Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Audrey felt reassured by Cornell’s words. As long as Cornell was at ease, she fully backed the idea of helping Roscoe. Given Roscoe’s prior assistance to Nicole, Audrey respected and valued his efforts. Nicole was greatly relieved to hear Audrey’s support.
The following morning, Nicole arrived at the hospital early. She brought a large bouquet of flowers to visit Alec. At the hospital, Nicole was not allowed into the intensive care unit, so she left the flowers with the nurses and glanced toward Alec’s room. She shared her heartfelt thoughts. “Alec, in this lifetime, we’ve been rivals. I wish someday we could be friends.”
Despite their frequent disagreements, Nicole respected Alec’s loyalty to Jarrod. It was understandable that Jarrod had been deeply affected by Alec’s condition. Losing a close friend like Alec would change anyone.
“Alec, I hope you stop being so foolish from now on. Don’t throw away your life because of setbacks. Life’s too wonderful and valuable for that. Living it right matters more than anything else…” Nicole stood in the hospital for a while before she slowly walked away.
Her first stop after leaving the hospital was a law firm. Now, she wasn’t just battling for visitation rights but for custody. Austin was a kind-hearted kid, and being raised under Jarrod’s influence could mean an uncertain future.
Nicole was concerned about Austin’s upbringing with Jarrod, but she was aware that winning the custody battle would be tough against the Schultz Group’s strong legal team. Nevertheless, she was determined to fight. She couldn’t just abandon Austin.
After meeting with a lawyer and laying out her divorce demands, Nicole entrusted the legal issues to him. Then, she visited Ethel to check on the progress concerning her father’s former assistant, Brett.
At the police station, Ethel was surprised to see Nicole. “Nicole, where have you been? I’ve been trying to reach you for days. I was starting to get really worried…”
Ethel’s worry was real. Since she couldn’t reach Nicole, she started to use investigative techniques to track Nicole’s last known locations, which brought her to Jarrod’s villa. She was almost ready to confront Jarrod to discover Nicole’s whereabouts. Luckily, Nicole showed up just in time.
Nicole quickly shared what had happened to her recently and then asked the urgent question, “Any news on Brett? And Jamie, who’s now using the name Melissa, is she still in the hospital?”
Before being confined by Jarrod, Nicole had told Ethel about Jamie and requested that she keep an eye on Jamie. Nicole was eager to hear about Jamie’s condition after all this time.
Ethel answered each question. “We’ve made progress with Brett. I found out his family is still here. They haven’t moved but have been living secretly in the countryside. Brett had taken his daughter there for medical treatment and stayed. They only came back to Ardlens this year.”
Brett thought the danger was over since Nicole’s father had died several years ago, and no one seemed to be after him anymore. He believed the threats were gone. Little did he know, Nicole and Ethel had continued their investigation all along, which led to their recent breakthrough.
Nicole finally heard some good news. She inquired of Ethel, “Where is Brett at this moment?”
Nicole’s urgency to confront Brett in person stemmed from the fact that he was the last individual to see her father alive. What had transpired between them?
Why had he committed such a betrayal? Why had he turned against her father, who had always treated him with such kindness, particularly in light of her father’s generosity toward Brett’s ailing daughter?
Moreover, Nicole’s mother had shown Brett great compassion, even renting an amusement park to make his daughter’s birthday special.
Back then, Brett’s gratitude appeared sincere because authentic emotions cannot be fabricated. So, why had he inflicted harm upon her father?
Nicole was baffled and felt compelled to confront Brett directly.
However, Ethel lacked the information Nicole sought. “We haven’t located Brett yet. We’ve checked immigration records, and there’s no indication he left the country, but his family maintains he has gone abroad,” Ethel replied.
“That’s impossible,” Nicole immediately commented. “Brett cherishes his daughter profoundly. She means everything to him. He would never abandon her.”
“I agree,” Ethel concurred. “Since the beginning, his family has been extraordinarily secretive. Brett’s mother feigned being both deaf and mute during our visit, which implies they possess some knowledge. Brett may have been forewarned and escaped to another location.”
Nicole felt a wave of frustration but became even more resolute in her quest to locate Brett. He must be aware of something crucial!
Noting Nicole’s distress, Ethel offered reassurance. “Don’t worry, Kiki. I’ve requested to reopen your father’s case as a criminal investigation. Once authorized, we can issue an arrest warrant for Brett, making it more challenging for him to remain concealed and easier for us to track him down.”
Ethel tried to project confidence, but she had her doubts. If Brett had indeed absconded, it could take years to find him. Some fugitives successfully evaded capture for years. Due to the outdated classification of Nicole’s father’s death as self-inflicted, crucial evidence might no longer be available. If Brett fabricated his story, uncovering the facts would be arduous.
Nicole conceived a different approach. “I know how to locate Brett.”
Ethel’s eyes brightened. “What’s your strategy?”
“Brett deeply cherishes his daughter. By monitoring her, we’ll find him. He won’t remain distant from her,” Nicole clarified.
Ethel, doubtful, responded, “I can’t legally track Brett’s daughter at this moment. My current caseload and unprocessed paperwork necessitate review and approval first.”
Nicole volunteered, saying, “It’s okay. I’ll handle it.”
Ethel felt uneasy. “That’s risky, Kiki. If Brett, a murder suspect, discovers your plan, you could be in danger. It’s too hazardous.”
“Don’t worry, Ethel, I’ll exercise extreme caution,” Nicole assured her.
Nicole’s haste in locating Brett lay in the fear that he might escape with his daughter. Leaving the country wasn’t solely dependent on flights. Escaping unnoticed was an option.
As long as Brett’s daughter remained within national borders, Brett was probably there as well. Monitoring his daughter would eventually lead to him.
Observing Nicole’s resolve, Ethel hesitantly consented but emphasized cautioning, “You must carry self-defense tools like pepper spray and exercise utmost caution. Inform me immediately if anything arises. If I’m unable to come, I’ll dispatch someone.”
“Absolutely. Rest assured. I’ll safeguard myself for the sake of my mother, my child, and everyone who cares about me,” Nicole promised Ethel.
With her health now significantly improved, Nicole felt ready to accomplish more, assist others, and care for her loved ones. She resolved to live a fulfilling life.
“How is your mother doing now?” Ethel inquired. In her recollection, she had encountered Nicole’s mother once. Nicole’s mother was gentle and strikingly beautiful, her voice as soft as the one in Ethel’s dreams. Regrettably, Ethel had no mother figure in her life.
“She’s unchanged. She doesn’t recognize me and remains nonverbal, but her physical condition is stable,” Nicole responded.
“Kiki, may I accompany you on your next visit to her?” Ethel cautiously asked. Though she had met Nicole’s mother only once, the idea of the latter living like an automaton deeply saddened her. She wished to see Nicole’s mother again.
“Absolutely,” Nicole replied cheerfully. “Let’s schedule a date and go together.”
“Wonderful!” Ethel beamed.
Nicole then recalled the incident at Witch Valley and inquired, “Any news about those witches?”
After their departure from Witch Valley, Nicole had reported the event to the local authorities, but the remote location had left her without any updates.
“The case is officially filed and under investigation,” Ethel replied.
“The chief and those witches were malevolent, causing harm to many over the years. Despite their deaths, the investigation aims to bring all their followers to justice, ensuring that superstition and rumors do not proliferate.”
“That’s reassuring.” Nicole sighed in relief. It was comforting to know that the innocent victims would not be forgotten.
After bidding farewell to Ethel, Nicole proceeded to Brett’s residence for surveillance. She acquired a loaf of bread and settled by the flowerbed, ready to eat while monitoring the property. This time, she arrived equipped with pepper spray, a compact knife, and alertness-enhancing tablets. She was determined not to be taken by surprise and incapacitated as before.
Nicole observed the vicinity for nearly seventy-two hours. Even when nature called, she positioned a camera to monitor the entrance, reviewing the recordings upon her return to ensure no activity went unnoticed.
Curiously, Brett’s family had not ventured out of their home for three whole days. Nicole found this peculiar. Did they not require essential supplies? Certainly, they must have needed to purchase groceries at some point.
On the third evening, Nicole finally witnessed Brett’s daughter leaving the building.
Brett’s daughter, Callie, was twenty years old. She had a youthful and innocent appearance, dressed in a black hooded coat, wrapping herself up tightly.
Exiting the staircase, Callie scanned her surroundings to ensure there were no suspicious individuals before heading to a nearby white car.
Nicole overheard the driver of the white car asking, “Is your phone number ending in 3368?”
Callie nodded and replied, “It’s me.”
“Get in the car,” the driver instructed.
It seemed Callie had arranged for a suspicious car. Nicole quickly started her own vehicle, which was hidden in the shadows. Nicole’s black car, with dimmed lights, blended seamlessly into the traffic.
The white car gradually drove toward a deserted area. Maintaining a careful distance, Nicole turned off her headlights to avoid detection.
However, as the white car entered the deserted area, Nicole lost track of it at a fork in the road. To avoid being discovered, she kept her distance.
She stopped by the roadside and checked the tire prints to determine the route. Fortunately, these rural roads were all one-way, making it difficult to lose the trail. Nicole confirmed the route, got back in her car, and continued following.
Unexpectedly, Nicole spotted the white car again after driving only a short distance. Thanks to her silent electric car and dimmed lights, she remained unnoticed. She carefully stopped her car, blending into the night, ensuring she wasn’t too close to be seen.
However, the white car came to a stop and didn’t move.
The driver noticed Callie wearing a mask but admired her beautiful eyes. He began teasing her, asking, “Little girl, where are you going so late?”
Callie cautiously replied, “I’m going to find my dad.”
“Looking for your dad?” the driver questioned, laughing. “It’s so late, and your dad isn’t home. Is he out playing or doing something else?”
Callie felt uncomfortable talking to the driver, especially with his vulgar smile that sent chills down her spine. She kept her head down and replied softly, “My dad is working.”
“Oh, your dad is working, and he let you, his beautiful daughter, come out so late to find him? How careless of him.” As the driver spoke, his eyes were not on the road but fixed on her chest, his laughter lewd and unsettling.
Fear began to creep into Callie’s mind. She lowered her head and fumbled with her phone, intending to send a message to her dad. Just as she started typing, the driver suddenly accelerated and slammed on the brakes.
Callie’s head collided with the back of the front seat, and her phone slipped from her hand. “Ah…” she cried out softly in pain.
Feigning concern, the driver asked, “Are you okay?”
Callie held her aching head but didn’t dare to confront him. She frowned and replied softly, “I’m fine.”
“Good. Then I’ll drive slower,” the driver said.
Taking a deep breath, Callie began searching for her phone. She saw it had slid to the bottom of the front seat. She carefully reached down to pick it up, but as the car moved, the phone kept sliding forward. Realizing she couldn’t retrieve it unless the car stopped, she cautiously asked, “Sir, could you please stop the car so I can pick up my phone?”
The driver looked uncomfortable. “There are traffic cameras here. We can’t stop, or we’ll get a ticket.”
Callie wasn’t sure if there were traffic cameras, but she noticed the road ahead was growing darker while the current area still had some light. Her fear intensified. “Sir, could you please stop the car for a moment?” Her voice was small and timid.
“Hey, why are you being so difficult?” the driver grumbled, frowning. “Do you realize how much the fine is if we stop here? I won’t stop you from picking up your phone.”