Janice’s remarks instantly shattered the tense silence that surrounded the group.


    Jayson immediately turned toward Ariel, staring hard at her slightly pale face. For a fleeting moment, he hoped he had misheard Janice.


    As the murmurs died down, Betty and most of the guests were left utterly bbergasted by what they had just heard.


    Katie and Leonard rose to their feet almost simultaneously. “What do you mean? What’s wrong with Ari<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    Janice’s eyes grew redder as she thought about Ariel’s condition. She red at the Larkins one by one before fixing a frigid gaze on Cecilia, who furrowed her brows.


    “Ari hasn’t done anything to deserve this from any of you! Especially you, the Larkins–you shouldn’t act like you’re her benefactors or that it was some tragedy to let her marry into your family. <b>If </b>it weren’t for you, maybe she wouldn’t have-” 1


    “Jan!” Chad finally snapped out of his daze. Striding forward, he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her back from the table before she could say more.


    Janice was still fuming, especially after Evelyn’s pointed remarks. She wanted nothing more than to jab her finger in Evelyn’s face and scream about how cold and heartless the woman was.


    Chad’s expression was grim as he looked at her. “We shouldn’t talk about this with so many eyes watching. These are Ari’s personal matters. You’ll only rub salt into her wounds if you keep going.”


    He spoke softly, just loud enough for Ariel and Janice to hear. His words were enough to finally rein


    Janice in.


    She turned her eyes to Ariel.


    Suddenly, Ariel found herself the focus of countless curious, questioning gazes. The same panic she had


    felt upon learning she might not have much time left to live seized her chest.


    She took a deep breath. A dull throbbing pain rippled through her lower abdomen, her face growing paler as sweat gathered on her forehead.


    Jayson’s lips pressed into a tight line as he walked toward her. He didn’t even notice his hands trembling


    slightly. Fixing his eyes on her, he asked in a low voice, “What exactly is she talking about?”


    He couldn’t bring himself to voice the words–what kind of illness had she been diagnosed with? One


    that could cost her life, as Janice had just imed? <fn2d22> This update is avable on FindN()vel</fn2d22>


    The atmosphere grew taut and suffocating.


    Ariel avoided Jayson’s eyes, which brimmed with worry and unease. Instead, she turned to Katie and


    Leonard. In a cracked voice, she said, “Grandma, I’ll exin it to youter.”


    After all, they were here to celebrate Betty’s birthday. Ariel didn’t want to be the reason the event was ruined. Not today; not when this was perhaps thest time she would ever join a Larkin family gathering.


    Katie’s voice trembled as she replied, “That won’t do. Honestly, this event doesn’t matter to me at all. You’re the one I care about most. How can I possibly calm down if you don’t tell me what’s going on?”


    Her breathing grew ragged.


    <b>“</b>Mom, let’s talk somewhere more private.” Leonard, ever the cool–headed one, supported Katie by holding


    her arm and tried to ease her agitation.


    Meanwhile, Betty struggled to suppress the storm of emotions surging inside her. She quickly made a decision. “It’s fine. The party hasn’t started yet. Let’s head to the lounge and talk there.”


    The celebration wasn’t scheduled to begin until noon, so there was still time. Besides, they needed an exnation for Cecilia’s outrageous im that Ariel had terminated her pregnancy.


    Cecilia watched the Larkins efficiently get things under control. She didn’t care about what would happen next. She had already achieved her goal.


    The Larkins couldn’t possibly overlook the fact that Ariel had allegedly gotten rid of a child carrying their


    bloodline.


    As for Janice’s ims that Ariel was sick, Cecilia reckoned Janice was just making up an excuse to help


    exin Ariel’s decision.


    She smirked and nced at Ariel, who was visibly shaken by the exposure of her secret. Satisfied, Cecilia silently backed away and left the hall.


    Jayson, meanwhile, felt as though something were wing at his heart. An unknown fear gripped him.


    Unable to speak, he simply held onto Ariel’s wrist. Her warmth was the only thing that kept him from unravelingpletely.


    Evelyn, still unsure of the details, knew one thing for certain–the news of Ariel’s supposed abortion must be contained. With a dark expression, she ordered several people to keep the situation under control in the hall and attend to the guests. (5