Chapter 221

Jonathan showed no expression. He walked straight toward Nink, who had taken special care with her appearance that day. Her long black hair flowed down her back, and her dark eyes sparkled with unshed tears.

Seeing Jonathan approach, she appeared nervous, gripping the metal strap of her bag so tightly that her fingers turned pale. She bit her lip, which was a vivid red. She looked as delicate as a porcelain doll in a window display.

“Nina, what are you doing here?” Jonathan asked, his tone as familiar as ever.

Nina replied, “I wanted to see you, so I came.”

Jonathan said nothing. Since that night, he hadn’t seen Nina again. He only knew she had jumped into the sea. Suddenly, Jonathan understood. Over the years, protecting her hadn’t made her stronger or helped her…

“Did you need something from me?” Jonathan asked.

Nina bit her lip so hard that it bled slightly. “Mr. Bennett, are you really going to marry Cynthia?”

Jonathan affirmed. “Of course.”

Tears welled up in Nina’s eyes, but she held them back. The knowledge that Jonathan had chosen Cynthia filled her heart with uncontrollable bitterness. “Then I should congratulate you and Cynthia.”

Jonathan looked at her seriously. “Nina, you need to grow up.”

Nina couldn’t help but ask, “Mr. Bennett, why did you change completely after you met Cynthia?”

Jonathan furrowed his brows. “Nina, I’ve never changed. You’re the one lost in your own world, unwilling to wake up.”

He continued, “From the start, I’ve always seen you as a younger sister. The public perception of our relationship is merely a way to protect you. I’ve reminded you of this many times.”

Nina’s eyes welled up. That was right; no matter how others saw them, Mr. Bennett seemed afraid she would fall for him, so he always kept a distance in private. Whenever she overstepped, he would remind her. But she didn’t want to wake up. Sometimes she even convinced herself it was true.

“Mr. Bennett, I just want to ask you one question,” Nina said. She had come for this very reason. “After all these years, was there ever a moment, even for a second, when you had feelings for me?”

Jonathan answered without hesitation, “Not at all.”

Jonathan appeared slightly angry, with a hint of disappointment in his eyes. “Nina, open your eyes and look at the outside world. Your world isn’t peaceful, so don’t be so caught up in these questions all the time.”

He said, “I’ll tell you one last time, I have no romantic feelings for you. Protecting you is simply because we share similar struggles, nothing more.”

Nina’s fingers trembled.

Jonathan continued, “Plus, my mission with you is over. From now on, I can’t spend so much energy on you. You’re an adult now; you need to become strong and independent.”

He added, “Maybe all these years, I was wrong to shelter you, keeping you unaware of the world’s chaos. But now, you must face the challenges outside on your own.”

Nina wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. “So, you’re going to abandon me completely?”

Chapter 221 (Continued)

“Nina, why can’t you understand what I’m saying?” Jonathan asked.

“Because I don’t want to understand, and I don’t want to lose you,” Nina said, her tears finally falling. “Mr. Bennett, what do I have to do for us to be like before? I don’t need you to love me, and I won’t fantasize about marrying you, but I hope to stay as close to you as possible.”

Jonathan shook his head. “It’s never going to happen, Nina. Take care of yourself.”

After speaking, Jonathan turned and walked away. Nina stood alone, tears streaming down her face. She understood perfectly what Jonathan meant. But over the years, he had become her whole world. Now, with everything falling apart, she could hardly face this reality.

Meanwhile, Cynthia had been waiting in the room for some time, but Jonathan hadn’t returned. A sudden worry filled Cynthia’s heart, and she could no longer enjoy the delicious food in front of her.

She decided to leave the private room to look for Jonathan, but she had no idea where he was. Just as she stepped into the hallway, she encountered the waiter who had shown them to their room.

Cynthia asked, “Excuse me, which room did Whitney book?”

“Ms. Bennett?” asked the waiter. Whitney’s name was known by everyone. Cynthia nodded.

The waiter said, “She’s in Suite 8.”

After thanking him, Cynthia walked toward Suite 8.

The waiter took a few steps and then remembered that Whitney wasn’t in Suite 8 on this floor, but on the floor above. When he tried to inform Cynthia, she was already gone.

At that moment, Cynthia was searching for Suite 8 on her floor. As she passed a security corridor, she overheard voices from below. Initially, she paid no attention.

However, words like “Suite 8” and “drugging” caught her attention. She stopped abruptly. Could Whitney be planning to drug Jonathan? But as she listened further, something seemed amiss. Their conversation didn’t make sense.

“With so many people in Suite 8, how am I supposed to know which one is Mr. Xenos?” someone asked.

“Oh, as soon as you walk in, you’ll know. He’s the one who looks the most uptight, formal, and serious. And he has a distinctive scar on his temple,” another man replied.

“You just said this guy is so formidable, what if I get into trouble for messing with him?” asked the cautious man.

“Don’t worry, this potion is colorless and tasteless. In half an hour, it won’t be detectable. Once you slip it into his drink, head to the room and wait. I’ll find a way to bring him over, and you can record the whole thing. Once we have something on him, that politician will be at our mercy.”

Cynthia peered through the crack in the security door, spotting a dapper man next to a woman with a certain flair.

The man squeezed the woman’s chin. “Tiffany, if this goes well, you’ll never have to worry about money again. You might even become a politician’s wife.”

The woman chuckled slyly. “Then I’ll have a baby for you, and let that politician raise our kid.”

“Good, good, that’s a brilliant idea,” the man said, kissing the woman’s red lips.

Chapter 221 (Continued)

Cynthia frowned. She pulled her head back; the scene was too indecent.

She realized what was happening. These two were plotting against the wealthy gentleman in Suite 8. Normally, she wouldn’t interfere, but she wasn’t sure if Jonathan was in that room.

Cynthia decided to investigate. She quickly arrived at the door of Suite 8.