Chapter 538 Jacob, Let's Break Up 3
The actress glanced toward the bathroom. She'd heard the rumors—Jacob Windsor was secretly involved with his adopted sister. So his rejection of her advances was for this Nicole, wasn't it?
Competitive by nature, she not only answered the call but deliberately purred into the phone: "Looking for Jacob? He's in the shower."
In Vesper City, Nicole sat cross-legged on the pristine white carpet. Behind her stood the Christmas tree she'd carefully decorated, its colorful lights twinkling and casting an eerie pallor across her face. Listening to that sultry voice on the other end, she couldn't bear to imagine what had just transpired between Jacob and this woman.
He'd left Vesper City promising her Christmas gifts that never came, daily calls that never happened. She'd been understanding about his pressure, never complained, spending days and nights painting, eager to surprise him with her return before New Year's. And here he was, entertaining other women.
Nicole didn't respond. She simply hung up and sat in silence, listening to the distant foghorns from the harbor, her face expressionless. She contemplated their future—if they even had one.
Within two minutes, his call came through, his voice carrying its usual cool authority.
"I had too much to drink tonight. That woman was brought by a client to dinner—it wasn't even casual entertainment. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Nicole, I'm under tremendous pressure."
Nicole's face remained glacial. After a long pause, Jacob seemed to realize something and softened his tone, "Are you angry?"
Nicole smiled faintly, gazing at the scattered fishing lights on the river. "I understand you're under pressure, so by all means, find women to relieve it. After all, it's just casual entertainment."
She hung up immediately.
Night wind burst through the windows, cutting to the bone, but Nicole felt nothing. She wrapped her arms around her knees and sat motionless.
She believed Jacob's explanation—it was just a drunken misunderstanding, nothing had actually happened with that woman. What truly wounded her was his dismissive attitude, the way he treated her not as a lover but as an inconvenience. His impatience and reluctance to explain made her feel utterly insignificant.
In Evergreen City, Jacob stood in his hotel suite wearing only a white bathrobe, his face thunderous. "If you're not out of this suite in five seconds, you won't be working in Evergreen City tomorrow."
The actress finally understood the threat and fled.
Once alone, Jacob shed the robe and dressed quickly. As he fastened his suit, he called Anya Petrova, "Prepare the jet. I need to get to Vesper City. Yes, immediately."
Anya, recognizing the signs of a lovers' quarrel, arranged everything overnight.
A black sedan wound through the estate grounds in the early morning hours, circling the central garden before stopping at the main residence. Jacob emerged, adjusting his suit jacket, looking godlike in the moonlight as he strode quickly to the second floor.
Nicole had fallen into a restless sleep, troubled thoughts keeping her slumber light. She sensed his presence immediately but kept her eyes closed, listening to his approaching footsteps until he settled on the bed's edge.
The mattress dipped under his weight. In the bedroom's dim light, Jacob sat stroking her cheek, his voice low and tender, "You're not happy I'm back? Before, you would have jumped into my arms."
He switched on the bedside lamp, attempting to draw her from beneath the covers. Nicole buried her face deeper into the pillow, her hair concealing most of her features, though her reddened nose betrayed recent tears. Her continued silence confirmed his suspicions.
Jacob kicked off his shoes and climbed into bed, gathering her—blankets and all—into his arms. When she resisted, he held her tighter, knowing she would eventually yield. His handsome face pressed against hers as he explained the evening's events in hushed tones.
The night deepened around them. Young lovers were like kindling—one spark and they ignited. Their cold war ended in passion.
Jacob had been back for two weeks, and their bodies had been starved for that entire time. They'd never gone so long without intimacy, so from his return until dawn, they barely stopped making love. The long-abstinent man was both frenzied and rough, leaving Nicole's voice hoarse from crying out.
As dawn broke, he departed for Evergreen City again.
At nine that morning, she received his Facebook message saying he was already at the office preparing for meetings, thoughtfully suggesting she rest well—the picture of a considerate lover.
Nicole leaned against the headboard, gazing through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the lush greenery beyond. Vesper City was eternal spring, unlike Evergreen City where snow would be falling today. But Jacob wouldn't have time to share such observations with her—he had no leisure for seasons, only interest in the cold numbers on financial reports.
Their physical reunion hadn't resolved anything. The gulf between them remained vast.
She wasn't right for him, and she suspected he knew it too. That's why he never discussed business with her, never shared workplace stories. Their interactions centered mainly on sex—his way of burning off excess energy.
Nicole understood how this would end, but she wanted to try once more. Perhaps when she returned to Evergreen City, things would improve. Once he truly took over Windsor Group, he wouldn't be so busy, and they might find common ground.
She painted relentlessly, day and night.
On Christmas Eve, running a low fever, she completed her final piece and fulfilled her gallery contract.
That evening, she flew back to Evergreen City.
At the airport, Nicole called Jacob, her voice soft, "I'm at the airport. Can you pick me up? If you're busy, I'll have the family driver come."
Jacob was at a business club, leading crucial negotiations. Nicole's return delighted him. He should have sent a driver, but he missed her too much. "I'm still in meetings. I'll send a car to bring you here, and we can have a late dinner when I'm finished."
After more than a month apart, he didn't want to take her home tonight. A hotel seemed more appropriate.
Nicole murmured her agreement.
At seven that evening, a black sedan pulled up. Anya personally opened the door, greeting Nicole respectfully, "Mr. Windsor is still busy and asked me to receive you. I've arranged a private room next door with an excellent atmosphere."
Nicole followed Anya upstairs to a small private dining room. "There are fruit platters and pastries inside. Mr. Windsor should finish around nine."
Nicole smiled faintly. Anya, being Jacob's trusted aide, was mindful of the ongoing negotiations and quickly departed.
Alone, Nicole settled on the sofa to rest. Her fever persisted, making her increasingly uncomfortable. By midnight, she was drifting in and out of consciousness, cold sweat beading on her skin.
She waited for Jacob to come.
Nine o'clock—he didn't come. Ten o'clock—no sign of him.
At two in the morning, Nicole finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep on the sofa.Ten o'clock—still nothing.
At two in the morning, Nicole finally succumbed to exhaustion and fell asleep on the sofa.
Crystal chandeliers cast brilliant light over her pale features.
Around three, she heard doors opening and closing next door as Jacob led his negotiation team back to Windsor Group to redraft their proposal. He had to finalize this project before year's end.
He'd forgotten Nicole entirely—forgotten she was waiting for him to take her home.
Dawn was breaking when Nicole woke, shivering with cold. Disoriented, she gradually remembered the previous night and reached for her phone to call Jacob, thinking his meeting might still be running and she should just go home.
The call connected. Only then did Jacob remember Nicole, his voice full of regret, "I completely forgot about you last night. Nicole, wait there for me—I'll come find you after this afternoon's negotiations. Can you manage lunch on your own? You should have stayed in Vesper City and waited for me to come get you."
Nicole sat in the private room, ice flowing through her veins. She couldn't describe what she felt or how to continue this relationship.
Finally, she decided: it was over.
She didn't argue with him. She even managed a gentle smile that concealed her breaking heart.
"All right, I'll wait here for you.""Jacob, I'll wait for you."
After hanging up, she removed the SIM card from her phone.