She got into her car, buckled her seatbelt, and started to drive out of the parking space. Just as she exited the parking place, a figure suddenly darted in front of her racing red car, landing on the engine hood.

Nicole slammed on the brakes, the sound echoing harshly in the confined space. Thankfully, she wasn't driving fast, but the car still skidded a few meters with the figure on the hood.

With a dull thud, the car finally came to a stop, and the figure was thrown to the ground in front of the vehicle.

Seeing Alec on the ground took Nicole by surprise.

Just as Nicole was about to call for an ambulance, Alec, hobbling, made his way toward her. "Miss Lawrence, I'm okay."

Nicole gave Alec a thorough look and noticed he had no clear injuries, though he was limping. It seemed the rain might have lessened the impact of his fall.

With a slight squint, Nicole said firmly, "You need to see a doctor.

I'm going to call the police to report this, just to avoid any problems later."

"Miss Lawrence!" Suddenly, Alec shouted. "Miss Lawrence, please, don't worry about me. I'm here to ask you to visit Mr. Schultz."

Nicole faced Alec with an indifferent gaze and remained silent.

Tears filled Alec's eyes as he struggled to speak. "Miss Lawrence, Mr. Schultz has been kneeling at the entrance for eight hours. He almost suffered from heatstroke earlier, and now he's out in the pouring rain. He's coughed up a lot of blood, and his body can't take much more.

Alec was desperate to persuade Nicole, yet he wasn't lying. If Jarrod kept this up, he would indeed collapse.

"And why should that concern me?" Nicole asked, her tone uninterested.

Hearing that, Alec was taken aback. He found himself at a loss for words.

After a short pause, Alec continued, "Miss Lawrence, because of what you mentioned, Mr. Schultz is out there, kneeling at the entrance."

"That's ridiculous. Is Mr. Schultz some kind of loyal pet? Why would he listen to me like that?" Nicole mocked.

Alec didn't know how to respond. "Miss Lawrence, are you aware of what Mr. Schultz has endured these last five years? Apart from his job, Mr. Schultz always comes home on time. He's also been keeping close to your belongings. He's gotten seriously sick with pneumonia, occasionally coughing up blood and struggling to breathe. I've tried convincing him to seek medical attention countless times over the years, but he refuses. He's been punishing himself daily..." Alec said, his voice heavy with sadness.

Thinking about Jarrod's ordeal over the last five years brought Alec to tears. He couldn't fathom how Jarrod could inflict such pain on himself, as if enduring the suffering was Jarrod's way of coping with his guilt.

“Miss Lawrence, I'm not asking you to forgive him. But right now, you're the only one who can save Mr. Schultz," Alec pled humbly.

Through tears, Alec continued, “Miss Lawrence, considering Mr. Schultz's suffering these past years, please, have mercy and save him."