Eventually, Jarrod climbed into bed, the faint scent of mint from his shower lingering around him.
He stayed on his side, making no further movements, apparently there just to sleep.
Nicole, though still wary, eventually let down her guard and drifted off to sleep.
By morning, Jarrod had departed, leaving Nicole to awaken in an empty room.
Feeling momentarily disoriented, she realized everything was as it had been.
Her investigation into her fatherâs case stalled with no updates from Ethel.
She pondered Roscoeâs fate, wondering if he had managed to evade the clutches of the Watts family.
In the car, Jarrod issued instructions to his assistant.
âThe bodyguard who let go of Roscoe at the critical moment breached protocol.
Handle it.
â
âUnderstood!â the assistant responded, acknowledging Jarrodâs command.
That bodyguard had neglected his duty by leaving the target vulnerable during a critical moment, a grave error unmistakable The Schultz Group couldnât tolerate that within its precise organization.
The assistant then reported, saying, âMr.
Schultz, Mr.
Hampton has begun spreading rumors, accusing you of betrayal and negligence, claiming that Miss Lawrenceâs jealousy prompted her to frame his daughter.
â
Jarrod had foreseen this.
He was well-acquainted with Wayneâs cunning, akin to an old, dangerous fox.
But he was ready.
âContact the manager who oversees our joint venture with the Hampton family.
Make sure their operations suffer severe losses.
Itâs time they learn that idle rumors come with consequences,â Jarrod directed.
Trust had never been established between Jarrod and the Hampton family.
Both parties had embedded spies within each otherâs operations.
Jarrod had long identified Hamptonâs spy, relegating the latter to a harmless role without doing anything further yet.
Meanwhile, Jarrodâs own spies within the Hampton ranks were strategically positioned, awaiting their moment.
Despite Wayneâs guile, his descendants lacked his shrewdness.
The younger Hamptons, either through foolishness or malice, were ill-equipped for serious responsibilities.
The disruptions caused by Vicki and Lowe were already troubling enough.
By the following day, Jarrodâs instructions had been executed efficiently.
The Hampton familyâs project encountered significant obstacles, exposing critical safety violations that led to a plummet in their stock and widespread public concern.
âs BunnyBookery Wayne, overwhelmed by fury and stress, was hospitalized, needing days of recovery.
Vicki, after spending fifteen days in detention, was released on bail, while Lowe faced grimmer prospects with potential imprisonment Looming.
Upon Vickiâs release, a modest car awaited her, leading to her outrage.
âWhat kind of junk car is this? How dare they send this to pick me up?â
The driver responded wearily, âMiss Hampton, you might not know, but all your luxury vehicles, along with your brotherâs, have been sold by your father.
â
Shocked, Vicki exclaimed, âWhat? Why were all the cars sold?â
The driver, reflecting on Vickiâs recent detention, realized she was likely unaware of the latest developments.
He informed her, âYou probably havenât heard yet, but the Hampton Groupâs project faced some issues.
To cover the financial shortfall, your fancy cars and your brotherâs were sold.
Also, your father has fallen ill recently and is currently hospitalized.
â
Vicki was stunned to learn about the significant changes that had unfolded within the Hampton family during her absence.
She had initially planned to confront Nicole immediately upon her release, but now, she felt compelled to first grasp the full extent of the family crisis.
Vicki asked the driver to take her straight to the hospital to visit Wayne.
There, she found Wayne looking significantly aged, his face etched with deeper Lines.
Upon seeing Vicki, Wayne lowered his head.
âVicki, our family has been destroyed by Jarrod,â he said, sighing.
Vicki, perplexed and upset, pressed for details.
âHow could this happen?â