With her mind swirling, Nicole had no desire to reflect on any of it.

She gestured toward the door and demanded, "Get out."

Jarrod's face subtly shifted. He felt he might have felt undue sympathy for her. Throughout the night, he had watched her restless sleep and nearly allowed his resolve to soften, contemplating whether he should let her meet Austin.

However, he knew that seeing Austin could reignite certain thoughts in her. If he dropped his guard, she might seize the opportunity to take Austin away with her, as she had managed previously.

Thus, he resolved to fight for Austin's custody at any cost. With Austin in his grip, Nicole was like a kite bound by its string and wouldn't wander around.

With Jarrod making no move to leave, Nicole swiftly threw off the bed sheets, removed her IV, and climbed out of the bed, ignoring the blood that marked her hand.

Jarrod, his brow creased in disapproval, seized her arm. “What are you doing!" he demanded.

Her voice dripping with sarcasm, Nicole retorted, “Staying in the same room with you is repulsive. If you're not leaving, I will.”

Jarrod, known for his short temper, felt his demeanor chill further at her words. “So, you don't want to stay with me? Who is it you want to be with?" he asked coldly. His sneer was sharp. "Your lover? Didn't he abandon you?"

"You're behind this, aren't you?" Nicole accused more than questioned.

Jarrod's silence served as an affirmation.

Jarrod was aware of a side effect from Roscoe's treatment, a detail Miguel had kept from Roscoe.

The treatment involved a cellular activation process that induced temporary amnesia. When mixed with specific medications, this could evolve into permanent memory loss.

Although Jarrod was unsure of the exact dosage Miguel had administered, at that time, Miguel had confidently promised that Roscoe would forget everything about Nicole for at least a year.

This assurance was why Jarrod had been willing to let Roscoe wander freely. Otherwise, Jarrod would never have tolerated Roscoe's presence.

Within a year, much could change. Roscoe might settle down and start a family, while Nicole, pressured relentlessly, might abandon her feelings for Roscoe. Should Roscoe regain his memories someday, the pain of those recollections would be immense.

Jarrod, ever vengeful, pondered the best way to punish a betrayal.

Yet, he knew that any violent retribution would only ignite a fiercer defiance in Nicole and Roscoe. Sapping their will slowly, a subtler, more insidious approach, seemed far more effective, and it suited his style perfectly.

Jarrod saw Nicole's stubborn defiance as a reaction to Roscoe's lingering presence in her life. Killing Roscoe would only deepen her attachment to Roscoe, so Jarrod considered alternative strategies to break her spirit. Without any support, Nicole would have no choice but to be obedient around him.

Observing Jarrod's silent, confident demeanor, Nicole's contempt for him deepened. “Jarrod, you consistently find new depths in being vile. Your proficiency in repulsiveness is unmatched," she declared coldly.