Chapter 534 Jacob, What Am I to You?
The atmosphere turned glacial.
Nicole stared at Jacob, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. With the entire family present, she fought desperately to maintain her composure—breaking down here would be utterly humiliating.
After a long moment, she lowered her gaze and spoke quietly, "There are opportunities in Evergreen City too. My roots are here, and I won't spend my entire life in Vesper City. I'll come back eventually."
Jacob met her eyes but remained silent. Finally, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door, his voice echoing from the foyer: "I'm going to the office. I'll drop Nicole at the gallery on my way."
At the breakfast table, Nicole mechanically nibbled at her sandwich while Sarah gently patted her hand. "Don't mind what Jacob says, sweetheart. We'll come home whenever we want. Evergreen City is thriving now—it's every bit as good as Vesper City, and we'd have family support here."
Nicole murmured her agreement, finished her sandwich, and walked out to the driveway where Jacob waited beside his Cullinan, leaning against the seat with a cigarette. His crisp white shirt caught the morning light, accentuating his sharp, handsome features.
She remembered when he'd been different—six years ago, on their first night together, he'd been almost helplessly eager. Now he moved through intimacy with practiced ease.
Seeing her approach, Jacob stubbed out his cigarette and leaned over to open the passenger door. Once she'd buckled her seatbelt, he pulled away from the house.
The car filled with tense silence, broken only by their carefully controlled breathing. Six years together, and they'd never fought like this.
Half an hour later, they stopped outside the Theater. Nicole remained pressed against her seat, staring straight ahead as she spoke, "What am I to you, Jacob? You used to say you'd never marry, that we'd be together forever. I believed you. But after last night, I realize you're willing to compromise with arranged meetings. Now you want me to stay in Vesper City for life. So what am I—your kept woman?"
Jacob turned to face her, his voice rough when he finally answered, "Vesper City isn't far—just a two-hour flight. I could visit anytime. Besides, this is temporary. Once I've secured my position at Windsor Group and Elliot settles down with a family, we can go back to how things were."
"Two hours by plane? Temporary until Elliot marries and has children?" Nicole turned to meet his gaze, tears glistening. "How long is 'temporary,' Jacob? One year? Two? Ten? Is the resistance really that strong, or do you simply look down on me? Yes, I never went to university. I'm not exceptional. But I understand my place."
Jacob frowned and checked his watch. "Could you stop being unreasonable? I need to get to the office. We'll discuss this later."
Nicole blinked slowly, devastated by his dismissal.
She'd given him six years of her life. From innocence to now, Jacob had been her only man, her only love. He'd shaped everything about her—her interests, her schedule, even her wardrobe. She'd believed it was love, but now she saw it had all been her delusion.
Six years, only to be called unreasonable. It was almost laughable.
Nicole tilted her head back, then opened the car door and stepped out. She walked quickly without looking back, leaving no room for reconciliation. She'd finally learned that even the deepest love could be eroded by disappointment.
Jacob didn't follow. He had a crucial project meeting at Windsor Group—one that would determine the board's support for his succession. This presentation was too important to miss.
As he drove away, Jacob failed to realize that this moment marked the beginning of their end. Years later, his business empire would surpass even his father's, but the girl who'd waited six years for him would be long gone. He would lose her, piece by piece.
The boardroom was packed when Jacob arrived, his foul mood evident to everyone present. His handsome face was thunderous as he conducted the meeting with particular harshness toward Amelia.
She suspected Nicole was behind Jacob's dark temper. The thought of Jacob's tenderness toward that girl—so different from his usual cold indifference to women—rankled her. But Amelia wasn't concerned. How much patience could a man like Jacob really spare for any woman?
After the meeting, they needed to discuss some details privately. Amelia, well aware of her assets, deliberately unbuttoned her blouse and leaned forward strategically as she spoke.
When business concluded, she traced her finger across the conference table with practiced seduction. "You two had a fight, didn't you? You should really consider my proposal, Jacob. In a few years, you'll have your heir. After the divorce, you could be with your precious girl."
Jacob rose slowly, looking down at her with calculating eyes that lingered deliberately on her exposed cleavage. His expression held a hint of amusement. "It's still daylight—hardly time for fantasies. And next time, dress appropriately. Windsor Group isn't a brothel."
Amelia flushed with indignation. How could he remain unmoved by her advances? She refused to believe Nicole's body could compare to hers—that naive little thing probably had nothing to offer, barely a handful.
As Jacob reached the door, she called out desperately, "Don't you want to try?"
"Not interested." He wasn't a breeding stallion, and he had no desire to expose himself to different women like some commodity. Physical intimacy was sacred to him—something to be shared only with someone he truly cared for.
Jacob left without another word.
All day passed without a call from Nicole. On his way home, he stopped to buy roses, confident that his gentle girl would have cooled down by now—Nicole was too soft-hearted to stay angry long.
He parked at the villa as the evening sky blazed with crimson clouds. Jacob stepped out with light, eager steps, pleased with the day's successful negotiations and ready to make peace with his girl.
The house was eerily quiet. Oliver sat on the sofa, idly flipping through a magazine. Seeing the flowers, he remarked dryly, "Who are those for? Finally sparked something with Amelia? Elliot and Diana are out gallivanting, your mother took Nicole on a blind date, and now you're heading out too. Leaves me here like some abandoned widower."
Jacob froze on the stairs, his expression turning cold. "Nicole went on a blind date?"
"Indeed." Oliver closed his magazine. "Remember that young man someone mentioned? I was going to tag along, but your mother wouldn't let me—said I was too critical. As if I'm pickier than she is! She's turned down countless suitors over the years, always finding fault with their prospects. I told her if she keeps this up, you'll be supporting Nicole forever."
Jacob didn't wait to hear more complaints. He turned and headed back toward the garage as Oliver called after him, "Jacob, where are you going?"
His voice was ice-cold, "On a date."