When Jayson had first discovered the truth, he was both upset and infuriated. The thought that Ariel might not love him was unbearable. Still, he kept those emotions locked inside.


    The more he thought about it, the more absurd it seemed. Yet he couldn’t bring himself to question Ariel and risk making things awkward between them.


    His only solution was to leave on a four–month business trip, during which he stayed in Lockewin for quite some time.


    A photograph of Jayson and Ariel from their wedding day sat on his office desk–the only picture they


    had ever taken together.


    Once, in a moment of overwhelming emotion, he had thrown the frame away. Butter, he retrieved it and ced it back on his desk, unable to let it go.


    He spent a long time thinking.


    Ariel had only married him because of others‘ schemes. Left to her own choices, she likely would never have agreed. She had been forced down this path.


    Lucas had served three years in prison after the Sanderson Group ran into serious trouble with one of its projects. Jayson believed Ariel still harbored hopes of being with Lucas, judging from the way she had decorated their marital home.


    Her disregard for him made Jayson furious. Yet deep down, he knew it was because of his interference and the maniptions of others that Ariel had ended up trapped in this situation.


    He couldn’t bring himself to let her go. At the same time, he didn’t want to keep her by his side under the excuse of love.


    Jayson wrestled constantly with his thoughts.


    He knew Ariel’s nature too well. She was always willing to sacrifice herself for others. Out of guilt toward him and out of obligation to the Sanderson family, she might very well choose to stay with him for life.


    She yielded too often. She sacrificed <i>too </i>much.


    Jayson had even considered pretending to know nothing just to keep her with him forever.


    But he also resented her for not loving him, and he envied Lucas for being the one she cared for. Yet, he also knew he had countless ways of making her stay, even if she ever decided to leave.


    Even if it meant she resented him, he didn’t mind. He had never been generous to begin with.


    But reality pressed in on him from all sides. His own position and status burdened him with endless troubles, while Ariel was constantly under pressure and maniption from others. Must he be one


    +15 <b>BONUS </b>


    of those people too?


    And once Lucas was released from prison–what then?


    With rumors about Jayson and Nancy spreading everywhere, Ariel would finally have more than enough reason to leave. No one could me her, and no one could hold her back. 1


    Jayson wondered what Ariel would choose if the decision were truly hers.


    It had taken him nearly two years to summon the courage to go through with the n.


    Even when it came to Nancy, Jayson admitted he sometimes acted on emotion. He had used her- whether as a stepping stone for Ariel’s sess, or as a pawn to give Ariel her revenge against the


    Stantons. 1


    He had also secretly hoped Nancy’s presence might stir jealousy in Ariel, might make her long for him. It was his way ofpeting with Lucas for her attention. (2


    Not everything he did was rational. 1 <fn844f> Newest update provided by Find★Novel</fn844f>


    Still, Lucas‘ behavior after his release made it impossible for Jayson to respect him.


    At that moment, Ariel’s heartbeat quickened. She had never heard Jayson speak so openly about his feelings. He had kept silent for years, never mentioning these thoughts.


    As for her decision to change herst name, that had happened shortly after Elena’s death. Having witnessed the cruelty of Morgan and the Sandersons, Ariel no longer wanted any connection to them.


    It was Lucas who suggested the change then.


    With only a few members of the Walker family left, Ariel hoped she could at least carry on their legacy.


    The marital home, however, had nothing to do with dreams she and Lucas once shared. It was simply her own vision of a ce she could call her own.


    When Lucas asked her, she was already imagining a house she would buy with her own money–a safe haven, free from reliance on the Sandersons.


    Ariel had always carried dreams of the home she wanted. Growing up with so many regrets, she longed for a ce that belonged only to her.


    It wasn’t strange that Jayson had misunderstood, since Lucas had been tangentially involved. Yet Ariel had never bothered to rify.


    No matter the reasons, she and Jayson had been entangled for far too long. In her heart, Ariel had already decided to let things be. They were destined to part sooner orter.


    Jayson had been studying her face this whole time. When he realized she had nothing to say about his


    concerns, he sighed deeply.


    He slowly leaned forward, resting his forehead on her shoulder, his voice heavy with gloom. “Ariel, I admit I can be possessive and narrow–minded. There is a dark, ungentlemanly side to me. 2


    “And I know you’re not asking for much. I shouldn’t be making things so hard for you. If… Lucas really calls off the wedding this time, what will you do?” 1