Moreover, why would they marry? She did not want to marry Jarrod at all!

Jarrod stretched out his legs, resting his hand elegantly on his thigh. "Do you think I want a kept woman? If I wanted one, I could choose anyone. I already told you."

His gaze was piercing. “I want Austin's mother. You will be the one.”

“I refuse to marry you!" Nicole exclaimed. “Jarrod, there's no way I'm marrying you. You must be crazy!"

She could not understand how Jarrod could make such a rushed and impulsive decision. Desperate, she turned to the driver. "Sir, please stop the car."

The driver ignored Nicole's request since his loyalty was to Jarrod.

The driver thought to himself that if anyone was crazy, Nicole was the one. A man of Jarrod's status proposing marriage to her, and she turned it down? If the high society women of Ardlens knew, they would line up for a chance to marry Jarrod. This woman clearly did not recognize what was good for her...

Seeing the driver ignore her, Nicole turned back to Jarrod. "Jarrod, tell him to stop the car!"

"Stop the car," Jarrod instructed, and the car pulled over.

Then, maintaining his relaxed position, Jarrod lazily asked, “Have you decided yet?"

Before Nicole got out of the car, she stopped in her tracks at Jarrod's words.

Jarrod's lips parted slightly. "Nicole, if you leave the car right now, our agreement ends, and believe me, there will be no second chances."

He seemed to understand her well, adding indifferently, “I won't force you. Please, think it over."

Nicole didn't budge. Her body seemed to have turned to stone at that moment. She was uncertain of what stepping out of the car might lead to, but the idea of marrying Jarrod seemed utterly preposterous. How could she possibly marry this man? They were enemies! Despite the fact that they were Austin's parents, the deep-seated animosity between them was unchangeable.

Nicole didn't want to marry Jarrod, not in this lifetime, and she wouldn't even consider it. Considering for even another second felt like a betrayal to her late father. What had driven her father to his fatal leap from that building? Who had cornered him into such despair? Jarrod was partially at play. These were undeniable truths that left no room for debate.

Taking a deep breath, Nicole placed her hand on the door handle and declared, "I'm very clear about it. Jarrod, I don't want to marry you."

She then opened the door. Just as she was about to step out of the car, Jarrod's chilling voice came from behind her. "So, you can accept to be my lover, share my bed, but not be part of my family?"

Nicole shivered slightly. Jarrod had pierced through to her deepest thoughts. Her agreement to his proposal was merely a temporary safeguard for Austin and Roscoe. Lacking a better plan at the moment and with Austin's safety at risk, she felt compelled to compromise.

Once the immediate danger was mitigated, she intended to leave Jarrod.

Entangling their identities further would only complicate her eventual departure, a scenario she couldn't stomach, being permanently linked to Jarrod's name.