In the mirror, Jarrodâs face transformed into something sinister, his gaze nearly consuming Nicole.
âLook at me.
See whoâs behind you!â He sought her total submission.
Jarrodâs eyes were bloodshot, betraying a desire for more than just her body.
He aimed to dominate her mind, coercing her to speak.
Pain coursed through Nicoleâs stomach, fogging her consciousness, leaving her mind blank.
âSeen it clearly?â Jarrodâs voice was ominous.
Nicole, curled up to soothe her pain, responded weakly, âYesâ¦
Meanwhile, Jarrod was drenched in sweat, his eyes seething as he ordered, âSay it.
Say youâre mine.
â
Nicole, a puppet in her agony, wanted to end the torment.
Perspiration dripped from her face, each drop hitting the floor.
Nicole longed to escape the unbearable torment.
Tears brimmed in her eyes as she struggled to say, âIâm yoursâ¦â
Jarrodâs smile was one of twisted satisfaction.
As he lost himself to his madness, he asked deeply, âYou donât want me to marry, right?â
At his words, Nicoleâs mind snapped back to clarity.
What had she just said? Had she lost her senses? And Jarrod, what the hell was wrong with him?
From the words coming out of his mouth, it seemed he was suggesting heâd call off the wedding if she asked.
What a freak! Was he out of his mind?
Nicoleâs eyes turned icy as she replied dispassionately, âI wish you a happy marriage.
May you have a baby of your own as soon as possible.
â
âOuchâ¦â Nicole couldnât suppress her cry of pain.
She was certain Jarrod did it on purposeâ¦
Once he was done, Jarrod left her on the floor and headed for a shower.
Nicole, curled on the floor, writhed in agony.
The stomach pain was unbearable, preventing her from standing.
She attempted to stand, pain radiating through her body.
Her heart felt gripped by an unseen force, threatening a heart attack at any moment.
Recently, these symptoms had become more frequent, barely manageable with her special painkillers.
She couldnât afford to meet her demise before her fatherâs surgery.
Struggling to the bedside table, she retrieved a bottle of painkillers and swallowed them dry.
But her parched throat resisted the tablets.