Love Unbreakable by Bank Brook
Chapter 1688

Chapter 1687: Alternate Ending 6/10

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After returning from vacation, Nicole and Jarrod's life seemed to have found a more harmonious rhythm. Although not everything was completely resolved, they both felt that the effort to rebuild their relationship was paying off. Still, there were certain issues that they both knew they needed to face in order to fully heal the wounds of the past.

One of those issues was Jarrod's relationship with Alec. Despite efforts to improve things between them, there was a simmering tension that could not be ignored. Alec, after his recovery, had become emotionally distant from Jarrod, resentful of what had happened and the decisions that had been made over time.

One day, Jarrod decided to confront the problem head on. He headed over to Alec's house, knowing that this conversation was a necessary step if he was to leave the shadows of their former relationship behind. When Alec opened the door, there was an awkward moment of recognition before the two men exchanged a knowing look.

“Jarrod,” Alec said, his voice dry, but not as cold as Jarrod had anticipated. “I didn't expect to see you here.”

Jarrod agreed, knowing it wouldn't be easy. “We need to talk, Alec. We can't go on like this. “What happened between us…what happened between you and Nicole, we can’t ignore it.”

Alec gestured for him to come in, which in itself was a step in the right direction. They sat in the living room, where memories of the past seemed to float in the air between them. The conversation was slow to begin, both of them unsure of how to broach the subject that had been the elephant in the room for so long.

“Do you know what I felt when I realized you'd left me behind?” Alec finally asked, his tone calm but filled with a suppressed pain. “I was there for you, I supported you when no one else would, and then you pushed me away like I meant nothing.”

Jarrod bowed his head, taking the blame without empty apologies. “I knew, and it was a mistake. I was so focused on what was going on between Nicole and me, and my own problems, that I didn't see how it was affecting you, too. What happened to you was unfair, and I’m sorry.”

Alec pressed his lips together, as if to hold on to his anger, but deep down he knew it was time to let it go. “It's not just about Nicole,” he said frankly. “It's about how we've both handled things. I’ve made mistakes too, and even though I thought I was doing it out of loyalty, maybe I just didn’t handle it right.”

Jarrod looked at him with a mixture of respect and relief. “I know we can't go back and fix everything we did wrong, but I want you to know that I appreciate what you did for me. I didn't push you away because I didn't care about you. “I just didn’t know how to handle it.”

There was a long silence before Alec finally agreed. “I guess we were both too wrapped up in our own heads.”

The mood began to lighten as they talked, not only about past mistakes, but also about their plans for the future. Alec mentioned that he was thinking about moving to another city, starting over, and while Jarrod felt sadness at losing a close friend, he also understood that maybe it was what Alec needed to fully heal.

“I wish you the best, Alec,” Jarrod said as he stood up to leave. “If you ever need anything, you know where to find me.”

Alec walked him to the door, and for the first time in a long time, the two men exchanged a genuine smile. Although the pain was still present, they knew that this meeting had been the first step toward putting it behind them and moving on with their lives.

…

With the conversation with Alec finally settled, Jarrod returned home feeling lighter than he had in months. Upon arrival, he found Nicole sitting on the couch, a book in her hands, but staring off into the distance. He approached her, and seeing her so absorbed in her thoughts, he knew she had something on her mind as well.

“Everything okay?” he asked as he sat down next to her.

Nicole closed the book and put it down on the table, sighing. “I was thinking about us, about everything we've done so far. And there’s one thing I can’t stop thinking about…”

Jarrod frowned, worried. “What is it?”

“What you told me about Alec and what happened to him,” Nicole began. “I know you've already worked it out, but I feel like there's something else, something we haven't talked about yet.”

Jarrod tensed slightly. He hadn't wanted the subject of Alec to be an obstacle between them. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what we learned about ourselves in this whole process,” Nicole explained. “We’ve been focused on healing what happened to us as a couple, but… what about you? I mean, how do you really feel after everything that happened? Do you feel like you’ve changed enough?”

The question surprised him, and Jarrod realized that although they had been working to save their relationship, he had not stopped enough to reflect on his own personal growth.

“I guess I’m still learning,” he admitted, candidly. “I’ve changed some things, and I’m trying to get better every day, but I still have a long way to go.”

Nicole slowly agreed, understanding. “It's not just about solving our problems, Jarrod. We also need to make sure that each of us is in the right place to move forward. “I want you to know that even though we’re in this together, we also need to continue to grow individually.”

Jarrod looked at her with renewed respect. Nicole not only wanted to fix their marriage, but also to make sure that they were both the best versions of themselves, both for their relationship and for their child.

“I am willing to keep working on myself,” he said finally, with firm conviction. “And I am willing to keep working on us. “I know there is still a lot to do, but I am here to try.”

Nicole smiled, feeling the weight of her worries begin to ease. “That's all I need, Jarrod. “I just want us to keep growing, together and apart.”

…

The renewed commitment to each other was palpable in the days that followed. Although things weren't perfect, the respect and understanding they had cultivated throughout the process gave them the strength to continue forward. They knew they would still have challenges, but they were now equipped with the emotional tools and communication to face them together.

The future was uncertain, but for the first time in a long time, they both felt prepared to face it.

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