2nd WIP Screenshot: I'm confused about where this scene takes place but I want to believe this dialogue takes place at John's office because it would be weird for John to say this in front of MC (Our) father and just from the dialogue it appears MC's (Our) mother has started working for John already.
A quick aside on what I said about what you mentioned here: I doubt that the talk scene between MC and John takes place in the real estate agency (it's most likely happening in John's office, due to its privacy) or shortly after MC's ambush at the hands of his own parents and John himself.
About the latter (and least likely) option, obviously the content of the conversation suggests that MC's parents aren't near them, but there's the possibility that MC storms out of the dining room towards the back garden (which we haven't seen yet in the entire game) and John plays the role of intermediary between MC and his parents, so he approaches MC while the parents would be with Nicole (in front of Hal and Jenny he would claim to be his boss, so he would try to talk to MC man to man). That could be the moment when John says that, because perhaps from where he and MC are, Jenny can be seen well even though they are quite far away.
However, this is just a theory. I still believe that this conversation is probably taking place in John's office, out of earshot thanks to the soundproofing of the office.
I agree with you and sincerely hope you're right, but given my suspicions that AML will reach at least Part 20 before the story ends, I feel like we can't rule out Orb using something similar to the cliffhanger from Part 11 (let's not forget that that cliffhanger wasn't revealed until almost the end of Part 13). Even if we don't like it, narratively speaking, a temporary distancing between MC and Nicole can be positive for the plot and can accentuate their love story when they meet again.
