Nicole stepped out, but suddenly, her arm was yanked back. The next moment, Jarrod pressed her against the wall of the elevator.

Nicole instinctively closed her eyes, bracing for pain that didn't come. Jarrod had placed his hand on the wall, softening the impact to her head.

Jarrod lowered his gaze to meet hers, whispering, "Nicole, I often don't intend to hurt you. But whenever you look at another man, I want to gouge out that man's eyeballs! I've come to realize that this obsession and possessiveness only occurred when I was with you. Maybe I never truly hated you. All this time, I just wanted you by my side."

Nicole looked at him, her lips curling into a mocking smile. She wanted to say something, but he pressed his fingers against her lips.

"I know nothing I say now can undo the damage I've caused to your soul. But if you truly want to stay, I promise I'll try to change."

Jarrod raised his hand to cradle the back of her head, pressing her head against his chest and holding her close. In a low, raspy voice, he said, "Nicole, let's spend our lives just like this, forever."

Even if hatred was all that remained in her heart for him, he couldn't bear to let her go.

Nicole let him hold her without resistance, perhaps too weary to protest. Her eyes, cast downward, were unexpectedly serene. She concealed her hatred, burying it deep and far away.

For the first time upon their parting, Jarrod had felt something different stir within him. Blocking the doorway with an outstretched leg, he smiled at Nicole and teased, "Not letting me in?"

Nicole looked stern as she replied, “You just gave your word."

Jarrod simply stepped in to hold her face gently and kissed her fervently.

Just as Nicole's anger was about to boil over, he let go with a chuckle. “I know."

Jarrod then stepped back, leaning casually against the doorframe with a hand in his pocket, the picture of relaxed elegance. “I'll come to pick you up tomorrow night."

Nicole's answer was the emphatic sound of the door slamming shut.

Gazing at the shut door for a few seconds, Jarrod burst out laughing and walked away.

Unbeknownst to him, Nicole had been intently watching through the peephole. She only diverted her gaze when she saw Jarrod step into the elevator and descend. Quickly, she moved to the window to make sure his car was leaving.

Once the black Maybach exited the community gate, Nicole swiftly opened a cupboard, punched in the safe's password, and retrieved an obsolete phone. She dialed a number. "I've got a 6 a.m. flight lined up. Start packing now. A car will be here soon to pick up you and Austin. Another one will be waiting when you land. We'll regroup once we get there."

After ending the call, Nicole took out the SIM card, burned it with a lighter, snapped it in half, and flushed the pieces down the toilet. She then shattered the phone casing with a knife handle and stuffed it into a garbage bag to dispose of later.

Next, Nicole grabbed the suitcase she had packed earlier, changed into black nightwear, took the trash bag, and left her apartment.

With caution guiding her, Nicole avoided the underground garage.