Jamie had caused harm and perhaps deserved her consequences. But Ethel... Jemma.. What involvement did they have in any of this?

Jarrod smirked and said, “If you're certain they're uninvolved, you shouldn't have brought up death. You don't want to be Austin's mother or my wife, but you'd prefer death?"

None of it made any sense. Nicole struggled to comprehend Jarrod's words or understand his sudden descent into madness. “Jarrod, what's wrong with you?" she pleaded.

Recently, Jarrod had shown signs of change, but within just ten days, he seemed to revert to his previous, monstrous demeanor.

Jarrod didn't respond directly. Instead, he locked eyes with her intensely. "Nicole, think carefully about how you can make me trust you again, or Roscoe will be the first I go after."

With those words, Jarrod let Nicole go, causing her to collapse to the ground, and then he walked away decisively.

Though he released her, he didn't grant her freedom. An assistant quickly came forward to escort her away.

Nicole caught a glimpse through the glass. The attackers had dispersed, leaving Roscoe alone on the ground, bloodied and bruised.

A passerby was calling the police.

Nicole knew this was merely a warning. If Jarrod had really wanted Roscoe dead, he wouldn't have chosen such a public setting for the assault. But still, she couldn't fathom why Jarrod had acted so irrationally. Was it because she had chosen to save Roscoe over him?

Her instincts told her that wasn't the complete story. Something else must have triggered his actions. She had to find out what it was.

As her mind raced with these thoughts, Nicole suddenly realized something and looked up at the assistant beside her.

Nicole gazed at Jarrod's new assistant and asked with hesitation, "Do you know what happened to Alec?"

The assistant seemed surprised and responded, "You haven't heard? Alec tried to take his own life again and now he has brain damage from not getting enough oxygen. He's been in the intensive care unit since then."

Nicole felt as if her mind had shattered. Alec tried to end his life again? How was that possible? He was safe before. Jarrod had previously persuaded him not to go through with it. How could Alec have tried again, but this time, with even more intensity?

"You mean... Alec tried to end his life again?" Even though Nicole heard it herself, she refused to accept it.

The assistant explained, “Alec took pills as advised. It was all so sudden. He appeared normal during the day but then broke down at night. We found him just in time. The doctor said a delay of two more minutes and we would have lost him."

Nicole's mind was a void. Now it made sense why Jarrod despised Roscoe so much. Jarrod always saw Alec as family, and Alec kept trying to end his life. The guilt must weigh heavily on Jarrod. If not for saving Jarrod, Alec wouldn't have ended up amputated and might not have tried to take his own life.

Nicole was seized by fear. She realized that Alec's condition was not going to resolve easily. Jarrod's fury today was just the beginning.

It wouldn't be the last or the worst of it. The storm seemed like it would go on forever. She felt lost, unsure of her next move.