Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Vicki was a master of manipulation. She had always excelled at performing wicked deeds while maintaining an appearance of innocence.
“I’m gonna kill you, you piece of shit!” Vicki charged at Nicole, but a bodyguard quickly stepped in. “Miss, your father has ordered no more disruptions,” he stated firmly, conveying Wayne’s directive to Vicki.
The Hampton family had been grappling with one scandal after another, leaving their reputation teetering on the edge of ruin. In these critical times, it was imperative for them to maintain a low profile and steer clear of further negative attention.
The bodyguard whispered closely to Vicki, “Your father advises that discretion is the better part of valor. Patience is essential right now.”
It was clear from his words that Nicole would face consequences, but the timing had to be right.
These words calmed Vicki’s tumultuous emotions. How had she allowed Nicole to provoke her into such a loss of composure with mere words? She was never one to behave like those senseless individuals. How could she let herself continue to tarnish her own image?
Regaining her composure, Vicki resumed her typically gentle and calm demeanor. “Nicole, just you wait. Sooner or later, you’ll taste the bitterness of prison.”
Nicole retorted with a smirk, “Have you sorted out your own legal issues yet, Vicki? How can you threaten me by sending me to prison when your own life is barely in order?”
“I’m completely uninvolved and facing no legal troubles,” Vicki asserted firmly. “Someone else has come forward and confessed. Don’t try to pin this on me.”
“Oh, really?” Nicole challenged her further. “On those quiet, dark nights when you’re alone, do you actually sleep peacefully? How many lives have you destroyed over the years, behind closed doors?”
Vicki turned pale. “What are you talking about?”
Nicole stepped closer and declared, “I will uncover every wicked deed you’ve committed. I’ll expose the true, hypocritical person you are to the entire world.”
Nicole’s unyielding stance had completely eroded Vicki’s composure, causing her to step back involuntarily. Vicki’s defenses were crumbling.
“Do you really think this is the end? Did you believe you could continue in your self-righteous smugness?” Nicole advanced toward Vicki, her steps measured and ominous.
“I know my health is failing, but I still have enough fight left in me to seek some retribution before I pass. You shouldn’t have harmed my child. He is more precious to me than my own life. You dared to harm him, and I won’t let that go unpunished.”
A deep, inexplicable chill ran down Vicki’s spine. The fear that Nicole’s words induced was overwhelming, and Nicole’s expression, showing no concern for her own safety, was downright terrifying.
After gathering her composure, Vicki responded, “What more can you do? Don’t underestimate my family. Jarrod and our family are still intertwined in business dealings. He won’t let our family be ruined.”
Unaffected by Vicki’s words, Nicole responded calmly, “Mark my words, Vicki. This is far from over!”
A chill settled over Vicki. She couldn’t shake the suspicion that Nicole was concealing another strategy. Yet, how could that be? The Hampton family was a force to be reckoned with.
Their attorney was a titan in the legal field. Surely, Nicole was just posturing to unnerve her. Yes, it had to be this.
“Don’t be ridiculous. Jarrod is your sole supporter. Do you honestly believe he would betray the Hamptons for you?”
Vicki’s confidence was rooted in her knowledge of Jarrod as a calculating businessman who always put financial interests first. She was convinced he would not act against his own business imperatives.
Vicki continued, “If he were to do so, he would pull the Schultz Group, which he has carefully restored, back into turmoil. He would be labeled a traitor and a liability. Remember, the Hamptons were there for him in his lowest moments. He might disagree with us on some issues now, but to commit an outright betrayal against the Hampton family? That would be an egregious act of treachery.”
The consequences of such an act would be disastrous, potentially ruining the Schultz Group. Who would willingly risk such a downfall? Surely, only someone who had lost all reason.
Vicki couldn’t restrain herself from expressing her doubts aloud, “Unless Jarrod had lost his mind!”
Nicole’s smile widened as she noticed Vicki’s distress. “Vicki, I’m not sure about Jarrod’s mental state, but I can assure you, I myself am quite unhinged. Why would I need anyone else?”
“Jarrod won’t allow this to happen,” Vicki declared, convinced that Jarrod would intervene before Nicole could disrupt their family dynamics. If Jarrod ignored this and allowed Nicole to wreak havoc within the Hampton family, then he might indeed be as unhinged as Nicole.
Nicole chuckled dismissively. “Whether he approves or not doesn’t concern me. I do as I please, and nobody can hold me back.”
“You truly are unhinged!” Vicki finally saw the worst parts of Nicole’s temperament. She realized she had antagonized someone genuinely dangerous, someone who could potentially ruin her.
“Why do you think I’ve kept you engaged in conversation for so long?” Without warning, Nicole stepped closer, locking eyes with Vicki.
“What are you planning to do?” Vicki staggered back, unsettled by Nicole’s intense stare, anxious about her next unpredictable move.
“Who’s that over there?” Nicole diverted her attention, pointing at a police car that had just pulled up nearby.
Vicki turned and saw her brother, Lowe, being escorted from the car while being handcuffed.
“I… owe…” Vicki gasped, her hand flying to her mouth in shock. How could this have happened?
Vicki then turned back to face Nicole. “Did you submit the video from that night?”
Vicki had thought the original recording of that night had been destroyed, handed over to Wayne by Jarrod.
Wayne had sought Jarrod’s assurance that this incident would not stir up trouble, with the exchange that the Hampton family would never speak of any help they had extended to Jarrod in the past anymore.
Indeed, the Hampton family had reaped considerable benefits from saving Jarrod at that time since the favor was akin to a lifelong leverage over him. Wayne was no fool and his support wasn’t merely driven by Vicki’s feelings for Jarrod. He recognized Jarrod’s potential for a formidable comeback.
With the support of the Hampton family, Jarrod had been able to circumvent many obstacles and ascend swiftly.
In truth, it was inevitable that Jarrod would rise to prominence, with or without the Hampton family’s assistance.
With the assistance of the Hampton family, Jarrod was able to accelerate his resurgence. Without their help, it might just take Jarrod a little more time to achieve that.
Wayne was a savvy businessman, and his support for Jarrod was not merely due to Vicki’s affection.
Vicki was puzzled as to why Lowe was placed under arrest. What about their agreement?
Vicki couldn’t bear to consider the implications. She turned to Nicole with a fierce look. “What have you done?”
Nicole’s response came with a sly smile. “I didn’t do much. I simply informed the police that Lowe was harassing me, and I provided them with the video. You and Doreen attacked me violently and forced medication on me.”
“How dare you!” Vicki’s mind spun with disbelief. “You’re just trying to frighten me. I watched that video get destroyed. Jarrod personally handed it over to the Hampton family.”
“Did you really think I wouldn’t keep a backup?” Nicole scoffed and said, “The one Jarrod gave you was just a duplicate. I had already uploaded the original video to the cloud. And now…”
The implications of her revelation sent shivers through Vicki.
Deliberately, Nicole stated, “I’ve uploaded it to the internet.”
“You’re out of your mind!” Vicki was aghast.
Nicole was using the same ruthless tactics she had previously used on Jarrod to tackle Vicki and Doreen.
Vicki started to wonder if there was anyone Nicole truly cared about.
“You will regret this, won’t you? Think about your child seeing the video someday. Aren’t you embarrassed? His mother was mistreated like that. Aren’t you worried about how others will mock your child?” Vicki’s shaky accusations were met with Nicole’s unrestrained laughter.
“Hahaha…” Nicole’s maniacal laughter frightened Vicki.
“Don’t laugh, you witch. What if you laugh yourself to death…”
“Vicki, don’t you see the irony in your words?” Nicole retorted. “You are the perpetrator, and I am the victim. Why should the victim feel ashamed in public? Why should I be ashamed? What reason does my son have to feel ashamed?”
Nicole raised her voice with conviction.
“Should I feel ashamed for being assaulted? For being drugged? For being powerless? Because I’m not strong, because I lack influence, because I don’t come from a prestigious family like yours, is it my fault? Are these reasons enough for you to bully and humiliate me?
Who really should feel ashamed? You’re mistaken. Do you realize how many people have seen the video? One hundred million! Let those hundred million viewers decide who should feel ashamed. They will provide the fair judgment.
But I’ll tell you, even if fortune hasn’t smiled upon me this time, I won’t feel ashamed, because there’s nothing wrong with me. It’s the world that’s twisted.”
Regarding my son, even if he sees it, he will see his mother standing up for justice and fighting for what’s right, not cowering in fear. That kind of cowardice is not what I want for my son.”
Nicole’s declaration resounded powerfully in Vicki’s ears, her words piercing but not loud. This was also the reason why she did that without considering the consequences.
No one could be someone’s constant companion through life. Austin would grow up and face reality on his own. Even if not due to her actions, he would inevitably encounter life’s challenges.
Nicole could not teach Austin to evade these challenges, but she could show him that no matter the hurdles, there was always hope at the end.
“You are a complete lunatic!” Vicki screamed in despair. The thought of a hundred million people witnessing her downfall was unbearable. Her facade would crumble, and she could not fathom how to continue living or facing others.
“Nicole, do you really think you can just walk away from this? You’ve implicated my brother and me, tarnishing our reputations. Do you think the Hampton family will just let this slide?”
Even now, Vicki’s primary concern was her and her family’s reputation, showing no regret for her actions toward Nicole. Such was the nature of Vicki, Lowe, and the entire Hampton family. It was a reflection of their deeply ingrained values.
“What need do I have for your family to let go of me?” Nicole retorted with a sneer. “You’re still focused on yourself and your family’s images. You’re already planning your next move before this is even settled?”
Vicki’s anger flared, but then her attention was drawn to a luxury car pulling up. Inside was the familiar, striking profile of a man.
Her expression shifted instantly. It was Jarrod.
Vicki believed Jarrod had come unaware of Nicole’s scheme, hoping to settle their differences. She saw a flicker of hope, an opportunity to unveil Nicole’s true nature to Jarrod, revealing her manipulative and vile character. Nicole was merely using Jarrod to further her own ambitions.
Facing Nicole, Vicki accused, “You’re just using Jarrod, aren’t you? You even married him solely to further your agenda. You know you can’t take down the Hampton family alone, and marrying Jarrod ensures he can’t overlook your schemes…”
“So what?” Nicole responded, her voice dripping with indifference. It wasn’t anything unusual.
Vicki couldn’t help but laugh bitterly. “I knew it. You’re using him. You don’t actually love him. Why do this?”
“You split us apart, yet you don’t love him at all. Do you know that Jarrod chose a vasectomy because of Austin? He told me that if I married him, I’d never have children. That’s why I had to act quickly…” Vicki stopped abruptly, realizing she was close to confessing her own plot to kill Austin.
But whether she confessed or not, Nicole was already aware of her involvement.