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When the pair met at the Hollywood Christmas Parade in 1998, Simpson was an 18-year-old popster deeply in the shadow of Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera, and Lachey was riding the boy band wave with his group 98º. Outspoken about her virginity, the Texas-bred Simpson – whose father is a former Baptist minister – instantly hit it off with the Ohio-reared Lachey, whom friends say is the more outgoing of the two.
And yet after their lavish 2002 wedding, Simpson emerged as the breakout star, parlaying her sweetly ditzy Newlyweds charm into a one-woman industry that currently encompasses fashion, beauty, movies and music. "I think Nick liked it much better when he was protecting Jessica and nurturing her," says a source close to Simpson. Counters one source close to Lachey: "Every step of the way in her success, Nick was by her side. He wants nothing more than for her to succeed."
Now it seems Simpson and Lachey will set out to succeed on their own separate terms. Both have upcoming solo albums as well as other projects in the works. And yet even as they begin the tedious, painful process of disentangling their lives – Simpson has been staying at her parents' house in L.A. while Lachey remains at the couple's Calabasas, Calif., home – those who know them do not rule out a reconciliation. "Nick very much loves his wife," says a source close to Lachey, "and doesn't want to get divorced."
