The nurse's cheeks turned a shade of pink before she retreated.

Nicole chuckled and said, "Jarrod, you're such a scaredy-cat. You even bolted the door."

Although her mocking demeanor infuriated him, Jarrod couldn't deny the pleasure of their sexual intercourse.

He conceded that Nicole had a certain allure when she behaved this way.

"I won't be beaten," Nicole announced with confidence.

Arching an eyebrow, Jarrod scoffed.

"I'll look forward to seeing you groveling."

What he didn't expect was that he would never witness Nicole begging for compassion.

He had assumed that three years would suffice to break her, but they didn't even last half that time.

As Nicole lay limp in his embrace that day, he found himself willing to trade his own life for hers.

Love, once profound, now masked by pointless animosity, fueled his destructive tendencies.

In the CEO Office of the Dixon Group.

Matteo relayed his hospital chat with Raegan.

Mitchel's gaze grew intense.

"Dig into every detail."

As Matteo prepared to leave, Mitchel interjected, “Retract all the fabricated stories about that birthday celebration."

Upon exiting, Matteo bumped into Kyle and pulled him aside.

“Kyle, fetch the security footage from both sides of the president's office door on the day of the conference."

Kyle's expression remained stoic despite a moment of inner turmoil.

“Sure, Matteo."