Derek stopped, gazing upward. Lightning had indeed flashed! Startled, he fell silent, wondering if it was a warning.

Then, a loud thunderclap followed as the lightning struck somewhere in the distance.

"Ha-ha!" Derek erupted into boisterous laughter. "See? Even the lightning won't touch me."

Nicole spat in disgust and said, "Don't be so smug. Your time just hasn't come yet."

Enraged, Derek thrust the stick down harshly on Nicole's knee.

"Ouch..." Nicole yelled, her face twisting in pain.

"Looks like your mouth still has some fire!" Derek glowered at her menacingly.

As another bolt of lightning streaked across the sky, it illuminated Nicole's face, washed by the rain, and her silhouette was accentuated by her clinging, wet clothes.

Derek's gaze shifted as he leered at her, poking indecently at her neckline with the stick.

"You have a stunning figure," he said, his eyes gleaming with lust.

The way Nicole's body looked under the rain was surprisingly striking.

Her skin appeared soft and pale, far more appealing than Leighton's.

Nicole's beautiful face seemed to set the scene for a sultry, wet spectacle, naturally drawing a man's gaze.

Derek, all worked up, shamelessly showed his excitement without any concern to hide it. He commented, "Miss, how about I make you feel good before you die?"

"Ugh!" Nicole spat at him, furious. “Only over my dead body!"

Seeing the river below, Nicole thought she'd rather dive in than tolerate insults from this jerk!

“That's fine. Even if you die, I can still... It makes no difference to me." Derek had completely lost his mind.

Nicole was utterly revolted. Derek was devoid of any morals or principles and thoroughly corrupt. Now that he had committed crimes and possessed wealth, his inherent depravity had only intensified exponentially.

As he moved closer to her, Nicole didn't hesitate and rolled down the slope, but suddenly her arm was seized.

Derek harshly pulled her back up, announcing, "Don't rush, beauty. Today indeed marks your end. But let me have my fun first."