Chapter: 705

It was clear as day what was really going on.

She wasn't some blushing schoolgirl. She could have a fling if she wanted, but Nikolas was certainly not going to be that person.

In Aimee's eyes, he was hung up on Maddie and bad news all around.

Nikolas was left baffled by her words. He opened his mouth but couldn't find anything to say.

"Anything else?" Aimee asked, thinking she'd made herself clear and he should leave.

But his hand remained on the door frame, the imprint of it being caught still visible. He showed no signs of leaving.

After what felt Like an eternity of awkward silence, Nikolas finally managed to sputter, "I've never hired a prostitute!"

"Okay, noted." Aimee shrugged, her expression one of boredom. "Then what?"

“Damn it! I just wanted to take you out for a walk! What's the big deal? Aimee, you could stand to be a little nicer. At least when you were hungry, I took you out to eat. These past couple of days, I've bent over backwards to help you when you asked. Why are you giving me such a hard time?"

Nikolas couldn't fathom how he had offended Aimee.

Even if he'd initially misunderstood Bethany, it was born of ignorance and self-interest. Bethany had long since let it go. Why was Aimee still holding on to it?

Upon hearing that, Aimee felt somewhat guilty.

She took a deep breath and softened her tone. "I just think that we should consider ourselves strangers from now on. There's no need to have too much contact. Please forgive me for being so blunt, but there's nothing you can do if you don't. Anyway, you won't see me in the future."

A flicker of sadness crossed Nikolas' face, subtle but unmistakable.

"What do you mean I won't see you? We're both in Odonset."

"If I don't want to see you, trust me, you won't."

She didn't say anything more, nor did she show any respect for Nikolas.

Nikolas had never been dismissed so unceremoniously. Squaring his shoulders, he finally removed his hand from the doorframe. “Fine then! I never want see you again either!"

He spun on his heel, marching back to his room.

Watching his retreating form, Aimee couldn't help but scoff. "What a piece of work."

Meanwhile, Bethany slept like the dead until afternoon.

When she finally stirred, every fiber of her being ached as if she'd been put through a meat grinder. Even her bones seemed to quiver.

"Are you awake?" Jonathan set aside his laptop as he noticed her movement.

"Yes." Bethany propped herself up with her hands. Seeing Jonathan sitting near the bed with his computer, she was angry. “When did you wake up? How could you get out of bed by yourself?"