Chapter: 203

"She didn't," Bethany replied, curling her lips slightly as she feigned nonchalance. "She barely knows me. What could she possibly say?"

"Did she tell you Maddie was my fiancee?"

Bethany blinked and, after a few seconds, nodded. "Yes."

Jonathan walked into the hotel room and closed the door behind him.

Despite having shared more intimate moments before, Bethany still felt a rush of panic being so abruptly enclosed by his presence.

“What are you doing?" she asked.

“Don't listen to what my mother said."

Bethany looked into his eyes and noticed anxiety there.

“What she said has nothing to do with me." She tried to put some space between them; being this close made it hard for her to breathe.

But Jonathan appeared to close the distance deliberately; each time she stepped back, he moved closer.

Eventually, she heard what seemed like a quiet sigh from him.

"My mother was kidnapped. After she was rescued, she became withdrawn and later developed severe depression, even showing suicidal tendencies."

Bethany was taken aback-she hadn't expected Jonathan's mother to endure such ordeals. Just earlier, his mother seemed outgoing and talkative. Her voice was gentle and soft-the picture of a nurturing mother, not someone associated with depression.

But why was he telling her this?

"I can't expect her to accept the fact that we're married right away. I'm sorry."

It took Bethany a full minute to process this apology from Jonathan before she replied, “Why are you apologizing to me? Since she only hopes for you to marry Maddie, perhaps we should reconsider our marriage."

“Bethany, don't even think about ending our marriage!"

Jonathan's voice suddenly escalated, startling Bethany.

Observing his stern and deeply furrowed brows, she almost wanted to ask, “Am I that cheap in your eyes?" Even after everything, he still refused to end the contract. As the CEO of Bates Group, he could have anyone he wanted. Why did it have to be her?

Was it because that fateful night was her first time?

Or perhaps Jonathan had his quirks. After all, he was a severe neat freak.

The more Bethany pondered, the more she was convinced this was the case.

Previously, Aimee had enlightened her about such "knowledge," explaining that men of high status often valued a woman's first time significantly.

They believed such a woman was pure, both physically and emotionally, which boosted their male ego immensely.