Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Nicole, heard you’ve run off with Jarrod’s child,” Doreen jeered, unaware of Nicole and Roscoe’s past elopement. Jarrod had enforced a strict code of silence, and gossip was unthinkable.
Logically speaking, Jarrod wouldn’t want the woman who had left him to be with another man, so who would dare spread such rumors?
“You’re quite the piece of work, cuckolding Jarrod!” Doreen delighted in Nicole’s provoking Jarrod’s wrath, relishing the prospect of Nicole’s future misery.
With a sneer, Doreen continued, “You have no shame, daring to challenge Jarrod for custody. He could have had you and your lover killed together. Consider yourself lucky he showed you mercy. Shameless adulteress Like you deserves to be torn apart!”
Doreen spat out her words venomously, ensuring Roscoe heard every damning accusation against Nicole. To her, Nicole was nothing but a promiscuous harlot who had bedded countless men.
Outside the courthouse, a place always buzzing with conflict, many people walked by or paused to observe.
It wasn’t rare for arguments with mistresses to happen, so nobody was really shocked.
“Nicole, if I were you, I’d play it smart by getting down on your knees and asking for forgiveness. Jarrod isn’t too fond of that rebellious streak you have. I bet he’s just as rude as you…”
Doreen kept talking, seemingly unable to hold back.
Suddenly, Nicole lifted her hand and slapped Doreen.
“Slap!” The crisp sound made Doreen’s ear tingle painfully. It took her a moment to respond before she touched her numb face, shock evident on her features.
“You… You’ve lost your mind!” Doreen had never thought Nicole would actually strike her. She saw Nicole as frail and meek, someone easily intimidated, the type to yield under a man’s pressure.
Doreen was sorely mistaken.
Nicole had always been resilient and determined, from her earlier days to the present. She would have crumbled under the pressure if she weren’t emotionally strong. She refused to yield to Jarrod’s plans.
From the start, Nicole was intent on proving Jarrod was wrong.
“Miss Schultz, that slap was payback for you,” Nicole declared. “My child isn’t unruly. If you have problems with the things between Jarrod and me, you should hear them from Jarrod before accusing me. I won’t take your advice, but if there are any slaps…”
Nicole paused, her eyes hard. “I will reciprocate.”
Nicole was convinced that she would not start trouble as long as no one troubled her. But if Doreen played dirty, she was ready to retaliate. Now, she wasn’t alone and needed to stand her ground, so those who tried to push her around would realize they couldn’t just walk over her.
Doreen stood there, stunned by Nicole’s words, unable to speak.
Meanwhile, Roscoe remained impassive. As he saw it, Nicole had made things clear and hadn’t slapped Doreen for no reason.
Everyone should bear the consequences of their actions, even if that person was his girlfriend.
These were the world’s rules, and even though Roscoe couldn’t recall much, the idea of rules stayed firmly in his mind.
“You cheap woman, stop right there. Don’t walk away!” Doreen finally snapped and charged up the steps to confront Nicole. She had never faced such humiliation in public before!
Rhett intervened to stop Doreen.
Doreen angrily shoved him aside, yelling, “Get out of my way, you lackey!”
Rhett scowled. He was no stranger to dealing with spoiled, arrogant young women. Raised in wealth, they often ignored the laws, acting recklessly and dictatorial. Doreen appeared to be the type who enjoyed causing trouble and bullying others.
Rhett quickly pulled out a business card and handed it to Doreen, saying firmly, “Miss, I represent Miss Lawrence. You may reserve the right to hold Miss Lawrence accountable for the slap.”
Doreen’s face softened at his words. “You’re right. I’ll make sure this woman pays for what she did!” she said arrogantly, sounding like she could control the security services and have anyone she disliked imprisoned.
Nicole kept her composure. Even though she hadn’t known Rhett for long, Audrey’s strong recommendation made him seem reliable. In their interactions, she discovered that Rhett was really honest and professional.
Indeed, the next moment, Rhett coolly stated, “Miss, you are fully within your rights to take legal action against my client. However, I must inform you that your behavior in public, including insulting, humiliating, lying, and intimidating, constitutes multiple illegal acts. I have recorded all of this as evidence, and we retain the right to take legal action against you.”
Doreen was left speechless.
Rhett continued, “Furthermore, my client mentioned returning a slap, which suggests you had slapped her first. I will legally obtain surveillance footage to confirm the events of today. Additionally, your false accusations have caused significant psychological damage to my client and damaged her reputation, creating a civil liability. We will pursue this matter through legal channels.”
“Shut up!” Doreen was furious, unprepared for the lawyer’s eloquent speech. He talked using terms she didn’t understand. But it showed her that this lawyer wasn’t someone to mess around with.
“She insulted me too,” Doreen claimed, her logic faltering.
“She did not. I have everything on video,” Rhett countered.
“You!” Doreen was seething and at a loss for words. She couldn’t outsmart this lawyer. He was well-spoken. How could she possibly win an argument against him?
Doreen then grabbed Roscoe’s arm and pulled him closer. “Roscoe, are you just going to stand there and let them bully your girlfriend?”
Roscoe kept quiet. He thought the Lawyer’s argument was reasonable.
Doreen was too aggressive. It was ironic, considering that everyone said he used to be deeply in love with Doreen. It was hard for him to believe that he could have ever been fond of such a shallow woman.
In frustration, Doreen stamped her foot and said, “Roscoe, didn’t you promise my dad you’d look after me? That woman slapped me.”
Roscoe ignored her complaint and stated, “Go inside and find Jarrod. He should be here.”
Doreen was not pleased.
Why did Roscoe always seem to change his stance around Nicole?
Rhett lost interest in the ongoing scene. He turned to Nicole and said, “Please, Miss Lawrence.”
As Nicole ascended the stairs, she paused, turned to Doreen, and declared coldly, “Also, the man I love is not some adulterer. He is a decent, honest man who deserves my affection.”
With that, she glanced at Roscoe and continued her ascent without stopping.
That look wasn’t about blaming. In moments like these, she felt scared and longed for someone to be by her side. But it was fine if she was alone. After all, she had long become accustomed to dealing with disappointment.
“Humph! I see you don’t care about me at all,” Doreen stated it bitterly.
Roscoe appeared not to hear her, his gaze fixed intently on Nicole ascending the steps. How could someone make green seem so elegant?
In the courtroom.
The trial was private. As a result, the gallery hosted only a few close family members of the plaintiff and the defendant.
On Nicole’s side, there was no one. She had decided not to involve her friends, like Audrey, to spare them the worry, and she had not mentioned her lawsuit.
On the defendant’s side, Jarrod sported scholarly gold-rimmed glasses, and his expensive suit made him look particularly dashing.
He didn’t appear to be someone with a mental disorder based on his appearance alone. His eloquence and how he answered questions were calm and flawless.
Someone like him was either really good at pretending or had no problems.
When it was time to show proof, Rhett was the first to hand in a video, the scandalous one from the event that had surprised everyone in Ardlens.
It was a cruel act from Jarrod’s side against Nicole.
Jarrod hadn’t seen this coming because he believed he had erased that video across the Internet.
Yet, Nicole still possessed the original.
A slight smile crossed Jarrod’s face. It looked like Nicole was really committed to this lawsuit and had done a lot of preparation.
Roscoe, who was there too, watched and found himself clenching his fist, feeling a sudden wave of anger he couldn’t quite explain.
Even though the video was blurry, he felt the urge to jump into the scene and start beating Jarrod. His own reaction surprised him. He wasn’t typically impulsive or quick to anger.
After the video concluded, Rhett stated, “Your Honor, as depicted in the video, it shows my client and the defendant in an incident of abuse where the defendant forces my client into submission. While my client initially consented for justifiable reasons, the footage clearly shows unilateral harshness, which suggests that this individual is not suitable to be a father. Additionally, we have evidence that Mr. Schultz has been under treatment for mental health issues.”
Rhett then introduced a pharmacological report that detailed Jarrod’s medications.
After reviewing the evidence, the judge scrutinized it and asked Jarrod if he concurred with the plaintiff’s allegations.
“I do not agree,” Jarrod quickly rebutted.
Nicole shivered at his reply, and even Rhett noticed it.
Rhett swiftly wrote “Relax” on a note and showed it to Nicole.
Nicole gradually regained her composure and nodded at Rhett.
Jarrod didn’t defend himself but deferred to his attorney. His attorney was also highly competent. “Regarding the video, my client Mr. Schultz and the plaintiff Miss Lawrence were single back then. People have their own tastes in relationships. Also, it’s obvious from the video that Miss Lawrence wanted the encounter with my client. They were just engaged in role-playing. There was no force.”
Nicole went pale as she listened to these audacious claims, her fingers pressing into her palms. This shameless guy actually claimed they were just engaged in role-playing.
Rhett quickly countered, “I disagree with the defense attorney’s interpretation. The video clearly involves a third party. This isn’t merely a consensual role-play between a couple but obvious coercion.”
The defense attorney calmly asked, “Could the third party testify that this was an instance of coercion or abuse?”
Rhett looked troubled. He had previously asked Nicole if the third party could testify. The person in the video could have been excellent proof.
Regrettably, Nicole had indicated the third party would not testify.
The defense attorney continued, “Clearly, the plaintiff cannot substantiate this. Shall we consider that the third party’s involvement was part of a consensual act?”