Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
And now, she was no longer different from him. Hatred had corroded her heart and mind.
Nicole knew it was Jarrod’s goal to turn her into a monster like him.
Finally, he succeeded. They were now the same kind. No matter what, she could no longer live a normal life. Those ordinary days she had longed for were now out of reach.
Nicole was lost in thought for a while. She didn’t even realize that tears were already streaming down her face uncontrollably.
Suddenly, several approaching footsteps sounded outside. Then, a maid said, “Alec, you’re back.”
“Yeah…” Alec only hummed in response.
Nicole panicked. She hurriedly came out of the secret room and pressed the button for the bed to return to its original place.
As soon as she did this, the door of Jarrod’s room was pushed open from the outside.
When Alec saw Nicole inside, the expression on his face drastically changed. He frowned and shouted sharply, “Who allowed you to come in here?”
Nicole was flustered, feigning calmness. “Who else? Jarrod scheduled me to feed him medicine at this time.”
Alec fixed his sharp eyes on Nicole, almost as if he could see through her.
Nicole put on a calm facade. She met his gaze and asked, “Where is Jarrod?”
Alec asked mockingly, “Miss Lawrence, don’t you know?”
“Know what? Did he leave? Where did he go?” Nicole played dumb.
After all, she really didn’t know Jarrod passed out if she hadn’t overheard the maids’ conversation. To avoid trouble, she didn’t admit knowledge voluntarily.
Besides, Nicole guessed Alec didn’t know she had something to do with Jarrod’s drowning incident. Otherwise, he would have detained her in that dark room.
Alec asked expressionlessly, “Since when did you start to care about Mr. Schultz, Miss Lawrence?”
Annoyed by his sarcasm, Nicole turned to leave, saying dismissively, “Talk or don’t.”
This reaction, fitting Nicole’s usual demeanor, unlikely aroused Alec’s suspicion.
As Nicole walked out, Alec called after her, “Mr. Schultz passed out in the bathtub last night. Does it have anything to do with you?”
Nicole scoffed. “Do you really think I’m as ignorant of the law as you? I’m not stupid to risk my future just to harm him.”
What happened Last night was not intentional. It was Jarrod who pressed her under the water first. She only fought back to defend herself. How could she have known he was so frail that he’d pass out in the bathtub and almost died?
Alec only came back to get Jarrod’s medicine. He was in a hurry and didn’t wish to engage further with Nicole. He said coldly, “If you care for him, visit him in the hospital. He hasn’t woken up yet.”
Nicole’s brow was furrowed as she said, “If he hasn’t woken up, why should I go and visit? I need to be back at the office today. Jarrod had granted me so.”
Alec snorted and replied, “Do as you please.”
Alec knew Nicole didn’t care for Jarrod. It wasn’t his first time witnessing her indifference. Having her around only led to problems.
However, since Jarrod had instructed not to harm her, Alec felt his hands were tied.
Nicole turned away, feeling her heart race. She had expected Jarrod to throw a wrench in her plans, but luck was on her side. With Jarrod hospitalized and Alec distracted, she had the upper hand.
Today, Nicole left the estate with just a driver to take her.
The usual security team was mostly at the hospital, leaving the estate with just four guards. Thus, she left without anyone tailing her.
Suppressing her emotions, Nicole observed as the car slowly departed from the villa.
In the rearview mirror, the white “prison” dwindled into the distance until it disappeared altogether.
Nicole looked away determinedly. She vowed not to come back to that place.
Before exiting the car, Nicole said to the driver, “There’s no need to wait for me today. I’ll pay a visit to Mr. Schultz at the hospital later.”
The driver nodded and left.
Nicole spent her afternoon at the office and then went on her own to the underground parking lot. She got into an unremarkable black sedan.
Moments later, she emerged in a black leather outfit, donning a black helmet, and straddled a matching motorcycle.
With a slight lean, she sped off. She arrived at a swanky club and parked the motorcycle in its garage.
Nicole followed a route she had carefully chosen and took a private lift to go up. She picked this club to meet Mr. Hampton for their deal because its public setting meant he wouldn’t dare kidnapping her in plain sight.
When she got to the VIP room, two guards in black suits tried to search her.
Nicole quickly stepped out of their reach. She said in a cool tone, “I’ve already informed Mr. Hampton. No searches.”
Her voice, altered to sound neutral, and androgynous by the helmet’s voice modifier, carried through the room.
The guards exchanged glances, and one went to get further instructions. He came back shortly and motioned for her to enter.
Nicole opened the door and stepped in.
Loud music and smoke filled the room. Two women in minimal clothing danced provocatively, entertaining the guests.
Mr. Hampton from the Hampton Group was there, lounging on a sofa with a woman in scanty clothes draped over him, involved in an overtly sexual act.
Nicole’s expression showed her disapproval, but she was ready for this. It was no secret that Mr. Hampton enjoyed seeking thrills. He had made advances on nearly every young female employee and many wives within the Hampton Group. His personal Life was a mess, with too many scandals to count.
Mr. Hampton’s notorious behavior was well-known among their social circles.
But the Hampton Group was under the firm control of Mr. Hampton’s father, who valued the family’s image so much that he even gathered a team just to deal with Mr. Hampton’s private issues.
Strictly forbidding Mr. Hampton from meddling with company staff, external affairs were left to his discretion, so long as they didn’t impact the company.
Normally, Mr. Hampton wouldn’t bother with common scandalous photos, relying on the team to handle such matters.
However, what Nicole held was particularly damaging. Inside were compromising photos of Mr. Hampton and his cousin’s wife. It was a scandal big enough to cause an uproar. Significantly, this cousin’s wife was still an employee of the Hampton Group.
Committing two major taboos, Mr. Hampton surely wouldn’t dare involve his father to handle this.
“Quit your sucking. We have a guest.” Mr. Hampton, tipsy, pushed away the woman atop him.
Mr. Hampton’s mother had been a renowned actress, and he got his good looks from her. Yet, in the dim lighting, his pale complexion, the noticeable dark rings under his eyes, and the array of fresh and fading love bites on his neck hinted at a man worn out by his indulgences.
Mr. Hampton took notice of Nicole clad in black attire and helmet, his interest piqued. Nicole’s curvy figure caught his attention. Her figure in the motorcycle gear was uniquely captivating, a blend of bold and enticing.
He let out a laugh. “What a beauty we have here!”
Approaching Nicole with a chuckle, Mr. Hampton said, “Come over here.
Let’s have a nice chat…”
The mix of booze and cigarette smoke around Mr. Hampton was off-putting. Nicole made a face and dodged him effortlessly.
Mr. Hampton ended up grabbing a dancer instead, mistakenly fondling her. Irritated, he shouted, “What’s wrong with you? Didn’t you hear me call you?”
“It appears Mr. Hampton is otherwise occupied,” Nicole stated, making a move to exit.
Just as she reached for the door, Mr. Hampton ordered, “Hold it!”
Even with Nicole’s face hidden by the helmet, there was something about her that made Mr. Hampton feel threatened. He softened his tone.
“You’ve got quite the spirit. Who said I was occupied?”
Nicole responded, “If you’re willing to talk, then let’s have the room to ourselves.”
Mr. Hampton, amused, remarked, “Seems like you want some privacy with me. Sure, I’ll play along.” He signaled for others to leave.
Melissa, who had been clinging to him, whined, “Mr. Hampton, can’t I stay with you?”
But Mr. Hampton’s decision was final. He waved his hand dismissively.
“Out, all of you!”
Melissa collapsed to the floor, her eyes brimming with tears from the agony. She shot a bitter look at Nicole.
Nicole froze at the sight of Melissa’s face. The resemblance between Melissa’s face and her own was uncanny.
Before Nicole could get a better look, Melissa quickly crawled toward the door.
This act seemed to please Mr. Hampton. He said, “Melissa, you always know what to do. Make me happy later, and you’ll get your reward.”
With a grin, Melissa responded, “Absolutely, Mr. Hampton.”
Then, echoing what she had done before, she clumsily opened the door and made her exit.