Chapter 165

Nina recoiled, pulling her hand from Alex's grip and stepping back. "I'm sorry," she said, clearly flustered.

Alex didn't press further, continuing, "Nina, from now on, my vote of affection will go to you every day. If you want, you can choose me anytime."

Hearing this, Nina didn't resist as she had before. "Alex, if Jonathan found out you were saying these things to me privately, he wouldn't let it go. Please don't do this anymore."

"Nina, you're still deceiving yourself. Isn't it clear who Jonathan likes? If you continue like this, you'll only end up hurt."

"No matter who Jonathan likes, my heart will always choose him," she said. "So please don't waste your efforts." With that, Nina turned and walked away.

Nina was troubled. She wondered: Had Jonathan really fallen for someone else? Did he even know her feelings for him?

Meanwhile, Preston returned, having accomplished something significant. He found Jonathan sitting by the campfire.

"Uncle, why aren't you going back to sleep?" Knowing the living room was unoccupied, Preston casually addressed Jonathan as "Uncle."

Jonathan glanced at the tent opposite and said, "Go back to sleep. I'll stay here a little longer."

Preston decided to sit beside Jonathan. "I'll keep watch here. I'm worried a snake might come by." Jonathan didn't respond.

Preston picked up a thick branch and poked the fire. After a few moments of silence, he asked, "Uncle, you know Cynthia, right?"

Feeling his question wasn't direct enough, Preston added, "Were you two close friends before?"

When Cynthia had stepped out, Preston had seen a look of worry, even panic, on Jonathan's face—an expression he'd never seen before. It seemed she was the person he cared about most.

That unconscious hug from Jonathan was unusual. He rarely crossed boundaries with people, always maintaining a distance with outsiders. Over the years, aside from Nina, he hadn't been linked to any other woman. Younger people even speculated he disliked women. The thought of him hugging Cynthia was unbelievable.

"Preston, give up on her. You'll only end up hurting her," Jonathan said suddenly.

Preston's expression turned serious. "Uncle, I don't understand why you're so against me pursuing Cynthia. You've been supportive of everything else, even unconventional things. Why can't it be the same this time? I like Cynthia; I want to be with her, and I even want to marry her someday."

"I know my mother will object, but I'm confident I can overcome these challenges. Uncle, this is the first time I've genuinely liked someone, and I've never felt this way before. I don't want to, and can't, give up easily."

Jonathan's voice was cold. "You're only thinking about how you feel about her, but does she like you? If she doesn't, whatever you do is futile."

Chapter 165 (Continued)

Preston's expression was fiery. "Cynthia doesn't have romantic feelings for me right now, but she doesn't dislike me either. How many couples fall mutually in love from the start? Very few, right? So, as I continue to pursue her, there will come a day when she sees my sincerity and truly likes me."

"That day will never come."

Preston was taken aback. "Uncle, what did you say?"

"I'm saying you two are never going to be together."

Preston's face showed anger. "Why?"

"Because I won't allow it."

"Uncle!" Preston's face reddened, his breath quickening. "Give me a reason."

"The reason is, she's my woman!"

Jonathan's voice was calm. He looked at Preston, his eyes steady, as if casually commenting on the weather. But Preston felt as if he'd been struck by lightning. His eyes stared blankly at Jonathan, his face shocked. He opened his mouth several times, but no words came out.

After a long silence, Preston regained his composure. "Uncle, do you like Cynthia?"

Jonathan added wood to the campfire. The flames leaped high, illuminating Jonathan's serious face. "It's not like. It's love."

Preston's face went white. Then, something clicked. "And what about Nina? Haven't you always loved Nina?"

Everyone in Betrico knew Nina was special to Jonathan.

"I just care for her, that's all, and it's not much different from how I feel about you."

Preston finally understood. Jonathan liked Nina. Initially, it was just compliments from others, but Jonathan never denied it publicly. Over the years, he hadn't dated other women, fueling the rumors until they became accepted truth. In fact, nobody truly knew the nature of his relationship with Nina.

Preston's heart sank. If his rival was someone else, he'd be confident. But Jonathan "What about Cynthia? Does she like you, too?"

It was obvious there was an unusual bond between Cynthia and Jonathan. Ever since she joined the show, she'd been polite to everyone except Jonathan, whom she treated with inexplicable hostility. But it wasn't simple hostility.

Jonathan stated calmly, "We've been together for three years."

This was a bombshell, shattering Preston's hope.

Preston looked wilted, his energy drained. He slumped onto a dead branch, his aura deflated.

After a while, he looked up, anger in his eyes. "Uncle, you've known for a long time that I liked Cynthia. Why are you only telling me this now?"

This past month, Preston had often met them and hadn't noticed any obvious flirtation. On the contrary, Cynthia clearly wasn't interested in Jonathan. He wondered, "How could this be the behavior of a couple who have been together for three years?"

Before Jonathan could speak, Preston concluded, "You broke up with Cynthia a long time ago, didn't you?"

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