“Sixteen years, Mr. Schultz," Alec replied.

“Sixteen years..." Jarrod echoed softly.

In the blink of an eye, Jarrod's gaze shifted to Alec's hand, and without warning, he swiftly raised the window, trapping it tightly.

Alec winced in agony, biting his tongue to stifle a cry of pain.

Alec knew this was Jarrod's way of disciplining him for overstepping his boundaries. He had indeed violated one of Jarrod's rules, and he accepted the consequences. Yet, he remained steadfast in his belief that he had done no wrong. He was a straightforward man, not one for schemes.

It wasn't until Jarrod spoke again that Alec felt a shiver down his spine.

"No matter how long you have served by my side, if you ignore my orders and act on your own, even if you're capable, you're no more valuable than a rat in my eyes," Jarrod's icy voice declared.

Alec felt a wave of sadness wash over him as he absorbed the rebuke.

Alec had always held Jarrod in high regard. Yet, despite his years of dedicated service, he still fell short compared to Nicole in Jarrod's heart.

It was only when Alec's fingers turned purple and black, numbing to the point of losing all feeling, that Jarrod finally rolled down his car window.

Alec tried moving his numb hand with his other.

"There won't be a next time," Jarrod stated coldly.

Then, the car pulled away, leaving Alec kneeling on the ground, utterly defeated.

Alec puzzled over whether he had really erred. Nicole, that relentless woman, was fixated on driving Jarrod to his demise.

Despite losing her child's custody, her resolve remained unbroken.

Alec felt he had only intended to shield Jarrod from complications.

Why, even after everything, did Jarrod's feelings for Nicole linger?

Undoubtedly, Vicki from the Hampton family was a better choice. She had shown support to the Schultz Group and was wholeheartedly devoted to Jarrod. In comparison, Nicole was utterly ineffectual.

Alec grappled with confusion and disbelief. One thing remained clear.

He would put no stops in ensuring no harm came Jarrod's way. Should anyone dare to pose risks to Jarrod's well-being, he wouldn't hesitate to deal with them.