Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Roscoe gave Nicole a clean bathrobe and noticed she looked different.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, his voice clear and youthful because he didn’t smoke or drink.
His question quickly snapped Nicole out of her thoughts. She shook off the sadness, her eyes clearing up, and said, “It’s nothing.”
Roscoe didn’t push her for more details. He just nodded and said, “Take your time in the bath. I’ll take you to see Austin after he falls asleep.”
Austin was having a tough night, unable to settle down even with the nanny trying to help.
Roscoe had set up the medicinal bath, thinking it would help Nicole unwind before she went to see Austin.
After the bath, Nicole discovered the hair dryer wasn’t working. She called Roscoe over. “This seems to be broken?”
Roscoe checked and found the switch on the socket turned off. After flipping it on, he offered to dry her hair, saying gently, “Let me do it.”
Nicole was about to say no, but Roscoe gently took her hand and said, “Nicole, you need to start letting me help you.”
Nicole was unconscious when giving birth to Austin, and it took her two years to recover. She moved from deep despair to something that felt more like normal life.
All this time, Roscoe had been waiting with patience. He now felt it was time for Nicole to see him differently. He wanted more than just friends.
Roscoe’s sincere gaze made Nicole feel guilty without him even trying.
She wasn’t enthusiastic about living on. Yet, Roscoe’s future was still full of promise and hope.
Taking a deep breath, Nicole began, “Roscoe, I’ve caused you so much trouble. I…”
“Let’s talk about this later. You will get cold if I don’t dry your hair,” Roscoe interrupted, not wanting to hear her apologies, focusing instead on drying her hair.
Roscoe understood that it wasn’t just about his confessing his love for her. It was about helping Nicole not be afraid to love and be loved again. Even though he knew it would be challenging, he was ready to tackle any obstacles because of his feelings for her.
Nicole remained quiet. Standing in front of the mirror, Nicole caught a glimpse of their reflections. She realized, maybe for the first time, just how much taller Roscoe was, easily a head and more above her. His usual choice of a shirt gave him a slender look.
But now, fresh from a shower and in a snug white T-shirt, the outline of Roscoe’s defined waist and abs was clearly visible through the material. It was a classic example of someone who looked slim in clothes but was surprisingly muscular.
Nicole’s face, likely flushed from the warmth of the hairdryer, glowed, highlighting her gentle beauty.
After he finished drying her hair, Roscoe hung around, seemingly reluctant to leave. “Nicole, you know, having you around is never a hassle for me.”
Nicole froze for a moment, touched by his words. She had been promised by others many times. Yet, it was Roscoe’s promise that warmed her heart, offering a soft touch of reassurance. He always had a way of comforting her without making it obvious.
After having said so, Roscoe put the hairdryer away and headed out.
“Let’s go see Austin.”
He moved quickly, almost as if he didn’t want to give Nicole a chance to say no.
Watching Roscoe, who usually acted with such maturity and composure, indulge in a few rare moments of childishness brought a sparkle of affection to Nicole’s eyes.
Their room was a lavish suite, consisting of two connected rooms.
Upon opening the door, Roscoe discovered Austin already fast asleep.
He moved aside, allowing Nicole to enter, and then he quietly left to give them some privacy.
The room, bathed in soft light, highlighted Austin’s remarkable features as he slept. His long eyelashes, prominent nose bridge, and slender lips stood out.
With his eyes shut, he looked remarkably like Jarrod.
Nicole stepped closer, seizing these quiet moments to gaze at and gently touch Austin.
Austin’s lips, affected by his heart condition, lacked the rosy tint common among children his age, displaying a slight purple color instead.
Nicole experienced a whirlwind of feelings, discomfort, sadness, and something indescribable.
She reached out her hand, hesitating, pulling back, then reaching out again.
Suddenly, as if aware of her presence, Austin’s small hand caught one of Nicole’s fingers tightly, just like he had done the moment he was born. His lips quivered slightly as he whispered, “Mommy…”
At that moment, Nicole felt overwhelmed, as if lightning had struck her, her heart aching intensely. Tears she had been holding back began to fall onto her arm. She tried to steady her breathing, softly telling herself, “I’m sorry… Sorry, sweetheart. Mommy has made a lot of mistakes…”
When Roscoe walked in, he saw Nicole asleep next to Austin, curled up in a ball.
Austin’s tiny hand was still clutching Nicole’s finger. Her eyelashes were damp, a sight that made Roscoe’s heart flutter.
He realized Nicole wasn’t as cold as she seemed. Her soft side came out when she was by herself. She was dealing with more pain and exhaustion than anyone knew.
Not wanting to disturb her sleep, Roscoe gently covered her with a light blanket and made sure Austin was comfortable before his departure.
Stepping out of the room, Roscoe noticed Nicole’s phone quietly buzzing on the table. An unknown number kept calling.
Raising an eyebrow, Roscoe had a pretty good guess about who it could be.
As soon as Roscoe picked up the phone, a man’s frantic voice hit him.
“Nicole, get out here right now. I’m telling you…”
“She’s sleeping,” Roscoe cut in.
There was a pause on the other end, then the sound of the man breathing heavily.
“I need Nicole to pick up the phone!” Jarrod spat the words out, teeth clenched.
Roscoe kept his tone light. “Don’t you get it? She’s sleeping. But if you’ve got a message, I’m here to pass it along.”
The sound of Jarrod’s teeth grinding filtered through the phone. “And who might you be? Who the hell are you?”
Before Roscoe could reply, Jarrod exploded, “Listen up. Don’t you dare touch her! Don’t move her! Just leave immediately, or I’ll make you regret it!”
Roscoe’s voice was calm and untroubled, “Do you think you’re still the one who could do whatever you pleased in Ardlens?”
Over the last five years, the once dominant Schultz Empire had noticeably declined. The wonders he’d performed in under three years were undone by his own indulgence, leaving many ventures unattended.
Yet, Jarrod remained among the top ten tycoons of Ardlens, his influence diminished but still significant. He was not someone easily challenged.
Enraged, Jarrod asked with a stern voice, “Who are you, exactly?”
Roscoe responded with a light laugh, “My identity isn’t important.
Just know, you’ll never be with her again.”
Jarrod felt those words hit him hard. The thought of Nicole being forever out of his reach was unbearable. He was determined to win her back, refusing to give up.
But Roscoe’s following words hit him even harder. “You’d remember you’re not worthy of her if you hadn’t forgotten what you had done to her and her family.” Roscoe’s tone was flat.
It was a reminder of Jarrod’s previous wrongdoings, a fact that couldn’t be undone.
Roscoe ended the call without another word. He didn’t delete the call history. He wouldn’t deceive Nicole. He planned to own up to what he had done.
After a brief pause, Roscoe made another call. Once connected, he said, “Leroy, I’m at the Hilpton and want no disturbances.”
With his instructions given, he stared into the night, his gaze turning icy.
Meanwhile, downstairs.
Alec, looking worn out, came to report, “Mr. Schultz, the Hilpton’s staff say they can’t share any guest details.”
Schultz, feeling a storm within and his eyes cold, Jarrod commanded, “By morning, I want the paperwork ready to take over the Hilpton.”
Upon Jarrod’s instruction, Alec immediately got in touch with the manager of Hilpton. To his astonishment, the manager outright refused to see him.
So, Alec spent the entire night driving, trying every method imaginable except for breaking in, to secure a meeting.
Alec started by proposing to purchase the Hilpton at twice its current market value.
Yet, the manager was not interested, ridiculously stating the hotel was a family treasure handed down since his great-grandfather’s time and so forth.
Alec was left scratching his head. How could the Hilpton turn into an ancestral property when it was obviously a chain hotel operating globally? Completely nonsense!
With no other options, Alec raised his offer to three times the value, catching the manager’s attention but still getting turned down.
Reflecting on his extensive experience working with Jarrod, Alec sensed something odd about this transaction.
After all, Jarrod stood as one of the top ten magnates in Ardlens.
The manager of Hilpton was playing out of Jarrod’s league.
Yet, the manager dismissed the offer outright, even when the offer was raised to three times the value. It struck Alec as highly unusual. No normal businessmen would pass out the opportunity to make money. It seemed like the manager was keeping secrets.
Left with no alternatives, Alec consulted Jarrod again, who responded with just two words after hearing the situation, “Five times!”