The nanny gave Nicole a look that hinted she had more to say but held back, aware of Jarrod's watchful eyes, and took Austin away.

Once they were gone, Nicole collapsed to the floor, drained of all her strength. It was as though her foundational supports had just collapsed. Utterly devastated, she felt trapped.

“Jarrod... She called out to him tiredly. "Tell me, what do you want? Or rather, what are you planning?"

Jarrod looked at her with a sneer. "Nicole, first tell me, whose child is he?"

Jarrod had conducted a long investigation to get some answers. He hadn't been able to accept it until he saw Austin. Seeing Austin in the courtyard, his suspicions were cleared. That was definitely his child. They bore such a striking resemblance that he deemed a paternity test unnecessary.

Still, to silence any protest from Nicole, Jarrod proceeded with the test, and as expected, the results confirmed it. Austin was his son.

His son, indeed. Nicole had secretly borne his child!

Even with the evidence in hand, Jarrod still demanded confirmation from Nicole. He stepped closer, towering over her. “Tell me, whose child is this?"

Nicole tensed, then clenched her teeth and answered, “He's my child, mine alone."

At this, Jarrod let out a cold laugh. "Your child, very well!"

Jarrod's tone grew chilling as he echoed her words.

"Alec!" He called out.

Alec promptly appeared at the doorway, "Mr. Schultz, what do you need?"

"Throw that child out of the window!" Jarrod commanded, his voice brutal and merciless.

Alec stood frozen, his body rigid with shock.

Nicole's nails clawed into the carpet fiercely, one fingernail snapping and bleeding, creating a terrible sight.

"Are you deaf?" Jarrod's voice was cold. "Do it now!"

Alec nodded and said, "Alright." He was prepared to follow orders, no matter how extreme, even if Jarrod demanded he cut out his own heart.

"No! Don't!" Nicole's scream shattered the silence. She couldn't hold back any Longer. Jarrod was pushing her to her limits, forcing her to confess.

"Jarrod, have you lost your mind?" Nicole yelled in a panic. "That's your child! You can't do this!"