Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
These rumors, however, would only become widespread later on.
The day after these murmurings began, a brutal attack occurred at a rowdy party Lowe hosted.
Intruders overpowered Lowe, subjected him to a severe beating, and nearly castrated him.
Although they didn’t complete the castration, the attack inflicted deep psychological wounds on Lowe, plaguing him with nightmares each night.
Furthermore, the assailant completely erased all data from Lowe’s computers and phones, permanently deleting every video, including those belonging to others.
Lowe, though not known for his sharp wit, instantly had a suspect who might be behind all this.
The day following the attack, numerous videos depicting Lowe’s debauched activities spread throughout Ardlens, reaching nearly every local resident. His unrestrained behavior triggered a dramatic drop in the Hampton Group’s stock
attack, Lowe brought these concerns to his father but found no sympathy.
Wayne was already troubled by the existing rumors surrounding Lowe and found it both ridiculous and humiliating that Lowe had been storing video of Jarrod with Nicole.
Moreover, Wayne harbored fears that Lowe might truly be infatuated with Jarrod, an idea so distressing that he felt it would dishonor his family Lineage.
As a consequence, when Lowe voiced his complaints, Wayne responded by confining Lowe to his home and placing him under strict surveillance.
Angered and unprepared for such severe repercussions from a seemingly minor slip of the tongue, Lowe felt deeply aggrieved and confused.
For a considerable period afterward, he struggled with sexual dysfunction, which only intensified his hatred toward Jarrod.
In the dim light of the underground parking garage, Jarrod leaned back in his seat, his chair reclined fully with his long legs stretched out. His expression was one of relaxed allure.
As a man in his prime, his needs were significant, and he tended to them personally. The car’s screen displayed a scene where Nicole was kneeling and begging. Back then, not wanting to see her plead for another man, he had her turn away, grabbed her hair from behind, and coldly smashed her face against the glass.
His gaze dimmed as he restrained himself, turning off the screen and then fastening his belt buckle. Nicole in the video wept, looking heartbreakingly pitiful, her tears all for another man.
The fleeting satisfaction left a shadow of melancholy on Jarrod’s handsome face, a stark contrast to his usual indifference, transforming him momentarily. He wondered where Nicole had hidden herself.
Meanwhile, Lowe, confined to his home and deprived of his usual escapades with women, felt a deep frustration brewing.
At that moment, he had a visitor. It took him a second to recognize the man as Deniz, his aunt’s brother-in-law, somewhat distantly related and reportedly ruined by an offense to Jarrod over drugging Nicole.
Lowe’s interest piqued. They had both suffered because of the same woman, which made him feel a sense of camaraderie.
Moreover, Lowe found Deniz somewhat likable. Deniz was opportunistic yet charismatic, capable of entertaining him Like a loyal companion, which he thoroughly enjoyed.
Destitute and likely harboring a deep-seated hatred for Jarrod, Deniz fit the old saying well. “The enemy of my enemy is my friend.” It was such a principle as old as commerce itself.
“Mr. Hampton, I heard you’ve been unwell lately, so I came to check on you,” Deniz said obsequiously as he handed a bag of health supplements to the servant.
To Deniz, Lowe now stood as a vital pillar of support, a potential lifeline to reclaim his business and restore his standing in Ardlens.
“Mr. Miller, you’re too kind. I’m not seriously ill,” Lowe responded.
“What brings you to see me?”
Deniz smiled and said, “I heard you’ve recently had some disagreements with Mr. Schultz from the Schultz Group.”
Lowe had his own ideas, never one to reveal his full hand too early.
With a forced smile, Lowe responded, “Deniz, where’d you hear that? Jarrod is my future brother-in-law. We had just some casual chatter. We’re family at the end of the day.”
Lowe’s words prompted Deniz to get straight to the point.
Deniz, feeling a jolt, shot up from his seat. “Lowe, Jarrod’s ambitious. Remember what he did to the Lawrence family?”
Everyone knew Nicole came from the Lawrence family. The Lawrence family had a history with the Schultzes. When Jarrod returned years ago, he absorbed the Lawrence family’s enterprises, even trapping Nicole around his side to humiliate her. It was no wonder Nicole loathed Jarrod.
Lowe, seasoned in wealth, chose to play dumb. “What’s the Lawrence matter got to do with me? Ambition’s not a bad thing in a future brother-in-law.”
Deniz, seething, couldn’t believe Lowe, once a carefree playboy, now employing such cunning. It was like pulling teeth getting him to spell it out. It appeared Lowe had picked up Jarrod’s cunningness after spending so much time with Jarrod.
But considering his current situation, Deniz grasped he couldn’t confront Lowe. Even if Lowe was lacking, Lowe still had his father’s support, while he had nothing left. His last shot at returning to Ardlens depended on this. Ardlens meant a lot to him since all his roots and connections were there.
Deniz decided to speak his mind. “Since Jarrod had managed to absorb the Lawrence family’s enterprises, have you considered that perhaps his upcoming marriage with your sister is just a ploy? Maybe his true intention is to absorb the Hampton family’s empire. After all, he suffered significant losses this time, and returning to the peak of the Schultz Group won’t be easy.”
Lowe responded calmly, “Deniz, you’re overthinking it. If Jarrod wants to acquire the Hampton family’s empire, he has my father to deal with, and you know my old man is no ordinary man.”
Knowing Wayne had paved his way in the cutthroat business world, he wouldn’t be naive.
If Jarrod aimed to swallow the Hampton family’s empire, Wayne must have some leverage over Jarrod, keeping him in check.
“Lowe, let’s be frank. Your father isn’t getting any younger, and accidents can happen to anyone…” Seeing Lowe’s expression darken, Deniz hastily clarified, “I’m mot cursing your father. I’m simply pointing out that when dealing with Jarrod, treading carefully is crucial. Look at my situation. I’m a native of Ardlens, yet I can’t even return, hiding around like a rat.”
Deniz, acting instincts kicked in with tears glistening, bitterly said, “Why’s this happening to me? I just wanted to make out with Nicole, and he’s done this to me.”
Lowe consoled, “Deniz, you’ve been through a lot. I felt Jarrod was wrong to act that way over a woman.”
Feeling a sense of connection, Deniz quickly added, “I heard Jarrod has a history with you, all because of Nicole.”
Lowe remained silent, offering no reply.
Deniz persisted, “Lowe, you see, I just want to come back to Ardlens. We’re on the same side in dealing with Jarrod.”
Lowe despised beating around the bush. He surmised Deniz must have some trick up his sleeve before sneakily approaching him like this.
It would have been wise to have laid it out earlier, letting him decide if he would be interested. Such a straightforward matter, yet Deniz had been skirting around it for too Long.
Impatiently, Lowe stated, “Deniz, I sympathize with your situation, but I’m afraid I can’t intervene. You know Jarrod. He’s going to marry my sister. I can’t meddle in your affairs.”
Seeing Lowe about to dismiss him, Deniz held nothing back anymore.
“Lowe, I’ve got something to show you,” he said, tapping away on his phone before thrusting it toward Lowe. “I heard Jarrod’s hunting down this chick. Look who I stumbled upon.
Lowe peered at the photo, lips curling in disdain. Nicole exuded allure, the type to make men lose their minds. No wonder Jarrod was hooked. He’d crawl through fire to have her back.
Sinking into the sofa, Lowe uttered, “Deniz, why tell me this instead of Jarrod? I’m not the one pursuing this woman.”
“Because Jarrod’s burned me one too many times. Can’t trust him anymore. Coming to you is me being straight up. You’re sharp, Lowe. With this info, you call the shots. And when I’m back in Ardlens, I’ve got your back. Always.”
Deniz’s words dripped with such finesse, flattering Lowe, who swelled with pride.
Next to Jarrod, Lowe felt he was an idle good-for-nothing in Wayne’s eyes. If Jarrod truly had his back, it would be okay, but Jarrod had been way too ruthless. Just because of a few words from his that rubbed Jarrod the wrong way, the next day Jarrod had people beat him to a pulp.
Lowe knew Jarrod’s upcoming marriage with Vicki would only spell trouble, never any good. Given that scenario, he needed to get ready ahead of time.
“Deniz, are you really committed to this?” Lowe inquired.
Deniz was practically ready to do anything to prove his sincerity. He kept affirming, “Absolutely. Lowe, as long as I spend my life in Ardlens, I’ll be grateful to you every single moment.”
Deniz wasn’t naive. He knew he would be allowed to come back to Ardlens if he met Jarrod, using the photo of Nicole as leverage. Yet, he had already taken one hit. Trying to intimidate someone Like Jarrod was a poor decision. Lowe served as a stark reminder of that.
Since even Lowe couldn’t outmatch Jarrod, his chances of succeeding would be slimmer. Therefore, he decided to disclose this to Lowe, an act that could seek favor while gaining an ally for future endeavors in Ardlens.
Lowe peered at photo and advised, “Go inform Jarrod.”
Deniz stood there, stunned. After all the twists and turns, Lowe simply gave him this one instruction. Wasn’t that essentially the same as him seeking out Jarrod himself?
Lowe pressed on, “Deniz, we’re relatives. Moving forward, I’ll keep tabs on your matters and lend support. Just pass on this woman’s whereabouts to Jarrod. Don’t fret about anything else.”
Lowe had his own schemes. Rather than exploiting Nicole’s whereabouts to threaten Jarrod, it was wiser to inform Jarrod directly, prompting him to fetch Nicole. That would ruffle the current state of affairs.
Lowe doubted Vicki wouldn’t feel a pang of jealousy when she caught wind of this. Likely, she would fail to remain as composed as she appeared to be now.
To Lowe, Jarrod seemed under some spell, managing to keep a woman who held a grudge against himself, a move that would undoubtedly seal his own fate.
Once Jarrod fetched Nicole back, Lowe could simply sit back and enjoy the spectacle that followed.
Deniz couldn’t quite grasp Lowe’s intentions, but since Lowe had said so, it meant he was on board with the plan.
Given Lowe’s assurance, Deniz didn’t pry any further and just complied. Without hesitation, he sprang to action, wasting no time in tracking down Jarrod.
Vicki had been sticking to Jarrod like glue these past few days. A while back, Lowe’s words had sown a seed of doubt in her mind.
When Vicki had a minor outburst recently, Jarrod didn’t bother to comfort her, simply claiming he was occupied.
This left Vicki unsettled, constantly pondering Lowe’s insinuation about Jarrod’s reluctance to start a family with her. It was absurd!
If not with her, then who else would Jarrod even consider having a child with? In just three months, she would become his wife.
Determined to keep a watchful eye on Jarrod and start a family promptly, she was resolved not to give any other woman a chance.
Currently, Vicki sat in Jarrod’s office, awaiting his departure from work for their dinner plans.
However, as the daylight waned, she grew restless with each passing minute of his absence. Unable to remain idle any longer, she sought out Jarrod’s assistant, Alec.