Meanwhile, following Raegan, Nicole was about to enter the elevator.

Suddenly, a strong hand clamped onto Nicole's wrist as though it intended to crush her hand.

Nicole turned her head and found herself face to face with a man whose demeanor was as icy as his expression. An intimidating aura surrounded him.

"Nicole!" Jarrod called out. His eyes were red, and he held Nicole's wrist in a tight grip as though he wanted to consume her. Then, his thin lips parted and repeated the name, "Nicole!"

Nicole was wearing a sexy black dress. She was slender, but her figure was voluptuous and alluring.

Jarrod couldn't take his eyes off Nicole's face. He knew she had come back alive, but seeing her in the flesh made every breath sting.

The pain was nothing less than what Jarrod had felt five years ago when he cradled the lifeless body which he assumed was Nicole's in his arms. Night after night, he was tormented by that memory and the agony it brought.

Now, looking back, Jarrod found his deeds ridiculous. Nicole had tricked him with a body that couldn't be identified.

After encountering Nicole that night, Jarrod had the body's DNA checked, but it matched no one in the national database. It seemed Nicole had used the body of some unknown homeless person to deceive him once again.

The thought of how this heartless woman had tricked him filled Jarrod with a burning rage. He wanted to lash out at her, but for some reason, he couldn't suppress the longing to embrace her.

His heart ached unbearably. Jarrod was sure that even the pain of a thousand arrows couldn't match this torment.

Nicole, on the other hand, showed no sign of surprise upon seeing Jarrod. She simply raised an eyebrow and asked, "Could you release me, Mr. Schultz?" Her tone was cool and detached as if she hadn't tricked Jarrod with that body at all.

Nicole was eerily composed as if there were no bitter feelings between her and Jarrod.

Jarrod was stunned by her calm demeanor. He couldn't fathom how she could be so collected after everything.

Clenching his jaw, Jarrod asked in a measured tone, "Nicole, do you really get a kick out of fooling me like this?"

Before Nicole could utter a word, Raegan's brow creased in concern.

“Didn't you hear her? She told you to let her go," Raegan asserted.

Jarrod, however, kept his grip on Nicole's wrist as if deaf to Raegan's words.

Impatient and agitated, Raegan pulled at Jarrod, insisting, "Release her, now!"

Trying to fend off Raegan's attempts, Jarrod suddenly felt an arm seizing his wrist. It was Victor, not particularly tall but exuding a commanding presence. "Don't touch her," Victor stated firmly.