Chapter 1407

Chapter 1407:

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Jarrod instructed the driver with authority: “Drive.”

"Mr. Schultz, where to?" the driver asked.

Although it was common for men to take women to hotels, Jarrod had another destination in mind.

Looking at Nicole, who was still struggling, Jarrod pricked the bridge of his nose and ordered, “To the villa.”

As the car pulled away, Nicole continued to move, her head banging against the window. Jarrod grabbed her by the face and warned her sharply, “You want to jump? Think of what I’d do to your face.”

Realizing the implications, Nicole calmed down a bit.

Seeing her calm down slightly, Jarrod dismissively pushed her into the corner.

The mixture of blood, alcohol and vomit emanating from Nicole was repulsive. Jarrod had intervened only out of necessity.

As the car moved forward, Nicole muttered a single word, barely audible: "Roscoe."

Jarrod's face became a mask of icy severity, his expression darkening instantly. The veins on the back of his hand stood out, indicating his intense effort to maintain control.

Jarrod turned around, determined to throw Nicole out of the car, but stopped when he saw her curled up like a distressed cat in a corner, looking unusually subdued.

Her docility was strange to see, especially since she wasn't fully conscious. Jarrod realized that arguing with someone in that state was useless.

“Damn it!” Jarrod muttered under his breath, his frustration evident as he pulled at his collar, accidentally popping a couple of buttons.

His shirt fell open slightly, revealing the chiseled contours of his chest, an unintentional display of his masculine appeal.

Luckily, Nicole's outburst had been brief. Had she persisted, Jarrod would have been tempted to drag her out of the car before they reached their destination.

Reflecting on the evening, Jarrod questioned his decision to bring Nicole home. Perhaps he should have maintained his usual role of detached observer. After all, she didn't need him. She needed someone else…

The suburban property was one of many Jarrod owned, but it held a special place as a personal retreat.

Jarrod valued its quiet and the way it was isolated, close to the river. During storms, he would sit on the large veranda, listening to the rain lashing the river, the sounds reflecting the turbulence of his past.

These moments reinforced his resilience, a testament to the adversities he had overcome. He could not return to being the dapper gentleman he once intended to be, if he ever really was.

Never was.

As the car approached the villa, the staff, already briefed by the driver, was ready. Both the doctor and the housekeeper were ready to help.

When the car stopped, they rushed out to meet Jarrod. Seeing Jarrod half-dragging, half-carrying Nicole, the housekeeper stepped forward to help, but Nicole resisted, pushing away from both Jarrod and any other approaching hands.

Nicole's clouded mind kept her constantly on alert for anyone, a behavior ingrained from a life filled with constant upheaval. She resisted Jarrod, though his familiar scent provided a modicum of comfort compared to the strangers around her.

Jarrod observed her reluctance to interact with the staff and felt his spirits lift slightly. A faint smile appeared at the corner of his lips as he said calmly, “No need.”

The housekeeper sensed that Nicole was special to Jarrod as she clung to him, trying to reject contact with anyone else.

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