Jarrod brought Nicole back to the Oasis Apartment, and she felt like she was returning to a cage.

Nicole stood hesitantly at the doorstep, unable to move forward.

Jarrod glanced back, his lips curling into a sneer. “What's the matter? Think the place you once lived in is dirty?"

Nicole tried to muster her courage, but the thought of stepping inside terrified her. It meant continuing her complicated, tangled relationship with Jarrod. She stared at him from the doorway and said coldly, "I want to see Austin. He's not well."

Jarrod's expression turned icy. "You know he's not well? Then you hid him out there for so long?"

Jarrod had been too preoccupied searching for Nicole to get Austin checked since his return.

Jarrod didn't have strong feelings for Austin. Jarrod's father had ruled with a heavy hand, and affection in the Schultz family was always scarce.

So, Jarrod resorted to his father's strict standards, not knowing how normal families functioned. Of course, he wouldn't use a belt for small mistakes like his father had. Austin looked so delicate that even a belt could prove fatal.

With that in mind, Jarrod resolved to arrange a full medical checkup for Austin the next day.

Jarrod turned to Nicole with a cold expression and said, "You hid him away, unable to give him a decent life, and now he's so fragile. I don't think you're fit to raise this child."

Jarrod assumed Austin's pallor was due to malnutrition, unaware of the serious illness Austin faced.

Nicole's anger erupted. She snatched off her shoe and hurled it at Jarrod, striking him on the shoulder. "What do you know, Jarrod!" she spat, glaring at him with a deep, swirling hatred.

Though the impact was minor to Jarrod, his pride couldn't tolerate such a challenge. His expression hardened as he scoffed. "What do I know? I know about you cavorting with another man while leaving my son somewhere else with a nanny."

He jabbed a finger at her face, his voice venomous. "Nicole, just for that, you don't stand a chance of winning custody!"

“Why should I hide?" Nicole laughed heartily as if the question was the punchline of a joke. “Jarrod, why on earth should I hide?"

Jarrod's expression contorted with frustration as he faced her, knowing the reasons all too well but refusing to admit his faults.

To him, Nicole was meant to be his, regardless of the time passed or their distance apart.

"If you hadn't been so overbearing, would I really need to hide?"

Nicole fixed him with a steady gaze. "Tell me, do you actually love Austin as a father, or is there some ulterior motive?"

Jarrod clenched his fists, his silence a testament to his undeniable intent to keep Nicole by his side at any cost.