Chapter: 1200

Bethany's ears perked up at the commotion, her gaze darting their way.

Though she couldn't make out their words, she instinctively pinned the blame on Nikolas. "He deserved that."

“What are they talking about?" Bethany asked, puzzled.

“No idea." Aimee shrugged. “But if Jonathan's giving Nikolas a hard time, then Nikolas must have done something wrong."

Bethany smiled. "You two are getting along quite well these days."

Though they clashed, their conflicts were never tangled. A misunderstanding might ignite a tempest, but once the clouds parted, they'd return to harmony.

“I can't do anything about it; he's being clingy. But to be honest, when we broke up, I didn't want to see him anymore."

“I can see that," Bethany acknowledged, fully aware of Aimee's personality.

"Enough about us. What's the deal with you and Jonathan? I heard from Nikolas that Jonathan flew back from Ferindel despite his heavy workload."

Bethany paused, her eyes meeting Aimee's. "Nothing has changed between us."

Aimee gave Bethany's shoulder a squeeze, nodding towards the children nearby.

"I don't care about the other issues between you and Jonathan, but I've been looking forward to this vacation for a long time, and who knows when we'll get another chance? Please, for the sake of the kids, try not to let them sense any tension between you two. Nola is fine; she's just focused on sweets, but Rowan is very sensitive."

Rowan, who had spent his formative years abroad with Jayson, was a blend of fierce independence and astute perception.

Bethany, too, recognized this sharp contrast in him.

“Don't worry. Now that I've agreed, I'll make sure the kids don't have any bad memories."

"Fine, with you saying that, I'm relieved," Aimee replied, then happily trotted off to find Nikolas.

Jonathan approached, scooping up Nola in one arm and perching Rowan atop a suitcase with the other. "Let's go."

"Alright," Bethany agreed, trailing behind them.

After clearing security, they found themselves in the airport's VIP lounge. Aimee was entertaining the kids with their newly acquired toys.

While Rowan was engrossed in his Lego masterpiece, he glanced up and saw Bethany and Jonathan standing worlds apart, their silence stretching between them like an unspoken rift. Something seemed amiss.

He tugged Aimee's sleeve, whispering, “Did Mommy and Daddy have a fight?"

“Not at all."

"But Daddy always holds Mommy's hand when he's not carrying anything, and today he isn't."

Aimee's gaze followed Rowan's, and she, too, couldn't ignore the unusual scene. The awkwardness hanging between Bethany and Jonathan struck her as jarringly out of place, like a discordant note in a familiar melody.