[Chapter 313: He Held the Roses, She Brought the Knife]
"What is he doing here?"
Nicole Kidman furrowed her brow as she stepped into the hotel lobby. The moment she opened the door, she spotted Tom Cruise holding a bouquet of roses, dressed in a suit and stylish shoes, a bright smile decorating his face.
"Nicole, surprise!"
Tom Cruise strode toward her, flowers in hand. His assistant snapped pictures of the moment nearby.
"Why did you come early?" Nicole asked, her tone tinged with surprise.
"I was planning to come today. I said I would come over on the weekend to give you a surprise," Tom replied, his charming smile intact.
"That's just boring," Nicole said, taking the flowers from him and walking toward the elevator.
Tom watched her retreating figure, a flicker of anger crossing his face before he turned to his assistant, who nodded and tucked the camera away.
...
"Are you still mad at me?" Tom managed to slip his hand in the elevator door before it could close, stepping inside. "I didn't mean what I said yesterday; it was impulsive. I'm sorry."
"Not necessary! You're not wrong; m a bitch. I was having sex with Link on the set and spending every night with him," Nicole crossed her arms defiantly.
"You!"
Tom shook his head, frustration rising. "Nicole, you don't need to blame yourself. Millie told me that during the shoot in New York, there were plenty of women chasing after Link. You didn't have a chance to even get close to him; nothing happened."
"Millie doesn't know everything, especially how I got hurt!" Nicole exclaimed, pulling down her mask to reveal a swollen lip.
"That's from drinking hot coffee; you should be more careful."
"No! It was because of Link. He pushed in too rough, and I got hurt accidentally. Do you believe me?" Nicole gestured animatedly with her hands, a playful smile on her face.
"You...!"
Tom clenched his fists in sheer anger, nearly letting his hand fly toward her.
Ding!
The elevator doors opened. Tom quickly dropped his hand and peered outside, relieved to find no one there.
"Do you want to fight again? If not, I'll leave." Nicole cast a sly glance back at him, striding decisively out of the elevator.
"Darling, I was wrong. I shouldn't have reacted that way. You were just trying to get under my skin, right? That couldn't have hurt your neck." Tom hurried to catch up to her.
Once back in the room, Nicole poured some juice for Tom. "Tom, can we talk calmly now?"
"What do we talk about?" Tom turned around the hotel room before settling on the sofa.
"Our relationship and marriage. You should understand, I married you to leverage your fame in Hollywood, not out of love. Over time, I realized this isn't right. A marriage without emotional grounding is torturous for both of us. After coming to this realization, I tried to genuinely love you and build our family. But our personalities and lifestyles are entirely different. You're always busy with work and parties, spending seven or eight months on set each year, while I prefer staying home like a vase on the table. I've endured this for four years, and I no longer want to live like this. Let's get a divorce."
Nicole stated coldly.
"Why bring up divorce again? I said I trust you and Link. I wouldn't mind if you spent time with him. Isn't that enough?" Tom responded, clearly agitated.
"Tom, you were unfaithful with Sherry Lansing, and I am unfaithful with Link as well. You used me to seduce Link, and I agreed to do this with you. We both betrayed our marriage; divorce is the best option."
"My affair with Sherry was work-related; I don't love her! And I took Michael Ovitz's advice to let you seduce Link to stir up gossip. I couldn't refuse his request, and you didn't mention it when you agreed to him. This isn't solely my fault!"
"Yes, we're both at fault, which is exactly why divorce is the best option. Continuing this way will only hurt each other, won't it?" Nicole replied.
Tom clenched his fists, his anger directed at her. "Are you rushing into divorce because of Link?"
"Yes, I love him. I love him so much. I intended to sleep with him before finalizing the divorce. But he has principles against that. So, I must divorce you to not keep him waiting."
"Bitch!!" Tom snarled, trembling with rage, clenching his teeth. "You're impossible! Do you even know who Link is? He's the world's biggest playboy, surrounded by dozens of women. Do you really think he'll marry you? If he doesn't, you'll just be his mistress--the kind no one respects. How can being his mistress compare to being the wife of Tom Cruise?"
"Yes, being his lover is a hundred times better than being your wife." Nicole shot back without hesitation.
"Bitch!!" Tom's fury boiled over once more as he raised his hand to strike her.
Nicole stood her ground, head held high.
Tom hesitated, arm raised for what felt like an eternity. He knew that striking Nicole would only empower her actions toward a domestic violence claim, which would not only bring public criticism but also cost him dearly.
Realizing that, Tom retracted his arm, his face reddening with simmering anger.
"I will never divorce you! I will never let you be with that bastard, and I won't let you embarrass me!"
"Shut up! Tom Cruise, you can insult me all you want, but don't ever insult Link. Not even once. He is a great and noble man. People like you who sell their wives for fame are not worthy of accusing him, and you don't even deserve to mention his name."
"You!"
This time, Tom couldn't hold back any longer and swung his arm toward Nicole.
But she dodged quickly, smirking. "You're not worthy of hitting me because I'm Link's woman, his property. You have no right to touch me."
Boom!
Tom kicked the coffee table in rage, sending it skidding across the floor. He stumbled back to the sofa, panting heavily, his expression turning twisted and terrifying.
"Bitch! Don't think about it. I refuse to get a divorce. Even if you see yourself as Link's woman, legally, you must still be my wife -- Mrs. Tom Cruise. You once said Link had boundaries and wouldn't touch a married woman like you. Haha, this is perfect. As long as I refuse to divorce you, you'll never be with him."
"Tom, is this really how it's going to be?" Nicole asked, her frustration palpable.
Seeing her anger, Tom settled down slightly with his legs crossed. "Yes. Hearing you say you loved Link hurt me more than I can express. When you brought up divorce, I felt a deep sorrow. I reflected on it, and I know I love you. Therefore, I will never agree to a divorce."
"Fine, then we'll meet in court." Nicole stated, opening the door for Tom to leave.
"Bitch, I'm your husband. You want me to leave? Not a chance!" Tom lunged forward, trying to force a kiss on her.
Using her height and long legs to her advantage, Nicole raised her knee and struck him in the balls.
Tom groaned, doubling over and storming out indignantly.
...
After he left, Nicole Dialed Cindy Crawford to check on her divorce settlement with Richard Gere and asked if she had any solid divorce lawyer recommendations.
Cindy asked if she was getting a divorce too.
"Yes," Nicole affirmed.
Cindy lamented the negotiations weren't going smoothly. Originally, she had proposed a settlement when Richard was recovering, offering to forgo property and finances to keep only what she had earned. But Richard disagreed, pretending to be incapacitated during negotiations, claiming he couldn't stay conscious to contribute, and also inciting public sympathy.
To finalize her divorce peacefully, she'd have to go through legal procedures, which could take two to three years or even longer. Given Richard's condition, the court might favor his side, granting him more funds and assets.
Nicole felt for her friend who had endured Richard's infidelities throughout their marriage, facing ongoing rumors. After the accident, Cindy arranged for his emergency treatment and had taken care of him for months in the hospital. It was an extensive commitment, and in return, Richard responded in this manner.
Cindy sighed, asking Nicole to explain her reasons for wanting to divorce Tom.
She detailed their incompatibility, emotional estrangement, and her desire not to continue their life together.
Cindy suspected it might relate to Link but didn't voice it outright. When Nicole requested referrals for divorce lawyers, she suggested two and inquired about her relationship with Link. Link has a large number of lawyers under him, so asking him for help would be smoother.
Nicole indicated things were okay with Link and that she would reach out if necessary.
...
After hanging up, Nicole pondered divorce in her hotel room. The phone rang again; it was Michael Ovitz. After a moment's thought, she chose to hang up. There were too many matters at hand, and she wasn't sure how to discuss the situation with Michael.
After a moment, there was a knock at the door -- it was Tom.
"What do you want?" Nicole asked.
"Hmm! Regarding the divorce, if you want it to go smoothly, let's talk," Tom replied, glancing around as he lowered his voice.
Nicole stepped back into the living room, grabbed a fruit knife from the table, and then returned to the door to let Tom in.
*****
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