Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Nicole responded, “Then I’ll go ask around.”
Nicole tried Melissa’s other contact information but got no response. There was no sound of ringing from inside the apartment either.
At that moment, an elderly lady walking her dog approached and saw Nicole at the door, asking, “Miss, are you looking for the young woman from this apartment?”
Nicole nodded and asked, “Do you know her, madam?”
“Yes, she rents from me,” the elderly lady said. “What do you need her for?”
Nicole explained, “I’m her coworker. She hasn’t shown up at work for a few days, so I came to check on her.”
“She hasn’t been to work in a few days?” The elderly lady appeared surprised. “I haven’t seen her around for a few days either.”
The elderly lady knew that Melissa worked nights and typically returned home late, while the elderly lady often rose early, so their paths frequently crossed. It was unusual for her not to have seen Melissa lately.
Nicole suggested, “Madam, do you have a spare key? Maybe we should check if she’s at home. What if something has happened to her?”
The elderly lady responded, “Okay, just a moment. I’ll get the key, and we can go in together.” Then, she went upstairs to retrieve the key.
Nicole was eager to enter and look for any possible clues. She knew Melissa was Jamie, but Jamie had left no DNA samples behind, and all related evidence had been destroyed. There was no direct way to prove Melissa’s true identity.
Should Melissa be proven to be Jamie, it would simplify matters significantly. Jamie had been quite notorious and reckless during her time with Jarrod. Many in Ardleng held grudges against Jamie and were keen to confront her.
After a few moments, the elderly lady returned with a keychain and unlocked the door of Melissa’s apartment.
The moment they stepped inside, they were greeted by a pungent odor of trash. The floor was littered with discarded takeout containers that hadn’t been disposed of. With it being summer, many had developed mold, presenting a disgusting sight.
Nicole had never encountered such dirt in a living space before.
The elderly lady exclaimed in frustration, “Good heavens! She appears so neat outside, yet she lives like this!”
Nicole covered her nose and went to Melissa’s bedroom. The bedroom was plain and somewhat cleaner than the rest of the apartment, but still far from tidy.
Then, something in the room caught Nicole’s eye.
Finding her own photo in Melissa’s bedroom caught Nicole completely off guard. It was conspicuously placed on the table, marked with curses targeting her.
This only deepened Nicole’s belief that Melissa was actually Jamie in disguise. There was no other explanation for Melissa’s vehement curses if they truly were strangers without past grievances.
Outside, the elderly woman was angrily chanting curses that abruptly ended with a sharp scream. “Ah! Blood! Ahhh!”
Nicole, alarmed by the scream, rushed outside and traced it to the bathroom. There, she found Melissa, who had been missing for days, lying in a bloodied bathtub.
The bathtub was gradually filling with water from a dripping faucet, reaching just below Melissa’s lips. Had Nicole arrived any later, Melissa would have been submerged and likely drowned.
The scene was both shocking and horrifying, yet Nicole managed to stay composed. She immediately called for police and an ambulance before assisting the elderly woman outside to calm down.
With no place to sit or stand inside, Nicole had the elderly woman sit on the steps, and for comfort, she unbuttoned the elderly woman’s shirt before returning inside to check on Jamie, who was still breathing, albeit weakly.
Nicole sensed something off. The circumstances seemed beyond what Jamie could have managed alone. Who would have a motive to harm Jamie so severely?
Nicole had despised Jamie once but couldn’t fathom endorsing such brutal retribution. She firmly believed that justice should be served by the law, not through personal vendettas.
Soon after, the authorities arrived, documented the harrowing scene, and paramedics took Jamie away for medical care.
Nicole and the elderly woman then accompanied the police to give their statements.
Meanwhile, at the villa, Alec was updating Jarrod. “Mr. Schultz, your wife first visited an antiquated neighborhood with Officer Castro, and she proceeded to a former colleague’s home where an apparent suicide attempt had occurred. She then went with them to the police station to give a statement.”
Jarrod’s expression remained stoic and unreadable.
Alec pressed on, concerned, “Should I look into this further? I suspect she might be involved in something questionable.”
Alec was increasingly concerned. He had warned Jarrod about Nicole from the start, but Jarrod hadn’t listened.
Jarrod, seemingly unfazed, instructed Alec, “Your role is to ensure her safety, not to surveil her. Unless it pertains directly to her safety, keep it to yourself.”
Alec was taken aback by Jarrod’s order, which hinted at a deep, irrational love.
Frustrated, Alec attempted to speak again, only to be cut off by Jarrod’s dismissive command. “Why are you still standing here? Leave.”
With a hesitant nod, Alec exited the room, only to return moments later, his expression troubled. “Sir, Mr. Hampton has arrived.”
Ever a composed guy, Alec’s troubled expression hinted at a challenging situation or the need for persuasion. This time, it was clearly the former.
The Hampton family had repeatedly tried to contact Jarrod through Alec in vain, a clear indication of the Schultz Group’s reluctance to engage.
Despite this, Wayne, undeterred by the lack of response, had personally come to confront Jarrod, not reconciled to be ignored like his numerous phone calls.
Jarrod responded with a nod, “Escort him to the reception room.”
Jarrod then walked elegantly to the floor-to-ceiling window, his tall and slender figure radiating undeniable charisma.
At thirty, Jarrod was in his prime, his youthful energy paired with mature wealth, enhancing his allure.
Aware that this meeting could cement his reputation as ungrateful and opportunistic, Jarrod had little choice but to face the situation, with Nicole present on the opposing side.
As Jarrod entered the reception room, his posture was impeccable, exuding a commanding presence and undeniable sophistication.
Wayne, looking significantly older, stroked his beard and remarked with a tone of difficulty, “Mr. Schultz, it has become increasingly hard to see you these days.”
Jarrod greeted Wayne with respect, “Absolutely not, Mr. Hampton. You are always welcome at the Schultz Group. Please, feel free to visit anytime.”
Wayne responded with a slow, sarcastic laugh, “If I come around more, will you cease your hostility toward the Hampton family? I have only two heirs left, and both are in trouble. How can I just sit back and do nothing?”
Jarrod, with a slight smile, replied, “I disagree. You know me. Attacking the Hampton family is not something I would do.”
Wayne, visibly agitated, pressed on. “Whether it’s directly through you or someone else, does it really change anything? Without your silent approval, that woman would never have dared. A minimal effort from you might have prevented her actions.”
With a calm, firm voice, Jarrod explained, “No, you’ve got the wrong idea. I never approved of her actions, and I certainly didn’t expect her to hand over the video to the police.”
While Jarrod hadn’t openly admitted to knowing about the video beforehand, nor had he denied knowledge of it, he merely expressed his surprise at its disclosure to the authorities.
Wayne’s frustration grew, evident from his furiously twitching mustache.
Despite his cunning, Wayne’s advanced age was a disadvantage against Jarrod’s youthful sharpness.
Banging his cane on the floor, Wayne challenged, saying, “Don’t beat around the bush. The Hampton family has never mistreated you, right? You broke off the engagement, yet we never protested.”
Jarrod looked away, his gaze darkening with the memory. When he had ended the engagement, he had offered the Hamptons control over a multi-billion dollar joint venture as compensation. The Hamptons’ acceptance was a tacit approval of his compensation. Bringing it up now was quite distasteful.
Wayne, perceptive as ever, picked up on Jarrod’s unspoken acknowledgment of the situation.
The project in question was valued in the billions. Becoming part of it could have significantly increased Wayne’s fortunes, but that depended on Jarrod being swayed by Vicki, or Vicki becoming more influential in Jarrod’s decisions.
However, Jarrod’s staunch independence made it clear Vicki fell short of these needs. Opting for a high-value project was a more reliable choice than betting on an unpredictable relationship.
Wayne’s voice mellowed slightly. “Yes, you offered a project as compensation, but you must realize that accepting it was as much for your peace of mind as it was for ours.”
Jarrod’s expression changed abruptly at Wayne’s words. Clearly, Wayne’s words had tactically twisted the fact in his favor, treating Jarrod with disdain in a bid to milk more gain from him. Sadly, Wayne had targeted the wrong individual. Jarrod wasn’t inexperienced. He had navigated numerous challenges throughout the years and grasped the intricacies of such scenarios better than most.
With composure, Jarrod replied, “Mr. Hampton, I hold you in high regard due to your seniority. Your tenure in this field exceeds mine, but that doesn’t imply my ignorance. You made a deliberate choice back then, weighing the advantages and disadvantages, correct?”
Jarrod continued, “You must realize that you could have declined that profitable project and potentially manipulated my sense of guilt.
However, since you accepted it, that meant our agreement was finalized. The Hampton family has reaped substantial gains beyond their initial investment over time. Should you persist in bringing this up, I don’t mind sharing this with the public. What are your thoughts?”
Jarrod’s extensive retort rendered Wayne speechless. Wayne had always acknowledged Jarrod’s prowess. Uttering this speech while exuding tranquility, Jarrod’s words made Wayne shiver.
Despite this, with his seniority and experience, Wayne fired back, “Mr. Schultz, you insinuate that I am to blame in this matter. I am an elderly man, approaching you with humility, and this is how you repay my gesture? Are you attempting to hasten my demise?”
Wayne’s final recourse was to assume the role of the victim. Given his age, mortality posed little threat if it meant safeguarding his family’s future.
He had realized that, while his illegitimate progeny were numerous, the scandal encircling his legitimate offspring, Lowe, would deliver a devastating blow to the Hampton family’s reputation and prospects.
Should the scandal spiral out of control, the Hamptons would face difficulty producing noteworthy heirs and sustaining their standing in the corporate realm.
Consequently, Wayne resolved to shield the family’s younger members at any expense. He regretted having crossed Jarrod, who was anything but ordinary.
Any other opponent could have been easily dealt with through traditional means. It was regrettable that Vicki had fallen under Jarrod’s sway.
Wayne, drawing upon his extensive experience, discerned which individuals were approachable and which were best avoided.
Jarrod exhibited clear independence and resilience, yet his profound affection for Nicole astonished Wayne. Jarrod’s commitment had even extended to matrimony, underscoring Nicole’s considerable sway over him.
Internally sighing, Wayne bemoaned Vicki’s failure to recognize this harsh reality. If Jarrod had been easily swayed, he wouldn’t have held much value. Should Jarrod be akin to the younger Wayne, with multiple spouses and numerous illegitimate offspring, he was hardly a desirable companion.
Dealing with someone like Jarrod presented only two choices. It was to either surrender entirely or persevere, eliciting his sympathy. Causing harm to the woman he cherished was a no-no.
This principle was straightforward and easily understood by Wayne but lost on Vicki, a clear case of being too close to discern it properly.