Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Furthermore, she recognized the necessity of obtaining Jarrod’s approval, as Austin’s biological father, ensuring transparency regarding Austin’s medical care.
Presently, Austin’s health remained favorable, yet should his condition deteriorate, intervening later could prove futile.
Nicole sensed the urgency to promptly make a decision and take action.
In the hospital corridors, Jarrod overheard Conor’s inquiry directed at the attending caregiver. “Was there anyone who visited Mr. Schultz yesterday?”
The caregiver shook her head. “No visitors.”
Conor’s disappointment surged, recognizing Jarrod’s persistent sour mood.
Upon entering the room, Conor commenced his customary recitation of the company’s updates to Jarrod.
Unexpectedly, Jarrod queried, “Whom were you expecting?”
Conor hesitated and then decided it was best to be honest. “I encountered Miss Lawrence at the hospital yesterday.”
“What did you convey to her?” Jarrod inquired.
“I suggested she visit you if she could spare the time,” Conor replied.
Jarrod fell silent, acknowledging Nicole’s awareness of his condition and her absence despite it. He emitted a bitter chuckle. Indeed, if she possessed any compassion for him, she wouldn’t be Nicole.
“What brought her to the hospital?” Jarrod inquired, a hint of concern creeping into his tone.
Conor responded, “Miss Lawrence mentioned she was there accompanying a friend receiving an IV.”
“A friend?” Jarrod’s brow furrowed. “Who might that be?”
Conor, having already gathered information, promptly answered, “It was Mr. Bates. He appeared unwell, and Miss Lawrence visited him.”
This revelation further unsettled and troubled Jarrod deeply. What sort of bond did Rhett share with Nicole? Despite their limited encounters, Rhett seemed remarkably significant.
Observing Jarrod’s perturbed countenance, Conor hastened to reassure him, “Miss Lawrence’s visit was brief. She departed in the evening, as confirmed by the hospital staff.”
Jarrod maintained his stoic facade, offering no response.
Conor, sensing the tension, refrained from broaching the subject further and redirected the conversation to business matters. However, their discussion was abruptly interrupted by an unexpected visitor. It was Jarrod’s cousin, Hallie.
“Jarrod, I need your help with Doreen!” Hallie exclaimed upon entering, seemingly disregarding their prior altercation.
Jarrod’s expression soured, but Hallie pressed on without pause, lamenting, “I encountered Doreen earlier today. She’s visibly emaciated and utterly fatigued. The torment she endures and the bruises she bears… It’s unbearable. After all she’s endured, how can she take any more?”
Hallie wiped away her tears, genuinely distraught over her daughter’s plight. This time, she approached the situation with more tact, avoiding any mention of Doreen’s transgressions and instead emphasizing Doreen’s suffering, hoping to evoke Jarrod’s sympathy.
With Jarrod nursing his wounds from the incident, Hallie had chastised Doreen for her failure, which ended with Jarrod’s injury instead of harm befalling Nicole.
Now, with Jarrod hospitalized and Doreen facing serious charges, the situation had worsened considerably.
If Jarrod were to draft a letter of pardon, attributing the incident to an unintended occurrence, there was a possibility Doreen could receive a suspended sentence rather than imprisonment. In doing so, Doreen might avoid the ordeal of incarceration.
However, Nicole’s testimony influenced the severity of the charges against Doreen, resulting in a harsher penalty.
After seeking legal counsel, it became evident that Doreen could face several years of incarceration, potentially five to ten.
Faced with this dire situation, both Doreen and Hallie harbored resentment toward Nicole for their predicament.
Jarrod replied calmly, “Had you and Doreen heeded my warnings, this tragedy could have been avoided. I am unable to assist Doreen now. Hallie, you must explore alternative ways.”
Jarrod coldly refused. Hallie persisted relentlessly since Jarrod remained their sole beacon of hope. Devoid of his aid, Doreen’s conviction loomed as an inevitable outcome.
“Jarrod, I recognize my previous harshness and the distress it caused. I beseech your forgiveness. Understand the irreplaceable value Doreen holds as my sole beloved daughter.
Should she be incarcerated, I fear I would be utterly lost. The mere thought of harm befalling her is unbearable…” Hallie sobbed sorrowfully.
Jarrod’s silence persisted, prompting her to press on, “Jarrod, despite your anger, recall our familial bond. Your unfortunate loss of parents in your youth weighed heavily upon us all.
Your mother entrusted your well-being to me, and though my support was modest, the burden of guilt has never left me.
Thanks to your efforts, our circumstances have improved, yet just as we begin to find solace, the specter of imprisonment looms over my only daughter. How can I endure this?”
“Jarrod, don’t you dare forget how I’ve supported you before. You have no idea what my husband put me through when I lent you that money. He was still complaining about it on his deathbed!”
Hallie droned endlessly, but Jarrod found her words exasperating. He’d never prioritized family loyalty, and it wasn’t as if Hallie had given him the money out of pure kindness.
Jarrod raised an eyebrow at Hallie, “There’s something I kept hidden. Years ago, my mother lent you two million dollars. After her death, you exploited my grief during your visit, pretending to offer comfort while secretly destroying the debt evidence.”
Hallie’s eyes widened, shock surging through her. She had never imagined Jarrod knew about her actions. An admission of guilt was inconceivable, prompting her to vehemently deny his accusation. “Jarrod, are you jesting? Surely, you’re mistaken. While I may not be affluent, I would never resort to such deceitful tactics!”
Jarrod’s expression darkened at her denial.
Hallie, detecting his silence, grew convinced that Jarrod was merely trying to trick her into confessing. “Who transmitted that absurd rumor to you? Clearly, someone is endeavoring to sow discord between us. I have never borrowed money from your mother and neglected to reimburse it.”
Jarrod questioned, “Are you still hesitant to disclose the truth?”
Jarrod felt profound disappointment. Just recently, the housekeeper stumbled upon a meticulously detailed notebook outlining his mother Giselle’s personal finances. The notebook unequivocally revealed how Hallie had indeed borrowed two hundred thousand dollars, which was Giselle’s own savings.
The loan had been procured around the time Hallie commenced her beauty salon.
Hallie had even manipulated Giselle into investing in the business, with half of Hallie’s initial capital being sourced from Giselle.
Hallie had shrewdly persuaded Giselle that becoming a legal partner in the business might adversely affect Jarrod, effectively positioning herself as the sole proprietor of the salon.
It was essentially a business that Hallie had obtained without contributing a single penny.
Following Giselle’s unfortunate demise, Hallie was the sole possessor of knowledge regarding the dubious arrangement.
Subsequently, to cover her tracks, Hallie stumbled upon the IOU she had written for Giselle and simply destroyed it, leaving no evidence of the debt she owed.
Jarrod only discovered the absence of his mother’s jewelry after her funeral, leading him to strongly suspect Hallie’s involvement in its disappearance.
Fortunately, Jarrod’s mother had left that notebook behind as evidence. Without it, Jarrod would have remained perpetually ignorant, continuing to regard Hallie as a benefactor while being blind to her duplicity.
Initially, Jarrod showed little interest in pursuing the matter. Their kinship was undeniable, and Hallie and Doreen counted among his closest remaining relatives.
Moreover, Doreen was once a sweet and lively child, always looking up to Jarrod. Jarrod was inclined to let the issue slide, reasoning that he didn’t necessarily need the money, and it wasn’t worth further conflict.
However, Hallie proved to be relentless trouble. She had even corrupted Doreen, transforming her from a sweet child into someone unruly and defiant.
Now, faced with this latest revelation, Hallie dared to continue her attempts to manipulate Jarrod with fabricated claims of past kindness. Jarrod could no longer ignore the truth.
Hallie maintained her stance, steadfastly ignoring the accusation. Instead, she countered, “Jarrod, while I comprehend your reluctance to assist us, fabricating unfounded allegations against me is unacceptable. I have no obligations to your family.
I acknowledge your fondness for that woman and your readiness to go to great extents for her. Nonetheless, substituting Doreen in her stead is unjustifiable. You’ve witnessed Doreen’s maturation. Can you truly endure witnessing her distress?”
Hallie adeptly steered the conversation away from her outstanding debt, shifting the focus back to Jarrod. It was evident that she possessed a talent for manipulation.
“I possess the means to scrutinize the financial intricacies, including the genesis of your beauty salon, funded by my mother. Did you truly think I remained oblivious?”
As Jarrod’s words lingered, Hallie found herself unable to maintain her facade of ignorance any longer. A cry escaped her lips as she pleaded.
“Your mother envisioned the salon. I merely managed its day-to-day affairs. After her passing, consumed by grief, you were unaware of its impending collapse. Recognizing your incapacity to handle it, I intervened with the sole intention of assisting. How could you misconstrue my actions?”
Hallie’s capacity for quick thinking was truly remarkable. Although her fabrications may have persuaded others, Jarrod lacked credibility.
Men’s insidious hold had ensnared many, but none more deeply than Hallie. Her present behavior affirmed this undeniable reality.
Amidst her consuming desire, a glimmer of awareness flickered within Hallie. Doreen remained tethered to Jarrod’s assistance, Doreen’s escape dependent on his support.
With a pang of regret visible on her face, Hallie spoke, “If you desire the salon’s return, I won’t object. I assumed you had no interest, hence my silence. But if it’s what you want, feel free to claim it.”
If Hallie truly intended to relinquish control of the salon, she wouldn’t have resorted to such grandiloquent language.
Essentially, she aimed to convey her substantial investment in the salon while indicating she wouldn’t oppose Jarrod’s takeover. However, this strategy risked casting Jarrod as unappreciative.
Jarrod’s words sliced through the air like a sharpened blade. “I renounce that detestable salon. And I sever ties with you and Doreen as well. I’ve bestowed upon both of you ample generosity over the years, bestowing tens of millions. If not for your insatiable greed, you’d be living in comfort at this very moment.”
Hallie’s eyes flared with incredulity; her voice tinged with fury. “Are you serious?” She retorted, “You’re cutting us off? After years of tending to you, now that you no longer need us, you’re simply discarding Doreen and me? For what? A little bit of money? Is your need truly that dire?”
Once Jarrod reached a decision, he became impervious to any attempts at persuasion, having grown weary of Hallie’s insincere displays of emotion. Summoning Conor, he commanded in a bark, “Remove this woman from my presence!”
Then, Jarrod’s stare turned steely as he directed it at Hallie. “From now on, I refuse to entertain any further mention of Doreen.”
Conor nodded sharply. He had harbored dissatisfaction with the mother-daughter duo for quite some time.
Conor had heard everything clearly from outside. Bringing up family ties after reaping so much money from Jarrod with those schemes was absurd. Hallie really excelled at manipulation.
Without the benefits Jarrod had given her, would Hallie still feign concern and offer that supposed help? With wealth yet still dissatisfied, her greed was beyond description.
Frankly, at times, certain relatives proved worse than friends.