Each of them gave her a reason to keep on fighting.
Unlike her friend Raegan, who would still have Mitchelâs care if she were absent, these people relied only on her.
This awareness urged Nicole to tread more carefully with her decisions.
It was challenging, yet somehow, it felt like a fortunate burden.
The people she loved were safe, and that mattered most.
When Nicole returned to the villa late that evening, the housekeeper was there to welcome her.
âMadam, youâre back.
We have some soup and dishes ready.
Which would you prefer?â
âNo, thank you,â Nicole replied, shaking her head.
âIâve already eaten.
â
Noting that Nicole wasnât interested in food, the housekeeper wished her a good night and retired.
Nicole, feeling exhausted, ascended the stairs without bothering to turn on the lights.
The moonlight was sufficient for her to navigate to her wardrobe, select some clothes, and then get changed in the bathroom.
After her shower, Nicole finally switched on the bedside lamp, and to her surprise, Jarrod was sitting on the sofa.
âWhen did you arrive?â she asked, startled.
Nicole hadnât noticed Jarrod when she entered the house.
Recently, Jarrod had been arriving home late, tangled in the affairs of the Hampton family, sometimes not coming home at all, though he always informed Nicole of his whereabouts.
âIâve been here since you came in,â Jarrod answered.
Nicole was left speechless.
âWhy didnât you say anything?â The realization that he had witnessed her changing under the moonlight, though faint, washed over her with embarrassment.
Just thinking about it colored her cheeks a deep red.
âA man like me, right here.
What kept you so distracted that you didnât even notice me?â Jarrodâs voice carried a playful edge as he approached, his tall figure looming near the bed.
âUm, nothing, really,â Nicole mumbled in response.
Jarrod hummed a soft note and then inquired, âWhere were you today?â
âI went to visit my mom and Kamilah,â Nicole responded, deliberately leaving out her encounters with Roscoe and Jamie.
Considering Roscoeâs tangled affairs with Doreen and the enigmatic presence of the woman experienced in witchcraft, she was certain Jarrod would stand by Doreen without question.
Jarrod, having few living family members, had forged a strong bond with Doreenâs family.
Nicole noticed Jarrodâs unusual attentiveness toward Doreen, uncharacteristic of his usual indifference.
It seemed clear to Nicole that Jarrod valued Doreen and Hallie.
After hearing Nicoleâs reply, Jarrod remained silent for a moment.
This silence unsettled Nicole, particularly because she was cornered between him and the wall.
A subtle scent of alcohol lingered in the air, prompting her to inquire, âHave you been drinking?â
Jarrod merely grunted in response.
âIâll have the maid prepare some hangover soup for you,â Nicole offered, eager to find an excuse to leave the awkward encounter.
Jarrod nodded and moved aside, allowing Nicole to quickly exit the room.
As he watched her depart, Jarrod mulled over a conversation heâd had with Alec earlier this day.
Alec had gathered significant information, revealing that the woman Nicole rushed to the hospital as Melissa was actually Jamie.
This revelation caught Jarrod off guard.
He hadnât anticipated Jamie altering her appearance so dramatically.
Jamieâs resemblance to Nicole when she first appeared was supposed to be a red flag.
At that time, however, his judgment was clouded, his thoughts constantly besieged by the memory of Nicole who feigned death, which blurred his analytical thinking.
The realization that Jamie was still alive shocked Jarrod, and the discovery that she was plotting against him left him even more bewildered.
Jamie had a good cause for revenge.
After all, he hadnât spared her at that time.