Chapter: 614
When Jonathan came into the room, Bethany was asleep next to her son's bed.
After a long day at work and dealing with recent emotional stress, she looked very tired.
Jonathan tiptoed over to her, carefully lifted Bethany, and gently laid her on the bed to ensure she was comfortable.
He then sat next to her, holding her hand, cherishing her warmth, feeling grounded only by the touch of her skin.
Jonathan took a deep breath and a small smile formed on his lips.
As he adjusted his position, his foot accidentally nudged Bethany's bag, causing folders and envelopes to spill out. These were project materials she planned to go over at home.
Jonathan started to collect the scattered items, but his eyes caught a photo lying face down on the floor.
He stopped, and picked it up.
The photo showed Bethany with two children-a boy and a girl.
Jonathan's eyes lingered on the girl with pigtails, his body went still, and he momentarily stopped breathing.
This girl... Wasn't she the same one who had asked him to buy her candy in Westsilver?
Could she be his daughter?
Jonathan grabbed the photo and stepped outside to call Brody.
"Check the surveillance for Room 908 at Dreamer Hotel in Westsilver. Look for a little girl who resembles Bethany and find out where she is."
“Understood, Mr. Bates!"
Jonathan's voice grew softer. “Once you find the footage, email it to me. I want to see it myself."
He didn't want to wait for Brody to investigate and possibly bring the child back to Odonset. He needed to see his daughter right away.
"Understood."
After ending the call, Jonathan caressed the photo gently with his thumb.
In the image, Bethany's smile radiated warmth, her eyes shining with an indefinable tenderness.
The two children were joyously laughing, each clinging to one of their mom's arms, displaying their closeness and affection.
As Jonathan looked at the empty space beside them in the photo, his gaze darkened.
Had he not been constrained by the etiquette instilled in him since childhood, had he abandoned his strict adherence to propriety sooner, might he have been part of this picture?
But it wasn't too late.