Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
After all, he had always been there for her, even acknowledging himself as her husband when the doctor asked for the patient’s family. So that wasn’t the case… This fragile young Nicole was truly deserving of pity.
“Why don’t you go to the police?” Leila asked and then felt a bit foolish for even asking. Jarrod was no ordinary man. Going to the authorities would likely prove useless.
Nicole offered a wry smile in response. “I’ve tried everything possible.”
Seeing Nicole’s drawn, pale face and the sharp contours of her chin, Leila felt a surge of sympathy. “Then how can I help you?”
Nicole felt a surge of hope. She hadn’t planned to deceive Leila from the beginning. She simply saw kindness in Leila and decided to take a chance. Surprisingly, her risk seemed to be paying off.
Leila’s kindness allowed Nicole a brief moment of forgiveness toward fate.
“I believe he’s being treated here as well, but I’m not sure which room. Could you please find out where Roscoe, the young master of the Watts family, is staying?”
Nicole suspected Roscoe might be in this hospital because it was the best in Ardlens.
Considering the Watts family’s commitment to Roscoe’s well-being, they would naturally choose the best hospital, particularly famous for its orthopedics department. The odds were good, about ninety percent, that Roscoe was here.
Leila empathized with her but couldn’t promise her message would reach him, simply stating, “Miss Lawrence, I’ll do my best.”
That was enough reassurance for Nicole. She held Leila’s hand, expressing her gratitude, “Thank you, Leila. Thank you…”
Later, Leila continued with her normal activities, heading home after her shift and coming back to work the following day.
Jarrod was unusually careful this time. Even the nurses like Leila received escorts home from bodyguards, who also watched over them until they returned to work.
Nicole, however, thought this was likely Alec’s doing. Jarrod typically didn’t bother with such details.
Alec was frustrated. After being outsmarted by Nicole twice, he was extra wary around her now.
Alec struggled to grasp Jarrod’s conflicted feelings for Nicole, a blend of love and hatred, which he found difficult to understand.
These emotions were new to him. Anyway, Jarrod operated on a level beyond his understanding.
Days later, Leila seized an opportunity. She had previously given some home-cooked meals to the driver who took her back and forth.
The driver appreciated the home-cooked flavor, a refreshing change from the usual heavy city meals. His respect for Leila grew.
Leila prepared more dishes for the driver, which he enjoyed in the car, but he later suffered a stomach upset from some other fast food.
Leila invited the driver to her home for some medicine and rest.
Given that the drivers responsible for commuting nurses like Leila weren’t as closely monitored as those for Jarrod, and considering Leila was old enough to be their mother, with her husband also at home, they accepted her invitation.
In a moment of opportunity, Leila excused herself to go grocery shopping and left the house.
This time, without a driver tailing her, Leila disguised herself with a hat and went back to the hospital. She spent some time asking around the men’s ward until she finally found Roscoe’s room.
Guards were stationed in front of Roscoe’s room. She waited for a long time but couldn’t find a chance to get inside.
Leila was determined. She wasn’t ready to give up just yet.
Nicole had gone out of her way to secure a top-notch tutor for Leila’s son, bypassing a lengthy waitlist that even money couldn’t shorten.
Nicole’s recommendation convinced the esteemed tutor to offer his tutoring services at no charge. It was an opportunity that money alone couldn’t buy.
Thus, Leila felt a strong resolve to assist Nicole today. Unable to find a way in, she stepped outside, lost in thought under the second-floor windows.
At that moment, a child was playing with a remote-controlled plane nearby, sparking an idea in Leila. She walked up to the child and said, “Hey, could you use your plane to deliver something to that window for me?”
The child agreed without hesitation.
Leila placed a carefully written note into the plane, which the child then expertly flew up to the second-floor window.
The plane hovered at the windowsill, and the child knocked on the window three times with it, yet no one responded from inside.
Undeterred, the child knocked a few more times until the window swung open.
Leila glimpsed a handsome, youthful face. It radiated a warm charm, quite unlike the unfriendly handsomeness of Jarrod she was accustomed to. The man appeared to wheel his chair closer to the window.
Leila found herself staring at the man a little Longer, her thoughts drifting as if she were sizing up a potential son-in-law, feeling quite happy for Nicole. Such a bright and affable young man seemed perfect for Nicole. After all, a pair of somber souls wouldn’t make a happy match.
Roscoe took the note and glanced downward.
Leila waved, catching his attention, and he nodded in response.
Roscoe quickly wrote a message on a tiny piece of paper, slid it into the toy plane, and attached a couple of fancy chocolates to it as a special treat for the child.
Realizing it was time to leave, Leila collected the note, waved goodbye, and left. Once home, her heart raced with excitement, relieved to find the driver still resting.
That afternoon back at the hospital, Leila managed to pass the note to Nicole.
Nicole waited until the quiet of midnight to read the note. It was penned in Roscoe’s bold and elegant handwriting. “Can’t contact now. Working on it.”
Nicole’s heart raced as she read the message. “Can’t contact now” meant he was unable to connect with Austin.
Nicole felt a wave of fear. It had been days since she had any communication with Austin or the nanny.
The nanny had worked for Nicole for years and Likely sensed something was wrong.
Nicole had instructed the nanny to take Austin overseas immediately if she became unreachable. All the preparations were in place. She wondered whether the nanny had already left…
Tossing and turning, Nicole lay awake, her mind filled with concerns for Austin and the nanny. She hadn’t even noted that Jarrod had been absent for days.
It was ten days later when Jarrod finally made his appearance.
During his absence, Nicole had been moved from her hospital room to one of Jarrod’s villas.
When Jarrod showed up, there was a noticeable change in him. The typically detached man appeared somewhat more approachable. His tone and manner were oddly cheerful, which Nicole sensed was not a positive sign.
Before Nicole could reflect on it more, Jarrod asked, “Are you getting used to it here?”
Ignoring his question, Nicole pressed him, “When are you taking me to see Roscoe? You had promised me.”
At this, Jarrod looked at her and scoffed. “I think there’s someone else you’d rather see more than Roscoe.”
Nicole tensed up, asking, “Who?”
Jarrod gazed at her, his eyes as deep and dark as the sea.
Nicole’s anxiety intensified. She said once more, her voice shaky, “Cut to the chase, Jarrod. Who are you talking about?”
Jarrod stopped teasing. With a flick of his fingers, two familiar figures appeared at the top of the staircase.
The nanny was assisting a little boy as they walked toward Nicole.
Before the nanny could utter a word, tears streamed down her face.
“Miss…”
The little boy glanced at Nicole, hesitantly silent. For him, this mother was someone he yearned to love but felt too distant to approach.
Their time together had been so limited. He was familiar only with the nanny and Roscoe, and now, someone claiming to be his father had shown up.
Nicole stood rooted to the spot as if paralyzed. How could this happen… How could they be here… At that moment, she wished that it was all just a dream, that none of this was real. But it wasn’t a dream. Once more, it seemed the heavens remained indifferent to her distress.
Jarrod stepped closer, gently squatted down, and tenderly placed his hands on the little boy’s shoulders. He whispered, “Austin, call her”
“Mom’.”
Austin’s eyes, heavy with longing, opened slightly. He had only ever called Nicole “Mom” in his dreams. Could this dream now be coming true? He suddenly had both a mom and a dad…
Nicole shivered from head to toe. Her fingernails pressed into her palms, drawing blood. She had an urge to scream, to let out a wild cry, but she held back, afraid of scaring Austin. All she could do was shake like a leaf.
“Mommy…” Austin’s voice wavered.
Tears began to flood Nicole’s cheeks, quickly overwhelming her. Her weeping started with soft sobs and then escalated into loud cries.
“Mm… Ah…”
Austin moved closer and embraced Nicole, his tears starting to fall.
“Mommy…”
After a while, Nicole wiped her tears and looked at Austin “Go play with the nanny for a bit. Mommy will come find you soon.”
Austin nodded obediently and walked toward the nanny.
The nanny gave Nicole a look that hinted she had more to say but held back, aware of Jarrod’s watchful eyes, and took Austin away.
Once they were gone, Nicole collapsed to the floor, drained of all her strength. It was as though her foundational supports had just collapsed. Utterly devastated, she felt trapped.