Yet, his heart, hardened by her repeated aloofness, could only soften ever so slightly at her words.

"You have learned to lie for him now?" Jarrod sneered, his voice laced with sarcasm.

“I'm not lying..." Nicole implored.

"Really?" Jarrod's lips twisted into a bitter smile. "You expect me to believe that? You claim you didn't wish harm upon me, yet you willingly carried out Jamie's orders, didn't you?"

Nicole froze with disbelief etched across her face. So, Jarrod knew everything. He was aware of her deal with Jamie. He knew Jamie was still alive, disguised as a barmaid after the plastic surgery, and plotting. And yet, he said nothing. He merely observed her.

A shiver raced down Nicole's spine. Jarrod always seemed to hold the reins, staying one step ahead of everyone else.

“I didn't drug you," Nicole explained. “Jamie's poison is tucked away in the third drawer of our bedroom. You can go and check it yourself."

Nicole had never harbored any intention of drugging Jarrod. She knew better than to place her trust in Jamie, a person whose motives she had deciphered all too well.

Jamie and the mysterious people behind her had their schemes in motion. Nicole wasn't about to be ensnared in their schemes easily.

She only agreed to bide her time and lull Jamie into a false sense of security, all the while aiming to uncover the mastermind behind it all.

Nicole planned to unveil the true identity of the mastermind and their motives.

Jarrod's expression remained stoic. Her confession did not surprise him. "So, you didn't drug because you didn't fully trust Jamie, right?"

Nicole didn't say anything. Jarrod was too sharp for his own good.

Trying to fool him was a nearly impossible feat. However, she harbored no intention of deceiving him. The truth was always a bitter pill to swallow.

“You are right. I didn't trust Jamie. But on that day in the valley, I genuinely didn't anticipate you getting hurt. With your skills, I figured you could avoid it. I never imagined Alec would end up injured trying to protect you..."

Nicole wasn't lying. Fate had played a cruel hand. That day, she hadn't wished harm on anyone. But destiny had its own agenda. Alec's injury had thrown everything into disarray Jarrod looked at her and asked, "Apart from that day, have you ever wished for my demise?"

"Yes," Nicole replied without hesitation.

Nicole's expression remained composed as she spoke. "I understand that many issues between us, including the grievances involving our families, might stem from misunderstandings. Yet, even if they were just misunderstandings, the pain they caused was real."

Nicole couldn't simply erase the past hurts just because Jarrod had made some changes. Doing so would diminish her, as if she deserved all the suffering.

"Jarrod, do you really think I can just forget? The best thing you could do is to let me go. It would be better never to see me again, rather than trying to keep me tethered to your side." Nicole went straight to the point.