The thought alone sent shivers down Nicole's spine. It was akin to signing a death warrant. How could she endure the thought of Roscoe facing it alone? No matter what, she couldn't allow someone she cared for to sacrifice themselves.

“Nicole, if they find out I helped you escape, they'll kill me regardless. There's no need for both of us to meet our ends this soon, right?" Roscoe's eyes met Nicole's, their gentleness underscored by determination. "Get out of here and live on. Think about Austin... He needs you.”

Tears welled up in Nicole's eyes. “Why are you doing this?" Why knowingly walk into such danger? She couldn't quite comprehend.

Roscoe couldn't reveal the full truth yet. He had struck a deal with a foreign family to eradicate these witches in return for their assistance in dismantling the Watts family's international operations.

It was the sole path to liberate himself from Miguel's grip and ensure Nicole's and Austin's safety more effectively.

The mere idea of failing to protect Nicole and Austin pierced Roscoe's heart like a dagger.

Roscoe was devastated whenever he recalled being coerced into marrying Doreen while under the influence of those mind-controlLing parasites, betraying his promise to Nicole. When he came to his senses and learned of this harsh truth, the agony was excruciating.

All his efforts and sacrifices he had made seemed in vain. He accepted Nicole's choice to marry Jarrod without bitterness, understanding her need to protect Austin and her mother. Her responsibilities were too great for her to bear alone.

Roscoe sighed and grasped he and Nicole might never reconcile in this lifetime, but as long as he lived, he was committed to protecting Nicole and Austin in whatever ways he could.

He harbored a deep-seated loathing for the Watts family, resenting them for exploiting him and harming those dear to him. Gaining full control over the Watts was essential. Without it, he would remain a constant threat to everyone around him.

It just so happened that the witches had inadvertently harmed a young heir of a prominent foreign family while overseas. When the witch escaped to Ambrosia, the foreign family was helpless to seek revenge until they identified Emerie as one of those witches and approached Roscoe, ultimately striking a deal with him.

Roscoe's current clarity of mind was the result of a biological professor from that foreign family, who had devised an antidote to counteract the parasites' influence. Without this antidote, Roscoe knew he would not have survived much Longer.

Roscoe chose to keep Nicole in the dark about these dangers. He was prepared to confront them on his own, refusing to allow her to be drawn into this hazardous world. To involve her would be utterly unforgivable.

“Nicole, you probably aren't aware of my ambitions," Roscoe said, his face shadowed yet highlighted by the flickering light, a bitter, almost mocking smile playing on his lips. "I intend to take control of the entire Watts family. After all the torment and persecution they've put me through, they deserve to pay, don't you think?"

Nicole could only imagine the depths of suffering Roscoe had endured at the hands of the Watts, although she refrained from asking about the specifics of their cruelty. But she was not ready to let Roscoe go down this perilous path alone. "Roscoe, seek your revenge if you must, and I will support you, but not like this. You can't jeopardize your life. It's not worth it."

Roscoe offered a wry smile. "Nicole, you can't comprehend the extent of the Watts family's entrenchment, the vastness of their power. This is my only shot. Please forgive my stubbornness and selfishness, but I can't just squander this opportunity. I can't simply swallow those humiliations and move on as if nothing had happened.”

His statement was a mix of sincerity and deception. Roscoe desired Nicole to live a life free of burdens and full of happiness.

Tears brimmed in Nicole's eyes. “Roscoe, I'm sorry. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't have suffered so much..."

She knew the price he had paid. He could have dodged the forced marriage to Doreen and those endless torment. Now, he had to risk his life for a sliver of freedom.

Nicole's heart ached as though a swarm of insects were gnawing at it.