Undeterred, Jarrod advanced, grasping Nicoleâs shoulders firmly as he curved his lips into a faint smile.
âI know this child is mine, Nicole.
You canât terminate the pregnancy.
â
âI canât?â Nicole erupted into loud, bitter laughter.
âJarrod, who are you to dictate what I can and cannot do? Let me tell you, I will terminate this pregnancy without hesitation.
Do you truly believe you can keep an eye on me incessantly? Are you going to assign someone to monitor me 24 hours a day, never resting? When I step into the bathroom, there will surely be no one watching.
I possess countless means to end this pregnancy.
Do you honestly think you can control me?â
Nicole fixed Jarrod with a chilling glare.
âStop deluding yourself, Jarrod.
Do you truly believe you deserve to be the father of my child?â
Jarrodâs countenance, now adorned with the crimson imprint of her slap, remained composed.
He uttered calmly, âNicole, I understand you wish to leave me, but until this child is born, I cannot consent to a divorce.
If you desire to maintain a relationship with Austin post -divorce, you will need to carry this pregnancy to term.
â
While outwardly serene, internally, Jarrod wrestled with a tempest of emotions.
He had braced himself to let go.
Nicoleâs affection for him had long waned despite his efforts to reconcile.
As Mitchel had pointed out, coercing her to stay by his side would only result in mutual destruction.
For the sake of their child, he mustnât act rashly.
If Nicole had to assign blame, it should fall upon this unborn child for arriving at such an inopportune moment.
Nonetheless, Jarrod would never permit her to terminate the pregnancy.
He understood that this might be their final Link.
Nicole found herself at a loss for words, murmuring, âYouâre delusional!â She remained resolute in her decision not to carry the child to term.
Without engaging in an argument, Jarrod instructed his assistant to retrieve the agreement.
âDo not act impulsively.
Review it before making a decision.
â
Nicole scrutinized the terms meticulously.
According to the agreement, following childbirth, they could dissolve their marriage, with both parties retaining visitation rights.
Their children would reside with either parent but maintain the autonomy to choose their primary residence, while the other parent would be granted visitation privileges.
On the surface, the conditions appeared equitable.
Jarrod wasnât coercing Nicole into relinquishing their children but rather proposing shared custody.
However, Nicoleâs distrust in Jarrod ran deep.
She perceived him as cunning, suspecting that his desire for this child stemmed from a calculated intention to manipulate her.
Could he genuinely be altruistic enough to present such seemingly fair terms? She remained skeptical.
âJarrod, I refuse to carry this baby to term,â Nicole declared resolutely.
âI wonât.
â One child was already a handful.
Adding another would only amplify her vulnerabilities, subjecting her to ceaseless torment.
She couldnât endure that pain again.
Jarrod maintained his calm facade, seemingly having anticipated her rejection.
âNicole, contemplate the consequences of your decision.
Are you truly prepared to sacrifice the opportunity to be with Austin and your freedom in exchange for terminating this pregnancy?â
Every word pierced Nicole to her core.
Jarrod was attempting to persuade her, leveraging the child as a bargaining chip for what she held most dear, her connection to her children and her freedom.
Jarrod possessed an intimate understanding of Nicoleâs psyche.
He knew that the more forcefully he pressed, the more she would resist.
His desperation to retain the child drove him to employ any means necessary.
Be it threats or assurances, whatever it took to secure the child.
He desired to keep the child as a link between them.
He harbored a naive hope that perhaps the childâs birth could catalyze a transformation.
Nicole remained silent, her lips tightly sealed, her inner turmoil inscrutable.
Sensing her reticence, Jarrod refrained from further coercion, masking his emotions.
âTake your time to consider, Nicole.
â
Nicole found herself in a quandary.
She would have preferred to decline if she had the freedom to choose.
However, Jarrodâs offer proved too enticing to ignore.
Not only would she regain her freedom, but sheâd also have the chance to reunite with Austin.
Either option alone would have made it nearly impossible for Nicole to refuse.
âI promise you your freedom wonât be restricted during pregnancy.
If you deliver the baby safely, Iâll keep my word, and you will be free to live your life however you choose,â Jarrod said.
Jarrod paused, letting the weight of his words sink in, and then continued, âHowever, if you still decide to terminate the pregnancy, then we wonât have anything to discuss.
You should understand that fighting against me over Austinâs custody and visitation rights is a losing battle.
It wonât give you much time with Austin.
â
Nicole scoffed to herself, feeling her emotions begin to settle.
That sounded more like the old Jarrod.
âWhy are you so set on keeping this baby?â Nicole asked.
Jarrod looked at her in silence for a long time.
Then, with an earnest tone, he responded, âBecause this child is ours.
â