Chapter: 247

"That's because such a request would paint me as mercenary," Bethany retorted, believing that anyone presented with such a demand would doubt the requester's intentions.

That couldn't be the measure of true affection.

In other words, if she were in Jonathan's shoes and heard such a request, she too would suspect that the other party had ulterior motives for the relationship.

"It's mot about being greedy. A man's commitment can be gauged by where he invests his resources." Marie glanced at Bethany. "Don't think that I'm just after the money. If I wanted money, I wouldn't have refused to accept treatment. I'm telling you this to highlight the reality of your relationship with Jonathan and the slim chances of it working."

"In your opinion, no man is trustworthy, and I should avoid relationships altogether, right?"

“That's not what I'm saying." Marie shook her head. “Jayson seems like a good man."

This unexpected shift caught Bethany off guard.

“We're just friends," she clarified.

"But Jayson has feelings for you," Marie insisted. Her experienced eyes recognizing the signs of a man in love. "If I had to pick someone for you, I'd trust Jayson more."

Whenever Marie recalled Francine's haughty demeanor during her visit, she couldn't help but worry about the hardships Bethany would face in the Bates family.

Maybe Jonathan would defend her at first. But if Francine's undermining became a daily occurrence, even Jonathan's patience might wear thin. Besides, as a CEO surrounded by numerous women vying for his attention, the strain on their relationship could only intensify.

In contrast, Jayson's family had welcomed Bethany warmly, their affection genuine and without reservation.

"Mom, Jayson and I can't be together."

"Then you and Jonathan have even less of a chance. I will never accept him."

"Mom, that's unfair."

"I'm going back to my room. If you're still chasing fantasies, don't bother visiting. I'd rather you forget me than watch you repeat my mistakes."

With that, Marie steadied herself against the wall and shuffled away, leaving Bethany alone with her thoughts.

Bethany knew changing her mother's mind was a long shot. She couldn't just cut ties over Jonathan, no matter the pressure.

Meanwhile, Bethany's situation had stirred the corporate waters at Bates Group.

The reversal of her dismissal-announced on the company's website, then retracted-had sparked widespread speculation.

This was unprecedented.

After all, as an assistant in the investment department, it was already newsworthy that the chairman personally ordered her dismissal.

Then, the president rescinded that decision. Even a fool could understand what was happening.

At lunch, the chatter continued unabated among Bethany's colleagues.