“Fine,” Ariel replied.
Now that Betty knew about het past and identity, there was no brushing her off anymore.
She hung up without asking Jayson to pick her up. She felt that that kind of disy would only make
things awkward for both of them.
After finishing work, Ariel checked the time and finally drove toward Crescent Point around 7.00 pm.
It was the start of the rainy season. Halfway there, the sky opened up. The air carried the damp smell of
earth and rain.
When she arrived, she got out of the cat under an umbre and walked up to the door, only to realize she no longer had the code.
Ever since Jayson bought the house back, the doot code had been changed.
But if she rang the bell, Betty might notice something was off.
Ariel frowned slightly.
Just as she was considering her options, footsteps approached from behind. Through the damp air came a faint scent of fir. Before she could turn, the person behind her took her hand and pressed her finger
against the scanner.
With a beep, the door unlocked.
Surprised, Ariel looked up at Jayson.
He had already released her. His gaze was calm as he looked at her. “Let’s go in.”
He didn’t exin further. Instead, he simply stepped past her with the umbre and walked inside.
Her fingerprint?
Ariel frowned, not quite able to understand.
He had kept her fingerprint registered in the home he shared with Nancy? Had he forgotten to delete it?
She pushed the thought aside and stepped inside.
The moment she saw the renovated first floor, she felt disoriented. The familiaryout she remembered had almostpletely changed. The furnishings felt strange, leaving no trace of the home she had lived in and carefully decorated for three years.
This was a new house. Someone else’s home.
Her thoughts only lingered for two seconds before Jayson nced back at her with an unreadable gaze. What’s wrong?”
Ariel gave him a brief look, said nothing, and walked in after him.
The moment she entered, she saw Evelyn sitting in the living <i>room</i>.
Hearing themotion, Betty came out of the kitchen, with Rachel trailing after her.
The moment Betty saw Ariel, she rushed over and held her hand. Then, she shot Jayson a sharp look.” What’s wrong with you? How could you not tell us about Ari? You kept it so well. Don’t tell me you didn’t
know.<b>” </b>
She was sure that Jayson knew about it. He had just chosen not to say a word. And now the whole family looked like outsiders, blind to their own child’s life.
Jayson only lifted a brow. “There were special circumstances. Ari couldn’t say anything.”
Betty looked ready to press him further when Ariel cut in gently, “Sorry, Grandma. I was under confidentiality agreements. I really couldn’t tell you.”
Betty wasn’t truly angry. She just felt a wave of emotion. Such an exceptional woman had stayed so low- key. Now, with her sudden reveal, it all felt almost unreal.
A researcher so highly valued by the government had actually lived so quietly in their family for all these
years.
“Oh, don’t apologize. This is an honor for our family.” Betty, after all, had seen her share of the world. With a broad smile, she patted Ariel’s hand. “Go wash your hands. Dinner will be ready soon.”
Beaming, she bustled back into the kitchen. Ariel’s aplishments filled her with joy.
Meanwhile, Evelyn sat there with aplicated expression. She couldn’t pretend she wasn’t shocked.
Plenty of wealthy wives were already asking about Ariel nonstop. Clearly, the impact on everyone was significant.
When she first found out, she was stunned for a long time, even thinking it was just a rumor. After all, it all sounded so unrealistic.
In her eyes, Ariel had always been that quiet, gentle woman who revolved around Jayson.
“Jayson,e with me for a minute,” Evelyn said atst, her voice strained.
She couldn’t bring herself to speak directly to Ariel. Rising from her seat, she addressed Jayson instead.
He didn’t refuse.
Ariel didn’t bother wondering what they were going to discuss. She simply sat quietly as a guest in the