Ariel paused for a moment to think.
The hotel brand belonged to Bluum Corp, which Evelyn managed directly
Since Jayson was the acting head of Bluum Corp, it wasn’t strange for him to have ess or authority here. So was the bouquet his doing?
But they were about to finalize their divorce, Sending a bouquet like this felt wildly inappropriate.
“Do you need something?” Ariel asked, standing at the door. She made no move to let Jayson in, nor did she ask about the bouquet.
Jayson looked <b>down </b>at her cool expression, studying her for a beat before finally saying, “Grandma called me.” That one sentence was enough. Ariel instantly understood.
Betty must have been worried. She probably called to check whether he remembered what day it was or whether he <b>was </b>really with her at all.
“Just do whatever you need to do to get her off your back,” Ariel replied evenly.
Jayson motioned toward the hotel. “She knows we’re both in Sorenta. I’ll video call herter.”
Ariel hesitated for a second, then gave a simple nod. “Okay”
She had already signed the agreement to keep things under wraps for a year. She didn’t need Jayson reminding her of the rules she had agreed on.
She turned away, heading back inside,
Jayson followed at an unhurried pace.
He nced around the room and immediately spotted the bouquet on the couch. It was conspicuous, yet clearly disregarded.
His gaze skimmed over it without much interest.
He didn’t say a word about the flowers, nor did he mention her birthday.
By the time he reached the coffee table, Ariel had already gathered her handwritten notes andptop in <b>a </b>swift motion.
She didn’t say a word, but she <b>was </b>unmistakably guarding against him.
Jayson picked up on the vibe. He stayed back, keeping his distance until she <b>was </b>done.
Once she finished, he raised a brow. “Nothing here I’m not allowed to see anymore?”
Ariel turned around. She felt like there <b>was </b>a <b>hidden </b>meaning in his words–something almost teasing<b>, </b>maybe <b>even </b>a little mocking.
Then Jayson asked casually, “Mind if <i>I </i><i>sit </i>
“Do what you want,” Ariel said.
She only felt at ease after putting away all the important documents and files.
<b>Jayson </b>sat down and checked the time; his thoughts remained unreadable.
Ariel didn’t bother engaging. She was mostly wondering when he nned to leave and when exactly this video call <b>was </b>happening.
She was exhausted.
Jayson nced up from his phone and noticed how out of if she looked. “Have you had a checkuptely?”
<b>He </b>paused for a beat, then added, “Is <b>Faye </b>Tech overworking you?”
Ariel zipped her suitcase closed and locked it. “No.”
Her answer was curt, just polite <b>enough </b>to pass. She offered no real emotion.
Jayson noticed, of course. But he didn’t seem to care. He just gave azy smirk. “We’ll call Grandma at 10:30 pm. Hang in there.”
Ariel checked the clock. There were still over 20 minutes len.
Her brain was fried from days of intense work, and today had drained her even more, so she said, “Knock when it’s time. I’lle out. Do whatever <b>you </b><b>want </b>until then.”
Without waiting for a response, Ariel stepped into the bedroom and shut the door behind her. She nned to get a few minutes of sleep.
She didn’t care how Jayson spent his time out there.
Anyhow, she wasn’t about to sit awkwardly across from him. After all, they had nothing to say to each other now. Since Betty called Jayson to check in, he would definitely know today was Ariel’s birthday. But he didn’t wish her a happy birthday. Honestly, at this point, she didn’t expect him to.
As for the bouquet, she couldn’t bring herself to care enough to wonder where it came from.
Jayson checked the time on his phone, then leaned back into the couch and gave the closed bedroom door a long look.
Eventually, his eyes drifted back to the bouquet sitting on the couch across from him.
When Ariel woke up, daylight was already beaming in through the edge of the curtains.
Her mind snapped awake immediately, and she sat up, startled.
She had actually slept through the night?
Jayson never knocked to wake her for the video call.
She was a light sleeper. If he had knocked, she would’ve heard it.
But Ariel didn’t dwell on it. She got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom to wash up.
Jayson was gone. The suite waspletely still.
She calmly looked away and went to freshen up.
But when she stepped into the bedroom, something caught her eye. A small ck velvet box was sitting on her nightstand.
She walked over and flipped it open. To her surprise, it was an emerald ne with diamonds<b>, </b><b>which </b>looked
stunning, t
When she looked closer, she realized that the design, the materials, and even the craftsmanship were nearly Identical to the Walker family’s heirloom ring