Samson merely cast Elsie a stony nce before turning and walking away. He couldn’t even be bothered to say a


    word to her.


    Ariel and Jayson stepped out of the building. Arthur had gone to get the car.


    Jayson was on the phone with Eric. His instruction was brief. “Keep a close eye on the deceased’s family.”


    When the call ended, he turned his gaze to Ariel.


    She met his eyes, took a deep breath, and asked, “<b>If </b>I hadn’t found out on my own, were you nning on never telling me you helped me back then?”


    Jayson slid one hand into his pocket and replied unhurriedly, “That was the n.”


    Ariel held his gaze, not wanting to miss even the slightest change in his expression. “We weren’t even that close


    at the time.”


    They had only met a handful of times, only because their grandfathers had been warrades.


    Jayson said nothing.


    Then, with a pensive look, Ariel blurted out, “Did you secretly have a crush on me?” 1


    Just then, Arthur pulled up in the car.


    Jayson lowered his head to look at her. He didn’t seem embarrassed in the slightest. “Sorry, but do I have to report something like that to you as well?”


    Ariel was rendered speechless. She had asked the question without much thought. Yet, it seemed Jayson really…


    But today…


    “You defended me just now,” Jayson said lowly.


    Ariel had been determined to help him turn the situation around and secure the market for his materials.


    Frankly, Samson’s schemes could have dealt a crippling blow to Jayson’s business. Without evidence, Yeager Group would have walked away as the biggest winner.


    4:07 PM Fri 3 Oct


    <b>81</b><b>% </b>


    If she and Jayson had been on bad terms or at odds with each other, today’s meeting would have ended very


    differently.


    That had been Samson’s n all along.


    Ariel didn’t deny it this time. “Do you think I can’t make sound judgments?”


    Jayson raised his brows at her bluntness.


    Momentster, his phone rang again.


    He answered, listened, then said, “Alright. Handle it personally. We won’t pursue legal action against the


    family. Just make sure they receive properpensation, then release a statement.”


    When he hung up, he looked at Ariel. “Are you free? Can we stop by Larkin Manor?”


    Confused, Ariel frowned slightly. “Is something the matter?”


    “The preparations for Grandma’s birthday are done. We’ll need to attend together.” Jayson lowered his gaze a


    little. “After that, I won’t trouble you with these events anymore.”


    Ariel understood. He intended to end things cleanly between them after Betty’s celebration.


    Because of what happened to their baby, he couldn’t possibly not me her for what had seemed like a cruel


    decision.


    “Okay.” She lowered her gaze to her abdomen, distracted for a moment. Before getting into the car, she looked <fn2e2e> The source of th?s content is FindN0vel</fn2e2e>


    at Jayson. “About the ident at the factory….


    Jayson’s throat bobbed slightly at her swift answer. Still, he raised his hand to shield her head from the car roof.


    “Apart from Samson, who else do you think would want that to happen?”


    Ariel knew what he meant. Clearly, Samson wasn’t the only one trying to bring them down. The situation was


    far moreplicated.


    She gave a slight nod.


    Once they were seated in the car, Ariel asked, “The person who died in the ident–what exactly happened?


    Have you found out more?”


    She figured Jayson already knew something, given the two calls he had just taken.


    Jayson’s eyes narrowed. “The worker had end–stage cancer.”


    4:07 PM Fri 3 Oct


    Ariel’s fists tightened on herp at those words.


    <b>0176 </b>


    “His cancer was incurable. He had at most two months left. His daughter, who just turned 17, has leukemia. Her treatment costs a fortune. If he died from his illness, his wife would never be able to afford it.”


    Ariel instantly understood.


    The worker most likely gave up his life in hopes of affording his daughter’s medical care, since a fatal work ident would guarantee a significantpensation payment for his family.


    As for the person who had approached him…


    Ariel lowered her gaze, hiding the emotions flickering in her eyes. As a fellow chronic illness sufferer, she could deeply rte to what the worker was likely going through.


    She was also left to wonder if the sess rate of her cancer removal surgery would hold up, especially given her weakened state after being forced to have an abortion.


    “Jayson,” Ariel suddenly called softly.


    He turned to her. “What’s wrong? Why so serious all of a sudden?”