With a serene smile, Vicki addressed him thoughtfully, âItâs crucial to try on the wedding attire well in advance.
If youâre tied up, I can handle it solo.
â
Jarrodâs gaze narrowed slightly as he studied Vickiâs expression intently.
She spoke graciously, her face remaining radiant, seemingly devoid of any hint of grievances.
Agreeing with a nod, Jarrod replied, âIâm buried in work.
Set it up whenever suits you.
â
âAlright, take care then.
â
As Jarrod turned to walk away, Vicki watched him silently, her countenance soft and her smile tender, portraying the image of a devoted fiancée.
Only after he vanished from sight did the warmth in Vickiâs smile gradually fade.
âCrash!â In a sudden outburst, she swept the dishes off the table, sending them crashing to the floor.
Aware that Jarrod had left her for Nicole again, anger simmered within Vicki, yet she compelled herself to suppress her emotions.
Vicki refrained from causing a scene, aware she was still under evaluation.
Despite the courtâs ruling, Jarrod hadnât entrusted her with Austinâs care yet.
He didnât have enough faith in her to entrust her with his child.
Jarrod truly cherished Austin.
And so did Nicole.
Realizing she had identified their Achillesâ heel, Vickiâs smile crept back onto her face.
âs BunnyBookery Instead of succumbing to daily anxieties, fearing she couldnât marry Jarrod with the fear of another twist of fate, she resolved to leverage their Achillesâ heel, no longer living in fear.
Vicki summoned the servants to clean up the mess.
Before retiring for the night, she instructed the butler to procure the freshest, finest ingredients tomorrow for a soup she intended to prepare for Jarrod.
Even if Jarrod never tasted a drop, as long as he acknowledged her thoughtfulness, that was all that mattered.
Jarrod was on his way out while Alec was waiting in the car.
Spotting Jarrod, Alec quickly stowed away his phone and stepped out to open the door for Jarrod.
Jarrod glanced at Alecâs phone, now silenced and resting on the seat, and directed without a backward glance, âYouâre driving.
â
Alec immediately got behind the wheel.
This type of instruction usually stemmed from an important matter Jarrod needed to attend to without disclosing the details to the driver.
As they pulled away, just as Alec was about to inquire about their destination, Jarrod interrupted Alec with a stern look.
âHand over your phone,â Jarrod commanded.
Jarrodâs demand left Alec puzzled and uneasy.
Why the sudden need for his phone?
But with Jarrodâs unyielding gaze fixed on him, Alec didnât dare to hesitate.
He unlocked his phone and handed it over.
Jarrod found an encrypted number and inquired, âWho is this?â
Alec faltered, âI⦠Itâsâ¦â