Chapter: 1201

“Bethany, come over here," Aimee called out. Jonathan, ever attentive, followed Bethany, concerned something might be amiss with the children.

"Rowan, honey, why don't you share what you just told me?" Aimee prompted.

Rowan's lower lip quivered slightly. "I think Daddy doesn't love Mommy anymore. He used to hold her hand, but now he doesn't. Daddy, are you going to bring home a new mommy for me and my sister?"

A deafening silence fell over them.

Rowan's candid words took both Bethany and Jonathan by surprise.

Instinctively, they reached out, their hands meeting in an unspoken promise.

"I was just thinking about something! See? I'm holding your daddy's hand now." Desperate to convince her son, Bethany nestled closer to Jonathan, her heart pounding.

Jonathan instinctively wrapped his arms around her and said, “Rowan, didn't I tell you before? You'll never have a stepmother. Don't bring it up again."

Without meaning to, Bethany glanced at Jonathan.

Though his gaze didn't meet hers, he could sense the waves of surprise emanating from her.

Soon enough, it was time to board the plane.

Bethany had assumed Nikolas would seat the children beside her and Jonathan, but to her astonishment, they were placed with Nikolas and Aimee.

She and Jonathan found themselves assigned to adjacent seats at the rear of the aircraft.

“Aimee, you're pregnant! The little ones can be a handful. I'm worried they'll be too much for you!" Bethany protested.

"Don't worry! I'm fine! Go and sit down." Aimee dismissed her worries with a wave of her hand. “I'm getting some practice in for motherhood. If you and Jonathan are around, I won't get the chance. So, you better head back."

Nikolas chimed in with a reassuring wave, "Aimee and I can handle the kids easily! I chose these seats carefully."

Left with no alternative, Bethany retreated to her designated spot.

Jonathan, still wrestling with jet lag, had his eyes shut in repose.

The telltale shadows beneath his eyes spoke volumes of his exhaustion.

It dawned on her that he must have returned home ahead of schedule, burning the midnight oil to tackle a mountain of tasks.

A flicker of concern sparked as she recalled his recent bout of illness. Gingerly, she reached out to check his forehead for a fever.

The moment her fingers grazed his skin, Jonathan's hand shot out, gripping her wrist.

His eyes flew open, and after a beat, he released her.

“Sorry, I thought it was a stranger."