Chapter: 1144

Outside the restaurant, Jayson led Nikolas to a quieter spot.

Considering their imposing heights and striking appearances, chatting by the entrance would surely draw unwanted attention.

Nikolas braced himself for a confrontation, but Jayson's first question caught him off guard. "Got a cigarette?"

"Uh, no," Nikolas stuttered, slightly confused. "I quit smoking; Aimee is pregnant."

“Okay," Jayson murmured, leaning back against the wall. He fell silent for a few moments before continuing, “Are you committed to Aimee?"

Nikolas nodded with conviction. “Without a doubt."

“Can you cope with her being headstrong and sometimes unreasonable?"

“I can manage. In fact, it's her spirited nature that I'm drawn to."

Jayson eyed him thoughtfully, then shifted the topic abruptly.

“You're aware of the situation with Bethany and Jonathan, aren't you?"

Nikolas was briefly taken aback by the sudden change.

"Yeah, I'm aware," he admitted.

Being Jonathan's closest confidant, he was well-informed.

"They aren't planning to reconcile, are they?"

Nikolas considered this for a moment and then shook his head. "I'm not sure. That's something only they can decide."

"Did you know I have feelings for Bethany?" Jayson asked.

Of course, Nikolas knew.

Jayson's attentiveness to Bethany earlier had made his feelings quite clear.

“Jonathan and I are rivals for Bethany's affections, and you're Jonathan's friend. Normally, I wouldn't mind, but now you're involved with my cousin, and that complicates things for me," Jayson explained.

“But my friend with Jonathan doesn't affect my feelings for Aimee."

"Then answer me this-if Jonathan and I were to have a conflict, whose side would you take?"

Nikolas was caught between his girlfriend's cousin and his best friend.

"I would—" he started, then paused, reconsidering. "Wait, why would there be a clash between you and Jonathan? He's not with Bethany anymore. If you can't win her heart, it isn't his fault."

Indeed, if Bethany simply wasn't interested, it wasn't right to blame Jonathan.