Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Alec continued, “He’s not the same as he used to be. It’s like his soul is gone, leaving only an empty shell behind.”
That was how Alec felt about Roscoe. Something about Roscoe seemed quite off.
Jarrod pondered for a moment before instructing, “lnvestigate this. Find out if anything amiss has happened with the Watts family. Also, see if Roscoe has been going to any hospitals. Acquire his medical records if possible.”
Alec nodded. “Got it. I’ll start right away.”
After Alec left, Jarrod rubbed his temples, holding his phone and about to make a call. just then, Doreen’s
mother, Hallie, called. He picked up the call. “Hello, how
Before Jarrod could finish, Hallie’s panicked voice cut him off. “Jarrod, you have to help Doreen!”
Hallie cried as she explained, “1 don’t know what happened, but Doreen has been arrested for assault. The lawyer said only you can help. The name of the woma who filed the report reported is Nicole something… She’s linked to you.”
Hallie continued talking, not letting Jarrod get a word in, “Jarrod, what’s happening? Doreen is my only daughter. Can’t you manage the women in your life? How could she have my daughter arrested?”
Annoyed by her outburst, Jarrod pinched the bridge of his nose. “Her name is Nicole. She’s my wife.” He wanted to make it clear that Nicole wasn’t just any woman, but his legally wedded spouse.
Hallie was shocked. “What? You’re married? How am I not aware? And what about Vicki?”
Hallie had just come back from a trip and didn’t know about Jarrod’s breakup with Vicki. She had always believed Vicki was meant to be Jarrod’s wife. After all, apart from Vicki, there hadn’t been any other woman in Jarrod’s life all these years.
Moreover, Vicki had charmed both Doreen and Hallie,
making them quite fond of her. Naturally, they were biased in her favor and viewed her as a good match for Jarrod.
“I no longer have anything to do with Miss Hampton,” Jarrod responded coldly. “I have kept my marriage under wrap. We just got the marriage certificate and kept a low profile about it.”
Both Jarrod and Nicole were past the age for extravagant celebrations, and even if Jarrod had wanted a big wedding, Nicole wouldn’t have subscribed to it.
Her past scandals had marred her reputation, and a lavish wedding would only dig up old grudges and gossip, causing her a lot of stress. Jarrod wouldn’t put her through that.
Hallie was at a loss for words. “Jarrod, how can you take this lightly? Marriage is serious business! Even if it’s not Vicki, you should choose your partner carefully… “
“And that was what I did,” Jarrod stated firmly. “I didn’t just get married to her impulsively.”
Jarrod chose Nicole after thorough consideration. But he didn’t elaborate on these details to Hallie and chose instead to return to the main issue.
“I’ve looked into Doreen’s issue. She was involved in the assault, but she didn’t administer the drug. Her charges won’t be serious. She’ll probably face a maximum of fifteen days of detention.”
“Detention?” Hallie sounded like she couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “For a whole of fifteen days?” Hearing Jarrod casually talk about a fifteen-day detention for her beloved daughter was too much for her to handle.
“Jarrod, I had spoiled Doreen her whole life. How can she cope with something like this? Keeping her in detention for fifteen days is like a death sentence for me!”
Hallie said between choked sobs, “Jarrod, you have to do something for Doreen. How could your wife target Doreen like this?”
Hallie was livid. “Considering our family connections, how could your wife simply report Doreen to the police? How could she treat Doreen this way? You need to make her justify her actions to me!”
Jarrod let out a cold laugh. “So, Doreen can’t handle hardship. Did she ever care about the pain she caused to the person she attacked?”
Hallie was stunned by his words. She had never thought about anyone else’s suffering. Her mind was only on her daughter.
Jarrod’s face was cold as he said, “Hallie, the person Doreen attacked is my wife, her aunt. You want me to help Doreen. Then who is going to make things right for my wife?”
Hallie was taken aback by Jarrod’s response. Was his
wife really so important to him? “Jarrod, Doreen was wrong to hit your wife. I’ll make sure she apologizes, but remember, Doreen is part of your family.
You can’t just push her aside because you got married. You can’t abandon Doreen. Doreen must be terrified right now…” Her voice broke, making her sound pitiful.
Jarrod felt a stab of guilt. When the Schultz family went through tough times, Hallie’s family was the only one; that didn’t turn their backs and even offered some help.
Noticing Jarrod’s hesitance, Hallie’s tears became more pitiful. She sensed his resolve weakening and thus took the chance.
“Jarrod, you must help Doreen!” Hallie pleaded, her voice laden with desperation.
In Hallie’s mind, persuading Nicole to drop the charges was a straightforward task for Jarrod. As his wife, Nicole should heed his advice. To do otherwise would be defiant.
Hallie regarded Nicole as an average person, lacking any significant influence. She suspected Nicole had maneuvered her way into Jarrod’s life using charm and the birth of their child.
Hallie didn’t respect Nicole, considering her unworthy of Jarrod. Surely, Jarrod would prioritize blood relations over a woman with no power or status, right? Could he really disregard his own family for someone so insignificant? She doubted it.
After a brief silence, Jarrod responded thoughtfully, “Hallie, didn’t Doreen take an interest in piano recently? I’ve arranged for her to learn from an international piano master abroad. This should also help mature her character.”
Hallie assumed the issue was settled. Jarrod’s words seemed to indicate he would assist Doreen. Relieved, she smiled.
“Jarrod, I knew you would support Doreen. She admires you greatly. We can talk about her piano lessons once she’s free.”
To Hallie, Jarrod was ready to intervene on Doreen’s behalf, much to her delight. But then Jarrod added, “Doreen is not a child anymore. Her irresponsible actions must be confronted. This will be a good lesson for her, to curb her impulsive nature.”
“What?” Hallie was taken aback. Hadn’t Jarrod just hinted at securing Doreen’s release? “What do you mean? You just promised to get Doreen out!” She raised her voice.
“I never said that,” Jarrod retorted, his tone icy.
“What?” Hallie exclaimed, baffled. “You mentioned sending her to study piano. Isn’t that the same as getting her out?”
“I intend to send her, but only after her fifteen-day detention. Alec will then take her abroad to learn not just about piano but also proper conduct,” Jarrod clarified.
Hallie was at a loss for words. Jarrod had not only refused to get Doreen out but also planned to send her abroad. Was he insane?
“Jarrod, have you lost your mind? Are you so under your wife’s influence that you’d disregard your own family?” Hallie questioned, her voice trembling with anger.
In her rage, Hallie spoke without thinking.
“Have you forgotten who supported you when everyone else turned their backs? When your family faced those threats, I was the one who intervened to support you. And this is how you repay me?” Tears streamed down her face as she voiced her despair.
Jarrod’s response was chilling. “If I had truly forgotten, Doreen would be facing more than just fifteen days.”
His words cut through the air, halting Hallie’s sobs abruptly.
“Enough. Doreen’s temperament is not suited for any business. Whether she is detained or not doesn’t make a difference. Your pampering her will only ruin her eventually. I will ensure her future is well taken care of. This discussion is over.”
With that, Jarrod ended the call, unwilling to entertain any more of Hallie’s complaints.
Jarrod had resolved to send Doreen abroad not only for her education but also to delve into the affairs of the Watts family. Doreen’s continued presence at home could complicate matters. After all, she was still connected to the Watts family through marriage.
Jarrod sensed that something sinister was unfolding within the Watts family. Sending Doreen away was partly to shield her from potential harm.
These were complexities he hadn’t divulged to Hallie. Hallie might inadvertently reveal something critical. Her lack of discretion could jeopardize their position.
Glancing at his phone, Jarrod was reminded of his original task. He dialed Nicole’s number. His phone screen read “Honey”, a change he had made just after they got their marriage certificate. The phone rang repeatedly but went unanswered.
A frown formed on Jarrod’s face as he tried calling again, only to find her phone switched off.
Annoyed, Jarrod pressed the intercom and instructed Alec, “Go to the hospital and check if my wife is still there.”
“Right away, sir,” Alec replied promptly.
Meanwhile, Hallie was seething after Jarrod abruptly ended their call. She couldn’t grasp the overwhelming influence Jarrod’s wife seemed to wield over him. For Nicole’s sake, Jarrod seemed willing to sideline his own kin.
Swiftly, Hallie made a call, “Find out where that woman, Nicole, is.”
Over the years, Hallie had cultivated a network in Ardleng, using her wealth to gather information and exert influence. Her eyes flashed with malicious intent. She was determined to confront Nicole, who had disrupted her daughter’s life.
At the hospital, Jamie was still receiving emergency treatment. Nicole lingered outside the room, lost in thought about her earlier encounter with Roscoe.
Moments earlier, Nicole had tentatively asked Roscoe, “Are you okay?”
Roscoe had responded with chilling indifference, “Who are you? Do I know you?”
His frigid response had caught Nicole off guard. She remembered then that he still suffered from memory loss and no longer recognized her. To him, she was now merely a stranger.
Nicole had intended to leave when Roscoe suddenly gripped his head, wincing in pain.
“Are you alright? What’s wrong, Roscoe?” Nicole had asked, stepping forward to assist him.
Unexpectedly, Roscoe had pushed her away forcefully, causing her to stumble and fall. His expression twisted into one of fury, his eyes becoming bloodshot, a terrifying sight.
Witnessing his distress, Nicole had sensed that his condition was more than a mere ailment. It was something profoundly alarming. Panicked, she cried out for help, “Doctor! Doctor! Someone, please help!”
As Nicole dashed to find assistance, a woman collided with her, nearly causing another fall.
“Roscoe, Roscoe…” the woman murmured as she knelt beside Roscoe, soothingly calling his name.
As Roscoe’s agitation mounted, the woman leaned closer and whispered something into his ear, her manner intimate.
Nicole tried to listen, but the language was foreign, unfamiliar to her ears. Covertly, she activated her phone’s recorder, capturing the woman’s mysterious whispers.
Just then, doctors arrived as Roscoe’s fury seemed to evaporate. The woman stood and composedly requested, “Doctor, could you prescribe some tranquilizers for this gentleman? Thank you.”