Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Despite Jarrod’s defense, Alec continued to view Nicole as a witch, albeit a beautiful one.
“Sir, allow me to take a sample of what she gives you and have it tested. If it’s clean, I’ll kneel and apologize to her.” Alec thought this was a reasonable solution.
Since Jarrod didn’t believe him, they could simply test if any poisonous elements were detected.
“There’s no need,” Jarrod responded coldly.
“How can you say that?” Before Alec could argue further, Jarrod interrupted him. “Shut up and drive.”
With no other options, Alec grumbled as he drove, “Just don’t eat anything she gives you. Better safe than sorry.”
Jarrod closed his eyes, ignoring Alec’s complaints.
Upon arriving at the office, Jarrod inquired, “How’s the investigation on Jamie going?”
“We’ve confirmed that Jamie has a backer with considerable resources who funded her extensive plastic surgery,” Alec reported, handing over a file. “It cost a million dollars. They really went all out.”
“Did you check the account information?” Jarrod asked.
“Yes. It leads to a foreign bank account, but we can’t trace the owner,” Alec responded. Jarrod frowned, deep in thought.
Alec added, “Jamie is still hospitalized, so it’s unlikely that person will show up soon. But it’s just a matter of time because…”
Alec paused and then handed Jarrod a hospital report. “This report shows that Jamie’s injuries weren’t self-inflicted. She claims they were from a suicide attempt, but it seems someone else caused them. No one can prove otherwise.”
Jarrod skimmed through the report. “It seems whoever it was considered Jamie expendable and wanted to get rid of her.”
“That’s what we’re assuming.” Alec nodded.
“Keep an eye on it. We need to find out who’s behind this,” Jarrod commanded. This posed an unseen threat that they couldn’t overlook.
Alec nodded and turned to leave, but Jarrod stopped him. “Any updates on Roscoe?” Jarrod asked.
“Well, there’s something off about him. Our investigation uncovered something shocking,” Alec revealed. “It turns out Miguel had hired a witch just to control Roscoe, and it appears Roscoe was put under a spell that caused his erratic behavior.”
Jarrod considered the situation. “Have our lawyers handle his marriage to Doreen. It’s time to end it.” It was evident that Roscoe had lost his use for the Watts family. Given Miguel’s ruthless disposition, it was crucial to ensure Doreen’s safety swiftly.
Alec nodded. “I’ll take care of it.”
“But…” Alec hesitated. “Doreen’s mother came by again, but I told her you weren’t in the office, so she left.”
“Alright,” Jarrod replied, his tone unchanged. He seemed resolute about teaching Doreen a lesson this time.
Alec shared Jarrod’s sentiments. Although he harbored a dislike for Nicole, Doreen’s reckless behavior was even more troubling. Jarrod had frequently had to intervene on Doreen’s behalf. It was an opportune moment to curb Doreen’s recklessness.
Jarrod then ordered, “Keep an eye on Miguel. If he moves against Roscoe, ensure Roscoe has an escape route.”
“What? What do you mean?” Alec exclaimed in shock. Jarrod had always intended to eliminate Roscoe. Why show mercy now?
“Sir, did you actually eat what that woman cooked for you?” Alec asked, suspecting Jarrod’s judgment was impaired.
Even if they chose not to eliminate Roscoe, aiding him was unnecessary. The true danger came from Miguel, Roscoe’s grandfather, not them.
“Enough talk. Follow my orders.” Jarrod dismissed Alec with a wave of his hand.
Muttering under his breath, Alec left the room frustrated. He still needed to convey Jarrod’s instructions and bolster security around the Watts family.
After spending time with Austin, Nicole left the house. She had learned from her friend that the woman who stayed close to Roscoe was a witch, uttering spells to manipulate parasitic insects.
This revelation sent a chill through Nicole. Why was Miguel so harsh with Roscoe? Could it be that Roscoe was not his son?
With these questions swirling in her mind, Nicole parked her car near the Watts’ villa and waited in hiding. Hours later, she spotted the witch clad in red leaving the house alone. Nicole started the car and followed her.
The witch drove her car to a rundown factory. After parking, she scanned the surroundings with caution before proceeding inside.
Nicole, making sure the coast was clear, donned a black baseball cap and exited her vehicle. She moved toward the factory door, glancing around anxiously before quietly entering.
Once inside, Nicole found the room empty. Her heart raced, and suddenly, someone from behind pressed a handkerchief over her mouth and nose. She had little time to react before losing consciousness.
The witch approached the unconscious Nicole, crouching down to scrutinize her face as if evaluating a product. After a moment, she turned to a muscular man beside her and said, “This is her.”
The witch stood and clapped her hands. “Alright, take her.”
The man acknowledged, then quickly stuffed Nicole into a burlap sack and threw her into a car as if she weighed nothing. He slammed the door shut and drove away.
The witch then instructed another man standing by Nicole’s car, “Take this car to a remote area and burn it.”
The man nodded and drove Nicole’s car away. Just as the witch was about to follow the car that took Nicole, she received an unexpected phone call. After a brief discussion, she changed her plans.
Later that evening, Jarrod returned to the villa. Upon entering, he asked the housekeeper, “Has my wife eaten?”
The housekeeper appeared puzzled. “Sir, weren’t you aware? She mentioned she was visiting her mother.”
“Visiting her mother?” Jarrod’s brow furrowed.
“Yes, she said that. She hasn’t come back yet,” the housekeeper explained.
Jarrod checked the time. It was already 8:30 PM. The sanatorium was not nearby, and Nicole should have returned by now.
Feeling anxious, Jarrod checked on Austin before rushing off to the sanatorium. Upon arrival, he headed straight for Nicole’s mother’s room, finding her sleeping soundly.
A nurse standing nearby quickly rose and greeted him, “Mr. Schultz.”
Without delay, Jarrod asked, “When did Nicole leave?”
“What?” The nurse looked surprised. “She didn’t come here today.”
“She didn’t come?” Jarrod echoed her words.
“That’s correct. I’ve been here the entire day and haven’t seen her,” the nurse confirmed.
Jarrod turned and exited, dialing as he walked to his car. “Alec, find out where Nicole’s car is,” he ordered.
Acknowledging Jarrod’s seriousness, Alec replied without questioning, “On it.”
Jarrod added, “Check the surveillance and find the car’s location immediately.”
“Got it,” Alec said, promptly directing the company’s IT department to track down Nicole’s car. He quickly relayed the last known location to Jarrod.
At the same time, Alec examined the surveillance footage from the villa. Confirming Nicole had not headed toward the sanatorium, he promptly informed Jarrod.
Arriving at the car’s last known location, Jarrod discovered an abandoned factory. The place was eerily quiet, with no signs of life. The area around was just as empty, devoid of any vehicles.
Jarrod retrieved a flashlight from his car and entered the factory, lighting his way. The building was completely dark, and Jarrod thoroughly searched every corner but found no one.
Just as he was about to exit, something caught under his foot near the door. Looking down, he spotted one of Nicole’s earrings, a small golden flower, and recognized it instantly.
He picked it up, staring at it intently, sensing it might be a clue left by Nicole.
Holding the earring tightly, Jarrod headed back to his car and instructed Alec, “Initiate a citywide search for Nicole. Don’t stop until we find her.”
Alec paused momentarily before asking, “What’s happened to her?”
“She’s been kidnapped,” Jarrod responded somberly.
The severity of the situation weighed heavily on Jarrod. Who could have enticed Nicole into such a trap? Baffled by the possible motives, he drove to the office to collaborate with Alec and the team in tracking down any leads.
Nicole had been unconscious for a considerable period. When she regained consciousness, she found herself shrouded in pitch darkness, unable to see.
She attempted to loosen her bindings, but the restraints were too tight, making it impossible to escape without help.
Then, she heard the sound of faint footsteps drawing near.
Nicole immediately stilled, feigning unconsciousness. She felt someone shake her, and the sack she was confined in was opened, allowing her to breathe the outside air.
A coarse voice asked, “Is this her?”
“Yes, sir. Her blood is sweet. Perfect for our needs,” a younger woman answered.
“Good. When do we start?” the chief asked.
The witch clad in red said, “Her condition is poor. I fear she might not withstand the full ceremony. I’ll need a few days to strengthen her with herbal remedies before we can begin.”
“Very well, make the arrangements,” the chief agreed.
After a brief pause, the chief added, “Why did you bring an outsider here? Have you forgotten our rule against leaking information about our valley?”
The witch clad in red dropped to her knees with a thud.
“Chief, the Watts family tasked me with bringing him here for recovery. They require his safety until the end of next month. However, the parasites are affecting him rapidly, so I acted on my own to bring him here for treatment. I accept any punishment.”