Chapter: 75

"Are you hungry?" Noticing Bethany's silence, Jonathan thought she might be upset because he had advised against eating the noodles. "I can have my assistant bring us some food here."

"No, thank you! I just grabbed these noodles on impulse. I'm really not hungry," Bethany responded, picking up her pajamas from beside the bed. "I'm going to shower."

She rushed into the bathroom, looked in the mirror, and felt suddenly distressed.

She found herself disliking her own reflection.

Her looks had drawn Jonathan's attention and given her mother the chance for surgery, but they also painfully reminded her that she was just a substitute for someone else.

Since she had accepted Jonathan's proposal, his kindness, consideration, and attention had awakened new feelings in Bethany, who hadn't often been cared for since her childhood.

Yet, the harsh reality was that Jonathan's affection was primarily due to her resemblance to Maddie.

Without this resemblance, she doubted she would ever have had the opportunity to speak with Jonathan.

That evening, Bethany had been the one to initiate intimacy, and although she was too exhausted to move much, she didn't hold back.

The next morning, Bethany woke up to find Jonathan gone.

On the table in the living room of their suite lay breakfast, prepared and placed by someone at Jonathan's request, complete with a handwritten note from him.

“I'm at a charity meeting today. I'll reach out to you later.”

Bethany wasn't surprised. She had guessed that Jonathan's visit to Brokdon involved more than the SNS project.

After freshening up and having breakfast, Bethany set off to meet with Brody.

Yesterday was about gathering details on Stefan. Today, her focus shifted entirely to probing the workings of SNS. Despite reviewing their report the previous night, she opted for an in-person visit to their offices.

Bethany's respect for Jonathan grew after such a hectic day.

Until now, Bethany had puzzled over why Jonathan introduced her as the project lead to Dwayne. Today, the pieces fell into place. Upon her arrival at SNS, every employee, from executives to junior staff, approached her with a high degree of respect and caution.

This behavior would ease Brody's task of delving into the true nature of SNS's activities. With all their attention on Bethany, Brody's investigation could proceed more smoothly.

That evening, after a day of inquiries, Bethany and Brody chose a restaurant for dinner. As they settled in, Bethany poured over the documents.

Brody chuckled and said, “I wondered why you avoided eye contact with me today. It seems you were concerned I might be upset."

“This project may appear minor, but it holds significant value for Bates Group," Bethany explained. "Brody, I get why you might feel I've stepped in and taken the spotlight, especially after all your hard work. I'd likely feel the same in your position."

"That's just because you're still gaining experience," Brody responded casually. "Mr. Bates recognizes real effort. That's how Bates Group thrives. Even though you're the face of this project, I still receive a fair wage. Plus, we can shift SNS's focus, enhance our investigative precision, and lower investment risks. So, there's no reason for me to feel slighted."

Hearing Brody's explanations, Bethany felt like a newcomer in the world of investment.

"You've landed this role because Mr. Bates sees potential in you,"