<b>Chapter </b>15
<b>“</b>No need. I’m heading down the mountains now,” Ariel replied. She wasn’t keen <b>on </b>sticking around and being a nuisance.
<b>Just </b>as she was about to move <b>away</b>, a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked <b>up </b>and met Jayson’s nonchnt gaze.
He said<b>, </b><b>“</b><b>You </b>can <b>stay</b>. I’ll change to another room.”
Ariel frowned. She was about to pull her hand away when Jayson let go first and deliberately stepped away.
<b>“</b>It’ll be hard to exin to Grandma if you leave now,” he said.
Realization dawned on Ariel, and she asked in disbelief, “You want me to cover for <b>you </b>and Nancy?”
She couldn’t believe that he would do this just so it would be easier for him to exin to Betty. What exactly did he take her for?
Jayson looked at her as he adjusted his cufflinks. “None of this would be a problem <b>if </b><b>you </b>hadn’t shown <b>up</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Ariel felt a surge of frustration rise within her. Was he implying that this was all her fault?
She pursed her lips and set a condition. “Fine, but you have to approve my resignation immediately<b>.</b>”
Jayson narrowed his eyes slightly<b>, </b>smiling faintly as he replied, <b>“</b><b>Okay</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
Ariel couldn’t make out what his smile meant. She went straight to her room.
As for what happened between them, no wonder Jayson hadn’t told her abouting to Quin’s Peak. It turned out he was nning to bring Nancy here for a date.
Had Ariel known about this, she wouldn’t have agreed toe.
She rubbed her temples. Though she no longer cared, she couldn’t help but feel bothered.
Ariel unpacked her clothes from her suitcase and then checked out the activities offered by the guesthouse. <b>There </b>was also a horse range with staff guiding the rides, which seemed pretty interesting.
She decided to head over <i>to </i>the horse range.
Ariel heard a woman’s yful voice as soon as she arrived. “Stop rutting against me, Lucas<b>! </b><b>You’re </b>being so shameless<b>!</b><b>” </b>
<b>“</b>The horse is acting up, but you’re ming me for it?<b>” </b>the man repliedzily<b>, </b>his tone full of mischief.
Ariel froze in her <b>steps</b>, her gaze wandering over. A couple was riding a horse together<b>–</b><b>one </b>of the <b>man’s </b>hands was holding the reins from behind the woman, while his other hand tilted the woman’s chin up as they shared a kiss.
Perhaps her gaze had been too obvious as it made Lucas nce <b>over</b>. His gaze darkened, and he <b>frowned</b>. It <b>seemed </b><b>like </b><b>he </b>didn’t appreciate being interrupted during their intimate moment.
Ariel’s <b>pride </b><b>was </b><b>wounded </b>by his gaze.
She had been used <b>to </b>being <b>protected </b><b>by Lucas </b>for <b>over </b><b>a </b><b>decade</b><b>. </b>He had <b>treated </b>her like <b>she </b><b>was </b>his one <b>and </b><b>only</b><b>, </b><b>never </b><b>once </b><b>speaking </b>harshly <b>to </b><b>her</b>. For <b>many </b><b>years</b><b>, </b>he had <b>poured </b>his <b>love </b><b>for </b><b>her</b><b>, </b><b>and </b><b>he </b>was <b>the </b>first man she <b>had </b><b>ever </b><b>fallen </b><b>for </b>
Even when he <b>got </b><b>into </b><b>trouble </b><b>three </b><b>years </b><b>ago</b><b>, </b><b>Ariel </b>had <b>promised </b><b>Morgan </b>that <b>she </b><b>would </b><b>marry </b><b>Jayson </b>in <b>exchange </b><b>for </b>reducing <b>Lucas</b><b>‘ </b><b>sentence</b><b>–</b><b>just </b>so <b>he </b><b>could </b><b>get </b><b>out </b><b>sooner</b>.
Though she <b>had </b><b>let </b><b>go </b><b>of </b><b>the </b><b>past</b><b>, </b><b>he </b>was still <b>the </b><b>most </b><b>important </b>family <b>member </b><b>to </b><b>her</b><b>. </b>
<b>But </b><b>now </b>that Lucas had be so indifferent and impatient<b>, </b>Ariel <b>couldn’t </b>help <b>but </b><b>wonder </b><b>what </b>was real <b>anymore</b>.
She had been with Jayson for three years<b>, </b><b>yet </b>she still couldn’t win his heart. However, Lucas had once <b>loved </b>her <b>dearly</b>.
<b>Would </b>kinship change <b>too </b>when love <b>faded</b><b>? </b>
Ariel did not bother greeting them. She hurried to leave.
Wendy spotted her. “Ariel? I didn’t know <b>you </b>were here as well. Come and have dinner with us! My friend <b>Nancy </b><b>and </b>her <b>boyfriend </b>are staying here too.” 12
Ariel was taken aback <b>for </b>a moment when she found out that Wendy and Nancy actually knew each other.
<b>Lucas </b>would have known how terrible her married life had been then. But no one seemed to care about her well–being as
<b>Jayson’s </b>wife.
<b>“</b><b>No </b>need. I’ve eaten dinner already.<b>” </b>Ariel’s mood plummeted suddenly, and she turned to leave.
Wendy took another nce at her before nudging Lucas. “Your sister isn’t looking too well–I wonder if she’s sick. <b>You </b>
should go check on her.”
He remained unperturbed. “She’s already an adult. I don’t know why she’s acting so fussy<b>–</b>she won’t die from it <b>anyway</b><b>.</b><b>” </b>
“Why are you so indifferent toward her?” Wendy asked, confused.
Lucas raised his brows and chuckled. “She’s just my sister. Only you and Lori visited me for the past three years I was in prison. Wouldn’t I know <b>who </b>to treat best?”
Wendy’s face flushed red instantly. “Good to know that you care-<b>” </b>
Ariel stoppeding out of her room. She felt ufortable no matter which couple she ran into.
She was Jayson’s wife <b>and </b><b>Lucas</b>‘ sister–the closest person to them in the past–but now she waspletely shut out. Why bother tormenting herself?
She no longer cared. After browsing through a foreign drone forum for two hours<b>, </b>she took her medicine and slept through
the night.
Ariel decided to head down the mountain today.
She stepped out of her room at 8:00 am. Right across from her, the door to the suite opened, and <b>Jayson </b>and Nancy walked
<b>out </b>together.
<b>BIG </b><b>SALE</b><b>:</b>3500 BONUS FREE <b>FOR </b><b>YOU</b><b>! </b>