Chapter: 519

“Jayson, please take the kids and go."

"No way! I can't just leave you here!" Jayson couldn't stand the idea of leaving Bethany alone in Odonset, especially considering what had happened to her mother before.

If they attacked once, they could attack again.

“It's okay. I'll catch up with you soon."

Bethany reassured her son and daughter with a pat on their shoulders, then stepped out of the car.

Jayson began to follow her, but Aimee held him back.

“Jayson! Just the fact that Rowan has shown up could make Jonathan suspicious. He might be trying to figure out which of his past relationships resulted in a son! If Bethany dodges his call now, it might make him even more suspicious."

Jayson's expression turned somber. “He dares to bother Bethany! If not for him, her mother would still be alive!"

"What good does it do to say that now?" Aimee opened the car door, moved to the back seat, and embraced the two children. "Jayson, the best support we can offer Bethany right now is to look after these kids! Let her manage the rest. She'll let us know if she needs help."

“Aimee, I-"

"I understand your feelings, but Bethany has already made it clear she doesn't feel the same. You need to respect her boundaries."

Jayson was quiet for a long time before he started the car again.

"Yes, I need to respect those boundaries."

A summer evening is usually cool and refreshing, but tonight the wind was unusually strong.

Bethany tightened her coat and settled on a bench at the bus stop.

As she looked at the missed call on her phone, she took several deep breaths, her fingers trembling as she finally returned the call.

The ringtone rang out, each note striking Bethany's heart like a hammer.

In those brief moments, she considered hanging up and blocking the number several times. She didn't want to deal with anything related to Jonathan, but she had to confront it to protect her child.

Bethany understood that to avoid suspicion, she needed to face things directly.

When the call screen showed the timer, indicating the connection, she finally heard that voice, which was both familiar and oddly foreign.

Instead of a greeting, he simply said, "Bethany."

Her heart pounded fiercely, so hard that breathing felt difficult, yet she forced herself to sound composed.

“Hello did you call me earlier? Sorry, I didn't catch it. Who is this?"

Jonathan didn't reply right away. Instead, he let out a chuckle.