Chapter: 523

"No, they're still searching."

"I haven't heard anything either. Should we broaden the search area? Maybe the kid isn't in Odonset anymore."

"I've already expanded it." Jonathan was even more eager to find the child.

Then he could proceed with a paternity test.

That would resolve everything and end all the speculation.

Nikolas looked over at the bottles on the table, feeling a mix of irritation and amusement.

Jonathan, ever the perfectionist, had arranged the bottles neatly in a row after finishing eight of them.

"Are you sure you don't want me to call some girls over? It wouldn't hurt to consider other options!" Nikolas took out his phone and showed Jonathan photos of several attractive women.

But Jonathan didn't even glance at the pictures.

Nikolas couldn't help but roll his eyes. "You're tougher to persuade than Ryan! You're impossible."

At the mention of Ryan, Jonathan's hand paused noticeably.

Nikolas saw it instantly. “Are you still bothered by others showing interest in Bethany? Do you view Jayson as a competitor? He's only after your ex-wife!"

“Shut up."

Jonathan poured more wine, refusing to listen further.

Nikolas sighed and said, “I should record this and show everyone how the great president of Bates Group is pining over a woman."

On the other hand, the kidnapper reported, "Still no sign of him. My guys were outsmarted by him!"

Maddie felt like strangling the man herself.

Incompetent and always making excuses.

"He's just a kid! You can't find him?"

"The kid's a genius. He bypassed our security and vanished, making it impossible for us to trace him!" The man was frustrated too. He knew if this situation escalated, he'd face serious trouble from Jonathan.

"Don't think this won't affect me too!"

“I told you to kill him a while back, but you hesitated. That's why we're in this mess now! If you'd dealt with him then, we'd only be figuring out where to bury him!"

Maddie was like a cat on a hot tin roof, unable to sit still.

Aware that Jonathan had come back to Odonset, she dared not appear, nor make herself known.