Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Gold might possess a tangible value, but jade embodied a value beyond measure. This particular piece, flawlessly crafted and exquisitely detailed, undoubtedly held significant worth.
“The value of a gift transcends its monetary worth. Considering your steadfast dedication to my father’s case, this is the least I can offer,” Nicole asserted earnestly. “Thank you.”
Regardless of the case’s outcome, Nicole knew one thing remained sure. Ethel had undeniably poured her heart and soul into uncovering the truth about Wesson’s death.
Ethel appeared torn but eventually voiced, “Kiki, the protocol of the police station prohibits the acceptance of gifts.”
“Am I still an outsider to you?” Nicole queried. “Isn’t this jade pendant a gift from a friend during your off-duty time?”
Ethel found herself unable to refute Nicole’s logic and conceded to Nicole’s perspective. Despite their limited interactions, a profound bond seemed to have inexplicably formed between them.
Nicole shared Ethel’s sentiment, envisioning Ethel’s resemblance to her little sister in her dreams growing stronger with Ethel’s hair lengthening and feminine attire.
Placing the jade pendant around Ethel’s neck, Nicole recounted its significance.
“My father presented this to me on my eighteenth birthday. Each year, I received two gifts, one for myself and one for the sister I once had.”
“What happened to your sister?” Ethel asked.
“She passed away at a young age,” Nicole said.
“I’m sorry,” Ethel swiftly offered her apologies.
“It’s alright,” Nicole reassured her. “I believe she’s in heaven now, watching over me alongside my father.”
With a serious gaze, Nicole said solemnly, “I hope this can be your lucky charm. May it guide you safely on every mission.”
“Kiki, I am truly grateful. I will hold this close to my heart,” Ethel expressed, deeply moved by Nicole’s sincerity and the significance of the gift.
Unbeknownst to them, they had already reached Brett’s residence.
Fortunately, this antiquated neighborhood had remained untouched by renovations for two decades and now faced impending demolition.
Had they arrived post-demolition, locating Brett’s home might have proven challenging.
Perched on the third floor, Brett’s home was an antiquated, dilapidated apartment.
Nicole rapped on the door tentatively, uncertain if Brett still occupied the premises after years of absence. If Brett had truly been entangled in murdering her father, he might have fled long ago.
A senior woman with gray hair swung the door open. “Whom do you seek?”
Nicole didn’t recognize the woman and scanned the interior fruitlessly for signs of Brett’s presence. “Excuse me, is this where Brett resides?” she inquired.
The woman gently shook her head. “Brett is unknown to me.”
A pang of disappointment washed over Nicole. Refusing to concede defeat, she pressed further, “Have you recently relocated here?”
The woman offered an unrelated response. “Only my husband and I reside here.”
Nicole inquired once more, “Have you any knowledge of the whereabouts of the previous tenants?”
The woman gazed vacantly at Nicole. “Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that…”
“I mean, the previous tenants,” Nicole elevated her tone. “Do you possess any information regarding their departure?”
The woman asked, “Are you soliciting money? I’m afraid I don’t have any. Please seek assistance elsewhere.”
With that, the woman forcefully shut the door.
Nicole stood there, feeling exasperated. It appeared that Brett had relocated, leaving them at another dead end.
Ethel, equally perplexed, stated, “I will inquire with my associates to ascertain if there are any records of Brett’s family departing the country.”
As an ordinary officer, Ethel lacked the authority to instigate such checks independently. Adhering strictly to protocols, she had to submit formal requests, which explained her immediate arrival after receiving the address from Nicole.
“Shall we proceed?” Nicole sighed, suggesting their departure.
As they descended the stairs at a leisurely pace, Ethel cast a glance back at the third-floor apartment. A lone trash bag lay by the door, prompting a pensive pause before she resumed their descent.
Reaching the ground level, Ethel sought to reassure Nicole. “Kiki, don’t worry. Though we have only just begun, we now possess valuable leads. I will not relent in my pursuit. Await updates in the comfort of your home. I shall keep you duly informed.”
“Very well,” Nicole acknowledged.
Abruptly, a recollection struck Nicole. Alec mentioned Jamie had surreptitiously stolen the document. If Jamie possessed access, she likely held pertinent information.
Either she acquainted herself with Brett or made contact with someone who did. Upon reflection, Jamie emerged as a pivotal figure in this scenario.
Addressing Ethel, Nicole stated, “I shall return home and meticulously review my thoughts. Should I uncover anything noteworthy, I shall inform you promptly.”
“Understood, Kiki.” Observing Nicole’s departure, Ethel made her way back to Brett’s residence.
Ascending to the third floor, Ethel encountered the closed door. Noiselessly, she retrieved the refuse bag. Descending to a secluded area, she meticulously sifted through its contents.
Amidst the household waste, she unearthed a takeout receptacle. With precision, she deposited it into an evidence pouch and secured it.
Prior, her suspicions were aroused by a protruding chocolate wrapper in the refuse sack. It was atypical for an elderly individual to indulge in such confections, considering dental concerns.
The presence of the takeout container hinted at the possible residence of a younger individual, contradicting the assertions of the elderly woman.
Nicole did not return to the villa after she left. Instead, she got in touch with Jemma to request Melissa’s address. Following this, Nicole hailed a taxi to Melissa’s residence.
During the journey, Nicole’s thoughts drifted to her father’s death. This memory was a sore point she had avoided for years, causing her heart to ache painfully each time it surfaced, almost leaving her breathless.
Initially, she couldn’t grasp that her father would choose to jump from a building. In her memories, her father was a pillar of strength. Despite the turmoil the Lawrence Group faced over the years, he had always steered them through.
Nicole recalled an incident where a massive error nearly drove them to bankruptcy, burdened with a debt exceeding a billion. Her father assembled the family to brace them for the worst.
He wrapped up by saying, “Don’t worry. This is just the worst-case scenario. No matter what, I won’t abandon you. We’ll stay together and tackle our debts slowly. If needed, we’ll sell our home, and rent somewhere else. Staying united as a family is what counts.”
Everything eventually settled down smoothly. Her father’s resilience and calm approach to life’s challenges were monumental.
Nicole struggled to grasp why her father would leap from a building due to the prospect of bankruptcy. After all, declaring bankruptcy wasn’t the worst scenario they’d faced.
Furthermore, he left no farewell note for her and her mother, which was out of character for him.
Now that Nicole thought about it, numerous doubts surfaced. Her head throbbed with pain, and she closed her eyes, hoping for some relief. She vowed to uncover the truth about her father’s death.
When Nicole opened her eyes again, she noticed Roscoe in a convertible beside her at a traffic light.
Surprised, she wanted to shout out to him, but no sound came out. Roscoe was with a woman clad in red, not Doreen. This was the woman Nicole had seen previously.
Right now, Doreen was under police interrogation. The drugging incident had come to light, and although Doreen was unaware, she couldn’t escape the reality that she had assaulted Nicole.
Traditionally, Doreen would face a minimum of 15 days’ detention if Nicole did not forgive her. This meant Doreen would not be seen in Ardleng for the next 15 days as she would be in custody.
Nicole gazed out the car window, her intuition tingling. Sensing Nicole’s gaze, Roscoe glanced at her briefly with his poker face, and then he averted his gaze. Roscoe’s gaze struck Nicole as off, as though he didn’t recognize her.
Nicole felt a wave of worry and unease but couldn’t figure it out. She had heard that the Watts family was facing troubles, and scandals had come to light.
As the legal representative of the Watts Group, Roscoe had been called in for questioning by the prosecutor’s office multiple times.
At the red light, Nicole discreetly snapped a few photos of the woman. When the light turned green, the woman drove off with Roscoe.
Looking at the photos, Nicole recalled the woman’s odd hand movements and the murmured words to Roscoe that she couldn’t make out. Everything seemed off.
Nicole sent the woman’s photo to a hacker friend overseas with a message: “Could you help me identify this woman?”
The response was brief: “Okay.”
Nicole stared at Roscoe’s image in the photo with a heavy heart. He appeared thinner than before. How did things come to this? He was once so vibrant.
Nicole blamed herself for everything. If only Roscoe didn’t know her, perhaps things would be better…
Just then, the taxi driver announced the arrival, and Nicole gathered her thoughts. Her tasks were loaded, including investigating her father’s death and helping Roscoe. She decided to tackle them one by one and unravel what was happening.
Stepping out of the taxi, Nicole surveyed her surroundings. Melissa’s neighborhood was modest and somewhat rundown. The buildings were old and dingy, and the area around them was disordered.
Nicole located Melissa’s apartment using the address Jemma provided. After knocking persistently, no one answered.
Nicole called Jemma again. “Jemma, is Melissa at work?”
“No, that girl has been acting odd. She hasn’t been seen for three days,” Jemma said. “Is anyone at home?”
Nicole frowned. “No. I’ve been knocking for a while, but no one’s answering.”
“That damn girl, she hasn’t run away, has she?” Jemma said helplessly. “She still owes me 800,000 dollars.”
After Melissa caused trouble last time, Lowe had helped settle some of her debts because she served him well. While Lowe had problems in certain areas, he found other ways to enjoy Melissa’s company. Melissa knew how to keep him pleased, so he helped her financially.
Melissa hadn’t fled because Jemma had her passport and ID. She was effectively trapped. Besides, no one was willing to pay such a hefty sum for her. After all, her cosmetically altered appearance wasn’t deemed valuable.