A sharp pain pierced Nicole's chest and back, overwhelming her.

Poof! Blood spilled from Nicole's mouth, splashing crimson on the ground.

Jarrod, holding Jamie, faced Nicole. His dark eyes, once lively, now harbored a lethal darkness.

“Nicole, you will pay for it," he declared, his voice icy.

With her ribs feeling broken, Nicole gasped for air amidst the pain.

As she coughed blood, she faced Jarrod, her voice shaking, “Jarrod, I'm not the one who stabbed her..."

But Jarrod, carrying Jamie, didn't wait to hear more. He strode toward the door.

Alec hurried to him, asking, "Mr. Schultz, what should we do with Miss Lawrence?"

Jarrod paused briefly before responding coldly, “Take her to the police station."

He had no time for Nicole now. The police would keep her safe, at least.

Nicole, gripped by pain, watched helplessly as Jarrod moved away until Alec pulled her up.

Raegan's anxiety mounted since she was unable to reach Nicole.

Raegan often visited the hospital to care for Nicole's parents during her free time. Yet, they were unaware of Nicole's whereabouts.

Seeing her parents' aged, lined faces, Raegan couldn't reveal Nicole's disappearance. It would only add to their burden.

She reassured them, telling them Nicole was busy, and urged them to take care.

Forty-eight hours later, Raegan visited the police station to report Nicole's disappearance. There, she learned of Nicole's arrest.

Eager for more information to bail Nicole out, Raegan inquired but, as a non-relative, received none.

Raegan chose not to tell Nicole's parents, fearing for their vulnerability to take the blow.

Her thoughts instinctively turned to Mitchel, thinking that he was her only hope for uncovering the truth.

However, their relationship had ended bitterly, and they hadn't met since then.