Chapter: 140

Shortly after, a nurse arrived to escort Marie to the surgery room.

The red light illuminated outside the operating room, and the sign.

"In Operation" quickened Bethany's heartbeat.

Suddenly, she felt the weight of a coat draped over her shoulders, carrying a hint of mint.

Turning instinctively, she saw Jayson.

“You'll catch a cold if you're not dressed warmly enough."

“I'm fine, thank you." Bethany refused his coat. “I'm sorry my mother called you into this again. I didn't expect my mom to trouble you again."

"I've said before; it's fine as long as your mom feels at ease. Aimee mentioned how hard you've worked to save for this surgery. Now that we're here, the most important thing is that everything goes smoothly."

Bethany looked down, took a moment, and said, "You know my mom's situation. The doctor mentioned she might not fully recover from this surgery, and there's always a risk of relapse. We are not meant for each other."

It didn't matter whether Bethany was giving herself too much credit or overthinking things. She was determined to have a_ clear conversation with Jayson.

When she finally brought up the issue, Jayson was taken aback.

“I don't care about that," he replied, his voice steady.

From the very first time Jayson saw Bethany, she had made a strong impression on him. Whenever Aimee talked about Bethany, he found himself growing more curious and interested.

When he had a girlfriend, he never entertained other thoughts. But after his breakup, Aimee proposed setting him up with Bethany. He admitted he was quite taken with her.

It wasn't just Bethany's beauty that caught his attention. It was also her determined spirit that made him want to protect her.

“But I care." She chose her words carefully. “I want a marriage where we're equals. But right now, I feel like I'd just be a burden."

“How can you think that? Your mom only needs a few more surgeries, and it'll only cost a few million. My family can cover that."

Jayson's voice grew urgent. "If you're saying no because of this, you really don't have to!"

Bethany shook her head, her voice steady. “You're not getting my point."

"I get it!" Jayson, rarely this anxious, pressed on. "My parents don't care about your background. The money for the surgeries? We can give it to you."

“Beyond the money, can you deal with my mom calling you all the time, bossing you around? Even if you're in class, in a meeting, or working overtime without sleep for days, you have to do her bidding right away. She'll scold you if you're even a bit late.”

"I can do it!"

"You say that because you've never had to deal with it."

Bethany knew her mother all too well.