Carlos ended the call with a stern face.


    He turned to Ariel and asked, “Once the Faye Tech project wraps up, would you be interested in researching military aircraft?”


    Ariel raised her eyebrows.


    Chad instantly felt like he had been punched in the gut. “Are you trying to poach her?”


    Carlos couldn’t be bothered to respond to Chad. He simply told Ariel, “Just think about it. There’s no rush. When you’ve made up your mind, I’ll take you to meet the folks at the Department of Defense.”


    In his eyes, Ariel’s future was limitless. Faye Technologies was only the beginning for her.


    But Ariel didn’t answer immediately. She fell into a thoughtful silence.


    In terms of ambition and dreams, she absolutely wanted to. But her illness was a ticking time bomb. She had too many factors to weigh. As such, she wanted to make this decision with care and responsibility.


    By the time theynded in Eldoria, it was alreadyte. Chad drove Ariel back to her neighborhood.


    The moment she got home, Ariel took out the emerald ne Jayson had given her. She snapped a picture and sent it to Katie, asking her to take a look.


    Soon after, Katie called back. Her voice trembled with emotion. “Ari, where did you find that? It’s the matching set with the ring. Your great–grandfather lost the ne ages ago; only the ring was passed down to me. It’s been missing for decades! How did you…‘


    Ariel was stunned. It was real?


    How did Jayson know the ne was originally part of a set with Katie’s family heirloom ring? Where did he even find it?


    Ariel’s mind raced. This birthday gift was far more valuable and meaningful than she had imagined.


    After a moment’s thought, she called Colton.


    If she and Jayson were still married, she wouldn’t have cared.


    But now they were divorced and had already settled their finances. If it were any other piece of jewelry, she would’ve returned it immediately.


    But this was Katie’s long–lost heirloom. That made thingsplicated.


    She needed to ask Jayson where it came from and how much it cost. She couldn’t just ept something like that. She didn’t want things left vague between them.


    Colton picked up. “Yes<b>, </b>Ms. Walker?”


    Ariel nced down at the ne. “Where’s Jayson?”


    Colton hesitated before saying, “Mr. Larkin is busy right now.”


    Ariel paused, just about to ask him to pass on a message when she suddenly heard Nancy’s voice faintly through


    the line.


    It <b>was </b>filled with a mix of helplessness and happiness. <b>“</b>Jayson, take a break. Don’t wear yourself out. You’ve already done so much for me.”


    Ariel’s expression didn’t change. She acted as if she hadn’t heard it. “Please have Jayson send me the receipt or invoice <b>for </b>the ne when he has time. Thanks.”


    She didn’t say another word, nor did she show the slightest curiosity about what Nancy was referring to.


    Ariel arrived at Faye Technologies the next day and checked in with Janice about the progress made over the past three days.


    Everything was running smoothly.


    Byte morning, she received a WhatsApp message from Freya.


    She asked Ariel out for afternoon tea, hoping to ask for advice on choosing a major rted to drones and aerospace.


    Ariel thought it over and replied, “Sure. See you in the afternoon.”


    The military project Carlos had mentioned yesterday would demand a lot of time and energy.


    She gave it serious thought again, then sent a message to her doctor, Lesley Gagher. “There’s something I’d like to confirm. If I go for a full hysterectomy, would my chances of recovery improve significantly?”


    After a while, Lesley replied, “In theory, yes.”


    Ariel curled her fingers into a fist. Her heart, once chaotic, gradually found its rhythm.


    She typed back. “Can I schedule the surgery now?”