Chapter: 600

Countless scenarios played out in Bethany's mind, each one more painful than the last. Finally, as if jolted from a dream, she shoved Jonathan away with force.

"The truth is I hate you! I hate everyone in your family! I want you to stay away from me! How many times do I have to tell you? I've fallen in love with Jayson—"

Before she could finish, her words were once again silenced by Jonathan's kiss.

This time, however, the kiss was not as fierce as before.

His tongue, having broken through her defenses, moved languidly, savoring her sweetness, tracing every part of her mouth as if trying to memorize it.

Why was Jonathan acting so strange today?

Bethany had no idea what he had been through.

After several failed attempts to struggle free, there was nothing she could do but raise her hand and slap Jonathan across the face.

A red mark instantly marred his chiseled cheekbone.

“Are you out of your goddamned mind?" Bethany spat, wiping her lips with the back of her hand.

"Yes." Indeed, even he didn't know what he was doing now.

But the truth was, he hadn't only gone mad today; he had been spiraling into madness since the day he divorced Bethany.

Why else did he obsessively track her every move while telling himself countless times to let go of the past? Yet the second he heard any news about Bethany, the fire in his heart would instantly come to life from the ashes, impossible to extinguish.

Bethany's name seemed to be engraved in his DNA-it was simply impossible for him to forget about her.

How could Jonathan have no sense of shame? He had always been the golden child, the favored one, basking in adoration from childhood wherever he went. Yet, faced with Bethany's cold indifference and her harsh, cutting words, he would be hurt, upset. But like a lovesick puppy, he would still approach her with his tail between his legs, yearning for her affection.

When he discovered that Rowan was his child with Bethany, his heart soared with joy.

He wanted to drop everything and see her, demanding to know why she had been so cruel as to keep this life-changing secret from him. Why did she have to deceive him?

But in the end, he held his tongue. He had to play along with Bethany's narrative, even if it tore him apart inside.

After all, he finally had her within his sights; he couldn't let her slip away now.

"Let go of me! I have to be somewhere!" Bethany didn't want to waste more time engaging with him here, especially since she had more important things to do today.

But she had only walked a few steps when Jonathan's cold voice sounded from behind, causing her to stop abruptly.

“The person you and Jayson wanted to meet-I've already invited him to coffee."

Slowly turning around, Bethany asked incredulously, "You investigated Jayson?"

"Yes," Jonathan admitted frankly.