Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Before Nicole could finish her threat, a scream pierced the air, and Vicki tumbled down the front steps.
Thankfully, Vicki only descended three steps, but she still appeared to be in agony. Her cries echoed, and a red mark marred her ankle, quickly swelling.
Nicole regarded Vicki with suspicion. She hadn’t laid a hand on Vicki moments before.
Vicki murmured in a hushed tone, “Miss Lawrence, you’ve completely misunderstood…”
Before Vicki could finish her sentence, a man approached with a cold demeanor. “Who are you planning to harm?”
Jarrod noticed that Vicki hadn’t been following him, and upon returning for her, he overheard Nicole’s threat to kill someone just before Vicki’s fall down the steps.
Jarrod hurried to Vicki’s aid, carefully examining her for injuries.
Once assured there were none, he inquired, “How did you fall?”
Leaning against Jarrod’s chest, Vicki appeared frail and frightened, evoking sympathy from those around her.
“I… I’m okay… It wasn’t because of Miss Lawrence…” Vicki faltered, her words sounding more like a defense of Nicole rather than an explanation. She seemed intent on avoiding conflict.
In an instant, Vicki’s reputation improved further. An empathetic wealthy heiress became even more desirable.
As expected, Jarrod regarded Nicole with a frigid expression and demanded, “Apologize to Vicki.” He paid no heed to Vicki’s words or the truth. He simply believed what he had seen.
At this moment, Jarrod exuded the same cold demeanor as before.
Jarrod had resolved to teach Nicole a lesson, fueled by her repeated opposition to him in the past. He had decided that he would never again indulge her or plead with her. He desired for her to experience fear and to beg him as she had done in the past.
Nicole spoke icily. “Firstly, I didn’t push her. Secondly, I wish harm upon her because she intends to harm Austin. If you permit her to do so, I won’t hesitate to kill you as well!”
Vicki, covering her mouth in shock, protested, “Miss Lawrence, what’s gotten into you? Did I say anything negative about the child? I only expressed sympathy for your situation…”
Seemingly overwhelmed with emotion, Vicki choked on her sobs, tears streaming down her face. “I only expressed sympathy for you as a mother, hence the offer to take care of your child. Did I say anything inappropriate?”
“Miss Lawrence, please refrain from slinging mud at me. I’ve never committed any wrongdoing since childhood, as is evident to all,”
Vicki asserted, turning her head with a tone of grievance. “Jarrod, I swear on my family’s life, I never intended any harm to her child. I merely mentioned caring for him…”
Jarrod nodded reassuringly, his tone gentle. “I believe you.”
Then, his gaze turned cold as he addressed Nicole, “Apologize to Vicki!”
“Me?” A mocking smile tugged at Nicole’s lips. She scolded herself for being naively clinging to the hope that Jarrod might genuinely care for Austin. To Jarrod, Austin was merely a means to assert control over her.
“Jarrod, it’s been over two weeks since you took Austin away. Have you taken him for a medical check-up? Do you even know the extent of his illness? Do you truly care for him? If not, why did you take him away? Answer me!” Nicole’s voice cracked with despair. She felt a sense of pity for both Austin and herself. They were like kites tethered by strings they couldn’t shake loose.
Jarrod sneered, “It’s just a heart condition. I’m searching for a donor for him.”
Jarrod was aware of Austin’s heart condition, but finding a compatible donor was proving challenging. Despite his wealth, locating a suitable match was no easy feat. Otherwise, with his financial resources, he should have been able to locate a donor promptly. Once the right person emerged, he was willing to go to any lengths to ensure they donated.
Nicole felt hopeless. She knew she couldn’t expect Jarrod to share her concerns. All she could hope for was Austin’s safety during this precarious time.
She made a concession and said, “Austin can’t consume cold foods, and there are certain taboos. Only the nanny is familiar with them. Please, don’t dismiss her. She’s been caring for Austin for years, knows him well, and won’t harm him. Austin also relies on her greatly. I implore you…”
For the first time in a long while, Nicole had humbled herself.
Jarrod felt validated in his decision. He should have treated her this way earlier. Anyway, she wouldn’t appreciate his kindness.
“Apologize to Vicki.” Jarrod was intent on seeking justice for Vicki, not letting her grievances go unnoticed.
Nicole’s demeanor turned cold. Thinking of Austin, she reluctantly offered an apology. “I’m sorry, Miss Hampton. My misunderstanding led me to speak out of turn. It would be best if you harbored no ill intentions.”
After a brief pause, Nicole added, “One day, when you become a mother, you’ll understand that a mother will do anything for her child, even sacrifice her own life.”
Though it appeared to be an apology, Nicole’s words carried a subtle warning to Vicki. If Vicki dared to harm Austin, she would face dire consequences.
Vicki, perceptive as ever, understood the implicit threat. Though displeased internally, she maintained a composed facade.
“Of course, Miss Lawrence, I understand where you’re coming from. Once I’m married to Jarrod and become pregnant, I’ll experience motherhood firsthand. Every mother holds her child dear and would never act against their best interests.”
Vicki’s response served as a warning to Nicole, cautioning her against any wrongful actions.
Nicole grasped the implied message and replied tersely, “Congratulations regardless.”
Vicki offered a shy smile in response.
Jarrod, disinterested in their conversation, lowered his head and asked Vicki, “Can you walk?”
Vicki responded, “Let me give it a try.”
Vicki attempted to take a step but winced in pain. “Ouch…”
Without a second thought, Jarrod scooped her up and walked away without looking back.
A chilly breeze swept by, causing Nicole to shiver and her arms to break out in goosebumps. A sense of foreboding washed over her as she fretted over Austin’s well-being.
Right then, Rhett emerged and called out to Nicole, “Miss Lawrence, this is Mr. Schultz’s testing organization.”
He handed Nicole an address and explained, “This is a reputable organization. There haven’t been any issues, and the doctors are highly skilled. Logically, if Mr. Schultz had a mental illness, it shouldn’t have led to this outcome.”
Though Rhett harbored suspicions about Nicole’s claims, he chose to express them subtly. He didn’t want to discourage a mother who had lost visitation rights to her child.
Nicole shook her head resolutely. “I can’t be mistaken. He’s been taking medication, evidenced by the large bottle. It’s similar to what he used to take, and about two-thirds of it is gone, indicating he’s been adhering to the treatment regimen. The absence of a medication reaction in his system suggests he may have tampered with it.”
“If your assessment is accurate, I’ll continue investigating. Regarding visitation rights, don’t fret. Once you demonstrate emotional stability during your three doctor visits, I can reapply to the court. In the meantime, try not to dwell on it too much. Let’s collaborate to regain your visitation rights promptly.” Rhett remained professional and compassionate, refraining from chastising Nicole for her unverified claims.
Few lawyers would dare to take on Nicole’s case, wary of offending powerful individuals who had risen from humble beginnings.
Considering their backgrounds, it was likely that these individuals had attained success through cutthroat means.
“Thank you, Rhett,” Nicole expressed her gratitude, clutching the note in her hand. “I’ll visit this organization to see if I can uncover anything.”
Rhett harbored doubts about the efficacy of her visit but refrained from dampening Nicole’s spirits.
Handing Nicole a business card, he remarked, “The individual in charge there is a former classmate of mine. You can inquire with him when you arrive.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bates,” Nicole said, acknowledging the advantage of having an insider to assist in gathering information.
Rhett was ever thorough and conscientious. Feeling slightly embarrassed, Nicole added, “I’ll increase your payment later for your extra time.”
“There’s no need for that.” Rhett then added, “We agreed on a fee, and I charge by the case, not by the hour.”
Rhett reassured her further, “I owe a lot to Mr. Clement from the Clement Group, and his wife personally requested that I take your case. I’ve committed to seeing it through to the end. Miss Lawrence, if any issues arise later on, just communicate with me.”
Nicole nodded and expressed her thanks once more.
After they parted ways, she took a taxi to the forensic agency listed on the address she received from Rhett.
The building was imposing and serious, covered with posters promoting whistleblowing.
“Report any collusion or bias among doctors or assistants anonymously to receive a substantial reward,” one poster read, highlighting the agency’s independence from nepotistic influences and its credibility as a judicially appointed professional institution.
Nicole wondered how Jarrod had managed to pass their screenings. She met with Mr. Castillo, an acquaintance of Rhett, to understand thoroughly the testing process.
“Miss Lawrence, each of our procedures is quintuple-checked to ensure nothing slips through the cracks. If someone tampers with the initial tests, they can’t fool the last three ones, which are anonymously rechecked by other facilities. Falsifying results here is next to impossible,” Mr. Castillo stated.
It was true that the result would be determined after several rounds of inspection.
“Mr. Castillo, have there really been no issues over the years?”
Nicole inquired.
Mr. Castillo frowned, disliking the implication. As a man of integrity, he placed great trust in his workplace and disliked any negative implications about the agency.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Castillo. This place is my only hope. I just want to learn more because my child is severely ill, and it’s making me very worried,” Nicole hastily added.
Mr. Castillo’s demeanor softened when he learned of her situation, particularly because he too had become a father to a beautiful Little girl this year. He empathized with parental worries, recognizing that mothers often felt the strain more acutely than fathers.
“In the past, there was a case where an employee manipulated test samples,” he explained more gently.
“The person involved had accepted bribes and acted independently. Once discovered, they were sentenced to three years and fined heavily. Since that incident, we have implemented stringent background checks on our employees to ensure they have no debts, no gambling habits, and uphold strong ethical standards.”
He added, “Look at the numerous warning signs and awareness campaigns throughout our facility. We have ensured our staff are well-compensated, reducing the likelihood of such risks.”
Despite his assurances, Nicole retained her doubts. She recognized Mr. Castillo’s integrity but remained aware that not everyone might adhere to such high ethical standards.
With enough motivation, some might still succumb to temptation.
“Mr. Castillo, could you provide me with a list of recent staff departures?” Nicole inquired.
That request was immediately denied. Despite Nicole’s insistence, Mr. Castillo stood firm, committed to preserving his staff’s privacy in line with agency protocols.