Chapter: 176

Her words were straightforward and heartfelt, prompting Bethany to give the most genuine smile she had all day.

"Alright."

Jayson carried Bethany's luggage to her apartment and even made her a bowl of noodles before he left.

After eating, Bethany washed up and settled into bed.

That was when she noticed a message from Jonathan. "Have you arrived?"

To avoid giving Jonathan the impression that she was upset, Bethany paused to consider her response. Eventually, she texted back, "Yes."

She then set her phone aside and went to sleep.

That night, she was haunted by a vivid dream in which her father confessed to having an affair and fathering another daughter.

“Yes, she was pregnant not long after you were pregnant with Bethany. The little girl is about Bethany's age."

"If you're willing to accept them, we can stay married. As for me, I'll ensure there are only two women in my life from now on."

"You are my wife, yet you can't even bear a son. If you refuse to divorce, you might as well live alone!"

Bethany was young at the time, and she could only see her mother, Marie, from behind, unable to discern her expression. But she vividly remembered her father's disdainful look and his harsh words.

Later, overwhelmed by anger, her mother attempted suicide by jumping from a building. Bethany reached out to grab her but tripped over a chair and missed grasping her clothes.

Suddenly, Bethany awoke, gasping for air and taking several moments to shake off the remnants of her dream.

"You're awake!" Aimee was watching her, concern etched across her face.

The previous night, worried about Bethany's state of mind, Aimee had decided to stay close and share the bed with her.

“Jayson is on his way here!"

Upon hearing this, Bethany quickly got up and went to freshen up.

She had just finished dressing when the doorbell rang.

Jayson arrived with three friends in tow. Though they appeared unremarkable at first glance, their skills with Bethany's phone were nothing short of revelatory.

Aside from the blocked and destroyed data, they managed to recover almost all the information.

"Is there any way to retrieve a recording of the call from Maddie?"

Bethany knew it was a long shot, but she asked anyway.

One of them, a tall man, pursed his lips and said, “It's tough. Too much time has passed."