O.J. Simpson Almost Remarried Nicole!

Starstruck fans were shocked when O.J. Simpson was arrested for the brutal  murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ron Goldman. Readers of The National ENQUIRER, however, already knew that O.J. had regularly abused his beautiful bride throughout their seven-year marriage. While his pals in Hollywood tried to cover up the brutal beatings, The ENQUIRER exposed the truth — and, sadly, also had the scoop on how Nicole almost reunited with her violent lover!

The ENQUIRER had the full story in October of 1993 how the football star had pleaded with Nicole to stay together "for the children." The volatile former star had even won Nicole's heart again!

The ENQUIRER had the full story in October of 1993 how the football star had pleaded with Nicole to stay together "for the children." The volatile former star had even won Nicole's heart again!

Just eight months before Nicole came to her tragic end — and one year after their divorce — the blonde beauty was back with the sports hero who once beat her so badly (as pictured) that she was forced to seek hospital treatment!

"O.J. and Nicole are back in each other's arms for good," a close friend confirmed to The ENQUIRER at the time. "All their friends are shocked, but O.J. and Nicole don't give a hoot about what anyone else thinks." Nicole, then 33, had filed for divorce in February 1992, citing "irreconcilable differences." But the former model — O.J.'s second wife — told pals she really split from O.J. because he was cheating with so many women that she was terrified he'd get AIDS!

The ENQUIRER had already revealed the details of the night in January 1989 when police were called to the couple's home after O.J. punched, slapped and kicked his wife and yelled, "I'll kill you." At the time, Nicole sought hospital treatment for bruises. Simpson, then 46, pleaded no contest to a wife-beating charge and was sentenced to two years probation.

When they divorced, Nicole kept the couple's $550,000 San Francisco condo and received a lump-sum payment of $433,750 — plus $10,000 a month child support for their two children. Simpson went on to date model Paula Barbieri. "About six months ago, O.J. called Nicole and asked if they could be friends for the children's sake," said the source. "They agreed to spend more time together as a family. They went on picnics, saw movies and even vacationed together." The divorced couple is seen here vacationing with Nicole's "friend" Kris Jenner.

"O.J. stopped by Nicole's apartment as the kids were getting ready for bed," added the insider. "As he tucked Sydney in, she said, 'I love you, Daddy. I wish that you would be here when I wake up every morning.' O.J.'s heart melted. Later he and Nicole sat down in the living room. After they chatted awhile, O.J. said, 'Baby, I was a fool to let you slip through my fingers. You're the best thing that ever happened to me. I'll always love you.'"

In January of 1994, Nicole and the children even moved back into Simpson's mansion — until leaving for good on May 24! "Nicole tried so very hard," a Beverly Hills pal told The ENQUIRER, "but deep down, she knew it never would work." Documents filed by Nicole's parents  in a move to become legal guardians of the children showed that the family had spent most of the last five months of her life at OJ.'s Rockingham Avenue estate.

Her cousin Rolf Baur also revealed that a heartbroken Nicole (seen here at the March 1994 premiere of "The Naked Gun 33 1/3") gave O.J. back the very expensive gem-studded bracelet he'd given her for her 35th birthday five days earlier. "She told him it was over for good," said Baur.

Insiders told The ENQUIRER that Nicole left because she couldn't stomach Simpson's ongoing romance with Paula Barbieri (pictured). "She wasn't willing to play second fiddle to Paula," says another friend. "She'd gone through it all before over OJ.'s long-standing affair with Tawny Kitaen. She wasn't prepared to suffer again!"

Insiders told The ENQUIRER that Nicole left because she couldn't stomach Simpson's ongoing romance with Paula Barbieri (pictured). "She wasn't willing to play second fiddle to Paula," says another friend. "She'd gone through it all before over OJ.'s long-standing affair with Tawny Kitaen. She wasn't prepared to suffer again!"

It was less than a month later when the mutilated bodies of Nicole and Ron were found outside of her Brentwood home. Simpson was eventually found liable for the murders of the night of June 12, 1994 — but only in a civil lawsuit. He would walk away free from a jury trial — with the jurors never hearing of the near-reconciliation that could have only encourage Simpson's murderous rage!

Insiders told The ENQUIRER that Nicole left because she couldn't stomach Simpson's ongoing romance with Paula Barbieri (pictured). "She wasn't willing to play second fiddle to Paula," says another friend. "She'd gone through it all before over OJ.'s long-standing affair with Tawny Kitaen. She wasn't prepared to suffer again!"

It was less than a month later when the mutilated bodies of Nicole and Ron were found outside of her Brentwood home. Simpson was eventually found liable for the murders of the night of June 12, 1994 — but only in a civil lawsuit. He would walk away free from a jury trial — with the jurors never hearing of the near-reconciliation that could have only encourage Simpson's murderous rage!

The forgotten story is now just another of the many tragedies of the O.J. Simpson murder trial — with these words from Nicole now only more haunting. "He'd marry me tomorrow if I wanted to," Nicole had told a friend. "My heart says yes, but my head says slow down. I just keep telling O.J., 'We've got nothing but time to get this thing right.'"