Jarrod taught Alec boxing and self-defense.
Together, they forged a path in their careers abroad.
Alec silently vowed to remain loyal to Jarrod for the rest of his life.
It seemed Jarrod momentarily emerged from his delirium upon hearing Alecâs voice.
Jarrod managed to push Alec away, murmuring as if in a trance, âNicole had said she might forgive me as long as sheâs satisfiedâ¦â
Nicoleâs words consumed Jarrod.
As he spoke, blood continued to flow from the corner of his mouth, making it seem as if his throat was filled with shards of glass.
Even breathing became a form of torture for Jarrod.
Each breath felt like thorny vines were being driven into his throat.
His entire body ached, the pain so intense that he thought death might be a kinder fate.
âMr.
Schultz! She is playing a trick on you! Please, snap out of it!â
Alec implored, his voice filled with concern and desperation.
âNot possible!â Jarrodâs voice, hoarse and growling, cut through the sound of the rain.
âNicole wonât play tricks on me.
She just wonâtâ¦â
The rain intensified, pouring down as if to engulf everything in its path.
Alec, watching Jarrodâs pale, trembling form, felt a deep sense of sorrow.
Jarrod was battling extremes of heat and cold, a challenge even for the strongest of bodies.
To make matters worse, the doctor had warned that given Jarrodâs current state, he could suffer spasms or even die unexpectedly at any moment.
Alec considered forcibly taking Jarrod to the hospital, but he knew all too well Jarrodâs stubborn streak after working with Jarrod for eight long years.
He understood that, despite the potential to save Jarrodâs life, forcibly taking Jarrod away might leave Jarrod with a lifetime of regret and depression.
Alec couldnât bring himself to act against Jarrodâs wishes.
Alec surmised Jarrodâs stubborn nature had widened the rift between him and Nicole.
As an assistant, Alec witnessed Jarrod had secretly done so much for Nicole and couldnât bear to leave her.
However, what Jarrod did and told Nicole told a different story.
With a heavy heart, Alec wiped away his tears, turned around and left.
Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Exhibition Center, Nicole had just woken up from a comfortable sleep after a massage.
Nicole received a message from Raegan, saying Raegan had returned home to take care of Janey, who felt unwell.
Drawing the curtains, Nicole noticed the stormy, dark weather outside.
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A glance at the clock told Nicole had slept for four hours.
A dull ache in her stomach served as a reminder that she hadnât taken her nightly medicine.
As Nicole reached for her handbag, her handbag accidentally fell to the floor, scattering several differently colored medicine bottles.
Nicole stared at the empty handbag and the bottles on the floor, a sense of stun washing over her.
While other womenâs bags were filled with makeup, jewelry, and other treasured items, hers was always packed with pill bottles.
She had undergone a partial gastrectomy and was on medication.
This treatment was new, and the effects of the clinical trials were uncertain.
Many in her experimental group hadnât survived beyond three months.
Miraculously, Nicole was the lucky one who had surpassed the critical five-year mark.
However, this didnât guarantee her recovery.
For the rest of her life, she would have to continue taking these classified medicines and endure their side effects.