âMy apologies, miss, I didnât see your foot there,â Nicole said, her tone dripping with mock apology.
Vickiâs face turned pale as the searing pain overwhelmed her foot.
âYou little bitch! Youâre a f@cking slut!â Vicki spat, outraged that Nicole would resort to such sly tactics.
Even so, Nicole remained cool and composed.
âWhy so upset? Isnât this your specialty?â
Vicki was a master of manipulation.
She had always excelled at performing wicked deeds while maintaining an appearance of innocence.
âIâm gonna kill you, you piece of shit!â Vicki charged at Nicole, but a bodyguard quickly stepped in.
âMiss, your father has ordered no more disruptions,â he stated firmly, conveying Wayneâs directive to Vicki.
The Hampton family had been grappling with one scandal after another, leaving their reputation teetering on the edge of ruin.
In these critical times, it was imperative for them to maintain a low profile and steer clear of further negative attention.
The bodyguard whispered closely to Vicki, âYour father advises that discretion is the better part of valor.
Patience is essential right now.
â
It was clear from his words that Nicole would face consequences, but the timing had to be right.
These words calmed Vickiâs tumultuous emotions.
How had she allowed Nicole to provoke her into such a loss of composure with mere words?
âs BunnyBookery She was never one to behave like those senseless individuals.
How could she let herself continue to tarnish her own image?
Regaining her composure, Vicki resumed her typically gentle and calm demeanor.
âNicole, just you wait.
Sooner or later, youâll taste the bitterness of prison.
â
Nicole retorted with a smirk, âHave you sorted out your own legal issues yet, Vicki? How can you threaten me by sending me to prison when your own life is barely in order?â
âIâm completely uninvolved and facing no legal troubles,â Vicki asserted firmly.
âSomeone else has come forward and confessed.
Donât try to pin this on me.
â
âOh, really?â Nicole challenged her further.
âOn those quiet, dark nights when youâre alone, do you actually sleep peacefully? How many lives ha ve you destroyed over the years, behind closed doors?â
Vicki turned pale.
âWhat are you talking about?â
Nicole stepped closer and declared, âI will uncover every wicked deed youâve committed.
Iâll expose the true, hypocritical person you are to the entire world.
â
Nicoleâs unyielding stance had completely eroded Vickiâs composure, causing her to step back involuntarily.
Vickiâs defenses were crumbling.
âDo you really think this is the end? Did you believe you could continue in your self-righteous smugness?â Nicole advanced toward Vicki, her steps measured and ominous.
âI know my health is failing, but I still have enough fight left in me to seek some retribution before I pass.
You shouldnât have harmed my child.
He is more precious to me than my own life.
You dared to harm him, and I wonât let that go unpunished.
â
A deep, inexplicable chill ran down Vickiâs spine.
The fear that Nicoleâs words induced was overwhelming, and Nicoleâs expression, showing no concern for her own safety, was downright terrifying.
After gathering her composure, Vicki responded, âWhat more can you do? Donât underestimate my family.
Jarrod and our family are still intertwined in business dealings.
He wonât let our family be ruined.
â
Unaffected by Vickiâs words, Nicole responded calmly, âMark my words, Vicki.
This is far from over!â
A chill settled over Vicki.
She couldnât shake the suspicion that Nicole was concealing another strategy.
Yet, how could that be? The Hampton family was a force to be reckoned with.
Their attorney was a titan in the legal field.
Surely, Nicole was just posturing to unnerve her.
Yes, it had to be this.
âDonât be ridiculous.
Jarrod is your sole supporter.
Do you honestly believe he would betray the Hamptons for you?â Vickiâs confidence was rooted in her knowledge of Jarrod as a calculating businessman who always put financial interests first.
She was convinced he would not act against his own business imperatives.