Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
“Just be cautious. You don’t want to invite trouble,” the senior nurse advised.
“I understand,” Julia responded quickly.
“You let his looks sway you,” the senior nurse teased.
Julia chuckled softly. “Why would someone like him, a top attorney, notice me? I just think he’s very kind.”
Indeed, Rhett had a warm and steady presence.
Meanwhile, after Nicole settled back into the car, Jarrod instructed the driver to move. Instead of heading to the hospital, they took the route to Nicole’s current residence.
Exhausted from the day’s events, Nicole quickly dozed off in the backseat.
As she slept, her head began to nod, unable to maintain a steady posture. The driver, noticing her discomfort, slowed down to smooth the ride, but the car still shuddered slightly on a bumpy stretch of road.
Just as Nicole’s head started to lurch to the side, Jarrod caught it with a steady hand. Gently, he guided her head to rest on his shoulder, providing a more comfortable position for her to continue sleeping.
When they arrived at her residence, Jarrod chose not to wake her. However, sleeping in the car wasn’t restful, and Nicole soon stirred awake.
Opening her eyes to find her head on Jarrod’s shoulder, Nicole quickly recoiled, moving herself to the far corner of the seat.
“Sorry,” she mumbled, flustered.
“It’s okay,” Jarrod responded calmly, his voice steady.
Looking around, Nicole noticed they were parked outside her home, which made her anxious. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked, her voice tinged with confusion.
“You’ve been worn out lately,” Jarrod explained. “Go home and get some proper rest.”
Nicole shook her head, expressing her concern, “I still feel anxious. I need to make sure Austin is okay.”
“There’s no need,” Jarrod firmly replied.
He hesitated, worried Nicole might think he was keeping her from their child, and clarified, “I’m supervising him. Don’t worry. I’ve brought my work to the hospital. You need to rest, understood?”
Since Austin’s illness, Nicole hadn’t had a full night’s sleep. Dark circles were visible beneath her eyes, but she continued to push herself.
Nicole hesitated, thinking Austin might long for her presence. Jarrod, sensing her apprehension, played a few voice messages from his phone.
“Daddy, tell my mommy to go home and rest. If you don’t, I’ll call you uncle.”
“Tell my mommy to prioritize resting, or the baby in her tummy won’t grow strong. I can’t wait to meet my sibling! Tell the baby that their big brother is healthy and strong!”
Austin’s gentle and playful voice resonated. Even threatening Jarrod humorously showed the closeness in their relationship, and Austin’s vitality was clear.
Nicole found some solace, realizing that taking care of herself would also bring comfort to Austin. Rest was essential for both her and her children. She dutifully exited the vehicle and headed home.
Following Jarrod’s orders, four bodyguards were strategically placed—two at the entrance of the residential area and two by the staircase. Their vigilance was so thorough that not even an insect could slip past unnoticed.
After Jarrod left, a woman cautiously approached from a distance. Cloaked in a large bucket hat and mask, concealing most of her face, she drew suspicion from the security personnel.
The guard approached and asked, “Madam, which residence do you belong to? What brings you here?”
Startled, the woman hesitated before responding, “I’m here to meet someone.”
“Just passing by?” The guard’s tone held skepticism.
Despite the area’s modest size and lack of luxury, they had recently enlisted a renowned security firm, affiliated with the Schultz Group, which ensured heightened safety standards.
Faced with someone suspicious, the guards didn’t let their guard down. “Madam, which building are you looking for?”
Growing more nervous, the woman glanced at the building numbers on the wall before blurting out, “Building 13.”
“And the unit?” the guard pressed.
“603,” the woman answered, picking a random number, assuming that her response would prompt the guard to let her go. To her surprise, the guard said, “Allow me to accompany you, Madam.”
The woman waved her hands quickly, refusing, “No, no, I can manage on my own.”
The guard remained firm. “I must insist, Madam. I need to check Building 12 anyway.”
Frustrated, the woman snapped, “I told you there’s no need! I can handle it myself,” and hurried forward.
The guard continued to follow her. Growing irritated, the woman turned and snapped.
“Stop following me! How do I know your intentions are pure? There have been reports of people pretending to be security guards, luring women into danger. Stop following me!”
Attempting to confuse the guard, she hoped to shake him off.
Unfazed, the guard calmly replied, “Our corridors are under constant surveillance. If I act improperly, you have the right to report me.”
Unable to shake him off, the woman kept walking, with the guard trailing behind.
As they reached a narrow alley, the guard said, “Madam, you’re heading the wrong way. Building 13 is over there.”
Reluctantly, the woman turned around. The guard asked, “Is this your first time visiting your friend’s residence?”
Internally cursing the guard’s persistence, she casually replied, “Yes, it’s my first time here.”
At the entrance of Building 13, the guard activated the intercom for unit 603, and a male voice answered, “Hello?”
The guard gestured for the woman to respond.
Suddenly, the woman clutched her stomach, wincing. “Ah! My stomach hurts!” she exclaimed, her face twisted in apparent pain.
Reacting quickly, the guard called for medical assistance.
Taking advantage of the distraction, the woman fled.
“Hey! Stop right there!” the guard shouted, speaking into his radio. “Halt the woman in black!”
As the woman neared the gate, it began to lower unexpectedly. Stunned, she shouted, “Wait! Don’t close it!”
Another guard swiftly approached. It seemed they had anticipated her arrival, acting with precision rarely seen in regular security personnel.
The Schultz Group’s recent acquisition of the property management company had transformed the staff, replacing them with trained professionals.
They were prepared to apprehend suspicious individuals and escort them to the police station.
Overwhelmed and disoriented, the woman realized she was trapped.
“Grab her! She’s suspicious,” the lead guard commanded.
Just as they were about to apprehend her, a loud bang echoed through the air.
A black SUV crashed through the gate.
Everyone froze for a moment, stunned by the sudden chaos, as the vehicle surged forward.
The bodyguards quickly rolled aside to avoid being hit, but the woman stood frozen, staring at the oncoming SUV in disbelief.
Inside the vehicle, a man’s gaze bore into her with cold intensity.
She was gripped by a profound sense of dread. Just as the SUV neared her, it swerved dramatically, executing a sharp drift before coming to a stop. The door flung open, and the man inside commanded, “Get in!”
Still in shock from her close call, the woman sat dazed, unable to process her near-death experience. The man’s voice broke through her stupor. “Get in now!”
Snapping back to reality, the woman scrambled into the SUV.
By the time the bodyguards regained their bearings, the vehicle had already sped beyond the gate. They swiftly informed their superiors and initiated a pursuit.
Three black sedans gave chase, creating a formidable three-to-one pursuit.
As their pursuers closed in, the woman’s terror mounted. Her voice trembled as she asked, “What do we do? What do we do? I can’t afford to be caught.”
Turning to the man beside her, she placed her trust in him and asked, “What’s the plan now?”
The man snapped impatiently, “You know you can’t afford to get caught, yet here you are, of all the foolish things to do!”
“How could I have known these guards would be this sharp? The guards in other areas were always clueless, but these guys are practically elite bodyguards,” Jamie retorted.
The man beside her scoffed. “Jamie, you really are the most foolish person I’ve ever known.”
Jamie was taken aback, speechless. Shock washed over her. How did he know her name? “Who are you?” she demanded cautiously.
The man remained quiet, his face partially hidden behind a bandana, his eyes radiating intense impatience.
As Jamie studied his gaze, recognition dawned on her, and she gasped, “You… You’re Mr. Bates, aren’t you?”
The man didn’t reply, but his silence was confirmation enough.