Chapter 547 Divorce Him, I'll Marry You!
At 2 a.m., Nicole woke up.
The hotel suite was shrouded in darkness, save for the blue glow emanating from a laptop on the sofa where the man who had made love to her for most of the night now sat transfixed, studying what appeared to be market indices. The blue light cast sharp shadows across his jawline, making his features appear more severe than usual.
Nicole watched him for a long while. Now that they had become true husband and wife, everything felt natural and right. Despite her lingering shyness, she found herself openly admiring him.
"Did I wake you?" Theron glanced up, then closed his laptop with a soft click.
As he approached the bed, Nicole assumed he was ready to sleep and lifted the covers invitingly, her voice soft with drowsiness. "Working so late?"
The next moment, she found herself swept up in his arms, instinctively wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Theron."
He gazed down at her, his eyes holding a restrained tenderness. "Work isn't that important. I was waiting for you to wake up so I could tend to you."
Nicole's cheeks flushed crimson.
Theron chuckled softly, his touch gentle as he settled her on the plush sofa and reached for a tube of ointment from the coffee table.
Nicole bit her lip, the intimacy overwhelming. "It doesn't really hurt," she murmured.
Theron met her gaze, his voice barely above a whisper. "Nicole, I'm your husband. You don't need to be shy with me. We're married—there's no shame in this."
"Even married couples need privacy," she protested softly.
Theron studied her for a long moment in silence. Just as anxiety began to creep into her heart, he leaned down to brush a kiss across her lips, his voice tinged with affection. "I'll close my eyes."
True to his word, Theron closed his eyes and drew her into his arms, his fingers tender as he applied the medicine. When he finished, he didn't pull away but held her close, the two of them wrapped in quiet intimacy.
"Theron." She whispered his name like a prayer.
"Theron. Theron."
With each repetition, her heart grew heavier with emotion, each utterance seeming to distance her further from her six-year past and draw her closer to him. They had only been together for two years, but she wasn't made of stone—looking back, she could see the traces of his love throughout that time. She simply hadn't noticed because her heart had been elsewhere.
Nicole's eyes misted as she felt the depth of his love in his intense gaze.
A diamond ring slipped onto her finger.
Nicole stared in wonder at the pear-shaped diamond that caught the light brilliantly, fitting her ring finger perfectly. Surprised and delighted, she whispered, "Have you been carrying this around, or did you just buy it?"
"I've had it for a while," Theron said, taking her hand in his. "Nicole, we're truly married now."
Suddenly, understanding dawned. "Theron, you stayed up half the night just to propose to me, didn't you?"
"We're already married—what's to propose!" he laughed.
"No regrets?" Nicole protested playfully. "I haven't even given you a wedding gift! And since this isn't a proposal, I don't have a wedding gift for you either."
She yawned and crawled toward the bed, but kept her ears perked.
Soon, Theron joined her, his warm body pressing against hers. "What wedding gift?"
Nicole smiled secretly, her fingers curling around the hard diamond on her finger, finding unexpected comfort in its presence.
After a moment, she turned in his arms and lifted her head to place a soft kiss on his lips. "Theron, that's my wedding gift."
Theron froze, then pulled her beneath him, kissing her with passionate intensity.
They made love through the night.
Nicole woke late the next day to find fresh pink roses beside her pillow, along with an elegant card weighted down by a delicate diamond bracelet. She recognized it immediately as an exclusive piece from "Galaxy"—one of a kind in the world.
Her heart swelled with joy as she fastened the bracelet around her wrist, inhaled the roses' fragrance, and finally picked up the card bearing Theron's handwriting: [Eulalia bought you clothes—they're by the bed. I'll be back tonight.]
Just two simple lines, but Nicole read them several times, her heart sweet with happiness even as she huffed, "Who asked him to come back anyway?"
After a quick shower and change of clothes, she enjoyed the sumptuous breakfast waiting in the dining room. She planned to return to her small apartment to paint, and when Theron was free, she'd take him to explore the local food scene—though she suspected he'd be hopeless at romance.
Leaving the hotel, she hailed a taxi back to her apartment. The moment she entered the building, a strong hand seized her wrist, and in a dizzying whirl, she was pressed against the wall in the empty stairwell, her back hitting the concrete with painful force.
When Nicole recovered, she found herself staring at a familiar face.
"Jacob," she breathed.
Jacob's eyes were glacial as he stared at her. After a long moment, his voice carried a mocking edge. "What should I call you now? Mrs. Voss?"
Nicole remained silent, pressed against the wall, still reeling from shock. Even now, she didn't know how to face Jacob. Six years couldn't simply be erased. But she didn't regret last night's choice.
Her neck bore obvious kiss marks—a trail of faint red marks extending beneath her collar. If he were to tear away her clothes, he imagined her entire body would be covered with evidence of another man's passion. He knew better than anyone how alluring her body could be.
The sound of tearing fabric filled the air. Her collar gaped open, revealing a small patch of pale bruising and even the faint impression of teeth marks. Jacob's control snapped—this wasn't some sham marriage. She and Theron were truly husband and wife. Last night, they had been intimate.
Like newlyweds reunited after separation.
Yes, like newlyweds!
Jacob's eyes turned bloodshot, his voice trembling. "What is this? You were unsatisfied with me, so you found some random man to marry? When you wanted to break up back then, did you ask if I agreed?"
Nicole's voice shook as she replied, "Six years! Jacob, I waited six years for you, and I never got a single promise! Was it really family pressure between us, or was it your uncertainty from beginning to end?"
"What you wouldn't give me, someone else was willing to. Was I wrong to accept it? Don't you have a girlfriend now too? What right do you have to blame me?"
She raised her hand with tears in her eyes, showing the diamond ring on her finger. "He's willing to give me everything. He's never been ashamed of me. With him, I feel relaxed. I feel... happy!"
Jacob stepped back, his expression unreadable.
He asked quietly, "Really? Is he... better than me?"
A sharp slap cracked across his handsome face, snapping his head to the side.
For a long time, neither spoke, only their ragged breathing filling the narrow space like a final confession between them.
Finally, Jacob turned back, his voice hoarse. "Divorce him. I'll marry you."
Nicole stared in disbelief.
Jacob repeated himself. "Divorce Theron, and I'll marry you immediately. I don't care that you've been another man's wife. I don't mind that you've belonged to someone else. I just want you back."
Nicole blinked slowly, staring at him in amazement. "Jacob, have you lost your mind?"
"I've never been more clearheaded!"
He pulled her into his arms, kissing her desperately as if trying to awaken her memories. He kissed her face frantically, his voice breaking with pain. "Nicole, have you forgotten our past? Our six years together? I'll make you remember—I'll make you remember. I don't believe you could love someone else."
Nicole shoved him away forcefully. "Jacob, get a grip. We ended long ago. I have a husband!"
Her eyes blazed as she whispered, "Jacob, no one waits forever in Vesper City."