From beginning to end, Perry had viewed Ariel through biased eyes.


    Now, as he looked at her, she looked so calm without any emotional fluctuation. Her gaze no longer held the old politeness or tolerance she once showed them. Instead, it was sharp and distant.


    Ariel had changed.


    “Yeah, I came with my grandma,” Ariel answered simply, refusing to exin anything more to Perry.


    Perry was slightly surprised but understood she didn’t want to talk, and he knew why she was acting this way.


    Just then, the elevator reached Ariel’s floor. She gave Perry a faint nod before leaving.


    Perry watched her walk until she disappeared around the corner. The elevator doors closed again.


    After a while, he rubbed his forehead and let out a small, wry smile.


    He felt like a freak. Even though Ariel barely acknowledged him, he found himself wanting to talk to her more. He just felt like he had never truly known the real Ariel.


    Back in Katie and Leonard’s suite, resort staff had already sent a delicate fruit tter.


    Katie cheerfully greeted Ariel, “Ari, have a bite to settle your stomach. The staff just told me the bonfire party starts at 10:00 pm. Are you going?”


    Ariel approached. Leonard had already picked up a slice of kiwi and offered it to her.


    She opened her mouth to eat before saying, “Depends on when I finish reviewing the documents. Grandma, Uncle Leo, you two can go join the fun.”


    Katie gave her a reproachful look. “You’re busy even on a holiday? You’ve turned into a total workaholic.”


    “Mom, Ari’s always been driven. She wants to do her best at everything. If she likes it, we should support her.” Leonard didn’t have the heart to lecture Ariel<b>, </b>so he chuckled and changed the subject.


    Ariel quickly shifted gears. “Dinner’s at 7:00 pm. I’ve booked a ce for us in the restaurant. Grandma, you two can head down and look around first.”


    Katie, still excited about the ce, immediately agreed, “Okay!”


    She pushed Leonard ahead.


    Ariel took the chance to finalize her remaining work.


    Then a ringtone pulled her back from theptop. She nced at her phone and noticed it was Evelyn calling.


    Normally, Evelyn rarely contacted her. She had never really epted her as a daughter–inw, treating her as if she didn’t exist both publicly and privately.


    After some hesitation, Ariel answered.


    Her mind quickly ran through the facts. Evelyn rarely saw her, and Ariel hardly ever called her by her first name.


    They weren’t close, after all. If anyone else was around, Evelyn insisted she be called Mrs. Larkin.


    Now that she and Jayson were getting divorced, Ariel had no reason to keep up the pretense of closeness.


    “Mrs. Lar-“1


    Before she could even say “Larkin“, Evelyn’s cold, impatient voice cut <b>in</b>, “Where are you? Why aren’t you here yet?”


    Ariel nced out the window. Fireworks were already going off in the distance.


    “Is there something you need?”


    Evelyn frowned. “I checked the kitchen. Why haven’t you started making the desserts? Did you forget?”


    Ariel pressed her lips, her expression calm. “I didn’t forget. I just didn’t make them.” 1


    In those years, she had devoted herself to taking care of Jayson’s daily life, and her cooking skills had improved immensely. Her desserts rivaled those of a master chef.


    Evelyn loved her desserts and insisted she make plenty during the holidays.


    Back then, Ariel thought that they would eventually ept her if she worked sincerely and hard enough.


    But now, forget Evelyn’s likes or moods; even Jayson no longer had anything to do with her.