Predictably, Roscoe attempted to pull away, but finding no success, he stopped trying. He silently blew out the candles, deciding to act without Doreen.

“I have taken care of it," Roscoe said curtly, disregarding the upset look on Doreen's face.

Doreen's expression hardened. She forced a smile and murmured, "Thanks, Roscoe."

Instead of replying to her words, Roscoe withdrew his hand when Doreen was briefly distracted.

At that moment, Nicole happened to lift her head, meeting Doreen's gaze. Doreen's expression softened to a mocking smile as she motioned to Nicole and said, “Come and cut the cake."

Instead of calling Nicole Miss Lawrence, Doreen's tone implied disrespect, suggesting that Nicole was not worthy of her politeness.

As Nicole stepped forward with the plastic knife to cut the cake, Doreen abruptly intervened. "Ah! Stop!"

Nicole halted, turning to face Doreen.

“Have you washed your hands?" Doreen scoffed. “With all the people you meet, who knows what you're carrying? Now you want to cut the cake? Think of the germs you might spread."

Nicole's hand trembled, and her face drained of color.

Vicki relished the scene, noticing Jarrod's inscrutable expression, uncertain of what to make of it.

Vicki feigned concern and stepped in. "Don't be upset, Miss Lawrence. It's just that Doreen likes things clean. It's mot about you. With the crowd you deal with daily, she's just being cautious. Please, wash your hands and then come back to cut the cake."

While Vicki's words seemed diplomatic, they subtly underscored Nicole's occupation at the nightclub, casting her in a negative light.

Her supposed mediation only embarrassed Nicole even more.

But the subtlety of Vicki's manipulation went unnoticed. ALl eyes were on Doreen's difficult behavior.

A barmaid beside Nicole gently took the knife, offering, "Go wash up. I'll take care of this."

But before Nicole could respond, Doreen snapped at the barmaid, "Who told you to interfere? You're just as unclean. Wait for her to finish washing and then let her handle it."

Nicole listened to this and continued washing her hands, her face betraying no emotion. She knew this spectacle was exactly what Vicki relished. Vicki had orchestrated her employment here to degrade her.

If enduring humiliation would keep Austin safe, then Nicole was prepared to bear it. It was clear Vicki reveled in seeing her degraded, and she was resigned to fulfilling that role.

Vicki observed Doreen's overbearing behavior and inwardly shook her head. Though this was the drama she wanted, Doreen's antics were foolish and laughable.