Nicole remained silent, wise enough not to provoke Jarrod when he was trying to be nice. Angering him yielded no good.

“Jarrod, did you mention my mom?" Nicole's voice lacked vitality.

Back before Nicole left Ardlens five years ago, Dora had been declared brain dead by the hospital. Nicole had made arrangements, ensuring enough funds sustained her mother's life support before resigning herself to fate.

Since her return, she learned her mother's ashes resided alongside her father's, courtesy of Jarrod's assistance with the arrangements.

Yet, this token did little to quell the vast sea of animosity she harbored against Jarrod.

The dream Nicole had lingered vividly. Dora appeared alive beside her.

Nicole couldn't shake the nagging doubt. Was her mother truly gone?

Were those truly her mother's ashes in the urn?

Jarrod hesitated before deflecting. "You must have misheard." It wasn't time to broach the topic of her mother since more pressing matters demanded attention.

Nicole accepted his evasion with a passive gaze fixed on the ceiling.

With no expectations, misconceptions were easy to embrace.

"I want to see Roscoe. I'm worried about him," Nicole insisted.

"He's fine," Jarrod replied curtly, his irritation palpable. "The doctors have tended to him, and Roscoe's family is with him now."

Nicole's agitation was evident as her fingers curled. "You informed the Watts family!"

"The Watts won't pose a threat to him anymore. Quite the opposite, they're determined to protect him," Jarrod explained.

Nicole looked puzzled. "How so?"

Pouring a glass of water, Jarrod handed it to her, elaborating, “A direct heir of the Watts family recently perished in a car accident, along with his five-year-old son. With Roscoe now the sole heir, they're eager to safeguard him."

Nicole remained unconvinced. Could Roscoe's father, known for his ruthlessness, truly care about Roscoe? In that cutthroat environment, Roscoe's value would diminish should another heir emerge.

Seeming to sense her skepticism, Jarrod continued, “The Watts now cherish him. They've spared no expense, hiring top-notch doctors for his rehabilitation. Have you heard of the 'Xstar' project? It's a ten-billion-dollar initiative for bone regeneration, and the Watts have invested in it for Roscoe. If Roscoe agrees, he could undergo surgery there. In six months, his hands and feet will be as good as new. He's a doctor, isn't he? After the treatment, he could return to surgery, even run a marathon if he desires."

Jarrod's point was clear. Roscoe had the option of treatment, but it came with a sacrifice.