At this critical moment, Nicole couldn't let Derek kill Jarrod. If Jarrod were incapacitated or worse, she knew she would be Derek's next target. A man blinded by rage wouldn't hesitate to take one life or two. It would all be the same. And in her current vulnerable state, she was no match for a deranged man.

Nicole's shout brought Jarrod back to a semblance of awareness, but it was already too late. The rock Derek hurled smashed against Jarrod's face.

Blood immediately started streaming down Jarrod's handsome features.

Yet, despite his face being covered in blood, he stood unflinchingly, his expression turning even more ominous.

Derek, realizing that his attempt with the rock had little effect and only made Jarrod appear more menacing, felt a wave of fear wash over him. How could someone not react to a rock to the head but instead look even more daunting?

Derek knew he had provoked someone far too formidable and needed to escape immediately. He dropped the rock and scrambled up the slope, trying to flee.

But before he could get far, his collar was abruptly grabbed, and he was immobilized.

"Ah! Let... Let me go!" Derek howled, his face etched with sheer terror as if a ghost had clutched him from behind.

In the next instant, Derek was slammed to the ground with a heavy thud!

"Poof!" The impact almost knocked the life out of Derek, blood spraying everywhere.

Before Derek could even scream in pain, Jarrod, imposing as a mountain, was already crouched over Derek, delivering punch after relentless punch to his face. Each punch was forceful, each blow drawing more blood.

Derek's face was beaten into a bloody mess, a horrific sight. His cries diminished from loud wails to feeble groans, as he seemed nearly lifeless.

Witnessing the brutality, Nicole turned away, her voice trembling as she begged, “Jarrod, stop it. You'll kill him!"

At this moment, it seemed Jarrod didn't hear anything else. He clenched his fists tightly and hit Derek's face again and again with all his strength.

A few of Derek's teeth were broken, and he was almost choked to death.

This time, Nicole shouted his name again, "Jarrod!"

Jarrod's fist that was about to smash Derek's face stopped just one centimeter away from Derek's face. Then, he turned and fixed his eyes on Nicole.

Jarrod's face was full of his and Derek's blood. Although he was still handsome, the blood made him look sinister and terrifying.

What was more horrible was Jarrod's bloodthirsty eyes. He said expressionlessly, "Do you want to keep him so you can use him to take me down?"

Nicole felt a lump in her throat, and no words came out. Indeed, she didn't want Derek to die. Because if he died, it would be even harder to find evidence. Besides, she knew Jarrod's associates would probably kill Leighton as well. If so, it would be more challenging for her to get Austin's custody.