Alec planned to deal with Leighton and fake a mental illness certificate for Nicole, rendering Nicole's testimony useless and inadmissible.

But Derek disagreed and was not ready to quit insisting, "Just give me half an hour, and I'll catch up to her.."

“Didn't you crash the car? Where are you now?" Alec inquired.

“She's running down this muddy path, and I'm going after her now.."

Derek's voice abruptly stopped.

The call ended suddenly.

Listening to the dial tone, Jarrod's heart raced with worry. "Nicole, you've always managed to escape danger. Don't get into any trouble this time!"

His eyes narrowed as he floored the accelerator and sped off.

Suddenly, rain began to pour, intensifying the throbbing of Nicole's wounds. The pain drained her energy, leaving her weak and limp. She was already frail, and the recent events had depleted her strength completely.

Nicole concealed herself behind a clump of muddy bushes, trying to curl into the smallest, most unnoticeable ball possible. She was worn out, almost drifting off, when she heard footsteps getting closer, their rhythm uneven in the distance.

In the pitch-black night, she knew the only person wandering outside could be Derek.

With the rain washing away all traces, she didn't hold out hope for anyone to come to her rescue.

The heavy rain complicated any search efforts. Even if Raegan had dispatched a search party, Nicole doubted she could survive long enough for their arrival.

Clutching herself tightly, Nicole not only tried to minimize her visibility but also held her breath, afraid that Derek might detect her presence. Considering the physical advantage men typically had over women, combined with her weakened state, if Derek found her, she would have to accept whatever came next.

As she anticipated, the footsteps approached closer, followed by the sound of a stick pushing through the bushes.

"Miss, stop hiding..." Derek's voice echoed through the rain-soaked forest, sending shivers down Nicole's spine, especially in the dark of night.

He whistled and teased, “Watch out for pythons and wild critters around here. It's better to show yourself than end up as dinner. I can make it painless for you..."

Derek's laughter was sinister.

Nicole remained silent. The footsteps were closing in, and Derek had a flashlight. If he headed in her direction, he would definitely see her.

She glanced at the bracelet in her hand, which she gripped tightly to avoid any noise. In a moment of quick thinking, she tied the bracelet around a stone and hurled it into the distance, creating a diversion.