Chapter: 14

"You scared me to death!" Aimee's relieved voice came from the other end of the line.

"Sorry. I was in the ICU, and my phone was on silent."

“God, I'm glad you're okay. I was worried sick you'd do something stupid. Anyway, don't worry; there's still hope. If money is the answer, then we can save your mom!"

Bethany was about to reply when she suddenly saw a tall figure emerge from the other end of the hospital corridor. He looked Like a god descending from heaven.

Having received no response, Aimee called out, "Hello? Earth to Bethany? Hello! Why can't I hear you?"

The man strode towards Bethany. Seeing her trembling there, he shrugged off his coat and wrapped it around her thin shoulders.

"You'll catch a cold," he chastised.

His voice was still frosty, but to Bethany, there seemed to be a hint of concern in his deep-set eyes.

She quickly shook her head, thinking she must've been imagining things out of sheer desperation.

"Hey, is someone else there? Whose voice was that? Bethany, answer me!"

Aimee shouted into the phone.

Bethany snapped back to reality. Without responding, she hung up on Aimee, still rattled by Jonathan's sudden appearance.

"Mr. Bates, what're you doing here?"

"You wanted to talk to me, right?"

Nervous, Bethany averted her gaze and instinctively reached out to tuck her hair behind her ear. "Well, yes... I've been trying to contact you..."

Her voice trailed off; she didn't know what to say next.

It was Jonathan who broke the silence. “Have you reconsidered my proposal?" he asked in a low voice.

This time, Bethany nodded without hesitation. "Yes! I'm willing to marry you. So, can you help my mom? Please, I'll do anything."

Jonathan had never seen Bethany so flustered before and couldn't help but smile. But suddenly, a thought occurred to him, and his smile disappeared.

“What about your boyfriend?"

Bethany was taken aback.

"I refuse to interfere with your relationship," he continued. “You should break up with him first."

Remembering her lie, Bethany almost blurted out that she didn't have a boyfriend, but she managed to stop herself in time. After all, admitting this would've implied that she had lied to him earlier.

So, after a moment's hesitation, she nodded decisively. “Okay, I'll break up with him right now."