Ariel clearly didn’t want to talk about what had happened the night before.
Cecilia studied Ariel for a while and decided not to press her for details. In any case, Cecilia felt her n had worked.
She had chosen the perfect time and asion, arranging everything to make it happen. Under such circumstances, all that was needed was the right spark to bring a man and a woman together.
Ariel excused herself and went to the restroom.
What happenedst night was an ident. 1
She couldn’t recall much of what happened. The only things etched in her memory were the darkness that cloaked the room and the searing heat of that person’s hands as they gripped her wrists.
Something inside her had unraveled then. She had wriggled free, wrapped her arms around the person’s neck, and made the first move.
Since she had made the first move, Ariel could not entirely me the other party for what had happened. Even so, she thought her condition at that time was strange.
She hadn’t intended to make a fuss about the incident. Yet now, she couldn’t even be sure who that person was.
She wasn’t particrly close to Samson, and asking him such a question would be far too awkward. So Ariel decided it would be better to ask Jayson instead.
After all, in the adult world, physical intimacy wasn’t necessarily such a big deal. People didn’t always treat it as something serious. 2
If the person turned out to be Jayson, Ariel would have no issue handling it. But if it had been Samson…
Ariel frowned slightly as she washed her hands.
Someone else entered just then.
Ariel turned and saw Nancy in the mirror, touching up her makeup
Nancy looked radiant. After finishing her makeup, she cast Ariel a sidelong nce.
Anel had no interest in pretending to be friendly. She dried her hands and prepared to leave.
Nancy stared at Ariel’s back and began, “Last night was wonderful for me.”
Ariel froze<i>, </i>a little taken aback.
They were the only two in the <b>restroom</b>, so Nancy could only have been addressing her.
Ariel stayed where she was<b>, </b>waiting to see what trick Nancy would pull
Nancy fixed Aried with a stony gaze and smirked. “Ariel, I hope you let Jayson go. Refusing to divorce him isn’t love, it’s just
Loftuse”
Ariel’s eyes hardened at Nancy’s ridiculous remarks Nancy, the stress, was demanding that she divorce Jayson so they could be together
Just <i>as </i>Ariel was about to respond, her gaze fell on a faint red marion Nancy’s neck Against her fair skin, it was unmistakably a hickey
Nancy didn’t bother to conceal it, she unted it, her eyes mocking as she said teily, “If you still care about your pride, you should end this marriage. Otherwise, you’ll only embarrass yoursel
Her meaning was crystal clear, and it was well received by Ariel as well.
“Last night, Nancy and Jayson. So, what those two attendants were gossiping about was true?” Ariel wondered.
She stared at Nancy for a while. Finally, Ariel said, “So, Jayson hasn’t promised to marry you? Then, what’s the use in you begging me to leave him now?”
Nancy’s face darkened. For all her earlier arrogance, she had been exposed again and lost the upper hand.
Ariel ignored her and left.
But something Nancy said had given her a realization. Jayson hadn’t told Nancy that they were already divorced.
It struck Ariel as strange. However, considering Nancy’s current attitude and the hickey on her neck… Was it possible that the man who had been with Nancyst night wasn’t Jayson at all? 1
Crossing her arms, Ariel lowered her head as she walked along the deck, her thoughts in turmoil.
She was even slowly losing the desire to find out who had been with herst night.
A sharp wind swept across the deck that morning, chilling her to the bone.
When she lifted her head, she saw Jayson in the distance, leaning against the railing with a cigarette between his fingers.
The moment he noticed her, Jayson turned and stubbed it out.
“It’s cold out here. Why didn’t you wear something warmer?” His eyes lingered on her slender frame, as though she might be blown away at any moment.
He didn’t seem bothered by what Cecilia had said back at the restaurant. Jayson walked toward Ariel, looking exactly like his
usual self.