Along the way, she tried to call Roscoe, but her phone calls went unanswered, with the automatic voice telling her the number she dialed didnât exist.
This very way to contact him had been cut off.
Nicoleâs anxiety grew.
Upon arriving, Nicole swung open the hospital room door and called out, âRoscoe?â
The man in the bed turned to face Nicole, but it wasnât Roscoe.
The man looked at her curiously and asked, âWho are you?â
Nicole felt a pang of disappointment.
She replied quietly, âIâm sorry.
I must be in the wrong room.
â
Before leaving, she paused to ask, âExcuse me, do you know when the last patient in this room was discharged?â
The man shook his head.
âI have no idea.
I just got here this morning.
â
âMy apologies for the disturbance,â Nicole said, leaving the room disheartened.
She concluded that Roscoeâs family must have moved him abroad for his treatment.
Back home, she dug deeper into the affairs of the Watts family and confirmed what Jarrod had said.
Roscoe was now the only heir to the Watts legacy.
Despite his illegitimacy, Roscoe carried the Watts bloodline and was the rightful heir to the familyâs wealth.
Without Roscoe, the Watts familyâs legacy would be scattered among distant relatives.
Miguel, always calculating, would surely understand this.
Thus, he valued Roscoe and ensured no harm came to Roscoe.
Although Nicole knew Roscoe had been taken abroad for medical care, she couldnât pursue him now.
She was embroiled in a custody battle with Jarrod over Austin.
Besides, she didnât want to interrupt Roscoeâs treatment.
She understood Roscoeâs dedication to his medical career, knowing that even if he no longer practiced, no one desired a diminished quality of life.
As he aged, his mobility issues were Likely to increase.
Nicole had initially planned to be with Roscoe during his treatment after sorting out Austinâs custody.
However, it seemed this turn of events was a relief.
She didnât know how long resolving Austinâs situation might take.
Roscoeâs condition was worsening, his hands growing clumsier by the day, and he couldnât afford to wait.
Nicole was confident that if she remained persisted, Roscoe would eventually return to her.
She was sure that, unlike others, Roscoe would never leave her behind.
He was like Austin, the nanny, and Raegan.
They were never the ones to abandon her.
Three days later, the test results arrived.
The tests confirmed the medication was for mental health treatment.
Thrilled with the discovery, Nicole immediately reached out to a lawyer, handed over all the details, and trusted them completely with the custody case.
During these three days, Nicole hadnât reached out to Jarrod or seen Austin.
Although no sight of Austin broke her heart, knowing the nanny was there with Austin gave her some comfort.
Now, it was time for a decisive battle.
To win Austinâs custody, she needed to be strong.
About a week later, Nicole assumed Jarrod had received the notification.
Yet, unexpectedly, the lawyer she had hired returned her deposit and withdrew from the case.
The lawyer Nicole had hired was considered the top choice in Ardlens for custody battles, despite the high fee, because of their proven effectiveness.
To her surprise, even this well-regarded lawyer pulled out.
Nicole tried to confront the lawyer, but the latter avoided her.
Deep down, she suspected the lawyer had been intimidated.
She then approached several other firms, but it seemed they had all been warned off.
All of them refused her case as soon as_ they learned it involved Jarrod.