Nicole, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, lifted her eyelids and uttered in a lazy, impatient tone, "Mr. Schultz, just get to the point. I don't want to waste my time."

Jarrod's lips moved slightly, and his voice was rough. "How have you been all these years?"

As those words escaped his lips, he was stunned. He didn't expect himself to instinctively worry about her. Wasn't he supposed to confront her? He should ask Nicole why she'd been messing with him, right?

But when he began to speak, he realized he didn't care about the answer. What really mattered was knowing what she had gone through...

"How have I been?" Nicole was taken aback by Jarrod's unexpected question.

Jarrod's question dragged Nicole back to those tough times.

The only peace Nicole had found in the last five years was when she'd fallen into the sea and lost consciousness. The tranquility was free from all worries.

But waking up brought not only the trying recovery but also a deep-seated hatred toward Jarrod. The strong sense of hatred led her to hate the world, lose interest in life, and reject everything.

At this moment, the quiet around Nicole seemed to echo the pain of her past. Jarrod stood in front of Nicole, his presence like a terrifying demon that seemed to choke her every evening. Those haunting dreams ignited a fierce anger in Nicole's heart. She fantasized about seeking revenge on Jarrod in the most instinctive way.

Unable to contain her rage any longer, Nicole confronted him, "Mr. Schultz, have you come to mock me? Please don't say you've suddenly realized your love for me just because I leaped off a cliff."

"I..." Jarrod started to reply, but Nicole cut him off with a scornful laugh. “Perhaps I'm still alive because of you. Your actions repulse me. That's why I've returned, to prevent you from tarnishing my name, not in any way."

Jarrod's striking face turned to stone, words failing him.

"Is there anything else you wish to say? If not, get out of my face.

This is our final face-to-face conversation. There won't be another opportunity," Nicole stated, her voice cold and detached.

Nicole turned to walk away, but in an instant, Jarrod's strong hand pushed her against the wall.

Jarrod's piercing gaze locked onto her. He fought to keep himself in check, to prevent any rash actions. In a rough voice, he said, “What if I tell you that the accident made me realize just how much you mean to me?"

He himself found it hard to believe he had uttered those words.

After enduring five long years of living hell without Nicole, Jarrod had changed.

He no longer wanted to return to those dark days filled with confusion and a lack of hope.

Now, all he desired was to hold onto Nicole, the very one he truly wanted in his life.