At present, the Watts family's power was in decline, and those who had once leeched off their status and influence found themselves at a loss after having been driven out by Roscoe. Unable to let go after having been used to the high life, they might resort to desperate measures. If Doreen remained in Ardlens, it wouldn't be unlikely for her to cross paths with those from the Watts family who held a grudge and were looking for revenge.

Right now, the best course of action was for Doreen and Hallie to lie low abroad. It was the only way to avoid trouble.

However, neither Doreen nor Hallie understood Jarrod's good intentions. They were convinced that he had been bewitched by Nicole and was doing things in her favor.

Being taken away, Hallie, seething, protested. "How could you do this to me? Have you forgotten how good I was to you? I helped you when you were nothing. I can't believe you're treating your family Like this just for that woman!"

It was a feeble claim. The help Hallie had thrown in Jarrod's face was a paltry sum of a few thousand dollars. She considered herself kind enough not to add fuel to the flames while Jarrod was down and out. Perhaps back then, she had still been human enough for charity.

However, Jarrod's acts of repaying the kindness far exceeded the value of that small amount of money from long ago.

But Hallie didn't see things that way. As entitled as ever, she felt that the world owed her everything she desired. Now that Jarrod was a wealthy man, she was expecting him to give her more. She wanted him to stay unmarried and without any children so all his assets would be left to her.

Greed ran much deeper than anyone could imagine. And endurance for the old time's sake only served to feed it.

If Jarrod hadn't continuously repaid Hallie out of gratitude and a sense of familial obligation, Hallie and Doreen wouldn't have a warped sense of entitlement.

After Hallie was whisked away, the commotion gradually fizzled out.

Seeing that Rhett was there, Jarrod knew Nicole must have something to discuss to summon Rhett over.

“Have you decided?" Jarrod asked.

"Yes," Nicole replied evenly.

Jarrod waited for Nicole to speak. Instead, Rhett pulled out a document, saying, "Mr. Schultz, this is the agreement drafted per Miss Lawrence's instructions. Please review it."

Jarrod took the document and read through it.

The terms Nicole had laid out for keeping the child were similar to Jarrod's earlier proposal. Her conditions included finalizing their divorce within a week of the child's birth, leaving no room for delay. It was clear that Nicole had no attachment to their calculated marriage beyond the child.

Apart from this, Nicole insisted on living in her own apartment until the child was born. The setup would grant her freedom, and it ensured that Jarrod wouldn't be able to interfere in her life, and that included her visiting Austin. Their relationship would be practically divorced, with only the paperwork pending after the child's birth.

To ensure Jarrod wouldn't back out, Nicole insisted on involving lawyers and notarizing the agreement. She was all too familiar with Jarrod's tendency to renege on promises.

Nicole's choice to keep the child wasn't just about Jarrod's proposal.

Her mother's better condition and her own change of heart had led her to this choice. The once unwanted child gradually turned into images of a small, precious, life. Indeed, the child was innocent. It was the adults who were at fault. And so it wouldn't be right for the child to pay for their mistakes.