Jarrod's voice dropped to a venomous whisper. "You think Roscoe is decent, Nicole, but I'll open your eyes to his flaws."

Releasing her suddenly, he watched as she crumpled to the ground, her breaths shallow and desperate. “I'll show you how a man can devolve, becoming even more despicable than me."

Then, Jarrod spun on his heel and strode away, leaving Nicole writhing in rage and confusion on the cold, hard ground. Her mind swirled with turmoil, unable to make sense of Jarrod's cryptic threat.

Nicole knew this circle would do anything to tarnish Roscoe, coaxing him into regrettable deeds that would haunt him forever. They would abandon him to wallow in his remorse.

Nicole sat on the gritty pavement, the skin on her neck burning from Jarrod's cruel grasp.

Abruptly, a pair of pristine white high heels halted before her.

Vicki looked down, her chuckle icy as her eyes gleamed with disdain.

“You look utterly pitiful, Nicole, like a dog begging for scraps."

Nicole pressed her lips together, refusing to rise to Vicki's bait.

Vicki flicked a $500 bill from her clutch, flinging it at Nicole with a scornful grimace. "This is the service fee for you. I pay it for Jarrod. Just remember your place."

In the dim light of the bar, where even the novices commanded $500 an hour, the amount was a stark insult. It branded Nicole as nothing more than a disposable trinket, destined to be discarded and stepped on.

Nevertheless, Nicole scooped up the money with a forced smile. "Thank you, Miss Hampton."

Nicole kept her composure, focusing solely on deflecting Vicki's cruelty to safeguard her son.

Despite past humiliations that had nearly crushed her when the Lawrence family was destroyed, Nicole had persevered. Strangers and acquaintances alike had hurled venomous words at her, used the vilest language, and spread false rumors about her. She had endured such challenging times.

Now, only the opinions of those she loved could wound her. Mere words had lost their sting.

Vicki observed Nicole's serene expression and felt a pang of unease.

She had witnessed Jarrod's furious grip on Nicole's neck moments earlier. Clearly, this was not the behavior of a man who had moved on.

True detachment should manifest as indifference, yet Jarrod had shown intense aggression toward Nicole. However, the moment Jarrod saw Nicole struggling for air, he panicked and released her immediately.

This inconsistency failed to convince Vicki that Jarrod had truly let go. Instead, it made Nicole seem like a significant threat to her.

Vicki's eyelid twitched ominously as she clenched her fist, trying to quell her rising anger. “Nicole, I'm warning you! Stay away from Jarrod. If I catch you flirting with him again, you'll receive more than just $500. It will be a ‘special gift'..."