Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Should her father indeed be the last individual to have seen Wesson alive, she believed he should step forward to clarify matters. After all, Wesson had shown kindness to their family, especially to her father. It would be ungrateful to dismiss that.
Observing Callie’s resolve, Laurie intervened swiftly, cautioning, “Callie, refrain from such assertions. This matter is unrelated to your father. Perhaps that woman misled you. Your trust in her may be misguided. You should be cautious.”
Callie held her ground, retorting, “I find it improbable that Nicole would deceive me.”
Callie’s recollections of Nicole were characterized by benevolence. Nicole had consistently treated her well. How could Nicole fabricate such claims? Furthermore, Nicole hinted that if her father persisted in concealment, authorities would obtain a warrant.
This indicated substantial evidence implicating Brett as the last individual present. However, she hesitated to disclose this to Laurie, fearing Laurie couldn’t bear the revelation.
Laurie tapped Callie’s forehead, expressing frustration, “Callie, are you not thinking clearly? Just because she bestowed upon you some antiquated dolls in your youth, you accept her every word? That’s your father!”
Laurie raised her voice. “How could you doubt your father and place your trust in a stranger?”
“Nicole never handed me used dolls. They were consistently new, with tags intact,” Callie countered, her lips downturned in a pout.
Moreover, those dolls were exclusive editions unavailable to Callie’s peers. Whenever she expressed admiration for something, Nicole made a point to remember and present it to her on subsequent occasions.
The dolls she received from Nicole had been brought to her ward during her hospital stay, serving as a tremendous source of comfort. Moreover, numerous children coveted her collection, which made her treatment more bearable.
Hearing this, Laurie was even more enraged. “She deceived you, and yet you are actually grateful to her!”
While Laurie cherished her granddaughter, her son held an equally significant place in her heart. He was the embodiment of her flesh and blood, and she vowed to protect him from harm.
Though Callie internally disagreed with her grandmother’s assessment, she couldn’t fathom her father being capable of such actions either. Her emotions were in turmoil. Despite her inner conflict, Callie remained gentle and compliant, unwilling to defy her grandmother. Consequently, she kept her thoughts to herself.
Laurie, however, remained uneasy and issued a stern warning, “I’m warning you, young lady, you are forbidden from contacting that woman again. Do you understand? Don’t wait until she tears apart our family for you to realize your mistake.”
Laurie had painted Nicole as a malevolent figure. While Callie didn’t share this sentiment, she was accustomed to avoiding confrontation with her grandmother. Thus, she simply nodded.
Laurie still wasn’t reassured and stated firmly, “You’re staying home for now. If you need anything, I’ll arrange for our neighbor from the supermarket to assist. Just stay at home, understood?”
Callie hadn’t anticipated her grandmother’s restriction on her outings. Despite her reluctance, she had no alternative but to comply with her grandmother’s wishes.
Recognizing her grandmother’s age, Callie hesitated to defy her, fearing it might jeopardize her health and lead to costly hospital visits, further straining her father’s already burdened finances.
With her father already grappling with the family’s needs, Callie couldn’t bear to add to his responsibilities. However, doubts crept into Callie’s mind as she pondered Nicole’s words. Could her father truly be capable of such actions?
Throughout her childhood, Brett had instilled in Callie the values of honesty and kindness. But why would he do something that was completely inconsistent with his image?
Back as a child, Callie recalled her father frequently commending Wesson, who often gifted her father with numerous presents to share with the family. When it came to hospitalization, Wesson provided significant economic assistance.
Moreover, Brett often expressed profound gratitude to Wesson for the latter’s kindness, a sentiment he believed would endure for life. How could he, of all people, be Wesson’s murderer? Callie couldn’t fathom it. She truly didn’t believe it.
Callie gripped her phone, anticipating her father’s call. At last, in the dead of night, her father called from an undisclosed number. Upon answering with a tentative “hello,” Callie was met with Brett’s worried inquiry. “Callie, are you alright? Were you frightened last night?”
Brett’s tone resonated with self-blame as he grappled with the news of his daughter’s recent brush with danger, though the specifics remained elusive. Upon receiving a text from Callie indicating Nicole’s search for him, Brett swiftly departed the designated meeting spot without hesitation.
Brett went to the location of the event early this morning to inquire and discovered that a rapist had been apprehended the night before. The rapist, posing as a cab driver, specialized in deceiving young females.
After committing the crime in an isolated location, he would capture private images of the girls and duplicate their entire contact list. He would then threaten the girls that if they reported the crime, he would spread the private recordings and images to all of their families, friends, and classmates, as well as numerous social networking sites.
The approach proved effective. The rapist had committed several offenses within a month, yet no one alerted the authorities. He abstained from monetary theft while coercing victims into sexual acts and exploiting captured videos for later manipulation. Many girls refrained from reporting the incidents, fearing the widespread dissemination of their private footage.
This time, law enforcement stumbled upon incriminating photos and videos on the rapist’s phone. Despite efforts to reach out to the victims individually, reluctance to engage with authorities persisted among many.
Only after repeated assurances from the police regarding confidentiality did a few victims relent and agree to step forward. This rapist had a history of criminal behavior and was a pervert.
Brett harbored a deep sense of guilt, recognizing the mistake of involving his daughter in the risky task of delivering the deposit slip. With police surveillance in place, his ability to earn money was compromised, leaving him with no choice but to use the funds from the slip and venture into remote areas for financial gain.
The thought of his daughter being in harm’s way weighed heavily on Brett, causing his voice to falter multiple times. “Callie, I take full responsibility for what happened…”
Callie was aware that her father had misunderstood and promptly reassured him, saying, “Dad, I’m alright. That individual didn’t succeed last night. When he was threatening me, Nicole saved me.”
“What did you say? Was it her who saved you?” Brett exclaimed, visibly taken aback.
“Yes, Nicole was the one who saved me. She displayed remarkable courage and intelligence. She used hot pepper water to swiftly incapacitate the assailant.” Callie admired Nicole greatly when discussing this topic.
Brett fell silent, processing the revelation. Callie continued, “And Nicole even provided me with hot pepper water and other tools for self-protection. Dad, you don’t need to worry anymore. I won’t be afraid to walk at night.”
“Oh,” Brett’s emotions were subdued, his voice carrying a mix of sentiments. The previous night’s events had been tumultuous, and he hadn’t fully grasped how Callie had come across Nicole. He sighed, surprised by the enduring kindness and bravery of Wesson’s daughter after all these years.
“Dad, may I ask you something?” Callie spoke cautiously.
“What is it, Callie?”
“Nicole mentioned… She said you were the last person to see Mr. Lawrence. She also claimed that Wesson’s death wasn’t suicide but murder. Are they true?”
Callie clung to hope, refusing to believe her father, who always preached kindness, could be involved in Wesson’s death. As long as her father denied it, she would maintain her faith in him. Perhaps Nicole had erred or there was a misunderstanding in the matter.
On the opposite end of the line, Brett remained silent for an extended period. With each passing moment of silence, Callie’s heart grew colder. She felt a tinge of anxiety and uttered, “Dad, please respond…”
After a prolonged silence, Brett finally spoke. “Callie, this is not something for you to worry about. My only wish for you and your grandparents is to remain safe and secure.”
“Dad!” Callie’s tone suddenly sharpened. “I cannot bear this uncertainty. Tell me, is it true or not?”
Callie’s voice quivered, sensing she was on the brink of a revelation that would shatter her cherished image of her father. All she desired was to hear her father absolve himself of any involvement, to affirm it was not him. She wished to hear nothing else.
“Dad, assure me, it’s not your fault, right? They made a mistake, didn’t they?” Callie persisted.
“I… Callie, it’s not as straightforward as you believe, but I cannot divulge further.” Brett replied, torn by inner conflict.
“Then what is it? Please, tell me, what’s going on?”
Callie’s emotions overwhelmed her, and tears streamed down her face. “Dad… You always told me to be honest, right? You’ve lived by that too, haven’t you? If it’s just a misunderstanding, why don’t you clarify it? Do we really need to live like this, hiding and living separately?”
Callie tried to persuade Brett, hoping he would come forward and tell the truth.
“Callie!” Brett’s voice grew louder as he announced, “I’ve told you, this isn’t your concern. Just take care of yourself, and soon I’ll take you abroad. Once we’re there, we won’t need to hide anymore.”
“Go abroad? What about my grandparents? Can they handle it?” Callie remembered the challenges they faced when they moved abroad during her childhood. The struggles her grandparents had gone through just to adjust to the new environment were still vivid in her mind.
“I’ll take you abroad first, and later with your grandparents. Don’t worry. I’ll arrange for someone to look after them. They won’t suffer,” Brett explained, trying to calm Callie down.
If Callie had held any hope before, it was now crushed. She realized she wasn’t simply moving abroad. They were fleeing. And they wouldn’t be leaving through conventional means.
Callie’s faith in her father was shattered, and she struggled to accept that her father, whom she had always looked up to, could be involved in something so grave. “Dad, why… Why do you have to do this? Nicole’s parents have always been so kind to us. They’re good people. Why…”
Callie sobbed. She wished she hadn’t uncovered the truth. Now, filled with regret, her heart ached painfully. She was no different from her father. Nicole had saved her, yet she had tipped off her father to allow his escape. She too was ungrateful.
“Callie! Calm down!” Brett scolded loudly. His daughter was too compassionate. If she continued down this path, her conscience might overwhelm her, and he feared her reaction.
“I haven’t hurt anyone. Don’t overthink it, okay?” Brett said earnestly. “Remember, everything I did, I did for you. You have to trust me.”
“Then why do we have to hide? If you were innocent, you could have cleared your name, right?” Callie questioned, unconvinced.
“This situation is far too complex. It’s not as straightforward as it seems,” Brett replied, sighing. “Yes, I was indeed the last person seen with Wesson. But I can swear, I didn’t kill him. How could I? It’s not in me to do such a thing…”
Brett’s voice faltered. The memory pained him deeply. Back then, he had been coerced into showing Wesson a video of Nicole being humiliated and had delivered some devastating words, suggesting Wesson end his own life to spare Nicole further disgrace.
Internally, Brett was tormented by his actions, to the point of wanting to strike himself. His motive wasn’t just about money. His daughter had a rare blood type and had struggled to find a suitable match. Then, a mysterious figure had offered hope, promising a transplant for his daughter abroad.
Ultimately, Brett couldn’t go through with it. His conscience prevailed, and he confessed everything to Wesson. He had hoped Wesson, being a seasoned man, would be resilient and rise to protect Nicole.
But upon returning to Wesson’s office, Brett was horrified to discover that Wesson had indeed been murdered. He had been cowardly, hiding for so many years, too frightened to reveal the truth because of that mysterious figure’s cruelty.
Callie was at a loss about whom to trust anymore. She attempted to steady her voice and replied, “I get it.”
“Callie, don’t overthink things. Just trust me. I would never hurt you. Get ready, and once this is all behind us, I’ll take you abroad. We’ll start a new, peaceful life, okay?” Brett said, trying to win his daughter’s trust back.
Callie’s mind was swirling, and she responded weakly, “Okay.”
After ending the call, Callie stared blankly at her phone. She believed her father hadn’t killed Wesson, but she knew her father was hiding something. If she told Nicole, it might help…
However, before Callie could sort through her thoughts, the door to her room burst open. Her grandmother, Laurie, stormed in.
“Callie, give me your phone,” Laurie demanded.
Stunned, Callie quickly hid her phone behind her back. “Grandma, what are you doing? You won’t let me go out, and now you’re taking my phone too?”
“I heard your conversation with your father,” Laurie said sternly. “Callie, I can’t stand by and watch you do something harmful to your dad. He’s your father. Don’t be foolish…”
Callie was shocked to learn her grandmother had been eavesdropping. “Grandma, I know he’s my father, but should I cover up for him if he’s done something wrong?”
“I’m not saying you should cover for him if it’s wrong, but remember, he’s your father, and he does everything for you. Why else would he err?” Laurie’s voice, though hoarse, resonated with conviction. She didn’t fully grasp the details of the situation, but she knew her son’s nature. Brett wasn’t a malicious person. If he had erred, it was for his child.
Laurie recalled the doctor’s words that finding a match for Callie would be extremely difficult, perhaps impossible within her lifetime. Yet, not long after that conversation, Callie had traveled abroad for surgery. It was clear that Brett must have struck some kind of deal.
In Laurie’s view, her son wasn’t a villain. He had simply done what he felt necessary.
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