Chapter: 202

After a moment's hesitation, she hit play.

“Bethany, great news! My friend tracked down the number that called you. It pinged from the Bates Group building!"

“Really? That's incredible." Bethany sprung to her feet. "Now I just need proof that Maddie was in contact with Apricot Microsystems to clear my name."

"I'm keeping an eye on things. I'll let you know the second I hear anything."

"Thank you so much! I couldn't do this without you."

Jayson chuckled. "What are friends for? I can't stand by while you're being wronged. It's no trouble at all."

Bethany knew tracing the IP address wasn't as simple as Jayson made it sound; it would take time and effort.

She owed Jayson more than words could express.

Jayson outlined his plan. Though they might not extract a confession from Maddie, accumulating evidence would corner her.

Their conversation stretched on until Bethany's phone was nearly dead.

She hung up the phone and discovered a flurry of missed voice calls and messages from Jonathan.

“Where are you?"

“I'm on my way to you."

“Bethany, who are you talking to?"

Remembering Aimee's advice, Bethany decided to pretend her phone had died and ignore the messages.

It wasn't far from the truth, after all.

Just as she was settling in for the night to await her DNA test results, a sudden knock at the door startled her.

Her first thought was of Jonathan, but she dismissed it.

How could he have found her among so many hotels in Odonset?

"Who is it?" Bethany asked, approaching the door. No answer came, just more insistent knocking.

Peering through the peephole, she saw exactly who she'd been trying to convince herself it couldn't be.

“How did you find this place?" Bethany asked as she opened the door, surprise evident in her voice.

Jonathan's towering frame filled the doorway. His eyes, as icy as ever, bore into her.

"Did my mother say something to you?" he asked.