He passed the document to Nicole, who quickly took it and started flipping through the pages.
Jarrodâs 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.
âSince youâre so influential, this visit seems pointless.
â
âWhy would this be pointless?â Jarrod asked.
He tightened his grip on her hand and added, âI want this handled personally.
It adds significance to the process.
â
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 wasnât 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, âIs my presence really necessary to obtain this certificate?â
Jarrod responded with a chuckle, âWhat do you think? Iâm here too, arenât I?â
âSurely Alec could have managed this,â Nicole countered.
Considering that Alec was Jarrodâs right-hand man, he could surely handle tasks like this with ease.
Even so, Jarrod insisted, âIâve said it before, we should handle this ourselves.
â
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 couldnât stand the atmosphere, and the fact that Jarrod was so close to her was driving her insane.