Chapter: 668
No matter how many times she pushed him away, he responded with nothing but a warm smile, never showing anger or turning his back on her. He protected her as a brother would, yet he never sought out a relationship for himself.
Aimee exhaled a deep sigh, her frustration palpable. “He's deeply in love with you. I've spoken to him privately many times, even his parents have tried to persuade him, but he won't budge. He seems to only truly smile when you're around."
"Aimee, I can't reciprocate his feelings."
"I know, and so does my cousin."
Reflecting on her decision to introduce them, Aimee now harbored regrets.
Not only had it led nowhere, but her cousin seemed trapped, unable to move forward from his unrequited feelings.
“Jayson promised me he would go on blind dates," Bethany said.
Aimee rolled her eyes. "Sure, he kept his promise and showed up, but then he told the woman his heart belonged to someone else and that even if they got married, his feelings wouldn't change.”
Bethany was at a loss for words.
“Who would agree to marry him after hearing that?" Aimee continued.
Bethany looked down, a wave of discomfort washing over her. "I don't deserve what he's done for me."
“Jayson thinks you do, and that's what counts!" Aimee reassured her, giving her shoulder a gentle pat. “Bethany, don't stress yourself out over this. Jayson is his own person. He makes his own decisions, and nobody's forcing him to do anything. You don't have to feel responsible, and I certainly don't hold you accountable.”
Her stance on the matter was always crystal clear. She wouldn't reprimand Bethany simply because Jayson was her cousin.
“Do you think keeping my distance from him might help?" Bethany asked.
“Not a chance! Even when he was overseas, he never dated anyone."
Bethany looked up, a hint of hope in her voice. "That's only because he stayed to help me look after Rowan. Now that he's no longer needed for the kids, there's nothing keeping him tied to me."
"If that were true, Jayson probably would never have agreed to go overseas in the first place! He went abroad just to help you with Rowan, right?" Aimee suddenly had a realization. "Hold on a second! You're telling me he's no longer expected to help with the kids? Does that mean the Bates family already knows?"
"Yes." Bethany gave a gentle nod. “They want to take the children.”
"Damn it! They believe they can just claim them?" Aimee's anger surged. "You went through so much to bring those kids into the world, and what have the Bates family done? They're delusional if they think they can just swoop in and take them!"
"I've given my consent."
Aimee was taken aback. "What?"
Taking a deep breath, Bethany let her long eyelashes fall, concealing her feelings.
“Jonathan's father convinced me that the children would have a better future with the Bates family, that they'd thrive there. With me, they'd just lead ordinary lives. I believe he might be right."
Besides the promise that she could see Jonathan, Bethany had seriously considered what Godfrey said.