Chapter: 392

Bethany fell silent for a moment, her voice barely audible when she finally spoke. "No one Loves me more than he does."

“Alright, I understand," Ryan conceded reluctantly.

After hanging up, Bethany set her phone aside, feeling utterly drained. The confrontation with Nikolas had sapped all her strength.

Every second had felt excruciating.

She was terrified that Nikolas would know she was lying.

She wouldn't return to Jonathan, but her love for him remained.

Back at the restaurant, Ryan returned looking dejected after the call.

Nikolas knew he had ruined the meeting. He filled Ryan's glass with wine. “It's been a while. Care to join me for a drink?"

Ryan stared at Nikolas, taking the glass and downing it in one go.

“Tell. me, what's going on between you and Bethany? I've known her for so long, and I've never seen her so emotionally shaken."

Bethany was well-regarded in the company for her approachability, strong work ethic, and willingness to mentor new employees. As a leader, she was respected enough, and while she wasn't lavishly praised, she also had no detractors.

Ryan had never seen her in such a state before.

Nikolas poured himself another drink and downed it in silence. "This one's on me. I messed it up."

“I need to understand," Ryan pressed on.

“I really can't tell you," Nikolas replied, his expression guarded as he considered Jonathan's situation.

Seeing Bethany's resolute stance earlier, he was determined not to let his best friend get entangled any further.

Ryan hesitated, clearly wanting to push for more information but ultimately deciding against it.

“Forget it, I won't pry. Professionally, I'm her boss, and personally, we're not even friends. I suppose I'm pretty pathetic, huh? Finally find a woman I like, and it turns out to be impossible."

“Has she ever shown any interest in you?" Nikolas asked, raising an eyebrow with curiosity.

He wondered about Bethany's charm that captivated both Jonathan and Ryan.

“She's always been professional at work, never crossing any lines. That's what sets her apart," Ryan explained thoughtfully.

He recalled a project where Bethany's dedication stood out. When a critical proposal failed to impress investors, she stayed late, refining the details until the investor was impressed beyond words.

The investor suggested having a meal together, and she could have easily sweet-talked him, but she chose to focus on perfecting the project.

"Bethany's different," Nikolas admitted.