<b>Chapter </b><b>653 </b>
Afterpleting the first round of testing, Ariel carefully stored the ssified data. On the way back to
base, her mind wandered.
So, Jayson had finally decided to be honest and share his true thoughts?
The absurdity of it all still left her unsettled.
She never imagined Jayson had kept those questions bottled up for so long, never once asking her directly. Instead, they had spent the past few years locked in a strained, awkward rtionship.
On herptop, Ariel had saved countless things over the years. She had developed an interest in astronomy during her adolescence. She also loved photography, saving money bit by bit to buy equipment. She would capture fleeting moments of her life and store them away.
In time, even she had forgotten much of what was on thatptop.
Yet those very files had fueled Jayson’s misunderstandings, leaving behind invisible scars in their
rtionship.
Ariel closed her eyes and drew a long breath. <fn51ad> Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F?ndNovel</fn51ad>
Maybe all of this was a sign. Perhaps she and Jayson simply weren’t meant to be–fated to misread and misunderstand each other. (3)
Even though certain discoveries had bothered him, Jayson had never asked her about them, likely because his pride would not allow it. And so, those issues lingered. Left unresolved, they only grew
heavier with time.
But Ariel couldn’t change the past, nor did she intend to waste her energy dwelling on it.
After some thought, she checked the time. She decided that it was time to make an appointment at the hospital–time to settle the matter of the child she was carrying.
She also needed Liam to run an assessment of her condition.
After submitting the data at the base, Ariel went straight to the top private hospital in Eldoria, hoping to secure an appointment with an OB–GYN specialist quickly.
She collected her number and headed upstairs. To her surprise, she ran into Lucas, who was holding a bill in one hand and discharge papers in the other.
The sight immediately reminded her of Wendy.
Lucas stared at her intently. “Are you feeling unwell?<b>” </b>
Ariel ignored him, walking past without a word.
His expression darkened. “Wendy just had an induced abortion. Tell me, should I still go through with the wedding?” 1
His tone was sharp, taunting, as though daring her to react.
Ariel frowned, meeting his gaze with a cold expression. “What’s that got <i>to </i>do with me?”
Lucas froze. Meanwhile, Ariel stepped onto the esctor.
Looking up, she spotted Wendy on the floor above, pale as a sheet<b>, </b>seemingly ready to leave the hospital.
The moment Wendy noticed Ariel, her eyes darted toward Lucas, whose mood was clearly foul. She clenched her fists tightly.
Ariel ignored them both, unwilling to get dragged into their mess. But Wendy’s gaze lingered on her retreating back, lips trembling, eyes clouded with conflicting emotions–anger, envy<b>, </b>resentment.
She looked at Lucas again, waiting below, then finally decided to follow Ariel. She had something to say. Unaware of the footsteps behind her, Ariel entered the consultation room when her number was called.
Wendy stopped short outside. Her face stiffened when she realized Ariel had gone into the OB–GYN department.
Inside, an elderly specialist with gray hair examined Ariel. “A healthy, high–quality embryo tends to grow stably. The mother will also experience fewer symptoms of morning sickness.
“From what I see, your husband should be in good health as well–no heavy smoking or drinking habits.” Ariel clenched her fists, her fingers icy cold. “I’ve decided… to have an abortion.”
The doctor looked up sharply. “Are you certain? Have you informed your husband?”
Ariel lowered her gaze to her abdomen, her eyes burning. She shook her head. “That won’t be necessary. We’ll be divorcing soon. The decision about this child is mine to make.”
Outside, Wendy heard everything. Her shock deepened into horror.
She had just undergone an abortion, only for Lucas to refuse to marry her. Yet Ariel, who carried Jayson’s child, was choosing to end the pregnancy in secret. And she wasn’t even telling him.
As Wendy pieced everything together, realization struck–she understood exactly what Ariel was trying to do.
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