarrod. Alec stayed outside, turned to Nicole, and said with a stern tone, “Miss lawrence, please exit the vehicle.”
Gazing at the isolated villa, Nicole felt a sense of foreboding and instinctively recoiled. “What are your intentions? I want to return home!”
Alec sneered, “Miss lawrence wishes to return home?”
“Indeed, or I might surrender myself. It was not deliberate. He was trying to rape me!”
“You seem quite assured, Miss lawrence. Perhaps you’d like to hear the audio from the car’s dashboard camera?”
Alec had reviewed the recording. Though Jarrod had lost control momentarily, ultimately he desisted, promising not to coerce Nicole.
Yet, Nicole had still inflicted a wound on Jarrod with the seat’s headrest’s metal edge.
The interplay between Nicole’s statement and her actions was intricately timed, almost too perfectly aligned. With Alec’s intervention, Nicole’s argument would stand no ground to win if it went to the court.
Knowing Alec’s capability, Nicole’s gaze hardened, and she inquired, “What do you desire?”
“I desire nothing, except…” Alec halted and then stated coldly, “Miss lawrence, you’ve gravely injured Mr. Schultz and expect to walk away? Isn’t that too much?”
Nicole reiterated, “It was not deliberate.”
Alec was uninterested in her defenses, seizing Nicole’s arm and urging her out of the vehicle.
Then, he stated bluntly, “Step out. Remain here until Mr. Schultz regains consciousness!”
Nicole understood Alec would not permit her departure. With that realization, she chose to await Jarrod’s recovery. Moreover, this location seemed to be Jarrod’s sanctuary. It could hold vital secrets.
With that in mind, she entered the villa with composure.
Behind Nicole, Alec observed her back with a steely gaze. He didn’t share Jarrod’s sentiments for Nicole. To him, Jarrod’s safety was paramount.
Should Jarrod not survive, Alec would no longer feel bound by Jarrod’s directives. He would eliminate Nicole himself to ensure she followed Jarrod to the grave.
At Doreen’s villa.
Doreen exited the black Mercedes SUV from the rear seat. She had hoped to sit in the front, but a large box Roscoe placed there made her choose the back seat instead, as she felt too shy to ask him to move it.
After stepping out of the car, Doreen lingered around the car, casting admiring glances at Roscoe. She was anticipating him asking for her contact details. It struck her as odd since they had enjoyed a lovely evening yet hadn’t exchanged contact details. At least, she assumed they had a wonderful night together.
Noticing Doreen still by the vehicle, Roscoe courteously said, “Miss Schultz, farewell.”
With that, he began to roll up the window, preparing to drive off.
Doreen was taken aback. Was that all? Why hadn’t he requested her contact information? Did he expect her, a lady, to make the first move? Questions swirled in Doreen’s mind.
Just as Roscoe’s car started to pull away, Doreen mustered the courage and said, “Roscoe…”
Roscoe turned to her, and a single look from him made Doreen blush.
He was excessively handsome, his gaze clear. His eyes conveyed warmth.
Blushing, Doreen mustered the courage to say, “Did you forget something?”
“What did I forget?” Roscoe inquired, genuinely puzzled.
“I was referring to my contact information.” Doreen, cheeks red, ventured, “If we don’t exchange numbers, how will we stay in touch once we’re apart?”
“There’s no need,” Roscoe simply replied.
“Huh?” Doreen was puzzled, thinking Roscoe hadn’t caught her drift, and impulsively said, “Roscoe, I really like…”
Roscoe showed no interest in continuing the conversation, cutting her off with an air of detachment, “Miss Schultz, our meeting today has concluded.”
“What?” Doreen was taken aback, her voice quivering. “Roscoe, what are you implying?”
Roscoe stated plainly, “I came to meet you today at the behest of my family. Now that it’s over, there’s no need for further interaction.”
“But Roscoe, we seemed to connect so well today…”