Nicole paused, leaned over, and gently tapped Alec’s shoulder as though dusting him off.


    Then, with a twist of irony, she said, “Alec, it Looks like Jarrod doesn’t hold you in high regard!”


    Alec’s expression soured dramatically.


    Nicole smirked and walked away.


    She aimed to worsen Alec’s perception of her, intensifying his disdain.


    Her goal was to highlight and widen the disconnect between Alec’s and Jarrod’s perspectives, potentially to her advantage.


    After all, Alec was far from meless!


    Stepping outside, Nicole inhaled the fresh air deeply.


    She entered the car arranged by Jarrod and set off to thepany with his men.


    Before departing, Nicole cast a nce back at the austere vi, a smile ying on her lips.


    Alec struggled to stand up.


    Then, a key slipped from his pocket.From N?velDrama.Org.


    It was deliberately dropped, a key he’d always kept close.


    Alec made his way back to Jarrod’s room, finding Jarrod reclined on the bed, with a notebookid out before him.


    Upon Alec’s entry, Jarrod asked softly, “Did she take the bait?”


    Alec nodded.


    Jarrod nodded calmly.


    “Good.


    ”


    The room fell into silence.


    Jarrod’s gaze shifted to the off-white wall.


    He silently curled his lips downward and prayed deeply within.


    Nicole, please prove my trust in you wasn’t misced!


    After departing from Jarrod’s vi, Raegan felt a bit sad.


    Mitchel, driving, broke the silence.


    “You seem troubled.


    Anything you want to share?”


    Seeing that he took the initiative to speak, Raegan decided to give it a try and see if it would work.


    She said, “Mitchel, can you convince Jarrod to spare Nicole?”


    “I can’t do that,” Mitchel said coldly.


    Raegan’s heart sank.


    She recalled Nicole’s caution about keeping Mitchel in the dark.


    It was clear as day, just as Raegan sided with Nicole, Mitchel was undeniably loyal to Jarrod.


    With little else to say, Raegan merely acknowledged, “Understood.


    ”


    She then diverted her gaze to the scenery passing by the window.


    Mitchel’s irritation grew.


    Why couldn’t she just ask a few more questions?


    But Raegan dismissed his irritation, her focus lost to the view outside.


    Mitchel’s anger intensified even further.


    This heartless woman only seemed to acknowledge him when she needed something from him.


    As they approached the city, Raegan suddenly demanded, “Stop the car!”