Raegan's eyes immediately welled up, tears cascading down her cheeks.

Clutching Nicole's wrist, Raegan managed through sobs, "I'll be here, waiting for you."

With a nod to Raegan, Nicole then entered Jarrod's car.

Jarrod had been vigilantly monitoring Nicole for the past two days, ensuring he was always close by.

Nicole noticed the untreated bite wound on Jarrod's arm, the flesh still visible beneath his sleeve.

Catching her gaze, Jarrod murmured, “I chose to leave it." He referred to the bite mark Nicole had left.

Nicole frowned, regretting her impulsive action. She never intended to leave any mark on this man she viewed as vile.

Upon reaching the seaside, Nicole solemnly scattered Wesson's ashes into the ocean.

At this moment, her tears had dried up.

Her mind replayed the recent turmoil. So many things had happened.

The forced mistress role, the beatings, her cancer diagnosis, being framed and jailed, and now, the loss of her father and her dying mother.

It had only been a few months, yet it felt like an eternity had passed.

Enduring until this moment hadn't been easy for Nicole.

Nicole wished to commend herself, “Well done, Nicole. You've given it your all."

As the funeral concluded, a gust of wind swept across the area.

Nicole's black hat, caught by the wind, flew off her head.

"My hat! My hat!" Nicole cried out.

Without thinking of her safety, she darted after it, but Jarrod quickly grasped her around the waist.

"Have you lost your mind?" Jarrod rebuked her. "That area is dangerous! Didn't you see the warning sign?"

Nicole, overcome with emotion, wept. "That hat was from my father! He gave it to me!"