Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Nicole asked, “Why? Why are you resisting? We’re running out of time!”
The fire in the back seat was intensifying, and the car’s rear was nearly engulfed in flames. The van that had tumbled into the valley was now a charred husk, looking utterly horrifying. Time was slipping away. They needed to move fast.
Seeing the man still wasn’t cooperating, Nicole said, “Write it on my hand.”
Understanding her, the man wrote a single word on her palm. “Leave,”
The way he hastily wrote down the word suggested his urge for her to leave quickly.
Nicole gripped his hand before the man could pull away and said, “You trust me, right? I promise to get us both out alive.”
The man remained unconvinced, but Nicole persisted.
“If you won’t leave, I’ll stay right here with you. In less than five minutes, this car will go over the cliff. We can either die together or live. It’s your choice, and I respect it.”
At her words, the man’s fingers clenched firmly. Clearly, Nicole’s determination resonated with him. At last, he flipped his hand over and clasped hers, signaling his readiness.
Nicole said, “Then I’ll start.”
Her palms and back were drenched in sweat. Fear gripped her, but she couldn’t turn back.
In life, there were no second chances. Only choices that either mattered or didn’t.
Nicole believed the man, who had saved an entire truckload of abducted girls, was a true hero and deserved better than this fate.
“Get ready,” she said firmly, gripping his arm tightly and stepping back to give them room. Taking a deep breath, she counted, “One, two, three!”
“Crash!” With all her strength, Nicole pulled the man toward her.
Then, the man tumbled into Nicole.
As the man was dragged out of the black SUV, the car plummeted off the cliff with a loud crash.
“Ugh…” Nicole felt dizzy and disoriented, overwhelmed by the weight of the man pressing down on her.
Regaining his senses, the man quickly shifted, relieving the pressure on Nicole.
Stars danced before Nicole’s eyes, and her head spun. For a brief moment, her thoughts were blank.
Even though she had been optimistic, deep down, Nicole wasn’t sure if the plan would work. The worst-case scenario was that they would both die.
Luckily, they had pulled through. They had made it out alive.
Even though the man had shifted, he kept hold of Nicole’s hand.
Exhausted from the ordeal, Nicole wasn’t concerned with small details.
She was simply exhilarated that they had both made it.
Lying there, still clutching the man’s hand, Nicole lifted it in victory. “We made it!” The happiness was deep and genuine, like victors in a tough battle.
Just then, the wail of an ambulance pierced the air.
Rescue had arrived.
The truck up ahead had secured assistance and called an ambulance as soon as possible.
The medical team arrived, quickly placing Nicole on one stretcher and the man on another.
Nicole felt a surge of joy, and as she was being whisked away in the ambulance, she turned to look at the man, intending to thank him once more.
At that moment, she caught a clear view of the man’s face, now cleaned. She noticed his distinct eyebrows, dark eyes, and thin Lips.
It was none other than Jarrod!
Suddenly, Nicole’s words of gratitude choked in her throat. How could it be him? How could this be…
A vast wave of despair washed over her. It was such a cruel joke. She had unwittingly saved her own enemy… She cursed silently. It felt like a harsh prank from fate.
Simultaneously, Jarrod realized Nicole had recognized him. Severely injured and struggling after inhaling smoke, he was unable to speak.
His dark eyes met Nicole’s, filled with a mix of emotions he had never experienced before.
He was even more stunned and confused than Nicole. He understood that Nicole had not recognized him earlier and just tried to save him.
She had persisted and even risked her own life to save a stranger in her eyes. How could someone be so selflessly foolish…
The ambulance doors shut, severing their view of each other.
Nicole felt overwhelmed by the harshness of reality. Why was Jarrod here? Why did he come to rescue her? Why did she end up saving Jarrod?
She could not grasp any of it and lacked the energy to think further. Slowly, she drifted off to sleep…
Jarrod slept for an entire day and night.
When he awoke, Alec was crying beside his bed. “Mr. Schultz, you’re finally awake… You scared me to death!”
Jarrod rubbed his sore forehead, still groggy from sleep.
“Mr. Schultz, I can’t let you take such a risk again! You were up against a gang of ruthless robbers, dozens of them. How could you have possibly taken them on alone?” Alec had been genuinely scared this time.
The previous night, Jarrod had received a phone call that changed his expression dramatically, following which he had instructed Alec to locate Nicole.
Alec later discovered that the call had come from Jemma. He couldn’t fathom why Jemma would call Jarrod instead of contacting Nicole’s family or the police after finding Nicole missing. That call had nearly cost Jarrod’s life.
Alec planned to look into Jemma more closely once they were back, suspecting that there was something unusual about her. His instincts told him that Jemma was no ordinary person.
When Alec learned of Nicole’s last known location, he realized that she had run into a group that was dangerous and not to be trifled with.
Despite Alec’s objections, Jarrod had been determined to find Nicole.
He had spent an entire day and night searching, ignoring Alec’s appeals to rest.
Later, upon learning that Nicole might be at that base, Jarrod drove off without waiting for Alec.
By the time Alec caught up with Jarrod, Jarrod was already in an ambulance.
Alec was clueless about what had transpired before that.
In Jarrod’s ward, there was a large bouquet of flowers, the type usually sent by a girl.
Jarrod’s expression darkened, and he was about to speak when the door swung open.
“Hello.” A sweet-looking girl approached.
Jarrod didn’t recognize her.
Upon laying eyes on Jarrod’s face, the girl was momentarily captivated. She walked over and said, “Sir, thank you for rescuing me and the other girls in the truck.”
She set down the fruit basket she was carrying. Jarrod remained silent, and she was reluctant to leave. She never expected their rescuer to be this dashingly handsome.
To her, Jarrod possessed an authoritative presence, even with bandages around his head. He resembled the Prince Charming from the fairy tales she had read.
Jarrod’s eyes were piercing, his features striking. It was rare for girls from the bottom of society to meet someone like him.
“Sir, may I peel an apple for you?” the girl offered.
As she reached for an apple, a stern voice intervened. “You don’t need to. Please leave.” Jarrod’s tone was cold and detached.
The girl, caught off guard, felt embarrassed as she held the apple.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she said, “Sir, I just wanted to express my gratitude.”
Jarrod replied coldly, “There’s no need for thanks. I didn’t intend to save you back then.”
The girl was stunned. If Jarrod hadn’t meant to save them, why had he confronted those ruthless people traffickers? His deeds had practically placed his own life in harm’s way.
At Jarrod’s response, Alec was speechless.
Back at the scene, photos of the ambulance were captured, and the media had quickly learned about Jarrod’s contribution to saving those abducted girls.
They gloried the fact, trumpeting Jarrod’s achievements in saving tons of abducted girls.
The Schultz Group, whose reputation had taken a hit due to some scandals previously, quickly became the talk of the town.
With the widespread praise for Jarrod’s deeds, the stock price of the Schultz Group soared, increasing significantly overnight.
Currently, numerous media outlets were outside, eager to interview Jarrod.
Yet, if Jarrod’s earlier statements about lacking any intention to save those abducted girls were broadcasted, the media frenzy might dissipate and the attention would weaken.