Jarrod fixed his cold gaze at Nicole and enunciated each word, “Do you need to hear it again?"

His tone was chilling, reminiscent of a judge asking a condemned prisoner for their last meal request.

Nicole felt as though an invisible hand was squeezing her throat, rendering her speechless.

She realized with a sinking heart that no one on this ship would take her side.

Nobody would come to her aid. There was no point in defending herself. They were not seeking the truth but rather a punishment.

This was the final act in their cruel carnival.

Jarrod looked into Nicolle's dim eyes and sneered, "What? Have you given up defending yourself?"

“Even if I said it wasn't me, would you believe me? In your heart.

Nicole smiled bitterly and added, "You've already made up your mind, haven't you?"

Jarrod stared at Nicole with burning eyes, “And what if you were to explain? How do you know I wouldn't believe you?"

At that moment, his desire to hear her side of the story seemed more like a personal challenge. Even he was unsure of what he wanted to hear, but he was driven by a need to hear her reasoning.

To him, this conflict appeared to stem from mere jealousy.

The thought that Nicole was jealous of Jamie brought him a twisted sense of satisfaction.

“What are you expecting to hear, Jarrod? That I pushed Jamie into the water out of jealousy?" Nicole asked, her sharp words cutting through the tension.

Suddenly, a fleeting, uncharacteristic expression crossed Jarrod's stoic face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared.

Nicole caught a glimpse of it, though.

Now, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. But it was not really a smile but more of a sneer.

Did he really think, after all the humiliation she endured because of him, she could still love him? Did she act too convincingly?

Her plan had failed, and the downfall of her family's empire loomed over her. What more was there for her to cling to?

Nicole faced Jarrod and laughed with scorn.