Chapter 1685

Chapter 1684: Alternate Ending 3/10

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The days passed with a feeling of unease settling into every corner of Nicole's life. Although she had agreed with Jarrod to take some time to clear her thoughts, the uncertainty of being separated from him began to weigh on her. Austin, her son, was the only anchor that kept her life somewhat normal, and every time she saw him, Nicole felt a mix of deep love and fear. Fear of what the future held for the three of them.

Nicole knew this situation couldn't go on forever. Her steps led her, like a magnet, to her lawyer's office, where she had been mulling over the possibilities for her and Austin's future. The lawyer, a serious but friendly man, watched Nicole patiently, waiting for her to break the silence.

“Have you made a decision?” the lawyer finally asked, bringing her out of her reverie.

Nicole took a deep breath. “I’m not ready to go through with the divorce yet,” she said, her words filled with doubt, but firm in her conviction. “But I need to know what options I have, and how I might be able to protect Austin if things don't improve.”

The lawyer agreed. “It's a difficult path, Nicole, but it's important that you prepare for any scenario. Jarrod is an influential man, and if you decide to go through with this, you must be ready for a battle that won't be easy. However, from what you've told me, it seems that you're looking for more than just an escape."

Nicole slowly agreed. “I don't want to fight,” she confessed. “But I also don't want to be stuck in a marriage that's not good for me or Austin. Jarrod and I have a history, but I don't know if that's enough to keep us together. “If we keep going like this, we’re just going to destroy each other.”

The lawyer looked at her with empathy. “Love and resentment often go hand in hand in these situations,” he said quietly. “It's hard to know when it's time to let go.”

Nicole closed her eyes for a moment, trying to control the rush of emotions she felt. She remembered the good times, the shared laughter, the promises whispered in the dark. But she also remembered the pain, the fights, and the constant feeling of walking a tightrope.

“I can't make this decision lightly,” she said finally. “Jarrod has always been everything to me, but now I don't know if I'm enough for him… or if he's enough for me.”

The lawyer agreed again, understanding. “Take all the time you need. “I’ll be here to help you when you’re ready.”

Nicole stood up, grateful for the lawyer's words. As she left the office, she felt a weight on her chest that she found difficult to shake off. She knew she needed time, but she also knew that time could become her worst enemy if she didn't act soon.

Back at home, Austin was playing in the yard under the supervision of a babysitter. Seeing her son so carefree gave Nicole a small spark of hope, albeit fleeting. Her world revolved around Austin, and everything she did had to be about giving him a stable and secure future. As she watched him run through the trees, she felt her heart break a little more.

That night, while Austin slept, Nicole stayed in the living room, staring out the window, lost in her thoughts. The city lights glittered in the distance, but she saw only an abyss of uncertainty. The sound of the door opening interrupted her reverie. She knew it was Jarrod, who was late as usual.

He entered the room with measured steps, as if he didn't know whether to approach or keep his distance. They were both engaged in a kind of cautious dance, neither wanting to take the first step towards the other, for fear of breaking the delicate balance they had maintained.

“Nicole,” he said finally, his voice low but full of intent. “We need to talk.”

Nicole acknowledged, knowing that this inevitable moment had arrived. Jarrod sat down across from her, and for a few seconds, neither of them spoke. The silence between them was almost tangible, laden with everything they hadn't said in the past few weeks.

“I’ve been thinking,” Jarrod continued, not taking his gaze off her. “About what you said. About us. And about Austin.” The words hung in the air, and Nicole felt a knot in her stomach.

“And what have you decided?” he asked, his voice barely a whisper.

Jarrod leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I don't want to lose you,” he said sincerely. “I know I've made mistakes, I know I've failed you... but I want to make it right. “I don’t want our son to grow up without a family.”

Nicole looked at him, and for the first time in a long time, she saw a vulnerable man in front of her. The confident and controlling Jarrod seemed to have vanished, and what was left was a man filled with fear and regret.

“I don't want Austin to grow up without a family either,” Nicole said softly. “But we can't continue like this. “This… what we’ve been like lately, is not what I want for myself, or for him.”

Jarrod nodded slowly. “I know. And I'm willing to change. For you, for Austin. But I need you to give me a chance, Nicole. Just one.”

Nicole felt a whirlwind of emotions inside her. Part of her wanted to believe him, wanted to hold on to that small spark of hope that things could get better. But another part of her was tired, exhausted from so many broken promises and so many failed attempts.

Nicole took a deep breath before continuing, trying to gather her thoughts as she felt the weight of the decision she was about to make. “I'm willing to try, but I need you to understand that this isn't going to be easy. “We’ve been through a lot, and even though I want Austin to have a family, I can’t ignore what’s happened between us.”

Jarrod agreed, his gaze never leaving Nicole's. “I know,” he said quietly. “I know I've done things wrong, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes to make it right.”

Nicole fell silent, processing Jarrod's words. She knew his intentions were genuine at the moment, but she also knew his pattern of behavior well. Jarrod was a man of big promises, but all too often, those promises were broken under the weight of reality.

“If we're going to do this, Jarrod,” she said finally, her tone firmer now, “it has to be different this time. We can't go back to the same old thing. “I need you to be honest with me, and I need us to work together to get past what happened.”

Jarrod agreed again, his eyes filled with a determination Nicole hadn't seen him in a long time. “I will. “I promise, Nicole.”

The word “I promise” echoed in her head. Promises… so many promises over the years, some kept, some not. Nicole knew this time had to be different, that she had to set clear boundaries to protect herself, to protect Austin. She was willing to try, but it wouldn't be easy.

“Okay,” he finally said, with a sigh. “Let's try it.”

Jarrod let out the breath he had been holding and accepting slowly. “Thank you,” he said softly. “Thank you for giving me a second chance.”

Nicole didn't respond right away. She knew this was just the beginning of a long process, and even though she had agreed to try, there were still many unanswered questions. But at that moment, the first step had been taken.

“Now go and rest,” he said, rising from the couch. “We have a lot of work ahead of us.”

Jarrod looked at her for a moment longer before standing up as well. “I will,” he replied. “And thanks again, Nicole. You won’t regret it.”

Nicole wasn't sure if that last statement was something she could guarantee, but she let it go for the moment. What mattered now was that they were both willing to try and fix things. That, for now, was enough.

As Jarrod climbed the stairs to the bedroom, Nicole stood in the living room for a while longer, looking out the window at the city lights. She knew this was just the first step of many, and that the road ahead would be full of challenges. But for the first time in a long time, she felt a small spark of hope inside her.

The next day brought the same routine as always: Austin running around the house, Jarrod's work calls, and the small moments where the two tried to reconnect. But each of those moments, however small, was a step forward, a sign that they were willing to try, that maybe all was not lost after all.

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