Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“You’re behind this, aren’t you?” Nicole accused more than questioned.
Jarrod’s silence served as an affirmation.
Jarrod was aware of a side effect from Roscoe’s treatment, a detail Miguel had kept from Roscoe.
The treatment involved a cellular activation process that induced temporary amnesia. When mixed with specific medications, this could evolve into permanent memory loss.
Although Jarrod was unsure of the exact dosage Miguel had administered, at that time, Miguel had confidently promised that Roscoe would forget everything about Nicole for at least a year.
This assurance was why Jarrod had been willing to let Roscoe wander freely. Otherwise, Jarrod would never have tolerated Roscoe’s presence.
Within a year, much could change. Roscoe might settle down and start a family, while Nicole, pressured relentlessly, might abandon her feelings for Roscoe. Should Roscoe regain his memories someday, the pain of those recollections would be immense.
Jarrod, ever vengeful, pondered the best way to punish a betrayal.
Yet, he knew that any violent retribution would only ignite a fiercer defiance in Nicole and Roscoe. Sapping their will slowly, a subtler, more insidious approach, seemed far more effective, and it suited his style perfectly.
Jarrod saw Nicole’s stubborn defiance as a reaction to Roscoe’s lingering presence in her life. Killing Roscoe would only deepen her attachment to Roscoe, so Jarrod considered alternative strategies to break her spirit.
Without any support, Nicole would have no choice but to be obedient around him.
Observing Jarrod’s silent, confident demeanor, Nicole’s contempt for him deepened. “Jarrod, you consistently find new depths in being vile. Your proficiency in repulsiveness is unmatched,” she declared coldly.
Unruffled, Jarrod’s face was a mask of strategic satisfaction.
“Remember the last chance I offered you last time? Are you ready to give me your answer now? Will you drop the lawsuit, or use up this last chance?”
Jarrod was convinced that Nicole, isolated and unsupported, would finally capitulate. Without Roscoe, who was there for her? Raising a child on her own seemed an absurd thought to him.
Clutching her fists, Nicole channeled the pain to quell her burning hatred. “Forget about taking Austin from me. I won’t let him turn soulless and cold like you. You don’t deserve to be a parent.”
Jarrod’s expression frosted over. He hadn’t anticipated her unwavering stance. Roughly, he seized Nicole’s collar. “Even if I don’t deserve it, he’s still my blood!”
“I had no choice! Do you think I’d willingly give birth to your child if I could choose? Do you think Austin wants you to be his father if granted a chance?”
Nicole’s words struck a chord deep within Jarrod. Subconsciously, he felt she despised the child because it was his. She wanted a child with someone else, like Roscoe? Over his dead body!
Fury surged through Jarrod. He gritted his teeth. “He would! Many women in Ardlens want my child. You should feel lucky. Otherwise, did you think I’d tolerate your audacity?”
Nicole Laughed bitterly, tears welling. “You’re too confident, Jarrod.”
With a sneer, she continued, “Just to bear your child, they have to endure being your secret lover, accept your abuses, serve you like a maid, and endure your slaps… Hmph!”
Coldly, she added, “Ardlens doesn’t have many degraded women like that! I had no choice. Meeting you is my worst luck, my karma. If I could, I’d wish you’d ignore me, so I wouldn’t have to know you!”
Jarrod’s figure faltered, retreating a step suddenly.
In an instant, he crushed the glass ruthlessly in his hand, blood oozing from his palm. Tomorrow seemed unnecessary. The confrontation was here and now.
Jarrod lifted his blood-soaked hand, accusingly pointing at her. “So, this is your decision? To want nothing to do with me?”
“Yes, it’s exactly what I wish for,” Nicole stated bluntly.
Jarrod stood frozen, a statue carved of ice. “Fine, fine, fine.”
After a long pause, Jarrod finally spoke. “I’ll grant your request, Nicole. Come to court tomorrow, and our dealings will be devoid of mercy. I won’t go easy on you again.”
Saying those words pained Jarrod deeply. It was evident to anyone that Nicole wanted nothing to do with him, yet he couldn’t grasp it.
Repeatedly, he warned Nicole against defying him.
But Nicole merely smiled and replied, “Thank you.” Love might fade, but not hatred. In Jarrod’s presence, the animosity would reignite.
The agony he had inflicted on her was unforgettable.
After a moment’s pause, Jarrod left, leaving behind a chilling pool of blood.
Nicole gazed at it numbly. The harm Jarrod had inflicted on her and her family was more than this pool of blood, having drained their family’s vitality.
Jarrod stepped into the blinding sunlight, wishing he could snatch the sun from the sky to quench his bitterness.
Alarmed by Jarrod’s pallor and the bloody gash on his palm, Alec hurried over. “Mr. Schultz, your hand. Let me bandage it.”
Opening the car door swiftly, Alec retrieved the first aid kit.
As Alec started unrolling the gauze, Jarrod snatched it away and clumsily wrapped it around his wound.
“You should disinfect it, Mr. Schultz,” Alec insisted.
“It’s fine,” Jarrod retorted icily. Disinfect? He was immune to all poisons long ago.
Alec could sense the tension etched on Jarrod’s face. Another unpleasant encounter with Nicole must have occurred. Why couldn’t she be sensible and appreciate Jarrod’s efforts?
Last night, Jarrod had abruptly left an important company dinner for the hospital after a call, leaving the other executives in a lurch.
Despite Alec handling the aftermath, the foreign CEO remained incensed, demanding, “What could be so urgent that he had to leave?”
Alec attempted to patch things up, yet the CEO remained adamant, compelling Jarrod to come back.
Who could have predicted Jarrod’s reaction to be so indifferent? The deal slipped away effortlessly, as though it were inconsequential.
A billion-dollar contract that could have propelled the company to the summit, was failed to secure because of Jarrod’s hasty departure for Nicole. It was exasperating, the irrationality of infatuation.
“Where shall we go, Mr. Schultz?” Alec inquired at last, breaking the prolonged silence.
“The Oasis Apartment,” Jarrod responded.
Alec paused, contemplating the familiar destination. The Oasis Apartment again. It was Jarrod’s sanctuary, a place he sought solace whenever the opportunity arose.
Alec couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Jarrod. Ever since that court summons arrived, Jarrod’s demeanor had soured, casting a pall over the entire company.
The staff tiptoed around Jarrod, fearing his wrath, knowing that a single misstep could result in a deluge of extra work. Who would dare to provoke him?
Alec assumed Jarrod had likely harbored hopes that yesterday’s call would pave the path to reconciliation, explaining his urgent departure. Yet, the outcome remained disappointingly unchanged.
At that moment, Alec grasped the harsh reality that when women ceased to love, they could be unforgivingly merciless.
At the Oasis Apartment, Jarrod bid Alec farewell, instructing him not to wait, before ascending the steps alone.
Alec observed the towering figure vanish into the night, a pang of concern gripping him like witnessing an injured alpha wolf retreat into solitude to nurse its wounds.
The comparison unsettled Alec. After all, wolves were known for their unwavering monogamy.
As Jarrod pushed open the cold door, he was met with a haunting silence. The emptiness echoed his solitude.
The pristine table and floor, gleaming from the recent cleaning, only accentuated the loneliness of his presence.
Pouring himself a drink, he swallowed it down in one gulp before disappearing into the shower, hoping to wash away the fatigue that weighed heavy on his shoulders.
Returning to the familiar expanse of their once-shared bed, Jarrod found himself lost in thought for what felt like an eternity.
Reprimanding himself internally, he acknowledged that tonight marked the end of his emotional entanglement with Nicole. He couldn’t allow her to hold sway over him any Longer.
Having navigated the treacherous waters of the underworld and emerged victorious from countless business skirmishes, it seemed inconceivable that he still couldn’t purge her from his mind. She, a woman devoid of compassion, was not worthy of his continued affection.
The following day, Nicole arrived at the courthouse wearing a striking green coat, a hue that only she could wear with such alluring elegance.
Determined to present her best self in the face of impending judgment, Nicole found solace in Rhett’s reassurance. “Miss Lawrence, rest assured. As long as Jarrod remains afflicted and compliant with his treatment, he stands no chance of gaining custody.”
The notion of a parent, plagued by mental instability, caring for a young child was one that no legal system would condone.
Though partially reassured, Nicole remained wary. Jarrod awaited her next move, unaware of the ace she held up her sleeve, an advantage she intended to exploit to its fullest.
Glancing at his watch, Rhett broke the silence, asking, “Ready to head in?”
Nicole nodded, about to take a step forward when a piercing, scornful voice cut through the air.
“Well, well, look who’s dressed in green. Trying to flaunt your affair with Jarrod?” The voice belonged unmistakably to Doreen.
Despite Nicole’s intention to ignore the provocation, Doreen persisted, still seething over the disdainful glance Roscoe had cast her way during their last encounter. Even though Jarrod had assured her that Roscoe’s memory loss would lead to acceptance, why did Roscoe continue to gaze at Nicole with such longing? He had never looked at her like that before.
Though Nicole tried to brush off Doreen’s words, her gaze inevitably fell upon Roscoe, who stood beside Doreen in a dapper gray suit, clutching a white handbag. His thoughtful demeanor, once directed toward her, now lavished upon another.
A sudden recollection struck Nicole. Roscoe had pledged to stand by her side during significant events. Yet here he was, a mere spectator on the opposing side of her struggle.
Nicole’s heart ached with a pang of betrayal, yet she knew she had no right to blame Roscoe. He was innocent, enduring unjust treatment due to the conflict between her and Jarrod. It was her fault, entirely.
Nicole’s look of anguish clouded Roscoe’s features once more, a sight he had grown accustomed to over time. He couldn’t comprehend why Nicole always regarded him with that mix of sorrow and empathy, as though she pitied him for some reason.
Standing by Roscoe’s side, Doreen grew increasingly agitated, observing Nicole’s deliberate disregard for her presence, which only stoked her fury. She had come to court today seeking entertainment, hoping to revel in Nicole’s discomfort.