"Wait!" Jamie's voice was tinged with desperation as she called out.

“What do you want to know?"

Nicole halted and turned to face Jamie. “You've gotten smarter, haven't you, Jamie?" she remarked, a hint of sarcasm in her tone.

Jamie snorted dismissively. She was aware that Nicole needed something from her. Otherwise, why would Nicole be so determined to confirm her identity?

Nicole got straight to the point. "I want to know if you had contacted Brett before my father died."

Uncertainty flickered in Jamie's eyes. She hadn't expected Nicole to already be aware of Brett. Discovering Brett would surely implicate her. She and Brett were inextricably linked. If one fell, the other would follow.

However, Jamie's fear of exposure paled in comparison to her dread of the mysterious figure who had ordered her to get close to Jarrod.

Her failure to curry favor with Jarrod had led to brutal punishment.

She could still recall the chilling words of that enigmatic person as he took her blood. "Whether you live or die is up to fate."

He had turned on a slow trickle of water and opened a vein in her arm. As she hovered between consciousness and unconsciousness, her blood slowly drained while water enveloped her body. Had she not been discovered in time, she would have perished.

Jamie harbored no gratitude toward Nicole since she was inherently selfish, concerned only with her own interests. She knew the mysterious figure would not let go of her. To survive, she had to fulfill the tasks assigned to her.

Jamie's voice was raspy and unsteady. "You want information? Then you'll have to do something for me."

“What is it?" Nicole inquired.

"Here." Jamie shakily pulled out a small paper packet from her clothing. It appeared to contain powder. "Put this in Jarrod's food or drink. Anything he consumes."

Nicole raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to poison him?"

"It's slow-acting." Jamie's lips tightened.

Nicole looked puzzled. "I thought you loved him?"

"I... I stopped loving him a long time ago," Jamie replied, her eyes dark with hatred.

Jamie knew Jarrod had married Nicole.

Despite Jarrod's actions of disfiguring Jamie and the severe punishment he had inflicted, Jamie might have been able to overlook those because of the Lingering love in her heart.