Chapter: 216

Nikolas sighed, his expression one of resignation. "Didn't you plan to keep it from her? Well, she's back now. It's tough to keep secrets."

"Yes." Jonathan acknowledged the difficulty, knowing that ever since she returned, it was only a matter of time before she discovered the truth.

"But I really need to say this. Why not just pretend in front of her? I'm sure Maddie would cooperate with you on this. At least, it might keep your mother's condition from getting worse. Anyway, Bethany doesn't have to know."

Nikolas, as Jonathan's close friend, understood Maddie's feelings towards him and genuinely worried about his situation.

Yet, he couldn't grasp why Jonathan remained so inflexible. In business, Jonathan was typically adaptable, and it seemed that today's confrontation could have been avoided.

"Just because Bethany won't know, should I do it?"

Nikolas, puzzled by his response, nodded vigorously. "Absolutely! You're trying to balance not hurting Bethany with comforting your mother. This might be the best way to handle both. Maybe your interest in Bethany will wane eventually. Everyone's pushing you to break it off, so you're resisting. Once she truly falls for you, you might start to feel overwhelmed. That's my experience. When I can't have someone, they seem perfect, but once I do, the excitement usually fades."

"I've loved Bethan for more than a decade," Jonathan suddenly said.

His sudden confession left Nikolas momentarily stunned, unable to form a response.

Without offering any more explanation, Jonathan simply drove away from the hospital.

Nikolas clicked his tongue and sighed, resigning himself to the situation.

Emotions were a whirlwind, impossible to predict.

At Aimee's house, Bethany tried to follow her friend's lively chatter, but her thoughts were elsewhere.

Her mind was a tangled mess, filling her with unease.

“Hey, are you even listening?" Aimee gave her a nudge with her elbow.

Bethany blinked, coming back to reality. "What? Oh, yeah, I was..."

"This whole situation has shaken up the company. You can't miss this chance. If you do, it'll be nearly impossible for us to take down someone as powerful as Maddie. Put the evidence online. It might not be concrete proof, but it could muddy the waters."

“Maddie is a skilled lawyer. She excels at spotting flaws and countering them."

Bethany knew she was at a disadvantage here. Trying to outmaneuver a lawyer like Maddie was a futile effort.

"So, we wait for the company's investigation?" Aimee trusted the company but understood they would likely prioritize keeping Maddie, their chief attorney.

Why would anyone bother with Bethany's grievances?

"We'll wait for a while." Bethany frowned. “Someone promised me a fair investigation."

“Who?"

“I'm exhausted. I need to wash up and get some sleep. Bethany didn't answer. She just walked toward the bathroom."