Chapter: 29

“Okay. Have a good day at work."

After Maddie left, Jonathan picked up the company phone, intending to call Bethany. However, after hesitating for a while, he decided to send her a message instead.

"Go straight to East Shade Bay after work," he texted.

East Shade Bay was where he Lived.

After a while, Bethany replied, "I can't. I need to visit my mother tonight. Besides, it's office hours. Mr. Bates, anything else?"

Bethany had just given him a taste of his own medicine.

Jonathan couldn't help but chuckle in amusement.

It seemed that Bethany hadn't changed much since junior high school.

Despite appearing meek and mild-mannered, deep down, she was sensitive, sharp, and prone to self-doubt. She always kept her guard up, ready to fend off anyone who approached.

He knew she must've felt aggrieved after what happened with her rejected proposal, leading to this guarded stance.

“We need to talk about the Zucron Company project," he replied, cutting straight to the chase. “I'll be working late, so I'll be there at around eight o'clock."

In her office, Bethany read and reread his text, feeling perplexed.

Maddie was back, wasn't she? So, why was Jonathan still inviting her to his home? Did he want to flaunt their relationship in front of her?

Or... was he planning to terminate their contract in person?

When this thought occurred to her, Bethany felt a twinge of annoyance.

It wasn't because she didn't want to part ways with Jonathan, but because her mother's surgery was imminent. If he ended their contract now, she feared the doctors might not prioritize her mother's operation.

But she was keenly aware that since Jonathan's beloved woman had returned, she couldn't cling to a position that wasn't rightfully hers.

After work, despite her apprehensions, Bethany hailed a taxi and headed straight to East Shade Bay.

She was punching in the lock's passcode when she suddenly stopped, her finger hovering mid-air. What if Jonathan was doing something private? It would be awkward for everyone if she suddenly walked in on him. So, she decided to ring the doorbell instead.

Seconds later, the door swung open from the inside.

Jonathan stood there, having changed out of his usual suit into a pair of white pajamas. His meticulously combed hair was now a bit unkempt, giving him the look of a rugged teenager rather than the business elite she knew.

Seeing him like this, Bethany could easily picture him as a boy who had just finished a game of basketball and was heading back to the classroom to rest.

Thinking Maddie might be inside, Bethany hesitated at the door. She stood there stiffly and started to say, "Mr. Bates, about the Zucron Company project"

“Bethany,” he interrupted with a frown, "I'm not working right now."