Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
This arrangement would prevent her from vanishing without a trace whenever she wished, as she had done previously. There was no way he could let history repeat.
Nicole replied, “Since you understand my intentions, you should realize that I cannot always be near you, because…” She paused and then stated clearly, “Your presence repulses me. How can I possibly stay by your side?”
“Is disgust all that exists between us?” Jarrod asked, his voice uncertain, almost quivering.
Nicole pressed her lips together, choosing to remain silent. She reflected on the past and knew that she hadn’t always hated Jarrod to the core. There was a time on the mountain road when he had risked his life to save her, after which he had nearly fallen off a cliff.
Back then, she didn’t even recognize him, and only found out that it was him once she had saved him. At that moment, feelings other than hatred had emerged.
Those emotions were not her desire for revenge. The feelings were intense and unanticipated, like green grass sprouting through the cracks of a barren desert, stubbornly piercing through her icy heart.
However, Nicole quickly extinguished those emerging feelings and felt they should never have arisen in the first place. She and Jarrod had no future. She could not allow the inappropriate emotions to disturb and sway her resolve.
After a prolonged silence, any hope Jarrod harbored was completely gone. He suddenly chuckled and said, “Disgust is better than never seeing you again for the rest of my life.”
Nicole did not grasp what he meant.
Jarrod explained, “If you leave this car today, I will take every measure to confront the Watts family. Are you ready to abandon that man?”
His eyes brimmed with contempt as he coldly stated, “I’m going to torture him to death!”
“How dare you!” Nicole swiftly turned her head, her hand turning white from tension.
“I’m sure you know that’s within my capabilities,” Jarrod said calmly.
“And you should also be aware that the Hampton family has already discovered your actions yesterday. Without my protection, do you think Vicki and Lowe will spare you?”
Jarrod seemed to have a knack for pinpointing exactly what would manipulate Nicole. “If you terminate our arrangement now, you must understand that it won’t just be you at risk. The people close to you, including Jemma, will also suffer the consequences,” he continued.
Jarrod was correct. Once Nicole stepped out of this car, Vicki would definitely make her pay after catching wind of her actions. Jemma would surely be the first one they targeted.
Nicole wasn’t alone. Jemma was with her and had been a great help.
She couldn’t just disregard Jemma’s safety and walk away without concern.
Jarrod cast his gaze downward and looked at Nicole firmly. “Nicole, the choice is yours. You know the right decision.”
Once their true intentions had been exposed to one another, what remained was a battle to see whose tactics were more ruthless.
Clearly, Jarrod had resolved not to let Nicole leave his side so easily anymore. He was determined to exert control and ensure that she remained by his side, regardless of the consequences or ethical considerations.
Ultimately, Nicole faced a decision. She couldn’t risk Roscoe’s well-being, especially after noticing his condition had deteriorated significantly that day.
If Jarrod could offer Roscoe protection, then at least the Watts family wouldn’t be able to do anything to Roscoe.
With a heavy heart, Nicole closed the car door and sat back down, her complexion ghostly pale. “Jarrod, you must keep your promise,” she stated firmly.
Jarrod’s expression softened slightly, and he leaned in, gently cupping her face and planting a kiss on her cheek. “Absolutely,” he replied.
Nicole was unaccustomed to such closeness. Her initial instinct was to pull away, but Jarrod held her face firmly, preventing her from escaping.
He kissed her lips forcefully and said, “You’ll need to grow accustomed to this. Discomfort is no excuse. I didn’t marry a statue.”
Hearing this, Nicole stopped struggling and her body became passive, resembling that of a doll. At this point, arguing with him seemed meaningless.
She had no desire to maintain a facade of decorum and play the role of a victim. Having decided to make this trade, she had to accept all the indignities that came with it. As Jarrod had pointed out, she needed to not only endure but also adjust.
Soon, the car reached the city hall.
Upon exiting the car, Jarrod grasped Nicole’s hand tightly, interlacing his fingers with hers as though they were a devoted couple.
Unable to break free, Nicole let him guide her. Her expression was vacant as she said, “Jarrod, I don’t have any identification documents with me.”
“I’ve handled everything,” Jarrod declared.
He passed the document to Nicole, who quickly took it and started flipping through the pages.
Jarrod’s influence was indeed vast. He was even capable of securing any information for marriage registration without needing Nicole to sort out the documents.
Nicole had her doubts. With such influence at his disposal, he could have easily arranged their marriage certificate without requiring her to be present at the city hall.
Why insist on her coming here? Plus, they were far from a loving couple. The act of pretending to be one in such a public place was more than just uncomfortable.
Nicole looked at him sharply. “Since you’re so influential, this visit seems pointless.”
“Why would this be pointless?” Jarrod asked.
He tightened his grip on her hand and added, “I want this handled personally. It adds significance to the process.”
A shiver ran through Nicole, her skin prickling with goosebumps. This version of Jarrod, conversing with her without the usual hostility, felt completely alien to her. And if she wasn’t mistaken, his tone seemed almost conciliatory.
Feeling uneasy, Nicole quickened her pace, trying to create some physical distance between them.
Jarrod observed her subtle movements, but instead of annoyance, a smile spread across his face, finding her actions somewhat charming.
The city hall had just opened for the day.
Nicole assumed Jarrod would arrange for a VIP service to expedite their process. However, he surprised her by walking up with a numbered ticket in hand. Number 23.
Nicole was rendered speechless. It seemed that Jarrod was serious about handling this personally. He truly planned to wait in Line, and remarkably, in the short time since opening, twenty-two couples had already queued up before them.
Nicole wondered if today was considered an especially lucky day.
Amidst the crowd of couples, Nicole and Jarrod stood conspicuously apart. Their cool, aloof behavior made them seem more likely to be here for a divorce than a marriage certificate.
The city hall in Ardlens had separate service counters for different needs. Marriages and divorces were handled at distinct windows, each with its own waiting area.
Surrounded by joyous couples, Nicole felt like a fish out of water, unable to pretend they were here for a divorce. Unable to hold herself back, she asked, “Is my presence really necessary to obtain this certificate?”
Jarrod responded with a chuckle, “What do you think? I’m here too, aren’t I?”
“Surely Alec could have managed this,” Nicole countered. Considering that Alec was Jarrod’s right-hand man, he could surely handle tasks like this with ease.
Even so, Jarrod insisted, “I’ve said it before, we should handle this ourselves.”
Jarrod believed that obtaining the marriage certificate without their presence would reduce their marriage to a mere transaction.
Occasionally revealing a more whimsical side, he did not want their union to feel strictly like a business arrangement.
Nicole was at a loss for words. She watched as Jarrod moved closer to her, feeling the urge to shift away.
The seats were designed for one person, and moving would create a noticeable gap between them, which might look odd.
Yet, Nicole couldn’t stand the atmosphere, and the fact that Jarrod was so close to her was driving her insane.
Just as Nicole was about to stand up and move to a different seat, a young girl took the seat next to her.
The girl gestured to the man carrying bags behind her and said, “Honey, sit here.”
Feeling trapped, Nicole decided against moving elsewhere.
The girl’s boyfriend sat beside the girl and greeted Nicole and Jarrod cheerfully, “Hi there!” The young girl smiled brightly at Nicole.
Unable to ignore the young girl’s friendly demeanor, Nicole nodded back and greeted, “Hi.”
“Miss, you’re incredibly beautiful. You must be a celebrity!” the girl commented, her eyes alight with curiosity.
Nicole felt slightly embarrassed. She was hiding scars under her fisherman hat and mask. Only her expressive eyes were visible.
Despite the concealment, Nicole’s eyes were captivating, lending her the aura of a celebrity discreetly arriving to be wed.
“No, I’m just another regular person,” Nicole responded modestly.
“You appear anything but ordinary. And your husband is extraordinarily handsome! I can’t recall when I last saw such a handsome man,” the girl remarked with enthusiasm.
This praise managed to slightly melt Jarrod’s typically frosty demeanor. He then took the initiative to say, “Hello.” It wasn’t motivated not by the flattery, but by the endearing way she referred to him as Nicole’s husband.
The girl blushed deeply, visibly flustered by the handsome Jarrod.
The girl’s boyfriend immediately felt a flash of jealousy. “Could you dial it down a bit? You’re almost drooling,” he joked, his voice free of any real disapproval.
Regaining her composure, the girl playfully scolded, “You know I always blush at the sight of a handsome man.”
The girl then turned to Nicole with a friendly grin. “Miss, please don’t take it the wrong way. I just find your husband to be stunningly handsome. That’s all.”
Her boyfriend added, “Miss, I apologize on her behalf. She’s always been overly enthusiastic about handsome men on TV. It’s rare for her to encounter one in person, so she got a little excited.”
“It’s okay. I’m not offended. And for the record, he isn’t my husband yet,” Nicole clarified.
Nicole remained unaffected by their exchange. In all honesty, she was indifferent to others admiring Jarrod.