Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Vicki’s fate was undeniably the result of her own actions, yet the finality with which Jarrod severed ties completely suggested he had never truly invested his heart in Vicki.
It was a poignant realization, considering how long Vicki had held onto her hopes.
Resolute, Nicole declared, “Then I’ll ensure Vicki faces consequences for her actions toward Austin and Kamilah.”
“I won’t interfere. You have my word.” Jarrod committed to his non-involvement
As they reached the villa, Jarrod stayed in the car, preoccupied with business matters.
Eager to reunite with Austin and Kamilah, Nicole exited the vehicle first.
Upon reaching the entrance, Nicole encountered Vicki, who had been waiting for Jarrod.
When Vicki spotted Nicole, her shock was unmistakable. “What are you doing here?”
Vicki vividly remembered Lowe’s adamant promises to torture Nicole, leaving her puzzled as to why Nicole appeared unharmed.
Vicki was still unaware of the details since Lowe had not yet awoken.
Despite Nicole’s disguise of a hat and mask, the visible bruises on her suggested she had suffered a harsh ordeal, which elicited a fleeting sense of grim satisfaction in Vicki.
Nicole, unfazed by Vicki’s obvious shock, coldly ignored her, showing no interest in any interaction.
Intent on bypassing Vicki, Nicole moved to step forward, but Vicki reacted quickly, grabbing Nicole’s arm firmly. “Hold up right there. What do you think you’re doing?”
This confrontation occurred just after Vicki had arrived, finding her key card suddenly nonfunctional. She was about to call Jarrod when she ran into Nicole.
At that moment, Vicki returned to her usual imperious manner, carrying herself as though she owned the place.
“I’m going inside to see Austin,” Nicole declared. Her frown deepened as she pulled her hand away from Vicki.
“Who allowed you to see Austin?” Vicki’s face turned steely.
She couldn’t understand how Nicole had the nerve to just walk into Jarrod’s house as if granted the entry.
“You claimed that if I complied with your demands last night, I could visit my child,” Nicole asserted plainly.
Vicki scoffed in disbelief. “Did I really say that?”
Nicole affirmed, “Yes, you did. You said if I let you demean me, I’d be allowed to see Austin.”
Vicki covered her mouth to suppress a snicker. “Are you out of your mind? What made you think that was true?”
Nicole’s gaze sharpened. “Out of my mind? Don’t you remember what you said?”
Vicki’s reaction was just as Nicole had predicted.
Nicole understood that Vicki never planned to let her see Austin. It was all a ruse to degrade her.
Nicole was puzzled by Vicki’s eagerness to torment her, while she saw herself pose no threat and wanted nothing to do with Jarrod.
Nevertheless, Vicki seemed to take pleasure in Nicole’s misery, as if malevolence was ingrained in her very essence.
“Do you really want to see Austin that desperately?” Vicki asked, already scheming.
Nicole stayed silent, wary of Vicki’s next words.
Vicki’s voice oozed contempt as she proposed, “Become my brother’s mistress, and you’ll get to see Austin. How does that sound?”
Vicki was well aware of the darkness that had engulfed Lowe.
Vicki had once unexpectedly visited Lowe’s home and witnessed the consequences of his savage attack on a woman.
Despite his medical condition rendering him impotent, Lowe had managed to cause significant harm.
Vicki’s understanding deepened when Lowe proudly displayed his disturbing collection of devices, revealing his extensive means for tormenting women.
Lowe’s inability to erect seemed to amplify his perverse inclinations infinitely, driving him to seek satisfaction in twisted ways that no ordinary thrill could satiate.
Lowe adhered to a dangerous rule of never keeping his relationships longer than a month to avoid fatal outcomes. Given the change in his situation, he had become more cautious.
Considering Nicole’s delicate condition, Vicki was certain Nicole would not survive long under Lowe’s tyrannical control. Once broken or even tormented to death, Nicole would no longer be a concern.
Nicole managed a soft laugh. “You promise I’ll get to see Austin if I agree to this?”
“Absolutely. Just do as expected, and I’ll ensure you meet your son,”
Vicki assured Nicole, her tone laced with feigned sincerity.
Caught up in thoughts of Nicole’s downfall, Vicki’s persuasion continued smoothly, “Does it really matter who you’re with? Lowe can’t perform anyway. It’s not like he’ll truly be with you.”
Nicole rolled her eyes internally, astounded by Vicki’s assumption of her ignorance.
Given that Lowe’s notorious actions were a hot topic of gossip, Nicole was quite familiar with his ominous reputation.
“That’s tempting,” Nicole remarked, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“But I don’t believe you.”
Vicki let out a laugh. “What’s not to believe, my dear? Do you really think you have any other option but to comply?”
Nicole arched an eyebrow, her face set in a defiant expression. “What if I want to see Austin right now?”
“Not at this moment,” Vicki responded sternly. “You’ll need to spend time with my brother first, and then I’ll consider allowing you to see your son in three months.”
“Three months?” Nicole feigned contemplation and then fixed Vicki with a serious look. “Are you sure I’ll still be alive by then?”
Despite being caught in her lies, Vicki showed no sign of shame. “Of course, you will be. A little flattery goes a long way. If you take good care of my brother and keep him content, he won’t hurt you.”
Nicole shook her head resolutely. “I don’t trust you or your brother at all. You’re both contemptible and unworthy of my trust.”
“You!” Vicki began, her tone sharp as she struggled to maintain composure.
Vicki’s eyes momentarily blazed with fury. “Then you’ll never see your son again!” she declared, her voice tinged with threat.
“But I will see him today,” Nicole insisted.
“How amusing. What makes you think you can?” Vicki retorted, her disbelief evident.
Vicki was taken aback by Nicole’s brazenness. Think she could just walk in and see her child?
In Vicki’s eyes, Nicole’s declaration was detached from reality.
Nicole responded calmly, “Because I’m his mother.”
Vicki scoffed. “What kind of mother are you? Do you really believe Austin recognizes you as his mother? He listens to everything I say now.”
At Vicki’s words, a chill passed through Nicole, her worry about Vicki’s influence over Austin gnawing at her.
With Kamilah recently out due to illness, Nicole had lost touch with Austin and was unaware of his current state.
However, she held onto the belief that Austin wouldn’t turn away from her. He was, after all, her own son, and she understood him deeply.
“Vicki, your overconfidence might just be your downfall,” Nicole retorted.
Vicki laughed with a triumphant air, gracefully tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Overconfident or not, Jarrod is well aware of the situation. Under my care, Austin now calls Jarrod ‘Daddy.’ What could you possibly offer him? Your presence might just poison his mind with your resentment,” Vicki taunted.
Nicole’s eyes widened in shock. How could she have been so unaware of such a significant change?
Was it possible that Austin had begun to see Jarrod as his father? She pondered this alarming new information.
Nicole had never stopped Austin from referring to Jarrod as “Daddy,” nor had she sown seeds of hatred toward Jarrod in Austin’s mind.
The discord between her and Jarrod was their own issue, and she was intent on keeping Austin away from any negative fallout.
Nicole knew well that Austin felt the lack of a father figure deeply.
Through discussions with Kamilah, she understood that Austin initially resisted Jarrod’s presence, clearly reluctant to call him “Daddy.”
Nicole, however, was not in the mood for pointless discussions with Vicki now. Her primary concern was to check on Austin.
“Just yesterday, you threatened to kill my child,” Nicole stated.
“There’s no need to pretend you care now. It’s both insincere and unnecessary.”
Vicki appeared visibly flustered, realizing she was facing a situation totally different from the one she encountered the previous night.
Jarrod’s residence was under constant surveillance, leaving her with no room for the same level of comfort she enjoyed elsewhere.