Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
When their eyes met, Vicki visibly stiffened. Her face, which was usually calm, was wrought with panic.
“No, Jarrod, you’ve got it all wrong. I didn’t poison anyone. It was him. He’s lying! He’s slandering me! This woman must’ve instigated him. It’s her! She’s the one who…”
“Slap!” A crisp sound echoed through the air.
The next moment, blood trickled from the corner of Vicki’s mouth.
Vicki looked at her attacker in disbelief. It was none other than Nicole. “Crazy bitch! How dare you hit me…”
Feeling extremely aggrieved, Vicki turned to Jarrod for help. She tearfully sobbed, “Jarrod, are you seriously going to let this woman insult me like this?”
Before Jarrod could respond, Nicole butted in harshly.
“Are you kidding me? I didn’t hit you hard enough! You not only poisoned Austin’s milk, but you even wanted to poison such a weak and frail child. Have you no shame? Vicki, I swear to God I won’t let you get away with this!”
Nicole’s eyes turned as sharp and vicious as a hawk’s as she warned Vicki.
Vicki cradled her swollen cheek and cried pitifully. “Jarrod, say something…”
Despite Vicki’s tearful and pitiful display, Jarrod remained silent.
Vicki sensed that her reckless words had provoked him. “Jarrod, I didn’t mean what I said.” Vicki sobbed, shielding her face as if burdened by guilt. “I just… I couldn’t fathom that Austin would accuse me of such a dreadful thing after all I’ve done for him.”
Refusing to acknowledge her wrongdoings, Vicki clung to the belief that Austin possessed a cunning far beyond her own. She couldn’t conceive that Austin, merely a boy, would resort to such tactics out of desperation.
However, Austin possessed a wisdom beyond his years, understanding the imperative of survival and self-preservation. Had he been less astute, he might not have endured.
“I swear on my life that I never instructed anyone to harm Austin,” Vicki asserted through clenched teeth, adamant in maintaining her innocence. “You can’t trust a single word Austin utters. He’s fabricating lies, betraying those who nurtured him like an ungrateful ingrate. Clearly, his upbringing is to blame.”
Jarrod’s voice sent chills down her spine. “If you had truly cared for him, he would never have spoken such accusations.”
Vicki’s lips parted, but she hesitated, fearing her carefully constructed facade of kindness would unravel. She felt Austin couldn’t gather evidence to support his allegations, and she had taken pains to avoid direct harm to him.
With no evidence against her and her unwavering denial, Vicki believed they were powerless against her. Her mind raced with these reassuring thoughts.
Jarrod’s intense gaze locked with Vicki’s as he reminded her, “Do you recall our conversation that day?”
Vicki’s thoughts drifted back, vividly recalling Jarrod’s words. He had admitted that he would only consider marrying her if she genuinely embraced Austin.
Without hesitation, Vicki had agreed, a choice any woman in her position would have made.
At the time of her acquiescence, Vicki had been confident in her ability to ignore Austin’s presence, as long as he refrained from interfering with her life.
Yet, human nature was an insatiable beast, and once a desire took root, it exerted an invincible force.
Vicki couldn’t pinpoint the exact moment when she first wished for Austin’s removal, but once the notion settled in her mind, it grew relentlessly. She had even devised a scheme for Austin to meet an “accident” after her wedding with Jarrod.
However, Jarrod’s unexpected request for a vasectomy had thrown her off balance, prompting her to accelerate her plan. Vicki felt only Austin’s demise would disrupt Jarrod’s vasectomy plans and potentially lead him to seek another child instead.
Vicki hadn’t anticipated how troublesome Austin, that insignificant pest, would become. Not only had her carefully laid plan crumbled to dust, but he had boldly turned the tables on her.
A storm of fury raged within Vicki’s soul. Tears streamed down her cheeks as desperation tinged her voice, imploring Jarrod, “Jarrod, I’ve been truthful with Austin. We’ve been together for years. Don’t you understand my character? Would you believe a child who’s been in your life for a few weeks over me?”
Her cries echoed with anguish, portraying a sense of genuine injustice.
Jarrod’s countenance was contemplative, his gaze reflecting profound thought as he absorbed Vicki’s words. Over the years, Vicki had never purposefully harmed anyone. Had it not been for the video of her mercilessly attacking Nicole, her plea might have swayed him.
However, in the footage, Vicki whispered into Nicole’s ear, “I intend to harm Austin.” Her words were drowned by the clamor of their surroundings.
Upon scrutinizing Vicki’s lip movements, Jarrod realized Nicole’s allegations were true. Vicki had indeed threatened to take Austin’s life, and Vicki’s eyes betrayed her intention as she struck Nicole.
Jarrod couldn’t help but be amazed by the unpredictability of people. The Vicki he knew bore no resemblance to the malevolent figure standing before him.
Jarrod’s silence was construed by Nicole as an attempt to shield Vicki. She promptly intervened, “Vicki, reserve your account for the authorities.”
Vicki’s fury erupted. Who was this woman to interrogate her? Nicole held no jurisdiction!
To Vicki, Jarrod’s silence seemed indicative of a softening stance toward her. Capitalizing on the moment, she assumed a pitiful demeanor, tearfully expressing, “Miss Lawrence, I hold no animosity toward you. I get it. You cannot simply idly stand by as I prepare to wed Jarrod, driven by envy and a desire to harm me. My affection for Austin has always been sincere. Yet now, he maligns me, alleging I harbor intentions to harm him. Who will acknowledge the injustice I endure?”
Pausing for dramatic effect, Vicki pressed on, “I understand your need to protect your son. However, if you persist in mistreating me, my father will not condone it.”
Vicki invoked Wayne’s name, confident in the widespread knowledge that Jarrod would never disregard Wayne’s influential support.
Indeed, when Jarrod’s position was precarious, it was the Hampton family’s backing that had secured his role at Ardlens. Vicki believed this single fact would negate any suspicion of wrongdoing on Jarrod’s part.
“Indeed, you hold no malice, and in fact, you were quite eager concerning me,” Nicole remarked.
Vicki’s eyes widened in astonishment. She struggled to comprehend Nicole’s implication.
Nicole elucidated deliberately, “Weren’t you eager to introduce me to your brother to become his mistress?”
“What nonsense are you talking about?” Vicki retorted, her voice gradually fading as a wave of guilt engulfed her.
“What nonsense?” Nicole echoed. “Didn’t you promise that if I agreed, you’d arrange for me to meet Austin in three months?”
The moment those words escaped Nicole’s lips, Jarrod’s demeanor turned frigid.
Observing his icy expression, Vicki’s heart skipped a beat. She cursed silently. Nicole was just like her detested son, crafting words filled with snares. She dared not respond rashly.
With clenched teeth, Vicki countered, “I never made such statements. Do not attempt to tarnish my reputation with such baseless allegations.”
Nicole emitted a sharp, disdainful laugh.
Vicki’s composure wavered as Jarrod’s silence persisted, leaving her defenseless. “You envy me, don’t you? That’s why you’ve orchestrated these malicious falsehoods through your son!”
Despite its absurdity, the accusation resonated with Vicki, presenting a disturbing plausibility. How could Austin, so young and innocent, orchestrate such calculated malice without Nicole’s influence? What motive could Nicole have, if not to reclaim Austin? Maybe even for Jarrod?
A surge of panic overwhelmed Vicki as the notion gripped her. The nerve of Nicole wanting to take Jarrod away from her!
She was poised to become Jarrod’s lawful wife, and once Austin was eliminated and she bestowed Jarrod with her child, he would be hers, unequivocally. She refused to let anyone dismantle the painstakingly crafted perfection of her life.
Nicole’s response dripped with sardonic amusement. “What reason would I have to envy you, Vicki? Your ruthless demeanor?”
“You’ve discovered my upcoming wedding to Jarrod and now you intend to steal him from me, correct? I’m warning you; it won’t happen!” Vicki was fixated on the notion that Nicole aimed to usurp Jarrod and lost control. “Don’t even contemplate taking my husband, you brazen woman.”
“Hahaha…” Nicole couldn’t suppress her laughter. “Vicki, aren’t you calling Jarrod your husband a bit too early? When did Jarrod obtain a marriage certificate with you? Why was this kept secret?”
Vicki was certain she would become Jarrod’s rightful spouse and responded calmly, “I will be Mrs. Schultz soon. Jarrod assured me it will happen next week…”
“You won’t be by next week,” Nicole interrupted swiftly.
“Why? Do you think you can prevent me from becoming his wife just by saying so? Do you still intend to take him from me? Ha-ha, your intentions are transparent!” Vicki’s hysterical behavior was utterly ridiculous.
“I registered our marriage with him today,” Nicole blurted out the truth.
Vicki felt momentarily paralyzed as if lightning had struck her. It seemed surreal, like hearing the most absurd joke imaginable.
Surely, Nicole hadn’t married Jarrod, correct? She must have misunderstood.
Despite her skepticism, Vicki clenched her fingers, heart pounding.
Observing Vicki’s ashen face, Nicole experienced an indescribable sense of relief. After all the hardship, she finally felt a small measure of vindication. This debt, she would ensure Vicki repaid gradually.
Nicole continued, “Therefore, your suggestion for me to become a home wrecker is unacceptable, as my spouse likely wouldn’t approve.”
Nicole’s words struck Vicki like a sudden torrent of ice water. She shook uncontrollably, struggling to grasp the reality. “You’re lying!” Vicki shrieked in a frenzy.
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Vicki seized Jarrod’s arm and pleaded, “Jarrod, say it’s not true. Nicole must be deceiving me, isn’t she?”
Jarrod’s silence deepened the chill in Vicki’s heart. The undeniable truth loomed before her.
Jarrod’s gaze, void of any emotion, said, “Yes, we are legally married.”
It was like a bolt of revelation to Vicki. Tears began to pool in her eyes. “Jarrod, this must be a joke?” She clung to his arm, shaking it desperately. “You’re joking, aren’t you?”
Vicki earnestly sought to grasp a faint chance of optimism. Tearfully, she exclaimed, “Our wedding is imminent! I’ve already selected my bridal gown. Everyone is aware of our impending union! You cannot do this to me…”
Jarrod remained impassive, dispassionately pushing Vicki away as he stated, “Vicki, I offered you an opportunity, but you squandered it.”
Jarrod had repeatedly scrutinized the footage in the chamber. He had observed Vicki’s and Doreen’s disdainful countenances unmistakably as they tormented Nicole.
Regarding Doreen, he had yet to address her actions. However, Vicki had profoundly let him down. When Vicki expressed her desire to kill Austin, her face and gestures exuded malevolence.
Jarrod despised having trusted Vicki and allowing such a wicked individual to approach Austin.
Vicki still struggled to accept that her aspirations had crumbled so swiftly. Originally, she was set to marry Jarrod in a week. How could such a joyous moment be shattered so effortlessly? She found it inconceivable.
A woman of Vicki’s nature would never contemplate her behavior. She solely held Nicole responsible for enticing Jarrod.