Chapter: 102

Jonathan felt the onset of a headache and murmured, “I'll try to talk her out of it."

"Jonathan," Maddie interjected. "Are you worried about her returning because of her health or because of Bethany?"

Jonathan, caught off guard by her directness, just shot her a frosty look without a reply.

"You know she might not react well to Bethany. Maybe it's best not to tell her just yet," Maddie advised, slipping back into her usual supportive tone. "Otherwise, it might undo all the progress, or even worsen things."

“I'U consider it carefully."

Bethany returned to East Shade Bay, but her relief was fleeting.

The vastness of the empty house only amplified her solitude, prompting images of Jonathan and Maddie together at the hospital.

Could they be embracing each other tightly right now?

Or perhaps Jonathan was caressing Maddie's face with the same tenderness he had shown her.

Irritated, Bethany massaged her forehead and tried to dispel the unwelcome thoughts.

Maybe some housework would distract her.

She figured staying busy might prevent her mind from drifting.

However, as Bethany moved through the rooms, dusting from bedroom to living room, she noticed how impeccably clean everything was-—the place was spotless, a rarity for a man.

What hour must Jonathan wake up to maintain such order?

Growing frustrated, Bethany was about to give up and retreat when she noticed the door to his study slightly open.

Perhaps picking up a book wouldn't upset him.

Bethany tiptoed in, flicked on the light, and surveyed the walls lined with books.

Then, Bethany spotted several neatly arranged middle school textbooks -a surprising discovery, as she had no clue where her own textbooks had gone.

Driven by curiosity, Bethany pulled one from the shelf, and a letter fell out.

Bending down, she picked it up, noticing the bold handwriting across the envelope.

"Do you know the secret of the number 0825?"

The number 0825 surfaced again.

How deeply could Jonathan really love Maddie?

Bethany found it hard to picture someone as stern and unemotional as Jonathan going to such extreme measures for love-setting a passcode, getting a tattoo, even writing love letters.