<b>+15 </b><b>BONUS </b>


    Ariel dragged Elsie along as she headed toward the room where the testing would be conducted.


    Every piece of data for the materials needed to be tested carefully and meticulously. Each batch had to undergo strict inspections and assessments.


    A single mistake at any step could greatly impact this partnership. They could not afford even the tiniest margin of error<b>, </b>since it involved the military’s interests.


    This partnership was crucial to the growth and development of their country’s technological prowess in the years toe. The consequences of failure could be dire.


    Ariel stayed fully alert. The testing process would take anywhere from two weeks to a full month. As team leader, she had to ensure that no one on her team made obvious or reckless mistakes.


    The procedures were extensive, and by the time they wrapped up for the day, nearly three hours had passed.


    During her break, Ariel remained in the room while the others went elsewhere to finish their tasks. She was about to get up for a drink of water when she noticed a message from Janice on WhatsApp.


    “I just received some news. A mutual friend told me that Wendy… she had an induced abortion. Something must have happened, and she wasn’t able to keep the baby.”


    The news left Ariel stunned.


    Wendy’s baby bump had already been noticeable. With her slender frame, it was hard to tell exactly how many months along she had been, but it certainly wasn’t early. That made it all the more shocking that she had undergone an induced abortion at this stage of her pregnancy.


    Janice sent a few more voice messages.


    “I thought she was wicked for making that unreasonable demand of you at the hospital the other day. But after hearing she lost her child, I can’t help but pity her now.


    “Do you think she fought with Lucas that day because of <b>you</b>?


    “Now that Wendy’s no longer carrying Lucas‘ child, will they still go through with the wedding? My friend said it might be called off. And all this happened right after we ran into them at the hospital.


    “Lucas couldn’t possibly be thinking of… getting back together with you, right?”


    Janice sounded horrified, as though Lucas had lost his sense of reason if he truly considered it.


    Ariel furrowed her brows. Wendy must have been dealt a devastating blow by losing her child so suddenly.


    She didn’t respond to Janice’s messages. But when she turned, she found herself staring straight into a


    pair of dark, unreadable eyes.


    She had no idea how long Jayson had been standing there. A faint, cold light flickered in his gaze.


    “When did you get here?” Ariel asked, caughtpletely off guard. Her brows knitted tighter.


    Jayson’s eyes never left her as he stepped forward. Each time she retreated, he closed the distance again, until her back hit the ss wall.


    “Is there something in those messages I wasn’t supposed to hear?” His voice was calm, yet edged. ” Should I answer based only on the topics you want me to avoid?”


    He had clearly overheard everything–including the part about Lucas possibly calling off his wedding.


    With nowhere left to retreat, Ariel faced him head–on. “Those were private matters between me and my friend. You can’t deny they have nothing to do with you.”


    “On the other hand, you can’t deny that you’re still my legal spouse.” His words hung heavy in the air.


    The tension between them thickened.


    Ariel’s gaze hardened. “Jayson, that was a mistake you deliberately hid from me. I never wanted it.” “What do you want, then? Lucas?” Jayson leaned closer, his eyes locked on hers. It was the first time he had directly asked her about Lucas.


    “Was Janice furious with me the other day because you ran into Lucas? Did she think I was holding you


    back?”


    Jayson knew better than anyone what Lucas might be thinking, especially now that his wedding had been called off.


    Ariel grew uneasy at how close Jayson stood. She pressed her hands against his chest, feeling the strong, steady rhythm of his heartbeat.


    “Are you questioning me right now? Do you really think you have the right to ask me that?” she snapped. She couldn’t understand why he was reacting so strongly.


    Jayson stared at Ariel, a muscle twitching in his jaw. He began to reveal the secrets he had held buried in his heart for years.


    <b>“</b>You want an answer, Ariel? Fine. We married four years ago, and for nearly three of those years, I’ve been mindful and wary of Lucas. Tell me, Ariel. Did you change yourst name to Walker because of him?”


    2/2 <fnfbed> Fresh chapters posted on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l?</fnfbed>