Nicole didn't want to believe it, but she knew Jarrod was capable of anything when angry.

Jarrod sneered, “Calm down. He's okay. I'm just helping him get used to life without you."

Nicole was shocked. After a moment, she said, "Get used to life without me? You want to take Austin away from me?"

“Didn't you want to escape?" Jarrod's cold laugh filled the room.

“You can run, but if you leave here, you will never see Austin again."

"You can't do this, Jarrod!" Nicole said angrily. He knew how much Austin meant to her, yet he still used Austin to manipulate her.

"Why can't I? Do you think you're the only one who can be cruel?"

Jarrod taunted.

"Is this your revenge?" Nicole asked. "Is this because of Alec? Are you punishing me for him?"

“Believe what you want." Jarrod's expression darkened at the mention of Alec.

Alec's suicide attempts had made Jarrod even more twisted than before.

Just thinking about Alec's suicide filled him with a destructive rage.

“Austin isn't only yours. He's young and needs his mother. Jarrod, please, can't we stop this nonsense? Let's talk this out." Nicole softened her voice, trying to negotiate with Jarrod. She knew that a direct confrontation would worsen things, especially with him being so unstable after Alec's suicide attempts.

“After all this time, haven't you figured it out?" Jarrod looked at her with a slightly mocking grin.

Nicole was confused.

Jarrod laughed. “Nicole, maybe I don't need you as much as I once thought. Maybe this is more about my pride than anything else."

As Jarrod said this, he hated his own dishonesty. Alec's suicide hadn't given him any clarity. He worried he was really losing his sanity.

Jarrod started to walk away.

Nicole reached out and grabbed his arm from behind. "Don't act this way, Jarrod. Reacting in anger won't fix anything. Alec's death hurts me too, but we can't let our problems impact the child," Nicole said softly, pleading.

Yet, Jarrod ignored her plea. He shrugged her off coldly and said, "Go be with your Roscoe. Austin doesn't need you."