Filed to story: My Husband Regrets Divorcing Me (Audrey & Cornell)
Despite trusting Jarrod’s competence, Nicole’s concern for her mother persisted. “Maybe I should have my mother stay with me. The thought of seeing her alone in the sanitarium makes me uneasy,” she proposed.
“That’s not possible at the moment,” Jarrod replies, “The specialized rehabilitation equipment she needs is not available in the area. I’ve placed an order, but it will take two months to arrive. If we brought her home now, we’d have to interrupt her treatment, and the doctors say she’s making excellent progress that shouldn’t be interrupted.”
Nicole reluctantly abandoned the idea of bringing her mother home, admitting that ongoing treatment was paramount. She then asked, “How much does the equipment cost? I’ll send you the funds.” Jarrod had been a pillar of support for her, and she felt compelled to ease the financial burden, especially given the current dynamics of their relationship.
Jarrod commented, “We’re still married, so it’s joint property. There’s no reason to make a big deal out of it.”
There was a pause before Nicole replied, “In a few months, we won’t be. I don’t want to cause you any trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all. I’m doing this so you can concentrate on having a healthy pregnancy,” Jarrod explained, making it clear that his primary concern was for the well-being of their unborn child.
Nicole found it odd that, given his wealth, Jarrod would take such an interest in the fetus. He certainly had the means to have children with many other women. However, she decided not to insist. Pressing him on this might upset him. If he was willing to handle it, she would let him do it.
“Thank you,” Nicole said quietly.
“You’re welcome,” Jarrod replied.
After making sure Austin was okay, Nicole went back to work to take care of some backlogged tasks. She was preparing for her maternity leave, striving to finish as much as possible to keep the company stable during her absence. The company was still in its infancy, and any lack of vigilance could lead to a significant decline in its bottom line.
That evening, Audrey invited Nicole to dinner. It had been some time since their last meeting, so Nicole accepted the invitation. Accompanied by Jarrod’s security team, Nicole made her way to the restaurant.
Audrey was already waiting downstairs when Nicole arrived. Aware of Nicole’s pregnancy, Audrey greeted her cordially, taking her hand and saying, “Jarrod seems to really care about you.”
Nicole, somewhat confused, asked, “What makes you say that?”
“Look at this car,” Audrey explained, pointing to the vehicle. “It’s armored, and that bodyguard with the skull tattoo? Cornell tells me he’s one of Jarrod’s best men, trained overseas. He’s here protecting you now. He’s no small thing.”
Reflecting on this, Nicole replied, “It’s more for the baby I’m carrying, I think…”
“So what’s the story there?” inquired Audrey, guiding Nicole to a seat.
Nicole had only briefly touched on the baby during an earlier phone call, and Audrey was still piecing together the details of this unexpected pregnancy, knowing only that the child was Jarrod’s.
“It wasn’t planned,” Nicole stated flatly. “He told me that if I didn’t keep the baby, I wouldn’t be able to see Austin. He’s using the baby as leverage against me.”
“It’s not exactly leverage,” Audrey commented. “I do think Jarrod has feelings for you. He put his life on the line in the mountains to rescue you. Despite warnings about the danger, he kept going. He even nearly went off a cliff trying to save you. That says a lot about his feelings.”
Nicole was surprised by Audrey’s positive comments about Jarrod. Previously, Audrey had always scolded Jarrod, openly wishing he could tear him apart.
“Have you changed your mind about him?”. inquired Nicole.
“I’m not changing my mind, I’m just acknowledging the facts. He saved your life and I thank you for that. But that doesn’t erase what he’s done before,” explained Audrey.
This response was so characteristic of Audrey. She was always sharp, clearly distinguishing between being grateful and forgiving.
“You’re right. I thank him for saving me, but I can’t sweep his past actions under the rug. I think it’s best that he and I keep our distance, just long enough to fulfill our duties to our children, to raise them right,” Nicole commented, expressing her thoughts about her future with Jarrod.
Nicole looked forward to the baby’s arrival, which would pave the way for her divorce. After that, she and Jarrod could concentrate on their role as parents. She believed that living together and continuing to make each other unhappy would do their children no good. Independence and co-parenting seemed the most sensible path.
“You’re right,” Audrey nodded. “You have children now. If Jarrod can maintain his good behavior and you two can live together without conflict, it will be beneficial to the children’s growth.”
Audrey hugged Nicole warmly, reassuring her, “Whatever you decide, you will have my unwavering support, just as you have always supported me.”
“Thank you, Audrey,” Nicole said sincerely. Without a supportive friend like Audrey who understood her deeply, Nicole felt at a loss to confide her problems and frustrations. She feared losing her sanity under pressure.
“Don’t be so formal with me,” Audrey smiled, handing Nicole some food. “Now you have to take better care of yourself.”
After a while, Audrey inquired, “I hear there have been developments in your father’s case?”
“Yes, it turns out my father was murdered and the investigation is continuing,” Nicole replied.
“My God, your father was murdered? How could anyone hurt such a kind man?” exclaimed Audrey, struggling to believe that someone would make an attempt on Wesson, who was known for his benevolence.
At first, everyone had blamed Jarrod for Wesson’s death, but it was discovered that Wesson’s death was not related to Jarrod. Everyone had been wrong.
“We will find this individual,” Nicole said solemnly, her eyes alight with unwavering hatred. She needed to capture her father’s killer and understand his motives.
“You need to be careful,” Audrey warned. “Your father would want you to be safe. Let the professionals handle the chase.”
Nicole nodded. “Rest assured, I’ll protect myself.”
During the meal and conversation, the topic turned to Rhett. Expressing her appreciation, Nicole commented, “I appreciate you introducing me to Rhett. His help has been invaluable, but I don’t know how to express my thanks to him without sounding too forward.”
“Rhett?” Audrey raised an eyebrow. “He’s back in the country?”
“You weren’t aware?” Nicole was puzzled by Audrey’s confusion.
“I had no idea. I heard he was thriving overseas after he left the Clement Group. He was working at WDC, an internationally prestigious law firm. Given the demanding nature of his work, I hadn’t anticipated his return,” Audrey explained.
While abroad, Nicole was introduced to WDC, a prestigious company famous for its strict admissions criteria. The workload within its walls was notoriously intense. However, whenever she ran into Rhett, he always made time to attend to her.
Nicole found this odd. She asked Audrey, “How well do you know Mr. Bates?”
“Not much. I know of his remarkable performance in the Clement Group. Rhett visited us once, expressing his gratitude to the Clement Group for the formation. It was quite a coincidence. At that time, he mentioned his need for a divorce attorney. Rhett had just related that he had won a complicated divorce case, a matter I had heard about. Given the complexity of that case, I figured if anyone could help you against Jarrod, it would be him,” Audrey explained.
Nicole’s suspicions grew as she listened intently. She found it an extraordinary coincidence that Rhett brought up his experience in divorce cases just when she was in need of legal help. Had it not been for Rhett, Audrey might have sought help elsewhere. One case could be considered mere coincidence, but the repetition of timely appearances seemed to go beyond coincidence.
An unsettling feeling gnawed at Nicole. “Do you think Rhett is trustworthy?” she asked.
“Rhett seems decent enough. The only peculiar thing is his lack of romantic entanglements. I heard he maintained a close relationship with a girlfriend who tragically passed away,” Audrey said.
Nicole seized on the crucial detail. “What were the circumstances surrounding his girlfriend’s passing?”.
“I’m not sure,” Audrey replied. “I’ll have to ask my husband to investigate on her behalf.”
“Could you instruct Cornell to investigate discreetly, making sure Mr. Bates remains ignorant?” asked Nicole.
“Sure,” replied Audrey readily. “But what is motivating this investigation ??has he uncovered anything ??is Mr. Bates a threat? Then you should stay away from him. Share your findings and Cornell will dig deeper.”
Audrey felt a surge of anxiety. She had introduced Rhett to Nicole, so any affair with him would weigh heavily on her conscience, potentially endangering her closest friend.
Nicole refrained from confirming anything, not wanting to alarm Audrey unnecessarily. She shook her head. “It’s nothing. I simply wish to delve deeper into his background. He’s been immensely helpful and I want to make sure of his integrity.”
“Understood. I’ll call for help,” said Audrey, who was already picking up the phone to contact her husband.
At the end of the meal, Cornell returned her call. Audrey relayed the message to him. “It says Rhett’s girlfriend passed away due to illness. However, records indicate it was a rare disease.”
Exhaling deeply, Nicole felt a wave of relief wash over her, assuming she might have been overthinking things. She’d had the idea that Rhett harbored animosity toward her family, her imagination roaming freely.
When they finished eating, they parted ways, each heading in their own direction. Arriving home, Nicole felt unable to shake a nagging sense of restlessness, leading her to go to bed early.
The next morning, she was startled awake by a cacophony of noises from outside. Without hesitation, Nicole yanked open the door, only to find herself immediately obstructed from view by the two vigilant bodyguards stationed there.
“What’s wrong?” asked Nicole, with a tone of urgency in her voice.
“Nothing to worry about, Miss Lawrence. Go back and rest,” one of the bodyguards reassures her.
Despite his reassuring words, Nicole remained unconvinced. She refused to be kept in the dark and decided to face the danger. She overtook the watchmen and came upon a lifeless animal in the doorway, its small tail sticking out amidst a background of blood.
The strong smell of blood triggered Nicole’s gag reflex, and she ran to the bathroom to expel the contents of her stomach. Once Nicole regained her composure, she retraced her steps back to the door from which the deceased animal had been removed.
“Make sure it’s properly buried,” she ordered her.
“Understood,” the bodyguard replied.
It was clear that someone had left the dead animal as a warning to Nicole. The innocent creature had tragically fallen victim to senseless cruelty, and the perpetrator’s actions were truly despicable.
Upon learning of the incident, Jarrod was quick to arrive at Nicole’s residence. His countenance was solemn, his words direct. “Prepare to relocate. You’re going back to the villa.”
It was not a request. It was an order. The neighborhood exuded an unmistakable sense of danger. The presence of a threatening message left on Nicole’s door suggested that mere intimidation was not the intent. It appeared that the individual intended to demonstrate the ineffectiveness of the bodyguards and convey that a robbery was inevitable.
Lost in thought, Nicole remained silent. Decisively, Jarrod took her hand and said firmly, “Go back to the villa. Austin is waiting for you.” Nicole found herself without the option to refuse; her current home was no longer safe.
Nicole gathered her belongings and returned to Jarrod’s villa. Jarrod also arranged support for her business, allowing her to manage affairs from the villa. The villa hosted Nicole’s prenatal visits, with doctors coming to her.
Protected by Jarrod’s strict security measures, Nicole found peace of mind at the villa. Her health improved markedly and she glowed with vitality. Soon after, the team Jarrod had ordered arrived and brought Dora to the villa, enriching Nicole’s support system. Dora, though quiet and serene, filled Nicole with calm. With her family nearby, Nicole’s anxieties began to dissolve.
Ethel kept Nicole informed of the investigations into Jamie and Brett, but unfortunately there were no new developments. The perpetrator remained elusive. Doubts crept into the minds of the profilers at the police station, questioning their own assessments and pondering whether the perpetrator had ceased his criminal activities.
Nicole recognized the futility of rushing. Her priority was for her son to be born safe and sound. Pursuing her father’s unsolved case in her state would only complicate matters. She clung to her confidence that the police would eventually solve the case.
As the months passed, by December Nicole was in the last trimester of her pregnancy, and her due date was approaching in January. Despite her advanced pregnancy, she was still agile. On the anniversary of her father’s passing, Nicole felt a strong urge to go out. Jarrod adjusted his plans to be with her for the entire day.
At first, Nicole and Jarrod opted not to include Austin and Dora in their plans because of the potential risks and Dora’s condition. Dora was managing well aside from her memory problems and inability to speak. Nicole viewed Dora’s condition as a mercy, fearing that full consciousness could lead Dora to despair over the loss of Wesson, potentially after Wesson’s death. Therefore, he preferred to keep Dora somewhat shielded from reality.
That day, however, Dora seemed unusually restless. As Nicole was about to leave, Dora demanded to accompany her, showing unusual excitement. Nicole reluctantly agreed.