“Did you ever think of today when you betrayed me?" Jarrod's lips curled into a slight smirk. "Nicole, you know what I dislike the most. You shouldn't have stepped on that. Do you really think his suffering stops here?"

Jarrod's cold smile didn't reach his eyes, making it even more intimidating than his words.

Suddenly, Nicole's legs gave out, and she collapsed to her knees with a heavy thump. “Jarrod, please, let him go. Don't do this to him. It's not his fault. It really isn't..."

Nicole knew exactly who to plead with to make it count. The directive had come from Roscoe's father, who was intimidated by Jarrod, leading to this moment. If Jarrod changed his mind, Roscoe would still have a chance.

Looking down at Nicole, who was pleading from the ground, Jarrod felt not joy but a wave of indescribable frustration. He tilted Nicole's chin, his smile insincere. "Since you're begging like this, I suppose I must give you a chance."

Overwhelmed, Nicole's mind was too clouded to tell if Jarrod was being genuine or just pretending. She grasped at Jarrod's pant leg, her voice shaky. “Thank you, Jarrod. Thank you... I'll keep my promise."

"Don't thank me yet," Jarrod said indifferently.

He then shook off her hand and straightened the wrinkles she had made on his clothes. Turning to Alec, he commanded, “Tell Roscoe that as long as he agrees to go abroad and swears on Nicole's life that he'll never see her again, I'll talk to his father and let him go."

Nicole remained kneeling, motionless. Jarrod was too clever, manipulating the situation to make Roscoe swear on her life. He knew Roscoe wouldn't agree.

A haughty smirk graced Jarrod's thin lips. "Look, I've given him a chance. He could be free by now if he agreed."

Jarrod found this choice more intriguing than simply letting Roscoe perish. Human nature was always so fragile. Sacrificing a woman seemed trivial compared to living with a disability. Since Roscoe couldn't bring himself to do so, Jarrod decided to nudge things forward.

Alec relayed the message, making sure it reached Roscoe.

With a special glass between them, Nicole saw everything from her position while Roscoe couldn't.

Facing this brutal torture, Roscoe clenched his teeth, silent and unyielding, showing no signs of surrender. As long as he could breathe, he wouldn't give in. His stance was clear. He would never abandon Nicole.

Time ticked by slowly.

Roscoe's steadfast refusal made Jarrod's expression turn increasingly grim.

Feeling desperate, Nicole threw herself against the glass, pounding on it as she yelled, “Roscoe, just agree! You fool! Just agree!"

Roscoe, though he couldn't hear or see the other side, still sensed Nicole's presence due to the vibrations of the glass.

Roscoe made an effort to turn his head toward the glass, a fragile voice breaking through. “Nicole... I can handle this. Don't plead..."

"Don't beg him for me.."