Jarrodâs breathing grew heavier as he edged closer to Nicoleâs seductive figure on the bed.
His broad hand slipped under the thin silk of the nightgown, pressing against her warm skin, kneading gently.
In the quiet room, the faint sounds of his rough breaths echoed.
This continued for a long time until a final, ragged breath escaped his lips.
Then, the trembling stopped.
Jarrod squinted and lay still for a moment.
He withdrew his hand, pulled a few tissues from the bedside table, and cleaned up nonchalantly.
Afterwards, he rose and headed to the bathroom for a cold shower.
Emerging from the bathroom, still bare, Jarrod glanced at the still-sleeping woman on the bed and sighed.
He decided against staying the night.
It would be too challenging.
With that, he opened the door and left the room.
On the bed, Nicoleâs sleep was restless.
Her brows were tightly furrowed, her legs curled up, a sign of deep-seated insecurity.
Nicole had been insecure for many years.
In the past, with her parents close by, she could sleep soundly even on the small, uncomfortable cot in a hospital room.
But since her fatherâs passing, peaceful nights had been rare.
Tonight, she dreamt of her father again.
Her dream traced back to the time when she was a child, and he was taking her to the countryside for a charity event.
In her dream, Nicole found herself walking through endless farmland, her father explaining the various crops and their uses.
He described how these plants would eventually end up on their table.
Tired from walking, little Nicole rode on her fatherâs back.
Listening to his explanations, she innocently asked, âDaddy, why donât the farmers eat meat? Itâs filling and delicious.
Why donât they?â
Her father paused and then laughed heartily at her naive question.
Such innocence was typical for a child her age.
At five, little Nicole couldnât grasp the scarcity of meat and its value.
Growing up in the city with the affluent Lawrence family, Nicole had always been well-fed, even the household staff enjoyed hearty meals.
This made it difficult for little Nicole to understand why farmers lived differently.
Her father tailored his explanation to her young mind.
âDoes my little Nicole like eating meat?â
âYes, I like meat,â Little Nicole replied in her childlike tone.
Meat was delicious, fragrant, and tender, irresistible to anyone.
Her father continued, âThe meat you enjoy, including beef, pork and lamb, comes from animals raised by those farmers.
Instead of eating them, the farmers sell them to support their families.
Many farmers havenât had the opportunity for education, which limits their job options to physically demanding work.
Itâs not that they dislike meat, but selling a pig or a sheep might cover their familyâs annual expenses, including their childrenâs schooling.
They sacrifice their desires, hoping their hard work will offer their children a chance to break free from poverty.
â