Deniz abruptly raised his hand and bit his arm hard, aiming to activate his strength. For the sake of his future, he was willing to go all out.

Then, gritting his teeth, Deniz tore off a piece of trouser leg. He picked up a cobblestone about the size of a goose egg and wrapped it up with his trembling hands. He aimed it at the back of Nicole's head.

Deniz's eyes radiated malevolence. If he landed a blow, combined with the effects of the drug, Nicole would likely lose consciousness.

Should she faint in the deep water of the swimming pool, today would be her end. Dead men told no tales.

Deniz was prepared to hurl the stone at Nicole.

"Plop!" Someone fell into the water.

Then, the stone Deniz had aimed at Nicole grazed against her shoulder and plunged into the water.

With her vision dimmed, Nicole turned around and witnessed Deniz struggling in the water. "Help..."

While Nicole was perplexed, a splashed of water erupted beneath her.

A man with numerous droplets on his handsome face emerged from the water's depths, seized her wrist, and sternly asked, "Do you want to die?"

Despite how subdued Jarrod's voice was, it resonated with an almost uncontrollable ferocity.

Nicole's fragile frame experienced a forceful pull, landing her in Jarrod's aggressively possessive embrace.

With a stern face, Jarrod barked, "I forbid it!"

Jarrod's skin radiated scorching heat, much hotter than Nicole's. It was a sensation akin to being engulfed in a blazing inferno, melting into her very core.

Jarrod's body was rigid, almost mechanical. The familiarity he felt from this embrace seemed to halt his heart. He couldn't bear to relive the heart-wrenching pain from five years ago. He was determined to ensure Nicole stayed alive.

Nicole attempted to speak, but her face was pressed against his damp chest, rendering her unable to utter a word. She struggled, but it was futile. Jarrod's other hand pressed her back firmly.

A wave of soreness and panic swept over Nicole, lingering in her chest.

With bloodshot eyes and clenched teeth, Jarrod called out, "Nicole!"

In a tone laced with dread, he uttered, "Don't die. Find another way to punish me..."

His deep voice trembled noticeably, exposing an undercurrent of fear.