《Dead at Heart》 Inside 1

Chapter 1

Author: Tightrope ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Walker. You¡¯ve missed the best window for surgery.¡± Ariel Walker stood frozen, holding theb report confirming her endometrial cancer. It took her a long time to gather herself before dialing Colton Zeller, her husband Jayson Larkin¡¯s secretary. The phone rang for ages before Colton finally picked up. His tone was aszy as ever. ¡°Yes, Mrs. Larkin?¡± Ariel curled her stiff fingers into a fist. ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson? I need to talk to him.¡± ¡°Mr. Larkin is unavable.¡± ¡°Can you at least pass him the phone?¡± Before Colton could answer, a soft voice came through the receiver. ¡°Jayson, what¡¯s with all the secrecy? What¡¯s the big surprise?¡± ¡°Look up.¡± Ariel heard the familiar, deep voice that held a tenderness she would never receive. The next moment, Colton hung up the phone. At the same time, a thunderous explosion echoed across the harbor. Ariel lifted her head, her face drained of color. Beautiful fireworks burst into the night sky, painting the darkness with dazzling streaks of color, just like in fairy tales. Outside the hospital, a crowd had gathered. ¡°Did you hear? The CEO of Bluum Corp, Mr. Larkin, spent over 20 million dors on this firework show for his girlfriend¡¯s birthday!¡± ¡°It¡¯s Nancy Stanton we¡¯re talking about! An Arcadia Tech PhD! Every toppany in the country is fighting to hire her. She¡¯s smart, gorgeous,es from an elite family, and her boyfriend is rich and ridiculously hot!¡± ¡°No wonder Mr. Larkin adores her. A woman like that is a status symbol.¡± Ariel stared at the brilliant fireworks for a long time before her fingers slowly loosened. Theb report slipped from her grasp, fluttering to the ground. She turned and walked away. ¡­ Jayson returned home in the early hours to find Ariel sitting alone in the dark living room. He flipped on the light, frowning. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you asleep?¡± She looked up at him. His jacket was draped over his arm. His cold eyes met hers, as impassive as ever. For years, Ariel had convinced herself that he was simply distant by nature. But tonight, she finally understood. The man she shared a bed with was ice, but in another woman¡¯s world, he burned like fire. ¡°I couldn¡¯t sleep,¡± she said quietly. ¡°By the way, I went to the hospital today.¡± Jayson tossed his jacket onto the couch and asked casually, ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± Ariel had beenining about stomach pain for weeks. He had promised to take her to get it checked out but kept postponing it. Whether it was a multi-million-dor contract or tricky project issues, something always came up. Just yesterday, Jayson had told her he¡¯d go to the hospital with her. But Nancy actually hid her birthday from him? He had rushed straight to Nancy¡¯s side, barely making it in time to set off the fireworks. Ariel, as it turned out, hadn¡¯t even crossed his mind. ¡°Nothing serious. I¡¯ll be fine.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze. ¡°What about you? What brings you home tonight?¡± Jayson hesitated for a second, then stepped closer. He pulled her into his arms, his breath warm against her neck. His voice was low and husky as he said, ¡°It¡¯s your ovtion window. ¡°You were the one who agreed to sleep with me on these nights every month to give my family an heir. Have you forgotten?¡± The scent of women¡¯s perfume on Jayson was so thick that it shattered thest shreds of Ariel¡¯s dignity like a bullet. Jayson was right. In the three years they¡¯d been married, he had never wanted her. The only reason he even came home and slept with her was because of his grandmother, Betty Stewart, who constantly nagged about carrying on the Larkin bloodline. She was lost in thought for a moment. Having a baby seemed impossible now. Ariel had always been submissive. But tonight, something inside her snapped. ¡°Aren¡¯t you worried your girlfriend will be jealous?¡± Her eyes gleamed in the dim light like a caged animal¡¯s might before it bared its teeth. Jayson looked at her and noticed the seriousness in her expression as her gaze grew colder. After a long silence, he let out a coldugh. ¡°Why should I be worried? We¡¯re in a secret marriage. You¡¯re the one hiding in the shadows. You chose to be the side character. So why are you acting like the main one?¡± Inside 2

Chapter 2

Author: Tightrope Ariel¡¯s chest tightened painfully, and her face turned even paler. The air conditioning had kept the temperature constant all year round, but now, she felt as though she were standing in an ice cave. Noticing her silence, Jayson finally shifted his gaze from her face after a few long seconds. ¡°Nancy¡¯s mother¡¯s health is getting worse. Her only wish is to see Nancy taken care of. Nancy needs me by her side. Just stay in your ce as Mrs. Larkin and don¡¯t cause trouble. I won¡¯t bother you.¡± The way he spoke about his affair was almost righteous. He wouldn¡¯t bother her? Ariel froze for a long moment, then suddenlyughed. Suppressing the ache in her chest, she said, ¡°If she needs you, then you really shouldn¡¯t be here with me.¡± Without another word, she turned and climbed the stairs, mming the door behind her without a second nce. A few minutester, the sound of a car engine roared from downstairs. Jayson was leaving¡ªno doubt heading straight to Nancy. Exhausted, Ariel dragged herself to the bathroom and sshed cold water on her face. The chill sharpened her senses. She turned on herptop and contacted Aaron Foster, awyer she had known three years ago. She asked him to help her draft a divorce agreement. Aaron replied, ¡°Ms. Walker, do you have any specific requests? For example, regarding the house, the car, or how to divide assets?¡± Ariel paused, then calmly responded, ¡°I don¡¯t want anything.¡± She didn¡¯t even want Jayson, so why would she want any of that stuff? Besides, she had read online that if she didn¡¯t ask for anything, the process would be faster. She wouldn¡¯t have to drag her already weakening body through endless negotiations with him. Aaron quickly sent her thepleted agreement. Ariel printed it out. She gripped a pen so tightly her knuckles turned white, but she didn¡¯t hesitate. Suppressing her trembling, she signed her name. Then, she endured the pain and hurriedly packed her belongings. As she stood at the door, she took onest, long look at the home she had cared for over the past three years. Without another word, she walked away. The next day, Ariel took a leave of absence from work and arranged for a same-day delivery service to drop off the printed divorce papers at Bluum Corp¡¯s front desk. For something as small as a package, Jayson never bothered to do it himself, so she had filled in Colton as the recipient. Since marrying Jayson, she had worked at Bluum Corp. He refused to make their marriage public and forbade her from approaching him at thepany, so she was relegated to the PR department. Her job was to manage thepany¡¯s public image. Over the years, Ariel had risen to the position of PR manager through sheer skill. In all three years, she had never once taken a sick day or gone absent. She was good at what she did not because she enjoyed it but because she had always aimed for perfection. It had nothing to do with her profession either. Now that she had made up her mind to divorce, she had no intention of staying at Bluum Corp. Once the courier had left, Ariel nced at the clock. It was almost 10:00 am. She clenched her fists. She had something more important to do. ¡­ Ariel arrived at Eastgate Prison in Eldoria. Her palms were sweating as she gripped the steering wheel. It had been three years. The thought of facing Lucas Sanderson again made her nervous. Today, he was finally being released. She had made a reservation for a private room in a restaurant a month in advance to wee him back. Lucas was a child adopted by her father. They had grown up together. In the ruthless Sanderson family, Lucas had always been the one to treat her kindly. For over a decade, he had protected her, never once speaking harshly to her. He had always vowed that while others might disappoint her, he never would. She looked at herself in the mirror. Her face was pale from illness, so she dabbed on a bit of blush to look healthier. To keep him from worrying, she took a painkiller and added sunsses and a hat to her outfit. The gates ahead slowly opened. Without thinking, she got out of the car. Her limbs moved almost of their own ord. A tall man in ck, holding an old backpack, walked out with confident strides. His short hair was neatly trimmed. His calm, piercing gaze swept over the crowd as if looking at her. Ariel¡¯s heart nearly stopped at that moment. Her throat went dry, and her eyes burned. Before she realized it, she was already walking toward him. ¡°Lucas¡­¡± Inside 3

Chapter 3

Author: Tightrope ¡°Lucas!¡± A woman¡¯s excited voice shattered Ariel¡¯s thoughts. Before she could react, the woman brushed past her and threw herself straight into Lucas¡¯ broad chest. He caught her out of habit, letting her cling to him without resistance. ¡°Do you know how long I¡¯ve been waiting for you? If you weren¡¯t released soon, my dad was going to force me into an arranged marriage!¡± Lucas studied the woman¡¯s face while responding to her eager kiss. A smirk yed at his lips. ¡°Are you that desperate? Tell your driver to step out for a moment. I¡¯ll give your dad a grand gift.¡± The woman pouted yfully but clung to him. ¡°Don¡¯t be naughty! My dad wants me to bring you home. He said he wants to meet you. He even nned a wee-back dinner.¡± Ariel felt like her feet were nailed to the ground. She stared nkly at the scene before her. The dyed sting of embarrassment and helplessness set in. The Lucas she had known¡ªthe one who had always been gentle and thoughtful and who had centered his world around her¡ªfelt like nothing more than a dream from the past ten years. A dull pain began to stir in her stomach. It was as if a knife from the past had traveled through time and struck her all over again. ¡°Ari, I don¡¯t want to be a Sanderson. I don¡¯t want to be your brother. Will you marry me when you grow up?¡± His warm voice echoed in her mind, making Ariel momentarily dizzy. ¡°Watch out!¡± A sharp voice jolted Ariel back to reality. She turned in time to see a motorcycle speeding toward Lucas and that woman. Without hesitation, Lucas pulled the woman into his arms, shielding herpletely. Meanwhile, Ariel stumbled back, covering her face in a panic. In her haste, she twisted her ankle. ¡°Are you¡­¡± Lucas turned to look at her. His deep gaze flickered with scrutiny and a hint of panic. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Before the tears could fall, Ariel turned and ran. The woman tilted her head curiously. ¡°Who was that?¡± Lucas hesitated for a moment before pinching her chin and kissing her lightly. ¡°Looked like someone I used to know.¡± Someone he used to know¡­ The person he grew up with for over a decade and the one he once promised to marry was just someone he used to know. Ariel hurried back to her car. Clutching her aching stomach, she leaned against the steering wheel and gasped for breath. Cold sweat broke out inyers across her skin. She couldn¡¯t tell if the pain in her chest was worse or the illness that was eating away at her. Her thoughts were cut off by the sudden ringing of her phone. She nced at the screen. It was Colton. ¡­ At Bluum Corp, Colton frowned as he received the document Ariel had sent. They worked in the same building. What was she trying to pull? Was this her way of getting Jayson¡¯s attention, since she wasn¡¯t allowed near the CEO¡¯s office? How childish. Annoyed, Colton marched straight to the PR department only to be told that Ariel wasn¡¯t in today. The day was already hectic. He frowned deeper and called Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker, I don¡¯t know what game you¡¯re ying, but get back to the office immediately.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes darkened. This must be about Jayson. Had he already seen the divorce papers and wanted to talk? That was the only possibility she could think of. Without hesitation, she turned the car around and headed straight for Bluum Corp. When Colton saw Ariel rushing in, his suspicions were confirmed. She hadn¡¯t changed¡ªstill seeking special attention from Jayson. Colton could barely hide the mockery on his face. ¡°Where is he?¡± Ariel¡¯s face was pale. She still needed to pick up her medication from the hospital. She was still considering her treatment. Once she started chemotherapy, it would be hard to hide from her grandmother, Katie Taylor, and uncle, Leonard Walker. ¡°This is Bluum Corp, Ms. Walker. You expect Mr. Larkin toe down personally just to see you?¡± Colton¡¯s tone was all business. ¡°He has something for you to handle.¡± ¡°Is it about the div¡ª¡± ¡°There was some negative press surrounding Ms. Stanton¡¯s birthday celebrationst night. People are questioning whether she stole someone else¡¯s man. Ms. Stanton isn¡¯t just anyone. She¡¯s about to be the face of Bluum Corp¡¯s key project. We can¡¯t afford any scandals tarnishing her image. ¡°Mr. Larkin requested that you handle it. Make sure Ms. Stanton¡¯s name is cleared and shut down the rumors.¡± Inside 4

Chapter 4

Author: Tightrope Ariel froze. She pressed her pale lips together. ¡°Is this Jayson¡¯s order?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Colton had never liked Ariel. Sure, she waspetent and dedicated to her work, but she had forced her way into marriage through underhanded means. Women like her disgusted him. ¡°Mr. Larkin said you¡¯re not to leave until the situation is under control. Remember, Bluum Corp doesn¡¯t keep useless employees.¡± Ariel had always known that Jayson didn¡¯t care about her. But she hadn¡¯t expected that he¡¯d pull something like this even on the brink of divorce. He actually asked her, his rightful wife, to silence rumors about his mistress that were nothing but the truth. A surge of anger stabbed deep into Ariel¡¯s chest. The pain in her stomach red again, forcing her to grip the desk for support. Her gazended on the employee badge on her desk. She picked it up and wrapped thenyard around it. ¡°Bluum Corp may not keep useless employees, but I¡¯m not the right person for this job.¡± Her voice was calm as she ced the badge back on the table. ¡°I resign.¡± She had submitted her resignation after she had printed out the divorce papersst night. Maybe the paperwork hadn¡¯t reached Jayson yet. But Ariel wasn¡¯t going to handle this matter, not today, not ever. ¡°Don¡¯te to me for anything regarding Nancy from now on. Please have Mr. Larkin assign someone else. Bluum Corp is big enough. I¡¯m sure it can manage without me.¡± For a split second, Colton was stunned. Ariel was resigning? Was she really willing to walk away from the only job that kept her close to Jayson? Or was this just another tactic to make him chase after her? Colton turned and headed back to the top floor. Jayson¡¯s schedule was packed. He was about to meet with Mason Fletcher, CEO of Stratos Technologies. ¡°Mr. Larkin, here¡¯s the Stratos contract for your review.¡± Jayson skimmed the document. ¡°How¡¯s the PR department handling the Nancy situation?¡± Colton hesitated. ¡°Ms. Walker¡­ she¡­¡± ¡°Speak.¡± ¡°Ms. Walker said she can¡¯t handle this matter. She submitted her resignation. Said not toe to her with anything regarding Ms. Stanton from now on.¡± Jayson¡¯s hand paused mid-page as he flipped through the contract. He looked up, his deep eyes devoid of warmth. ¡°She came in today to submit it?¡± ¡°No, she was actually on leave today. I called her in. HR said she submitted her resignation yesterday.¡± ¡°On leave?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t ask about the resignation, but he asked about the leave. Colton had no idea what Jayson was thinking. ¡°Must¡¯ve been something important. She hasn¡¯t taken a single day off in three years.¡± Jayson knew that. Ariel always seemed distant, like she kept people at arm¡¯s length. But when it came to work, she was meticulous, sharp, and relentless. That was why she had climbed to the position of PR manager in less than two years. If she had taken leave and was resigning, then something was definitely off. Jayson lowered his gaze, lost in thought. A momentter, his expression turned ice-cold, and he abruptly stood up. ¡°Approve her resignation after she takes care of the Nancy situation. If she can¡¯t handle it, let her consider the consequences when word gets out.¡± Colton was caught off guard. Jayson should¡¯ve been d to see Ariel leave Bluum Corp. So why wasn¡¯t he letting her go? It didn¡¯t make sense. ¡°By the way, Mr. Larkin, I have a file from Ms. Walker.¡± Jayson¡¯s phone rang. Without looking up, he waved a hand dismissively. ¡°Handle it like the rest.¡± And that meant ignoring it. Over the years, Ariel had sent plenty of things¡ªclothes, ties, cufflinks, and handmade gifts. She had even handcrafted a drone model to match Bluum Corp¡¯stest tech project. But Jayson had never so much as nced at any of it. They all sat untouched in one of his office cabs, gathering dust. Only when he was in a hurry and needed something did they ever get used. Colton, unfazed, tossed the unopened file into the cab. He thought that all of Ariel¡¯s scheming was just aplete waste of effort. Inside 5

Chapter 5

Author: Tightrope After finishing up her work, Ariel received a call from Colton. He repeated Jayson¡¯s message word for word. Ariel immediately understood what Jayson was trying to do. Nancy¡¯s rtionship with him was, without a doubt, an affair. She had rightfully earned the title of homewrecker. Having Ariel handle this mess was a preemptive move. If anyone ever dug up the past, they would see that Ariel, Jayson¡¯s rightful wife, had ¡°cleared¡± Nancy¡¯s name. That way, Nancy wouldn¡¯t bebeled a homewrecker and could avoid scrutiny and criticism. Jayson was truly pulling out all the stops for Nancy. As for Jayson¡¯s ¡°consider the consequences¡±, it was nothing more than a warning. If she refused to handle the matter, leaving Bluum Corp wouldn¡¯t mean a fresh start. Nopany would dare take her in. He had the power to cut off her livelihood. For three years, she had done everything a wife should do. From the day she married him, she had severed ties with her past without hesitation, only to be repaid with nothing but indifference. She was exhausted. Ariel curled her lips into a mocking smile and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m taking sick leave. If you force me to work while ill, that¡¯s a vition ofborws. I¡¯ll see you in court.¡± She was already divorcing him and resigning. Why should she care if Jayson was happy or not? After work, Ariel got into her car and saw a text from her father, Morgan Sanderson. ¡°Lucas is out. We¡¯re having a family dinner. Are youing?¡± Though it was phrased as a question, Ariel knew full well that Morgan didn¡¯t want her there. To him, she was nothing more than a defiant daughter. Back then, her rtionship with Lucas had been a disgrace in Morgan¡¯s eyes. He saw it as an act of shamelessness. If not for her value as a bargaining chip in marrying into a powerful family like the Larkins, he would have cut ties with her and cast her out. But the dinner was to celebrate Lucas¡¯ return. He had once been the most important person in her life. Ariel hesitated, then touched up her makeup. She needed to look presentable. Then, without another thought, she drove straight to Sanderson Manor. If not for Lucas, she would have had no reason to stay in touch with the Sanderson family. When she arrived, the household staff eyed her strangely. One even frowned. ¡°Why are you here, Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel ignored them. This hadn¡¯t been her home for years. Even the household staff looked down on her and made it clear she wasn¡¯t wee. ¡°Ariel?¡± Lori Sanderson came down the stairs. Her expression was cold as she snapped at Ariel. ¡°You really have no shame. Lucas just got back, and you¡¯re already here to cling to him? Do you enjoy ruining everyone¡¯s mood?¡± Lori was Morgan¡¯s illegitimate daughter. She and Ariel shared the same birth year, month, and day. Yet, here she was, standing tall as the rightful daughter, throwing insults like she owned the ce. ¡°Well, if you have any shame, why not move out of my mom¡¯s house? Let¡¯s see just how noble you really are,¡± Ariel retorted coolly. This house was bought years ago by her mother, Elena Walker, using the money from selling her paintings at a high price. Yet now, Morgan was living here with his current wife, Teresa Fuller, and Lori. Lori was enjoying the very things Elena had left behind, and she had the audacity to act superior? ¡°You¡­¡± Lori¡¯s face twisted with anger, but then something seemed to click. Her lips curled into a smirk as she said mockingly, ¡°Let¡¯s see if you¡¯ll still be so smug in a minute.¡± ¡°Who is this?¡± A sweet, curious voice cut through the tension. Hearing themotion, a couple emerged from the living room, leaning close to each other. Lucas¡¯ girlfriend, Wendy Johnstone, caught sight of Ariel¡¯s face and instinctively tugged on Lucas¡¯ sleeve. ¡°She¡¯s gorgeous.¡± Lucas flicked a nce at Ariel, but his eyes barely lingered before shifting right back to Wendy. His hand slid down her waist. ¡°She¡¯s my other sister. What, are you jealous because of her?¡± Wendy blushed and yfully swatted his chest before turning to Ariel with a bright smile. ¡°I didn¡¯t know Lucas had two sisters. What¡¯s your name?¡± Ariel stared at the scene, momentarily at a loss. She hadn¡¯t expected Lucas to bring his girlfriend home. Since he was bringing Wendy to meet the family, it was clear he was serious about her. The Lucas who once wanted to marry Ariel and was willing to give up everything for her was gone. Now, he saw her no differently than he did Lori. Her throat tightened. ¡°Ariel Walker,¡± she replied. Wendy paused in surprise, her expression thoughtful. Then, she asked a question that made both Ariel and the Sandersons ufortable. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you a Sanderson?¡± Ariel said nothing. Wendy didn¡¯t seem fazed. She smiled confidently and said, ¡°I¡¯m Wendy Johnstone. You can call me Wendy.¡± ¡°She¡¯s going to be your sister-inw,¡± Lucas added casually. This time, he finally looked at Ariel. ¡°I¡¯ve found someone I truly want to be with. Treat her as family.¡± Inside 6

Chapter 6

Author: Tightrope Ariel met Lucas¡¯ gaze. He was watching her with a faint smile, as if waiting for her to squirm. She clenched her fists, letting go of thest shred of hope she¡¯d been holding onto. Meeting his gaze head-on, she said exactly what he wanted to hear. ¡°Sure, family. Nice to meet you, Wendy.¡± Wendy¡¯s smile deepened. She clung to Lucas¡¯ waist, nuzzling into him. Lucas paused for a moment. His eyes flickered toward Ariel before he lowered his head and pulled Wendy closer, leading her into the living room. ¡°Who are you trying to impress?¡± Lori walked up with a sneer. ¡°Lucas wouldn¡¯t look twice at a married woman like you now. ¡°And that Ms. Stanton Mr. Larkin threw a birthday celebration forst night? She¡¯s a highly sought-after aerospace engineering PhD in the corporate world. What do you have topete with that? ¡°You¡¯re just some housewife whose only skills are cooking and keeping a bed warm. What¡¯s wrong? Afraid of getting kicked to the curb, so now you¡¯re suddenly trying to cozy up to us?¡± Everyone was just waiting for her miserable marriage to fall apart. Ariel¡¯s chest tightened, but she simply set down the gift bag in her hand. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. However my life turns out, it won¡¯t have anything to do with the Sandersons. After all, myst name is Walker.¡± Without looking back, she turned and left. Staying would only be miserable for everyone here. ¡°She left?¡± Morgan stepped out from the side hall just in time to see Ariel¡¯s retreating figure. His face darkened. Lori snapped out of her daze and huffed, ¡°Dad, did you see that attitude? She doesn¡¯t care about this family, and she sure as hell doesn¡¯t care about you. I¡¯m sure Mr. Larkin¡¯s going to dump her sooner orter.¡± After three years, Morgan could tell that Ariel had never managed to win Jayson¡¯s heart. The only time he¡¯d gained anything from the Larkin name through Ariel was right after the wedding. After that, no matter how many times he tried to use the connection for business deals, he was met with indifference. Jayson never once gave him the slightest consideration as his father-inw. And whose fault was that? If Ariel had even the slightest ability to keep Jayson in line, things wouldn¡¯t have turned out this way. To Morgan, she was just a useless pawn. Morgan¡¯s expression darkened. He nced at Lori. ¡°You¡¯re not a kid anymore. Ariel¡¯s useless. I can get you some face time with Mr. Larkin.¡± Lori immediately understood his implication. Her face stiffened, and out of reflex, her gaze drifted toward Lucas. He was smirking yfully as he held a grape between his teeth, feeding it to Wendy. She bit her lip, a flicker of resentment shing in her eyes. ¡­ Ariel rented a two-bedroom apartment, fully furnished and ready to move in. She signed a one-year lease. The location was perfect. It was just a mile from the hospital she frequented. By the time she got back from Sanderson Manor, her head was throbbing. But she didn¡¯t forget to block Jayson on WhatsApp. She kept his number in case he needed to contact her about finalizing the divorce at the courthouse. Now, all she had to do was get through the 30-day cooling-off period. Setting her phone aside, she took a shower and copsed onto her bed, falling asleep almost instantly. ¡­ Meanwhile, Jayson returned to the vi and found that the foyer was dark. No matter howte it was, Ariel always left amp on. She¡¯d greet him with a gentle smile, take his coat, and set out his fresh clothes for the night. He rarely came home, but on certain nights every month, he returned to fulfill his ¡°duties¡±. Out of habit, he reached to hand off his coat, but his hand met empty air. Frowning, he nced around. Was Ariel throwing a tantrum? He headed upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door. He¡¯d expected her to be curled up in bed, silently protesting by pretending to be asleep. But the bed was empty. The whole house was dark and quiet. Ariel hadn¡¯te home. Earlier, Colton had reported Ariel¡¯s stance on the Nancy situation. She had even gone so far as to defy him, ready to take it to court. And now¡­ Jayson loosened his tie, a faint smirk ying at his lips. She¡¯d learned to run away from home? But he didn¡¯t think it was a big deal. Maybe a little time alone would help her think straight. Inside 7

Chapter 7

Author: Tightrope The next morning, the Larkins¡¯ housekeeper, Lily Hill, arrived with Jayson¡¯s younger sister, Renee Larkin. The 17-year-old had a striking figure and a sharp attitude. The moment she walked in, she tossed her bag onto the couch. ¡°Where¡¯s Ariel Walker?¡± She blinked up at Jayson. Jayson finished adjusting his tie and shot her a look. ¡°Don¡¯t be so disrespectful.¡± Renee pouted. ¡°You don¡¯t even like her. Why should I respect her?¡± Her mother, Evelyn Cavell, always said Ariel had married above her station. She should be grateful to them and serve them without question. What was the term again? A glorified maid? Jayson saw right through her. ¡°Alright, what do you want this time?¡± His voice was cold. Renee¡¯s eyes darted mischievously. ¡°Jay, you¡¯re busy today, right?¡± ¡°Why do you want to know?¡± ¡°Mom¡¯s at a fashion show, Dad¡¯s overseas, and Grandma isn¡¯t well. No one can make it to my parent-teacher meeting. ¡°Can you ask Ariel to go? She spends your money and doesn¡¯t do anything anyway. Might as well put her to use,¡± Renee said coyly while swinging her legs. Jayson hesitated. ¡°Ask her yourself.¡± Renee scoffed. ¡°Please. She¡¯s always trying to get on your good side. She dotes on me like crazy, just like those scheming women in online novels. Just tell her she has to go.¡± Lately, she¡¯d been obsessed with Nancy¡¯s aerospace lectures overseas, and her grades had taken a hit. She didn¡¯t want her family at the meeting. Ariel, on the other hand, didn¡¯t matter to Renee. She didn¡¯t mind Ariel taking the teacher¡¯s scolding. And to please Renee, Ariel definitely wouldn¡¯t rat her out to Jayson or Evelyn. Jayson thought for a moment, then shrugged on his coat. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll give her a day off.¡± ¡­ Ariel woke up with a pounding headache and a low-grade fever. Her immune system had been unreliable for a while now, so her body could break down at any moment. She¡¯d already taken sick leave the day before. She could go to the hospital today to confirm her treatment n. By the time she reached the hospital lobby, her legs had gone weak. She barely took a few steps before the world tilted. ¡°Ari!¡± Ariel heard a woman¡¯s startled cry. Then, everything went ck. When she woke up, she saw her best friend, Janice Swanson, sitting by the hospital bed. The moment she opened her eyes, Janice let out a relieved breath, then immediately started scolding, ¡°What the hell did that bastard Jayson do to you? The doctor said you copsed from exhaustion! You just barely broke your fever!¡± Ariel tensed instinctively, worried that her illness had been discovered. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did the fever fry your brain?¡± Janice gasped in shock. ¡°Doctor! She¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t shout. I¡¯m fine,¡± Ariel said. Her head throbbed from all the fuss. She quickly stopped Janice. Luckily, Janice didn¡¯t know. Otherwise, with her loud nature, news of Ariel¡¯s cancer would spread across Eldoria in less than a day. By then, Katie and Leonard would find out as well. ¡°What are you even doing at the hospital?¡± Ariel asked. Janice shrugged. ¡°My idiot brother drank himself into alcohol poisoning. I came to check if he was dead or not. Anyway, you look awful. Is it because of Jayson and his mistress?¡± Janice had seen the live stream. Hardly anyone knew Jayson was married, so people were obsessively rooting for his so-called perfect love story with Nancy. That shameless couple disgusted Janice. Ariel felt a brief moment of daze, but no anger stirred in her. ¡°We¡¯re getting a divorce soon.¡± Once the 30-day cooling-off period was up, this whole ridiculous chapter of her life would finally be over. Janice froze. Then her eyes widened in fury. She misunderstood. ¡°He¡¯s making that bitch his wife?¡± When Ariel married Jayson, she gave up her dreams and career entirely. She even turned down her lecturer¡¯s rare rmendation to join the aerospace research institute. Instead, she devoted herself to being the perfect wife, taking care of Jayson¡¯s every need. She loved that scumbag to the point of obsession. To outsiders, there was no way Ariel would have been the one to ask for a divorce. It had to be Jayson who dumped her. But Ariel shook her head. ¡°I filed for it.¡± Janice stared at her, speechless for a full two minutes. Then, suddenly, she pped her hands together. ¡°Finally! That¡¯s what I¡¯m talking about! A badass, talented woman like you should be focusing on your career. Ditch Bluum Corp and join Faye Tech. How about taking an equity stake with your expertise?¡± Faye Technologies specialized in cutting-edge drone technology, and Janice was one of the major shareholders. She had no idea about the technical side of things. After all, she¡¯d been a terrible student all her life. But she knew one fundamental truth¡ªmoney talked, and she was willing to spend a lot of it. At the mention of Faye Technologies, something in Ariel¡¯s pale face finally lit up. Inside 8

Chapter 8

Author: Tightrope If Ariel had stayed on the path she originally wanted, she would have ended up in aerospace engineering. Drones were among the most important technological advancements of the era. They were used in military operations, civilian industries, and agriculture. The only reason she had gotten a glowing rmendation to the research institute back then was because of her own achievements. She designed and oversaw the development of U.N, a reconnaissance and strike drone that featured long-range capabilities, heavy payload capacity, high speed, and automated operation. Ariel¡¯s breakthroughs had ovee key technological barriers, and the drone was now actively deployed in military operations. In the aerospace field, it was considered top-tier. But marriage had cost Ariel everything. Now, she was physically and mentally wrecked, staring down a cancer diagnosis at a young age, with no idea how much time she had left. Yet, if nothing else, she had learned one thing. One should always put oneself first and live for oneself. Even if she couldn¡¯t be cured, Ariel refused to spend what little time she had left in regret. She wanted to return to her field and focus on nurturing her dreams. Janice didn¡¯t understand the tech side of things, but Faye Technologies had a real heavyweight running the show, Chad Hockney. Janice provided the funding, while Chad and a team handled the research. In just a few years, Faye Technologies had skyrocketed to prominence, bing a dark horse in Eldoria¡¯s tech scene. But¡­ ¡°You know how it is. When I got married, Chad cut me offpletely. He¡¯s the one running Faye Tech now. I doubt he¡¯d even let me through the door,¡± Ariel said. The lecturer who had once written her rmendation letter was Chad¡¯s father. The father and son had trusted Ariel and went out of their way to support her. They truly believed she was destined for greatness, perhaps even something that would make their country proud. But after she got married, she let them down. Janice scratched her head. ¡°Chad¡¯s all talk. You know how he is¡ªstubborn as hell but a softie deep down. Let me set something up and get you two to talk it out. He actually misses you, you know.¡± Ariel smiled bitterly. If Morgan hadn¡¯t schemed to get Ariel into Jayson¡¯s bed and forced her to give up everything she loved, her life might have turned out very differently. Just then, her phone buzzed. Renee was calling. Ariel frowned and declined the call. She and Jayson were about to get divorced. She had no reason to entertain Renee anymore. But Renee was relentless. There was an unmistakable arrogance to it. By the fifth call, Ariel pressed her lips and finally picked up. ¡°God, you¡¯re so annoying! Can¡¯t you see my name on your screen?¡± Renee shouted. ¡°What do you want?¡± ¡°My school has a parent-teacher meeting at 10:00 am. You¡¯ll go in Jay¡¯s ce. If anyone asks, just say you¡¯re our maid. Got it?¡± Jayson had just gone public with Nancy. Thest thing Renee wanted was for people to misunderstand Nancy. Ariel replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m not your mother, and I¡¯m not your sister-inw anymore. Find your legal guardian. And one more thing. You¡¯re old enough to understand what basic respect means.¡± Then, she hung up. She felt exhausted. Renee had never liked her. Young people were perceptive. They picked up on the way adults treated people. She had grown up thinking Ariel was some desperate gold digger who had forced her way into marrying Jayson. And for the past three years, every time she had a school break, she had made Ariel¡¯s life hell. She demanded food and made Ariel do herundry. She always found new ways to push her buttons. And when things between Jayson and Nancy had started heating up, Renee had deliberately kept Ariel busy to make sure she couldn¡¯t interfere with their dates. She was 17. She should know better. Ariel had no obligation to put up with Renee anymore. Seeing that Ariel was truly standing her ground, Janice was finally convinced of her determination to divorce. Without wasting any time, she left for Faye Technologies to try to talk Chad into meeting with Ariel. Ariel waited for her IV drip to finish. By 5:00 pm, her phone rang again. It was Evelyn. After some hesitation, she answered it. ¡°Where did Renee go? Didn¡¯t she ask you to attend the parent meeting? The teacher said you didn¡¯t show up, and Renee took the day off too. Now, no one can find her!¡± Evelyn¡¯s tone was sharp, and her impatience was evident. Ariel frowned. She hadn¡¯t expected this. Evelyn had never liked her. She practically despised her. If Ariel hadn¡¯t ¡°forced¡± Jayson into marriage back then, he would¡¯ve married someone of proper status. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ariel replied. ¡°You bailed on her first! Now you¡¯re trying to wash your hands of this? Not that it¡¯s surprising. You couldn¡¯t even have a kid in three years. Why would you have any sense of responsibility toward someone else¡¯s?¡± ¡°Alright, calm down. You know how Ari is,¡± came a weak voice from the other end. It was Jayson¡¯s grandmother, Betty Stewart. ¡°Renee¡¯s not a child anymore. And she¡¯s not Ari¡¯s responsibility.¡± Betty was the only person in the Larkin family who had ever treated Ariel with kindness. For three years, she had protected Ariel as best she could. Jayson had only agreed to marry her in the first ce because Betty¡¯s health was fragile, and she couldn¡¯t handle stress. And their families had history. Ariel¡¯s grandfather had once fought alongside Jayson¡¯s. Betty had always liked her. That was why she agreed to the marriage. Hearing Betty get dragged into this mess, Ariel weighed her options and finally said, ¡°I¡¯ll try to get in touch with Renee.¡± She had let Renee get away with too much in the past. Today, she had drawn a line, and it had embarrassed Renee. Renee was at an age where rebellion was second nature. A young woman wandering around alone wasn¡¯t exactly safe. Not to mention, Ariel had been the one who had shut her down earlier. After pulling out her IV, Ariel swayed slightly as she forced herself upright. She called Renee several times, but each call went unanswered or was quickly ended, as if Renee were deliberately toying with her. But three years in public rtions had taught Ariel a thing or two. She was skilled at paying attention to details. She carefully searched through Renee¡¯s social media posts. Eventually, she pinpointed the location of a pool club. When she finally got there, she spotted several familiar faces in one of the private rooms. And at the center of it all were Jayson and Nancy. Renee was practically glued to Nancy, bombarding her with questions about Ashford University. Then, out of the corner of her eye, she spotted Ariel. Immediately, shetched onto Nancy¡¯s arm. ¡°Jay loves you so much. So I guess I can stop calling you Ms. Stanton now. How about just Nancy? I¡¯m already treating you like my sister-inw.¡± Inside 9

Chapter 9

Author: Tightrope Nancy didn¡¯t seem to notice Ariel. She smiled gently at Renee and said, ¡°You can call me whatever you want, Renee.¡± Jayson nced up, irritation clear in his eyes. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Ariel met his cold gaze and understood immediately. He had misunderstood something. Sure enough, Jayson¡¯s friend, Matt Crosby, noticed Ariel and scoffed. ¡°Ms. Walker, quite the skill you¡¯ve got. You¡¯ve managed to track Jayson all the way to our private gathering spot. We¡¯re all respectable people here. Don¡¯t you feel awkward?¡± What else could Ariel be here for? To catch Jayson in the act, of course. ¡°It¡¯s kind of pathetic, isn¡¯t it? You know Jayson doesn¡¯t like you,¡± Matt continued, shaking his head, acting as if he had everything figured out. After Ariel had slept with Jayson, she arranged for reporters to secretly take photos. If Jayson hadn¡¯t stopped it in time, the Larkin family¡¯s reputation would have been ruined. In Jayson¡¯s friends¡¯ eyes, she was a woman who used her purity and reputation to climb the ranks. None of them had any respect for her. Ariel was used to the sharp words and cold stares of Jayson¡¯s friends, all of whom looked down on her for what they considered her ¡°shamelessness¡±. Nancy, sittingfortably next to Jayson, poured juice for Renee with a serene expression. She never once nced at Ariel. Her elegance and confidence were palpable. She wasn¡¯t fazed by Ariel at all. Ariel understood perfectly what this was about. Nancy was confident because she was the favored one. ¡°Nancy, you¡¯re not upset, are you?¡± Renee asked nervously, eyeing Nancy. She was concerned that Nancy might feel ufortable with Ariel, the woman who had taken Jayson from her, showing up. Nancy didn¡¯t respond but offered a gentle smile. Jayson, perhaps worried that Nancy might misunderstand him, turned to Ariel and coldly said, ¡°If you¡¯ve got something to say, let¡¯s talk outside.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze, no longer wanting to look into the private room. Once they were in the hallway, Jayson looked at her with a measured calm. ¡°How did you know I was here?¡± His tone was even, but it carried a hint of suspicion, as if he assumed she was deliberately stalking him. Ariel met his gaze, her chest tightening. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it. I didn¡¯te looking for you. I don¡¯t care who you¡¯re with.¡± They were getting divorced anyway. She wasn¡¯t going to interfere anymore. ¡°Since you don¡¯t care, then why go to the trouble of taking sick leave to avoid handling Nancy¡¯s PR issue? Seems a little emotional, doesn¡¯t it?¡± Jayson¡¯s tone was t. Ariel had an ill uncle. How could she afford to quit her high-paying job? Unlike Nancy, she didn¡¯t have a prestigious education to fall back on. Jayson¡¯s indifferent gaze made her lose any desire to exin herself. She took a step back. ¡°Please move forward with the divorce.¡± She didn¡¯t want to engage with him any further. She had onlye here because Renee had purposely disappeared, but that no longer mattered. When Renee had seen her earlier without surprise, Ariel realized that Renee was intentionally toying with her. There was no point in exining, especially since Renee wouldn¡¯t admit it. Ariel just hoped to finish the divorce proceedings as soon as possible. But Jayson paused. His eyes locked onto hers like he was shocked. Ariel didn¡¯t understand what he was surprised about. Hadn¡¯t she already sent him the divorce papers? She turned to leave, but just then, a waiter rushed past and collided with her shoulder. Ariel lost her bnce and fell backward, only tond in a strong, steady embrace. The familiar scent of sandalwood filled her nose. Three years of intimacy had made this scent feel like it was etched into her bones. She looked up. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean to¡ª¡± Jayson, however, noticed the faint scent of medicine on her. He frowned. ¡°Are you not feeling well?¡± Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. If Jayson found out about her cancer, with how cold and indifferent he was toward her, he wouldn¡¯t help her keep it a secret. When Katie and Leonard asked about the divorce, he would probably say it was because she didn¡¯t have much time left to live and he didn¡¯t want to be burdened. ¡°What are you doing here instead of in a hospital?¡± His calm words stunned her. Even though she no longer cared, hearing it from him still stung. Before Ariel could respond, Jayson¡¯s lips twisted into a slight smirk. ¡°Nice little game you¡¯ve got going. ying hard to get, huh?¡± She had stormed out of the house, acting like she wanted a divorce. Now she showed up here, ying hard to get. Ariel froze. She understood that Jayson had misunderstood her again. She wanted to exin. But before she could, he pushed her away with a frown and turned to leave. Ariel felt a tightness in her chest. Her lipstick had been bitten off in the stress, revealing her pale lips, and a dull ache started to form in her abdomen. She didn¡¯t want to seem weak. She needed to leave. But as she turned to go, she bumped into a tall maning the other way. He looked her over with a smirk before tossing ament her way. ¡°If you¡¯re stupid, you should do some reading.¡± Ariel frowned. Before she could reply, the man walked into the private room. This was one of Jayson¡¯s friends, Perry Houston. It was clear he had seen the earlier scene and misunderstood, thinking she was throwing herself at Jayson, only to be pushed away in disgust. Inside 10

Chapter 10

Author: Tightrope When Jayson returned, his face was as cold as ever. Nancy immediately knew that he had argued with Ariel. Jayson¡¯s irritation with Ariel was evident. Renee, however, seemed distracted. ¡°Jay, did she say anything to you? Like talking bad about me or anything?¡± Jayson lifted his gaze to her. ¡°What did you do to make her upset?¡± ¡°Nothing.¡± Renee pouted as she sipped her juice. ¡°I¡¯m not that free!¡± Perry walked in and nced at Jayson. He didn¡¯tment on the earlier scene, figuring it was best not to make Nancy upset. After all, it was hard toment on the situation when another woman had thrown herself at her man. Matt scoffed. ¡°Why ask Renee? Ariel was out of line. She followed you here. She should know better than to make a scene when she¡¯s got no leverage.¡± Perry lit a cigarette. ¡°From the looks of it, even if you file for divorce, she¡¯ll still cling to you. Jayson, you better be prepared for that.¡± Jayson remained silent, his expression unchanged as he poured coffee for Nancy. Nancy simply smiled faintly, not offering anyment. She clearly wasn¡¯t bothered by this interruption. Renee, watching the scene unfold, felt a fleeting moment of guilt. But then she quickly shrugged it off. It was clear that Ariel was the kind of woman who would show up uninvited. Ariel would stille here even if it weren¡¯t for her. Since that was the case, why should she exin herself? Ariel was just a worthless woman. Did it even matter if others misunderstood the situation? With that thought, Renee¡¯s confidence returned. She eagerly turned back to Nancy, asking about Ashford University. ¡­ Ariel had an appointment with her doctor next Monday to discuss her treatment options. Friday morning, Janice messaged Ariel, letting her know that Chad would attend the Drone Flight Control Invitational that afternoon. Originally, Janice, as one of the major shareholders, was supposed to attend as well. However, to help Ariel break the ice with Chad, Janice gave her the invitation so she could meet him on her own. Ariel felt both grateful and sorry. She had wasted so much time on the wrong person, letting others down. At 10:00 am, Ariel started the handover process at Bluum Corp. She had already identified someone in the PR department who was suitable to take over her role. She handed over all her key responsibilities without hesitation. ¡°Ms. Walker, are you really leaving?¡± The deputy manager, Alissa McKee, looked at her regretfully. ¡°Yeah,¡± Ariel replied quietly. Alissa had always liked Ariel. Though she often seemed cold and distant, Ariel was actually a kind person. ¡°You¡¯ve been feeling unwelltely. Have you had your checkup? Did your husband go with you?¡± Ariel hesitated for a moment before answering, ¡°Yes, I had a checkup. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡± She didn¡¯t exin whether or not her husband had been with her. Even if she were dying, Jayson wouldn¡¯t have cared enough to be by her side. Alissa let out a relieved sigh. ¡°Aren¡¯t you supposed to bring lunch to your husband every day? Aren¡¯t you going today?¡± Ariel was known in the PR department as the perfect wife. She had mentioned that her husband asionally had stomach pains and was very particr about food, so she made all his meals and personally delivered them during lunch every day. But no one had ever actually seen her husband. They all wondered how lucky he must be to have such a wonderful wife. Ariel¡¯s gaze flickered briefly before she lowered her eyes. ¡°No.¡± She wouldn¡¯t be delivering lunch anymore. Alissa didn¡¯t think much of it and quickly shifted the topic. ¡°It¡¯s so reassuring to have a good husband. I now realize that some people¡¯s lives are just different from others. You know Nancy, right? Take a look at this photo.¡± Ariel nced down at the phone screen. In the photo, Jayson was helping Nancy walk up the stairs. In the next photo, he was lifting her up in his arms,pletely ignoring the surrounding crowd. ¡°Nancy¡¯s high heels were ufortable. Mr. Larkin immediately picked her up and carried her upstairs. He¡¯s so protective of her. It¡¯s obvious she¡¯s treated like a princess. Now, everyone in thepany envies Nancy. ¡°She¡¯s pretty, a top student, and all the toppanies arepeting for her. And on top of that, she¡¯s got Mr. Larkin, this powerful man, paving the way for her. I bet she¡¯ll be thedy of Bluum Corp soon! ¡°Too bad you¡¯re leaving, Ms. Walker. Otherwise, we could¡¯ve gone together to meet her and try to get in her good graces.¡± At this point, everyone in Bluum Corp saw Nancy as thedy of thepany. After all, no one was blind. Jayson¡¯s favoritism waspletely obvious. Ariel lowered her eyes. She went to the restroom to touch up her makeup, trying to mask her paleplexion. She didn¡¯t want to waste any more time. Her resignation hadn¡¯t been approved yet, so she decided to head up to the top floor. She ran into Colton on the way. ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson?¡± she asked. Colton frowned. ¡°You¡¯re here to bring Mr. Larkin lunch again? It¡¯s not even noon yet. I told you, Ms. Walker, don¡¯te up here unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary!¡± Soon, Ariel would understand why Colton¡¯s attitude was so impatient. Inside 11

Chapter 11

Author: Tightrope As Nancy stepped out of Jayson¡¯s office, the secretaries in the office approached her with great respect. ¡°Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin is waiting for you in the restaurant. He said the driver will take you there as soon as you¡¯re ready.¡± Another secretary said, ¡°This is the coffee Mr. Larkin prepared for you to enjoy on your way.¡± Nancy smiled gently, her expression calm andposed as she epted the attention bestowed upon her. Confident and poised, she was the perfect picture of grace. To everyone, she was already seen as the futuredy of thepany. Ariel was taken aback. Jayson¡¯s office, a ce full of confidential files, was essentially his private domain. Yet, he allowed Nancy to treat it like a lounge. How attentive and considerate. At home, however, even his study had been off-limits to Ariel for the past three years. Love and indifference were so obvious that no confirmation was needed. ¡°Ms. Walker, please step aside. You¡¯re blocking Ms. Stanton¡¯s way,¡± Colton remarked disdainfully, annoyed at Ariel for not being more considerate. Ariel pressed her lips together. Even though she no longer cared, the tant difference in how she and Nancy were treated still stung. It reminded her of the three years she had spent unnoticed despite everything she had given. She lowered her head and stepped aside. ncing at Colton, she said, ¡°When Jayson is free, could you remind him to sign the div¡ª¡± ¡°Jayson?¡± It seemed like Nancy, who was walking toward the elevator, only noticed Ariel when she spoke. Her expression was calm as she asked, ¡°Is she also an employee here?¡± Ariel frowned. Nancy knew who she was, but it was possible she wasn¡¯t aware of her position at Bluum Corp. Colton stepped forward. ¡°Yes, she¡¯s the manager of the PR department.¡± Nancy¡¯s gaze flicked away. ¡°No wonder.¡± It now made perfect sense why the PR department had been so reluctant to address her reputation crisis. With Ariel as the manager, their inaction was understandable. Nancy smiled faintly. ¡°The work atmosphere at Bluum Corp seems to be quite rxed. Employees can just call the boss by his first name.¡± She didn¡¯t even look at Ariel when she said that. Colton¡¯s expression darkened. Nancy stepped into the elevator, not giving the matter a second thought. But as the doors closed, Colton turned back to Ariel. ¡°Don¡¯t you know the rules, Ms. Walker? Bluum Corp is not some small business. Stop ying games, calling Mr. Larkin by his first name. Do you want the rest of the staff thinking you have some special rtionship with him? ¡°From now on, it¡¯s Mr. Larkin. And if you don¡¯t want to end up getting fired, I suggest you follow the rules!¡± Ariel frowned. She had always been willing to do anything for Jayson. Was that why when she actually mentioned resigning, neither he nor his circle took it seriously? They all thought she was just trying to get Jayson¡¯s attention. As for Nancy, she hadn¡¯t even bothered to acknowledge Ariel, and she certainly didn¡¯t fear the exposure of their rtionship. Why? The reason was simple¡ªit was the confidence that came from being loved. Even if Ariel made a scene, it would only be embarrassing for her. After all, she was the one who had ¡°forced¡± Jayson into marriage and ¡°broken up¡± a couple. That afternoon, Ariel packed her things. She didn¡¯t want to wait for Jayson¡¯s approval any longer. She arrived at the Drone Flight Control Invitational before 5:00 pm. Thanks to Janice¡¯s invitation, she was granted easy ess to the event. Luck seemed to be on her side, as she immediately bumped into Chad, who was surrounded by a circle of people. The moment he saw her, his expression hardened. He acted as if he hadn¡¯t seen her, continuing his conversation with the others. Ariel hesitated, unsure how to approach. In the end, she decided not to disturb him. She wandered around instead. The event wasrge, with many notable figures from the industry present. Chad, as the youngest rising star in innovative technology, was drawing a lot of attention. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but feel happy for him. After nearly half an hour, Ariel started to feel her stamina waning. She reluctantly sat down to catch her breath. Just then, a pair of polished shoes appeared in front of her. When she looked up, it was Chad, ring at her with a frown. ¡°Well, well. Not a housewife anymore, huh? Have you decided to change careers?¡± Inside 12 ¡°Sorry¡­¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes suddenly burned with heat. Chad¡¯s irritation red, but seeing her like this made it impossible for him to stay mad. ¡°What are you apologizing for? If anything, you should be apologizing to the maids. You stole their job for three years.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t know whether tough or cry. Chad actually already knew she would show up. Janice and her big mouth couldn¡¯t keep a secret to save her life. She had already told him everything. ¡°It¡¯s not too ¡°As long as you¡¯ve figured things out, it¡¯s never toote to start over. With your talent, what wouldn¡¯t want you? Having you at Faye Tech would be an honor.¡± Back then, Ariel had been specially recruited into the research institute. She was never meant to be buried in obscurity. The U.N2 drone, which had amazed the industry for years, was widely believed to be Chad¡¯s creation. Because of it, people had been beating down Faye Technologies¡® doors. But in reality, Ariel had already reached that level at the age of 20. Even now, no one surpassed her. She had given the world years to catch up, but no one had yet to match the vision and technology she had achieved back then. ¡°You¡¯re okay with me joining Faye Tech?¡± Ariel¡¯s emotions wereplicated. Chad scoffed. ¡°Janice already unterally agreed to you taking an equity stake with your expertise. Now, I¡¯m just waiting to see what groundbreaking innovations you¡¯ll bring to Faye Tech. See you on Monday.¡± He talked tough, but Ariel knew he was soft¨Chearted. She broke into a genuine smile¨Cthe first one she had in a long time. ¡°Thank you, Chad.¡± Chad huffed and turned away, going back to chat with his colleagues. Ariel felt the weight in her heart finally lift. It was like she could breathe again. Even her body, which had been feeling weak earlier, seemed to regain its energy. She got up and went to examine the drones on disy. Suddenly, a at the front of the event. When she looked over, she saw Jayson and Nancy arriving, apanied by Matt and Perry. Jayson¡¯s presence alone was enough to cause a stir. Many people were excitedly trying to get close, hoping to make an impression. Ariel saw how Jayson instinctively shielded Nancy. She looked away, uninterested. Instead, she focused entirely on the uniquely designed drone in front of her. Matt and Perry, however, had already spotted her Seeing that Jayson didn¡¯t even spare her a nce, they finally rxed. Ariel was really something. She even managed to get an invitation here. She really went all out to be seen by Jayson. Completely absorbed in the design, Ariel didn¡¯t notice Matt and Perry approaching until she looked up and found them standing in front of her. Jayson and Nancy were also making their way over. Matt smeered vore just a housewife who only knows how to cook and doundry. What are you doing messing around with this? Do you have any idea how expensive these things are? If you break something, do you think your meager sry could cover for Uzbeherable A country bumpin like her was trying to act like some industry elite? Perry smirked as well Even if the pool club incident had been a misunderstanding, what about this time? There was no way Ariel actually understood drones. If she wanted to put on an act, she could¡¯ve at least picked something more believable ¡°Ms. Walker, you think getting an invitation here is going to change anything?¡± Matt pped his forehead. ¡°Nancy is the real deal. She¡¯s an Arcadia Tech Pro Why don¡¯t you copy that too?¡± Did she really think pretending to be interested in drones would get Jayson¡¯s attention? At this moment, Jayson and Nancy walked up and overheard Matt¡¯s words. Nancy¡¯s expression remained calm . She understood Matt¡¯s implication¨Cthat Ariel was trying to copy her. Jayson cast a brief nce at Ariel and said, ¡°What a coincidence. His tone was indifferent, almost detached But Anel could hear something else in it Did he think the same as Matt and Perry? Clearly, Jayson had no intention of interacting with her in public. He didn¡¯t want anyone misunderstanding their rtionship After fra one sentence, he led Nancy toward thepetition area, not giving her a chance to exin. As Matt passed by, be added, ¡°Come watch Nancy operate the drone. You should at least know what you lost to, right?¡± Perry stuffed one hand into his pocket, looking like he couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste more words on her. On the other side, Nancy stepped onto the stage The audience erupted into apuse She smirked and raised an eyebrow at Jayson from the stage. He responded with a faint smile. Their subtle exchange made the atmosphere even more electric. Inside 13 Chapter 13 Nancy had a drone pilot certification, so controlling it was effortless for her. She won round after round of cheers. She was really confident and outstanding. No wonder Jayson had fallen for her at first sight. A woman like her certainly had the charm to captivate men. Objectively speaking, Ariel had to admit that Nancy had a certain charm. She was gentle, poised, and had been raised with care since childhood. Being smart, ambitious, and undeniably beautiful, she naturally became the center of attention wherever she went. But everything Nancy had was stolen. Nancy¡¯s mother, Sarah Moore, had once been friends with Elena. Sarah hade from an underprivileged background. Back then, Elena had paid her tuition and helped her through graduate school. But in the end, Sarah had stolen the academic paper Elena had spent two years painstakingly researching and published it under her own name. She had trampled over Elena to climb the ranks and change her social status. After getting pregnant, she moved abroad and married a wealthy man there. Now, Nancy was dazzling and untouchable. She didn¡¯t have to lift a finger, and everything meant for Ariel was effortlessly hers. Ariel¡¯s gaze darkened, a bitter sense of irony settling over her. Nancy¡¯s performance was impressive. As soon as she stepped off the stage, reporters swarmed in, eager to interview her and Jayson. Ariel happened to be standing in the middle of the crowd. As the reporters rushed past, she was shoved multiple times. A nobody like her didn¡¯t even have the chance to step aside. Stumbling, she felt a sharp pain in her ankle but managed to steady herself. Then he heard a reporter ask, ¡°The vibe between you two feels different. Are wedding bells around the corner?¡± Ariel instinctively looked up. Jayson had his arm protectively around Nancy, shielding her from the press. His sharp features held an unmistakable authority. ¡°Please don¡¯t touch her.¡± The female reporters practically swooned. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you treat Ms. Stanton so well! Are you two nning to get married? You¡¯re a perfect match!¡± For a moment, Ariel thought Jayson¡¯s gaze flickered toward her. She wasn¡¯t sure what it meant. Was he warning her to stay in her ce? Ariel clenched her teeth against the sharp pain in her ankle. A dull ache spread through her abdomen as well, making her stomach feel tight and heavy. She bit her lip and forced herself to stand, ready to leave. Just then, a hand grabbed her arm. She looked up and met Perry¡¯s wary eyes. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? You better not make a scene. It¡¯s just an interview. Don¡¯t go smearing Nancy¡¯s name and making things awkward for everyone.¡± Ariel froze. Then, realization dawned. Did he really think she¡¯d rush over, break them up, and start spouting nonsense in front of the cameras? Her pale face turned cold, and she yanked her arm free with force. Her eyes were icy, sharp enough to pierce through him. She didn¡¯t even bother to say a single word to Perry. She just turned and walked away. Her slender figure looked stubborn. Perry stood there, stunned. He watched her leave for a long moment, then nced down at his hand that she had just pped away. The softness of her skin remained on his skin, making his throat inexplicably dry. But that look in Ariel¡¯s eyes was pure disgust. For the past three years, Ariel had always been amodating to Jayson¡¯s friends. She had been easygoing and eager to please. But now? For a split second, he felt like he didn¡¯t know her at all. Was he seeing things? Or had Ariel finally lost her mind? ¡°What are you staring at? You lookpletely entranced.¡± Matt walked over and gave him a pat. Perry shook himself out of his daze, furrowing his brows. He clenched his fingers slightly. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± That was probably just Ariel¡¯s new trick. Ariel retrieved a small bottle of unmarked pills from her bag and swallowed one dry. The bitter taste made her frown. As the pain in her lower abdomen intensified, she could only curl up slowly to endure it. Thankfully, she hadn¡¯t driven today. She sent Chad a quick message before leaving the venue. The domestic medication was losing its effectiveness on her. She needed targeted drugs from abroad to stabilize her condition. After confirming her prescription with her doctor, she took another painkiller and buried herself under the nkets. She slept through the night and into the next afternoon. What finally woke her was the urgent ringing of her phone. She nced at the screen and saw Betty calling. After making sure her voice didn¡¯t sound weak, she answered, ¡°Yes, Grandma?¡± Betty sounded cheerful. ¡°Ari, how was your day at Quin¡¯s Peak with Jayson?¡± ¡°Quin¡¯s Peak?¡± Ariel was confused. BIG SALE:3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU! Inside 14 Chapter 14 ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Betty immediately caught on, her voice sharp with irritation. ¡°I booked a two¨Cday retreat at Quin¡¯s Peak for you and Jayson! When I asked him yesterday, he said he¡¯d already given you the tickets.¡± Ariel was stunned. Jayson hadn¡¯t mentioned a word to her. Clearly, he had no intention of going on a trip with her and had simply told Betty what she wanted to hear. ¡°Grandma, I had somethinge up, so-¡± ¡°It¡¯s the weekend! What could be so urgent? Don¡¯t cover for that brat. Listen to me. Head over there now. I¡¯ve already made all the arrangements. I¡¯ll give him a push.¡± Ariel tried to stop her. ¡°Grandma, actually, Jayson and I-¡± ¡°What about you two?¡± Betty¡¯s tone softened again. It was obvious that she had no idea that Ariel and Jayson were about to get divorced. Jayson hadn¡¯t informed his family yet? Otherwise, why would Betty still be nning a couple¡¯s getaway for them? Ariel felt a headacheing on. Betty had unstable blood pressure and a heart condition. Was Jayson waiting for the right moment to ease her into the truth? If that was the case, then spilling everything now might send Betty into a health crisis. Ariel didn¡¯t want to be responsible for that. The divorce papers were already signed anyway. All that was left was making it official. There would be time for Betty to ept it. After a moment of careful thought, Ariel said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Grandma. I¡¯ll go now. He already told me about it.¡± As long as Betty was reassured, that was enough. She had no intention of actually going. But Betty wasn¡¯t giving her a choice. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for a car to take you. The driver knows the way. Young couples need fresh experiences! Use this trip to rekindle your bond. Maybe by the end of the year, I¡¯ll have a chubby great¨Cgrandchild to hold!¡± Her voice was filled with hopeful anticipation. Betty didn¡¯t even give Ariel a chance to refuse. She hung up and immediately started making arrangements. Ariel rubbed her forehead, feeling a headacheing on. She knew exactly what Betty was thinking. Three years of marriage, and anyone could see that Ariel¡¯s rtionship with Jayson had been lukewarm at best. Especially since, in all that time, there had been no children. For traditional elders, that was hard to ept. This was why, for the past three years, Ariel had used the excuse of carrying on the Larkin family line to sleep with Jayson during her ovtion period every month. The rest of the time, he had no interest in touching her. Jayson was in excellent health. During that one week each month, their routine was set¨Cthree times a night. Every time, he until into the night. She could barely keep up with that intensity. And yet, she had never conceived. At first, she had thought it was due to an old injury to her uterus that made pregnancy difficult. She had believed that, with treatment, things would eventually work out. But now, after her endometrial cancer diagnosis, any hope she had waspletely crushed. Betty worked quickly. The driver contacted Ariel before long. She gave him a pickup location near a convenience store, carefully avoiding revealing the fact that she and Jayson were already living apart. She had no idea what Jayson¡¯s ns were regarding their divorce, so she decided to y it safe for now. On the ride there, Ariel didn¡¯t bother informing Jayson. She figured if he hadn¡¯t told her about the trip, it meant he had no intention of spending it with her. He probably wasn¡¯t even going. So, she might as well go alone for a couple of days to appease Betty. Plus, it¡¯d be a good chance to unwind. Quin¡¯s Peak had a high¨Caltitude resort with cozy lodgings, a ski area, and breathtaking views of the sunrise over the mountains. After checking in, Ariel pushed her suitcase toward her room, only to freeze at the sight ahead. Jayson and Nancy had just returned from outside, walking side by side, chatting about something. Nancy¡¯s eyes crinkled in Ariel¡¯s eyes flickered. This scene hit her like a p in the face. Jayson¡¯s gaze darkened slightly when he saw her, but his face remained emotionless. Nancy, on the other hand, smiled, as if she found the whole situation amusing. Ariel felt a wave of humiliation rise in her chest. What were they thinking of her right now? ¡°Jayson, where¡¯s the room key?¡± Nancy didn¡¯t greet Ariel, nor did she feel the need to. Jayson handed Nancy the key. She walked straight into the adjacent room, leaving the door open¨Cclearly an invitation for him to follow. They were sharing a room? Jayson turned to Ariel ¡°Grandma told you?¡± Ariel¡¯s voice was steady. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Maybe you should switch rooms.¡± His gaze was cold like ice. It was phrased like a suggestion, but the tone was undeniably assertive. Ariel understood immediately. He and Nancy were staying right next door. If they wanted to do anything intimate, the idea of her¨Cthe still¨Cofficial wife- being just a wall away must disgust him. Ariel came here all the way, but she was the one being inconsiderate. Inside 15 Chapter 15 ¡°No need. I¡¯m heading down the mountains now,¡± Ariel replied. She wasn¡¯t keen on sticking around and being a nuisance. Just as she was about to move away, a hand grabbed her wrist. She looked up and met Jayson¡¯s nonchnt gaze. He said, ¡°You can stay. I¡¯ll change to another room.¡± Ariel frowned. She was about to pull her hand away when Jayson let go first and deliberately stepped away. ¡°It¡¯ll be hard to exin to Grandma if you leave now,¡± he said. Realization dawned on Ariel, and she asked in disbelief, ¡°You want me to cover for you and Nancy?¡± She couldn¡¯t believe that he would do this just so it would be easier for him to exin to Betty. What exactly did he take her for? Jayson looked at her as he adjusted his cufflinks. ¡°None of this would be a problem if you hadn¡¯t shown up.¡± Ariel felt a surge of frustration rise within her. Was he implying that this was all her fault? She pursed her lips and set a condition. ¡°Fine, but you have to approve my resignation immediately.¡± Jayson narrowed his eyes slightly, smiling faintly as he replied, ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t make out what his smile meant. She went straight to her room. As for what happened between them, no wonder Jayson hadn¡¯t told her abouting to Quin¡¯s Peak. It turned out he was nning to bring Nancy here for a date. Had Ariel known about this, she wouldn¡¯t have agreed toe. She rubbed her temples. Though she no longer cared, she couldn¡¯t help but feel bothered. Ariel unpacked her clothes from her suitcase and then checked out the activities offered by the guesthouse. There was also a horse range with staff guiding the rides, which seemed pretty interesting. She decided to head over to the horse range. Ariel heard a woman¡¯s yful voice as soon as she arrived. ¡°Stop rutting against me, Lucas! You¡¯re being so shameless!¡± ¡°The horse is acting up, but you¡¯re ming me for it?¡± the man repliedzily, his tone full of mischief. Ariel froze in her steps, her gaze wandering over. A couple was riding a horse together¨Cone of the man¡¯s hands was holding the reins from behind the woman, while his other hand tilted the woman¡¯s chin up as they shared a kiss. Perhaps her gaze had been too obvious as it made Lucas nce over. His gaze darkened, and he frowned. It seemed like he didn¡¯t appreciate being interrupted during their intimate moment. Ariel¡¯s pride was wounded by his gaze. She had been used to being protected by Lucas for over a decade. He had treated her like she was his one and only, never once speaking harshly to her. For many years, he had poured his love for her, and he was the first man she had ever fallen for Even when he got into trouble three years ago, Ariel had promised Morgan that she would marry Jayson in exchange for reducing Lucas¡® sentence¨Cjust so he could get out sooner. Though she had let go of the past, he was still the most important family member to her. But now that Lucas had be so indifferent and impatient, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but wonder what was real anymore. She had been with Jayson for three years, yet she still couldn¡¯t win his heart. However, Lucas had once loved her dearly. Would kinship change too when love faded? Ariel did not bother greeting them. She hurried to leave. Wendy spotted her. ¡°Ariel? I didn¡¯t know you were here as well. Come and have dinner with us! My friend Nancy and her boyfriend are staying here too.¡± 12 Ariel was taken aback for a moment when she found out that Wendy and Nancy actually knew each other. Lucas would have known how terrible her married life had been then. But no one seemed to care about her well¨Cbeing as Jayson¡¯s wife. ¡°No need. I¡¯ve eaten dinner already.¡± Ariel¡¯s mood plummeted suddenly, and she turned to leave. Wendy took another nce at her before nudging Lucas. ¡°Your sister isn¡¯t looking too well¨CI wonder if she¡¯s sick. You should go check on her.¡± He remained unperturbed. ¡°She¡¯s already an adult. I don¡¯t know why she¡¯s acting so fussy¨Cshe won¡¯t die from it anyway.¡± ¡°Why are you so indifferent toward her?¡± Wendy asked, confused. Lucas raised his brows and chuckled. ¡°She¡¯s just my sister. Only you and Lori visited me for the past three years I was in prison. Wouldn¡¯t I know who to treat best?¡± Wendy¡¯s face flushed red instantly. ¡°Good to know that you care-¡± Ariel stoppeding out of her room. She felt ufortable no matter which couple she ran into. She was Jayson¡¯s wife and Lucas¡® sister¨Cthe closest person to them in the past¨Cbut now she waspletely shut out. Why bother tormenting herself? She no longer cared. After browsing through a foreign drone forum for two hours, she took her medicine and slept through the night. Ariel decided to head down the mountain today. She stepped out of her room at 8:00 am. Right across from her, the door to the suite opened, and Jayson and Nancy walked out together. BIG SALE:3500 BONUS FREE FOR YOU! Inside 16 Chapter 16 True to his words, Jayson had switched rooms. It was obvious they must have spent the night together, seeing as they left together so early. Ariel suddenly felt nauseous. She quickly avoided the two and retreated back into her room, rushing into the bathroom in an attempt to throw up¨Cbut nothing came up. Her appetite had been poortely¨Cperhaps her condition was worse than she had imagined. A chill ran through her as Ariel stared at her weary reflection in the mirror. She realized how fragile humans were. She could only be thankful she hadn¡¯t reached a point of no return before she snapped out of it. She still had time to find herself again. Ariel decided to redo her makeup to freshen herself up. Just as she had the guesthouse to arrange for a ride down the mountain, she received a call from her grandmother, Katie. Katie was a stern and serious woman. After her husband¡¯s early passing, she poured all her energy into raising her children. She grew even more withdrawn after the passing of Ariel¡¯s mother, Elena Walker. But she was always particrly concerned about Ariel. ¡°Hello, Grandma?¡± Ariel picked up the call after clearing her throat, making sure she didn¡¯t sound off. ¡°Have you had breakfast?¡± Katie asked, concerned. Ariel felt a warmth in her heart. ¡°I¡¯m eating now. Did you miss me?¡± Katie chuckled heartily. ¡°It¡¯s nothing important. I happened to have knitted a scarf for you and Jayson each recently. The weather¡¯s getting colder, and they¡¯ll keep your hands warm. ¡°When are you free toe pick them up? You can alsoe home for a meal¨CI¡¯ll make you some sweet and sour ribs.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze and said, ¡°You don¡¯t have to go through all that trouble, Grandma.¡± ¡°This is different. I know that marrying into that kind of family might not be easy for you. I can¡¯t do much to help, but I can do what little I can and take good care of Jayson. If he has any ounce of conscience, he would also treat you well, don¡¯t you think?¡± Katie said. Ariel¡¯s eyes welled up, and she quickly wiped at the corner of her eyes. ¡°He has been pretty busy . Maybe-¡± Katie asked, ¡°Surely he has time for a meal. How about you make some time to couple of days?¡± It had been some time since shest saw Ariel and Jayson, and she missed them dearly. Ariel considered for a moment before agreeing to it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll try.¡± She figured that given their situation, it would be better for Jayson to talk to Katie about their divorce. It would give them a chance to part on good terms. In the eyes of elders, even the biggest issues had to have a reason behind them. Ariel didn¡¯t want Katie to eventually find out about Jayson¡¯s cheating, as it would hurt her health. It would be better toe up with a reason, to say that they weren¡¯t , which led to their divorce. This matter would require him to meet up with Katie. After some hesitation, Ariel got up and walked out of her room. As she neared Jayson¡¯s room, she noticed the door was slightly ajar. Just as she was about to knock, she caught a glimpse of what was happening inside through the crack. Nancy was on tiptoes as she wrapped her arms around Jayson¡¯s neck. He had his arms loosely around her waist, his head tilted as if they were kissing. Ariel¡¯s gaze flickered away, stunned. Someone shoved her away in an instant. Her head spun as she nearly lost her bnce. ¡°Do you have no shame? Why are you spying on someone else¡¯s privacy?¡± Renee yelled as she appeared out of nowhere. Her face was twisted in anger as she red at Ariel, as if Ariel hadmitted some unforgivable crime. Themotion startled Jayson and Nancy, and they both hurried out of the room. Nancy was frowning for once, pursing her lips as she cast an annoyed nce at Ariel. ¡°Did you enjoy the show?¡± Jayson wore a smile that didn¡¯t quite reach his eyes. His cold gaze weighed heavily down on Ariel, making it hard to breathe. He was angry. Even though he hadn¡¯t said anything else, she could feel the weight of his disapproval. 212 Inside 17 Chapter 17 Ariel clenched her fists and replied calmly, ¡°No one exactly enjoys stumbling upon something like that, just so you know.¡± She didn¡¯t feel the need to exin further. Jayson fixed an intense gaze on her, his expression unreadable. ¡°You¡¯re just making excuses. You would¡¯ve never admitted it if I hadn¡¯t caught you!¡± Renee stared at her with an usatory gaze. ¡°How annoying. This is a guesthouse, everything¡¯s taken care of. We don¡¯t even need you here, so why did you follow me up?¡± For the past three years, she often went to Jayson¡¯s ce whenever she wanted to escape Evelyn¡¯s nagging on weekends or during holidays. Ariel would always look after her like a dutiful mother. Having gotten used to that dynamic, Renee instinctively thought Ariel was using the excuse of looking after her to deliberately pick fights with everyone. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Wendy and Lucas also stepped out one after the other. He nced at Ariel, who was left fending for herself, and chuckled. ¡°Why is the mood so tense, Mr. Larkin?¡± Although Renee was young, she knew how to read the room. Upon realizing that Lucas was technically Ariel¡¯s brother, she pouted but kept quiet. However, Ariel could tell that Lucas was giving them a way out to move on from this situation. Nancy didn¡¯tment but turned to Wendy. ¡°Let¡¯s go grab a bite.¡± Wendy, uninterested in the drama, left with Nancy. Lucas smiledzily, as if he did not notice how awkward it was for Ariel. ¡°You can handle your family matters first, Mr. Larkin. I¡¯ll go apany my girlfriend for now.¡± He didn¡¯t even mind that Jayson was parading around with his mistress, choosing to stay out of it like an outsider. Renee was about toment more when Jayson cast a brief nce over. Frightened, she immediately set off. 1 Ariel¡¯s gaze remained trained on Lucas¡® back. ¡°What are you looking at?¡± Jayson¡¯s indifferent tone snapped her back into reality. She looked up and met his emotionless gaze. He said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t spying,¡± Ariel calmly said. ¡°Okay. Give me your phone.¡± Jayson seemed to believe her. Ariel frowned. ¡°What for?¡± Jayson briefly nced at her before reaching out to take her phone from her hand. He tapped on the camera icon and went into her photo gallery. Ariel¡¯s face fell. Even her tone was shaky when she asked in surprise, ¡°You suspected I was secretly taking photos of you?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Jayson was trying to insult her. He made sure there wasn¡¯t anything suspicious in the gallery before returning the phone to Ariel. He coldly looked at her and spoke in a tone that left no room for argument. ¡°You even hired paparazzi to take photos of us in bed three years ago. Who knows what else you¡¯d do, Mrs. Larkin?¡± She knew that Jayson was still bitter about what had happened three years ago. He always believed that she was the one who had shamelessly climbed into his bed while he was drunk, bringing in the paparazzi to expose that incident and pressuring him into marriage. No matter how Ariel tried to exin, it all felt futile. She had no evidence to convince him otherwise. ¡°I¡¯m surprised you¡¯re still concerned that your rtionship with Nancy would be even more high¨Cprofile,¡± she said after calming down gradually. Jayson nced at her and replied, ¡°She¡¯s different. Her reputation would be tarnished if such photos got leaked.¡± It was clear that he was drawing aparison between Ariel and Nancy. Ariel had hired paparazzi to capture their intimate moments while he would protect Nancy¡¯s reputation. Jayson had no intention of listening to her exnations. He cast a brief nce at her before turning to leave. Ariel chuckled bitterly: As she rounded the corner, she saw Lucas leaning against the wall, smoking. She wondered if he had overheard much. He looked up and asked, ¡°Were you wronged?¡± Surprised, Ariel suddenly felt as if the old Lucas was back. He flicked the ash from his cigarette and casually chatted with her for the first time since getting out of prison. ¡°I¡¯ve taken over the branch of Wendy¡¯s father¡¯spany. Lately, I¡¯ve been working on a project with Jayson¡¯spany.¡± ¡°So?¡± Ariel suddenly asked calmly. Lucas watched her closely, finding that she had changed. She had once been soft and meek, but now she was sharp and assertive. ¡°Don¡¯t upset him,¡± he replied nonchntly. 1 Inside 18 Chapter 18 So this was Lucas¡® real concern. He wasn¡¯t worried about Ariel because of their past but because of the uing coboration with Bluum Corp. To him, she was still Jayson¡¯s wife. If she didn¡¯t know her ce, Jayson¡¯s anger could have a significant impact. Ariel stared at him mutedly. ¡°Is this the only thing you want to talk to me about?¡± ¡°No.¡± Lucas stubbed out his cigarette and looked at her. ¡°Wendy doesn¡¯t know what happened between us in the past. You should try and get along with her.¡± Was he trying to tell her not to speak out of turn? Ariel suddenly felt likeughing. Everything that had happened today made her feel a tightness in her chest. ¡°Lucas,¡± she called him indifferently. ¡°If she¡¯s curious how you became my brother, I can chat with her about it. But is there anything else between us?¡± Lucas furrowed his brows but quickly smiled. He said meaningfully, ¡°You¡¯ve really grown up, Ari. You know how to keep your once openly¨Cknown feelings to yourself now.¡± Back then, Everyone in the Sanderson family was aware of how much Ariel liked him. But now he appreciated her maturity for hiding her feelings toward him. ¡°As for Jayson-¡°Lucas added, ¡°It¡¯s normal for men to fool around outside. Wendy doesn¡¯t know you¡¯re his wife, so you shouldn¡¯t make a scene out of it. It¡¯ll only make things harder for Nancy.¡± ¡°Is this Jayson¡¯s idea?¡± Ariel looked up, but he left without exining. She stood in the hallway as the cold wind hit her. She took a deep breath before letting out a mocking smile. Lucas, who once swore no man would ever mistreat or hurt Ariel, was now watching her sink deeper into trouble. He even told her not to make things difficult for Wendy and Nancy now. Jayson and the others were chatting when Lucas returned. Clearly, they weren¡¯t paying any mind to what had happened earlier. Lucas nced over to Jayson and Nancy. In fact, his encounter with Jayson at Quin¡¯s Peak was purely coincidental. He only learned that Nancy and Wendy were friends after that, and thus they had dinner togetherst night. ¡°How lucky of you to have such a beauty by your side, Mr. Larkin. Have you thought of getting married soon?¡± Lucas asked with a thoughtful smile. Nancy was aware of the adoptive sibling rtionship between him and Ariel. She observed his attitude for a moment before smiling slightly. Clearly, Lucas was aware of Jayson and Ariel¡¯s marital status, but he didn¡¯t care. Instead, he congratted Nancy and Jayson- which showed that the two would eventually divorce After all, no one understood a man better than another man ¡°Compared to me, you¡¯re the one who¡¯s probably getting married soon, Mr. Sanderson.¡± Jayson set his cup down and leisurely said, ¡°I should be the one congratting you in advance.¡± Wendy burst outughing. ¡°Indeed, my dad has been rushing us-¡± Lucas paused for a moment, suddenly thinking about Ariel. After some hesitation, he said, ¡°If it happens, I¡¯ll be sure to let you know first, Mr. Larkin.¡± However, Renee, who was beside them, grew worried. She whispered to Jayson, ¡°Jay, Ariel won¡¯t go tell Grandma about what happened here, right? Otherwise, wouldn¡¯t you and Nancy-¡± She was worried that Ariel, being a maniptive person, might exaggerate things to Betty and get her to break them Jayson¡¯s gaze darkened as he replied in a cold yet determined tone, ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Indeed, Ariel wasn¡¯t about to do that. She had gotten into the car arranged by the guesthouse and headed down the mountain. Since they were already getting a divorce, whatever Jayson did no longer had anything to do with her. Taking advantage of thest day of the weekend, Arial decided to visit Katie. When Katie saw that only Ariel showed up, she hesitated but eventually asked nothing. Instead, she busied herself preparing a full spread. As she watched Ariel eat, she suddenly frowned and asked, ¡°You¡¯ve lost a lot of weight recently. Are you feeling unwell?¡± 6 Inside 19 Chapter 19 Ariel instinctively gripped her cutleries tighter, suddenly nervous. ¡°No, I¡¯m feeling alright. I guess I was too busy and missed my meals.¡± After she got sick, she lost a lot of weight, her appetite worsened, and she couldn¡¯t keep anything down. Jayson and Lucas never noticed anything. Only Katie, who loved her dearly, was the first to notice something was off. However, Ariel couldn¡¯t tell her anything. Katie was getting old, and she couldn¡¯t handle any more stress ever since Elena passed. Her Uncle Leonard had been in a nursing home because of liver cancer. How could they possibly cope if Ariel were to copse too? ¡°Are you unhappy, Ari?¡± Katie couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that Ariel wasn¡¯t doing well, and it made her uneasy. ¡°Did you have a fight with Jayson?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand why Jayson hadn¡¯t been apanying Ariel to visit her otherwise. Ariel ced her cutleries down and hugged Katie. ¡°We didn¡¯t. We¡¯re getting along well, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure hees over personally to talk to you.¡± They¡¯ll both be better off on their own as long as they get a divorce. Katie could only pile more helpings of food onto Ariel¡¯s te, hoping to get her to gain a few more pounds. Even though Ariel¡¯s appetite was poor, and she felt nauseous, she still smiled and ate everything. She left with the scarves Katie knitted for her.Ne Ariel did not go to Bluum Corp on Monday. Instead, she headed straight to Faye Technologies. (1) Jayson had agreed to approve her resignation, and she had finished handing over her work. She can finally start anew now. Ariel left the men¡¯s scarf in her car and wore the women¡¯s one as she headed upstairs. Janice and Chad were already waiting for her. The management of Faye Technologies consisted of only the two of them. Ariel had joined as the third major shareholder with her technical stake. However, many employees were skeptical of her arrival. Everyone at Faye Technologies came from top universities¨Cboth domestically and internationally. But her r¨¦sum¨¦ wasn¡¯t impressive¨Cher only work experience was in public rtions. There was no need for pretty faces in Faye Technologies. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t mention that the minimum requirement here is a master¡¯s degree.¡± After learning about the situation at Faye Technologies, Ariel was surprised to find that a graduate degree wasn¡¯t really valuable here. Janice waved a hand dismissively. ¡°So what? Even if they all add up, they might not be as useful as you¨Cyou¡¯re Faye Tech¡¯s trump card!¡± Just Ariel¡¯s U.N2 from five years ago could dominate the entire field ¡°Maybe I should take you for an MRI first before you start.¡± Chad snorted before continuing, ¡°I need to make sure you¡¯ve cleaned out of that lovestruck mentality of yours. Otherwise, I¡¯d end up crying alone if you run off halfway through a project.¡± Ariel was left speechless. Chad was still as biting and straightforward as ever. ¡°There¡¯s someone who¡¯s waiting to see you, Mr. Hockney. They said they¡¯d like to learn more about U N2,¡± Laura Dickens, Chad¡¯s assistant, knocked on the door and said. He asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Ms. Nancy Stanton, representing Mr. Larkin of Bluum Corp,¡± Laura replied. As soon as they heard her name, everyone in the room, except for Ariel, couldn¡¯t hide their displeasure. Janice crossed her arms and coldly sneered, ¡°Who is she to represent Jayson? Get her to fuck off!¡± Laura turned to look at Chad awkwardly. Janice had a fiery temper, yet he had always kept his cool. He nced over coldly and said, ¡°Tell her we have an important guest. She came in such a hurry¨CI don¡¯t have the time to deal with her.¡± Laura forced a smile when she heard Chad¡¯sment¨Cit was worse than Janice¡¯s. He was practically saying that Nancy came uninvited. Ariel didn¡¯t think too much about it. From the moment she learned that Nancy was in the drone industry, she knew this situation was inevitable. She had alreadye to terms with it and wouldn¡¯t bring her emotions and personal matters into her work. ¡°I¡¯m fine, don¡¯t be anxious,¡± she replied. Janice pursed her lips. ¡°I¡¯d like to see her expression when that slutty bitch found out that the actual U.N2 developer is you. She¡¯s not even in your league! Jayson truly is blind!¡± Back then, Ariel made a secret deal with the government, leading to the operational use of reconnaissance and strike drones. U.N2 was incorporated, and a five¨Cyear non¨Cdisclosure agreement was signed to prevent her identity from being revealed during that time. Otherwise, Nancy wouldn¡¯t have gotten her chance to shine in the industry. The office door was opened abruptly. A man was heard saying irritably, ¡°I¡¯d like to see which guest is so important!¡± € Inside 20 Janice¡¯s expression darkened when she saw who it was. ¡°Are you crazy, Frederick?¡± Frederick Swanson frowned as he cast a warning¨Clike nce at her. ¡°Ms. Stanton came with sincerity. Why are you guys being so rude turning her away?¡± His gazended on Ariel, and surprise shed across his face. She was tall and slim, with a graceful posture that showed her good upbringing. Her ck, wavy hair framed her face, and her fair skin stood out. Even with light makeup, her strong features were still noticeable, and her eyes had a cold, distant look. Ariel was strikingly beautiful. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me your important guest is actually her?¡± Frederick could help butugh in surprise. ¡°She¡¯s just a housewife that only knows how to clean and cook. Is she really worth turning Ms. Stanton away for?¡± He knew Ariel. After all, she was Janice¡¯s best friend. Frederick knew that Ariel was married, though she wasn¡¯t sure to whom. He¡¯d previously looked into her for a bit due to her stunning appearance, only to find that she was merely a pretty face¨Cunlike Nancy. Women as capable as Nancy were rare. ¡°Have you fed your brains to the birds? Who are you to intercept in Faye Tech¡¯s matters?¡± Janice couldn¡¯t stand her useless brother the most. that She only found out the day before yesterday that Frederick was into Nancy. When he heard that she was with Jayson, he went off to drink himself into a stupor and even ended up with alcohol poisoning. He nced at Ariel and said, ¡°I can¡¯t stand the way you guys are putting on airs. Ms. Stanton had always acknowledged U.N2, and that was why she wanted to meet Mr. Hockney. ¡°Isn¡¯t it great for exceptional minds to gather and discuss things? Aren¡¯t you limiting your perspectives by wasting time over a mere housewife?¡± ¡°Who does she think she is? We don¡¯t need her acknowledgement.¡± Janice chuckled, exasperated. ¡°Both of you¨Cfuck off! The air stinks because of you two shitheads!¡± ¡°Janice!¡± Frederick could only turn to Chad. He couldn¡¯t bear having Nancy wait downstairs for so long aftering over. How about you head down to talk to her instead, Mr. Hockney?¡± Chad casually twirled his pen and asked, ¡°I¡¯m curious. Who has more influence¨Cyou or Nancy?¡± Frederick realized what he was implying¨Cthat neither of them knew their ces. He shot Ariel a frustrated gaze before turning to leave. She didn¡¯t pay it much mind. However, she had the feeling that her encounter with Nancy wasn¡¯t over just yet Although Frederick tried to smooth over Chad and Janice¡¯s words, Nancy still understood Faye Technologies¡® stand She pursed her lips, wondering if she had offended them unknowingly. Nancy had met up with countless top figures ever since she returned from abroad, all of whom praised her. She wondered if Faye Technologies was trying to take a different approach. Regardless, she contacted Jayson and briefly exined what had happened. He calmly replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine, I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Meanwhile, Ariel spent the whole morning trying to familiarize herself with Faye Technologies¡® situation She began to see a clear direction forming in her head. She felt incredibly fulfilled after working hard in the field she loved. For once, she wasn¡¯t living for someone else¨Cbut for herself. Ariel didn¡¯t even think about the troublesome matters with Jayson and Lucas anymore. Jayson closed the file and rubbed his temples as he sat in his office at Bluum Corp. He nced at his watch, finding that it was almost 1:00 pm. Feeling hungry, he instinctively reached to his left, yet finding nothing there. Jayson looked up. There used to be two exquisite lunch boxes ced there timely. A little note would be stuck on them, with neat handwriting reminding him to not forget to eat. ¡°Colton!¡± he called out. Colton entered the room and asked, ¡°Do you need me for anything, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson was lost in thought as he nced at the spot on his left. ¡°Did the lunch boxes get thrown away today?¡± Inside 21 Chapter 21 Colton came to his senses and replied, ¡°Ms. Walker didn¡¯te up today, Mr. Larkin.¡± That meant Ariel didn¡¯t bring lunch over at all. Jayson narrowed his eyes, deep in thought. Meanwhile, Colton burst out, saying, ¡°I¡¯ve checked with the PR department. Ms. Walker hadn¡¯te in for work today. They said that she has officially resigned. Is she throwing a tantrum with you, Mr. Larkin?¡± Back then, Ariel made a point of showing up every day to deliver lunch. Jayson mostly wouldn¡¯t touch it, only asking him to deal with it once in a while. He didn¡¯t really take her resignation seriously. He knew how much she needed this respectable and high¨Cpaying job. Regardless of what happened now, he believed that she coulde to her senses and return before long. Jayson casually unlocked his phone and started scrolling. He found Ariel¡¯s WhatsApp text from a week ago, asking if he wasing back for dinner. She stopped contacting him ever since the day he celebrated Nancy¡¯s birthday instead of apanying Ariel to the hospital. ¡°If you ask me, I¡¯d think that Ms. Walker is just putting on airs!¡± Colton said dismissively, finding her tricks repetitive. ¡°She probably won¡¯t be able to hold out for long ande back pretending as if nothing had happened. 11 He assumed Ariel was just trying to get Jayson¡¯s attention and scoffed at the idea. Jayson nced at her profile photo before putting his phone away indifferently. He wasn¡¯t nning to send her a WhatsApp message asking if something was up. He then got up and said, ¡°Make a reservation at the restaurant. I¡¯ll have dinner with Nancy.¡± Jayson looked up and added, ¡°Did Matt and Perry go to meet Mr. Fletcher and the others today?¡± Colton replied, ¡°Yes. Do you need anything done, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson strode out, saying, ¡°Have them introduce Nancy so she can make an appearance.¡± Colton immediately wore a knowing expression¨Cas expected, Jayson would only be this attentive to Nancy. Chad had ast¨Cminute social event in the afternoon and wanted to bring Ariel along. (1) She could only find an excuse to skip it as her stomach wasn¡¯t feeling well recently, and she couldn¡¯t drink alcohol due to her cancer cells anyway. Chad didn¡¯t insist. Instead, he asked Ariel toe pick him up when they were done, so she went shopping nearby. In the past, she devoted herself to caring for Jayson¡¯s needs, leaving little room for her own time. Even simple leisure activities like shopping were rare for her. He was so particr about his food, clothes, and everything else that Ariel rarely thought about her own needs. With the oue of her treatment uncertain, she figured she should make the most of life and enjoy it while she could. Ariel felt cold after walking for a round. She then retrieved the scarf Katie had knitted from the car and wrapped it around herself. Upon her return to the hotel, she asked Chad which floor the social event was on and headed straight up. As soon as Ariel reached the door, she overheard someone inside saying, ¡°You truly value Ms. Stanton a lot, Mr. Larkin! You even brought her over yourself. It¡¯s our pleasure to meet someone as outstanding as her.¡± She peered in and saw Jayson holding Nancy by his side. His gaze was gentle and appreciative as he turned to look at Nancy. ¡°The two of you are inseparable. I bet Ms. Stanton is about to be the perfect wife to Mr. Larkin soon, right?¡± ¡°You¡¯re really lucky, Mr. Larkin. Everything would¡¯ve been organized with someone like her taking care of your household.¡± Jayson spoke slowly, ¡°Nancy¡¯s hands aren¡¯t meant for trivial household chores¨Cshe has her own world to thrive in.¡± Ariel¡¯s hand, which was on the handle, grew colder by each passing second. So Nancy was meant for something greater, while she was only fit to be a housewife managing the household? Chad, who remained silent, was also in the private room. He understood what was going on now. He refused to meet up with Nancy today, but Jayson had ways to connect and create opportunities for Nancy. Jayson wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to undermine her. Ariel took a deep breath. Although she was about to part ways with him, she still felt saddened for her past self. She wrapped the scarf tightly around her neck, covering her pale face as she headed downstairs. Chad came downstairs soon after. He was clearly in a bad mood. Through the car window, he spotted another scarf on the center console and said, ¡°It¡¯s so cold. Let me use that.¡± Ariel handed it to him without hesitation. She didn¡¯t want Katie¡¯s hard work to go to waste since Jayson didn¡¯t care for it. Chad wrapped the scarf around his neck as he cursed, ¡°Jayson is truly something else he has connections everywhere. I never expected him to bring Nancy over to meet me today. Who does she think she is?¡± Jayson and the others walked to the parking lot. Matt was the first to spot Ariel and Chad. He quickly noticed the matching scarves on them and blurted out in surprise, ¡°Is Ariel cheating?¡± Inside 22 Chapter 22 Ariel was standing next to Chad. They were talking about something, but anyone could tell that they both had matching scarves on them. What level of intimacy wouldpel two adults to wear matching scarves? Jayson looked up and happened to see Ariel patting Chad on the back. The two of them seemed to look close. Matt chuckled coldly. ¡°I¡¯ve truly underestimated her. She has no real skills, but when ites to hooking up with men, she¡¯s quite experienced.¡± Perry frowned and nced over to Ariel. He had been at the receiving end of her cold, disgusted gaze days before. Compared to how she was looking at Chad now, it was clear that she felt differently toward him. ¡°Wait, but how did she know Chad?¡± Matt asked, perplexed. Although Faye Technologies was still in the early stages of stabilizing and developing, Chad hade from a strong background and had top¨Ctier abilities. Logically, someone from Ariel¡¯s level shouldn¡¯t have had the opportunity to connect with him. ¡°Jayson?¡± Matt turned to Jayson. Jayson briefly nced at his watch, seemingly uninterested. ¡°I¡¯ll send Nancy back.¡± Nancy was lost in thought. ???? Jayson brought her to meet up with the big shots in the industry today, but of all people, Ariel showed up. Ariel even looked like she was close to Chad, and they happened to see them together now. Everything no longer seemed like coincidences if they happened all at once. ¡°No wonder Mr. Hockney refused to meet me today,¡± Nancy said. Matt and Percy turned to look at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Nancy calmly replied, ¡°Everything makes sense if Ariel and Mr. Hockney knew each other.¡± ¡°Is Ariel settling personal scores?¡± Matt immediately figured out what she was implying. ¡°She has a grudge against you, and that¡¯s why sheined to Chad?¡± ¡°Is Chad the type to lose his mind over women?¡± Percy asked, surprised. Nancy shook her head and replied, ¡°It Matt Matter. My abilities will make him overlook any biases.¡± gave her a thumbs up. ¡°As expected of Nancy¨Cgraceful and generous!¡± Jayson said nothing as he simply nced over toward the other side. Meanwhile, Ariel didn¡¯t look back even though she felt the sharp gaze on her. Although she knew it was from Jayson, she didn¡¯t pay it any mind. She sent Chad, who had drunk some alcohol earlier, home. He waved at her before heading upstairs with the scarf still on him. ¡± Ariel nced at him and made noment. She then drove herself home. She found her current lifestyle easy and carefree. Jayson returned to their marital home at 9:30 pm. The household staff hadn¡¯t finished their shifts yet. One of them immediately stepped forward to take his coat.¡± Would you like me to run the bath for you, sir?¡± Jayson paused, realizing that Ariel usually did these things. ¡°Yes.¡± Georgia nnad quickly headed upstairs, with him following behind. He slipped his fingers into the tie clip to loosen it. Jayson entered the bedroom, which only had a bedsidemp on. He hadn¡¯t been home these past few days. He narrowed his eyes when he saw Georgia stepping out after running the bath. ¡°Is Ariel still not back yet?¡± She was taken aback. ¡°Mrs. Larkin? She hasn¡¯t been back for the past few days.¡± Jayson frowned slightly as he tugged off his tie. He then nced over to Ariel¡¯s vanity and asked, ¡°Since when?¡± He also pulled out his phone to send her a WhatsApp message. Georgia gave it some thought before replying, ¡°Probably sincest Tuesday.¡± Jayson lowered his gaze as he recalled what day it was, eventually realizing that it was the day after Nancy¡¯s birthday. Ever since, Ariel started acting differently, as if she was apletely different person. After some contemtion, he simply curled his lips and closed the chat with her, deciding not to ask any more questions. Jayson entered the bathroom and nced at the warm bath in the bathtub. In the past, there would always be essential oils added for rxation purposes. However, nothing was prepared today. He suddenly lost interest. Jayson¡¯s phone on the countertop happened to vibrate. He turned to leave after ncing over. Georgia asked, ¡°Are you heading out, sir?¡± Jayson was busy replying to the text as he said, ¡°You guys can get off work now. I¡¯ll be staying somewhere else tonight.¡± Inside 23 Chapter 23 Renee made her usual visit to Jayson and Ariel¡¯s marital home after school during the next day afternoon. She was starving. As soon as she entered the house, she called out, ¡°Ariel?¡± Georgia came out and took Renee¡¯s backpack. ¡°Mrs. Larkin isn¡¯t around, Ms. Larkin.¡± Surprised, Renee frowned and asked, ¡°Isn¡¯t she supposed to get lunch ready by this time?¡± She was also aware that Ariel had been delivering lunch to Jayson. As the house was close to Bluum Corp, she would prepare the food before work and rush home to get it done during her lunch break. She¡¯d then ask Colton to help deliver it to Jayson. Even though he never wanted to see her, Ariel wouldn¡¯t give up. Renee came over today just to eat the food Ariel made. Ariel might not be good at other things, but she had always been a quick leaner. Her cooking was always to Renee¡¯s liking. However, her mood soured when she found out that nothing was prepared today. She couldn¡¯t help but think that Ariel was bing increasingly irresponsible. Georgia was equally confused. The usually gentle and dutiful Ariel no longer returned home now. In the past, she would even cancel business trips just to be with Jayson. Renee was actually in a bad mood all day. She¡¯d found out that Nancy caught a cold and was running a fever. She¡¯d nned to take the day off to visit her, but showing up empty¨Chanded wouldn¡¯t be nice. She figured a sick person should eat something nourishing, but she didn¡¯t know how to cook. It wouldn¡¯t seem sincere if she bought something pre¨Cmade either, so she thought of Ariel. Ariel was good at cooking, so she could get her to cook something. Renee plopped onto the couch and gave her a call. Ariel had just finished a meeting with Chad then. The possibilities in the drone field were endless, and she hade up with some new ideas. She nned to optimise the system and didn¡¯t want to waste time eating at the cafeteria. She then got Chad to help get her some food when she saw Renee¡¯s call. Ariel nced over and rejected the call. However, Renee continued calling her. As it affected her work, she blocked her number immediately. Only then did she find peace and continue working. Renee bit her lips angrily when she heard the constant busy signal. She couldn¡¯t understand why Ariel was ignoring her. Ariel had never once not picked up her call before this, and she would always talk to her gently just to please her. Renee could only call Jayson. He answered the call and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I reach Ariel, Jay? She¡¯s not picking up my calls. I¡¯m at your house, and she¡¯s not preparing lunch here! ¡± she replied. Jayson replied thoughtfully, ¡°I don¡¯t know. I didn¡¯t contact her.¡± Renee said, ¡°You should call her toe back and prepare lunch then!¡± ¡°Are restaurants just for show, Renee?¡± His voice sounded sharp and pressuring. Renee cowered slightly before pouting and replied, ¡°Nancy is sick. I want to visit her, but I can¡¯t just show up empty¨Chanded. How can I get Ariel toe back, Jay?¡± Jayson fell silent for some time before replying indifferently, ¡°Didn¡¯t Grandma like her cooking too?¡± He ended the call after that. Renee was momentarily confused before she understood what he meant. Ariel would definitelye back if Betty¡¯s name was mentioned. Ariel finished handling the system issues and made an appointment to see her doctor at 3:00 pm. She rejected Chad¡¯s offer to send her when she informed him that she was heading out. She wasn¡¯t nning to let them know about her condition just yet. Ariel¡¯s notification rang. She nced over, only to find Renee sending her a WhatsApp text. She mentioned that Betty wasn¡¯t feeling welltely and was craving her cooking, then added severalints about her calls not getting through. Ariel frowned upon hearing that Betty was feeling unwell. She instinctively thought of heading over to check on her, but upon realizing that they were about to divorce, she thought it might be inappropriate for her to head over to the Larkin Manor. She checked the time and decided to return to their marital home. Georgia was delighted to see Ariel. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Mrs. Larkin! I¡¯ve already made up your room. Do you want to get some rest?¡± ¡°No need, I¡¯ll leave soon.¡± Ariel changed into her slippers and said, ¡°I¡¯ll make oatmeal and some side dishes. Could you please deliver them to the Larkin Manor for Grandmater?¡± Betty had always been good to her; her grandfather, Timothy Walker, and Betty¡¯s husband, Jeffrey Larkin, were warrades. Upon hearing that she was sick and missing Ariel¡¯s cooking, Ariel didn¡¯t mind cooking for Betty. (1) Georgia nodded in a daze. Ariel quickly cooked up some oatmeal and two easy¨Cto¨Cdigest side dishes. She then packed the food in the carefully chosen lunch boxes. ¡°Thank you, Georgia.¡± ¡°Why are you leaving again, Mrs. Larkin?¡± Georgia asked, perplexed. Ariel paused for a moment as she changed her shoes and looked down at the pale yellow slippers. She did not exin but smiled faintly. ¡°Please throw these slippers away, Georgia.¡® Inside 24 Chapter 24 Ariel checked the time as she left the neighborhood¨Cit was already 2:00 pm. It would take about 40 minutes to get to the hospital, so she¡¯d arrive just in time. She took some medication after getting into the car. The side effects were intense, and she had been feeling extremely dizzy and exhaustedtely. She needed to consult the doctor again for a new treatment n. Ariel rested for a moment before driving away. As soon as she left, Renee walked down from upstairs. She wasn¡¯t nning to greet Ariel. Ariel used to ask her about Jayson¡¯s habits and preferences, and she¡¯d worry about Renee wearing skirts without leggings in the winter. She¡¯d even care about Renee¡¯s grades, as if she was capable of tutoring Renee. Renee found her annoying, so she often avoided Ariel. Ariel would never refuse her whenever she needed anything anyway. Georgia was about to deliver the insted lunch boxes to the Larkin Manor. Renee stepped forward while humming happily. ¡°Let me deliver them instead.¡± Georgia figured that she was heading back to the Larkin Manor and handed them over without much thought. 1 Ariel chose to get treatment from the best private hospital in Eldoria, as the medical services were better. Leonard was also staying in this hospital¡¯s nursing home, which made it more reputable. However, the cost was equally high. In the three years Ariel was married to Jayson, she gained nothing except for a position in the PR department, where she had worked hard to get a decent sry. She had managed to get by all these years. Now that Ariel was in Faye Technologies, Chad and Janice offered her even better treatment by giving her shares. Once her projects werepleted, her annual dividends would at least be 70 to 80 million dors. That way, even if her treatment failed, she could still leave arge sum of money for Katie and Leonard¡¯ster years. That was the reason Ariel was eager to pick up her past dreams. On one hand, she didn¡¯t want to live in regrets, and on another, she wanted to provide security for Katie and Leonard. Her attending physician was an expert in the hospital. Howard Bolt, who was in his 50s, rmended that she be re¨Cexamined. Ariel didn¡¯t find it pathetic to walk around with a stack of test results. She had grown ustomed to being on her own, and the repeated disappointments she¡¯d experienced only made her stronger. Her test results remained as bad as expected. Howard frowned as he studied them for some time. ¡°With your current condition, medication is having little effect. You need to consider chemotherapy and surgery now, Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel remained silent. Howard continued, ¡°Where is your family? Do you need to discuss this with your husband or parents?¡± Ariel lowered her gaze and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can decide for myself.¡± She no longer wanted her husband, and her parents were as good as dead. ¡°What is the sess rate if I undergo chemotherapy and surgery? And how long is the recovery period?¡± Ariel asked. Howard replied, ¡°Chemotherapy has significant side effects. It might affect your entire system and daily life. As for surgery, with your condition, the sess rate for tumor surgery is about 40%. The recovery period is uncertain.¡± Ariel¡¯s lips went pale, and her usually calm demeanor appeared lost. This was what she had been most worried about¨Cwhat if she lost the gamble? If Ariel¡¯s results weren¡¯t as hoped, and her condition worsened after surgery or chemotherapy, she wouldn¡¯t be able to continue working. At that point, not only would her life be at risk, but she might also lose her means to earn a living. ¡°There¡¯s also something important that you have to consider, Ms. Walker.¡± Howard looked at her seriously to convey the graveness of the situation. ¡°You might not be able to conceive anymore if you undergo surgery.¡± Ariel fell silent for the longest time. She was lost in thought as she stared at the test results in her hands. She actually loved children. When Ariel first married into the Larkin family, Renee was only in her teens. She was adorable and would asionally cling to Ariel and act coquettishly, which made Ariel imagine what her child with Jayson might look like. But Nancy appearedter, and Renee began to act out and despised her. Now, Ariel was about to get a divorce. She looked up and said softly, ¡°I¡¯ll give up on conceiving if the treatment works.¡± Inside 25 Chapter 25 Ariel sounded calm. She no longer cared even if she had to forfeit her ability to have children. She would do whatever she could and leave the rest to fate. Faced with a highly uncertain future, she had epted that motherhood was no longer a concern. Howard could understand how Ariel felt. He asked, ¡°When do you n to start chemotherapy? I rmend that you don¡¯t wait more than three months.¡± She clenched her fists and replied, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll make arrangements for everything as soon as possible.¡± Ariel and Howard ultimately came ou Ariel and Howard ultimately came out with a temporary conservative treatment n, which was to start with radiation therapy. She was prescribed an effective imported medication to take in order to suppress the spread of her cancer cells as much as possible. After receiving her prescription, Ariel did not go straight to get her medication. Instead, she turned and headed toward the nursing home behind the hospital. No matter how calm andposed she was, when faced with death, she felt like a lost child instinctively looking for shelter. Suddenly, Ariel wanted to see Leonard. Leonard¡¯s ward was located on the 12th floor. The ward was empty when Ariel arrived, and she found out from the reception that he had gone for chemotherapy. She then headed to the chemotherapy floor. As Ariel informed her of her visit, she happened to hear the pained, muffled cries from inside. The cries gradually escted and became unbearable. Even someone asposed as Leonard seemed so fragile at that moment. Ariel felt her body go cold, and she ran away. It was until she saw the nurse pushing Leonard back to his room. He was looking pale, and he was on the verge of vomiting bile with how intense the chemotherapy reaction was. Ariel did not enter the ward. Instead, she sat in the hallway for the longest time, wondering if she would also turn out just like Leonard if she underwent chemotherapy. She got up and left with a numbing sense of despair. As Ariel passed through the first¨Cfloor lobby to get her medication, she heard a familiar voice. ¡°Why would you suddenly catch a cold, Nancy? I feel so bad for you!¡± She turned around and saw Renee anxiously checking Nancy¡¯s forehead on the bench. Renee¡¯s eyes were red. Nancy chuckled and replied, ¡°It¡¯s just a cold. You don¡¯t have to get so worked up, Renee.¡± ¡°You¡¯re my future sister¨Cinw, so I¡¯d feel upset if you¡¯re sick. I heard that Jay spent the night taking care of you yesterday. Is that true?¡± Renee asked, teasingly. Nancy was taken aback before she pressed her lips into a smile and said nothing. It looked like she was silently acknowledging it. Meanwhile, Jayson was focused on the prescription beside her. He was giving all his care and attention to Nancy, who caught a cold, as if they were a real family. Ariel looked down at the bag full of cancer medication in her hand. She didn¡¯t know what to think about that. They! ¡°Look how much I care for you, Nancy. I prepared some oatmeal and side dishes for you. They¡¯re the best meal to have when you¡¯re sick¨Cyou should try them!¡± Renee took out the insted lunch boxes from her backpack and carefully opened them to show Nancy. ¡°I¡¯ll make you more if you like them,¡± Renee continued. Ariel¡¯s gaze was drawn to the insted lunch boxes. She instantly recognized them as the ones she had prepared for Betty today. She was shocked to see what was happening, unable to understand why the lunchboxes she had prepared for Betty had ended up with Nancy. She instinctively looked toward Jayson. His expression remained unchanged as he watched Renee scooped some oatmeals and took out the side dishes for Nancy. Ariel had been preparing food for him for the past three years¨Cit was impossible that he couldn¡¯t tell the food came from her. Yet there wasn¡¯t even a hint of surprise on his face. Ariel tightened her fingers, and the winter chill crept in from outside the lobby, filling her with cold. She then turned to leave. Just as she looked away, Jayson seemed to sense something. He nced over and saw her familiar figure. Ariel was already exhausted by the time she made her way to the parking lot. She leaned against the car door for a moment. Just as she was about to open the door and get in, a hand grabbed her wrist. Jayson¡¯s cold voice could be heard. ¡°Is this your test result, Ariel?¡± 212 Inside 26 Chapter 26 Ariel immediately turned around and was met with Jayson¡¯s dark eyes. There was a folded test report in his hand, and Ariel felt her heart suddenly squeezing anxiously. She immediately rushed forward and snatched the report away from him. ¡°Did you read it?¡± Jayson quietly looked at her pale face. ¡°Why so anxious?¡± He had seen the paper slip out of her pocket when he came over, and he¡¯d simply picked it up for her. He hadn¡¯t been able to peek at it yet. 1 ¡°You¡¯re thinking too much, Mr. Larkin,¡± Ariel said, rxing a little beforepletely calming down. Jayson just looked at her as the cogs turned in his head. ¡°You seem to like addressing me as ¡®Mr. Larkin¡®tely.¡± Ariel hurriedly stuffed the test report into the folder and asked, ¡°Is there a reason why you came looking for me?¡± She didn¡¯t exin that it was because Nancy had brought it up in the past. Also, they were going to get divorced very soon. It would be better for her to address him as ¡°Mr. Larkin¡± anyway. ¡°Are you sick? Where does it hurt?¡± Jayson asked, changing the topic as he gave her a once¨Cover with his cold eyes. Maybe this was one of the rare moments when he looked concerned about her. But, of course, Ariel knew that this had nothing to do with whether or not he was concerned about her¨Cespecially since she witnessed how antsy and anxious he had been when he knew Nancy had caught a cold. She knew that his words of concern were nothing more than a formality of sorts. He didn¡¯t actually mean it. He had always paid attention to mannerisms too. He might be a cold and aloof man, but he would still asionally pretend to be nice with his pleasantries. That had nothing to do with his sincerity, however. In the past, Ariel had felt moved by Jayson¡¯s so¨Ccalled concern before. But now, she just felt stupid about it. ¡°It¡¯s nothing much. I also came to visit Uncle Leo,¡± Ariel answered faintly, to be polite. ¡°Nancy is ill,¡± Jayson suddenly said. Ariel looked at him, waiting for him to continue his sentence. She couldn¡¯t tell what he was feeling. There were no emotions in his eyes. He was so cold and emotionless with her, hiswfully wedded wife, that she found itughable. 11 ¡°She went to Faye Tech to see Chad Hockney, but she was forced to wait in the snow for an hour and caught a cold, Jayson continued, taking out a box of cigarettes from his pocket. He then took a stick out, and just as he was about to light it, he suddenly put it away. ¡°What are you trying to say, Mr. Larkin?¡± Ariel asked, meeting his gaze. Did he think that Chad refused to see Nancy because of something she¡¯d said to him? Jayson narrowed his eyes at her and asked coldly, ¡°What were you doing at Faye Tech that day?¡± It was as expected. Ariel had been right. Jayson was here because he wanted her to exin things to him. He wasn¡¯t the least bit concerned about why she was at a hospital in the first ce. ¡°You may not know this since you seldom mingle around withmon folk like us, but after leaving Bluum Corp, naturally, I need to find another job somewhere, don¡¯t I?¡± Ariel answered in a calm voice. However, Jayson still looked at her questioningly. ¡°What kind of a job could you even get at Faye Tech anyway?¡± He then chuckled lightly, the smile never reaching his eyes. Ariel, on the other hand, understood what he actually meant. To him, she was nowhere near Nancy¡¯s level of brilliance. Naturally, he would think that it was extremely stupid of her to resign from Bluum Corp. ¡°You don¡¯t have to concern yourself with that, Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel had no intention of keeping him up¨Cto¨Cdate with her life. They were going to be strangers again very soon anyway. There was no need for this. Moreover, Jayson didn¡¯t even bother asking her why the food she had made for Betty ended up with Nancy at the hospital. He should have recognized that it had been from Ariel, and yet, he had silently allowed Renee to do such a thing. In a way, Ariel had sort of be Nancy¡¯s nanny. Was it really because Jayson didn¡¯t care about tiny details like these? Not really girl, hotove ple respected Ariel from the very beginning. It was more because he had never Ariel wasn¡¯t crass with her words, but there was an unmistakable coldness to her, and Jayson had already noticed it. Ever since that day, Ariel had been acting weirdly like this. Jayson thought that there had to be a limit to everything. He was going to tell Ariel to calm down. She had to figure this out by herself. He then sneered and said, ¡°Since you¡¯ve started working at Faye Tech, I don¡¯t care if you¡¯re an assistant or whatever, you should give more suggestions to Chad. He needs to be more considerate when dealing with things and with people. He should be more tactful, especially since he¡¯s the leader of thepany.¡± Ariel could feel her eyes shaking. Jayson was standing up for Nancy. He felt sorry that Nancy had been sidelined on purpose. What he just said sounded as if he was chiding Chad for being inconsiderate, but he was actually chiding her and telling her that ¡± enough was enough¡°. Ariel didn¡¯t like wasting time and energy arguing over mindless matters like these. However, that didn¡¯t mean she liked being dragged into this kind of drama and being made the scapegoat. She lifted her eyes and asked, ¡°Have you never considered the possibility that she just isn¡¯t qualified enough?¡± However brilliant Nancy may be, she still hadn¡¯t managed to produce any results to back herself up. Who did she think she was, demanding that someone as esteemed as Chad Hockney see her just because she wanted to? It was only then that Jayson frowned a little. Then, he said coldly and matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°She had all the qualifications needed with me backing her up.¡± Inside 27 Chapter 27 Ariel felt her chest squeezing tightly. She was both shocked and a little in disbelief. It wasn¡¯t until a long whileter that she finally opened up to ask, ¡°Since that¡¯s the case, then when, may I ask, do you have the time to go and¡­¡® She didn¡¯t manage to finish her sentence with ¡°¡­finalize the divorce¡± when Jayson¡¯s phone suddenly began ringing loudly. He cast a nce at Ariel before turning to the side to answer the call. His tone was obviously softer and gentler when he spoke. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ming back now.¡± He didn¡¯t even care if Ariel still had things to discuss with him. He just turned around and started walking off in a hurry. It reminded her of how he used to treat her in the past, just as coldly as before. Initially, Ariel also wanted to ask him when he¡¯d be avable to visit Betty and tell her the truth. After seeing Jayson rushing toward Nancy without a doubt, Ariel just turned around and got into her car. Whatever. They still had the next time. She didn¡¯t have the mental capacity or physical energy to argue with him at the moment. Ariel opened all the pills and removed them from their packaging, arranging them neatly in a ss bottle. Then, Ariel got rid of all the packaging before hurrying to Faye Technologies. Since Ariel never said she was the patient going to the hospital, Janice thought Ariel had only gone to visit Leonard. So, she asked about his condition. Ariel recalled the sheer pain etched on Leonard¡¯s face, but despite it, he moved. She shut her eyes and shook her head, overwhelmed by the memory. ¡°He¡¯s still like that.¡± Janice looked sad and gave Ariel a hug. Ariel hugged her back and said, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± That night, after work, Ariel went back home and organized her thoughts. Drones were going to be very valuable assets for future technologies, and Faye Technologies was already working very closely with an industry partner now. Ariel had actually managed toe up with a full n, but she still needed to discuss it with Chad. Soon, the clock struck 10:00 pm. Ariel¡¯s first rm rang, reminding her to take her medication on time. She forced down the bile taste in her mouth while she took the pills. Then, she immediately got a call from Chad. ¡°Ari, there¡¯s something I need to talk to you about.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°I went to see Ryan Eastwood today, and both Jayson and Nancy were there. Nancy said she wanted to coborate with us for the next big project. She sure has a huge appetite!¡± Ariel was surprised at Nancy¡¯s self¨Cconfidence. ¡°What did Mr. Larkin say?¡± Chad burst intoughter. ¡°He¡¯s willing to pump the funds in. As long as we agreed to it, it would be akin to us having another investor in this project.¡± Ariel bent down slowly to hold on to the kitchen ind. She couldn¡¯t help a bitter smile from gracing her lips. Was this Jayson¡¯s way of showing her that Nancy was qualified enough to see whoever she wanted and do whatever she liked? Was this what it meant for him to back her up all the time? ¡°You don¡¯t have to concern yourself with me. We started this project also because we want to make money. If you think she fits the bill, there¡¯s no harm in trying.¡± Ariel refused to mix her personal and work life together, especially if it was all for the sake of thepany. Plenty more people had poured their hearts and souls into Faye Technologies. There was no reason for them to prioritize her feelings first over everyone else¡¯s. Moreover, she just couldn¡¯t care less now. ¡°You don¡¯t mind her? But what if I do?¡± Chad answered with a guffaw. ¡°There are a lot more otherrger and more powerfulpanies other than Bluum Corp. Remember, Faye Tech is the one calling the shots, not the other way around! ¡°Just proceed with your usual work and leave these things to me. You don¡¯t have to worry about them at all!¡± Ariel felt a gush of warmth rushing through her. ¡°Thank you, Chad.¡± Chad scoffed and said, ¡°You¡¯re too polite with me. Gross. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± Ariel then stared at her phone screen and felt the corners of her lips turn up. She didn¡¯t know how Chad was going to reject Jayson and Nancy, but she wasn¡¯t going to poke her nose there because it was none of her business. She just turned around and went to bed. Back at the club, Matt set down the cards he was ying and asked incredulously, ¡°Rejected?¡± He thought that it was ridiculous. ¡°Nancy has an Arcadia Tech PhD, and Chad still thinks that she isn¡¯t good enough? Who¡¯s good enough for him, then?¡± ?????? Perry cast a sideway nce at Jayson, who was sitting quietly by the side. ¡°My dad said the upper management is cing a lot of focus on Chad¡¯s U.N2, It¡¯s a brand¨Cnew innovative system in weaponry with no shorings, and all of Faye Tech¡¯s uing projects are crucial to its sess. So, it¡¯s normal for him to have such high standards. As the man who had created U.N2 five years ago, Chad certainly had the merits to boast about his capabilities. And to date, nobody else has ever managed to crack his ideas and designs for the system. That alone was enough to prove just how important of a person he was. ¡°So what role exactly is Ariel ying here? I refuse to believe that she isn¡¯t using this to get back at you as her personal revenge!¡± Matt believed that Ariel had to have something to do with all this. ¡°She¡¯s employed at Faye Tech now,¡± Jayson said in an unhurried manner. Both Matt and Perry were astounded. ¡°Who, her? Ariel? Ariel Walker?¡± Matt burst intoughter, a clear expression of malicious joy on his face as he asked, ¡°What can she even do there? Janitor? Personal secretary?¡± Inside 28 Chapter 28 Perry didn¡¯t say anything, but he agreed with Matt¡¯s words. Matt turned to Jayson and said confidently, ¡°I think Ariel is justpeting with Nancy. Nancy is interested in drones, so Ariel pretends to be. Nancy takes an interest in Chad, so Ariel joins Faye Tech. Her whole goal is to get your attention.¡± He prided himself on understanding women¡¯s little mind games. A woman who couldn¡¯t get love would only act out more. Jayson didn¡¯t respond. Just then, his phone rang. It was Betty. He got up and walked outside. ¡°Grandma, why are you still awake thiste?¡± Betty snorted. ¡°And what about you? Shouldn¡¯t you be with Ari?¡± Jayson pinched the bridge of his nose. ¡°I¡¯m busy with work.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t give me that! You think I don¡¯t hear the rumors? I know who you¡¯ve been spending time with! How can you do this to Ari?¡± Betty was livid. Jayson¡¯s gaze darkened. ¡°Who told you that?¡± ¡°So, you admit it?¡± Betty let out a few exaggerated gasps. ¡°Jayson Larkin! Ari is such a wonderfuldy. If you let her down, the heavens will make you pay!¡± Jayson was unfazed. ¡°Is it that serious?¡± His dismissive tone only made Betty angrier. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to drive me to an early grave,e home with Ari tomorrow! That¡¯s an order, not a request!¡± She hung up in frustration. Jayson stood there for a moment, one hand in his pocket. Then, he opened his WhatsApp chat with Ariel. After a pause, he exited and dialed her number instead. It was already 11:00 pm. Ariel had just drifted off when the call woke her. Her sleep schedule had always been steady. She rarely stayed upte. Jayson knew that. But Ariel had always been easygoing. No matter when he needed something, she never got angry or refused him. Even if she was upset, she would swallow it down and continue being agreeable. He never had to put much effort into dealing with her. Ariel answered with a frown. ¡°What is it?¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was steady, devoid of emotion. ¡°Come with me to Larkin Manor tomorrow. Do you have time?¡± Ariel woke up a little more. Larkin Manor? Was he finally nning to tell Betty about the divorce? She barely hesitated. ¡°I do.¡± ¡°Want me to pick you up?¡± ¡°No, I¡¯ll drive myself.¡± Jayson ended the call immediately. He seemed to have predicted her answer and didn¡¯t want to waste another second talking to her, as if he was afraid she would cling to him. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it. As long as everything was made clear to Betty, it would save her a lot of trouble. The next evening, Ariel wrapped up her work and drove to Larkin Manor. When she arrived, Jayson wasn¡¯t back yet. The moment Betty saw her, she stood up and took Ariel¡¯s hands. ¡°Why have you lost so much weight? Are you feeling unwell?¡± Ariel gently squeezed Betty¡¯s hands and smiled warmly. ¡°Just been busy with work. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Betty was still worried. ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for an alternative medicine doctor to take a look at you. You need to nourish yourself!¡± Ariel smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma. I¡¯ll take care of myself.¡± ¡°It¡¯s all that brat¡¯s fault! He¡¯s so careless. He doesn¡¯t know how to take care of you at all! And look, he¡¯s still not back. Is he really that busy?¡± Betty scolded, frustrated. Ariel only smiled without responding. It wasn¡¯t about being attentive or not. When someone truly cared, they didn¡¯t need to be taught how to show it. Jayson had always known exactly how to treat Nancy well. He was probably with her now. Just then, Evelyn came downstairs. She nced at Ariel. ¡°Oh, you¡¯re here.¡± Ariel hesitated before greeting her. ¡°Evelyn.¡± Since they had to wait for Jayson to arrive before discussing the divorce, basic courtesy was necessary. Evelyn had never liked Ariel and didn¡¯t even bother pretending. She asked coldly, ¡°I heard you¡¯re no longer working at Bluum Corp.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t hide it. ¡°Yeah, I justpleted the paperwork for my resignation.¡± Evelyn frowned. ¡°So, you¡¯ve finally learned to do nothing and have Jayson support you? Inside 29 Chapter 29 Evelyn¡¯s tone wasced with disdain. ¡°You don¡¯te from a good family, and your education is average at best. Do you really expect Jayson to introduce his wife as a housewife?¡± She had never approved of Ariel, not even a little. Back then, they had been forced to go with the worst possible option. She still thought Jayson had gotten the short end of the stick. On the other hand, Nancy, who had been getting close to Jaysontely, had some ss, at least. Her family background wasn¡¯t up to the Larkin family¡¯s standards either, but at least she was well¨Ceducated. That was something Ariel could neverpete with. Ariel understood Evelyn¡¯s thoughts. She responded calmly, ¡°You won¡¯t have to worry about that for much longer.¡± Evelyn frowned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Before Ariel could answer, the sound of a car engine came from outside. A tall, imposing figure stepped into the living room. Jayson¡¯s gaze swept across the room. For three years, he had watched Evelyn make things difficult for Ariel. She never fought back¨Calways quiet andpliant. Since she never seemed to mind, he had never bothered to step in. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte. I got held up.¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze swept over Ariel before he moved to stand beside her. ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s wrong? Why do you look upset?¡± The moment he got close, Ariel caught a faint trace of women¡¯s perfume on him¨Cwhite musk in its final notes. It was Nancy¡¯s scent. They must have been close for a long time. How else could he have absorbed such a strong scent? Betty smacked Jayson¡¯s arm. ¡°So you do remember where home is. What was so important that you couldn¡¯t make it back earlier?¡± Jayson smiled but didn¡¯t answer. ¡°I¡¯m starving. Can we eat first?¡± His return cut Evelyn off mid¨Csentence. She frowned at Ariel before standing up and saying, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite. You all go ahead.¡± Betty wasn¡¯t surprised. Evelyn had never been at peace with Ariel joining the family. Instead of interfering, she simply motioned for Jayson and Ariel to head to the dining room. Right then, Renee walked in. She saw Ariel but didn¡¯t say a word. Instead, she just grinned and plopped down in the seat next to Jayson. Whether she did it on purpose or not, it left no room for Ariel. Betty noticed. ¡°Renee, Ariel is here. Sit with me instead.¡± ¡°I need to talk to Jay,¡± Renee said with a yful blink before turning to Ariel. ¡°You¡¯re not the jealous type, are you?¡± Ariel remainedposed and sat down beside Renee. ¡°Sit wherever you want.¡± Jayson nced up at her then, as if surprised by her answer. Ariel pretended not to notice. She knew how she used to be¨Calways clinging to him, always making sure to sit by his side, never wasting a chance to get closer. But they were getting divorced. There was no need for that anymore. ¡°Lily, bring out the soup for Jayson,¡± Betty instructed. A momentter, a steaming bowl was ced in front of Jayson. He took a nce. His face remained unreadable, but he put on a faint smile. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m perfectly fine. I don¡¯t need this.¡± Ariel finally looked over. She froze when she saw what was inside. It was oyster chowder, a well¨Cknown tonic for enhancing stamina and virility. Betty smiled. ¡°Being healthier never hurts. I had it simmering for three hours. Nothing wrong with adding a little extra spark to a marriage.¡® 11 Renee, too young to understand, nced at the soup and quickly went back to her food. Ariel ignored it as well. Betty still hoped they¡¯d have more time together to conceive a child. But setting aside her own health issues, Jayson had always treated their intimacy as a duty at best, a few times out of obligation. If anything, he was indifferent to her. Now that they were on the verge of divorce, the idea of them sleeping together waspletely out of the question. Predictably, Jayson never took a single sip of the soup. Betty sighed, giving up. How could he be so blind to Ariel¡¯s worth? During dinner, Ariel couldn¡¯t stop thinking abou bring it up, but he never did. She couldn¡¯t help sneaking a few nces at him. Jayson noticed. He lifted his gaze and caught her staring. His eyes were sharp and clear, almost indifferent. Especially with that slight crease between his brows, he seemed like he was annoyed. Ariel had already looked his way at least five times in the past 20 minutes ever since Betty had brought out that so -called virility soup. Herck of restraint was starting to make him ufortable. Inside 30 Jayson pulled his gaze away, set his cutleries down, and stood up. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to take care of. You guys enjoy.¡± He didn¡¯t spare Ariel a nce as he strode upstairs. That look he¡¯d given her just now was hard to read, but it left her uneasy. When was he nning to tell Betty about the divorce? Renee pouted. ¡°Jay¡¯s lost his appetite? Then I¡¯m done too.¡± She left to y video games. Ariel remained calm and continued eating. What others thought of her was their problem, not hers. There was no point in wasting energy on it. After dinner, Betty took Ariel¡¯s hand and sighed. ¡°Ari, you know how Jayson is. I know you¡¯re having a hard time, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m on your side. I won¡¯t let him upset you!¡± Seeing the concern in her eyes made Ariel¡¯s chest tighten. Betty had always been good to her and always hoped she and Jayson would make things work. She had done everything she could to help bridge the gap between them. But there was nothing left to salvage. His heart and body belonged to another woman. She wasn¡¯t going to force herself to swallow this miserable marriage any longer. Not to mention, her health was a ticking time bomb. She refused to be anyone¡¯s burden. ¡°Grandma, I actually came back today because I need to talk to you.¡± Ariel took a deep breath. ¡°Let me go get Jayson first.¡± She hurried upstairs, unable to face the warmth in Betty¡¯s eyes any longer. Ariel stopped at the door of the bedroom she once shared with Jayson and knocked politely. She needed to talk to him abouting clean about the divorce, but there was no response. She knocked again¨Cstill nothing. After a brief hesitation, she pushed the door open. ¡°Jayson?¡± She barely took two steps before freezing in ce. By the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window, Jayson stood with his back to her, phone in hand. On the screen, Nancy¡¯s face was lit with a soft smile. They were on a video call, like a couple deep in the honeymoon phase. Jayson turned at the sound of her voice. The easy warmth on his face disappeared the instant he saw her. He didn¡¯t bother hiding the fact that he was on a video call with Nancy. Ariel¡¯s feet felt rooted to the floor. Meeting his cold gaze, she suddenly felt something tighten in her chest. ¡°Ever heard of knocking?¡± Jayson¡¯s tone was t. Even though they were getting divorced, Ariel couldn¡¯t say she waspletely unaffected by the man who had been her husband for three years. She met his gaze without flinching and asked calmly, ¡°What, do you think I¡¯m spying on you again?¡± Once at Quin¡¯s Peak, and now, here. Did he really think she was ying the same game? Jayson frowned. Just then, the door swung open, and Renee grabbed Ariel¡¯s wrist. ¡°What are you doing in Jay¡¯s room? Come with me.¡± She dragged Ariel into the guest room without giving her a chance to resist. Spreading her arms to block the doorway, she said, ¡°I¡¯ve got a few tough problems I need Jay to help me with. We¡¯ll be busy tonight, so just get some rest on your own.¡± Then she mmed the door and bolted. Ariel stood there in the dim room for a long moment before finally flexing her stiff fingers. Renee was young. Her intentions were written all over her face. She didn¡¯t need help with anything. Renee was just keeping her away, afraid that she might end up alone with him. Ariel stayed quiet in the room. No matter what, she and Jayson had to tell Betty about their divorce. But first, she needed to know how he nned to handle it. At 10:00 pm, it was time for her medication. She left the room and went downstairs for some water. As she reached the stairwell, she heard Renee¡¯s yful voice from the kitchen. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Nancy. I won¡¯t let Ariel get anywhere near Jay. I swear I¡¯ll protect your love with my life!¡± Ariel¡¯s steps faltered. Through the speaker, Nancy let out a softugh. She sounded calm and confident. Then she said, ¡°Jayson wouldn¡¯t do anything. I¡¯ve never worried about that.¡± Ariel lowered her eyes and quietly let them exchange their updates. Renee grabbed a drink and went back upstairs. After she left, Ariel poured herself a ss of water, took her medicine, and headed straight for Jayson¡¯s room. This time, she knocked firmly on his door. Inside 31 Chapter 31 Finally, there was a reply from inside the room. ¡°Come in.¡± Ariel pushed the door open. Jayson had just finished showering and was standing with his back to her, checking his phone. As she stepped in, she noticed his suit jacket had fallen on the rug. Instinctively, she went over to pick it up. Jayson turned around at that exact moment. His eyesnded on the jacket in her hands, and his brows furrowed.¡± Don¡¯t touch my clothes.¡± Ariel used to iron all his clothes by hand, so he assumed she was going to press the jacket, like she used to. Ariel pressed her lips together and tossed the jacket onto the bed. ¡°When are we going to¡ª¡± ¡°You can go to bed first,¡± Jayson cut her off. While ncing at his watch, he strode past her and left the room. He didn¡¯t care whether she had something important to say. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected him to leave in such a hurry. She didn¡¯t even get the chance to talk about the divorce. And as for who could possibly make him rush off like that, she couldn¡¯t think of another person other than Nancy. A car horn red downstairs. Her phone lit up. It was a voice message from Chad. ¡°Come with me to a banquet the night after tomorrow. Big names in the industry will be there. Building connections will do you good.¡± Ariel sent back a simple ¡°okay¡°, then grabbed some spare clothes from the closet and headed to the guest room for the night. The next day, Betty was furious when she found out Jayson had taken off in the middle of the night. Ariel spent a good chunk of the morning calming her down before heading to Faye Technologies. By now, Ariel had a solid grasp of everything going on at Faye Technologies. She¡¯d gone through the mountain of documents. She even managed to pull together a detailed roadmap for the team, which she handed over to the core member of the technology department, Noah rke. When Noah realized she¡¯d sorted through all that data in less than three days and written a top¨Ctier technical guide on top of it, his jaw practically hit the floor. ¡°She did this all by herself?¡± He was clearly skeptical, Chad smirked. ¡°Oh, this is nothing. You have no idea how in demand she used to be. Every top institute, domestic and international, wanted her. I could work my ass off for five more years and still not catch up to where she was back then.¡± Noah looked stunned, but he still couldn¡¯t fully believe it. ¡°Mr. Hockney, you¡¯ve got to be kidding. You¡¯re one of the best in the country. What is she? Some kind of genius?¡± Chad just smiled without saying a word. If Ariel weren¡¯t a once¨Cin¨Ca¨Cgeneration talent, his father, Carlos Hockney, wouldn¡¯t have been so pissed off when she gave it all up to get married. He actually had to take blood pressure pills over it. What a waste. But well, not everyone could recognize a gem when they saw one. The banquet called for formalwear, but Ariel didn¡¯t have any nice dresses. She¡¯d spent the past three years orbiting around Jayson. Since their marriage was a secret, she never had an asion to dress up. The only dress she owned was a dark green satin mermaid dress Betty had given her for her birthday the previous year. The gift came with a matching suit for Jayson too. His cufflinks were green gems that matched her dress exactly. It was a couple¡¯s set. She never got the chance to wear hers, and he never wore his. Ariel¡¯s skin looked pale without makeup, so she brushed on extra blush to hide her weariness, then slipped into the dress and headed out. When Chad saw her, even he couldn¡¯t help but be impressed. ¡°Well, damn. You almost look human. I barely recognized you.¡® ? Ariel smirked. ¡°You don¡¯t look too bad yourself, Chad.¡± ¡°Tell me something I don¡¯t know,¡± he said, holding out his arm. ¡°Now do your thing. This room¡¯s packed with big yers. Make the right connections, and your foundation¡¯s set.¡± Ariel ced her hand on his arm and took a deep breath. ¡°Got it.¡± Tonight¡¯s banquet was formal, and she knew how important it was. Even though she had developed U.N2, she was now representing Faye Technologies.. Chad had a lot of influence in the industry, especially with a father like Carlos, a highly respected member of the aerospace research institute. No one would dare disrespect him. Between greetings and small talk, Chad made sure to spotlight Ariel, ¡°This is Ariel Walker, ourtest tech genius at Faye Tech.¡± The crowd smiled politely, but beneath those smiles was scrutiny. This banquet was invite¨Conly, and everyone here was top¨Ctier. For Chad to bring a young woman along raised some eyebrows. To them, it looked like he was lowering his standards. He really didn¡¯t hesitate to give such a valuable opportunity to a woman. They¡¯d never heard of Ariel before. How great could she be? Was Chad just trying to make his date look good? Inside 32 Chapter 32 ¡°It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Walker,¡± the people around Ariel greeted her politely. But no one bothered to bring up anything remotely rted to her expertise. After the formal greetings, they turned their attention back to Chad, diving into discussions about industry trends and technological reforms. In an industry dominated by men, it was no surprise that women were often sidelined. Prejudice always came first. Ariel had anticipated this kind of treatment and remainedposed. She quietly listened to their conversation. XAM Chad had someone important he wanted to introduce her to. ¡°See the man in the gray suit over there? He¡¯s a high- ranking government official, and his insight into uing policy changes will be crucial. He¡¯s someone you definitely want to leave a good impression on tonight.¡± Ariel was surprised to hear someone at that level was here. She now understood just how high¨Cprofile this banquet was. Chad guided her toward the man. When they approached, the man saw Chad and greeted him with a warm smile. ¡°Mr. Hockney, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Before Chad could introduce Ariel, a stir near the entrance caught their attention. Ariel turned around and saw Nancy walking in, arm¨Cin¨Carm with Jayson. Her elegance was evident as she greeted those nearby. When Jayson arrived, the other big names in the room immediately perked up and hurried over to greet him. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but focus on their outfits. Nancy wore a green dress that was nearly the same shade as Ariel¡¯s. Her neckline was encrusted with diamonds in varying sizes, which caught the light with every movement. Meanwhile, Jayson wore a suit with a pocket square that matched Nancy¡¯s dress. What a subtle disy of affection. The suit that matched her dress whing he had never touched even once. Ariel¡¯s lips curled into a sardonic smile, and her vision turned blurry. She wasn¡¯t sure whether tough at herself for having spent three years as a joke or at how insignificant she felt now. Chad nced at Ariel. She didn¡¯t show any outward emotion, yet he couldn¡¯t shake the ufortable feeling in his gut. Before long, Jayson and Nancy started making their way over. Chad frowned at once as he realized what they were trying to do. When Jayson walked over, he nced at Ariel and noticed the dress she was wearing. He paused in his steps for a moment. Ariel noticed his nce. With their matching colors, she couldn¡¯t help but feel like the odd one out, as if she were intruding on their perfect little world. Nancy spared Ariel a brief nce as well, then quickly turned her attention back to Chad and the important official. Jayson greeted Chad and the man, ¡°Mr. Pearce, Mr. Hockney.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s this beside you, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jonathan Pearce asked. Jayson nodded slightly. ¡°This is Nancy Stanton. She specializes in aerospace research and justpleted her PhD abroad. She¡¯s an exceptional talent.¡± a second He praised Nancy but didn¡¯t spare nce at Ariel, nor did he intend to greet her. He acted as if they wereplete strangers. It was clear he was distancing himself from her. Jonathan was surprised. ¡°She¡¯s so young, though!¡± Nancy smiled graciously. ¡°You tter me, Mr. Pearce.¡± Jonathan seemed intrigued. ¡°Why don¡¯t we sit downter and discuss your ideas? I¡¯d love to hear more.¡® With Jayson¡¯s endorsement, no one would dare underestimate Nancy. As far as Jonathan was concerned, if Jayson admired her, she must be remarkable. In a good mood, Jonathan turned to Chad. ¡°Let¡¯s chatter.! Chad nodded politely, but once Jonathan walked off, his face tightened. What was Jayson trying to pull? How could he swoop in out of nowhere? He was just about to introduce Ariel. This was a crucial opportunity for hereback. But Jayson showed up with Nancy, making a grand entrance and stealing the spotlight! ¡°Mr. Hockney, you know how rare top talent is. My proposal fromst time still stands. You should consider it. Nancy won¡¯t disappoint you,¡± Jayson said confidently. Nancy nced at the quiet Ariel before saying, ¡°Mr. Hockney, I¡¯ll bring you the greatest benefit.¡± Chad was taken aback by how much Jayson seemed to favor Nancy. And he didn¡¯t even try to hide it from Ariel. It suddenly hit him how difficult Ariel¡¯s situation must be. But they were all professionals here, so Chad responded with the usual phrase, ¡°Of course. Ms. Stanton is so impressive. I¡¯ll give it some serious thought.¡± This industry was all about appearances. In other words, people paid lip service without ever intending to take action. Jayson must¡¯ve picked up on Chad¡¯s words. He threw a nce at Ariel, almost as if saying that she was truly something to make Chad listen to her. Ariel frowned at Jayson, but he had already turned away and led Nancy as they walked off. Soon, a group of people gathered around them. They were all warm and eager, unlike the cold indifference they had shown toward Ariel. Chad¡¯s n was disrupted. With Jayson around, Nancy was the center of attention tonight, the one everyone wanted to befriend. No matter how talented Ariel was, no one was willing to pass up the opportunity to connect with Jayson just to get to know her. -9 Inside 33 Chapter 33 Though Ariel hadn¡¯t expected this turn of events, it made perfect sense. How could Jayson miss the opportunity of using such an important banquet to further elevate Nancy¡¯s status? But¡­ ¡°Sorry, Chad. I¡¯ve wasted your efforts.¡± Ariel felt that the tensions between her, Jayson, and Nancy had made Chad¡¯s efforts futile. Introducing her to others would be beneficial for Faye Technologies, but Jayson hadn¡¯t given her the to shine. opportunity Chad frowned. ¡°It¡¯s fine. My seat¡¯s next to Mr. Pearce, so we¡¯ll have a chance to talk. There¡¯ll be plenty more opportunities to get to know the other big shots.¡± However, just as they were about to take their seats, a staff member approached Ariel. ¡°Sorry, Ms. Walker. There¡¯s been a change in the guest list. Your seat has been moved to the second row. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Ariel raised her eyes and saw that her original first¨Crow seat was now upied by Nancy. Jayson sat beside her, leisurely sipping his tea. He barely spared Ariel a nce. Jayson could give her seat to Nancy without a second thought or a hint of guilt. ?? ?? ?? ?? ?? ? ? ? ? ???? ? ? ?? Ariel met the staff member¡¯s apologetic gaze and replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Chad was still engaged with some important figures in the front, so he was unaware of the situation. Ariel didn¡¯t want to cause a scene as well. Moreover, Chad¡¯s position in the first row was secured due to his own qualifications, as well as the fact that Carlos was a highly respected member of the aerospace research institute. He had earned his spot. As for her? She was just an unknown nobody brought by Chad. Jayson had made it clear he wanted to elevate Nancy. With his status, no one would dare to defy him. Inparison, Ariel was just a small fry at Chad¡¯spany. Naturally, they would choose to offend her rather than Jayson. Ariel couldn¡¯t quite ce her feelings about the situation. She¡¯d away. spent an entire day preparing to engage with someone like Jonathan. Now that opportunity had slipped As Ariel sat down, she noticed Matt at the table with her. Matt nced up from his phone, briefly scanning Ariel¡¯s dress, which was simr to Nancy¡¯s. He let out a sardonic scoff, then turned his attention back to his phone. He found the situation quite intriguing. Ariel hadn¡¯te to disrupt Jayson and Nancy. She was there to join them. They were wearing matching outfits, and Ariel just so happened to wear something in the same color scheme. How amusing. Ariel didn¡¯t care about what Matt was thinking. She ignored himpletely. When the lights dimmed, Ariel got up to head to the restroom. The interior was ufortably cold, and she began to feel unwell. A subtle warmth spread across her forehead, and a sharp pain started to throb in her abdomen. She felt light¨Cheaded and needed to find a quiet ce to rest. As she approached the restroom door, she ran into Perry unexpectedly. Ariel, still feeling unwell, brushed presence. st him without acknowledging his But as she walked by, a sudden sharp pain in her lower abdomen made her stumble slightly. Perry was quick to react. He reached out instinctively to hold her arm. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Without hesitation, Ariel pulled her and said coldly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Law Noticing her rejection, Perry pressed his lips together and nced at her. ¡°Do you have a problem with me?¡± Was she ignoring himpletely now? Ariel looked him in the eye. ¡°Yes, I don¡¯t like any of you.!! Her response was blunt. Perry froze for a moment, taken aback by her directness. He didn¡¯t snap out of it even after Ariel had long disappeared from view. Then, a deep voice broke through his thoughts from his phone. ¡°Did you offend her?¡± It was only then that Perry¡¯s awareness returned. ¡°Maybe.¡± He suddenly remembered how unfriendly he had been toward Ariel in the past. Back then, she didn¡¯t seem to mind. But now, she seemed like apletely different person. No longer gentle and approachable, she had be cold and distant, indifferent to anyone she considered unimportant. Perry felt a strange difort that he couldn¡¯t quite shake. The voice on the phone said, ¡°Well, you deserve it.¡± After Chad finished dealing with the people greeting him, he realized Ariel¡¯s seat had been swapped for Nancy¡¯s. Nancy was alreadyfortably seated and chatting happily with Jonathan. Even if he was displeased, it wouldn¡¯t be appropriate to interrupt and show his frustration. Chad couldn¡¯t find Ariel anywhere, so he tried calling her, but she didn¡¯t answer. Worried, he was about to ask the staff members to find her when Perry returned and absentmindedly said, ¡°She went to the restroom.¡± 2/3 Only then did Chad breathe a sigh of relief. Matt, however, raised an eyebrow and leaned toward Jayson. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Mr. Hockney¡¯s concern for Ariel is a bit unusual? It doesn¡¯t seem like just a simple superior¨Csubordinate rtionship.¡± Jayson¡¯s deep gaze was emotionless, as if he didn¡¯t care at all. Perry, though, unexpectedly said, ¡°She¡¯s not that kind of person.¡± Matt shrugged. ¡°True. She¡¯s been obsessing over Jayson for years. Even if the world ended, she wouldn¡¯t leave him. Inside 34 Chapter 34 Ariel wasn¡¯t feeling great. Her condition had always been unstable, and she had pushed herself to the limit to prepare for this banquet. But everything got thrown off when Jayson showed up with Nancy. Her body started to heat up. She pulled out some medicine from her bag and swallowed two pills without a second thought. She tried to suppress the pain in her abdomen. It felt like hours had passed before she noticed the second call from Chad. ¡°Chad?¡± ¡°Where are you?¡± Chad asked. Ariel nced at her sickly reflection in the mirror. ¡°I¡¯m outside. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± ¡°We¡¯re having a discussion here. Come over.¡± ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there.¡± She touched up her makeup quickly, making sure she looked presentable before stepping out. Jonathan, as the main figure at this discussion, was naturally present. When Ariel arrived, she saw Jayson and Nancy chatting happily with Jonathan. She moved toward Chad, who spotted an opening and led her forward. Finally, Ariel had the chance to speak with Jonathan. Chad whispered something in Jonathan¡¯s ear. Jonathan¡¯s expression immediately shifted as he looked at Ariel. ¡°You¡¯re¡­¡± However, due to the need for confidentiality, he recovered quickly and couldn¡¯t help but remark, ¡°No wonder Mr. Hockney holds you in such high regard, Ms. Walker. I was blind to it.¡± Ariel smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s an honor to meet you, Mr. Pearce.¡± As Ariel and Jonathan conversed happily, Jayson and the others took notice. Nancy nced over several times, puzzled. What could Ariel possibly be talking to Jonathan about? ¡°She¡¯s acting like she knows what she¡¯s talking about.¡± Matt chuckled and nced at Nancy. ¡°She doesn¡¯t understand the policies, the technology, or the core of Faye Tech, yet she¡¯s still trying to have a conversation with Mr. Pearce?¡°! Nancy just smiled faintly, notmenting. She understood what Matt was trying to say. He was suggesting that Ariel was mimicking her. Ariel saw her talking to Jonathan, so she was trying to do the same as well. But she didn¡¯t care about Ariel. In a low voice, she said to Jayson, ¡°It¡¯s a pity Mr. Carlos didn¡¯t make it today.¡± Jayson smiled faintly. ¡°If you want to meet him, there will be a chance.¡± Understanding his hint, Nancy smiled sweetly. Meanwhile, Perry felt something was off. He watched Ariel closely and then turned to Jayson. ¡°Have you noticed something strange with Arieltely?¡± Jayson absently caressed his ss as he thought back to recent oddities. Ariel hadn¡¯t beening home much; she stopped cooking for him; she didn¡¯t call or text as often anymore. But this kind of behavior wouldn¡¯tst. there was always someone who tolerated it. Some people would act out beckleta But Ariel was different. Sham happened. was usually very sensible. Eventually, she woulde back like nothing had ¡°Does it matter?¡± he asked indifferently. Perry was taken aback and said nothing more. Meanwhile, the staff began presenting introductions to the main technology projects of eachpany. Among them was Johnstone Group¡¯s. Jonathan and Ariel had been chattin your brother, right?¡± Ariel looked up at the person. ¡°Yes.¡± quietly. Suddenly, someone asked her, ¡°Ms. Walker, Mr. Lucas Sanderson is ¡°That exins it. I heard Mr. Sanderson is dating the Johnstone family¡¯s daughter. Mr. Johnstone even entrusted Mr. Sanderson with thepany¡¯s major operations. He¡¯s being treated like a future son¨Cinw. Does this mean we¡¯ll be hearing wedding bells for Mr. Sanderson soon?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t know what to answer. Lucas wasn¡¯t the same anymore. He didn¡¯t share everything with her, and she had to hear things from others. She shook her head. ¡°I¨CI¡¯m not sure.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t know about your brother? Or are you just covering for him, Ms. Walker?¡± the person teased. Ariel, ufortable talking about Lucas, quickly brushed it off. She instinctively rubbed her aching abdomen and leaned in to Chad. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom.¡± Noticing her pale face, Chad asked in concern, ¡°Are you okay?¡± Ariel forced back her difort and replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± She pulled her chair back and started to leave. The ringing in her ears was deafening. Her fever made it hard for her to focus, and her legs felt heavy with each step she took. As she passed by a table, her legs gave way. She stumbled, knocking over a teapot. A pair of strong arms caught her just in time. Following that, a chorus of shocked gasps followed. Inside 35 Chapter 35 Ariel caught a familiar fragrance. Shocked, she weakly lifted her head, and her gaze locked with Jayson¡¯s eyes. He stared at her with an expressionless face. That look made Ariel feel utterly embarrassed, as if she had done this on purpose. ¡°Sorry.¡± She gritted her teeth to get up. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, and the wave of pain made her body feel weak and unsteady. ¡°Do you need me to carry you?¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was neither cold nor warm, almost detached, as if he were talking to a stranger. Ariel noticed the shift in the way people around her were looking at her. It was as if they thought she was deliberately putting on a show and chose the most powerful man in the room. ¡°Ms. Walker, Jayson¡¯s girlfriend is right there. Are you really so helpless?¡± Matt scoffed loudly. Nancy watched Ariel calmly, as if she were just observing a spectacle. Perry, however, frowned. He felt that something wasn¡¯t quite right with Ariel. Just as he was about to speak, Matt suddenly eximed, ¡°Nancy, did you get burned?¡± The moment he spoke, Ariel felt a sharp push against her lower back. She managed to grab onto a table for support, preventing herself from falling. Jayson had already turned to look at Nancy. Frowning, he asked, ¡°Did you burn yourself?¡± Nancy raised her arm, revealing a red spot on her skin. She nced at Ariel and said, ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I¡¯m not that weak.¡± Ariel noticed the concern on Jayson¡¯s face, but it wasn¡¯t directed at her. It was for Nancy. She calmly withdrew her gaze. Gritting her teeth, she tried to hold herself up. ¡°Are you really not feeling well?¡± Perry asked, now standing in front of her with aplex expression. ¡°Do you need me to¡­¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t make out his words anymore. Her vision went ck, and her body copsed downward. ¡°Ariel!¡± Several voices echoed in her ears, but she couldn¡¯t tell who they were before slipping into unconsciousness. Chad quickly swept her up in his arms and stormed out of the room. The whole scene became chaotic. Perry pulled back the hand he had almost extended to help. Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on the entrance for a long moment. His sharp eyes grew darker. Noticing his distraction, Nancy grew suspicious for a brief moment. But soon, she understood why he was acting this way. Ariel had thrown herself at Jayson in front of everyone. She was clearly trying to publicly im their marital bond. No doubt Jayson was surprised by her audacity. ¡°What¡¯s her game?¡± Matt frowned. ¡°Nancy¡¯s right here, and she¡¯s just throwing herself at Jayson?¡± Matt continued with disdain, ¡°I bet she faked fainting. She just couldn¡¯t handle the embarrassment after Jayson ignored her. Look at how Chad¡¯s panicking now. She¡¯s got some serious tricks up her sleeve.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t respond. She couldn¡¯t deny Matt¡¯s words had some truth. Ariel had tried to kill two birds with one stone. Jayson didn¡¯t respond to her, but Chad definitely took the bait. Perry, however, thought for a moment before saying, ¡°She didn¡¯t fake it.¡± 50416 Both Matt and Nancy turned to him. Even Jayson nced at him. As Perry met Jayson¡¯s questioning gaze, his thoughts drifted back to the moment earlier when Ariel had told him, ¡°I don¡¯t like any of you. A strange irritation rose within him. ¡°I ran into her outside about half an hour ago. Her face was already pale. She must be sick,¡± Perry exined. Nancy frowned. Matt awkwardly cleared his throat, then added, ¡°But why would she fall right into Jayson¡¯s arms out of all the people? Perry, what¡¯s going on with you? Why are you speaking up for Ariel?¡± Perry looked at Jayson. ¡°I¡¯m just stating the facts.¡± Aside from a subtle reaction at the beginning, Jayson showed no further emotion. There wasn¡¯t the slightest sign of concern for Ariel. He simply focused on Nancy. ¡°Does the burn still hurt?¡± Nancy could feel how much he cared about her. Smiling, she replied, ¡°Not really.¡± Perry frowned, and a strange feeling rose within him. Chad rushed Ariel to the emergency room. Her temperature had spiked to 102.56 degrees Fahrenheit. When she finally woke up, Chad was sitting beside her, working on hisptop. ¡°You¡¯re awake?¡± Chad set aside his work. ¡°I had them run a blood test. The doctor said there are several abnormalities. What¡¯s going on with your body?¡± Ariel tensed for a moment. But seeing that he didn¡¯t look rmed, she figured the test hadn¡¯t shown anything serious. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Just caught a cold.¡± Looking at her pale face, Chad felt a mix of sympathy and anger. ¡°You really gave up three years of your life for someone like that?¡± Inside 36 Chapter 36 Marrying Jayson had been the only choice Ariel had after a series of events. She couldn¡¯t argue with Chad¡¯s words. Chad stood up. ¡°I¡¯ll go get you some water. Wait here.¡± Ariel nced at the IV drip; it was almost empty. She considered calling the nurse to remove the needle. The emergency room was busy, and she couldn¡¯t find any free nurses. After taking a few steps, she leaned against the wall to rest. Nearby, she overheard a conversation. ¡°Guess who I just saw? Mr. Larkin from Bluum Corp! He rushed into the hospital just now!¡± el though Ariel thought she might have misheard. Jayson was here? Was he here to visit her? It seemed unlikely. He never paid any attention to her. Then the two women continued, ¡°He came with a super beautiful woman. He looked so worried about her.¡± Of course. Ariel wasn¡¯t disappointed, as she hadn¡¯t expected anything from Jayson. They were already strangers anyway. ¡°By the way, it looks like they were here for a prenatal checkup,¡± one woman whispered. Even though Ariel knew Jayson was here for Nancy, hearing the words ¡°prenatal checkup¡± made her instinctively touch the area of her womb, which would soon lose its ability to bear children. Her legs felt heavy, like they were made of lead. The pain in her chest made her realize that some things weren¡¯t easy to let go of, no matter how hard she tried. ¡°Why are you running around when you¡¯re sick?¡± A man¡¯s voice came from behind her. Ariel turned and was surprised to see Lucas. With one hand in his pocket, he looked at her. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but wonder how much of the gossip from the women nearby he had overheard. Ariel cleared her dry throat. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± ?? ???? ? ??? ??? Lucas replied, ¡°Someone called me and said you fainted. They needed your ID and medical card.¡± It was only then that Ariel remembered that she had used this phone number for years. Many years ago, Lucas had set himself as her emergency contact on it. He had said that he would show up right away whenever she needed him. But now¡­ ¡°Sorry,¡± Ariel said. ¡°My friend didn¡¯t know.¡± Lucas stared at her for a while, then stepped forward and took her wrist. He expertly removed the IV needle and pressed down on the spot. ¡°You fainted from a cold? Ari, you¡¯re still the same. Always ying these tricks to get my attention.¡± Back in the day, there had been many suitors around him, and Ariel would often get jealous. She¡¯d fake being sick to get him toe to her. Ariel looked down at his hand holding hers. She calmly pulled her arm back and distanced herself from him. ¡°You didn¡¯t have toe.¡± Lucas looked at her, thinking she was just throwing a tantrum. ¡°Just text me next time. Don¡¯t call directly,¡± he said, leaning against the wall. ¡°Otherwise, Wendy might get jealous.¡± ¡°Okay, I won¡¯t do it again.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t argue. Exining herself seemed pointless. Actions spoke louder. Lucas studied her. Her reaction was too calm. In the past, she wouldn¡¯t have tolerated him favoring another woman. He wasn¡¯t sure if Ariel was ying it cool or if she had something else in mind. After a moment of thought, he realized that when a woman was upset, she¡¯d need some gesture or gift. Lucas stepped closer and ruffled Ariel¡¯s hair. Then, he bent down to look at her. ¡°Is this enough?¡± When Ariel met his carefree gaze, she wanted to push his hand away. But when she looked up, she saw Jayson and Nancy standing together not far away. Jayson¡¯s gaze was cool as he watched her and Lucas interact, as if he were an uninterested observer. Inside 37 Jayson¡¯s gaze was so indifferent. He could clearly see how sickly she looked, but there was no concern in his eyes. They had been married for three years and lived under the same roof every day. Even a pet that had been raised for three years would feel sympathy for its owner. But with him, the only time he seemed to care was when it came to Nancy. Ariel¡¯s well¨Cbeing meant nothing to him. Ariel nced at Nancy¡¯s abdomen before pulling away from Lucas, who had been ruffling her hair. Lucas noticed Jayson and Nancy as well. He gave Ariel a look before greeting Jayson, ¡°Mr. Larkin, are you feeling unwell?¡± Jayson shook his head. ¡°I brought Nancy here for a checkup.¡± Lucas recalled the gossip he¡¯d overheard earlier and smirked. ¡°Any exciting news? I heard it¡¯s a prenatal checkup.¡± Nancy raised an eyebrow. She exchanged a nce with Jayson and gave him a smile. Jayson¡¯s gaze sharpened slightly. ¡°Be careful with your words, Mr. Sanderson. Rumors like these wouldn¡¯t be good for Nancy.¡± Ariel quietly stared at her swollen hand from the IV drip. Jayson had been raised with an elite education. He always maintained an air of grace and civility, even if his personality was cold. His attention to Nancy, however, was meticulous. He wouldn¡¯t allow even the slightest mistake. ¡°Looks like there was a misunderstanding,¡± Lucas said. ¡°Yes. Nancy burned her hand. I brought her here so the doctor could treat it,¡± Jayson exined slowly. Upon hearing that, Ariel looked at Nancy¡¯s hand. It was fair and delicate, and the burn was almost invisible. It didn¡¯t even qualify as an injury. Yet Jayson had gone out of his way to bring her to the hospital. ? ? ? ? ?? ?? Meanwhile, when Ariel had fainted right in front of him, he hadn¡¯t even flinched. It seemed that in the eyes of someone who didn¡¯t love her, even if she hung herself, he¡¯d just think she was ying on a swing. Nancy nodded gracefully to Lucas. ¡°I¡¯ll go see the doctor first. You all talk.¡± She didn¡¯t talk to Ariel at all. Despite her calm and gentle demeanor from start to finish, there was a hidden disdain beneath it. Ariel didn¡¯t want to endure any more awkward exchanges with Jayson or Lucas, so she stood up and said, ¡°You two go ahead.¡± As she turned to leave, Jayson finally looked at her. It seemed like she had lost quite a bit of weight. The suit jacket from Chad hung loosely on her frame, making her look even more fragile and slender. Her behavior had shifted noticeably too. She didn¡¯t try to strike up conversations with him or speak to him in the soft, affectionate tone she once had. Lately, she had grown distant. He found himself staring at her for a moment. Tilting his head, Lucas looked at him. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you¡¯ve been so focused on Ms. Stantontely. Ariel¡¯s over here running a fever, and I¡¯m the one who has to take care of her. Have you been pushing her too hard?¡± Jayson answered coldly, ¡°Ariel is no longer an employee of Bluum Corp. Haven¡¯t you heard?¡± Lucas hadn¡¯t known. He was stunned for a moment. In the past, whenever Ariel had any issues, big or small, she would always tell him everything. Lucas thought that she just didn¡¯t have time to mention it. Meanwhile, Ariel was back at her temporary bed looking for her phone. Chad returned with a bottle of water. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home after the IV is done.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t want to stay in the hospital either. After all, she might be spending more time there in the future. ¡°Okay. Thanks, Chad.¡± Chad looked at her and scoffed. ¡°I¡¯m way more reliable than your husband, aren¡¯t I? ¡°Back then, my dad was all for us getting together. He was practically begging me to marry you and be your live- in husband. But you just had such bad taste. You actually turned down such a prime catch like me.¡± Arielughed. Carlos had ced high expectations on her. He always said, ¡°Chad¡¯s not good enough for you. He much ability, but he¡¯s responsible and won¡¯t let you down.¡± may not have Even Chad, a top¨Ctier genius, was belittled by his own father as if he were worthless. It just showed how much Carlos had valued Ariel back then. However, Ariel and Chad had never been romantically inclined. They¡¯d spent long nights working on papers, testing data, and debating over technical problems. When they were younger, they admired each other but also engaged in a fair amount of one¨Cupmanship. Their bond was strong, but that didn¡¯t mean it had to be romantic. As they headed downstairs, Ariel saw a Cullinan pulling out of the parking lot and leaving the hospital. It was Jayson¡¯s car. Soon after, Ariel received a message from Jayson¡¯s work number. ¡°Do you need me to stay with you?¡± She nced at the car that was already leaving and gave a silent, bitter smile. He clearly wasn¡¯t concerned about her. This was just a perfunctory question. But looking at the message from his work number reminded her of how she had blocked his personal one. She hadpletely forgotten the existence of his work number. She blocked it without a second thought. M Inside 38 Chapter 38 Ariel took the next day off, and she immediately went to bed to rest and recover. She knew how fragile her body was and wouldn¡¯t push herself unnecessarily. That night, at 10:00 pm, Jayson returned to the house he shared with Ariel. When he opened the shoe cab to grab a pair of slippers, he paused. His eyes scanned the rows, and he noticed something different. Ariel had a calm and indifferent personality, but she was particr about life. She loved everything vibrant and was full of life. Even the most ordinary slippers she bought were always in bright colors. Her yellow, green, and blue slippers would be ced beside his ck, grey, and white ones. It was hard to miss those pops of color. Now, the vibrant colors were gone from the shoe cab. It became dull. Georgia approached to take his suit jacket. ¡°Wee back, sir.¡± Jayson closed the cab door and asked, ¡°Where are her slippers?¡± Georgia nced at the cab and replied, ¡°Mrs. Larkin came by and told me to throw them out. She must have wanted to buy new ones.¡± Jayson considered it possible. As expected, Ariel hadn¡¯t returned. Jayson loosened his tie while pulling out his phone to take a look. The message he¡¯d sent to Ariel two hours ago still hadn¡¯t been replied to. He wondered if she was still feeling unwell or if she had just been too busy to reply. But it didn¡¯t matter. He had already given her an out, hadn¡¯t he? Ariel rested for the entire day and then returned to work. Faye Technologies recentlypleted a project and secured new contracts, one of which was with Nexura Solutions, a technology manufacturingpany under Bluum Corp. They needed to conduct a material selection and evaluation. Chad had to go on ast¨Cminute business trip, so he entrusted the task to Ariel and Janice. ¡°Will you be okay?¡± Chad was worried that Ariel might feel awkward. Ariel gave a calm smile. ¡°Business is business. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Plus, it was just a subsidiary of Bluum Corp. She might not necessarily run into Jayson. Chad admired Ariel¡¯s mental toughness. She didn¡¯t mix her personal feelings with her work, which made her practical and rational. When Ariel and Janice arrived at Nexura Solutions, they were greeted by Tom Chapman, the person in charge there. Tom knew Janice was a major shareholder of Faye Technologies. His attitude was notably more respectful. ¡°Ms. Swanson, Ms. Walker, this way, please.¡± Janice was excellent atworking but wasn¡¯t particrly knowledgeable about contracts and technical materials, so she had Ariel take the lead. After all, Ariel was a technical shareholder at Faye Technologies. Her authority was equal to Chad¡¯s and Janice¡¯s. Tom watched Ariel closely and found himself puzzled. He couldn¡¯t quite understand why Faye Technologies had sent such a young and attractive woman to handle the technical discussions. Ariel noticed his scrutiny but didn¡¯t take offense. She¡¯d been married to Jayson for three years and had kept their rtionship private. Jayson had never brought her to Nexura Solutions either. He had always been strict about keeping work and personal life separate. Plus, he had never introduced her as his wife, so it was only natural that Tom didn¡¯t recognize her. Ariel didn¡¯t exin. Instead, she examined the samples provided by Nexura Solutions. Calm by nature, she remained focused as she asked several technical questions that directly addressed the key issues. Tom began to see that Ariel wasn¡¯t just a pretty face. She was professional. He couldn¡¯t help but think that Janice¡¯s subordinate was quite impressive. No wonder Janice had brought her to handle everything. Tom, shedding his previous bias, began to engage with Ariel seriously. Janice, watching Ariel speak with such passion and expertise, felt both proud and moved. This was the Ariel she had always known¨Cstrong, resilient, confident, andposed. She couldn¡¯t help but take a photo of Ariel and Tom talking and post it to her social media. As Tom was preparing to take Ariel to the sample room, the door to the conference room opened. Ariel looked up and saw Nancy walking in. Nancy nced at Ariel briefly before ng her attention to Janice and walking over to greet her. ¡°Nice to meet you, Ms. Swanson,¡± she said gracefully. She knew Janice, who, despite ho young ago RT was already one of the major shareholders of Faye Technologies. Janice responded with a tight smile, pretending not to recognize her. ¡°You are¡­?¡± Tom immediately stood and introduced Nancy. ¡°This is Ms. Nancy Stanton. She¡¯s Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend.¡® Inside 39 Chapter 39 When Ariel heard the words ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend¡°, she paused for a moment. So he was capable of acknowledging a rtionship at work. He could make his love known, let Nancy move freely within thepany, and give her the security of being seen as someone official. Tu In Jayson¡¯s eyes, it seemed Nancy was the only one worthy of that. R Janice gave a smile that didn¡¯t reach her eyes. ¡°Girlfriend? Oh, so you¡¯re not an actual employee here?¡± Nancy smiled graciously. ¡°Jayson granted me permission to study on¨Csite at Nexura Solutions. I¡¯m not officially employed, but I help evaluate certain projects.¡°¡® So she had a say in today¡¯s material inspection too? Ariel frowned slightly. Jayson had granted Nancy so many exceptions. She wasn¡¯t an employee, yet she could freely ess the confidential sample room, view manufacturing processes and 3D modeling blueprints, and even participate in key production projects. Tom quickly exined, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Swanson, Ms. Stanton is more than capable. Mr. Larkin said she could be made aware of the details here. If anything goes wrong, he¡¯ll take full responsibility.¡± Janice almostughed in disbelief. She was furious on Ariel¡¯s behalf. They hadn¡¯t even officially divorced yet, and Jayson was already grooming and legitimizing the mistress. Ariel stayed silent. She was thinking. She used to believe Jayson was simply cold by nature and strict about rules and boundaries. That was why he never allowed her to cross the line. He wouldn¡¯t let her visit his office, greet him at work, disclose anything about their rtionship, or have any part in Bluum Corp projects. Now she understood. It wasn¡¯t about rules and boundaries. It was because she wasn¡¯t worth making exceptions for. Even if she had dered herself Mrs. Larkin, she still wouldn¡¯t matter as much as Nancy, the one Jayson favored. ¡°If we¡¯re going to talk about parts in detail, you may need to wait a bit, Ms. Swanson. I need to check on the progress in the sample room first. Mr. Chapman will show you around in the meantime.¡± Nancy nodded politely and looked at Tom. Tom immediately jumped in with a smile. ¡°How about I show you both the 3D model blueprints first?¡± Ariel could tell Tom took orders from Nancy. He was supposed to be the highest¨Cranking person here. Yet Nancy had more authority than he did. Why? Because Jayson gave her that power. Even in front of Ariel, Nancy showed no fear. That was what it looked like when someone had the confidence of being loved. Janice had finally had enough. She was about to puke. Nancy dared to act so high and mighty even in front of the realdy of Bluum Corp. Wasn¡¯t that way too arrogant? ¡°I¡¯m a shareholder at Faye Tech. Ms. Stanton, since you aren¡¯t officially employed here, you don¡¯t have the authority to keep us waiting. I expect someone of equal standing to speak with me. What¡¯s your title exactly, Ms. Stanton? Are you qualified to meet with me?¡± Janice said sharply with a fake smile. Jayson might have granted Nancy privileges, but she was still not part of the management team. Nancy¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change as she looked at Janice. She was surprised, though. She thought Janice, as one of Faye Technologies¡® major shareholders, would at least keep things professional. And yet, she was also swayed in her judgment and actions by just a few words from Ariel. The way Faye Technologies! management handled things wasn¡¯t promising. Moreover, it looked like Ariel had been poisoning people¡¯s minds against her. Otherwise, why would Chad and Janice both have such strong biases? Nancy looked at Ariel and finally said, ¡°Ms. Swanson, I hope we can keep things professional. If you¡¯re ufortable, I can have Mr. Chapman discuss the matter with you directly. After all, the focus is on coboration, isn¡¯t it? Janice scoffed. Was that supposed to be her showing grace? Caught in the middle, Tom looked nervous. The tension in the room was thick. While he didn¡¯t fully understand what had happened, Nancy was, after all, Jayson¡¯s girlfriend. He had to show her some respect. Ariel gently stopped Janice from firing back. She hadn¡¯t forgotten the purpose of today¡¯s visit. ¡°Mr. Chapman, could we go over the next steps, please?¡± Tom let out a quiet breath of relief and gave Ariel a grateful look. Fortunately, she had diffused the situation. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have known which side to take. Nancy didn¡¯t seem bothered by Janice¡¯s attitude. With poise, she simply said, ¡°I¡¯ll let you get back to it.¡± With that, she turned to leave. Janice sneered. ¡°She really thinks she¡¯s something!¡± Ariel turned to Tom. ¡°Let¡¯s go check out the sample room.¡± Tom now found Ariel far moreposed and insightful than Janice. He couldn¡¯t help but exin, ¡°You might think Ms. Stanton doesn¡¯t hold much authority, but that¡¯s not the case. Mr. Larkin values her deeply. ¡°The two of them are really close. I¡¯d say it¡¯s only a matter of time before they get married. So we¡¯re really not disrespecting you. Having Ms. Stanton speak with you is the same as having the future Mrs. Larkin herself handle the meeting.¡± 14 Inside 40 Chapter 40 Future Mrs. Larkin? So the wholepany had already acknowledged Nancy¡¯s status. Back when Ariel was devoted to Jayson, he¨Cand everyone around him¨Cassumed she was trying to create a misunderstanding about their rtionship. Because of this, he never spoke to her at work. But with Nancy, he made it official. Both personally and publicly. Ariel didn¡¯t respond to Tom¡¯s words, but Janice couldn¡¯t take it anymore. She said, ¡°But I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Larkin is already married.¡± Tom froze. It took him a long pause before he replied, ¡°That¡¯s just a rumor. There was talk that Ms. Stanton was a mistress. Bluum Corp¡¯s PR department didn¡¯t handle it well, so Mr. Larkin cleared things up himself. He stated publicly that Ms. Stanton waspletely innocent. How could he be married?¡± He would be denying the existence of his wife in doing so. What kind of man wouldpletely disregard his wife like that? So it must¡¯ve been just a rumor. Ariel lowered her gaze. 7 So it had been Jayson who cleared things up. He hadn¡¯t wanted Nancy to suffer even a little. But she, his actual wife, should endure it all. Because to him, she had no right or courage to cause a scene. Janice was fuming. ¡°If Mr. Larkin cares about Ms. Stanton so much, why aren¡¯t they married yet? Is it because he can¡¯t?¡± Tom smiled and began to open up. ¡°As you can see, Ms. Stanton¡¯s a career woman, not someone who wants to be tied down as a housewife. From what I¡¯ve heard, it¡¯s because she¡¯s not ready yet.¡± That made sense to Ariel. Jayson cared so much about Nancy. If she wanted marriage, he would¡¯ve had the divorce done and dusted ages ago. Ariel didn¡¯t have to bring up divorce herself. Janice looked over at Ariel, her eyes filled with concern. She truly sympathized with Ariel. Ariel gently squeezed her hand and shook her head. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter anymore.¡± The papers were signed. Onest step, and she and Jayson would beplete strangers. Janice, as much as she wanted to publicly call Nancy out for being a mistress, had to swallow the urge for Ariel¡¯s sake. She scratched her head in frustration. She really wasn¡¯t in the mood to continue the inspection. ¡°I¡¯ll go get the car. Once you¡¯re done, meet me at the front entrance, then we¡¯ll go home.¡± She was afraid she might have a heart attack if she stayed. Ariel nodded and replied calmly, ¡°Okay.¡± After the materials were finalized, Tom suggested Ariel stay behind and review the details with Nancy. She declined, saying she had work back at the office, and left. As she waited for the elevator doors to open and was about to step inside, she unexpectedly saw Jayson standing inside. He stood tall and straight. His deep gaze flicked toward her before he coldly averted his eyes. To anyone looking, there was no sign they had ever been married. He truly had made distancing himself a part of his very nature. Still, Ariel didn¡¯t flinch. She stepped in and stood quietly behind him. She hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to show up at Nexura Solutions. But then again, Nancy was there. Of course he¡¯de for her. Jayson seemed to have no desire to interact with Ariel. He was busy texting on his phone. Standing behind him, Ariel nced at the elevator screen to check what floor they were on. By chance, she caught sight of the message on his phone. It was from someone saved under the name ¡°babe¡°. ¡°Just a little headache. You don¡¯t have toe. I¡¯m probably just tired from staying up all night with you.¡± Ariel quickly looked away. Of course she knew exactly who this ¡°babe¡± was. And what else could keep them up all night? Their rtionship seemed a lot more intimate than she¡¯d imagined. Suddenly, Jayson put his phone away and asked, ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± It was directed at Ariel. Ariel was surprised. Jayson turned slightly to face her. His eyes were calm, with no hint of emotion, like it was nothing more than an offhand question. ? ? ?? ? ? ?? So he did remember when she fainted from the fever. But he had only asked because Nancy had mentioned her headache. It triggered a faint memory of her copse. He was concerned about Nancy, and Ariel was just a passing thought. He never really cared about her. Only Nancy mattered. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± Ariel replied coolly. ¡°Good,¡± Jayson said differently. But this time, he held her gaze a little longer than expected. Ariel didn¡¯t take the opportunity to make a point, and that seemed to catch him off guard. Jayson¡¯s eyes lingered on her, steady and direct. Ariel frowned. ¡°Is there something else, Mr. Larkin?¡± ¡°Not calling me ¡®honey¡® anymore?¡± Inside 41 Jayson¡¯s gaze was sharp, and his tone was casual, but there was something about it that made Ariel feel uneasy. Her cheeks flushed. It wasn¡¯t because of anything else. It was because, back then, to make Jayson get used to and value her as his wife, she had swallowed her embarrassment and called him ¡°honey¡°. She had always started her sentences with it. Even during intimate moments, she would soften her voice and call him ¡°honey¡°, though he rarely ever responded. Now, hearing it pointed out so bluntly, she couldn¡¯t help but feel embarrassed. Seeing Ariel¡¯s change in expression, Jayson suddenly felt that she was still the same Ariel just as he had expected. No matter how calm she appeared, there were always subtle signs that gave away her stubborn need to hold it together. He smirked lightly, then turned around. It was clear he wasn¡¯t interested in talking anymore. But Ariel felt ufortable with his attitude. Just when she was about to snap back, reminding him that they were getting divorced soon, the elevator doors opened. 1 121 Without a nce back, Jayson stepped out of the elevator. Ariel didn¡¯t even get a chance to speak. Once she got in the car, Janice ranted, ¡°If that contract hadn¡¯t been locked inst month, I swear I¡¯d tear that bitch¡¯s veil off! She¡¯s acting like being a mistress is some kind of honor!¡± Jayson owned multiplepanies across various industries, and his manufacturing business was top¨Ctier. Faye Technologies had previously worked with Nexura Solutions on drone production, and both sides had been satisfied with the results. But the circumstances had taken an unexpected turn; Nexura Solutions had be Nancy¡¯s personal yground. Ariel rubbed her temples and calmly reassured Janice, ¡°I¡¯m fine. We¡¯ll be seeing each other around in the business world. Faye Tech isn¡¯t as big as Bluum Corp. Making enemies with them would be bad for us.¡± If Nancy really got caught in a bad spot, Jayson wouldn¡¯t hesitate to cause trouble for Faye Technologies. After all, he was fiercely protective of Nancy. And with her health deteriorating, Ariel didn¡¯t want Faye Technologies to suffer because of her. Janice felt a mix of anger and sympathy. ¡°What idiots! When your confidentiality agreement expires, let¡¯s see if that bitch is still smiling! She really thinks she¡¯s something special? Doesn¡¯t she know there¡¯s always someone better? Jayson¡¯s just a pure idiot!¡± As she spoke, she handed Ariel her phone. ¡°Look. I posted your photo on my social media, and thements are blowing up. Everyone¡¯s asking if you¡¯re single and wants me to give them your contact info. ¡°Take a look. See if there¡¯s anyone you like. It¡¯s time to bloom in both career and romance! Let Jayson regret it!¡± Ariel was undeniably beautiful, but her cold, low¨Ckey nature often made her blend into the background. However, once someone took a closer look, they couldn¡¯t help but be drawn to her. Ariel gave a faint smile. ¡°He won¡¯t care. I¡¯m not interested either. Getting the project off the ground as soon as possible is my goal now.¡± Her condition was still a mystery. Whether she would ever fully recover was uncertain. She only wanted to pour her energy into things that mattered. In the afternoon, Ariel baked some little treats and headed to the nursing home. Leonard¡¯s fees were due again. He was in good spirits that day. When he saw Ariel, he smiled warmly. ¡°It¡¯s so cold out. Why did youe here?¡± Ariel reached out to take Leonard¡¯s hand. ¡°I missed you. I didn¡¯t want you to be alone here.¡± ¡°Oh, you¡¯ve underestimated me. I¡¯m pretty popr around here. A lot of parents bring their kids to me for tutoring. I¡¯m always busy. No need to worry about me. Ariel couldn¡¯t help butugh. ¡°Of course, Professor Walker. You¡¯re the best. Guess you don¡¯t need me, then.¡± Leonard pressed a peeled orange into her hand. ¡°Just take care of yourself. By the way, Jayson hasn¡¯te by in a while, has he?¡± Ariel¡¯s smile faded. It was true. Ever since Nancy came into the picture, Jayson¡¯s focus had been entirely on her. He had no time for her or her family. Leonard noticed the change. Before, Ariel used to talk to him about Jayson, about the Larkins, and about how she dreamed of living a better life. She was always optimistic. But now, that was all gone. Without missing a beat, he changed the subject. ¡°You¡¯ve brought so many cookies again. Just leave two boxes here. Take the other two back. Doesn¡¯t your sister¨Cinw love these?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond. After spending more than an hour with Leonard, Ariel grabbed two boxes of cookies and walked out of the nursing home through the park. Her mind wandered. By the time she snapped out of it, a drone was suddenly hovering right in front of her. Its propellers whirred loudly as it swayed side to side and lunged toward her. Inside 42 Chapter 42 Ariel was startled. She quickly stepped aside. Behind her, a young woman¡¯s panicked voice rang out, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, miss! My drone¡¯s acting up. It¡¯s not responding properly. Are you okay?¡± Ariel turned around and saw a teenager in a hospital gown. She had a pretty face and looked genuinely apologetic. Ariel nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± The young woman let out a breath of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I don¡¯t know what happened. It just started going wild.¡± Ariel nced at the drone hovering nearby, then held out the cookie boxes she was carrying. ¡°Mind if I take a look at it?¡± The young woman¡¯s eyes lit
  1. up. ¡°Not at all!¡±
She took the boxes from Ariel and peeked inside. Her eyes practically sparkled when she saw the cookies. Ariel grabbed the drone and gave it a quick inspection. ¡°It¡¯s likely a malfunction in the flight system, which is why it couldn¡¯t follow the preset route. We¡¯ll need to check if it¡¯s an issue with the gyroscope or a sensor calibration error.¡± The woman stared at her in awe. ¡°You¡¯re amazing, miss!¡± Ariel adjusted a few settings, then handed it back. ¡°Should be much better now. Try it.¡± The woman gave it a quick test flight, and it flew like a dream. ¡°Freya!¡± A man¡¯s voice called urgently from behind. Ariel turned and saw Perry rushing over. He looked worried. Freya Houston instinctively hid behind Ariel. Perry came to a stop and blinked in surprise when he saw her. ¡°Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel looked at him. ¡°You¡¯re her¡­? ???.. ¡°Brother,¡± he said. He looked at Freya and sighed in relief. ¡°She¡¯s my sister. She¡¯s sick but still snuck out. I¡¯ve been looking all over for her. Thank you.¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± She didn¡¯t seem interested in chatting further. Her tone was polite but distant, with just enough civility. Perry pressed his lips together, unsure what to say. ¡°Ms. Walker, are you and Perry friends?¡± Freya asked, eyes wide with curiosity. She could tell they knew each other. The word ¡°friends¡± made Ariel frown instinctively. Thatbel didn¡¯t fit at all. If anything, their rtionship was more about mutual disdain. Perry could tell what Ariel was thinking. After a pause, he said, ¡°We¡¯ve known each other a long time.¡± Freya gave Perry a nce. For some reason, he seemed awkward around Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker, can I have your number?¡± Freya really liked Ariel. She valued her first impressions a lot, and Ariel was impressive. She understood such a sophisticated drone so well. Ariel hesitated. Perry noticed and quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s fine. If you don¡¯t want-¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind. Give me your phone.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t bring herself to turn down a genuine request from a sweet young woman. Freya beamed. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Walker! And thank you for fixing my drone. Can I treat you to a meal sometime?¡± Ariel gave her a small smile. ¡°It was nothing.¡± She nced at the cookies in Freya¡¯s arms. ¡°I made those myself. If you like them, you can have them.¡± Freya¡¯s gaze toward Ariel grew even more fond. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Walker!¡± Ariel nodded politely at Perry and turned to leave. Perry, for some reason even he didn¡¯t understand, blurted out, ¡°Do you want me to give you a ride?¡± Ariel paused for a second, then looked at him oddly. ¡°No, thank you.¡± As she walked away, Perry couldn¡¯t take his eyes off her. He used to think Ariel was always trying to win Jayson over, so she was endlessly sweet and agreeable. No matter how cold they were to her, she never got angry. But now, it was different. Despite her usual calm demeanor, she seemed particrly distant. She seemed to genuinely hate him. ¡°Perry?¡± Freya nudged him with a suspicious look. ¡°Why are you staring at her like that?¡± Perry snapped out of it and said, ¡°Give me her number.¡± When Ariel got home, she received a text from an unknown number. ¡°Hi, it¡¯s Perry.¡® Back then, both Matt and Perry had looked down on her. They wouldn¡¯t have bothered getting her number. What was going on? Did Perry need something? Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it. She simply replied, ¡°Oh¡±, and then went to take a shower. Inside 43 Chapter 43 When Ariel replied, Perry was a little surprised. Honestly, he wasn¡¯t even sure why he¡¯d get her number in the first ce. And now that she had replied, he had no idea how to continue the conversation. Anything he typed felt weird. So, in the end, he said nothing. Nevertheless, his next action was to open her Instagram profile. There weren¡¯t many posts. It seemed like she had made everything public. The most recent one was from two weeks ago. It was a photo of a hospital building. The caption read, ¡°Here alone, as expected. Hoping for good news.¡± Somehow, he could picture Ariel¡¯s calm expression as she wrote it. Clearly, she¡¯d gone to the hospital by herself. Perry scrolled further down. Most of her posts were glimpses of her life. He could tell that Ariel had a real passion for life. She often shared photos of the desserts she¡¯d made, meals she¡¯d cooked, and flowers she¡¯d bought, as well as how tidy everything was in her home. There was a warmth and sense of care in everything. As Perry kept scrolling, he couldn¡¯t help but think Jayson really should¡¯ve been happy. Near the bottom, Perry came across a mirror selfie Ariel had taken. He hesitated but didn¡¯t tap to erge it. ¡°Perry? What are you looking at?¡± Matt noticed that Perry had been zoning out the whole time during dinner. He barely said a word and kept staring at his phone. Jayson nced over and asked calmly, ¡°Something on your mind?¡± He¡¯d picked up on it too. Perry hadn¡¯t really been present all evening. Perry met his eyes and, for some reason, felt annoyed. ¡°No.¡± Nancy walked over just then. Her eyes flicked to Perry¡¯s screen. ¡°You seem distracted. Are you feeling okay?¡± Perry locked the screen. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Smiling, Nancy replied, ¡°Okay.¡± But she was pretty sure she¡¯d seen a woman¡¯s photo on his screen. A woman? The thought echoed in her mind, and her gaze flickered back to Perry. Jayson spent the night at Larkin Manor. He had some documents he needed from the study there. The next morning, just as he was about to head out, Renee happened to be leaving for school. Wearing her school uniform, she slipped right into Jayson¡¯s car. Jayson gave her a look. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Renee repliedzily. ¡°Going to school, of course. Jay, are you picking up my dear sister¨Cinw? I miss her. I figured I¡¯d tag along and say hi before ss.¡± Jayson knew that by ¡°sister¨Cinw¡°, she meant Nancy. She never called Ariel that. As Renee texted Nancy to say they¡¯d be downstairs soon, she suddenly asked, ¡°Is Ariel totally losing ittely?¡± Jayson turned to look at her. ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Renee raised her brows in thought. Ariel cared so much about Jayson and had practically begged Renee to acknowledge her as her sister¨Cinw. But Renee had refused and acknowledged Nancy instead. Ariel must be furious, she figured. Even if she didn¡¯t show it, Renee could tell. ? ? ?? ? ? ?? ? But why didn¡¯t Ariel ever consider that she was never a match for Nancy to begin with? Nancy was amazing in aerospace engineering. Renee wanted to study it in the future too. Nancy would definitely help her out. But Ariel was actually pretty good at running a household. At the very least, she could cook, and her desserts were always on point. She wasn¡¯t totally useless. However, Ariel had purposely stopped sending her desserts. She kind of wanted some, but no way was she going to act all friendly just to get them. Ariel would only get cocky about it. ¡°Nothing. I just feel like it¡¯s nice having a little peace and quiettely.¡± Renee didn¡¯t say more and turned her attention to a drone forum. She really admired the developer behind U.N2. If she ever got the chance, she was going to meet that person one day. ?? ¡°? ?? ???? ?? Jayson nced at the stock market on his tablet, looking thoroughly uninterested in topics that had to do with Ariel. After meeting with Nancy, he dropped Renee off at school. Since she went to an international school, she didn¡¯t have those painfully early morning sses. When she walked into the ssroom, she noticed Freya was already there. Freya had an asthma attack recently and had to be hospitalized for a few days. Now that she was back, Renee didn¡¯t bother saying hi. They were the same age and had beenpared to each other their entire lives. Renee was sick of it. Freya didn¡¯t seem to care either. She pulled a box of cookies out of her bag and set them on her desk. Renee sat at an angle where she could see them clearly. She instantly noticed the familiar packaging. She blurted, ¡°Where¡¯d you get those?¡± Freya gave her a quick nce and took a bite of one. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Renee frowned. It really did look like something Ariel would make. That moon¨Cthemed box was totally her style, and the cranberry chocte cookies inside had a scent that felt oddly familiar. Out of nowhere, Renee felt annoyed. She didn¡¯t even know why. She told herself it was just a coincidence, but it still rubbed her the wrong way. She gave Freya onest look and said nothing more. After Ariel got to the office, she saw a text from Freya. She¡¯d sent a photo of the cookies Ariel gave her and wrote, ¡°Is there anything you can¡¯t do, Ms. Walker? I couldn¡¯t help myself. I ate the whole box. ¡°Ms. Walker, can Ie to you if I have questions about drones?¡± Ariel thought Freya had a bright and cheerful personality, which made her quite likable. She replied, ¡°Sure.¡± Then she put her phone away and spent two hours diving into aerospace research papers. Suddenly struck with a new idea, she rushed to pull Chad and the others into a meeting. She remembered Carlos once gave her a book that covered exactly this area. It was a super valuable reference. But she couldn¡¯t find it anywhere. Then it hit her. It was probably still at the marital home. She thought about calling Jayson to let him know she¡¯d be stopping by to get the book, hoping it wouldn¡¯t be a bother. But then again, he probably wouldn¡¯t even pick up. And honestly, he barely even went home. She figured she¡¯d just grab the book and leave. After workingte till 8:00 pm, Ariel took her medicine and headed over to the house. Inside 44 By the time Ariel reached the marital home, it was nearly 9:00 pm. The evening rush hour had dyed her significantly. Georgia was surprised to see her back. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, you¡¯re back! Have you had dinner? I can prepare something for you if you¡¯d like.¡± Ariel politely shook her head. ¡°No need to bother. I¡¯ll be leaving soon.¡® Georgia¡¯s expression shifted to concern. ¡°Why are you leaving so soon? Did you have a fight with Mr. Larkin?¡± Ariel opened the shoe cab and pulled out a pair of disposable slippers. ¡°No.¡± And it was true. Most of the time, Jayson simply ignored her. What hurt more than feeling unloved was his indifference. Aside from the few days each month when they followed their routine intimacy, they barelymunicated, let alone argued. They never fought. They were just getting divorced. Georgia had been taking care of the cleaning since they married and knew Ariel well. She thought Ariel didn¡¯t really mean what she had said. She couldn¡¯t help but try to offer advice. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, things will get better with time. Couples argue, but they make up in the end. You¡¯ve always known that. You love Mr. Larkin so much and can¡¯t live without him. If you keep this up¡­¡± Could she still end this farce without looking bad? In the end, it¡¯d only be Ariel who had to swallow her pride and apologize. That would be embarrassing. Ariel paused, looking dazed. So this was how everyone saw her. She was supposed to be the one who swallowed her anger, stayed humble, and always catered to Jayson. No one expected her to be the one to walk away. She pulled a tight smile, trying to change the subject. ¡°Has he been back recently?¡± Georgia hesitated. ¡°Not much.¡± ¡°I see. You can rest now.¡± It was just as Ariel had expected. Of course, Jayson hadn¡¯te home. He had Nancy¡¯sforting embrace to go to. Why would hee back here? She went upstairs to the study. This house had two studies. One was Jayson¡¯s private domain, which she was never allowed to enter, and the other was open. Ariel often spent time there reading. She¡¯d kept up with her studies over the past three years, never falling behind the times. Having decorated it herself, she was familiar with every corner of the study. She knew exactly where everything was. Ariel quickly found the book she¡¯d been looking for on the middle shelf. To make sure she hadn¡¯t missed anything, she looked around again and gathered up all the books she needed to take with her. She then packed them into boxes. It was only a bit of light lifting, but it left her winded. Her body was weaker than she¡¯d expected after her diagnosis. She had to ask Georgia to help carry the boxes downstairs. As she went out, she noticed it had started snowing. Ayer of white covered the ground. Ariel checked the time. It was already 10:30 pm. After she got into the car, Georgia went to rest. But after starting the engine and trying for a while, Ariel realized the car was having issues. It wouldn¡¯t start, no matter what she did. After a lot of messing around, there was no sign of the engine turning over.¡± She had to give up driving. Ariel checked the time again. It was already 11:00 pm. This was a vi neighborhood with sprawling grounds. Just walking out of the area would take half an hour. Cabs couldn¡¯t get in, and calling an Uber in the snow meant waiting in a long queue. Ariel frowned. She was already exhausted. In the end, she decided to stay the night. Since Jayson wouldn¡¯t being home, there was no need to worry about facin genuen Manche She went back upstairs. him. She didn¡¯t intend to sleep in the master bedroom, so she headed for the guest room. After taking a shower, she realized she hadn¡¯t brought a change of clothes with her, so she wrapped herself in a towel and went to the master bedroom closet to get what she¡¯d left behind. Luckily, since Jayson rarely came home, Georgia hadn¡¯t thought to throw away her clothes. She grabbed a change of clothes and was about to leave when suddenly, the bedroom door was pushed open from the outside. Ariel was startled. Jayson had his coat draped over his arm. When he saw Ariel, there was no trace of surprise on his face, as if it was exactly what he expected. Ariel always came back. He gave Ariel¡¯s towel¨Cwrapped figure a brief nce, then walked in as if nothing had happened. As he passed by her, she caught that familiar scent of women¡¯s perfume again. It was overpowering, as if it were marking its territory. The Jayson who¡¯d once been too busy to spend time with her now seemed to have no limits when it came to Nancy. No matter how busy he was, he always made time for her. Ariel felt ufortable. She wanted to exin why she was here. ¡°Sorry, I just-¡± Jayson set down his coat and nced at her again. His eyes lingered on the sight of her towel¨Cd body, the delicate curve of her neck, and her slender legs. He turned away and said tly, ¡°I¡¯m not in the mood.¡± Inside 45 Chapter 45 After saying that, Jayson loosened his tie and headed straight for the shower. He didn¡¯t even nce at Ariel as he walked past her. It was as if even a fleeting nce in her direction would constitute a betrayal of Nancy. If he had looked at her, he would¡¯ve seen the pale, sickly color of her face. Ariel blinked, slowly realizing what he meant. Her face flushed a deep red. It was burning from a mix of shame, embarrassment, and disbelief. Did Jayson think she wanted to sleep with him? ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Ariel took a deep breath. ¡°I¡¯m sleeping in the guest room tonight.¡± That was when Jayson finally turned around. His perfectly handsome face remained expressionless. But Ariel had already left. That was quick. Then again, of course she¡¯d feel awkward after being rejected like that. Jayson smirked faintly and went into the bathroom. The bathtub was spotless. Ariel didn¡¯t run the warm water. After staring at it for a long time, he ultimately chose to just use the shower. Ariel didn¡¯t sleep well that night. Jayson¡¯s unexpected return hadpletely thrown off her ns. She got up and freshened up. Just as she was heading out, she bumped into Jayson stepping out of his room. He was on the phone. His usually cold voice was tinged with warmth. ¡°Yeah, whenever works. You decide.¡± Ariel looked away and headed downstairs. She didn¡¯t even have to guess who he was talking to in that gentle tone. It She hadn¡¯t expected them to be that inseparable. 741 golf could only be Nancy. Aftering downstairs, Ariel was surprised to see Betty already there. Betty waved at her with a bright smile. ¡± Morning, Ari. You¡¯re up so early.¡® She nced at Jayson, who followed closely behind Ariel, and her face lit up with satisfaction. Surprised, Ariel asked, ¡°Grandma, what are you doing here so early?¡± Betty had someone bring over several insted lunch boxes. ¡°I heard you changed jobs. Jayson told me you¡¯ve been so busytely that you haven¡¯t had time toe back to Larkin Manor. Since you didn¡¯t have time to cook, I had them make some of your favorites and bring them over.¡± Ariel looked over at Jayson. That was what he told Betty? That she was too busy with work toe home? Not that she was divorcing him? Ariel didn¡¯t get it. When exactly was Jayson going to tell his family the truth? ¡°Come on, sit. Jayson, sit next to Ari.¡± Betty happily made arrangements. Seeing that Jayson didn¡¯t budge, she shot him a look. ¡°What, you don¡¯t feel like it?¡± Jayson gave in and sat down. ¡°Whatever makes you happy.¡± Ariel said nothing. The entire time, it was Betty doing the talking. She directed Jayson, ¡°Peel the egg for Ari. She likes boiled eggs.¡± Ariel knew Jayson didn¡¯t like doing such things, so she quickly said, ¡°It¡¯s o-¡± But Jayson had already picked up a boiled egg and meticulously peeled it without any expression before cing it on her te. Ariel felt a wave of confusion and shock. She used to do all these things herself. Jayson never lifted a finger. He also never helped her peel anything. But now, he was so skilled at it. He must have done this countless times for Nancy and gotten used to it. So Jayson could take care of people after all. And here she was, his wife, only getting a taste of it by benefiting from someone else¡¯s efforts. As Betty watched the couple¡¯s strained dynamic, she felt both helpless and anxious. She knew Ariel was a good woman. Plus, she was the granddaughter of Jeffrey¡¯s warrade. Seeing how little attention Jayson paid to Ariel made Betty feel sorry and sad. ¡°New Year¡¯s is just around the corner. Jayson, why don¡¯t you and Ari take a little vacation? Have some time just for the two of you.¡± Betty gave Jayson a subtle nce. Ariel nced at Jayson, silently hoping he would finallye clean. Jayson slowly wiped his hands. ¡°I¡¯ve got things to do. I don¡¯t have time.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± Betty pped the table, fuming. ¡°If you don¡¯t have time, make time! Rules can be flexible! Is work more important than your wife?¡± Jayson turned to the side and asked tly, ¡°Do you want to go?¡± He was asking Ariel. More precisely, he was warning her to be sensible. Ariel tightened her grip on her fork and said to Betty, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ve got stuff to do too. It¡¯s fine.¡± Jayson wasn¡¯t interested in spending time with her. Besides, when he came downstairs earlier, he¡¯d been on the phone with Nancy. They were probably setting up a date. Jayson would be with Nancy. When it came to Ariel, he was always busy and impatient. But with Nancy, he was always ready to amodate whatever she asked. Betty opened her mouth to say something. But in the end, she just sighed and let it go. Ariel¡¯s car wouldn¡¯t start, so Betty asked Jayson to give her a ride. This time, Jayson didn¡¯t refuse. Ariel didn¡¯t protest either. She grabbed the book she had been meaning to find the day before and got into Jayson¡¯s car. ¡°I¡¯ll have someonee fix the car. Once it¡¯s ready, I¡¯lle by to pick it up.¡® Jayson nced at her and said, ¡°Okay.¡± The distance between them was palpable. Jayson got in and immediately started looking at his tablet, acting like she wasn¡¯t even there. Ariel, though, was lost in thought. After much hesitation, she still decided to ask him when he nned to tell Betty and Katie about their divorce. ¡°Mr. Larkin, can we talk?¡± ¡± Inside 46 Chapter 46 Actually, Jayson had already noticed that Ariel was on edge beside him; she kept sneaking nces at him. He finally turned to look at her and suddenly asked, ¡°How are you adjusting to the new job?¡± Ariel pressed her lips together. ¡°It¡¯s going well. I actually really like it.¡± ¡°Sounds like working at Bluum Corp was tough on you.¡± Ariel frowned. She wasn¡¯t even professionally trained for the PR job at Bluum Corp. She¡¯d only taken it to stay close to him and build a connection. But he never cared about what she wanted. Jayson didn¡¯t pay attention to what Ariel had replied. Just then, a WhatsApp notification popped up on his tablet. He casually flipped the screen face down on the table, clearly trying to keep Ariel from seeing it. Ariel got the hint and quickly looked away. Jayson asked, ¡°I¡¯ve got something urgent to take care of. Can you grab a cab to work?¡± It sounded like a question, but it really wasn¡¯t. He¡¯d already made up his mind not to give her a ride. If anything, he was practically kicking her out of the car. Ariel paused for a second, then answered calmly, ¡°Sure.¡± She ended up swallowing the question she wanted to ask. She didn¡¯t ask why Jayson had returned to their marital homest night. There must¡¯ve been some specific reason. Otherwise, he would¡¯ve been with Nancy. Ariel got out of the car. The snow from the night before had left behind a biting wind that wed at her cor. She shivered from the cold. The Bentley didn¡¯t linger. It drove off fast. Left stranded on the side of the road by Jayson, Ariel didn¡¯t even feel much anymore. She tightened her coat, trying her best not to let the cold worsen her immune system and make her condition worse. Bracing against the wind, she gged down a ride and headed to Faye Technologies. That afternoon, Ariel had a two¨Chour meeting with Chad and the engineers from the technology department to discuss the idea she hade up with the day before. In the end, Chad excitedly finalized the proposal on the spot. Ariel¡¯s idea was not only feasible. It was groundbreaking. It might even make her a trailzer. Ariel decided to first create a detailed development n. Just as she returned to her office, Janice called. ¡°Goddamn! My eyes need bleach! Why can¡¯t that bitch drop dead already?¡± Janice was fuming. Ariel asked, ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°I was at this event at Frederick¡¯spany today, stuck seeing that dumbass all morning. I figured I¡¯d grab some desserts on the way back so we could eat them together. But guess who I ran into? ¡°Jayson and Nancy! They were on a date! And she was feeding him cake! In public! Do they have no shame?¡± 1 Ariel¡¯s hand slowed as she signed a document. Her expression shifted to one of realization. So the urgent matter that made him kick her out of the car in the middle of the road was actually a date with Nancy. ¡°Ari?¡± Janice cautiously called out, realizing she had said something wrong. Ariel snapped out of it and went back to working on her n. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Forcing someone who despised her to fall in love with her was against the very nature of things. People wereplex and ever¨Cchanging. She had learned this truth from Lucas. How much more so with Jayson? Janice offered, ¡°Do you want to grab a drink after work?¡± Ariel knew she was just trying tofort her. She gave a light smile. ¡°Why don¡¯t youe help me finish this project n instead?¡± Janice hung up immediately. Janice didn¡¯t dwell on Jayson and Nancy, which eased Ariel¡¯s mind a bit. Janice was like a little firecracker and couldn¡¯t keep things to herself. Sometimes, Ariel even worried that Janice would storm up to Jayson and Nancy and start a fight. Over the next two days, Ariel spent all her time in meetings with Chad and the team to discuss the project. Everyone was highly optimistic about her n, and they were all buzzing with energy. Chad gave Ariel a day off to rest. Leonard called one day. He said he¡¯d be spending two days at home with Katie before going back to the hospital. He told Ariel that if she wasn¡¯t too busy, she and Jayson shoulde by for dinner. That was when she remembered that Leonard¡¯s birthday was the day after tomorrow. That was probably why he wanted them over. After thinking it through, Ariel decided it was the perfect opportunity since Katie and Leonard would both be there. She texted Jayson. ¡°Are you free the day after tomorrow? It¡¯s Uncle Leo¡¯s birthday.¡± He replied a few hourster, ¡°I¡¯m busy.¡± Ariel stared at those two words and didn¡¯t ask anything else. On her day off, she finally got to sleep in. But her rest was cut short by a phone call from Janice. ¡°Ari, I hit someone¡­¡± Inside 47 Ariel hurried into a fine dining restaurant, where reservations were required every day. The moment she entered, she saw a furious Janice and a disheveled Lori sitting across from each other. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression immediately turned cold. She approached to see if Janice was hurt and noticed the red marks on Janice¡¯s neck. Lori spoke first, ¡°You¡¯re truly cut from the same cloth! Both unreasonable shrews!¡± Janice stood up. ¡°You think you¡¯re in the right?¡± Through gritted teeth, she said, ¡°If I hadn¡¯te here for lunch, I wouldn¡¯t have known that your father brought his illegitimate daughter to meet Jayson! She¡¯s trying to turn him from a brother¨Cinw into a lover! How shameless!¡± Janice had overheard their conversation in the private room when she arrived. Morgan had introduced Lori to Jayson, wanting her to ¡°learn¡± from him. What could she possibly learn? How to please a man? Lori knew Janice had no filter, and hearing her shout like that was a bit embarrassing. Annoyed, she stepped forward. ¡°Watch your words!¡± Ariel stepped in front of Janice. She was shocked. She hadn¡¯t expected Morgan to disregard her like this. She wasn¡¯t loved or valued by Jayson. As a father, not only did he not worry about her, but he had actually betrayed her. After taking a deep breath, Ariel looked at Lori with a frosty expression. ¡°No matter what, if you hurt someone, you should apologize.¡± Lori sneered. ¡°Ariel, if I were you, I¡¯d be too ashamed to show my face! You¡¯ve sold your dignity to marry Mr. Larkin, but you still can¡¯t win his heart. He hates you. Shouldn¡¯t you reflect on yourself?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t like her looks, and he didn¡¯t even want to sleep with her. Ariel was such a failure. What was the point of living? Ariel¡¯s eyes were ice¨Ccold as she met Lori¡¯s taunt. ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve won his heart.¡± Lori¡¯s face stiffened for a moment. ¡°You actually care?¡± ¡°Why should I? It¡¯s you Sandersons who have lost all shame. Do you need me to announce to the world that you want two women to share a man in today¡¯s society?¡± Ariel let out a mockingugh. ¡°Ariel, have you no shame? We¡¯re doing this for you!¡± Morgan emerged from the private room and looked at Ariel with a disappointed look. Since when did she be so aggressive? She hadpletely lost her sense of decency. Ariel nced in his direction. Jayson was standing there with a poised posture like an outsider. As he looked at her, his brows furrowed. He was clearly irritated. Next to him stood Matt, who seemed eager to watch the drama unfold. Today was supposed to be a casual lunch with Nancy. Before Nancy arrived, they unexpectedly ran into Morgan, who insisted on joining them. What started as a simple lunch quickly escted into this mess. The Sandersons really were something else. Ariel avoided Jayson¡¯s gaze and talked to Morgan with a biting tone, ¡°So you still know what shame is. I thought you had lived long enough to have lost any sense of it, Mr. Sanderson.¡± Morgan shook his head in disappointment, then helplessly nced at Jayson. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Larkin. It¡¯s my fault for raising my daughter poorly. Ariel takes after her mother. Both of them are extreme and unforgiving.¡± Jayson frowned. Running into Morgan today waspletely unexpected. He hadn¡¯t nned on dealing with the Sandersons at all. Now, it was clear that there was no way to salvage the situation. He gave Ariel a long, deep look. Her stunning face was cold to the extreme. He had hardly ever seen Ariel like that. ¡°That¡¯s enough.¡± His voice was noticeably colder as he fixed his eyes on Ariel. But Ariel didn¡¯t look at him. Instead, she turned back to Lori. ¡°Apologize to Jan.¡± She wouldn¡¯t let anyone close to her suffer in silence. Just then, Nancy arrived, walking into the tension¨Cfilled scene. She immediately went up to Jayson and asked softly, ¡°Did you wait long?¡± Jayson looked at her and replied, ¡°No.¡°. Observing the interaction, Lori grinned. ¡°Ariel, it looks like you really can¡¯t measure up to her.¡± Inside 48 Chapter 48 Janice¡¯s expression darkened at those words. She was about to say something when Ariel stopped her and shook her head. At the same time, she caught the flicker of Nancy¡¯s gazending on her. There was no doubt thetter had heard what Lori said. Nancy arched a brow with a faint smile tugging at her lips. Then, she turned to Jayson and Matt and said, ¡°I¡¯ll head in first.¡± Compared to Nancy¡¯s effortless grace, Ariel suddenly felt awkward and conspicuously out of ce. Arial could guess what Nancy was thinking, but that didn¡¯t matter since she no longer wanted Jayson. Self- consuming wouldn¡¯t solve anything. Morgan wasn¡¯t pleased either. What would Jayson think of Ariel showing up and stirring such a storm? How was he supposed to continue the conversation? As if heartbroken by Ariel¡¯s behavior, he shook his head and turned to Jayson. ¡°Let¡¯s meet another day, Mr. Larkin. You shoulde by Sanderson Manor for dinner sometime.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t respond as his expression remained dark and unreadable. That prompted Morgan to grow even more resentful of Ariel¡¯s sharpness. Her outburst had clearly upset Jayson! Throwing her onest nce, he turned to leave. Meanwhile, Lori seemed to enjoy Ariel¡¯s predicament. She agreed that Nancy was beautiful andpetent. From the moment thetter appeared, Jayson¡¯s attention had been entirely on her. How could Ariel possiblypare? Lori scoffed lightly and turned to leave, only to hear Ariel ask, ¡°Did I say this was over?¡± Lori frowned impatiently. ¡°Haven¡¯t you had enough?¡± Ariel forced down the tide of emotions rolling inside her and replied in a cold voice, ¡°Or would you prefer I call the cops?¡± Lori¡¯s face paled. ¡°Ari.¡± 19 A warm hand gripped Ariel¡¯s wrist. Lucas had arrived at some point and was smiling faintly as he looked at her. ¡± That¡¯s enough.¡± His sudden intervention snapped Ariel¡¯s already tensed nerves, and she tried to wrench free of his grip. ¡°Let go!¡± Lucas calmly stared at her. ¡°Lori is my sister too. Can¡¯t you leave her a little dignity?¡± Ariel almostughed. He was the man who¡¯d once said she was his only loved one and sister, and now, he was saying this despite knowing she¡¯d done nothing wrong. He just didn¡¯t care anymore. The staff in the store sneaked nces at their way and were drawn by their spectacle. Amused by the unfolding drama, Matt clicked his tongue as he walked past and muttered, ¡°Ms. Sanderson knows when to take a hint after being rejected. Such a shame someone else doesn¡¯t.¡± Lucas shot him a cold nce. Then, he turned to Jayson, who remained aloof this entire time. Still gripping Ariel¡¯s wrist, he smiled and said, ¡°My apologies, Mr. Larkin. Ari¡¯s just got a bit of a temper. Please don¡¯t take it to heart.¡± But Jayson didn¡¯t seem to care. He cast a brief, thoughtful look at them to see that Ariel was subdued by Lucas. They¡¯d grown up together, and she was used to listening to him. Jayson gave a faint nod and turned away to enter the private room, indifferent to how things between Ariel and Lucas would y out. Throughout the whole time, he never said a word in Ariel¡¯s defense. No one would have guessed that he was her husband. ¡°Come with me,¡± Lucas urged, ncing at the curious onlookers. He frowned and tugged Ariel toward the exit. Lori kept her eyes on Lucas the entire time. She bit her lips and rushed over, only to have Janice stop her in her tracks. To reach the door, Lucas and Ariel had to pass Jayson¡¯s private room. As they walked by, Ariel happened to hear Nancy¡¯s gentle voiceing from inside. ¡°My mom¡¯sing back soon. She booked a restaurant and wants to meet you, Jayson. Will you have time?¡± Jayson replied without hesitation, ¡°You pick the time. I¡¯ll be there. Ariel¡¯s steps faltered. She lowered her gaze and let Lucas lead her out. She¡¯d once asked Jayson to meet Katie and Leonard, but he¡¯d rejected her outright and never bothered to end their marriage in peace. Now that Sarah wished to see him, he took it seriously. Suppose it were a formal meeting with Nancy¡¯s family. Was Jayson preparing to divorce her and marry Nancy instead? Inside 49 Chapter 49 Ariel couldn¡¯t quite describe how she was feeling. It wasn¡¯t disappointment, just irony. But as she thought about it, it made sense. How could Jayson possibly deny the woman he loved a proper title? Lucas had led her to the parking lot by the entrance, while she calmly pulled her hand away and asked, ¡°What are you trying to say?¡± Leaning against the car door, Lucas knew Ariel was furious right now. The people who¡¯d stabbed her in the back were her father, husband, sister, and maybe even him. But he knew that his ce in Ariel¡¯s heart had always been above the rest. She¡¯d listen to whatever he said. ¡°You know Jayson would never get involved with Lori. It¡¯s obvious to everyone how much he cares about Nancy,¡¯ he said, lighting a cigarette. 1 Ariel froze. Right, that was what everyone thought. His voice was rxed, and his gaze was serious as he continued, ¡°As for Lori, she¡¯s my sister. I can¡¯t just stand by and do nothing.¡± Ariel had thought she could brush off what happened today, but that one sentence proved Lucas was here to defend Lori. ¡ü He knew perfectly well that Lori and Teresa had taken everything from her her family and Elena. She¡¯d suffered so much, and he¡¯d watched it all happen. Back then, he used to get teary¨Ceyed just talking about it. He swore he¡¯d gain the power to protect her no matter what, but now, he could calmly say things like this. ¡°Your idea of not standing by and watching is making me step back and swallow my grievance, just so Lori can escape unscathed? You¡¯re thest person who should be giving me that advice,¡± Ariel said with a softugh as her heart throbbed.1 She looked at him and thought of how she¡¯d nearly lost her life saving him once, and he was pretending nothing had happened. Ariel wasn¡¯t one to argue, so she turned to leave. Lucas frowned somewhat irritatedly. He snubbed out the cigarette and said, ¡°How about dinner sometime? This weekend?¡± He knew she was upset now, but she was still that headstrong youngdy. If he spent some time and talked to her, she¡¯d let it all go like always. Ariel took a deep breath and was about to refuse. ¡°No-¡± ¡°Forget it. I have ns this weekend. I¡¯ll call you another time.¡± Lucas interrupted and suddenly remembered he had tickets to a game with Wendy. He would be spending time with Wendy. That day wouldn¡¯t work. But there was no need to exin that to Ariel. She¡¯d get upset and throw a fit, and it¡¯d just make things messy. ¡°No need,¡± Ariel said tly. She could tell he was in a tough spot and didn¡¯t intend to have dinner with him in the first ce. It wasn¡¯t appropriate anymore as siblings or almost¨Clovers. As she turned and left with a coat wrapped tightly around her, Lucas frowned. Something felt different about Ariel. She¡¯d spent her whole teenage years with him, and he¡¯d been one of the most important people in her life. He was her first crush, and he knew how much he meant to her. Back then, Ariel had been bright and cheerful under his care. She used to be possessive and mind if there were other women around him. He figured this incident with Lori was just jealousy. That was why she was so cold. That made sense. Perhaps she hadn¡¯t changed after all; she was just ying the same tricks as before. The more she cared, the more intense her reactions were. Lucas sorted through his thoughts and rubbed his temples. He had no ns to interfere. Ariel had to learn that he wasn¡¯t hers alone. It was time she grew up. Janice hadn¡¯te away with much damage. There was just a careless moment where Lori had managed to scratch her during the scruffle. In response, she¡¯d dug her fresh manicure into Lori¡¯s inner arm and made sure the pain wouldst a week. Ariel couldn¡¯t help butugh. As for Jayson, she no longer cared to pay attention. She had someone from the repair service drive back the car she¡¯d left parked at the marital home. If things went ording to her n, she wouldn¡¯t be going back again. Leonard¡¯s birthday wasing up. Ariel had bought his gift a month in advance, but before heading over, she thought about it and took a little detour to a shopping mall. After picking out Jayson¡¯s present for Leonard, she finally made her way to Katie¡¯s ce. Inside 50 Chapter 50 Leonard still looked frail. Chemotherapy had taken a visible toll, and he always wore a knitted beanie. When Ariel arrived, he was sitting on the balcony and basking in the winter sun. She couldn¡¯t help but be reminded of how she looked when her chemotherapy began. The thought sent her zoning out before she handed over two carefully wrapped gifts. ¡°Happy birthday, Uncle Leo. These are from me and Jayson.¡± She¡¯d chosen a rare set of books on physics as his gift. It¡¯d taken her quite some time to find them. Leonard was a physics professor and once a prominent name in academia, loved by generations of students. He¡¯d devoted his entire life to physics. If not for what happened back then, perhaps he would be mentioned in the same breath as Carlos by now. As for Jayson¡¯s gift, she picked out a luxury foundation pen, worth over ten thousand dors. It was a practical gift for Leonard and fitting for Jayson¡¯s style. ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s busy?¡± Leonard casually asked as he epted the gifts with a smile. Ariel nodded and yed along. ¡°Yeah. It¡¯s the year¨Cend, and he gets busy around these times.¡± She knew that now they were divorced, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to convince Jayson toe along and help her exin things to Katie and Leonard. He didn¡¯t love her, so dealing with her family was a waste of his time. ¡°Just you?¡± Katie emerged from the kitchen and nced toward the door. Shaking her head in disappointment, she set down a te of sweet and sour ribs. ¡°Well then, let¡¯s just enjoy a quiet family dinner.¡± A pang of guilt struck Ariel. Her life had gonepletely off course, while Katie and Leonard were constantly worried for her. The thought stung especially when she knew Jayson had never once shown them proper respect. He hadn¡¯t bothered toe and give any sort of exnation to the elders, even when they got divorced. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell them the divorce, as she had yet toe up with a reason that could appease the two. It was because Nancy, the woman Jayson had cheated with, was the daughter of the woman who once stole Elena¡¯s research and used her of having an affair with another man, Sarah. 4018 If Katie and Leonard found out, they¡¯d be devastated. Pu She needed Jayson to face this and resolve it himself, but that idea gave her a headache. Leonard gave her a kind pat on the shoulder and reassuringly said, ¡°Mr. Larkin manages so manypanies. It¡¯s year¨Cend, and it¡¯s understandable he¡¯s swamped. A birthday isn¡¯t that important.¡± Katie brought her a bowl of freshly stewed chicken soup. ¡°You¡¯re Jayson¡¯s wife, and you don¡¯t have to bother with us. Leonard and I don¡¯t care about formalities. As long as he treats you well, that¡¯s all that matters.¡± Leonard frowned and gave Ariel a long, worried look. ¡°You don¡¯t seem welltely. Are you feeling okay? Have you seen a doctor?¡± He had a nagging feeling that something wasn¡¯t right with her. Ariel had never been a fan of makeup, buttely she always appeared meticulously done up. Though they couldn¡¯t tell what exactly was off, she¡¯d clearly lost weight on her cheeks. She was startled. She hadn¡¯t figured out how to break the news of her illness yet, so for now, all she could do was keep it hidden. ¡°I¡¯m fine, just busy with a new job. Nothing to worry about.¡± Leonard still looked concerned. Katie noticed it too. She gently added more food to Ariel¡¯s te and asked, ¡°Is it the stress? Don¡¯t feel like you have to lower your head in your husband¡¯s family. ¡°Worst case, I¡¯ll just sell the family home. You¡¯ll have money to invest in thepany, and I¡¯ll always be here for you.¡± The family home was now worth at least 200 million dors. That would be Ariel¡¯s safety even without the Larkin family. Ariel¡¯s eyes warmed with tears. She shook her head and murmured, ¡°No. Just stay here. We can¡¯t sell this ce. You and Grandpa spent a lifetime here, and it means so much.¡± Katie patted her hand in distress and said no more. After dinner, Ariel stayed the night. Even then, she didn¡¯t rest and pulled out herptop to continue refining her project proposal. A sudden string of WhatsApp messages from Chad interrupted her focus. He¡¯d sent ten messages in a row. There was a coge screenshot and a few candid couple shots. The pictures were from Nancy¡¯stest update, captioned, ¡°Epitome of happiness.¡® The screenshot showed a dinner gathering, photos of the restaurant, the dishes, and a morous woman chatting with Jayson. There were three other pictures of just Nancy and Jayson. Chad asked, ¡°Last time Jayson used his connections to bring Nancy to that dinner with me, we exchanged numbers. Look at this. Are they just unting it now? ¡°Aren¡¯t you two still technically married? They¡¯re not even pretending anymore.¡± Ariel instantly recognized the morous woman beside Jayson as Nancy¡¯s mother, Sarah. She¡¯d epted help from Elena, only to rise as one of the top socialites. No wonder Jayson had firmly said he was too busy toe today for Leonard¡¯s birthday; he¡¯d prioritized meeting his future mother¨Cinw. In the picture, his expression while looking at Nancy was soft and carried a faint smile at the corner of his lips. Their gentle gazes met. Ariel scanned her memory and realized something ridiculous. In their three years of marriage, she and Jayson had never taken a single picture together, except for their wedding pictures. Jayson had never liked taking pictures. She¡¯d suggested taking one on an anniversary, but he¡¯d brushed it off and said it was meaningless. Meanwhile, he appeared utterly rxed in his pictures with Nancy, and his smile carried a casual fondness. He lovedmemorating every moment with her. Inside 51 Ariel had no interest in Jayson and Nancy¡¯s sweet routines, but even if she¡¯d given up on him after three years of marriage, she couldn¡¯t act indifferent however she wanted to. What cut deepest was witnessing Jayson doing with Nancy all the things she¡¯d once longed for but never had. A mocking smile tugged at Ariel¡¯s lips. Then, a dull ache tugged in her chest, and her abdomen, which had been quiet for days, began to throb. Setting her phone down, she hunched over the table, one hand pressed against her stomach. A faint tremor ran through her slender body and the sharp lines of her shoulder des. After a few minutes, she staggered to her bag and fished out a bottle of painkillers. By then, she was drenched in cold sweat from the pain. Too drained to keep working, she typed a reply to Chad, ¡°Who knows, you might be on the guest list for their wedding.¡± Chad replied, ¡°I¡¯d rather watch a circus and see monkeys perform.¡± But Ariel just popped another pill and curled up in bed to sleep. As the year drew to a close, Ariel officially became the thirdrgest shareholder in Faye Technologies and earned a substantial dividend. She¡¯d recently joined thepany, and her team¡¯s project was still in the nning stage. To her, the dividends felt unearned. Chad said, ¡°When your U.N2unched, everyone thought it was my research. That title helped Faye Technd numerous partnerships, and you¡¯re the main reason for Faye Tech¡¯s current sess.¡± Ariel no longer resisted the offer. As the New Year approached, Janice announced a full¨Cdaypany break to celebrate together. As the life of the party, she nned a trip for the entire team to one of Eldoria¡¯s most luxurious resorts, which offered aprehensive gateway with every form of entertainment imaginable. Ariel hadn¡¯t nned on going. Her energy couldn¡¯t keep up with others these days, but Janice relentlessly talked her into it, and she eventually agreed. Instead of joining the others for hiking, she chose to stay in the hotel of the resort and work on drone data. She picked a quiet caf¨¦ and sat there for two hours straight. On the way back from the hot springs, Freya spotted her by surprise and dashed over. ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯re here too! Ariel looked up. ¡°Yeah, for a team¨Cbuilding event.¡± Freya plopped down beside her and beamed. ¡°I was just thinking about asking you out for dinner. Now that we¡¯ve met, can we have dinner together tonight?¡± Ariel thought about it and said, ¡°Some of my colleagues might join too. Is that okay?¡± Grinning, Freya nodded. ¡°Of course! The more, the merrier!¡± As she spoke, she nced at Ariel¡¯sptop screen, and her jaw dropped in awe. ¡°Is that a structural blueprint for a drone?¡± The screen showed the base schematic they¡¯d been working on over the past few meetings, covering highly technical data. Freya couldn¡¯t understand anything, but she could tell it was next¨Clevel professional. ¡°Do you like drones?¡± Ariel asked. Freya sheepishly scratched her head. ¡°I y with consumer ones, but though I like them, I don¡¯t know much.¡± Ariel smiled. ¡°What kind of stuff are you curious about? We can talk about it.¡± Admiration brimmed in Freya¡¯s eyes. She could tell that Ariel¡¯s calm offer meant she was willing to teach her. Ariel didn¡¯t find it a burden at all. Since Freya was just in curious, she made sure to exin the concepts in easy -to¨Cunderstand terms. More than once, Freya found herself staring at Ariel¡¯s sharp yet graceful profile. She was quickly drawn to Ariel, who felt distant at first nce but was quietly warm and tolerant up close. The slow and steady way she spoke was incredibly captivating. Before they knew it, over an hour had passed. Perry arrived and was weed with the harmonious scene. He froze in his tracks as his gaze lingered on Ariel¡¯s face, which wore a faint smile as she spoke to Freya. It was only now that it hit him. Why hadn¡¯t he noticed that Ariel was stunning? Inside 52 Chapter 52 When Ariel noticed Perry standing not far away, her expression remained calm. She simply gave a polite nod as a greeting and did nothing more. Perry could feel her indifference. At this point, he no longer believed she was ying hard to get. Back then, he might have assumed she was using new tactics to win over Jayson¡¯s friends, but now, he wasn¡¯t so na?ve to think that way. Ariel genuinely couldn¡¯t care less about currying favor with him. Perry frowned slightly at that realization as a strange emotion stirred in his heart. ¡°Perry! Why did youe so early?¡± Still immersed in the world of knowledge Ariel had just opened to her, Freya could barely hide her excitement when talking to Perry. Perry gave Ariel another nce before saying, ¡°Don¡¯t you know why? Did you bring your inhaler?¡± Freya guiltily mumbled, ¡°Ugh¡­ You¡¯re so naggy.. Ariel got up and said, ¡°I¡¯m leaving now.¡± Perry nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± 11 Ariel gave Freya a gentle smile before leaving, while thetter stared after her and was reluctant to see her go. When Freya snapped out of it, she realized Perry was also staring at Ariel as thetter left. ¡°Perry, you¡¯ve fallen for Ms. Walker too, haven¡¯t you?¡± she teasingly asked. Perry frowned and gave her a light flick on the head. Instead of answering, he chided, ¡°You¡¯ve been clinging to her for so long. Aren¡¯t you worried she¡¯ll get annoyed?¡± Freya pouted. ¡°She won¡¯t! She likes me! You don¡¯t know her at all. She might seem cold, but she¡¯s actually super kind. Plus, she¡¯s really amazing. Do you know what she does? Is she in drone research?¡± Perry paused thoughtfully. Was Ariel that patient when talking to Freya? He¡¯d thought she would ignore Freya out of dislike for him. As for drones¡­ ¡°Drones?¡± Perry recalled the Drone Flight Control Invitational, where Ariel had first entered this field because of Nancy andter joined Faye Technologies, specializing in drone development. Perhaps she did care deeply about Nancy. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have been so driven to prove herself in that field. He exined, ¡°Her boss is in drone research. I guess she picked up some basic theory through exposure.¡± That was his guess, and it probably wasn¡¯t too far off. As Chad¡¯s assistant, she would have to understand the work at some level. Plus, she must have been quite smart to pick up on enough just to answer Freya¡¯s simple questions. Freya fell deep in thought. She didn¡¯t think Ariel was just bluffing; thetter was just that good. Ariel returned to her room and worked a little longer. Shepiled several key technical issues that needed to be addressed with Chad the next day at the office. When Janice and the others returned from their hike, it was dark. Janice waved her hand dramatically andughed. ¡°I¡¯m done. My legs are dead. Don¡¯t bother calling me for dinner.¡± Chad chuckled. ¡°She charged ahead right from the start and ran out of energy halfway. Just shows howpetitive yet terrible she is. ¡°There¡¯s a camping site nearby. We can barbecue, stargaze, and perhaps watch the sunrise. Shall we check it outter?¡± he asked, visibly energetic. Ariel thought about Freya¡¯s invitation for dinner and hesitated. ¡°Hold on. Let me ask.¡± Chad seemed puzzled. ¡°You made ns?¡± Just then, she received Freya¡¯s message. ¡°Ms. Walker, if you¡¯re ready,e over to the camping site at Oxygene Site No.3.¡± Ariel smirked and looked at Chad. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the camping site.¡± Chad didn¡¯t ask further and rallied Faye Technologies employees to head over. The hotel provided a shuttle. Once they arrived, Ariel led the way toward Site No.3. But when they got there, they realized there were more than just the Houston siblings. There was another group. Ariel noticed the man and woman sitting in the center. Nancy was talking to Jayson, who leaned in slightly to listen. His cool, aloof features were softened with surprising patience. That was when Ariel realized Jayson had this side to him too. Thanks to Nancy, she now knew he wasn¡¯t always as cold and detached as he¡¯d been with her. ¡°Ariel, are you stalking us? Why is it that wherever Jay goes, you somehow end up here too?¡± Renee frowned irritably when she spotted Ariel. Inside 53 Chapter 53 It was obvious that Jayson and the others hade here with Perry for the New Year. Ariel finally understood why he¡¯d turned down Betty¡¯s suggestion to celebrate the New Year with her. It seemed he had ns with Nancy. In his world, Nancy came before everything else, and Ariel knew that better than anyone. Hearing the hostility in Renee¡¯s tone, Chad nced at Jayson and said, ¡°What a coincidence, Mr. Larkin. We¡¯re here for team¨Cbuilding and didn¡¯t expect you to be here too.¡°. He casually made it clear that Ariel wasn¡¯t following anyone. They were on a team¨Cbuilding event, and running into someone else shouldn¡¯t be turned into a crime. Jayson looked up and said, ¡°We decided toe on thest minute too. What a coincidence indeed.¡± ¡°Who knows if Ariel dragged the whole team here just as an excuse¡­¡± Renee muttered under her breath. Matt chuckled. ¡°You¡¯re too sharp and putting her in a tough spot, Renee.¡± His words subtly cast doubt on Chad¡¯s exnation. Nancy remained unbothered as she calmly greeted Chad, ¡°Nice to see you again, Mr. Hockney.¡± She continued ignoring Ariel, and her eyes couldn¡¯t hide their arrogance, though she wore a soft, elegant smile. Chad had been in the game long enough not to p anyone in the face outright, but he responded with a fake smile. ¡°Now that you have your backer, Ms. Stanton, I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll see a lot more of each other.¡± Nancy paused slightly and understood the implication behind Chad¡¯s words, but she didn¡¯t bother defending herself. She believed her achievements would speak for themselves. Perry nced at Ariel, whopletely isted herself from the exchange, and got up to walk toward the tents. Seeing the obvious misunderstanding about her presence, Ariel calmly withdrew her gaze. She didn¡¯t even bother responding to Renee¡¯s jab as she turned to Chad and asked, ¡°Did we reserve a campsite?¡± It was only now that Chad remembered that Janice had made the arrangements. ¡®I¡¯ll check with Jan.¡± Noticing the way Ariel ignored her and waspletely unfazed, Renee frowned harder. What was this strategy now? ¡°Ms. Walker,e eat with us! Our area¡¯s huge, and we can just push the tables together!¡± Freya called out cheerfully just then and emerged from the tents, waving at Ariel¡¯s group. Ariel hesitated, while Chad raised an eyebrow and shot her an amused look. A soon¨Cto¨Cbe ex¨Chusband, the haughty mistress, and a whole crowd supporting her rise to power. What an interesting sight. Ariel had lost interest in staying for dinner the moment she saw Jayson and the others. Before she could excuse herself, Freya had dashed over and grabbed her hand to pull her along. ¡°Ms. Walker,e on!¡± Without giving her a chance to refuse, Freya dragged her to the table and sat her down. Unfortunately, the seat she ended up in was right across from Jayson. It was too easy for their eyes to meet. Ariel paused briefly but didn¡¯t make a fuss. Chad was quick to act as he imed the seat beside her. The other Faye Technologies staff moved to a separate table. Jayson and his group said nothing and seemed to allow Freya¡¯s behavior. They¡¯d agreed earlier when Freya mentioned she¡¯d invited friends to join, and it wasn¡¯t the time to object now. They¡¯d never expected Ariel to be the person she mentioned, but no one cared about how Ariel had gotten close to Freya. She¡¯d spent time trying to win favor with people around Jayson, and now that she¡¯d failed, it wouldn¡¯t be surprising if she¡¯d found another route. Ariel had assumed sitting across from Jayson at such a small table would bring at least a few awkward nces or idental eye contact. Yet from the moment she sat down, he never once looked her way, whether intentionally or not. Even when he reached across the table for something, he timed it perfectly to avoid her and the slightest moment of contact. The rest of the time, he sat slightly turned and quietly talked to Nancy, ignoring Ariel as if she were air. Inside 54 Ariel didn¡¯t mind. Throughout the meal, Chad was attentive to her needs by handing her skewers, slicing grilled meat for her with scissors, and passing her a napkin the moment she needed one. All the meticulous care didn¡¯t go unnoticed by those around them. Even Nancy frowned slightly and nced at Chad before looking at Ariel again. What did Ariel do to deserve such treatment from Chad? Of course, most of the people at the table noticed the dynamic, while Jayson¡¯s cold features betrayed no emotion. It seemed as if he hadn¡¯t seen a thing. Matt took a sip of beer and scoffed. Then, he leaned in to the group around Jayson and muttered in a low voice, ¡± Ariel¡¯s ying it smart. She¡¯s obviously using Mr. Hockney to get Jayson¡¯s attention. ¡°She¡¯s probably trying to show that she¡¯s got men wrapped around her finger and pull everyst tactic to win him back.¡± He sneered mockingly. Nancy gave a small, almost imperceptibleugh as if she were amused. No one knew whether Jayson heard it or not; he didn¡¯t react or even nce in Ariel¡¯s direction. His disregard was absolute. Perry frowned slightly, while Matt continued, ¡°To be fair, Ariel is pretty, but she just isn¡¯t it. If she hadn¡¯t done those shady things back then, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up like this. And she¡¯s dull with no sense of humor. Just in boring.¡± ¡°Eat. It¡¯s getting cold,¡± Perry interrupted and handed him two beef skewers. Matt returned his attention to the barbecue. Meanwhile, Jayson looked up at Chad, who was pouring Ariel a ss of orange juice. He initiated a conversation by saying, ¡°Faye Tech has been on a rolltely. I heard you closed a few major deals?¡± Chad responded humbly, ¡°Just riding the wave. Drones are seeing a broader application across industries.¡± ¡°You¡¯re too modest. The market is far from saturated. The U.N2 reconnaissance and strike drone you developed five years ago is still cutting¨Cedge. I imagine you¡¯ve moved on to something more advanced? ¡°When the timees, I hope you¡¯ll consider Bluum Corp as a preferred partner. Let¡¯s aim for a win¨Cwin,¡± Jayson said, smiling faintly, but his eyes were sharp. A flicker of emotion shed in Ariel¡¯s eyes, while Chad gave her a barely noticeable nce. Jayson sure was cunning. Chad had just brought Ariel into Faye Technologies, and they were pushing forward on a new project, yet Jayson had begun casting an olive branch. Well, too bad Jayson had no idea that Ariel was Faye Technologies¡® core technology developer. Chad smiled but didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he shifted the conversation to drone technology innovations. Nancy naturally saw this as her turf and eagerly joined in the talk with Chad. As the conversation deepened into more technical topics, Ariel¡¯s interest was piqued. She leaned over to whisper a new front¨Cend integration idea to Chad. Nancy frowned and shot Ariel a look, clearly displeased by thetter¡¯s intrusion. This time, Jayson finally turned his eyes to Ariel with a thoughtful expression. Renee and Matt both noticed Nancy¡¯s reaction. The former immediately assumed Ariel couldn¡¯t stand to see Nancy shining. She thought Ariel must be trying to steal the spotlight again, and that was just so fake! Matt spoke up. ¡°Ms. Walker, what are you whispering to Mr. Hockney? He and Ms. Stanton are discussing aerospace tech. You don¡¯t know much, so perhaps don¡¯t interrupt.¡± Ariel shot him a cool look, and his tone immediately shifted to sound more sincere. ¡°Mr. Hockney is the U.N2 developer and a true leader of the next generation. Even my father can¡¯t stop praising him.¡± Having grown up around the military for years, Matt had picked up a little and knew how powerful the U.N2 reconnaissance and strike drone was. It was top¨Ctier in domestic and internationalbat applications. Anyone would respect that kind of strength. Inside 55 55 ¡°Oh? Sounds like you really admire the developer of U.N2,¡± Chad said, giving Matt a meaningful look. Matt replied, ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t? I¡¯m sure everyone admires a genius developer like you. His words were half genuine admiration and half strategic ttery, a veiled attempt to initiate a partnership. Faye Technologies was the rising star in the technological industry. His father had reminded them that getting on good terms with Chad was sure to guarantee a profit. Ariel stayed silent and calm the whole time. After all, ambition and opportunism were part of human nature. Her hand moved toward a napkin at the same moment arger, bony hand approached from the opposite direction. Their fingers brushed briefly, a warm, surprising touch that sparked through her like static electricity, prompting an immediate upward nce. Jayson was watching her, though he remainedposed. When her eyes, wide with surprise, met his, his expression didn¡¯t even flicker. Then, he pulled his hand back as if nothing had happened. Ariel did the same, but the sensation lingered. It felt warm, numbing, and annoyingly hard to forget. She frowned slightly. Jayson had gone out of his way to avoid contact with her all night, so what was about that sudden coincidence? Would he think she¡¯d done it on purpose? She quietly frowned to herself. No one noticed the little interlude. Nancy calmly chimed in, ¡°I¡¯ve always admired Mr. Hockney. U.N2 is the goal I strive for, and when I sought to join his team, it was to learn from the best. But I believe my time to work with him wille.¡± Her talent was the root of her unshakable confidence. One day, she would lead the team and develop something to rival U.N2. Chad couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°Well then, I wish you all the best, Ms. Stanton.¡± They had no idea that what so many people desperately chased after as their ultimate goal was just the starting point for Ariel. ???? Matt jumped in with apliment. ¡°You¡¯ll will definitely make it, Nancy. You¡¯re outstanding, and I¡¯m confident you¡¯ll make a name for yourself in the development field. Perry, Jayson, and I all have faith in you.¡± Lost in thought, Jayson handed her a canned drink and murmured, ¡°Yeah.¡± Nancy looked at him and smiled sweetly. Freya didn¡¯t quite understand the business talk or aerospace jargon, but she did know that Ariel was amazing. When Matt and the others downyed Ariel, she instinctively wanted to speak up for thetter. Just as she was about to speak, a small piece of cake appeared on the te in front of her. She looked up and was met with Ariel¡¯s gentle,posed gaze. ¡°This one¡¯s good. Try it,¡± Ariel said. Interrupted, Freya immediately forgot what she¡¯d meant to say and leaned in close to Ariel. She adored Ariel. Thetter was just so soft, warm, and sweet! Why couldn¡¯t Ariel be her sister? noticed right away t Renee Ariel was passing the cake to Freya and pouring her juice. She frowned and shot Ariel a look of displeasure. Ariel noticed but paid no attention to it. Renee grew upset. What was going on with Ariel? Thetter would usually make sure she was taken care of, but she¡¯dpletely ignored her that night. After praising Nancy to the skies, Matt turned to Ariel and casually said, ¡°We¡¯re out of meat, Ms. Walker. Could you put more on the grill? Also, bring that bottle of beer over and open it.¡± Inside 56 Silence fell over the scene. Ariel gave Matt a cool nce, while Perry eyed her and stepped in to say, ¡°I don¡¯t think Ms. Walker needs to handle something like that.¡± This was something the waiters should be doing. Both Chad and Ariel immediately understood what Matt was implying. He¡¯d just praised Nancy as a top elite bound for a clear future, and now he was asking Ariel to do something menial. His words sent a clear message that she was not on the same level as Nancy. Ariel knew that the bed¨Cclimbing and forced¨Cmarriage scandal had incited the group¡¯s hatred for her. To them, she was someone who needed to atone for her sins. Matt patted his forehead and said, ¡°Oh, I didn¡¯t mean anything by it. I thought that since Ms. Walker was a housewife for three years, she¡¯d be more used to doing that.¡® Ariel couldn¡¯t help but nce at Jayson. He had to know how little regard his people had for her, but he¡¯d never cared about her feelings. Just like now, he was indifferently watching from the sidelines and never thought of her as his wife. Her lips tugged in a cold sneer as she coldly replied, ¡°If you have trouble with your hands, perhaps I can assist.¡± The smile on Matt¡¯s face froze. He hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to fire back like that, and it seemed she wasn¡¯t the same dociledy from before. Ignoring the drastic change in his expression, Ariel turned her head, only to lock eyes with Jayson across the table. He was already watching her, and for a split second, there was almost a smirk flickering in his usually cold gaze. It was gone in a blink. Ariel was stunned. Why had Jayson just smiled at her? In all the years they¡¯d lived together, she could barely count the times he¡¯d smiled at her. His thoughts remained as inscrutable as ever. It was Chad who finally broke the awkward silence. He shot Matt a look and said, ¡°What would you like, Mr. Crosby? I¡¯ll grill it for you.¡± Matt snapped back to reality and instantly lost interest when Ariel wasn¡¯t ying along. There was no way he¡¯d actually let Chad lower himself like that. ¡°I was just joking, Mr. Hockney.¡± Anyone could tell that Chad was defending Ariel, and perhaps, a little too much. Nancy frowned. Could Chad have had feelings for Ariel? Perry turned his gaze on Chad and tried to read something between the lines. It was just too much for Chad and Ariel¡¯s employee¨Cemployer rtionship. Sensing the attention, Chad raised his ss toward Perry with a casual nod. Ariel didn¡¯t notice. She turned to Freya, who¡¯d been eating in focused silence, and passed her a skewer of grilled mushrooms. Ariel was the obsemant kind who always noticed what others liked.¡± Freya looked up a her cheeks puffed with food. Then she said sweetly, ¡°Thank you, Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel gave her a soft smile. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Watching the two interact, Renee¡¯s frown deepened with each second. Then, she mmed her can of soda on the table and dered, ¡°I¡¯ve lost my appetite!¡± The can¡¯s impact against the metal tray was startling, sending soda flying in all directions. Unexpectedly, mes red, apanied by a sudden rush of fire. Positioned nearest the grill, Ariel had barely a moment to register the mes surging in her direction. Just then, a pale, bony hand reached out and seized the rim of the grill tray. In one swift, decisive movement, it pulled the tray back, and the fire recoiled instantly. Nancy gasped. ¡°Jayson! Are your hands okay?¡± Ariel snapped out of her daze and looked over to see Jayson frowning. After tossing the scorched tray aside, he curled his fingers slightly; the tips were clearly reddened from the heat. She froze. Had Jayson just been concerned that she might burn from the mes? Inside 57 Chapter 57 ¡°Thank goodness you were fast to react, Jayson. Nancy almost got burned.¡± Matt noticed the detail and exhaled in relief. 1 All eyes turned to Nancy. She¡¯d indeed been quite close to the grill. Seeing everyone¡¯s concern, Nancy smiled and said, ¡°It¡¯s okay. I¡¯m fine.¡± The culprit of the ident, Renee, anxiously rushed over. She cradled Nancy¡¯s hand and blew on it with distress. ¡± I didn¡¯t mean it, Nancy. That was close!¡± Nancy ruffled her hair. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± A subtle clenching of Ariel¡¯s fingers apanied the chilling rity that she had been reading too much into the situation¨CJayson hadn¡¯t rushed to save her from the mes. He¡¯d been in such a panic because they had nearly reached Nancy. That shook his usualposure and made him risk burning himself without hesitation. Only Nancy could make the detached Jayson lose his cool. After making sure Ariel was unharmed, Perry rxed back into his seat. Freya asked in concern, ¡°Ms. Walker, are you sure you¡¯re okay? Let me see.¡± Ariel gently nodded her head. Chad¡¯s expression subtly shifted. He nced across the table at Jayson, who was still hovering protectively around Nancy. ¡°Mr. Larkin, didn¡¯t you see that Ariel was almost burned by the grill?¡± Ariel was the closest to the grill, while Nancy had never been in danger. It was only now that Jayson looked over and calmly said, ¡°Oh, really? I didn¡¯t notice.¡± Ariel¡¯s chest tightened, and her breath hitched slightly. It struck her now that he hadn¡¯t spared her a nce all along. Nancy was the only one who ever mattered to him. Chad choked on the response. That exined everything, and he finally understood just how those past three years must have been for Ariel¨CJayson hadpletely disregarded her existence! There were over 20 people gathered on the campsite, forming two different social circles. Ariel suddenly felt exhausted. Wrapped in a cashmere shawl, she quietly made her way to her tent and sat down. The view from here was beautiful, and the air was unpolluted. Even the stars above seemed more brilliant than ever. She just wanted to enjoy this quiet moment of peace. As for what Jayson and the others were talking about, she didn¡¯t care anymore. Freya came over several times to bring her a hand warmer and a thermal sk filled with warm water. As the thoughtful youngdy she was, she said, ¡°If you need anything, just call for me. I¡¯m in the tent next to yours, so don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Ariel¡¯s low spirits lifted slightly. ¡°Okay.¡± After Freya left, Perry arrived. Ariel hadn¡¯t nned to talk to him, but that felt a little rude, so she asked, ¡°Why aren¡¯t you joining them?¡± Perry had no idea how he ended up here either. After hesitating briefly, he said, ¡°It¡¯ll get cold tonight. Make sure to stay warm.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± TI She felt that Perry had been acting a little strangetely, but she couldn¡¯t quite put a finger on it. He¡¯d never bothered to talk to her and acted contemptuously and indifferently. Perry could tell she didn¡¯t have much to say to him, so he hesitated briefly before asking, ¡°I saw on your social media that you were in the hospital. Are you feeling better now?¡± Ariel blinked. It¡¯d nearly been a month since then. Back then, she¡¯d desperately hoped Jayson woulde with her, but he never showed up. He hadn¡¯t bothered with the updates on her social media feed. Perhaps, he might have never seen it at all. Jayson wasn¡¯t the first person to ask about her health; it was his friend. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. Thanks for asking,¡± Ariel calmly replied as her fingers brushed over her t lower abdomen. A wave of quiet sorrow welled up in her chest. The doctors had said it wasplicated. There was a lower chance of recovery and a possibility of infertility. She might pretend she didn¡¯t care, but how could she not? Even if she did recover, she would never have a child of her own. Ariel said nothing more. Inside 58 Chapter 58 Ariel stayed silent andposed most of the time, treating Perry with polite detachment. He pressed his lips together before saying, ¡°That¡¯s good then.¡± She turned slightly to his side and asked, ¡°Mr. Houston, is there anything else?¡± ¡°No. I¡¯m leaving,¡± Perry said; he got the message. Ariel sat for a while longer and enjoyed the solitude. As it got further into the night, she got up and returned to her tent. Just as she got up, she heard footsteps not far away, apanied by the faint flicker of amp. A woman¡¯s soft voice carrying an audible smile sounded behind her. ¡°Is this your tent?¡± Ariel looked in the direction of the voice and found Nancy standing beside Jayson. He bent over to enter the tent, while Nancy followed right after, entering the same tent. They were staying in the same tent. Ariel¡¯s gaze trembled slightly, and she was surprised by the scene. Jayson clearly knew she was there tonight, but he didn¡¯t bother to avoid her. Ariel¡¯s fingers tightened around the thermal sk as she turned to head back to her tent. This was a luxury resort providing top¨Ctier camping equipment. Even the tents were designed like a one- bedroom suite in a hotel, which wasplete with a soft mattress, a couch, and a coffee table. Ariel could barely feel the cold of the night. She slept straight through till morning. It was surprisingly a pleasant experience. After leaving her tent, she had to pass by Jayson¡¯s and noticed it was already empty. The bedding was neatly made, like it hadn¡¯t been slept in. She didn¡¯t think much of it and took the shuttle to a restroom, where she could freshen up. The morning air was refreshing, and Ariel could feel both her body and mind rxing. As she entered the restroom, she heard Renee on the phone. ¡°Why didn¡¯t I see Jay anywhere?¡± After listening to the reply from the other end of the line, she chuckled. ¡°Oh, so Nancy, you went back to the hotel with Jay in the middle of the night? Now I get it.¡± Ariel halted in her tracks as the words snapped her thoughts into focus. Suddenly, everything clicked into ce. Jayson and Nancy hadn¡¯t stayed the night here. Did they feel the tentcked privacy or proper soundproofing, so it wasn¡¯t ideal for some intimacy? After all, the two were new lovers. What else could one expect? That seemed the only exnation Ariel could think of. She stood in silence for a while before heading back to the hotel. Getting her makeup done and freshening up to make sure she looked perfect was necessary. That was something she had to keep up with since the team¨Cbuilding would continue until the afternoon. When Ariel came dors, she was told Jayson had left with Nancy. He probably felt that her the mood, but. Ariel dn¡¯t care. She had breakfast and returned to the caf¨¦ to work on the data. presence ruined Chad had mentioned that the project they were working on wouldter be reviewed by Carlos himself, and she dared not take it lightly. The events of the previous night finally reached Janice, and a wave of remorse washed over her for missing the camping trip and not being there to support Ariel. Arial had longe to peace with things like this. With her current health, these emotional hurdles would only worsen her condition and shorten her lifespan. Work resumed in full swing on Monday. Faye Technologies had several long¨Cterm partners and was responsible for technical maintenance down the line. Chad took Ariel along as they followed up with one of the partners about some post¨Cproject technical issues. When they passed Bluum Corp Tower, Ariel didn¡¯t bother sparing it a single nce. Their partner¡¯s office was nearby. During their meeting with the host, Hank Lawson, Ariel spotted Colton in another room discussing a separate deal with another group. Jayson had likely sent him here for negotiations. Colton spotted her and instinctively frowned. Then, he said, ¡°Ms. Wal-¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond and brushed right past him. W Inside 59 Colton¡¯s surprise was absolute as Ariel swept past him, her eyes fixed straight ahead, offering him no acknowledgment whatsoever. What had gotten into her? It was obvious she¡¯d seen him, yet she hadn¡¯t even offered a polite greeting. ¡°Mr. Zeller, what¡¯s going on?¡± someone called out to him. Colton snapped out of it and said, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll report the details to Mr. Larkin.¡± Before leaving, he frowned again in Ariel¡¯s direction. What exactly was she ying at? +25 BONUS At Bluum Corp Tower, Jayson had just ended a meeting. As he walked, he skimmed over the report Colton had handed him. Thetter dismissed the rest of the secretaries and followed Jayson into the office. ¡°Mr. Larkin, GildSynergy has offered a small concession. They seem sincere, so please take a look.¡± Jayson flipped through the file and signed his name. ¡°Good work.¡± Without looking up, he asked, ¡°How¡¯s the contact with Mr. Hockneying along?¡± Nancy had always wanted to meet Carlos, and Jayson had been trying to pull the strings for her. Colton hesitated briefly before saying, ¡°It¡¯s a little tough. Mr. Hockney is entric and doesn¡¯t attend private gatherings or public events. We need to seek a different n. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter what it takes as long as this gets done,¡± Jayson casually stated as he capped his pen. Colton understood how much Jayson valued Nancy and would go that far to connect with Carlos just to fulfill her wish. All that was for Nancy to make a name for herself and gain a solid foothold in the industry. But¡­ ¡°I ran into Ms. Walker at GildSynergy just now.¡± Colton thought about Ariel¡¯s tant disregard and scoffed inwardly. He figured she¡¯d just been putting on an act. In the end, she¡¯d stille crawling back and suck up to Jayson. Jayson raised an eyebrow. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Colton replied, ¡°She¡¯s quite full of herself now that she¡¯s working with Mr. Hockney.¡± Ariel was already acting like she was too good for anyone. It was only now that Jayson shot him a nce. His voice was cold but carried undeniable authority as he warned, She¡¯s joined Faye Tech and may even be a partner in the future. Show some respect and adjust your attitude.¡± Colton froze and couldn¡¯t understand what Jayson meant by that. Regardless, he lowered his head and said, ¡® Understood, Mr. Larkin.¡± || Jayson nced at his watch and got up to leave, while Colton caught a glimpse of the cab across the room and asked, ¡°Do you want me to clear out everything Mrs. Larkin sent earlier?¡± Ariel had had Colton bring the things over to Jayson, but they¡¯d been left untouched in the cab all this time. Now that she wasn¡¯t at Bluum Corp anymore, keeping her stuff was taking up space, wasn¡¯t it? Without looking back, Jayson nonchntly replied, ¡°Leave them.¡± That afternoon, Ariel was surprised to receive a call from Jayson. He¡¯d rarely contacted her since she¡¯d moved out. This was the only time he did it, and it was in the middle of the night. Most of the time, Jayson seemed to forget he even had a wife. Ariel picked up the call. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Jayson¡¯s deep voice came from the other end of the line. ¡°Grandma is asking for you.¡± She thought about it and said, ¡°Got it.¡± This time, he didn¡¯t hang up right away. Instead, he slowly added, ¡°Don¡¯t tell Grandma anything about my situation.¡± He was referring to the affair with Nancy and everything else. Ariel gave a silent, bitter smile. Before she could respond, he¡¯d hung up and waspletely unconcerned about her reaction or feelings, just like always. He believed she would always put him first and never turn down his requests. That was why he didn¡¯t care how she answered and was sure that she wouldn¡¯t dare go against him. Ariel took a deep breath. Sure, she wouldn¡¯t say anything since Betty had high blood pressure and heart issues. She didn¡¯t want to cause thetter any distress. After getting off work, Ariel returned to Larkin Manor. That was when she learned Betty had arranged for pearl lobsters to be flown in from Fiorvell. Ariel loved seafood, and Betty had always kept that in mind. She¡¯d always been fond of Ariel. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about it. You¡¯ve lost weighttely, so I¡¯ve asked to prepare some good supplements for you. You need to take better care of yourself.¡± Inside 60 Chapter 60 Ariel helped Betty to her seat and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll take good care of myself.¡± Betty caressed her bony wrist in distress. ¡°You call this taking care? Look at how much weight you¡¯ve losttely! ¡°Plus, pregnancy takes a toll on women. You¡¯ll suffer if you get pregnant while being this weak. It¡¯s better to start building yourself up early.¡± Betty was clearly thinking long term. Ariel wasn¡¯t sure how to respond. Betty still hoped Ariel would bear children for the Larkin family, but that wasn¡¯t possible now. They were getting divorced. Even if they weren¡¯t, her body wouldn¡¯t allow it anymore. Seeing Ariel go quiet, Betty hesitated and lowered his voice to say, ¡°Ari, you¡¯ve been married to Jay for three years and still haven¡¯t gotten pregnant. Why don¡¯t you have him go with you for a checkup sometime?¡± Worried Ariel would overthink it, she quickly added, ¡°Both of you should get checked. If there¡¯s anything wrong, it¡¯s best to address it early, don¡¯t you think so?¡± Betty¡¯s traditional mindset made her suspicions clear. Ariel came to a standstill, and the reasons behind Betty¡¯s apprehension started to be clear. No matter how much thetter doted on her, it was obvious she cared about the Larkin family¡¯s legacy. Pursing her lips, Ariel was about to gently break the news of the impending divorce when a household staff announced, ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s back.¡± Jayson strode in as his deep gaze lingered on Ariel for a couple of seconds. With his coat casually draped over one arm, he spotted Ariel and walked up to her side. ¡°Traffic was bad. Sorry, I¡¯mte, Grandma.¡± Ariel felt his arm brush against her and subtly shifted away. Jayson noticed but didn¡¯t seem to care. At the dining table, Betty handed Ariel some lobster meat and said, ¡°Eat some more, and try to work on it this year. It¡¯d be great if you could get pregnant by the end of the year.¡± Ariel opened her mouth to speak, but ended up saying nothing. Meanwhile, Jayson helped Betty with some shrimp. ¡°Try this one. It¡¯s fresh and crisp.¡± Betty shot him a re and knew he was trying to change the subject. ¡°Don¡¯t try to shift the topic! You¡¯re not a kid anymore. Aren¡¯t you ready to be a father?¡± He smiled faintly. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Ariel kept her head down and ate. She had to admit that Jayson was quite skilled at defusing awkward situations. Betty was at a loss for a response. After dinner, she ushered Ariel upstairs for a rest. Ariel had nned to leave and nced at Jayson, hoping he¡¯de up with an excuse on their behalf. She could barely grasp how he nned to deal with the situation. But Jayson didn¡¯t seem to notice the look as he sat at the kitchen ind and focused on hisptop. Ariel gave up on guessing. After all, he always left once it gotte, and he would never stay overnight. The manor had a bedroom shared between her and Jayson. Thest time she was here, Renee had arranged for her to sleep in the guest room, but Betty escorted her to the master bedroom, so she couldn¡¯t really say anything about it. Even after she took a shower, Jayson never came upstairs. Ariel assumed he would wait for Betty to go to bed before leaving to meet Nancy. When her medication reminder rm went off on her phone, she took her bottle of pills and headed downstairs. As she passed the cornernding of the stairs, she saw Evelyn talking to Jayson. Evelyn had never understood why Betty favored and valued Ariel so much, especially when it came to pushing for a child. She¡¯d never been on board with it. ¡°What¡¯s your n?¡± Evelyn asked. Jayson kept his eyes on the data on hisptop. ¡°About what?¡± Evelyn frowned. ¡°Are you seriously considering having a child with Ariel? Once she gives birth to a child, you¡¯ll have to be responsible for it, and it¡¯ll be tough to cut ties with her by then. I understand you don¡¯t even like her.¡± How could Jayson possibly like a woman who¡¯d once schemed against him? If anything, he could barely contain his hatred. Jayson took a sip of his drink and didn¡¯t reply or deny it. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re going against Grandma¡¯s wishes.¡® Evelyn replied, ¡°I¡¯m just thinking about what¡¯s best for you. Sure, Ariel is pretty andposed, but shees from a poor background and has an average education level. ¡°When ites to having children, it¡¯s not just about looks. It¡¯s about gics. ¡°Superior genes are what matter most. Someone like Nancy with a high IQ and a business elite is what benefits the next generation most.¡® !1 Inside 61 A wave of mortification washed over Ariel, rooting her to the spot. Evelyn¡¯s seemingly innocuous words felt like a dismissive assessment, reducing her to an object of scrutiny. Just to bear a child, she had to be assessed for her qualifications! She waspletely insignificantpared to someone like Nancy, a PhD graduate from a top foreign university. Little did they know, their words were a painful reminder of her impending reality. Once she began her medical treatment and surgery, her chance to bear children would be gone forever. It clicked. That exined his lukewarm attitude toward intimacy before their divorce. Maybe even back then, he¡¯d already decided that she wasn¡¯t good enough to bear his offspring. Ariel didn¡¯t want to know how Jayson responded. The way he brushed off Betty¡¯s expectations at dinner made it clear that he had no intention of having a child with her. He most likely agreed with Evelyn. She gripped the bottle tightly and returned to her room. Her breaths came in shallow pants, and her lips slowly lost color. Mechanically, she opened the bottle and swallowed the pill dry. A brutal bitterness spread through her mouth, but she couldn¡¯t tell if it came from the pill or the sharper ache in her chest. She closed her eyes briefly and calmed her emotions. Now that she wasn¡¯t sleepy at all, she turned on herptop to review the project proposal. The year¨Cendunch was approaching, and she had many key details to oversee. After adjusting some core data, she returned to bed and picked up a book. She had been carrying a few aerospace engineering texts with hertely and had extracted useful theories through algorithmic modeling. Just then, the door opened, and in walked Jayson. His gazended on Ariel sitting under the warm orange light. She looked up at the sound and seemed surprised to see him. Hadn¡¯t he left yet? Jayson walked up to the wardrobe as his eyes swept over the title of the book in her hands-¡°Spacecraft Orbit Determination: Theory and Applications¡°. He¡¯d read that once. It had high academic and technological value, and he¡¯d recently rmended it to Nancy. She¡¯d struggled through it. ¡°You understand the book?¡± Jayson casually asked as he pulled out a change of clothes. There was no outright mockery, but the way he asked made Ariel ufortable. Her gaze stayed on the page as she replied, ¡°More or less.¡± She had studied this book thoroughly a few years ago. Now, she was just rereading it to see if she could gain new insights. Jayson narrowed his eyes slightly and observed the mild¨Ctempered Ariel. ¡°You¡¯ve been working pretty hardtely, ¡°hemented. Ariel looked up at him and could sense an undertone in his voice. Was he implying that she was imitating Nancy and trying to follow in thetter¡¯s footsteps? Ariel found the idea ridiculous, but she didn¡¯t bother exining. Whatever he thought was his own business. Jayson said nothing more as he passed the bed and walked toward the couch. Just as he turned around, he noticed herptop screen was still on. A thought seemed to cross his mind as he stopped and fixed his eyes on the screen. Seeing that, Ariel¡¯s expression changed instantly. She hopped out of bed and mmed theptop shut with a cold face. ¡°What did you see?¡± It was only then that his gaze shifted back to her face. There was a rare, sharp, defensive, and almost irritated look in her eyes as if theptop held some untold secret. In truth, he hadn¡¯t seen what was on her screen, but her strong reaction reminded him of a secret he¡¯d once stumbled upon on herptop. Was her current overreaction because of the deeply buried secret in her heart? Jayson¡¯s expression turned icy as his lips arched into a cold sneer. Instead of answering her question, he picked up his clothes and left. A Inside 62 Chapter 62 Ariel frowned slightly, and her thoughts gradually cleared. She was probably just too anxious. She¡¯d closed the file, so Jayson shouldn¡¯t have seen any of Faye Technologies¡® core content. Still, her instincts told her there was something unusual in the way he¡¯d looked at her. Instead of dwelling on it, Ariel turned off the lights and got into bed. She figured Jayson wouldn¡¯t being back either. She hadn¡¯t slept long when she sensed the door opening. Footsteps moved steadily across the room. In the darkness, she opened her eyes to see a tall figure approaching the other side of the bed, followed by the mattress dipping slightly under his weight. Though there was a clear distance between them, Ariel could smell the faint cedarwood on him and his distinct masculine scent. She froze, and her body, curled on its side, went stiff. Why hadn¡¯t he left? Why had hee back? Questions bombarded her mind. Now that they were getting divorced, sharing a bed under such circumstances felt bizarre. After lying down, Jayson stayed motionless. He didn¡¯t touch her, and it seemed he¡¯d fallen asleep as if he had no interest in her. Ariel¡¯s tensed nerves slowly rxed. It made sense that he might not want to act strange under Betty¡¯s watchful eye. Plus, he¡¯d always been cold and restrained toward Ariel. Though their asional intimacy had felt obligatory, he¡¯d never shown any real desire for her. She slowly drifted to sleep after having reached this conclusion. The next morning, Ariel was woken by the buzz of a phone vibrating on the pillow beside her. Eyes still half¨Cclosed from sleep, she reached out and answered without a second thought. A woman¡¯s soft, cheery Ariel snapped awake. At the same time, it felt like a bucket of cold water had been poured over her. ¡°Jay, is someone with you?¡± the voice on the other end puzzledly asked. Ariel instinctively turned to look beside her when a warm, muscr body pressed against her back. Arms slid around her and pulled her into a firm embrace. A masculine scent overwhelmed her as she turned her head in surprise. Jayson was already awake. His expression wasposed as he reached out to take the phone from her hand. The +25 BONUS N He nced at Ariel in his arms and calmly said into the phone, ¡°No.¡± Ariel¡¯s chest tightened. She was the legal wife, yet she was acting like some secret lover hiding from getting caught. His chest was pressed firmly against her back, and she could feel its warmth. Blushing, Ariel tried to pull away from him. That was when Jayson realized the awkwardness of their positions and got up to put some distance between them. ¡°I¡¯ll call youter,¡± he said, ending the call. Then, he looked at Ariel, who¡¯d sat up and regained herposure. ¡°Sorry. I didn¡¯t realize it was your phone.¡± Jayson gave a softugh as he walked toward the bathroom. ¡°Please try not to make that mistake again, Mrs. Larkin.¡± Ariel pressed her lips together and understood his implication. He was worried that Nancy would misunderstand, or worse, that she had done it on purpose. Frowning, Ariel knew that no exnation would change anything now, so she gathered her clothes and prepared to wash up. Jayson emerged from the bathroom just as she passed by. When he¡¯d held her earlier, he¡¯d noticed how much thinner she¡¯d be. Now, her face looked pale and bloodless without makeup. As she walked past him, he suddenly asked, ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Ariel froze, and her heart missed a beat. He eyed her and asked in a rare moment of concern, ¡°Do you want me to take you to the hospital?¡± She immediately realized that he¡¯d noticed her deteriorating condition. ¡°No need,¡± she answered quickly. He mustn¡¯t find out about her cancer; that would just give him more reason to justify his affair. Still, his concern was fairly unexpected. Inside 63 Chapter 63 ¡°Up to you. Just make sure you exin to Grandma when she asks.¡± Jayson gave Ariel a long look as he adjusted his tie. She instantly understood. So, this was just about pacifying Betty, who¡¯d beenining about hisck of concern for Ariel. Downstairs, Betty had returned from her morning walk. She¡¯d gotten up early to make Ariel a nourishing soup. Not wanting her effort to go to waste, Ariel endured her difort and forced herself to drink some. ¡°Jay, why don¡¯t you leave with Ari?¡± Betty warmly suggested. Jayson paused and looked at Ariel, who recalled the phone call from earlier and said, ¡°No need, Grandma. I have something to take care of in the opposite direction.¡± Betty nced at Jayson, who didn¡¯t bother responding. She immediately understood that he did not intend to leave with Ariel and fumed. Ariel knew Jayson was going to pick up Nancy, and she hadn¡¯t forgotten how he¡¯d left her stranded on the roadside just days ago. She had no interest in reliving that humiliation. After stepping outside with him, she made sure the household staff and Betty had gone back in before turning to Jayson. He was talking on the phone as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll be busy from now on, so I won¡¯t being back here again.¡± They were divorced, and if he wasn¡¯t going to clear things up with Betty, constantly getting called back here again would only make things ufortable for both of them. She hoped Jayson would settle things with Betty quickly, and of course, she could still meet Betty in private. The marriage was over, but there was no need to hurt thetter. Jayson turned around, but Ariel had left. He frowned slightly as Matt¡¯s curious voice came from the phone. ¡°Wow. Is Ariel threatening you by noting home now? She¡¯s pulling all the trickstely!¡± It seemed Ariel was going all out! Jayson casually replied, ¡°Who cares?¡± Ariel returned home to freshen up before heading to the office. All morning, she was in meetings with Chad. Their next project was taking shape, and if everything went well, it could beunched by year¡¯s end. As noon approached, Chad took her on a visit to Jadeon Technologies as a technical consultant. It wasn¡¯t until they arrived that Ariel realized it was a subsidiary of Johnstone Group, and Lucas was now in charge. As they entered the lobby, Ariel noticed a familiar group not far away. A woman was gracefully clinging to a man¡¯s arm and engaging smoothly with executives of Jadeon Technologies. +25 BONUS When Ariel nced over, Jayson happened to look up, but his eyes briefly swept past her as if he didn¡¯t know her at all. For the entirety of their three¨Cyear marriage, this guarded distance had been a constant. It was a pattern Ariel hade to recognize all too well. Nancy spotted her too, but she didn¡¯t bother to acknowledge her. Ariel calmly looked away. Without Jayson, Nancy might not even get ess to the business elites, even with all her degrees. But now that she was Jayson¡¯s girlfriend, all of them had to show her respect. Suddenly, Ariel thought of what Evelyn had once said. In many ways, Nancy was exactly the kind of woman they wanted to bear the heir to the Larkin family. In a wealthy family like theirs, superior gics was what mattered most. Their host was Ryan from Jadeon Technologies. It was nearly 12:30 pm after they wrapped up their main discussions. Ryan suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t the two of you join us for a quick lunch? The cafeteria is quite good. If you don¡¯t mind Chad checked the time and realized it was gettingte. He looked to Ariel for her opinion, who had no objections. So, the group made their way to the cafeteria. They hadn¡¯t expected to run into Jayson, Nancy, Lucas, and Wendy, walking in side by side like impable matches made in heaven. The four were there for lunch too. The scene made Ariel feel like she could hardly breathe as her feet came to a halt. On the other hand, Ryan was delighted. ¡°What a coincidence! If you all don¡¯t mind, why don¡¯t we eat together?¡± Inside 64 Chapter 64 Wendy noticed Ariel and greeted her with a smile, ¡°Come join us. We¡¯re all family, after all.¡± Technically speaking, she was Ariel¡¯s sister¨Cinw, so there was nothing wrong with the remark. Lucas raised a brow. ¡°Sure. Since my wife said so, care to join us, Mr. Hockney?¡± Chad nced at Ariel, who knew it would seem pretentious to decline now, so she gave him a nod. Everyone took their seats. Jayson and Nancy sat side by side, while Lucas and Wendy were barely inseparable. As Ariel hesitated over where to sit, Ryan and another executive had taken the seats opposite Lucas and Wendy. She now had no choice but to sit directly across from Jayson and Nancy. Nancy gave her a quick nce. She¡¯d long sensed Ariel¡¯s underlying intentions. Ever since Ariel changed jobs and partnered with Chad, the stage was set for these inevitable encounters. Nancy wondered if this was Ariel¡¯s backdoor approach to fighting her battles. The conversation at the table revolved around technological projects. Ariel had no intention of joining in and simply ate in silence. That was when she learned that Jayson had just finalized his partnership with Lucas. The deal had officially been secured today. Yet, projects of such scale involved a great deal of confidentiality. She wondered if Jayson hadpletely hidden everything from Nancy. Was he nurturing her for her development, or had he started treating her like the futuredy of the Larkins? Just then, the cafeteria manager came over to deliver drinks made by the head chef as a courtesy gesture. Everyone took a bottle until only three remained¨Cone mango juice and two coconut juices. Ariel didn¡¯t like the taste of coconuts and reached out for the mango juice, but Jayson was a step ahead in cing it in front of Nancy. Nancy smiled sweetly. ¡°You¡¯re so good at remembering what I like. It¡¯s really sweet.¡± Ariel paused. Her mind shed back to all the times she amodated Jayson¡¯s preferences. Whether it was about cooking herself or directing Georgia in the kitchen, it was always about his favorite dishes. He probably still had no idea what she liked. Or rather, he had never been interested in finding out. Her hand hung awkwardly in midair before she picked up a bottle of coconut juice and set it beside her, untouched. Thest bottle naturally went to Jayson. The conversation about work carried on for some time before Ryan suddenly nced at Chad and Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker and Mr. Hockney¡­ are you two what we think you are?¡± All eyes turned to them as Lucas shot Jayson a nce but said nothing. 102 Ariel calmly replied, ¡°No.¡± L die gema +25 BONUS Ryan looked surprised. ¡°Oh? You two seemed quite in sync. Must¡¯ve been my mistake then? You look so young, Ms. Walker. Are you married?¡± The table fell silent, and even Nancy frowned. She knew Ariel wouldn¡¯t dare tell the truth, not with so little to stand on. Even so, the question annoyed her. Jayson showed no reaction and cast Ariel a cool, indifferent nce. Ariel set down her cutlery and calmly answered, ¡°Divorced. Widowed.¡± Ryan froze. ¡°Pfft-¡± Chad couldn¡¯t hold back augh and quickly coughed. ¡°Sorry. My bad.¡± Jayson looked across the table at Ariel¡¯sposed face. Her delicate features betrayed no emotion, but there was something hard to read flickering in her eyes. Nancy frowned and looked away. Sure enough, the arsenal of a powerless woman was sharp words masked by a show of empathy. It was a transparent attempt to shield Ariel¡¯s injured and desperate ego. Ariel said nothing else and believed she hadn¡¯t said anything wrong. The impending divorce was a fact. But Ariel considered her three years of being made to feel invisible and utterly neglected had already been a form of living widowhood. Inside 65 Ariel was simply stating a fact. Wendy looked at Lucas in surprise. She hadn¡¯t known Ariel had been married. Lucas narrowed his eyes. He could tell that there were serious tensions between Jayson and Ariel. Thetter wasn¡¯t the kind to make a scene unless she was pushed to the edge, like now. He reached out to take the coconut juice in front of her. ¡°She doesn¡¯t drink coconut juice.¡± Jayson turned slightly toward Nancy and listened to her speak. No one could tell if he¡¯d heard it or not. Ariel nced at Lucas. She had to admit that he knew her best. Wendy suddenly sounded a little jealous. ¡°You treat Ariel so well.¡± Lucas wrapped an arm around her with his lips curved in a slight smile. After he whispered something in her ear, she punched him lightly and blushed. Ariel looked at Lucas, then at Jayson. Thetter showed no reaction. She knew that if it wasn¡¯t something he cared about, it would never matter to him. After the meal, Jayson and Nancy were the first to leave. As they were walking out, Jayson turned to Chad. ¡°Mr. Hockney, can we have a private moment to talk?¡± Chad had no reason to refuse. ¡°Of course.¡± Ariel knew better and didn¡¯t follow. Lucas and Wendy got up. As they were about to leave, Ariel caught sight of the delicate airne charm hanging from Wendy¡¯s phone case. She froze and recognized it instantly as the charm she¡¯d made as a teenager. It had taken her nearly a week, and she had rubbed her fingers raw from the effort. Lucas had always treasured it. Seeing her peeled skin, he¡¯d been both furious and heartbroken. Catching her gaze lingering on the charm, he gave Wendy a pat and said, ¡°Wait for me in the car.¡± Wendy looked thoughtfully at Ariel and said, ¡°Okay. Don¡¯t take too long.¡± As soon as she left, Lucas said, ¡°Wendy really liked it, so I gave it to her. Do you mind?¡± Ariel snapped out of it and lightly said, ¡°No.¡± Lucas noticed her coldness and cheekily said, ¡°If you don¡¯t, could you make another one? She¡¯s always wanted a matching couple set, but I couldn¡¯t find anything like it.¡± It was true that Ariel no longer cared about such stuff, but the request was so absurd that it made her frown. The nerves in her temple throbbed as she looked at him. ¡°Throw that away and buy a matching set then.¡± AA OMNO = Ariel took his arm and steered him toward the exit. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go.¡± Lucas didn¡¯t stop them. He just shoved his hands into his pockets and nced toward the distance, where Jayson was standing side by side with Nancy. His expression turned slightly grim. One of the executives nervously asked, ¡°Mr. Sanderson, is everything alright?¡± Lucas rubbed his temples. ¡°Yeah. Let¡¯s go.¡± Back at Faye Technologies, Ariel finally found out what had happened. Jayson had asked to speak with Chad just to arrange a meeting with Carlos! ¡°Jayson wants to meet my father and told me to name a price! He¡¯d agree to anything within his power! ¡°Nancy wants to write a research paper and wants guidance from Carlos. Is she even worthy?¡± he sneered. Ariel was silent for a long time. Jayson was willing to go to such lengths for Ariel, even promising favors. Everyone knew the weight his words held. It was clear that even if Chad demanded the moon, Jayson would go all out to fulfill his wishes just for Nancy. 2 Inside 66 Chapter 66 Ariel wasn¡¯t surprised as she sat down and began sorting through the documents. ¡°Even if I say no, Jayson will find another way.¡± Chad frowned. ¡°What¡¯s so special about that woman anyway? He¡¯s head over heels for her!¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°Love was never supposed to make sense.¡± If she were being fair, Nancy did have the allure that could captivate a man. Nancy and Jayson hadn¡¯t known each other long, and it¡¯d been three months at most. Yet even that short time far outweighed the three years Ariel had poured her heart into. Chad looked at her and felt indignant on her behalf. He couldn¡¯t help but mutter childlishly, ¡°Maybe I should whisper in my dad¡¯s ear and get him to cklist the two of them.¡± Ariel shook had head and said, ¡°Jayson protects Nancy. If he finds out what you did, he¡¯lle after Faye Tech. ¡°Frankly, Faye Tech isn¡¯t in a position to go head¨Cto¨Chead with Bluum Corp. There¡¯s no point in stirring trouble over something personal.¡± There were plenty of top¨Ctier talents like Nancy, but meeting Carlos and receiving his guidance would put her in the highest tier, both domestically and globally. Without Jayson¡¯s support, Nancy¡¯s path to Carlos would be a distant dream. ¡°Instead of worrying about others, it¡¯s better to focus on ourselves. If Nancy can genuinely impress Mr. Hockney, that means she has the ability to back it up. Chad reached out and ruffled her hair. ¡°I¡¯m just worried you¡¯ll take it too hard.¡± After all, as Ariel¡¯s husband, Jayson had poured all his resources and connections into another woman. Meanwhile, Ariel was left with nothing in this emotional battlefield. Ariel drifted off for a moment before offering a faint smile. ¡°I guess I¡¯ll have to stay rational. I can¡¯t possibly force everything.¡± If everyone acted on impulse, nothing would ever get resolved. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it much longer. These past few days, she¡¯d been reading through the materials Carlos had given her, including books and papers. She¡¯d been steadily refining her ideas. Chad was full of praise as if he could already envision the sess of the future project. He excitedly called in the entire engineering and technical teams for meetings. If everything went well, they could send the refined proposal to Carlos by next week. But before that, Chad suggested they meet with Jonathan. If their three¨Cyear project gained government backing, the results could multiply. After arranging the meeting, Ariel and Chad headed to the chancery. When they arrived, Jonathan¡¯s secretary greeted them and casually mentioned a public piece of information- Jayson had brought Nancy in the day before. Ariel was momentarily stunned, but she quickly recovered. Jayson valued Nancy highly, and with his foresight, he naturally wouldn¡¯t miss a chance to polish her. The secretary smiled and continued, ¡°Mr. Pearce is still considering Ms. Stanton¡¯s proposal, so there¡¯s still room for discussion. You two might have a good chance.¡± There was nothing more said. Jonathan had an excellent impression of Ariel. Especially after learning her secret identity, he took her more seriously. Two hours passed after their meeting. Though Jonathan didn¡¯t make a definitive statement, Chad waspletely unfazed. ¡°With my years of experience, this is a done deal.¡± Ariel smiled and hoped he was right. OO The next day, she sent Carlos a greeting message via WhatsApp. Guilt had kept her from reaching out for a long time, but with her aspirations rekindled, she now felt the need to sincerely apologize to the man who had once seen her potential and tried to connect her with the aerospace research institute. Carlos didn¡¯t reply and was probably still mad. Ariel understood she shouldn¡¯t rush things since hearts didn¡¯t turn cold in a day. She¡¯d spend years trapped in a loveless marriage and knew the feeling all too well. ¡­ On her way to meet a client, Ariel ran into Jayson. He arrived at the venue with a special reception waiting for him. This time, Nancy wasn¡¯t with him, and that was rare. Jayson noticed her too. He turned slightly with unreadable emotions flickering in his dark gaze. Ariel subtly frowned. Something was off, and the gaze he gave her felt strange. Usually, he would have ignored her and never given her attention. Instead of greeting him, Ariel walked straight into the building. He wouldn¡¯t have responded even if she¡¯d greeted him, and he¡¯d only make things awkward. After returning to Faye Technologies, Ariel heard thetest update from Chad that Jonathan had responded. He believed their three¨Cyear n was viable and agreed to include it as a key¨Csupported project. Ariel let out a breath of belief, and her lips curled into a rare smile. Then, Chad meaningfully added, ¡°There¡¯s one more thing. Mr. Pearce politely rejected Nancy.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t feel much. From the moment she learned Nancy and Jayson had visited Jonathan, they werepetitors. Now that Faye Technologies had won, that spelled out Nancy¡¯s result. Still, Ariel arched her brows and thought of the way Jayson had looked at her that morning.¡± He and Nancy must have known the result before Ariel did. No wonder he¡¯d looked at her like that. Did he think she¡¯d taken Nancy¡¯s chance? ¡°What¡¯s on your mind?¡± Chad asked, still in a good mood. Ariel snapped out of it and shook her head. ¡°Nothing. I¡¯ll send you the notes from this morning¡¯s meeting in a bit.¡± That afternoon, Ariel started to feel a headacheing on. When she touched her forehead, it felt a little warm. She took a pill and decided to rest for a bit. But a few minutester, her phone rang with a call from an unknown number. Ariel hesitated before picking it up. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Is this Ms. Ariel Walker?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± she replied. ¡°We¡¯re from ArtHaven Syndicate. A buyer is interested in viewing the art gallery under your mother¡¯s name. Would you be avable to meet?¡± Ariel frowned. ¡°I¡¯m not selling anything. You must have the wrong person.¡± Assuming it was a scam, she hung up and directed her attention back to her work. ¿´ Half an hourter, she received an unexpected call from Jayson. He rarely contacted her. Even if he did, it was always to ask for something, or rather, one¨Csidedly inform her of it. Ariel had never liked that dynamic. With her lips pressed in a thin line, she answered the call. His voice came cool and steady. ¡°Do you have time to talk?¡± She tly replied, ¡°No.¡± He appeared taken aback and was silent for a beat. ¡°Alright.¡± Jayson¡¯s tone didn¡¯t waver; he ended the call promptly. There wasn¡¯t even a follow¨Cup or word of concern. A Ariel frowned faintly. Something didn¡¯t feel right, but with so much on her te, she chose not to dwell on it for now. Inside 67 At 4:00 pm, the sky was gloomy with a biting cold wind rushing through the air. Ariel received another call from Katie. ¡°Grandma, what¡¯s wrong?¡± Katie rarely called during working hours, unless it was something urgent. Katie hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Ari, remember I mentioned wanting to sell the family home a while back? You wouldn¡¯t let me, so I listed your mother¡¯s closed¨Cdown art gallery. It¡¯s just sitting there collecting dust, so I figured it¡¯d be better to turn it into cash for you¡­¡± She felt she had to let Ariel know. Thetter hadn¡¯t had it easy in the Larkin family, and Betty couldn¡¯t bear to see her only granddaughter being looked down upon. She believed that if Elena were still alive, she would have agreed too. Ariel¡¯s expression changed slightly. It seemed the call earlier hadn¡¯t been a scam. ¡°Grandma, you don¡¯t have to worry about my finances. I¡¯m working now, and I¡¯ll get substantial dividends every year. There¡¯s no need to sell the art gallery.¡± She understood Katie meant well and didn¡¯t want her to feel powerless in the Larkin family. That was why Katie thought of giving her something to fall back on. Katie hesitated and softly added, ¡°But the buyer seems very eager, and they¡¯re offering a good price. Ari, why don¡¯t you just go and talk to them?¡± Ariel rubbed her temples. ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll do that.¡± Katie sighed and didn¡¯t press further. Lately, she felt like Ariel had turned into apletely different person, working around the clock with no rest. She grew increasingly worried that Ariel might be suffering mistreatment from her inws. Since thetter wouldn¡¯t let her sell the family home, she thought of selling the art gallery and securing Ariel some financial independence. Those worldly possessions meant nothing in the end, but they could back up Ariel when she needed them the most. Ariel quickly packed up and called back the number to confirm the address. Then, she took the subway over. When she arrived at the agency, a young man greeted her with a broad, professional smile. ¡°Ms. Walker, the buyer is quite generous. You¡¯re looking at a deal well above the market value. This could be your lucky day!¡± Ariel said nothing, not until she was led into the meeting room. When she met the gaze of the people inside, her body tensed, and her hands clenched in disbelief. Jayson looked at her with a low, unreadable nce. ¡°Do you have time to talk now?¡°¡± The words were casual, but they cut deep. It was only now that she realized what the call earlier had been about. Nancy and Matt, who were busy on their phones, were seated next to him. Both looked up briefly at her, and Nancy seemed unsurprised, while Matt arched an amused brow. Ariel drew in a deep breath and walked forward. ¡°You¡¯re the ones buying my mother¡¯s art gallery?¡± 172 Matt shook his head. ¡°No, it¡¯s not us. Nancy is the one interested.¡± Sarah had studied fine arts. She had brought a good number of paintings aftering back and wanted to disy them in an exhibition hall. Being the kind daughter she was, Nancy decided to purchase an art gallery and house them permanently. They hadn¡¯t expected the seller to be Ariel. Ariel¡¯s face turned pale, and her chest tightened like she¡¯d been struck by a cold wind. This was thest thing she expected. Nancy nced at her and crossed her legs elegantly. ¡°My mom really likes the design and location of the gallery, so name your price.¡± Ariel stared at her as her lips pressed into a firm line. Elena¡¯s art gallery had been a gift from Timothy. He¡¯d personally renovated it in such a prime location, and it was worth at least 200 million dors! Nancy¡¯s tone was so casual as if she were buying groceries at the market. Ariel turned her gaze to theposed Jayson by her. Her voice trembled as she said, ¡°I¡¯m not selling it.¡± What hurt the most was knowing Jayson had arranged the whole thing. He knew it was Elena¡¯s art gallery, yet he¡¯d brought his mistress to buy it. What did he think of Ariel and the Walker family? If Katie found out Sarah was the buyer and learn the truth that Jayson was cheating on Ariel with Sarah¡¯s daughter, Nancy, she could never take it well. Nancy chuckled lightly. ¡°You can think it over. Like I said, name any price you want.¡± After a pause, she slowly added, ¡°Opportunities like this don¡¯te often. You could work your whole life and still not earn that kind of money.¡± Ariel was a sried worker with no special skills or degree. This was her golden chance to climb out of the mud. Jayson calmly met Ariel¡¯s gaze and did not speak or intervene. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but sneer. She was never one to pick a fight, but now she said, ¡°You and I both know the Stanton family doesn¡¯t have what it takes to buy a 200¨Cmillion¨Cdor property in a prime location.¡± Inside 68 Chapter 68 After Sarah¡¯s divorce, she might have walked away with a few tens of millions at most, but they were still a far cry 69 When Ariel woke up, her body felt weak and limp. As she stirred slightly, Freya¡¯s delighted voice rang out beside her. ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯re awake! Are you still feeling unwell?¡± Ariel turned. ¡°Why are you¡­¡± Freya helped her up and exined, ¡°Perry and I brought you to the hospital, and he left to print your test results. We were worried something might have happened to you, so we decided to check everything just in case.¡± ¡°What floor is he on?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression shifted slightly as she lifted the covers and got out of bed.¡± Freya seemed startled. ¡°This floor.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t have time to care about her difort as she rushed out and headed straight for the self¨Cservice printing station on the same floor. Sure enough, Perry was standing in front of the machine as it printed out a stack of reports. Ariel ran up and snatched the papers from him before gripping them tightly in her hand. He seemed taken aback. ¡°You¡¯re awake? Why did you leave your ward?¡± Ariel¡¯s heart was still pounding. Her lips pressed into a tight line as she asked, ¡°Where¡¯s my ID card?¡± He froze at the cold, guarded look in her eyes before handing it over. ¡°Sorry. It was an emergency, so I went through your bag to get it without asking for permission.¡± Seeing that he didn¡¯t seem to act weird, she let out a quiet breath of relief. It seemed he hadn¡¯t noticed the issue on the report, and she couldn¡¯t afford to let him. If Perry found out about her condition, it was only a matter of time before Jayson did too. She couldn¡¯t afford to bear the series of consequencesing out of that. If Jayson knew the truth, he¡¯d never let her go with dignity. He might even use her cancer and bring it to Katie and Leonard like leverage, and she could never let that happen. ¡°Thank you. How much were the medical fees? I¡¯ll transfer it to you,¡± she calmly said, knowing that this was the right thing to do. Sensing the emotional distance, Perry said, ¡°No need. It¡¯s just a small expense. You don¡¯t look well, though. Since the reports are out, shall we consult the doctor?¡± ¡°It¡¯s just a fever. It¡¯s no big deal,¡± she tly replied. He regarded her with a conflicted gaze. ¡°But even while you were unconscious, you were crying out in pain.¡± She was so thin and fragile. Even while unconscious, she¡¯d curled up like she was in self¨Cdefense mode and whispered faint cries. 19 Just how much pain must she have been in to do that? Ariel didn¡¯t exin and simply said, ¡°Thanks for today, but please tally up the expenses and send me the total.¡± Perry understood that she didn¡¯t want to owe him anything and offered, ¡°Alright. Since you¡¯re fine now, let me take you home. It¡¯s gettingte.¡± Ariel gave him a cold nce. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll grab a cab.¡± Faced with her unyielding resolve to establish boundaries, Perry felt a lump in his throat. A strange feeling of defeat crept over him as he said, ¡°Okay. Be careful.¡± He didn¡¯t insist. Ariel said a quick goodbye to Freya and left. That was so close! Thank goodness he hadn¡¯t found out, or she wouldn¡¯t have known how to deal with it all. = a Perry watched her as she left. Beside him, Freya nudged his arm. ¡°You¡¯re acting weird, Perry. Do you like Ms. Walker?¡± Perry instinctively frowned and ruffled her hair. ¡°Kids like you know nothing. Don¡¯t say nonsense. She wouldn¡¯t like that.¡± Freya sighed dramatically. ¡°Yeah. I can totally tell she¡¯s not into you.¡± Perry wasn¡¯t sure how to reply. Soon after, he received a notification on his phone showing the 2,000 dors Ariel had sent him. She¡¯d given extra; she wanted to ensure she owed him absolutely nothing. A frown settled on Perry¡¯s face, his mind clearly upied. Inside 70 Chapter 70 Perry had already registered that Ariel wasn¡¯t well, so seeing her faint again only amplified his worry. He wondered if Jayson knew. Ariel didn¡¯t sleep a wink that night and was in a terrible condition when she woke up that morning. The issue of the art gallery loomed over like a weight constantly pressing on her. She couldn¡¯t shake it off and knew this wasn¡¯t over. After thinking it over, Ariel decided to make the first move. She called Jayson, but he didn¡¯t pick up. She didn¡¯t care whether he was genuinely busy or ignoring her on purpose; she went straight to Bluum Corp. She¡¯d worked there for three years, and the receptionist recognized her. When Ariel called Colton, his tone was lukewarm as he said, ¡°Mr. Larkin is busy, Ms. Walker. You¡¯ll have to wait.¡± She went upstairs to the conference room, where Colton saw her and didn¡¯t bother greeting her. Instead, he turned and walked off. But the others in the secretarial department remembered her well. Back when Ariel had tried to understand Jayson better, they¡¯d made friends, talked over shared meals, and gathered information. They were quite happy to see her now and exchanged a few pleasantries. Someone said, ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯ll probably have to wait a while. Mr. Larkin has an important guest in his office.¡± ¡°Important guest? More like the apple of his eye. Ariel immediately guessed it was Nancy. It seemed Jayson wasn¡¯t too busy with work to see her; he was just spending time with Nancy and ignoring her. ¡°Ms. Stanton¡¯s really lucky. Now that she¡¯s here at Bluum Corp, she¡¯s treated like the boss¡® wife. There are no restrictions on her as she cane and go from his office whenever she wants.¡® ¡°I heard that when Ms. Stanton left yesterday, her lipstick was smudged!¡± ¡°Oh gosh. An office y?¡± Ariel listened numbly like an outsider. She had to make an appointment and wait to see her husband, while Nancy coulde and go as she pleased. Everyone had to make way for her. The secretaries brought Ariel some tea and returned to their work. Ariel waited for nearly two hours. People came and went from the CEO¡¯s office, but no one invited her in. Taking a deep breath, she knew this couldn¡¯t go on. When she noticed Colton turning a corner and walking over, she got up and asked, ¡°Is Mr. Larkin still busy?¡± Looking at her, Colton smiled while clutching a stack of documents. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Walker. Mr. Larkin didn¡¯t know you were waiting here and left for lunch with Ms. Stanton over an hour ago. Didn¡¯t you see them?¡± He looked surprised, but his expression was far tooposed. Ariel wondered if Colton intentionally failed to mention her to Jayson, or if Jayson had known she was there and deliberately chose not to see her. Either way, it made her feel suffocated. She stared at Colton in silence for a moment before turning and walking away. Colton watched her as she left. So he¡¯d been right. When Ariel had ignored him, he thought she¡¯d finally grown a backbone. But now, she¡¯de back and hoped to meet Jayson. No matter how much she kicked up a fuss, it was a fact that she couldn¡¯t leave Jayson. Ariel returned to Faye Technologies and wrapped up the rest of her work. Jayson had yet to make a move. She still hadn¡¯t seen him but vowed to discuss the issue sooner orter. After much thought, she decided to drop by their marital home after work. However, she received a call from Leonard that evening. He told her Jayson had visited him at the nursing home. Ariel¡¯s expression changed drastically. Inside 71 Chapter 71 When Ariel had rushed over to the nursing home, she found Jayson standing outside, along a corridor, smoking a cigarette. His tall figure seemed to exude a frosty, hostile presence. Ariel could feel her heart beating erratically in her chest. She had a grim look on her face. Jayson had always been very smart and meticulous. He often knew the best way to attack one¡¯s weak spot. Ariel could tell that he was trying to use Leonard to make her yield. She went up to him. ¡°Can we talk for a bit?¡± Jayson turned around slowly and gazed at her. ¡°Why do you look so tense and anxious?¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. She was fully aware that she did not have the upper hand. Ariel softened her tone. ¡°My mom dedicated her entire life to art. She was in conflict with Sarah back then as well. We can¡¯t sell the art gallery no matter what. Can you please not¡­¡± Ariel had probably run to get here as fast as she could. She was panting for breath as she spoke. Jayson looked at her indifferently. ¡°Sarah likes the ce a lot.¡± It sounded like he was rejecting Ariel¡¯s request. He would rather make her family suffer great humiliation just to make Sarah happy. Previously, Ariel had desperately pleaded with Jayson to pay Katie and Leonard visits, but her pleas had gone unheard. Yet, he came here today because of Nancy. Ariel could not help but find the situation ironic. She snickered inwardly. Still, she tried to keep her voice steady. ¡°Jayson, I know you¡¯ve never once failed to get what you want. Still, I have to hold my ground regarding this matter. My grandmother despises Sarah. She won¡¯t be able to take it if she finds out that Sarah is trying to buy the art gallery. You¡­ Could you please do this as a favor for me?¡± Ariel knew very well that Jayson had millions of ways to achieve his goals even if she opposed the idea. She could not afford to take any chances. There was a pleading look in her eyes. It was the first time after all these years that Ariel had appeared so vulnerable to Jayson. He stared pensively at Ariel for some time. With one hand in his pocket, Jayson stubbed out his cigarette and looked at her. ¡°It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t want to sell the art gallery.¡± For a moment, Ariel stared at him, looking rather confused. She was surprised by how he was suddenly being magnanimous. Jayson asked, ¡°Do you have anything to do with the matter involving Mr. Pearce?¡± Ariel had a dawning realization. Jayson was not trying to be magnanimous. Instead, it was because of the incident involving Jonathan that caused all this trouble for the Walkers. Jayson threatened to purchase Elena¡¯s art gallery, which had not been in use for many years, just to get Ariel panicking and make her grovel to him. Ariel wondered if he had done that to get revenge for Nancy. Jayson probably thought she was the cause that Nancy, who, in his opinion, was the best at everything, was not selected. Whatever the reason might be, Jayson was undoubtedly on Nancy¡¯s side. Ariel regained herposure and looked Jayson straight in the eye. ¡°No. What happened between me and her are considered personal. It¡¯s impossible for me to meddle with the decision¨Cmaking process of the government agency Mr. Pearce is affiliated with.¡± Jayson was clearly aware of the fact as well. He probably did all these things just because he felt bad for Nancy. He decided to do something for her by putting pressure on Ariel. ¡°Indeed.¡± Jayson looked at her reddened eyes. ¡°Can you tell me what kind of professionals have been hired to work for Faye Tech other than Chad Hockney?¡± Ariel furrowed her brows. She was quite surprised by Jayson¡¯s perceptiveness. ¡°Faye Tech¡¯s technical staff have all graduated from the top universities in our country,¡± she replied calmly. Nancy was not the only person who was good at her field of study. Jayson understood what Ariel was implying. Surprisingly, he did not lose his temper. His lips curled in a dry smile. Then, he nced at his watch. ¡°Hm, alright.¡± After a brief pause, he looked at Ariel. ¡°Do you need a lift home?¡± Ariel knew he was only asking out of courtesy. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jayson walked away right after saying that. Ariel was a little unsure of Jayson¡¯s stance as she stared at his receding figure. Regardless of whether he would try to obtain the art gallery, there was one thing she had a clear understanding of. It would require a lot of money to purchase the art gallery. With their current status and background, Nancy and Sarah would not be able to afford to make the purchase. Ultimately, Jayson would be the one paying the money for Nancy. Whether it was his heart, time, or money, Jayson was willing to give them all to Nancy. On the other hand, Ariel made numerous sacrifices throughout the years after marrying him but gained nothing in return. As for Sarah, the woman clearly wanted to obtain Elena¡¯s art gallery to make up for the times she used to feel small and inferior. Sarah was also trying to tell the Walkers that things were different now. Ariel received a call from Leonard, asking her if Jayson had left. She noticed Jayson had not exined to Leonard the reason for their divorce or persuaded him to sell the art gallery. She let out a sigh of relief. ¡°He¡¯s leaving. You should rest soon, Uncle Leo.¡± Inside 72 Chapter 72 Leonard responded, ¡°Alright. Be careful on your way home.¡± Ariel did not exin to Leonard how she and Jayson were leaving separately. Jayson was most likely on his way to meet Nancy. He would never sacrifice his time with Nancy to give Ariel a lift home. For the next two days, Ariel heard nothing from Nancy¡¯s side. Jayson had not contacted her either. Ariel was not sure if they had given up on the n regarding the art gallery. Even though she was busy with many things, Ariel could not help feeling restless. On Friday, she received another call from Jayson. He said monotonously, ¡°Renee is suffering from an allergic reaction. She wouldn¡¯t let the maids apply the ointment for her. She said that it didn¡¯t hurt when you did it for her previously. Can you drop by home and check on her?¡± Ariel pursed her lips. ¡°Sure.¡± She could have said no since she couldn¡¯t be bothered with what happened to Renee. However, this could be considered a demand or a condition from Jayson. He would have no more reason to force Ariel to sell the art gallery if sheplied with his request now. ¡°The art¡­¡± ¡°Jayson, does this dress look alright?¡± Ariel could hear Nancy¡¯s voice in the background. It was a little past nine in the morning. It sounded like Jayson was apanying Nancy on her shopping trip even though it was supposed to be time for him to be busy with work. Ariel heard the disconnected tone the next instant. Jayson had hung up. Ariel had gotten used to being ignored by him this way. She applied for a day off and headed over to the Larkin Manor. Renee had a delicate constitution, and she was allergic to quite a few things. Whenever she did not pay close attention, she would easily get a lot of itchy and painful rashes on her body. Moreover, she was rather fussy. Renee would throw a fit whether it was a doctor or a maid helping to apply the ointment for her. Ariel, who was gentle and meticulous, was the only exception. She had helped apply the ointment to Renee several times over the past three years, and Renee was satisfied with it. Ariel had mixed feelings abouting to Larkin Manor again. She had confidently dered she would nevere here against time. Yet, she had no choice but to visit the manor today. Jayson probably thought that she was rather pathetic. A maid fetched Ariel a pair of indoor slippers when she saw her at the door. Betty came over as well and sped Ariel¡¯s hands. ¡°She¡¯s making a fuss upstairs. You¡¯re the only one who can put a stop to her tantrums.¡± Ariel merely smiled and said nothing. Then, she went upstairs to check on Renee. As soon as she spotted Ariel, Renee remarked reproachfully, ¡°Are you a snail? What took you so long? My back is so itchy!¡± Ariel walked over to her with an impassive look on her face. ¡°Lift your shirt.¡± Renee pursed her lips. She did not like how cold and unresponsive Ariel was. ¡°What¡¯s with that tone of yours?¡± Ariel took a closer look and noticed two areas, each around the size of a fingernail, on Renee¡¯s back where she had rashes. They were so tiny that others might not even notice them. Both Jayson and Renee had made a habit of bossing Ariel around. They felt that Ariel should put all her attention on them and their needs regardless of whether she had any more urgent things to do.. ¡°You had walnuts?¡± Ariel asked. 4 Renee was annoyed by how urate Ariel¡¯s guess was. She could not deny that Ariel was a decent woman. Someone as thoughtful and meticulous as Ariel was hard toe by. ¡± T Ariel also did her best to care for Renee during the past three years. She knew pretty much everything that Renee was allergic to and would pay extra attention to these things. U Still, Renee found hercking. There was another person who was much more deserving of bing Jayson¡¯s spouse. Renee was no fool. Nevertheless, she enjoyed being cared for by Ariel. It would have been perfect if only Ariel had known her ce and given uppeting with Nancy to be Jayson¡¯s wife. Once Renee¡¯s ointment was applied, Ariel didn¡¯t linger. When she came downstairs, Jayson had just arrived home. He appeared rather rxed. Ariel reckoned he was probably back for lunch. Betty was beaming from ear to ear when she saw the two of them in the same room. ¡°You came back just in time. Marie was asking about you two earlier. You should chat with her for a bitter.¡± H Jayson checked his watch and refused her request. ¡°Grandma, I need to attend a virtual meeting in a while.¡± Ariel was not surprised to hear that response. Jayson had never bothered trying to act like he and Ariel were a loving couple in front of others. Anyone could tell how cold and distant he was to Ariel. Ariel said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma. We should let Jayson finish his work first.¡± Betty instinctively med Jayson for being uncooperative. She shot him a re. ¡°What are you so busy with? Have you spoken a word to Ari ever since you stepped in through the door? Did you not notice how she was busy caring for Renee? Why are you acting as if she¡¯s not here?¡± Jayson remainedpletely unruffled. He curled his lips. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Grandma.¡± He did not feel apologetic about his actions in the slightest despite having said that. Betty went up to Jayson and pped him on the chest. ¡°Come here and stand next to Ari! There¡¯s something important I need you to do.¡± Jayson let Betty drag him along until he was standing next to Ariel. Inside 73 Chapter 73 Ariel turned her eyes to him. While Jayson was still holding Betty¡¯s hand, Ariel spotted a faint lipstick stain on the cor of his white shirt. She swiftly averted her gaze. Ariel could not help wondering if he and Nancy had kissed or gotten a lot more intimate after their shopping trip before Jayson got here. That exined why he seemed to be in a good mood. Jayson was most probably enjoying a delightful time not too long ago. ¡°You two should stand close to each other. Ari, you should link arms with Jayson.¡± Betty¡¯s voice snapped Ariel out of her reverie. Ariel did not ask Jayson about the lipstick stain, since she would be the only one to suffer scorn and humiliation if she did. Therefore, she acted as if she hadn¡¯t seen it. When she lifted her head, Ariel noticed Betty was pointing her phone¡¯s camera at them. She was visibly pleased to see how Jayson and Ariel looked like a lovely couple. ¡°I¡¯ll take a few photos and send them to Marie.¡± Ariel never expected they would be having their first photo together this way. ¡°You can take as many photos as you want.¡± She was rather surprised to see that Jayson did not say no. Then again, Jayson could not possibly be interested in taking photos with Ariel just because she wanted to. He had toply now since it was a request from Betty. As for Betty¡¯s request to link arms with Jayson¡­ Ariel stayed still. Jayson cast her a sideways nce. Still, he kept silent. Jayson merely checked his watch twice. He was clearly hinting that he wanted to get this over with as soon as possible. Betty was annoyed to see how those two interacted with each other. She stepped forward and ced Ariel¡¯s hand on Jayson¡¯s arm. ¡°That¡¯s more like it! Now, smile.¡± Sensing the firm muscles under her palm, Ariel looked calmly toward the camera. Neither she nor Jayson showed any emotion on their faces, and neither of them was smiling. Betty prompted them several times to smile, yet it was no use. In the end, she just went ahead and snapped the photos. Betty grew more and more delighted as she snapped away. She only stopped when Jayson lowered his forearm and Ariel moved her hand away. Betty chatted with her younger sister, Marie Stewart, on the phone. She said chirpily, ¡°I¡¯ve sent the photos to Marie. I¡¯ve sent them to you as well, Jayson. You should forward them to Ari.¡± Jayson nodded and was about to head upstairs. Just then, Betty remembered something and reminded the couple. ¡°Marie¡¯s grandson¡¯s wife gave birth to a second child not too long ago. They¡¯re having a party this weekend to celebrate the addition of a new member to their family. They¡¯ve invited you two to the party.¡± Ariel said nothing and just directed her gaze to Jayson. Marie shared the same sentiment as Betty regarding Jayson and Ariel¡¯s marriage. She had always been quite kind and friendly to Ariel as well. Even if they were divorced, Ariel felt it was only right for her to properly congratte Marie on the good news. As for whether they would attend the party or not, it was up to Jayson to make the decision. Jayson nced over his shoulder and responded in a rxed tone, ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t forget to pass the invitation card to us.¡± Ariel had no objections to what he said. When she saw that Jayson was heading upstairs, Ariel quickly followed behind him. Betty grinned broadly as she watched those two. The couple had only been married for three years so far. It would be wonderful if they could grow a bit closer to each other. Ariel halted in her tracks just as Jayson entered his study. ¡°Mr. Larkin, can I have some of your time?¡± Jayson looked over his shoulder. He could sense how Ariel was trying to set a clear boundary between them. He smirked. Jayson probably found it amusing. An enigmatic smile yed on his lips. ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± ¡°About my mom¡¯s art gallery, I need a clear answer from you.¡± Ariel stood by the door and went straight to the point. Jayson could do whatever he wanted. However, Ariel would not allow him or Nancy to trouble Katie with their matters. That was where she drew the line. Jayson loosened his tie. He could tell how concerned Ariel was regarding the matter. He narrowed his eyes and gazed at her pensively. Ariel thought Jayson was going to make more difficult demands of her. She silently clenched her fists. ¡°We¡¯ve been married for so long, and I¡¯ve never asked for any huge favors from you. Just this once¡­ Just¡­¡± ¡°I never said anything about turning you down.¡± Jayson kept his gaze on her. He put one hand in his pocket and answered slowly. Ariel was momentarily stunned. ¡°Really?¡± ¡°Nancy and her mom can pick somewhere with a more strategic location for the exhibition.¡± Jayson looked at his watch and replied unhurriedly. Ariel was quite surprised that Jayson had yielded. From what she could tell, Sarah was obviously trying to make things hard for the Walkers, and it was unlikely for Nancy to change her mind. Normally, Jayson would try his best to fulfill Nancy¡¯s wishes as he usually did. Inside 74 Chapter 74 Ariel could not figure out the reason. She blurted out next, ¡°You¡¯ll be paying for the new ce?¡± Jayson directed his gaze at Ariel. His lips twisted into a faint sneer. He probably thought Ariel was asking the obvious. It was a well¨Cknown fact that he had always been generous to Nancy. Ariel realized she had overstepped her boundaries. At the same time, she felt a sense of relief. ¡°Alright. I get it now.¡± She had no issues with how much money Jayson was spending on Nancy as long as they stoppeding after her and her family. It was Jayson¡¯s freedom to use his money as he saw fit. ¡°We¡¯ll prepare the gifts for Great¨CAunt Marie separately?¡± Ariel asked. Jayson noticed how she was meticulous with these details. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll prepare everything.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel had no other questions and was about to leave. Suddenly, Jayson recalled something. ¡°I¡¯ll send you the photos.¡± Ariel was a bit confused as she turned around. ¡°Huh?¡± Jayson took his phone out and pressed his finger on the screen for a brief moment. Then, he selected the six photos Betty sent him and pressed the forward button. He scrolled down and found Ariel¡¯s WhatsApp contact number. Just as he was about to press the send button, a window appeared on the screen showing an iing call from Nancy. Jayson looked at Ariel expressionlessly. Without any hint of hesitation, he shut the door in her face the next instant. He didn¡¯t want her to overhear or interrupt his phone call with Nancy. Ariel remained silent. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Without lingering around any longer, she turned around and left. Even when Betty invited her to stay for lunch, Ariel politely refused, citing that she had urgent matters to attend to at work. On the other hand, Jayson grabbed his jacket and headed out after taking the call. He hadpletely forgotten to send Ariel those photos. That weekend, Jayson phoned Ariel early in the morning. ¡°Give me your address. I¡¯ll pick you up and take you to the venue.¡± Ariel nced around her tiny apartment. There was no way she would ask him toe here. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can get there myself.¡± ¡°Grandma says that I have to go with you,¡± Jayson said at an unhurried pace. His voice gave away nothing. Ariel paused briefly. ¡°I¡¯ll meet you outside Faye Tech¡¯s building.¡± Jayson hung up shortly afterward. Meanwhile, Ariel got ready and took the subway to get to her destination. She reached her office building just as Jayson arrived there in his car. Colton was driving the Maybach that Jayson usually used on his days off. Meanwhile, Jayson sat in the back seat and looked at his tablet with his head lowered. Ariel thought about it for a bit. Given how awkward things were between them, having her sit in the back might make both of them feel ufortable. So, she opened the door to the front passenger seat. Finally, Jayson raised his head. ¡°Sit in the back.¡± Ariel did not think much about being asked to sit in the back. She turned around calmly and sat in the seat next to Jayson. Colton cast her a meaningful nce. Ariel sensed his gaze and lifted her head. To her surprise, she noticed a lipstick and a small mirror which were ced above the glovepartment facing the front passenger seat. It seemed like someone would often sit in that seat and apply makeup. It turned out that the front passenger seat was a special seat reserved for Jayson¡¯s girlfriend, and Ariel simply didn¡¯t deserve to sit there. It was not like Jayson wanted to be seated next to her in the car. Ariel turned her head and looked out the window. Her expression remained the same. Marie¡¯s family had reserved the entire second floor of the venue to hold the party celebrating her getting another great¨Cgrandson. The guests who were invited were all famous and influential people. When she got out of the car, Ariel opened the trunk to retrieve the gifts. However, she hesitated a little since she found three beautifully wrapped boxes. Jayson came over. He took two boxes out of the three and handed them to Ariel. Ariel averted her gaze from the remaining box, which seemed to be a bit more special. Jayson received a call. He stuck one hand into his pocket. Then, he turned slightly and said, ¡°You should head up first.¡± Ariel remained expressionless as she responded in acknowledgment and turned around. She understood what Jayson was wary of. They would probably see quite a few familiar faces during today¡¯s party. There might be a risk of their marital rtionship being exposed if Jayson were to appear alongside Ariel. If that were to happen, what would be of Nancy, who was gaining a lot of attentiontely as Jayson¡¯s girlfriend? Jayson was simply trying to prevent such situations from happening. Inside 75 Chapter 75 The Quimby family had thrown a grand,vish party. Numerous guests had shown up to celebrate the asion. The Quimby family was also a well¨Cknown, prestigious family. Moreover, they shared rtions with the Larkin family, one of the top elite families in their city. Naturally, those who came to the party were eager to form connections with the Quimby family members. Marie was greeting the guests when Ariel got to the second floor. She smiled and waved at Ariel the instant she spotted her. ¡°Why are you by yourself? Where¡¯s Jayson?¡± ¡°He¡¯s parking the car in the parking lot. He¡¯ll be here soon.¡± Ariel smiled softly and handed Marie the gifts.¡± These are from me and Jayson.¡± Marie looked pleased as she epted the gifts. ¡°You guys didn¡¯t have to prepare the gifts. Betty¡¯s slowly growing weaker with every passing year. That¡¯s why she¡¯s sent you two here instead.¡± She led Ariel into the hall. Then, Marie beckoned Ian Quimby, the baby¡¯s father, to bring the child over. Ariel was briefly dazed as she looked at the small, adorable child. Her expression softened as her mouth turned up in a smile. Marie held the child out toward Ariel. ¡°Do you want to try holding the baby?¡± Ariel was a little nervous. She had never held a baby in her arms before. She nodded nheless. Then, Ariel carefully took the child into her arms. The soft, warm sensation against her arms melted her heart. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but reach out her hand and caress the child¡¯s cheek. Jayson witnessed the moment just as he entered the hall. Ariel had never been the brash, assertive type. However, she was mostly cold and reserved. She seldom appeared so gentle. He walked over to them. His gaze drifted away from Ariel. ¡°Great¨CAunt Marie. Ian.¡± Ian greeted Jayson by lightly patting him on the shoulder. Mariemented, ¡°Look at how much Ari likes kids. When are you two nning to have a child of your own? Betty will surely be ted.¡± Ian said teasingly, ¡°You and I are of the same age. I already have my second child at the age of 29. Shouldn¡¯t you get started on it soon?¡± Jayson merely curled his lips without making anyments. He had no interest in such topics. Both Ian and Marie had heard about how these two were only a married couple in name. They could not help feeling a bit dejected upon seeing Jayson¡¯s attitude toward Ariel. It seemed like there was nothing they could do to help improve the couple¡¯s rtionship. Ariel had an inkling of what Jayson might be thinking. He might not necessarily hate the idea of having kids. However, he might not want to have them with her. Ariel¨Cwas momentarily distracted as she stared at the baby who was cooing softly in her arms. She wondered if she would ever get the chance to give birth to a cute baby in the future. Ariel and Jayson joined Marie and her family at their table. After having a few drinks, Jayson checked his watch. ¡± Chapter Great¨CAunt Marie, I need to leave first since I have some other business to attend to.¡± Ariel considered for a bit and decided to stay. It would be a bit rude if she were to leave now as well. Marie produced two small pouches and gave one to Ariel and one to Jayson. ¡°These contain lucky charms that attract good luck for fertility. I got them from a special ce. They might just work wonders for you. Remember to keep them on you at all times.¡± Ariel felt extremely conflicted receiving that gift. After all, the others had no idea that she and Jayson were getting divorced. It was pointless for Ariel to keep something like that on her. On the contrary, Jayson did not outright refuse Marie¡¯s gift. He calmly epted the pouch. Ariel simply remained silent. While she might not be able to conceive a child, Nancy could. Jayson had probably epted the pouch since it would bring good luck. He cast another nce at Ariel before leaving. It was as though Jayson felt like it would not be right for him to leave her here. ¡°I¡¯ll have Coltone and pick you upter.¡± Jayson had always been very considerate to Ariel whenever they were out in public. Ariel responded, ¡°It¡¯s alright. It can head back by myself.¡± Jayson stared at her for a moment. Without insisting any further, he turned around and left. Ariel sent Janice a message, asking her to pick her up in 30 minutes. After saying her goodbyes to Marie and her family, Ariel took the elevator to the ground floor. Janice was already waiting for her there. She gave a little hop and waved her hand. ¡°Over here!¡± Ariel was just about to walk over to her when she spotted a group of peopleing out of one of the banquet halls located on the ground floor of the building. She subconsciously furrowed her brows. On the other side, Nancy was holding Sarah¡¯s arm. Matt and Perry were beside them. Also, Ariel spotted Jayson, who looked calm and refined standing next to Nancy. Ariel¡¯s eyes hardened slightly. It turned out Jayson had not actually left the building. He left Ariel all by herself at the Quimby family¡¯s party so that he could meet with Nancy and the others instead. Sarah noticed Ariel. She scanned her from head to toe and said unhurriedly, ¡°Aren¡¯t you Ariel Walker? Long time no see.¡± Inside 76 Chapter 76 Although Sarah was smiling, there was an unmistakable look of smugness and arrogance in her eyes. Ariel¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. Her face showed no expression. She did not even respond to Sarah. She just could not bring herself to smile and greet the person who had stabbed Elena in the back and caused her life to bepletely ruined. Matt was disgruntled. ¡°Mrs. Stanton is talking to you. Shouldn¡¯t you at least say something?¡± Perry remained silent. From what he could tell, Ariel was someone who would not hesitate to show her likes and dislikes. For her to disy such obvious signs of aversion and indifference, they were probably people who were unkind to her or people she despised a lot. For instance, people like them, who were Jayson¡¯s friends¡­ ¡°It¡¯s alright. This is just how she is. It¡¯s no big deal.¡± As an elder, Sarah appeared generous and forgiving. She acted as if they had never had any bad blood between them. ¡°We¡¯re having a party to celebrate us moving to our new ce. Would you like to join us?¡± Ariel cast a nce at Jayson, who remained expressionless. If it weren¡¯t for him making the arrangements, there was no way Sarah would have been able to return to their country and settle down here so quickly. Ariel found it ironic. Sarah was acting as if nothing had happened after what she had done to Elena in the past. Those who didn¡¯t know better might have really assumed that she was just a kind, friendlydy. Ariel¡¯s gaze drifted toward the banquet hall. The ce was packed with people, mostly prominent figures from the business world. Jayson clearly did a huge favor for Sarah by throwing such a huge party. Even though Ariel had been married to him for so many years, Jayson had never bothered to offer Katie and Leonard this level of respect or special treatment. Ariel remembered the gift box that was left in Jayson¡¯s car trunk earlier. It was probably a gift he had prepared specially for Nancy and Sarah. ¡°Ari is really busy. She doesn¡¯t have the time to act friendly with her husband¡¯s mistress. So, we won¡¯t take up any more of your time.¡± Janice had walked to Ariel¡¯s side and linked arms with her. She was rolling her eyes, trying her best to look intimidating. Sarah knitted her brows as she found Janice¡¯s words distasteful. She pondered, ¡°Is this the type of people Ariel has around her?¡± There was an unreadable look on his face as Jayson cast Janice a sidelong nce. Ariel¨Cnoticed the stony gazeing from him. She worried that Janice might end up getting unwanted trouble. So, she quickly tugged at Janice¡¯s arm to stop her. Meanwhile, Matt and Perry dropped their jaws in bewilderment. One of them was about to say something, yet Nancy waved her hand dismissively. She decided not to argue with Ariel or Janice. Nancy appeared quite calm. She simply thought the twodies were acting tough since that was the only way they could salvage their pride. Moreover, Nancy did not wee Ariel¡¯s presence at all. She turned her eyes to Sarah. ¡°Mom, you should head in first.¡± Sarah directed her gaze to Jayson. ¡°Jayson, I¡¯ll need your help introducing me to some of the guests so I can get to know them. I wouldn¡¯t want to be rude to anyone.¡± Jayson nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Matt grinned and followed behind them. ¡°I¡¯ll help you with that, Mrs. Stanton. It¡¯s definitely a pleasure for everyone here to get to know you.¡® Sarah beamed broadly upon hearing his words. Her mood improved noticeably. Ariel had no intention of speaking to those people. She dragged Janice along as she strode off. Jayson looked at Ariel¡¯s receding figure for a brief moment. Then, he turned around, lookingpletely unbothered. Nancy snorted inaudibly when she saw Jayson¡¯s reaction. It seemed to her that Ariel had chosen to flee from them in fear. Ariel knew she would only embarrass herself if she stayed around. After all, the losers were often the ones who felt undeserving of their position. After exiting the hotel, Janice put her hands on her waist and made a face as if she was about to gag. ¡°How utterly shameless! Those who don¡¯t know better probably think that Jayson Larkin is her son¨Cinw! That pair of mother and daughter looked at you, the wife, as if you were the homewrecker instead. Jayson¡¯s surely given their ego a huge boost!¡± Those people acted as if Ariel should be the one keeping herself out of their sight! Ariel patted Janice¡¯s back to calm her down. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯re getting divorced anyway.¡± Ariel sounded rtively calm. Janice spat, ¡°She¡¯ll always be his mistress as long as you two haven¡¯tpleted the divorce procedures! She¡¯s the typical bitch who¡¯ll say nonsense like there is no right or wrong in love!¡± Ariel hurriedly covered Janice¡¯s mouth. Others might overhear what they were saying. It might bring them trouble if Jayson¡¯s group were to find out what she just said. Janice¡¯s face was set in an angry scowl. As she stepped on the gas pedal, she kept yelling at the cars that were trying to cut in line. Ariel held back from stopping Janice, understanding she needed to vent, a moment that was broken by Chad¡¯s iing call. ¡°Ari, you¡¯reing with me on a business trip to Halread this Wednesday.¡± Chad was trying to make it sound exciting and mysterious. ¡°I think you¡¯re going to love it.¡± Inside 77 Chapter 77 Ariel raised her brows. ¡°A business trip?¡± ¡°We¡¯re going there for the Aerospace Technology Convention that¡¯s held biennially in Halread. Numerous local and foreign experts will be attending the convention. We¡¯ll see a lot of investors there too. So? Are you interested now?¡± Chad smirked. Ariel knew that the convention had been held in Halread every two years for the past decade. It was deemed one of the most important events for the people in their industry. Top engineers and technical staff from their country and around the world were invited to attend this convention, so that everyone could exchange skills and knowledge. It was a rare and precious opportunity. ¡°I think my dad will be there too. You should use the opportunity to talk to him. Ask Jan to help you pick out a dress today or tomorrow. Ourpany will cover the expenses,¡± Chad dered confidently. His words seemed to have gotten rid of all of Janice¡¯s negative emotions and frustrations. ¡°Roger that! You can rx and leave the job to me. I¡¯ll make sure you get a stunning partner for the event, Mr. Hockney!¡± Janice turned the car around and headed for thergest mall right away. She went around and checked out several shops. To her disappointment, the most expensive dress she could find in the mall cost less than a million dors. Janice found the options therecking. After spending two hours on the task, Janice eventually decided to have Ariel wear the dress she had recently received from overseas. She immediately made a phone call and had someone deliver the dress to them. It was a light purple mermaid dress. The fabric was light and silky, like the wings of an insect. The cutting around the waist perfectly entuated the wearer¡¯s curves. The dress looked even more dazzling and magnificent under the lights. It was an exquisite dress despite not being heavily embellished. A lot of work had been put into its cutting and design. ¡°The dress suits you so much! You should wear it. You¡¯ll be the most beautiful, eye¨Ccatchingdy during the event!¡± Janice was extremely satisfied with her choice. Ariel knew that Janice meant it sincerely, so she did not refuse the offer. Laura had helped Chad and Ariel make reservations for their rooms at a hotel for their business trip in Halread. Ariel was packing her things when she found the lucky charm she received from Marie in her pocket. After a short pause, she ced the charm in a far corner of a cupboard and decided to ignore it. Ariel and Chad took a flight to Halread the day before the convention. It was Ariel¡¯s first time visiting Halread. They were staying at a five¨Cstar hotel. Chad and Ariel proceeded to check in when they got there. Ariel took her ID out when they reached the reception. Just then, she heard someone calling her name. ¡°Ariel? What are you doing here?¡± Ariel nced over her shoulder and spotted Matt, who was dragging a suitcase. He scanned her from top to bottom several times before greeting Chad. ¡°Mr. Hockney, you¡¯ve brought your employees here to attend the convention?¡± Other than world¨Css experts, numerous business owners would attend the convention as well. These people would naturally run into each other while looking for projects to invest in. ¡°What a lovely coincidence!¡± Chad replied with a smile. Matt¡¯s brows arched. He took another nce at Ariel. ¡°You only brought her with you, Mr. Hockney?¡± ¡°He gave such a rare, precious opportunity to Ariel, who barely knew anything about the industry? Did the other core members of Faye Tech not have any objections about it?¡± Matt pondered. ¡°Bringing Ari along is more than enough.¡± Chad gave a vague answer, as if he didn¡¯t understand what Matt was implying. On the other hand, Ariel clearly had no intention of greeting Matt. Matt smiled and made no further remarks. He stepped away to make a phone call. Shortly afterward, Ariel spotted a few peopleing in through the door. They were Jayson, Nancy, and Frederick. Ariel pursed her lips. It quickly dawned on her that someone like Jayson must have been invited to attend the convention as a guest of honor. Jayson merely cast a nce in Ariel¡¯s direction when he noticed her. He seemed neither flustered nor surprised. He said with a nod toward Chad, ¡°Mr. Hockney, would you like to join us for dinner this evening?¡± With an apologetic look on his face, Chad replied, ¡°I have another appointment this evening. Perhaps we can do that tomorrow. I might be able to make it then.¡± Jayson nodded. Then, he excused himself and led the others to the elevator. Jayson did not speak to Ariel at all. As usual, they treated each other likeplete strangers. Jayson¡¯s group got into the elevator. Frederick knew who Ariel was. He furrowed his brows. ¡°What¡¯s going on between Mr. Hockney and Ariel? He gave such a precious opportunity to a mere assistant. Isn¡¯t it too much even if he¡¯s trying to help her attend the convention by the back door? Could the two of them really be in a rtionship?¡± Inside 78 Chapter 78 Jayson lowered his gaze and looked at his phone without saying anything. Nancy lifted her brows and stayed silent as well. Meanwhile, Matt patted Frederick¡¯s shoulder. ¡°She won¡¯t do something like that.¡± Ariel only had eyes for Jayson. She could not and would not dare have an affair with another man. Frederick was confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Matt grinned and said nothing. Chad truly had an appointment with someone else that evening. He was going to meet an expert. He reminded Ariel repeatedly before leaving the hotel. ¡°The restaurant in this hotel serves really nice pasta and seafood. You should try their foodter. I¡¯ll bring you some local treats when Ie back tonight.¡± Ariel chuckled. ¡°Alright.¡± They had known each other for many years, and Chad had always been very thoughtful. He would look out for Ariel a lot. Naturally, Chad was quite familiar with her food preferences. Ariel was staying in an executive suite. After she put her things down, Ariel was suddenly reminded of Jayson and the others. There were only executive suites on the floor where she was staying. The presidential suites were found on the floors above. Ariel figured Jayson and Nancy were most likely staying on the higher floors. However, she did not think much of it. When it was lunch hour, Ariel grabbed her phone and headed downstairs. The hotel restaurant had ssy, luxurious surroundings. Ariel picked a seat next to the window. Since she was dining alone, Ariel ordered pasta and soup for one. Jayson¡¯s group arrived there and spotted Ariel, who was alone. She stood out quite a bit since the other patrons were dining there in groups. It made her appear rather lonely. Ariel noticed them too. After a brief pause, she dropped her gaze and continued eating. Ariel knew those people did not wish to see her. With how strange and awkward things were between them, there was no way they would choose to share a table. Hence, it was best for them to just stay away from each other. Nancy averted her gaze from Ariel shortly afterward. Then, she followed Jayson to their table. Matt looked at Jayson and raised his brows. ¡°Doesn¡¯t she look a bit pitiful sitting there all by herself? She has no one by her side at all. Should we ask her to join our table?¡± Nancy paused while wiping her hands with a napkin. She turned her gaze to Jayson. Jayson was flipping through the menu. He had an impassive look on his face. ¡°What do you guys want to eat?¡± THE Nancy curled her lips. As expected, Jayson only had feelings of disdain and aversion toward Ariel. Most of the time, he would not even bother keeping up appearances. Matt understood what Jayson¡¯s response meant as well. It would indeed feel very awkward for everyone. Ariel would only stick out like a sore thumb if she were to join their table. Frederick waspletely oblivious to all that. He said, ¡°I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary. It was because of Ariel that Nancy was given the cold shoulder when she went to Faye Tech¡¯s office previously. Why should we care so much about her situation now?¡± After ordering a few dishes, Jayson suddenly pointed at one of the restaurant¡¯s signature dishes shown on the menu. ¡°I want two orders of this dish. Send one to the table over there.¡± The waiter looked in Ariel¡¯s direction. ¡°Understood, sir.¡± Nancy froze for a moment. However, she snapped out of it pretty quickly. It would seem quite rude of them not to invite Ariel to join their table after running into her. She also looked sad and pathetic eating alone. Sending her a dish was a way of expressing their kindness. Otherwise, they would appear too cold and heartless. Matt gave Jayson a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°Right. You should still make an effort to keep up appearances. Ariel isn¡¯t that hard to please. Any hard, bitter feelings she had in her would be gone once she received the dish from you. Jayson remained silent. He raised his ss and took a sip of Romanee¨CConti. Ariel frowned slightly when the dish was served to her table. The waiter smiled softly. ¡°This is from the gentleman. I hope you enjoy the food, madam.¡± Ariel stared at the dish. Then, she directed her gaze at the group of people who were chatting happily some distance away. None of them had any intention of sparing any more of their attention to her. H Ariel would not naively assume that this dish was Jayson¡¯s way of showing his concern. Instead, it was more like something Jayson had given her half¨Cheartedly out of sympathy. Just like the years during which she had been ignored and neglected by him, Jayson could easily dismiss all those things. Ariel fixed her gaze on the dish for a few seconds. She did not touch it. Then, Ariel put down her fork, stood up, and left. th Inside 79 Chapter 79 Matt noticed it as soon as Ariel left the restaurant. ¡°Why is she leaving already?¡± Jayson turned his head slightly and nced at her table. He saw that the te of food he ordered remainedpletely untouched. ¡°Ha! She¡¯s so annoyingly stubborn.¡± Matt shook his head as he found Ariel¡¯s reaction disappointing. ¡°She¡¯s still acting so haughtily even though we¡¯ve tried to be kind to her.¡± Nancy remained silent. She knew exactly what Ariel was thinking. Ariel was probably affected by her low self¨Cesteem. She was upset about Jayson treating her so unfairly, and she could not bring herself to stay there any longer. Nancy nced at Jayson, who had averted his gaze from the table. He was clearly not bothered by what happened. Nancy smiled. ¡°Can you go shopping with me after we¡¯re done having lunch?¡°. Jayson had no other ns. ¡°Sure.¡± It was Ariel¡¯s first visit to Halread. Actually, Elena had studied at a university in Halread. Ariel decided to visit that university. Visitors were required to make an appointment prior to their visit. Ariel spent some time walking around the schoolpound. Halread University was one of the top art schools in their country. Elena had specialized in oil painting, and she was the top scorer for the college admission test in the fine arts category. To this day, her work was still disyed in the exhibition hall. When she found Elena¡¯s painting, Ariel gazed at it for quite some time. ording to Elena, this artwork was not a single piece but rather two elements designed toplement each other. While one painting was put on disy in Halread University, the other painting had gone missing. Until now, they had not been able to locate its whereabouts. Katie had told Ariel that Elena was still thinking about the lost painting even in her final moments. Ariel figured she could help Elena find peace if she could find and retrieve that painting. Ariel stared at Elena¡¯s painting and the signature, ¡°Elena Walker¡°, which was located near the bottom of the painting, for quite a while. There was a hollow feeling in her chest. The feelings of yearning for her mother flooded her in waves. Coupled with the feelings of sorrow and indignation she had suppressed within her for some time, it made Ariel¡¯s eyes grow.hot. Sadly, Ariel no longer had her mother with her. She had no one to share these emotions with. Ariel wiped off the tears from the corners of her eyes. She slowly turned around and headed out. It was usually wet and humid in Halread during their winter season. The sky was dark and cloudy outside. Ariel could tell that it would rain soon. She walked faster as she headed toward the school entrance. At the same time, she got a cab through an e¨Chailing app. It started drizzling just as she reached the entrance. Ariel sensed several raindrops hitting her body. She hurriedly raised her hands to cover herself and darted toward the nearest shelter. Ariel had just found a good spot when she saw Jayson holding an umbre and walking toward the school entrance with Nancy beside him. Jayson had tilted the umbre slightly toward Nancy to make sure she waspletely shielded from the rain. The two of them spotted Ariel too. Jayson seemed to have frowned slightly the moment he saw her. The unexpected encounter had probably ruined his mood to enjoy a pleasant date with Nancy. Sarah had graduated from Halread University too. It was pretty understandable that Nancy would want to bring Jayson here and show him around. Ariel¡¯s cab arrived just then. She looked away calmly, raised her bag over her head to shield herself from the rain, and got into the car. Upon returning to the hotel, Ariel noticed she had started coughing a little. In her weakened state, she was prone to falling sick whenever she did not pay enough attention to her physical condition. Ariel took the targeted drugs first. Then, she got under the covers and took a nap. She had no idea how long she had been asleep. Ariel woke up and found herself drenched in sweat. She felt light- headed as she reached for her phone. Ariel was not sure when Chad would be back. She wanted to ask for his help to get some cough medicine before he came back. She pressed a certain number. It took quite some time for the line to get through. Ariel furrowed her brows. ¡°Are you on your way back? Can you help me get some medicine? I¡¯m coughing a little. It¡¯s probably bronchitis. You¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Ariel felt like her head cleared the instant she heard that cold voice. She nced at the screen. She¡¯d pressed the wrong number. ¡°Sorry,¡± Ariel said quickly and was about to hang up. ¡°What¡¯s your room number?¡± Jayson asked monotonously. Ariel answered hesitantly, ¡°1603.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was devoid of emotion. He hung up first. On the other hand, Ariel was still feeling a bit dazed. She wondered if Jayson was really going to help bring her some medicine. Yet, it all made sense to her when she thought about it again. Jayson might be cold to her. However, as long as Ariel hadmunicated her request and it was not something too much, Jayson would mostly fulfill them out of basic courtesy. It had nothing to do with how he felt about her. Inside the presidential suite¡¯s recreation room, the others were around when Jayson took the call. Inside 80 Chapter 80 They also heard how Ariel sounded when she spoke on the phone earlier. Nancy frowned slightly and remained silent. Matt let out a chuckle. ¡°She¡¯s quite good at acting, isn¡¯t she? She¡¯s suddenly acting weak to try and catch your attention now?¡± ¡°Perhaps she¡¯s really fallen sick,¡± Nancy put down the cards in her hand and said tly. ¡°Still, she shouldn¡¯t overstep her boundaries. You¡¯re right here with Jayson, after all.¡± Matt shrugged. Just as he had expected, Ariel would definitely try to pull some sort of tricks. Jayson nced down at his watch. It was a little past 8:00 pm. ¡°I¡¯ll go and check on her for a bit.¡± Matt understood why Jayson was doing that. ¡°Right. If you were to ignore her, Ariel mightin to Mrs. Larkin Senior afterward and things might get tricky for you.¡± Nancy pursed her lips without making any remarks. Jayson remained expressionless as he replied, ¡°You guys should continue ying. I¡¯ll be back in a while.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression softened a little. ¡°Alright.¡± Matt grinned. ¡°Fine, we get what you mean. You won¡¯t let her hold you back for long.¡± When Jayson arrived outside her room, Ariel opened the door and found him standing by the door with one hand in his pocket. He stared down at her and scrutinized her face for a while. Then, he stepped into the room. ¡°Which part of your body is hurting?¡± Ariel had no choice but to step aside and make way for him. She caught a whiff of women¡¯s perfume as he passed by her. Jayson had probably stayed with Nancy in the same space for an extended time. She covered her nose discreetly and replied calmly, ¡°My throat.¡± Jayson took another nce at Ariel and noticed how she looked tired and sluggish. She was not pretending to be sick. Jayson narrowed his eyes. He helped her boil some water. Then, Jayson said monotonously, ¡°I brought three types of medicine. One is for bronchitis and one to help reduce a fever. I also got some throat lozenges.¡± Ariel frowned at him. She was quite surprised that Jayson took her words seriously and brought her the medicine. ¡°Thank you.¡± Jayson turned around and looked at her with those cold, deep¨Cset eyes. He said after a brief pause, ¡°Are you going to go back to sleepter?¡± Ariely on the bed. Her head was still spinning. She just wanted to stay put. ¡°Mhm.¡± T The water was still boiling. Ariel nned on taking the medicine once the water was fully boiled. As she was thinking about it, Ariel opened her eyes and looked toward the electric kettle. She noticed that Jayson THE +25 BONUS was still standing there and staring pensively at her. Ariel hesitated for a bit. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± Jayson smirked. He probably thought it was amusing. ¡°You¡¯re good at discarding someone once you¡¯re done using them.¡± Although that was what he said, Jayson had no intention of lingering around. He ced the medicines on the table and left the room. Ariel did not think much of what he said. She slipped in and out of consciousness while lying there. Suddenly, the doorbell rang. To Ariel¡¯s surprise, the hotel had sent food to her room. There was a bowl of porridge and some light snacks. The food looked nd and simple. ¡°I didn¡¯t order food. Did you make a mistake with the room number?¡± She asked. The attendant replied, ¡°Mr. Larkin had instructed us to send this here.¡± As she realized what had happened, Ariel pulled the cart into the room. Jayson was a strange man. He could be either very detached or extremely considerate. If it weren¡¯t for that, Ariel would not have felt so confused and struggled so much in their marriage. Anyway, she was feeling quite hungry. She had been lying down since she came back. She was famished at that point. When she lifted the cover, Ariel saw a bowl of vegetable porridge. Fine chunks of vegetables could be found in the porridge. Some scallions were sprinkled on the porridge, giving it a nice finish. Unfortunately, Ariel was allergic to scallions. Every time she prepared Jayson¡¯s meals, Ariel would add some scallions depending on his taste and preference. Usually, she would avoid eating those dishes. If she had to eat them, Ariel would pick out the scallions first. The two of them had dined together so many times in the past. If Jayson had paid any attention, he would have noticed it by now. Yet, he never seemed to care about such details. Perhaps he had already noticed it. After all, Jayson was smart, and he had excellent memory. He had no trouble memorizing Nancy¡¯s taste preferences. It was just that Ariel did not matter to him as much. Just like her situation now, Ariel had to spend a lot of effort picking out the scallions before she could eat the porridge. However, Ariel no longer wanted to waste her time or energy tolerating and catering to others. She put the cover back on calmly and ordered something else for dinner instead. Inside 81 Chapter 81 The venue for the convention was located just a short distance away, opposite the hotel. Ariel felt a lot better when she woke up the next day. Her throat did not hurt as much as it did yesterday. Still, she took the medicines just to be safe. A reception would be held after the convention was over. The event would start from 3:00 pm and end around 9:00
  1. pm.
Around noon, the doorbell rang. When she opened the door, Ariel was surprised to find Lucas standing before her. ¡°Why do you look so pale?¡± Lucas frowned the instant he saw Ariel. She had not applied any makeup. Even her lips were pale. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± He reached out his hand and ced it against Ariel¡¯s forehead. ¡°Have you taken any medicine? Should I take you to the hospital?¡± Ariel could see the look of concern in his eyes. Still, she took a step backward and averted her gaze. ¡°Do you need something from me?¡± Lucas would soon marry Wendy, the daughter of the Johnstone Group¡¯s owner. It was no surprise for someone like him to attend today¡¯s event. Lucas¡® brows were drawn together in a deep frown when he saw how Ariel was trying to keep her distance from him. After a while, he held out the gift box in his hand to her. ¡°Take a look and see if you like it. You¡¯ll be attending a formal event today. I think you¡¯ll need a nice essory. This one suits you a lot.¡± Ariel could see a certain luxury brand¡¯s logo on the box. ¡°I don¡¯t need it.¡± She pursed her lips. Lucas shoved the box into her hands nheless. ¡°You¡¯re still as stubborn as ever. I¡¯m here to ask you about your mom¡¯s third death anniversary. If you have any ns in mind, let me know in advance so I can help you with it.¡± Ariel paused briefly. She did not expect Lucas would remember about that. Elena passed away a year before Ariel got married. It would soon be her third death anniversary. Jayson probably was not even aware of this. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see you at the convention hall in a bit.¡± Lucas looked at his phone and stroked her hair as he always did. Then, he turned around and left. Ariel could tell that Lucas was not fully sincere about what he said. Therefore, she would not take his word for it. She closed the door and opened the gift box. Inside the box was a diamond ne with a pendant in the shape of a crescent moon surrounded by stars. Ariel had been interested in knowledge rted to aerospace since she was a child. Not only would she read relevant reading materials, but Ariel had also bought a telescope to observe the moon and stars in the sky. No wonder Lucas said it would suit her. Ariel had not expected he would remember what she liked. III A Ariel frowned slightly and hesitated for a moment. She didn¡¯t own that much expensive jewelry, and she didn¡¯t bring any with her for this trip. In the end, Ariel changed into the dress Janice had lent her and did her makeup. She wore the ne and headed out. Ariel figured it wouldn¡¯t be a bad idea to dress up a bit nicer since she was attending an important event. She and Chad headed to the venue together. Most representatives from toppanies were already there. In the main hall, a video showing some of the best creations from recent years was being yed on a big screen. Coincidentally, they were ying the clip of the U.N2 reconnaissance and strike drone on the screen just as Ariel got there. The drone was highlighted as one of the key topics of the convention. Chad raised his brows. ¡°See that? Even after all these years, you¡¯re still one step ahead of everyone else. You probably would have made countless unimaginable achievements if you had chosen not to get married in the first ce.¡± There were only a few people whom Chad truly admired and respected. One of them was Carlos, and the other was Ariel. Just like Carlos who resented Jayson, Chad found Jayson annoying too. Ariel lifted her head and stared at the big screen. She could sense this inexplicable feeling inside her. She took a nce around her. Many people were standing there, watching the clip of the U.N2 drone with admiration. Ariel smiled faintly. Fortunately, she had not realized her true purpose in life toote. ¡°I¡¯m going to check out the exhibits over there.¡± She was interested in seeing thetest creations made by people who worked in the same industry. Chad nodded. ¡°Go ahead.¡± People started gathering around Chad as soon as Ariel walked away. ¡°Mr. Hockney, long time no see.¡± ¡°We¡¯ve heard that Faye Tech is currently working on the development of a new project. Could you share some details with us on what it¡¯s about?¡± Chad had gotten used to such social situations. He smiled amicably. ¡°Long time no see, everyone. We haven¡¯t decided on a clear direction for the project yet. So, I really can¡¯t say much.¡± Chad could not reveal too much since they had not confirmed or officially announced anything regarding the project. The people around him understood that Chad had his reasons as well. They made a toast to him. ¡°The reconnaissance and strike drone you created back then was so impressive. I¡¯m sure people in our industry will feel pressured once they¡¯ve heard you¡¯re working on a new project now.¡± ¡°Geniuses like you are hard toe by, Mr. Hockney. You have such advanced thinking even when you¡¯re only in your 20s. You managed to ovee technical difficulties and achieve breakthrough progress. I see a lot of hope for the growth of our country¡¯s aerospace industry.¡± While they were showering Chad with ttery, these men sincerely admired him as well. Inside 82 Chapter 82 Chad lifted his brows and cast a nce in Ariel¡¯s direction. He said unhurriedly, ¡°Everyone, you tter me too much. To be honest, I¡¯m not the developer of U.N2. I merely witnessed and participated in the process of its creation.¡± Those around Chad looked shocked and bewildered after hearing his words. They tried to ask him more questions. However, Chad waved his hand dismissively. ¡°Sorry. I can¡¯t say anything more.¡± After he had managed to send those people away, Chad finally noticed Jayson¡¯s group was there too. Naturally, these people had heard what he said earlier. Matt was in a state of shock. ¡°You¡¯re not the developer of U.N2, Mr. Hockney? Who is this exceptional genius, then?¡± Nancy was extremely surprised to hear that too. They knew all along that the U.N2 developer was young. However, no one in the younger generation could be considered on the same par as Chad, who was massively talented. Moreover, Chad was Carlos¡® son. Considering all that, they were certain that Chad was the U.N2 developer. ¡°Are you trying to pull our leg, Mr. Hockney?¡± After the initial shock, Nancy chuckled. ¡°We¡¯ve never heard of anyone from our country who¡¯s as good as you, Mr. Hockney.¡± Jayson stared pensively at Chad and made noments. Frederick knitted his brows. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t act overly humble, Mr. Hockney. U.N2 is considered a military product. I won¡¯t buy what you¡¯ve just said.¡± Chad¡¯s gaze fell on Nancy. He scanned her from top to bottom discreetly and said, ¡°I¡¯m beingpletely truthful.¡± Matt gasped. That changed everything they thought they knew. He could not help but feel curious about who this expert was if it was not Chad. Nancy pursed her lips. ¡°Would you mind introducing us to that person, Mr. Hockney?¡± Chad smiled enigmatically. ¡°Introducing you guys¡­ I don¡¯t think that¡¯s necessary.¡± She had been around them all this time. Yet, none of them had made the right guess so far. On the other hand, Ariel had walked around the venue and gotten a rough idea of the standard of technology those from their country were currently working on. Then, she headed back to meet up with Chad. She only noticed that Jayson and the others were standing next to Chad when she got close enough. However¡­ Ariel¡¯s pace slowed down gradually. Her gaze fell on Nancy. Jayson turned his eyes to her, whereas Nancy turned around. For a moment, it was as if time stopped. Frederick, who was frowning, broke the silence eventually. ¡°Ariel, howe you¡¯re wearing the same dress as Ms. Stanton?¡± Everyone was looking between Ariel and Nancy. They were wearing the same light purple mermaid dress! Nancy furrowed her brows. She was visibly displeased. She never imagined she and Ariel would be wearing the same designer dress. Only two of these dresses were sold in this country. Yet, the two of them ended up wearing the same dress while attending the same event! Nancy couldn¡¯t help but find such coincidences suspicious. Jayson was staring at Ariel as well. There was an unreadable look in his eyes. Ariel¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. She lifted her gaze and looked at Jayson. She noticed how he had frowned briefly. Ariel reckoned he was probably irked. She found the situation equally ufortable for her. Ariel replied, ¡°It¡¯s a coincidence.¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it too much of a coincidence?¡± Matt¡¯s brows arched. ¡°You happen to be wearing the same dress as Nancy. You¡¯re clearly trying to pick a fight with her by doing this.¡± The smile on Nancy¡¯s face faltered when she heard that. She pondered, ¡°Not only did Ariel copy me by iming she has an interest in drone technology, but she¡¯s also copying my style now? To do such things during such an important event, does she not have any manners?¡± She pondered. Chad could no longer stand listening to these people. He stepped forward. ¡°How would Ariel know that Ms. Stanton would be wearing the exact same dress today? It¡¯s only natural for people to like and appreciate beautiful clothes. Besides, the two of them have their own unique styles even though they¡¯re wearing the same dress now. Don¡¯t you agree?¡± Matt and Frederick started ncing between Ariel and Nancy again. Eventually, both of them directed their gazes to Ariel. Ariel had an excellent figure, with features like her slim waist, slender neck, and straight shoulders. She was slightly taller than Nancy by a few inches. Her height gave her an edge. On the other hand, Nancy had a voluptuous body. Anyone would find her stunning at first nce. The two of them gave off extremely different vibes even though they were wearing the same dress. However, Matt and Frederick never expected Ariel to look quite alluring in that dress. Ariel looked at Jayson warily. She tried to calm herself down. Although it was an ident, it still seemed rather unsophisticated for them to wear the same dress to such a major event. Naturally, they needed a solution. Hence¡­ ¡°You should change into something else.¡± Jayson had an impassive look in his eyes. His tone was calm yet assertive. He was saying that to Ariel. Inside 83 Chapter 83 Jayson had a stony look in his eyes. His tone was t and steady. Yet, Ariel could feel her cheeks burning. She felt as though something had pounded her hard on the chest. The way Jayson had made his choice without the slightest hint of hesitation made it seem like Ariel¡¯s feelings were not even worth considering when Nancy was involved. He did not care whether Ariel had done it on purpose or not. Nancy was at the top of his list of priorities. Jayson only cared about protecting her public image. He did not care if that would make Ariel feel troubled or embarrassed. ¡°Mr. Larkin, it¡¯s just a dress. I don¡¯t think that¡¯ll be necessary.¡± Chad had a grim expression on his face. 1 He took off his jacket and draped it around Ariel¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Are you satisfied now?¡± Ariel dropped her gaze and tried to steady her breathing silently. Jayson stared expressionlessly at Ariel. Half of her dress was concealed under Chad¡¯s jacket. Ariel did not try to refuse the jacket from him. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I won¡¯t let something like this affect me,¡± Nancy responded. She turned around slowly and elegantly. ¡°We should head to our seats, Jayson.¡± Nancy decided to overlook the issue. Jayson turned his eyes away from Ariel and hummed in response. The two of them walked away together. Even Chad had a deep crease on his forehead. He patted Ariel¡¯s back tofort her. Ariel curled her fingers. Then, she shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Anyhow, there was no way she was going to change into another outfit. Ariel did not see the need to do that for Nancy. Before leaving, Matt nced over his shoulder at Ariel. He could not help wanting to remind her. ¡°It¡¯s no use even if you wear the same dress. The person that Jayson likes is Nancy.¡± It was not about the dress or the profession. It had always been about the person. Sadly, Ariel could not seem to understand that. Matt shrugged before walking away. ¡°Nancy¡¯s really popr in their circle, huh?¡± Chad scoffed. ¡°All of them became so unreasonable when it came to issues involving her.¡± Ariel slowly shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s not that they¡¯re being unreasonable. It¡¯s just that they give her preferential treatment.¡± The way she got married to Jayson was a little inappropriate. His friends had some deep prejudices and misunderstandings about her all along. In the past, Ariel desperately wanted to exin and rify things to them. Now, she no longer cared about it, and she did not need to do that anymore. Chad gave a sigh. Even someone like him, who saw what happened from the side, could not stand how those people had treated Ariel. He could not even begin to imagine what her feelings were like. Meanwhile, Ariel remained rather calm. She was even in the mood to get some snacks at the refreshments area. It was rtively quiet in that area. Just as she got there, Ariel spotted Wendy, who was touching up her makeup. It made sense that she was there since Lucas wasing to the convention too. Ariel was about to leave after grabbing a ss of soda when Wendy spotted her. ¡°Ariel? Howe you¡¯re here today?¡± Ariel halted in her tracks. ¡°I came here with my boss.¡± Wendy got up and walked over to her. ¡°Is it Mr. Hockney? Lucas mentioned earlier that he wanted to speak to him. 11 Ariel listened calmly without saying anything. ¥ß¥ë ¡°I heard that you and Lucas were very close when you were young.¡± Wendy tilted her head and smiled. ¡°Lori said that Lucas doted on you a lot. He would give all the nice food and toys to you first. Lori even thought that you two would be an item.¡± Ariel froze. Then, she met Wendy¡¯s gaze. ¡°You should ask Lucas about that.¡± She did not seem flustered in the slightest as she responded calmly. Wendy chuckled. ¡°I was just joking.¡± ¡°I¡¯m going to look for Lucas now. I¡¯ll talk to you some other time.¡± She took a ss of wine. Wendy was about to walk away, but she turned around again and looked at Ariel¡¯s ne. She said in a surprised tone, ¡°Howe you have this ne? Lucas went shopping with me yesterday and bought me jewelry worth over four million dors. The shop owner gave us a diamond ne for free. Howe he gave that to you?¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°It¡¯s a free gift?¡± Ariel muttered inwardly. Wendy finally realized she had probably shared too much. She said apologetically, ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ve got it wrong. I hope you won¡¯t take it to heart.¡± She finally turned around and left. Lattan Ariel stood there for a while. At some point, she grabbed the ne and yanked it off her neck. Then, she tossed it into her empty ss. The eventmenced shortly afterward. The front row was mostly upied by familiar faces in the industry. Ariel sat to Chad¡¯s left, whereas Jayson¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s seats were found on his right. An aisle separated the seats between the two groups of people. The host was giving a speech on the stage. Ariel noticed that the crowd seemed to be getting more and more excited. Chad patted her on the shoulder. ¡°He¡¯s here.¡± F ¦¥¦£¦¥ ¦¡¦¥ Inside 84 Ariel looked up at Chad¡¯s word. There was a burst of apuse as a tall and poised man strode in. Upon recognizing Carlos, Ariel immediately straightened up. Her palms were slightly sweaty as an indescribable sense of anxiety crept into her. Carlos had reallye. When he walked past her, he tilted his head slightly, casting her a nce. Then, he averted his gaze in frustration and ignored her. A rueful expression crossed Ariel¡¯s face. She understood how Carlos must be feeling. As Carlos took his seat, Ariel nced his way and realized he was actually seated beside Jayson. Nancy was elegantly shaking hands with him as she introduced herself. Ariel was slightly surprised. The other guests were whispering among themselves. ¡°To think Mr. Carlos is actually here! Weren¡¯t there rumors circting, saying that he wasn¡¯t showing up?¡± ¡°That¡¯s true, but then¡­¡± started someone else. Lowering his voice, he continued, ¡°I heard Mr. Larkin contributed 200 million dors to the research engineering team in exchange for Mr. Carlos to make a brief appearance.¡± ¡°Now I understand. Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend works in the same field. It¡¯s natural that she¡¯d want to get to know the person who holds the highest authority in the national research engineering team.¡± ¡°Ms. Stanton is truly blessed¨CMr. Larkin is simply generous toward his girlfriend! He doesn¡¯t even bat an eyelid when sshing out such a great sum for her. As far as I know, he¡¯s never been so nice to any other woman publicly ¦° Murmurs of admiration arose among the crowd. Ariel heard everything they said. Lowering her gaze, she fell deep in thought. It turned out that Jayson spent 200 million dors for Nancy¡¯s sake, and that was how he got Carlos to attend the function. She abruptly recalled that Katie had once managed a high¨Cend vintage¨Cstyled hotel. Due to poor management over the years, she was faced with financial issues. Back then, Jayson had never once offered her financial support. Two years ago, Katie could no longer keep the hotel afloat and decided to sell it. Even though Ariel no longer cared, such a stark contrast in the treatment she and Nancy received brought a self- deprecating smile to her lips. The convention went on until 7:00 pm, and then they were to attend the reception. Chad couldn¡¯t wait any longer. He instantly pulled Ariel to her feet. ¡°Let¡¯s meet that stubborn old man.¡± Ariel held her breath unknowingly. She¡¯d be lying if she said she wasn¡¯t the teeniest bit nervous. As they approached Carlos, she stopped in her tracks. Chad had already walked over to Carlos. Since they were in public, he behaved appropriately and didn¡¯t call out ¡± Dad¡°. ¡°Mr. Carlos, could you spare us some time for a chat?¡± With his hands behind his back, Carlos swept his gaze across Ariel. He snorted. ¡°Who in this hall wouldn¡¯t want to have a chat with me? I have so many people to entertain tonight. Do you think I have too much time to spare?¡± He then strode off. Ariel saw thating. Carlos regarded talented people highly and was willing to support them. Back then, he had held high expectations for her, but she gave up the opportunity to pursue her graduate degree under Carlos¡® mentorship and got married instead. Along with various other reasons, she had inevitably let him down. If she couldn¡¯t meet his expectations after returning to the field, he might not see her at all. Though that made her feel downcast, it motivated her even more. Ariel quickly gathered herself. Chad returned to her side, sighing. ¡°Stubborn old man. It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll try to talk to him. He¡¯s just mad that you gave up obtaining your graduate degree and that slot he¡¯d eagerly reserved for you.¡± Ariel was ridden with guilt. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Let¡¯s take it slow. I¡¯m not attending the reception. I¡¯d like to go back and have a rest.¡± She had a cold yesterday, so she was feeling weary today. Chad didn¡¯t force her to stay. ¡°Sure. You can keep that coat.¡± Ariel was uninterested in the reception, after which the business negotiations would start. She wasn¡¯t keen on that. Chad could handle it alone. After returning to the hotel, she took a shower. Then, she started going through all the key ideas she hade across recently. She wanted Carlos to acknowledge her too. She wanted him to know she had never stopped learning throughout those three years. Being in a good mood after meeting Carlos, she took a photo of the night view outside and posted it on her social media. Soon, Betty video called her. ¡°Ari, why didn¡¯t you tell me you were going on a trip to Halread with Jayson?¡± Inside 85 Chapter 85 The location tag on Ariel¡¯s post showed that she was at a hotel in Halread, and Betty saw it. Ariel wasn¡¯t sure how she should answer that question. ¡°We are attending the same function.¡± She didn¡¯t borate on whether or not they hade together. After all, she had indeed not known Jayson wasing previously. Besides, he came here with Nancy. Naturally, she shouldn¡¯t let Betty know about that. Betty¡¯s smile broadened. ¡°That¡¯s great. You two should spend a few more days there. Take it as a vacation. It¡¯ll help deepen your bond.¡± Ariel smiled and said nothing. Betty didn¡¯t know that with Nancy there, Jayson wouldn¡¯t have the time to ¡°deepen their bond¡± with her. She didn¡¯t even know which room he was staying in. ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson? I don¡¯t see him.¡± Ariel pondered briefly before saying, ¡°He¡¯s still socializing with the other guests and may not be back so early.¡± Betty frowned. She huffed, ¡°He¡¯s always socializing. It¡¯s not like he¡¯ll lose anything if he doesn¡¯t attend the function! His time would be better spent apanying you!¡± Ariel softly replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma.¡± Jayson was paving the way for Nancy¡¯s career. To him, that was far more important than anything else. ¡°Fine. What about this¨Cwhen he returns, you should video call me. I¡¯ll tell him off on your behalf!¡± Betty was evidently displeased. ¡°That¡¯s decided. You should take a rest now, Ari.¡± Ariel wanted to object to that idea, but Betty had already ended the call. Feeling helpless, she held her forehead. Still, she didn¡¯t linger on it for long. Putting aside her phone, she continued going through her slides. Meanwhile, Carlos hadn¡¯t left the reception. Jayson was the reason he had attended the function. That young man was bold and decisive. He willingly parted with 200 million dors in support of their country¡¯s development in the aerospace field, so of course Carlos had to show him some respect. sses clinked. Carlos wasn¡¯t interested in social interaction. He left Chad to deal with them instead. That was until Jayson approached him with Nancy. He subtly sized them up. Nancy smoothed out her dress and graciously greeted him. ¡°Mr. Carlos, I¡¯m honored to be acquainted with you today. I¡¯m actually in aerospace engineering too. May I get your guidance on some questions?¡± Carlos adjusted his sses and gave her a once¨Cover. ¡°Mr. Larkin told me about you, that you obtained your PhD overseas.¡± Nancy smiled. ¡°That¡¯s true. I took up an integrated master¡¯s and PhD program. Our country is leading in the aerospace engineering field thanks to your contribution.¡± ttering words were necessary, but that was also no doubt the truth. Standing beside them, Chad kept silent with a ss in his hand. As Ariel said, if Nancy managed to get Carlos to acknowledge her, nothing Chad said would work. He should just watch how things turn out. Jayson was even moreposed. He calmly epted the toasts offered by others and theirpliments, allowing Nancy to interact with Carlos on her own. He seemed confident in her. ¡°You attended a great college. Since you have a PhD qualification, tell me more about the projects you¡¯ve participated in during your internship,¡± said Carlos, nodding. He seemed friendly, but Chad knew that meant he wasn¡¯t quite impressed yet. Nancy handed Carlos her phone. ¡°I¡¯ve participated in the research and development of this drone, which Artio Corporation in Meriniaunchedst year. I believe you know about thispany.¡± Carlos gave it a quick skim. ¡°So, you weren¡¯t the main developer?¡± Nancy paused before nodding. ¡°I hadn¡¯t graduated back then. Although I came up with the idea, I could only partner up with my senior in the development of the drone.¡± At such a young age, she had already had the experience of working for a top¨Ctierpany, even at the international level. She was aware of her strength. Within the country, only a handful of those her age could rival her. ¡°Hm, that¡¯s not bad.¡± Carlos withdrew his gaze. Nancy¡¯s lips curved into a smile, but in those gentle eyes of hers, a subtle hint of arrogance shone. Right after, Carlos said, ¡°Still, your achievements could only be considered mediocre at best. There was once someone who led the development of a military drone at the age of 20, and the government recruited her. Ms. Stanton,pared to her back then, you¡¯re not young anymore.¡± Inside 86 Chapter 86 Nancy was taken aback but didn¡¯t show it. After all, Carlos had met the most brilliant minds from all over the country. It wasn¡¯t surprising that he¡¯d have high standards. Still, who could he be talking about? Chad barely contained hisughter. Age wasn¡¯t the only factor. The drone that Nancy helped develop was, at most, a form of entertainment for drone enthusiasts. It wasn¡¯t even in the same league as the reconnaissance and strike drone Ariel developed. But, of course, Ariel was already considered a genius among geniuses. Carlos noticed the teasing look in Chad¡¯s eyes and cast him an icy stare. Chad shrugged. Why was Carlos taking it out on him? He wasn¡¯t the one who shoved Ariel into a life of marriage. ¡°I know I do indeed have to continue my efforts.¡± Nancy quickly collected her thoughts and humbly agreed with Carlos. She understood what Carlos was trying to imply. As of now, her achievements weren¡¯t up to his standards, so, naturally, it wasn¡¯t the right time to request him to go through her thesis. She could only put off her intention and think of something else. Jayson followed their conversation, but he didn¡¯t react much. In a gracious andposed manner, he said, ¡°Take your time. You have plenty of opportunities.¡± Nancy instantly rposed herself. She knew she would have the chance to prove her worth. Meanwhile, many of the corporate executives present approached Jayson and raised their sses to toast him. Jayson continuedworking. Ariel had just finished going through her slides when she received Chad¡¯s text. He had quite a lot to say, and his messages kepting in. ¡°My old man wasn¡¯t impressed. If it were any otherpany, she would have been highly sought after. Too bad she got too ambitious and tried to get in touch with someone from an entirely different league, like my old man. She must¡¯ve suffered an emotional blow.¡± Another text came in. ¡°Jayson was cool about it, though. He didn¡¯t once intervene. I don¡¯t know if it¡¯s because he had faith in Nancy or if he¡¯d already seen thating.¡± A third text quickly followed. ¡°If he¡¯d already guessed that my old man would react this way yet was still willing to throw away 200 million dors just to invite him, he must¡¯ve been head over heels in love with Nancy!¡± Ariel was emotionally numb. Jayson was indeed extremely nice to Nancy. The apple of his eye didn¡¯t have to say a word, and he¡¯d get rid of all obstacles in her way. On the other hand, she poured her love on him yet gained nothing in return. She was no longer interested in what happened next. Getting up, she went to take a shower. It was almost 10:00 pm. The reception must be nearing its end. She had just changed into her pajamas and left the bathroom when the doorbell rang. Though puzzled, she opened the door, only to see Jayson, whose brow was creased with a frown. With his coat draped over his arm, he entered the room without casting Ariel a nce. He reeked of alcohol. Ariel went after him. ¡°Why have youe?¡± He must¡¯ve drunk a lot. Rubbing his temples, he said, ¡°Grandma called.¡± Ariel immediately understood. Betty must¡¯ve called to check where he was, so Jayson came over just to put on a front. When her gaze focused on him again, he was already on the couch. His head was tilted backward as he shut his eyes. He seemed to feel ufortable. Ariel pressed her lips together before asking, ¡°Well, should we call Grandma?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t answer her, nor did he open his eyes. His well¨Cdefined Adam¡¯s apple bobbed slightly. Ariel knew he would have a headache whenever he overdrank. She used to massage his temples for him back then and prepare oatmeal for him so that his stomach would feel better. But it was different now. Walking over to him, she showed no signs of concern. She asked matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°Jayson? Can you still talk with Grandma over the phone?¡± Jayson remained silent, as though he were asleep. Ariel¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. Right then, she felt helpless. She decided she wasn¡¯t going to bother about him anymore. He¡¯d leave on his own when he woke up. She should go to bed. As she turned around, a burning hand caught her slender wrist. His hand felt so hot that she shuddered. She was still stunned when he pulled her into a warm and muscr embrace, plopping her onto hisp. He grabbed her waist ferociously. His steamy breaths brushed against her lips. With one hand, he grabbed her by the neck and pulled her toward him as he kissed her lips. In a hoarse voice, he muttered, ¡°Don¡¯t go. I miss you¡­¡± Inside 87 Chapter 87 Ariel¡¯s mind went nk for some time. Jayson¡¯s breath was tinged with alcohol as his lips grazed against hers. She couldn¡¯t even put up a fight against him, not until she felt him trying to part her lips. Shaken back into her senses, she shoved him aside and moved away from him. As she straightened out her disheveled pajamas, her eyes turned cold. ¡°Jayson, you¡¯re drunk. I¡¯m not Nancy.¡± Jayson opened his eyes upon the impact. He kept his gaze fixed on her displeased expression as his soulful eyes regained rity. He then frowned. He certainly didn¡¯t see thating, especially Ariel¡¯s taut expression. Looking around, he sat upright, kneading his temples. In a raspy voice, he asked, ¡°What time is it?¡± Ariel¡¯s heart was still racing. It¡¯d been some time since they werest so close to each other, and it made her feel ufortable. Besides, given their current situation, it was inappropriate. At that moment, the repulsion and annoyance she¡¯d felt when they pressured her to change her gown in front of everyone else¡ªand when Jayson mistook her for Nancy¨Cresurfaced. ¡°It¡¯s a bit past ten.¡± Jayson let out a soft hum. ¡°We don¡¯t have to call her now. Let¡¯s do it tomorrow.¡± He then got up, his sturdy figure casting an imposing air over the room. Casting her a nce, he didn¡¯t bring up what just happened. ¡°You should go to bed.¡± Then, he picked up his coat and left in a hurry, seemingly having something important to attend to. Ariel assumed that he must¡¯ve felt frustrated over mistaking her for Nancy. He must¡¯ve felt guilty toward Nancy after he sobered up. She recalled him saying ¡°I miss you¡°. Never once had she seen that clingy side to him. He must¡¯ve been used to being all lovey¨Cdovey with Nancy, so he behaved in such a way earlier. Unlike the times when he was with her, he¡¯d never been so affectionate even when they were being intimate. After the deed was done, he¡¯d also never hugged her as they slept. She stopped thinking about that and went to bed. A new day had begun. Ariel¡¯s trip back was already confirmed. Early in the morning, Betty called. ¡°Ari, are you two up?¡± Ariel ced her mug back down. ¡°Yes, we are.¡± ¡°When are you twoing back to Eldoria? Have you bought your tickets?¡± Ariel hesitated. She and Jayson had always been moving separately, so she didn¡¯t know how to answer Betty. ¡°W- We haven¡¯t decided.¡± ¡°I see. Tell me when you¡¯ve decided. I¡¯ll get someone to send you some imported prepackaged supplements.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± They talked for a bit more before ending the call. Ariel presumed that she and Jayson might not be on the same flight and wondered if she should ask him when his flight would arrive at Eldoria. They could then gloss that situation over. She dialed Jayson¡¯s number. It took quite a long time before the call was answered. ¡°Jayson is still sleeping. Is anything the matter?¡± Nancy¡¯s calm voice came through the receiver. A hint of arrogance slipped out, though her tone was gentle. Ariel was stunned but quickly came back to her senses. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Nancy simply hummed and ended the call. Ariel put her phone back down and shook her head. Jayson had been particrly lenient on Nancy. He even allowed Nancy to handle something as personal as his phone without qualms. Ariel suddenly remembered that one time Jayson got drunk. She helped him change, and seeing that his phone was out of battery, she helped him charge it. However, Jayson stared at her coldly, saying, ¡°Never touch my phone again.¡± His piercing gaze left a humiliating mark on her. He warned her to stay in line even though she didn¡¯t mean to do anything. However, he allowed Nancy to do as she wished. Ariel snapped back to the present. Seeing how he¡¯d mistaken her for Nancyst night, he must have wanted to see Nancy. It was natural that he would be with her now. Putting her phone down, she sat in silence for a while before starting to pack her suitcase. Laura bought the ticket for an afternoon flight, so she had all the time to get ready. At noon, Chad called to invite Ariel for lunch. She left after putting on a coat. She ran into Lucas in the elevator lobby. Lucas must¡¯ve drunk a bitst night. His untamed features wore azy expression that lingered after a night of drinking. When he saw her approaching, he instinctively nced at her neck. When he didn¡¯t see the ne, he frowned. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you wearing it?¡± Ariel had just pressed the elevator button. She remembered how the ne was a free gift. Inside 88 Chapter 88 Ariel calmly replied, ¡°I threw it away.¡± Lucas stared at her and realized she was expressionless. He then said, ¡°Well, so be it. I¡¯ll get you a new one. Ariel paused before saying, ¡°There¡¯s no need to. I don¡¯t need one.¡± She would be lying to say his actions didn¡¯t hurt her pride. Lucas was never one to humiliate her like that. He could well afford an essory, yet he dismissed her with a free gift. Lucas narrowed his eyes. He gave Ariel a diamond ne because he hadn¡¯t taken her side previously. He thought she would overlook that if he appeased her. However, he was starting to get annoyed that she wouldn¡¯t let it drop. ¡°Since when have you be so absent¨Cminded? You¡¯ve always kept my gifts to you securely. Ari, if you want something else instead, just tell me. You don¡¯t have to behave like this.¡± He didn¡¯t believe that Ariel would throw away the ne. She had always treasured everything he gave her. Even if it was something he bought from a thrift store, she had never shown disdain. Ariel couldn¡¯t retaliate. In fact, his words left scratches on their wistful memories. She had once held dear their rtionship, be it the familial affection they shared growing up together or the budding feelings of romance they once had for each other. However, that was no excuse for him to treat her as though she were cheap. It wasn¡¯t an excuse for him to think she was only worthy of receiving something that didn¡¯t cost a penny. There was a clear ring as the elevator doors opened. Ariel turned to look at him. ¡°People will change. No one will stay in the past forever.¡± She¡¯d long since let go of her feelings for Lucas. He wasn¡¯t even a brother to her now. Lucas¡® expression turned gloomy. He marched up to her and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Change? You¡¯re still clinging to Jayson despite how he¡¯s been treating you. Since when have you be someone who suffers in silence? Why would you do that if it¡¯s not to use your marriage to provoke me? Ariel looked at him, taken aback. She met his brooding gaze. She was just about to break free when she spotted several people walking toward them from behind Lucas. Her gaze met one of theirs, and her brow furrowed further. Instinctively, she wondered if he had heard what Lucas had said. As those people approached, she snatched her hand from Lucas¡® clutch and quickly entered the elevator. The doors closed. Lucas frowned. Then, he felt someone approaching. Turning to look, he saw Jayson, with Nancy and Matt, who¡¯d just caught up. Nancy saw Ariel too, but was only in time to catch her entering the elevator. Unconcerned about Ariel, she asked, ¡°Mr. Sanderson, why isn¡¯t Wendy with you?¡± Lucas put aside what had happened with Ariel for the time being and stopped thinking about it further. ¡°She wanted to sleep for a bit more.¡± He then turned to Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I heard you had a pleasant conversation with Mr. Hockneyst night.¡± Chad was in the spotlightst night. So many had wanted to be on his good side. Faye Tech must be nning something major. Jayson wasn¡¯t bothered that he had almost bumped into Ariel. Casually, he answered, ¡°We simply had dinner together.¡± Lucas smilednguidly. ¡°Everyone knows Faye Tech may be starting a major project in the near future. Looks like you¡¯re leaving nothing to chance. Are you interested in Faye Tech?¡± At his question, Jayson merely smiled and said nothing. Lucas patted his shoulder. ¡°What a coincidence, I think the same too. Fortunately, Ari is on good terms with Mr. Hockney. I think I might have a fair chance of being a part of it. You, however¡­¡± He cast a subtle nce at Nancy. Jayson¡¯s eyes were filled with unrecognizable emotions. Instead, Matt let out a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯re worrying over nothing, Mr. Sanderson. If Jayson wants to coborate with Faye Tech, Ariel would onlye running with the contract. You may not even have a chance at it.¡± Ariel would dly do anything at all to get Jayson to look at her. Hadn¡¯t it always been that way all these years? Lucas nced from Jayson to Nancy. Eventually, he smiled. ¡°That¡¯s for the best.¡± In the afternoon, something came up, and Chad had to fly to the neighboring district. Ariel could only return to Eldoria on her own. Before she boarded the ne, Jayson actually called her. He asked, ¡°What time would you be reaching Eldoria?¡± Inside 89 Chapter 89 Ariel was already at the airport. She checked in her luggage before replying, ¡°About 4:30 pm.¡± Jayson fell silent for a moment. ¡°I see. Wait for me when you reach. I¡¯ll give you a ride back to the city.¡± Ariel thought that he must be calling only because Betty urged him to. Because of the incidentst night, she was hesitant. Jayson sensed it and smiled knowingly. ¡°Grandma told me to.¡± At the mention of Betty, Ariel frowned. ¡°When are you going to tell Grandma about it?¡± ¡°Jayson, we¡¯re boarding now.¡± Nancy¡¯s voice suddenly came through the receiver, followed by a dead tone. Jayson ended the call. Ariel wasn¡¯t even sure if he¡¯d heard her. He seemed unruffled about what happenedst night. If she wasn¡¯t mistaken, judging from the announcement she heard on his side, it seemed they were on the same flight as her. Ariel had a sudden urge tough. He was with Nancy, so how could he give her a ride back to the city? She didn¡¯t allow herself to linger on that thought. The trip back to Eldoria from Halread took about two hours. After touching down, Ariel went to retrieve her luggage. She remembered Jayson¡¯s offer to give her a ride back to the city. Betty must¡¯ve said something to him. Taking a seat, she called him, but he didn¡¯t answer. Thinking that he would return her call when he was ready, she stopped worrying about it and continued her work on herptop. She wasn¡¯t going to waste her time as she waited for his reply. Her environment wasn¡¯t exactly an ideal one for working. As time passed unknowingly, she massaged her stiff neck and checked the time. It had already been 40 minutes, yet Jayson hadn¡¯t contacted her. Not even surprised, and unwilling to wait any longer, Ariel shut down herptop and walked out. She had just reached the cab stand when Janice called. ¡°I must¡¯ve walked under adder today! I¡¯ve onlye to the hospital to take an IV drip for my tonsillitis, yet I ended up bumping into Jayson and his mistress!¡± Ariel ¡®slowed down and looked up at the cloudy sky. A wave of coldness washed over her. Withdrawing her gaze, she pulled her coat tighter around her and hopped into a cab. Chapter & That made sense. Jayson had already left with Nancy. He didn¡¯t even inform her or answer her call. He had left her hanging and forgotten entirely about her. She couldn¡¯t understand. Why would he offer to give her a ride if he couldn¡¯t walk the talk? Ariel shut her eyes and expressed her concern about Janice¡¯s condition. ¡°Are you feeling better?¡± Given that Jayson and Nancy were at the hospital, something must¡¯ve happened to Nancy for Jayson to forget about Ariel like that. Janice coughed. Miffed, she grumbled, ¡°I couldn¡¯t talk at first. I had such an urge to yell at someone when I saw them that it cured my tonsillitis. Oh, right. Chad said you¡¯ll be arriving around this time. Are you home yet?¡± Ariel answered softly, ¡°I¡¯ve just got into a cab.¡± Puzzled, Janice asked, ¡°Weren¡¯t you supposed to arrive at 4:30 pm? It¡¯s already 5:30 pm, and you¡¯ve just only gotten into the cab now?¡± For a moment, Ariel didn¡¯t know what to say. A wistful expression crossed her eyes. ¡°Something held me back. I¡¯lle and keep youpany in a while.¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need to. The hospital is for sick people. I don¡¯t want you to get infected. Go home and take a rest.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t insist. She had just arrived home when she received the doctor¡¯s message. It read, ¡°Ms. Walker, you cane for your first radiation therapy next week.¡± She affirmed her attendance before going to bed. These two days had drained her energy. Exhaustion filled every corner of her body. She knew she was on the edge of breaking down, so she requested a day off from work. However, she wasn¡¯t idle. She started nning for Elena¡¯s third death anniversary. Katie viewed the third death anniversary with great importance. It signified a closure point of the grieving process, and it was a significant asion for the older generations. It was two weeks to Elena¡¯s third death anniversary. Ariel still had time to prepare. Inside 90 In the afternoon, Chad called. ¡°Earlier today, my old man pretended to show concern about the progress of the projects under Faye Tech. He¡¯s actually just curious about the topic you¡¯re interested in after making aeback. Well, you shouldpile your data and send it to him. He surely can¡¯t refrain from himself after reading them.¡± It was a good opportunity to break the ice. Ariel could now show Carlos her level of expertise, so he could forgive her. She was nervous, of course. She had been about to take the test to enroll for a graduate degree under Carlos. But s, to save Lucas, she was sent off to the Larkin family as part of the deal and had her dream cut short. Without hesitation, she emailed her proposal to Carlos. It was almost 8:00 pm when she finally received his call. Her fingers curled into a fist as she answered it. There was silence on the other end of the receiver. Some timeter, she heard a snort. Carlos snapped, ¡°Have you lost your ability to speak now? What are you, a coward?¡± Knowing that she was at fault, she mumbled, ¡°No¡­¡± ¡°Enough. I¡¯ve looked through Faye Tech¡¯s projects. Using that as your first posteback project isn¡¯t too shabby. However, talents in this field are easily receable. If you want to gain a foothold in this industry, you¡¯d better not ck off.¡± If Ariel hadn¡¯t been held back for three years, she would¡¯ve long since achieved greater heights. Geniuses were a dime a dozen, but true prodigies were rare. Carlos had always held high expectations for Ariel. Back then, he had reserved a spot for her in the graduate program for many years. However, she devoted herself to her marriage and never returned. Ariel took a deep breath. ¡°I will do my best.¡± She didn¡¯t know when her life would end and when she would finally sumb to her illness. All she could do was make the most of her remaining time. Carlos fell silent again. Then, he sighed. ¡°How have you been?¡± Ariel knew he was asking about her marriage. She was too embarrassed to talk about it, and silence ensued. Carlos suddenly snorted. ¡°Lost your speech again? That man called Jayson Larkin did all he could to meet me, vouching for that young woman. Why is he doing that?¡± He knew Jayson was Ariel¡¯s husband. Chad had already told him about it. He had an inkling about why Jayson had introduced Nancy to him. Ariel¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. She said, ¡°You probably know the answer already.¡± She knew Chad wouldn¡¯t tell Carlos about her problems, but Jayson had been overt about his favoritism toward Nancy. How could Carlos not notice it? She was feeling ashamed. She¡¯d given up on herself because of the circumstances, yet that was what she got in return. It was foolish and unworthy. This time, Carlos didn¡¯t reprimand her. How could he not notice she was embarrassed? Peeved and feeling sorry for her, he said, ¡°If that¡¯s the case, focus on improving yourself. A man¡¯s love is worth less than nothing. There¡¯s no need to feel sorry about losing it! You shouldn¡¯t lose in your expertise, though!¡± Ariel slowly exhaled. Meekly, she answered, ¡°I understand.¡± Carlos had a quirky personality. He was really bad¨Ctempered, and it was difficult to appease him when he got mad. After that, he ended the call right away, not giving Ariel a chance to gain his favor. However, Ariel felt more at ease after the interaction. It also gave her more motivation and a clearer sense of purpose. If she had the opportunity, she would still be willing to join the graduate program under Carlos¡® mentorship. But for now, there was something more important on her mind. She had a nid out for Elena¡¯s third death anniversary. Katie and Leonard still hadn¡¯t learned about her divorce, and now, there wasn¡¯t a suitable time for her to inform them. So, on the day of the ceremony, Jayson would have to keep up the act as her husband. And for that, she had to talk to Jayson. She pondered over it. She thought she should just call him, but remembering the time when Nancy answered his phone, she eventually called Betty instead. Inside 91 Chapter 91 The call went unanswered for a long time. It was only about 8:00 pm. Betty was a mischievous old soul. She liked to watch dramas and scroll through the reels on social media. She shouldn¡¯t already be asleep. Ariel called thendline instead. One of the household staff answered it. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin Senior is feeling under the weather these couple of days and is now resting. She didn¡¯t have much of an appetite today.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t help worrying. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is it her blood pressure?¡± ¡°The family doctor came to have a look. He said Mrs. Larkin Senior is having a cold and her blood pressure is fluctuating. Mrs. Larkin, are you free to drop by today? Mrs. Larkin Senior doesn¡¯t really listen to us¡­¡± Ariel hesitated. It wasn¡¯t appropriate for her to ignore Betty after learning about her condition. Besides, Betty had been nice to her. In every sense, she should visit Betty. She hummed in acknowledgment. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there.¡± After freshening up, she headed for Larkin Manor. She originally wanted to ask Betty if Jayson was there. Now, she had no choice but to visit herself. Upon arriving at the manor, the household staff gave her a change of indoor slippers. Ariel spotted Betty, lying on her side on the couch in the living room. When Betty heard Arieling in, she sat up instantly and smiled at her. ¡°You¡¯re back, Ari. They told me you¡¯reing back, so I sat here waiting for you. Have you just got off work?¡± Seeing that herplexion wasn¡¯t too pale, Ariel felt relieved. ¡°Grandma, are you feeling better? I heard you didn¡¯t even want to have your meals.¡± Betty lovingly held her hand. ¡°It¡¯s fine. As we age, we tend to get sick easily. It¡¯s just like an intermittent diet.¡± Ariel frowned. ¡°How can you do that? Come, tell me what you want to eat, and I¡¯ll make it for you.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Betty¡¯s face immediately lit up. ¡°I want oatmeal. You make the best oatmeal.¡± Ariel smiled. ¡°Sure. Wait here.¡± She had learned how to cook because of Jayson. She poured her heart into it, so she was quite skilled in preparing oatmeal and all sorts of soups. After tasting her cooking, Betty would always crave more. Ariel swiftly entered the kitchen. She rarely cooked ever since she started working at Faye Tech. There was also no need for her to rush back during lunch hour just to cook for Jayson anymore. It had been less burdensome for her. However, she had just served the oatmeal when she heard the whir of a car. Jayson entered the living room. His gaze fell on Ariel. He noticed her hurrying in and out of the kitchen, her frail figure d in an apron, and his gaze became profound. When Betty realized he was back, she chuckled. ¡°I was just about to call you! Look, Ari was concerned about you working yourself too hard, so she purposely cooked for you today. Only she would be so attentive to you.¡± Ariel paused. She sensed Jayson¡¯s eyes on her again and felt a sense of awkwardness. Feeling resigned, she nced at Betty. She knew Betty said that on purpose so that they could be closer. She wanted Jayson to be more affectionate to Ariel. Still, it was all in vain. She had done the same thing for three years, but he never cared. Jayson only thought of Ariel as a simp mainly because they were going to divorce. What would he think of her if Betty said that? Indeed, Jayson merely jested. ¡°We have the household staff for that. Your efforts are unnecessary.¡± Even though Ariel was used to his reaction, she still felt suffocated because of his words. She had never had wishful thinking that she would earn his genuine love, but he shouldn¡¯t be looking down on her that way. Even Betty was taken aback. ¡°How is that the same?¡± Jayson calmly sat at the dining table and changed the topic. ¡°Are you feeling better, Grandma?¡± Betty huffed, ¡°I can live longer if you and Ari get along!¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond to that. Upon hearing that, Jayson smiled casually. ¡°You¡¯ll easily live a good, long life if you stop worrying over nothing.¡± Betty red at him. Turning to Ariel, she felt sorry for her. ¡°You should eat up. You¡¯re getting thinner. How hard must you¡¯ve been working for you to lose so much weight? You should just return to the manor. The household staff will take good care of you. Jayson nonchntly nced at her. Not knowing how to exin that she had thinned down because of her illness, and not because of work, Ariel served the food for Betty and glossed over the topic. H Inside 92 Chapter 92 However, Betty¡¯s appetite was much better. She even took an extra helping. The oatmeal Ariel prepared was almost finished. Even Jayson took a big portion. Ariel wasn¡¯t surprised at all. Jayson had always enjoyed her cooking. After dinner, Jayson went out to answer a phone call. Ariel waited for several minutes before going out after him. On a covered walkway, she found him smoking. Pulling her coat tighter around herself, she walked up to him.¡± Have a minute to spare?¡± She wanted to talk to him about attending Elena¡¯s third death anniversary. As she approached, Jayson moved the cigarette away from his lips and put it out. ¡°How long have you been there?¡± he asked, eyeing her. at que Ariel took some time to realize the meaning behind that question. Was he on the phone with Nancy just now?¡± ¡°Just now,¡± she replied coolly, her chest still heaving. ¡°After you ended the call.¡± Jayson then arched an eyebrow at her. With one hand stuck into his pocket, he abruptly said, ¡°I was drunk.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t grasp what he meant for a moment. Jayson smirked. In an unhurried tone, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll make a fuss about what happened that night, will you?¡± Ariel¡¯s mind went nk for a moment as she suddenly understood he was talking about the night they kissed. Chills ran down her spine. She was both taken aback and in disbelief. Was he warning her not to bring it up before Nancy so that Nancy wouldn¡¯t misunderstand? ¡°What happened that night was a mistake for you and trouble for me. There¡¯s nothing to worry about, Mr. Larkin. ¡°Ariel stared right into his eyes as she said that, her tone resolute. He should never have to worry about that! Jayson gazed at her in silence. In the dark, his features were even more striking. After some time, he coldly retracted his gaze. ¡°Good.¡± Without further ado, he strode off. Ariel quickly asked, ¡°Are you free on the 24th? Could you make some time? It¡¯s my mom¡¯s third-¡± ¡°Go to Colton to make an appointment. You should go to bed now. I have something to attend to tonight.¡± After saying that without so much as a hint of emotion, he left. He didn¡¯t even wait for her to finish. However, Ariel no longer felt sad about that because she had been through simr situations too many times over the past three years. For the past two years, Jayson had never shown up on Elena¡¯s death anniversary. He was always busy with work or on a business trip. Even if she pleaded with him to take half an hour off his busy schedule and be there, he¡¯d never agreed. After having her requests ignored so many times, it was just natural that she would end up emotionally numb. But this year, it was different. Elena¡¯s third death anniversary was an asion Katie and Leonard highly regarded. It wasn¡¯t a big problem if Jayson didn¡¯t attend the yearly asions, but if he was still absent during the grand ceremony they were about to hold, there was no hiding the fact that they were divorced. Unless¡­ Unless Jayson was willing to talk to Katie before the ceremony, and they could divorce on good terms. However, he was a busy man. He might not be willing to do that. The emotions in Ariel¡¯s chest faded into a quiet calm. Eventually, she was like a client to him, one who had to make an appointment to meet him. He would then decide whether to agree to her request, depending on his mood. She was nothing inparison to Nancy. If Nancy had a request, Jayson would keep it in mind, no matter what it was. Busy or not, he wouldpromise for her sake without a word. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered where he was going, because the answer was evident. Jayson wasn¡¯t staying for the night, and she didn¡¯t have to sleep in the same bed as him. As such, she decided to stay in the guest room so that she didn¡¯t have to drive back to her house in the dark. Jayson was still not back when morning came. Ariel didn¡¯t stay for long. She drove back to Faye Tech. Janice was feeling much better today, but her voice was still raspy. When she saw Ariel, she said with a solemn expression, ¡°I¡¯ve just returned from the hospital. I stayed there again for the night. Last night, I saw Jayson, so I asked around. Turns out that Nancy¡¯s mom was sick. Hah, isn¡¯t Jayson just the most responsible future son¨Cinw?¡± Ariel¡¯s pen stopped mid¨Ctwirl. She couldn¡¯t persuade him to make some time for herst night even though she had spoken in a pleasing tone. Yet, he was always there to look out for Sarah. Jayson was never obscure about his preferential treatment toward them. And it was Sarah they were talking about, too. With her lips firmly pressed into a thin line, she exhaled and dismissed these insignificant matters that were now irrelevant to her future. Then, she asked Janice, ¡°Do you know if there are any institutions in Eldoria that collect or sell modern paintings? Inside 93 Janice had just taken a dosage of oral solution, grimacing in pain as she did. She turned toward Ariel. ¡°I¡¯m sure there are a good number of them. Various organizations of different natures will collect paintings from various means for resale.¡± Confused, she asked, ¡°Why?¡± Ariel kneaded her brow. ¡°One of my mom¡¯s paintings went missing back then. It was still on her mind even before she passed. I¡¯m thinking that since it¡¯s going to be her third death anniversary soon, I can at least fulfill her wish if I track it down for her.¡± Katie once brought that matter up. The other half of that painting was apparently Elena¡¯s graduation project. Something happened in the process, and she eventually didn¡¯t submit it. Upon graduating, however, Elena had gone back to Eldoria. Besides, paintings would circte in different locations. Eldoria was home to numerous channels to acquire paintings; she might hear something about it there. Janice mulled over it. ¡°I¡¯ll ask around. Wait for my update.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t take it seriously, as the probability of finding the painting was akin to searching for a needle in a haystack. They could only give their best effort. However, to her surprise, Janice brought her a piece of information at noon. ¡°Next week, a private collector is holding an exhibition. Word has it that he has collected many pieces of famous modern paintings, created by artists from all over the world. ¡°This collector owns a building in Eldoria and uses it specifically as an art gallery to exhibit his collections. One of the floors is even dedicated to a collection of their grandfather¡¯s calligraphy pieces. Isn¡¯t that just extravagant!¡± Somehow, she learned about such rumors. Clicking her tongue, she continued, ¡°However¡­¡± ¡°However?¡± ¡°The Spencer family is the main organizer of the exhibition. The Spencers organize such exhibitions annually, but the number of guests invited to them is fixed. They only extend the invitations to well¨Cknown public figures. An average citizen won¡¯t be invited.¡± Ariel was surprised. She knew about the Spencer family. It was a prestigious family on par with the Larkin family. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t invite just anyone. Janice smiled, sighing. ¡°I don¡¯t have the means of acquiring the invitation too.¡± ¡°What invitation?¡± asked Chad, entering with a document. Janice¡¯s eyes lit up instantly. ¡°Chad, do you know the Spencers?¡± Chad raised an eyebrow. I know their eldest son, but he¡¯s overseas now. Why?¡± Ariel had her hopes up. ¡°Can you reach him?¡± Chad immediately shook his head. ¡°That would be quite tough. He¡¯s in the medical field and always goes to ces off the grid to provide charitable medical aid. There would probably be nowork coverage where he is.¡± Janice asked, ¡°Do you have connections that can give us an invitation to the Spencer family¡¯s art exhibition? Ari wants to go.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all?¡± Chad ced his document down. ¡°I just received their invitation two days ago. You can go in lieu of me.¡± Ariel¡¯s heart fell back into ce. The day came for Ariel¡¯s radiation therapy appointment. She went to the hospital alone. She wasn¡¯t familiar with the therapy, so she was no doubt nervous. Fortunately, the nurse sensed her uneasiness and soothed her. ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. Partial radiation therapy won¡¯t hurt that much.¡± She hesitated before asking, ¡°Aren¡¯t your family with you?¡± Ariel had learned to answer those kinds of questions in aposed manner. She smiled. ¡°I can manage it on my own.¡± The nurse¡¯s gaze was filled with sympathy. Ariel pretended not to notice. When she had just been diagnosed, she felt afraid and helpless. She thought of confiding in Jayson. However, he stood her up and celebrated Nancy¡¯s birthday with Nancy instead. From that day onward, Ariel stopped hoping for anything at all. The radiation therapy was only targeted at her abdomen. She could withstand the pain, but during the treatment, her stomach reacted severely, and she threw up twice. After the therapy, she felt a bit out of sorts. She took some time to rpose herself, and then her phone rang. It was a call from the nursing facility where Leonard resided. It was the best nursing facility in Eldoria. It was expensive, but the staff provided excellent care. ¡°Ms. Walker? The payment for Leonard Walker is due. When are you avable to drop by?¡± Rubbing her abdomen, Ariel softly answered, ¡°I¡¯lle now.¡± Inside 94 Chapter 94 The nursing facility was right behind the department she was in. It was quite near. When Ariel arrived, she paid a lump sum of 200 thousand dors. After she signed the bill, the nurse asked her, ¡°Ms. Walker, would you be okay if we relocate Mr. Walker to another room?¡± Ariel was stunned. ¡°What do you mean?¡± The nurse exined, ¡°Here¡¯s what happened. Someone has expressed their interest in your uncle¡¯s current room. They¡¯d like to discuss this matter with you because they want to use that room. In return, they¡¯ll be happy to meet all of your requests.¡± It was a private nursing facility. They would usually encourage negotiation if any requests were made. Ariel frowned. ¡°Please tell them we refuse to relocate.¡± Over the years, when Leonard had been sick, they¡¯d spent a great sum on his treatment. Katie barely gained any ie from her hotel due to its poor management. Ariel had always been the one paying the fees. She used up almost all of the ie she earned from working as a PR on his treatment. The room she chose for Leonard wasn¡¯t the best, but it had the best natural lighting, venttion, and view. Leonard had gotten used to the room too. There was no way they would relocate to another room. The nurse seemed troubled. She was about to say something when her gaze fell on someone behind Ariel. She called out, ¡°Mr. Larkin, thisdy here is the family of the patient in Room 206. Could the two of you perhaps talk it out?¡± Ariel¡¯s heart almost stopped. She turned around, looking surprised. Nancy was holding onto Sarah and wasn¡¯t surprised to see Ariel. Beside them was Jayson, elegant and aloof as always. His blue eyes were fixed on her, while his face was expressionless. However, Ariel¡¯s heart sank. She had a bad feeling. Nancy spoke first. She told Sarah, ¡°Mom, you should head inside first.¡± Sarah nodded. Her gaze swept across Ariel. Before she went in, she said, ¡°So, it¡¯s you. Well, Jayson and Nancy will talk to you.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression turned grim. The way Sarah put it, it was as though Jayson and Nancy were already a couple. They weren¡¯t here to discuss; it was more like an order! Was she trying to imply they were a family and would unite against someone who wasn¡¯t one of them? Ariel cast Jayson a mocking look. She had her first session of radiation therapy that day. She moved around the huge hospital in her weak condition, enduring her illness, without anyone to apany her. But was that the only time she had to put up with everything alone? For thest three years, she had consistently faced everything alone. Meanwhile, Jayson, her husband of three years, was at the same hospital keeping Nancy¡¯s familypany! And now, they wanted Leonard¡¯s room too? ¡°My mom likes the ck locust tree outside that room. Can you get your uncle to give it up?¡± Nancy spoke gently, but her tone made it clear she wasn¡¯t negotiating. She was scornful of having tomunicate with Ariel, yet she had to lower herself. If it weren¡¯t for Sarah admiring that tree that much, wanting to see it bloom in the spring, Nancy wouldn¡¯t have had to interact with Ariel. Ariel smiled, her gaze trained on Jayson. ¡°We¡¯re not changing rooms.¡± Why would Sarah insist on having Leonard¡¯s room, of all rooms? Ariel didn¡¯t believe it was a coincidence. Sarah and Nancy couldn¡¯t get their way with the housest time. They must¡¯ve borne a grudge against her. And now, after returning to the country for treatment, Sarah found another opportunity and was surely trying to make life difficult for the Walker family on purpose! Nancy frowned. This was between her and Ariel, so Ariel should just speak to her. Why was Ariel looking at Jayson? She didn¡¯t like the thought of Ariel and Jayson interacting with each other. Jayson turned toward Nancy. In a calm tone, he said, ¡°Go keep your mompany.¡± Evidently, he had something to say to Ariel. Nancy hesitated, a flicker of reluctance crossing her eyes. However, she knew Jayson didn¡¯t have feelings for Ariel. There was no need for her to worry. ¡°Alright. When you¡¯re done, let¡¯s go for lunch.¡± Nancy cast Ariel onest nce before returning to Sarah¡¯s room with her head held high. Jayson then turned his calm gaze on Ariel. It was then he realized herplexion was pale. She was also holding a bag of medicine. His gaze fell on that bag momentarily. Raising an eyebrow, he said, ¡°Name your price.¡± Inside 95 Jayson spoke in a business¨Clike tone. Ariel¡¯s gaze wavered slightly. She was very uptight. Because of the radiation therapy she just had, she felt lightheaded. She had to secretly hold onto the nursing counter to stop herself from falling. Ariel took in a deep breath. ¡°There are many better rooms they can choose from, yet they specifically want my uncle¡¯s room. What are they after?¡± Jayson gazed at her calmly. ¡°It¡¯s important for the patient to stay in a good mood. I can arrange for your uncle to have the best room and pay the full year¡¯s fee upfront.¡± Not even bothering to borate further, he went straight to business. He¡¯d really go to great lengths just to make Sarah happy. Ever since Leonard fell ill, Jayson had never helped out even a little, let alone pay for anything. Yet now he agreed to pay the VIP room fee for Leonard for the entire year, which amounted to millions of dors, just for Nancy and her family. Ariel had once thought of relocating Leonard to a better room, but she couldn¡¯t afford it. Even though she was Jayson¡¯s wife, she couldn¡¯t use the benefits that came with this identity. So, she put off the thought again and again. Seeing that Jayson was serious about this, she calmed down. ¡°Does this mean you¡¯re asking a favor from me?¡± Jayson raised an eyebrow. He immediately understood. ¡°What do you want in return?¡± ¡°It¡¯s your responsibility to pay the VIP room fee, so it¡¯s not part of the deal. What do I want in return, you ask? I want a favor from you, one I can call in whenever I need it. Deal?¡± Ariel spoke softly. She wasn¡¯t confident that it would work. She knew that right now, Jayson was still willing to negotiate amicably. If she continued to refuse the offer, he could go straight to the hospital director. When that happened, Leonard might be forced to evacuate that room. The art gallery incident had already left a bad taste in his mouth. His precious Nancy had felt ¡°wronged¡°. This time, Jayson might not go easy on her. She might as well ask for some sort of guarantee in return. Ariel wasn¡¯t hoping to gain anything from him. It was just that since Sarah returned to the country, she had deliberately gone up against the Walker family time and again. Ariel suspected that further problems would ariseter on. So, she decided to ask for a favor. After all, Jayson¡¯s promise carried a lot of weight. However, she wasn¡¯t confident that Jayson would ept her conditions and requests. He didn¡¯t have feelings for her anyway, so why would he tolerate her unreasonable demands? At that thought, Ariel bit her lower lip. Upon meeting Jayson¡¯s gaze, she realized he was staring at her thoughtfully. Jayson stared at Ariel¡¯s paleplexion, and they looked at each other for a long time. 172 Upon noticing Ariel¡¯s reddened eyes, he suddenly gave in. ¡°Alright, as you wish.¡± Ariel stared into his cold, striking eyes in surprise. She was momentarily stunned, not expecting it to work out so well. Seemingly unaware of the look of surprise on her face, Jayson asked, ¡°Do you have any other requests?¡± Ariel came back to her senses. She said calmly, ¡°I hope you won¡¯t disrupt my uncle¡¯s peace.¡± It was obvious that she meant that Jayson and Nancy shouldn¡¯t go overboard and be all lovey¨Cdovey in Leonard¡¯s presence. If they tore down the fa?ade, it would benefit no one. Jayson studied her solemn expression, and a bitter look crossed his eyes. His thin lips seemed to curl into a half smile that hinted at mockery. Without saying anything, he turned and returned to Sarah¡¯s room. Ariel let out a sigh of relief and stopped thinking about them. She then went to Leonard¡¯s room. Jayson settled everything efficiently. The nurse informed Ariel that they had arranged a room on the 12th floor that would get plenty of sunlight. Ariel helped Leonard gather his belongings and moved up to the room. Leonard was puzzled. ¡°Why are we relocating to another room all of a sudden?¡± Ariel gave an excuse. ¡°I received a hefty bonus, so I can now get you a better room.¡± Leonard was doubtful for a moment, but seeing the natural look on her face, he didn¡¯t ask any further. Now, Leonard was staying on the 12th floor, whereas Sarah was on the second. The flooryouts wereplicated here, so there was little possibility that they would meet each other. As long as Jayson stayed away, nothing would happen. Inside 96 Ariel also had a bit more peace of mind. She apanied Leonard for lunch. At the same time, she recovered from the difort she felt from the radiation therapy. Then, she returned to Faye Tech to wrap things up. Jayson never contacted her again. The next day, before Ariel got off work, Betty called her. ¡°Ari, what time are you getting off work today?¡± ¡°I¡¯m just about to,¡± Ariel answered as she shut down herputer. ¡°Great timing! I told Jayson to pick you up. Come to the manor with him. There¡¯s something I want to do, and I need you both to be present.¡± Ariel was caught off guard. ¡°Grandma, but I have another-¡± ¡°He¡¯s arrived outside yourpany. You¡¯ll see him when you go down.¡± Ariel kneaded her throbbing temples. If it weren¡¯t for Betty¡¯s orders, Jayson would nevere to pick her up. She simply gathered her things before heading out. Indeed, a Bentley Mulsanne was parked outside. A window rolled down. Jayson looked out at her and said, ¡°Hop on.¡± That was new to Ariel. Throughout the years she had been working at Bluum Corp, they had never gone home together after work, despite Betty telling him to do so again and again. Now that she¡¯d left Bluum Corp and he no longer had to avoid letting others know about their rtionship, she finally had the ¡°privilege¡± of having him pick her up from work. Ariel gave it some thought and decided that whatever Betty was up to might not be urgent. ¡°I¡¯m not going over. Please tell Grandma I have something to attend to.¡± ¡°You can tell her that yourself. I¡¯m not here to help you ry your message.¡± Jayson checked his watch, his expression cold. Ariel noticed he wasn¡¯t in a good mood. She mulled over it. He hadn¡¯t agreed to attend Elena¡¯s third death anniversary ceremony. She shouldn¡¯t start an argument with him. Eventually, she went to the car. Subconsciously, she nced at the passenger seat but still chose to take the back seat. She was aware of his boundaries. That seat belonged to his girlfriend. She couldn¡¯t sit there. Jayson watched as she sat beside him and leaned toward the door. Pulling her coat tighter around her, she looked out the window. It seemed she didn¡¯t have anything to say. He withdrew his gaze. In an aloof tone, he told the driver, ¡°Raise the temperature.¡± Ariel was stunned. Was he looking out for her? even Then, she hung her head. She must be looking too much into that. Even if he had given out such an order on her behalf, it would have been out of courtesy instead of genuine concern. When they arrived at Larkin Manor, Renee was already back from hanging out with her friends. She was now curled up on the couch, texting with someone else. She was waiting for dinner to be served. Upon seeing Ariel, she pursed her lips. ¡°All you know is to use Grandma to improve your rtionship with Jayson. If it weren¡¯t for you, he could¡¯ve gone and watched a movie with Elena¡­ Nothing could stir emotions in Ariel now. She said nothing. No wonder Jayson was in a bad mood. It turned out it was because she interrupted their date. Betty emerged from the dining room. ¡°Dinner is ready. Let¡¯s eat.¡± The wing Betty lived in was more secluded and was quite far from the main wing. Usually, only Jayson and Renee would visit her more. Dinner was served. Betty kept signaling at Jayson. ¡°That dish is too far away from Ari. Serve her some.¡± Jayson, though aloof, obediently did as he was told. Ariel was well aware that a forced rtionship wouldn¡¯t end well. Betty was attempting something that wouldn¡¯t result in any changes. Ever since Renee sat at the table, she had hung her head low as she texted with someone else. She couldn¡¯t help but grumble through her text, ¡°Grandma forced Jayson to pick Ariel up. That¡¯s why your date was interrupted, Nancy. Ariel is such an annoying third¨Cwheeler.¡± Nancy replied, ¡°It¡¯s alright. Jayson and I are always together, anyway.¡® Nancy was unbothered at all. She even sent Renee several photos of the clothes she had newly bought, asking Renee to choose. Renee nced at Jayson. Then, she texted, ¡°Nancy, put it on and let me take a look.¡± Soon, Nancy sent her a photo. Renee¡¯s eyes lit up at the sight of it. Immediately, she clicked on the photo and showed Jayson her phone, making sure to turn the screen away from Betty. ¡°Jayson, isn¡¯t she gorgeous?¡± Ariel was sitting right next to Jayson. She caught a glimpse of the photo out of the corner of her eye. Nancy wore ace dress with spaghetti straps. The neckline was so deep that she could almost see her breasts. Inside 97 Ariel¡¯s gaze flickered, and she unknowingly tightened her grip on her utensils. Renee took in her reaction in that fleeting moment, and her grin broadened. She shoved her phone nearer to Jayson, demanding a response. ¡°Jayson, do you like it or not?¡± Jayson¡¯s cold gaze fell on the screen. The calmness on his face was impable. He cast Renee a warning re. Intimidated, Renee withdrew her hand. She knew the rtionship between Jayson and Nancy was supposed to be a secret for now, but she wanted to see how Ariel would react. That was why she did it. She never wanted to anger Jayson. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Betty noticed the atmosphere was tense and looked up from her food. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Grandma.¡± Renee leaned closer to her gleefully. She continued, ¡°I was just showing Jayson something he¡¯d be very interested in.¡± Betty didn¡¯t know what they were talking about. She patted Renee¡¯s head and stopped probing. Ariel kept her head hung low, her expression as calm as quiet waters. She was so emotionally numb that it was as though she were a mere bystander, witnessing the unfurling of a romance that many admired. After finishing his food, Jayson ced his utensils back down and went upstairs. Betty was miffed. ¡°He¡¯s gone before you know it. Ari, please go get him.¡± Ariel was trying toe up with an excuse to leave, but since Betty was urging her to get Jayson, she had to put that aside for now. Going upstairs, she knocked on Jayson¡¯s room door. No one answered. She opened the door and entered the room, just in time to see Jayson emerging from the bathroom. He had just taken a shower, and his hair was dripping wet. He had changed into loungewear, which highlighted his broad shoulders, narrow waist, and massive pectorals. He was talking on the phone to someone. Ariel paused in her steps as she started having thoughts she shouldn¡¯t have. Renee showed Jayson a sexy photo of Nancy, and Jayson came upstairs right away to take a shower. And now, he was even chatting with someone. If it were Nancy, then she might¡¯ve sent him more alluring photos. Well, then the reason why Jayson was taking a shower at that moment was truly suggestive. ¡°What are you thinking about?¡± Jayson suddenly walked over to her, his gaze sharp. Ariel snapped back to her senses. As he walked toward her, his loose¨Cfitting ck pants swayed with his movements. She quickly averted her gaze. ¡°Grandma is calling for you.¡± Taking in her calm expression, Jayson stopped asking what she was thinking anymore. He walked past her and headed downstairs. As Ariel followed him down, she realized there was an elderly man with grayish¨Cwhite hair in the living room. He wore a gray tunic and appeared kind. Betty beckoned to them. ¡°Ari, Jayson, this is Mr. Albert Ward. He¡¯s a renowned doctor in alternative medicine. I specially called him in to examine your body conditions and to help both of you to achieve optimum health.¡± Ariel instantly tensed up. She knew the alternative doctor Betty had enlisted would most surely be someone with outstanding skills. It wasn¡¯t hard to guess what she was thinking¨Cshe wanted Albert to examine her and Jayson to see if anything was wrong with them and if it would affect their fertility. However, no matter what intentions Betty might have in mind, Albert would definitely discover Ariel¡¯s illness if he examined her. Jayson was pretty calm inparison. Betty had been nning to do this for a while now. When she told them to go to the hospital for a body checkup, neither of them was willing to obey. Since that was the case, she might as well invite Albert to their manor for the examination. Regardless of the presence of a health condition, Albert could still help them achieve optimum health either way. On one hand, it was for the sake of their fertility. On the other hand, she thought Ariel had been losing too much weight recently and was worried something might be wrong. ¡°Come on! Jayson, you go first!¡± Betty pushed Jayson toward Albert without allowing him the chance to refuse. Jayson cast her a nce as he knew what she meant. ¡°Ariel can tell you whether or not I¡¯m ¡®healthy.¡°¡± Ariel froze. Caught off guard by Jayson¡¯s words, Ariel felt both lost and deeply ufortable. However, there was no denying that Jayson was indeed in great condition, especially when it came to intimate activities. Even though they had no feelings for each other, he could always satisfy her. ¡°You brat! Could you please watch what you¡¯re saying?¡± Betty felt shy in his stead as she pped his back heavily. ¡°Sit properly!¡± L Jayson stop moving. Albert checked his pulse. After some time, he smiled and said, ¡°He¡¯s in good health, and his kidneys are full of vigor. He¡¯s healthy in all senses.¡± Inside 98 Chapter 98 Jayson calmly withdrew his hand and nced at Betty. ¡°Happy now?¡± Betty was reassured, but she still told the household staff to bring Jayson a bowl of concoction. ¡°Take this supplement. It¡¯s good for you.¡± Seeing that she insisted, Jayson decided to go along with her. He didn¡¯t even ask what it was for as he downed the entire bowl. Betty smiled, pleased. She then turned toward Ariel, who was deep in thought. ¡°Ari? Come here. Let Mr. Ward examine you.¡± .¡± Jayson leisurely turned to look at her too. Ariel clenched her fists. She felt a lump in her throat. ¡°I¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t let Albert examine her. A skilled alternative doctor could definitely identify any health conditions that one had. Albert had been looking after Betty for the past few years. He was one of the best alternative doctors in the country. He could certainly identify Ariel¡¯s condition. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ari?¡± Betty stepped closer to her. Ariel¡¯s lips were drained of color. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m feeling fine. There¡¯s really no need for the trouble.¡± ¡°You¡¯ve lost so much weight. I¡¯ve always thought that you aren¡¯t taking good care of yourself. It¡¯s fine. Just let Mr. Ward examine you. There¡¯s no harm in getting him to prescribe you supplements.¡± Betty tugged Ariel toward Albert. Ariel¡¯s palms were sweaty. She was truly caught in a dilemma. If they found out about her cancer, she couldn¡¯t even bring herself to imagine how chaotic the situation would be. She couldn¡¯t help but turn toward Jayson, who was acting as though this all had nothing to do with him. He met her gaze but seemed impassive. It wasn¡¯t until Ariel was already standing before Albert, panicking while she tried to figure out a way out, that she felt someone grab her wrist. Jayson pulled her toward him, and she bumped against his muscr torso. Taken aback, Ariel looked up at him. He remained expressionless as he coldly said, ¡°Grandma, we¡¯re still young and in perfect health. You can stop worrying about us. We know what we¡¯re doing.¡± 11 He then pulled Ariel along with him as he went upstairs. Surprised, Betty watched them leave. Albert smiled as he stroked his beard. He said meaningfully, ¡°If things go well, they¡¯ll hit the mark tonight itself.¡± Returning to her senses, Betty grinned. ¡°That would be for the best!¡± Ariel¡¯s heart was still pounding when she came upstairs. The suffocating sensation she felt just now was slowly easing. She looked toward Jayson in confusion, who¡¯d let her go after entering the room and sat in front of hisputer. Was he¡­ Was he helping her? But why? He didn¡¯t know about her condition at all. Even if Albert had failed to diagnose her endometrial cancer, he would¡¯ve still been able to identify that her uterus had been injured before, and it wouldn¡¯t be easy for her to bear a child. It would be tough to exin how she got that injury. Sensing her gaze on him, Jayson looked at her. ¡°If Grandma pulls something like this again, you can outright decline her if you¡¯re unwilling.¡± Ariel pressed her lips into a thin line. Then, she murmured, ¡°Thanks.¡± He looked at her, saying without a hint of emotion, ¡°I¡¯m just trying to avoid unnecessary trouble.¡± Upon hearing that, Ariel finally understood his intentions. He wasn¡¯t helping her because he wanted to. He merely wanted to avoid being nagged by Betty into having a child quickly. It troubled him. The woman he wanted to be the mother of his children wasn¡¯t her. He wasn¡¯t worried that she would be embarrassed. Instead, he was protecting Nancy¡¯s exclusive rights as his girlfriend. Jayson appeared to be chatting with someone else and had no time to entertain her. Ariel chose to keep silent. She knew Betty would certainly be keeping an eye on them tonight to see if their rtionship would improve. Not wanting to make a fuss, she took her shower and got into bed, taking up only a corner of the king¨Csized bed. Casting a nce at Jayson, who hadn¡¯t moved from his seat at all, she said, ¡°Make yourselffortable.¡± There was a pause before she heard him respond with a low hum. His voice was raspy. Not giving it much thought, Ariel slept soundly. When she woke up the next morning, Jayson wasn¡¯t in the room. The other half of the bed was untouched. He clearly hadn¡¯t slept on it. She didn¡¯t linger on that thought and got up to freshen up. When she went downstairs, Betty was already waiting. She immediately walked up to Ariel when she saw her, looking her up and down. ¡°Why are you up so early? Where is Jayson? Is he still sleeping?¡± Inside 99 Chapter 99 Noticing Betty¡¯s enthusiasm, Ariel thought that seemed peculiar. ¡°He¡­ had already left.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure when Jayson left in the night. Judging by how neat the bed was, she was certain he didn¡¯t stay the night. Betty¡¯s expression changed. ¡°He left? It¡¯s only 7:30 am. I woke up at 6:00 am, but I never saw him leave.¡± Ariel realized that something was not right with Betty. She soothed her and asked, ¡°Grandma, did something happen?¡± Seeing that she was curious, Betty sighed heavily. ¡°The concoction I had him drinkst night wasn¡¯t a supplement. It was¡­ an aphrodisiac.¡± The field of alternative medicine was extensive and profound. She purposely asked Albert to prepare the concoction, but evidently, it didn¡¯t help! Ariel didn¡¯t look like someone who¡¯d had a passionate night. Ariel froze. Pressing her lips together, she fell silent. No wonder she thought Jayson¡¯s voice sounded raspyst night. As for when he left¡­ ¡°Grandma, tell the kitchen staff not to prepare breakfast for Jayson.¡± Renee was descending the stairs, yawning. When she passed by Ariel, she arched an eyebrow at her. She bluntly said, ¡°He¡¯s already had breakfast with someone else.¡± Someone else¡­ It must be Nancy. Ariel looked down. It seemed Jayson had gone to Nancy¡¯sst night. After taking the concoction Betty gave him, he wouldn¡¯t do it with Ariel even if he was aroused. They must have spent a thoroughly steamy night together thanks to those sexy photos of Nancy and the aphrodisiac. Betty was miffed. She barked in annoyance, ¡°Why would he leave so early? What on earth is so interesting out there?¡± She went through all that trouble too! How did she end up having such a tactless man as her grandson? Ariel didn¡¯t say anything else. She also didn¡¯t mention Jayson had already left in the night so that Betty wouldn¡¯t get all worked up again. Thinking about Betty¡¯s effort to acquire the aphrodisiac, Ariel smirked discreetly to herself. Others now saw her as a woman who¡¯d been so badly neglected by her husband that she needed an aphrodisiac for him to show interest in her. However, Betty¡¯s actions only ended up adding a little more spice to Jayson and Nancy¡¯s bedroom activities. The art exhibition that the Spencer family hosted fell on a weekend. Chadcked interest in such events, so Ariel attended the exhibition with Janice. As Janice said, the art gallery truly stood out. Rumors had it that the eldest son of the Spencer family had hired a world¨Crenowned architect to design the building. It was located in a quiet corner of a highly valuablemercial area. Ariel and Janice entered the venue using Chad¡¯s invitation. Even someone born with a silver spoon like Janice, who¡¯d had a lot of exposure, couldn¡¯t help but be amazed. ¡°I heard the Spencers spent billions of dors on this gallery, all for the sake of their hobby. However, the Spencer family isn¡¯t only involved in the business industry. Their inws, the Quintons, are involved in politics in the central region. Because of that, attending this exhibition can be considered a pledge of loyalty where guests can get acquainted with political figures.¡± Ariel knew a little about the unspoken rules of high society. No wonder they were selective toward who they invited. The exhibition hallprised five levels. The first and second levels featured art collections by various artists from around the world. Ariel led Janice toward that hall. Halfway there, someone stood in their way. Frederick frowned at them. ¡°How did you two get in here?¡± Janice was annoyed to see him. ¡°What has it got to do with you? Mind your own business!¡± Frederick nced at Ariel. Finally, he said, ¡°This isn¡¯t some sort of inte¨Cfamous location where you women could take photos and share on social media. You shouldn¡¯t misbehave!¡± Inside 100 Ariel held Janice back. She calmly looked at Frederick. ¡°We¡¯re here representing Mr. Hockney.¡± ¡°Since when has Mr. Hockney be so negligent, so much so that he¡¯d send the likes of you to attend an event like this, which is vital forworking?¡± Frederick frowned, clearly puzzled. He knew Janice¡¯s character. She was only interested in the pleasures of life. As her friend, how could Ariel be any better than her? Ariel knew Frederick was prejudiced against her. She didn¡¯t exin herself. Instead, she tugged Janice along and went to another exhibition hall. In doing so, she passed by a man who was walking in their direction. When Zach Quintonid eyes on her, he couldn¡¯t help but gaze at her for several seconds. Frederick followed his gaze and stepped forward. ¡°Mr. Quinton, that¡¯s my younger sister. She has always been unruly. I must keep an eye on them so they won¡¯t do anything inappropriate.¡± ¡°Are they both your sisters?¡± Zach asked with an eyebrow raised. Frederick was just about to answer when he heard amotioning from the main hall. Ariel heard it too and turned to look. Jayson and Nancy had just arrived. As distinguished guests of the exhibition, they were immediately greeted upon arrival. An elegant smile adorned Nancy¡¯s face. Her arm was gently linked with Jayson¡¯s. As others showered her with ttering words, she remainedposed. Both of them spotted Ariel. Jayson coldly retracted his gaze and no longer looked her way. When Nancy spoke to him, he would bow slightly and listen attentively to her. Then, they exchanged a smile. Janice instinctively turned to check on Ariel. Infuriated, she scolded, ¡°Anyone would think she¡¯s Jayson¡¯s wife. How could Jayson disrespect you like that?¡± He didn¡¯t care about Ariel at all! Even though they were attending the same event, he wasn¡¯t even trying to be discreet about his affair. Ariel lowered her gaze. Her eyes were pools of calmness. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Let¡¯s go somewhere else.¡± Janice gritted her teeth. ¡°What¡¯s so good about Nancy? She¡¯s arrogant, not half as pretty as you are, and not even as good as you are in your expertise-¡± ¡°Janice Swanson! How could you badmouth someone else behind their back?¡± Frederick just so happened to pass by them and heard her. His face turned grim. ¡°Where are your manners?¡± Zach nced at her and Ariel. He also disapproved of such behavior. Janice was already annoyed to begin with. She instantly retorted, ¡°I almost forgot. You have bad taste in women too. Too bad she¡¯s not interested in you.¡± ¡°You!¡± Frederick was pissed. He directed his displeasure toward Ariel. Ever since Janice hung out with Ariel, she had gotten even rowdier! With a sullen expression, Frederick questioned, ¡°Ms. Walker, it seems you¡¯re critical of Ms. Stanton. May I know what about her has led you to perceive her in a negative way? Are you better than her in your expertise? Are you better educated than she is? Or are you perhaps jealous that Ms. Stanton has a decent boyfriend?¡± A sense of something being amiss had lingered since Chad¡¯s odd refusal to see Nancy because of Ariel. Hearing their ndestine talk now amplified his suspicion. He was confident that Ariel was purposely going up against Nancy and even intended to tarnish Nancy¡¯s reputation. Why did she harbor such evil intent toward someone of the same gender? Was she resentful that Nancy was more outstanding? Remembering that Ariel was married, he decided there was only one reason she¡¯d behave that way. ¡°Are you jealous of women who are more sessful than you because of your own sad life?¡± His conceited assumptions were subjective and baseless. Ariel¡¯s usually demure expression turned icy cold. Just then, Nancy walked over with Jayson, arm in arm. They heard every word Frederick said. Nancy arched an eyebrow and looked at Ariel with a half smile, because she was eager to know Ariel¡¯s answer too. ?????? Inside 101 Chapter 101 Ariel immediately noticed the look Nancy threw her way. It carried a hint of amusement¨Ca look that felt especially cutting. Jayson¡¯s face remained cold and unreadable, showing no trace of familiarity toward her. As curious gazes swept in from all directions, a faint smirk tugged at the corner of Ariel¡¯s lips. ¡°Ms. Stanton already has a man by her side. I¡¯m just wondering. What role are you ying in this, Mr. Swanson?¡± Thement made Frederick¡¯s face twist awkwardly. He instinctively nced at Nancy. He was annoyed. Was Ariel seriously taking shots at him now? ¡°He¡¯s herpdog, of course,¡± Janice said. She wasn¡¯t going to show Frederick any respect. If he was targeting Ariel, then Janice would stand firmly with her. And it was obvious Frederick was the one stirring trouble here. Frederick¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°That¡¯s out of line, Janice. I just admire Ms. Stanton, that¡¯s all.¡± Even Nancy couldn¡¯t help but frown. She¡¯d expected Ariel to be flustered or embarrassed, but instead, Ariel had flipped the script and dragged Frederick and her into it. Nancy actually thought Frederick was decent, but she really didn¡¯t appreciate being mentioned together with him. After all, no man could everpare to Jayson. Ariel knew things had gotten awkward, but she didn¡¯t care. She nced up without much thought, only to lock eyes with Jayson across from her. He looked at her calmly. His face was still impassive, but was that a hint of amusement in his eyes that he had caught? Ariel froze, confused. She couldn¡¯t make sense of it. She¡¯d just made things ufortable for everyone, so why was he smiling? She had no idea what was going on in Jayson¡¯s head. Frowning, Ariel grabbed Janice and made her way to another part of the exhibition. Once Ariel had left, Nancy¡¯s frown rxed. She turned to Zach, who had been watching the scene y out like entertainment. ¡°Mr. Quinton, fancy running into you again.¡± Zach gave a polite smile. ¡°Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin, it¡¯s been a while.¡± ¡°When is Liaming back to the country?¡± Jayson asked casually. Zach let out a soft sigh. ¡°Liam Spencer? That guy¡¯s always off the radar, saving lives. I have no clue when he¡¯lle back. As you can see, I¡¯m stuck handling the exhibition for him.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s Liam Spencer?¡± Nancy hadn¡¯t heard of him before, so she asked curiously. Frederick jumped in to exin, ¡°He¡¯s the heir to the Spencer family. But he went into medicine. He¡¯s a top¨Ctier doctor overseas. He and Mr. Quinton are cousins.¡± Nancy suddenly remembered. Perry had mentioned the name once, saying Liam was a good friend. She hadn¡¯t realized he came from such an influential background. ¡°Well, Mr. Quinton, since you¡¯re busy, we¡¯ll check out the rest of the exhibit,¡± Jayson said smoothly with a nod. Zach gestured politely for them to go ahead. As the two walked off, Frederick nced again in the direction Ariel and Janice had gone. His face darkened all over again. With Ariel throwing out a line like that, how was he supposed to carry on with Nancy now? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zach asked. Frederick gave a heavy sigh and shook his head. ¡°I¡¯m just worried about my sister. She¡¯s not the best judge of character. Sorry you had to see that, Mr. Quinton.¡± Zach thought back to Ariel¡¯s calm, distant expression from earlier. To him, she didn¡¯t seem nearly as terrible as Frederick made her sound. ¡°You probably don¡¯t know this, Mr. Quinton.¡± Frederick scoffed. ¡°Ariel might act all quiet and refined, but I¡¯ve seen her target Ms. Stanton firsthand. ¡°She left her waiting outside in the dead of winter for over an hour. As a fellow woman, all she did was make things harder. Lucky for her, Ms. Stanton was gracious enough not to hold it against her.¡± Zach raised his brows, surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected that kind of backstory. If what Frederick said was true, then maybe Nancy really was the gracious one here. At least she kept her Zach just shrugged. He wasn¡¯t about to jump in and judge. Meanwhile, Janice was giving Ariel a quick rundown on Zach¡¯s background. ¡°Zach¡¯s grandpa used to be a top¨Clevel government official. His dad works in the Department of Defense. But Zach went into business, doing high¨Cend tech exports. With a family like that, you can imagine that his path¡¯s been pretty smooth.¡± Inside 102 Chapter 102 Janice continued, ¡°And Zach is now inws with the Spencer family. That¡¯s a true power match.¡± Ariel was a little surprised. No wonder the exhibition was so exclusive. Between the Spencers¡® elite status and the Quintons¡® connections, this wasn¡¯t the kind of ce just anyone could walk into. No wonder even Jayson had shown up. After finishing the first floor, Ariel and Janice headed upstairs. Each section had its own distinct style, filled with striking pieces from all genres. Ariel had always had a genuine interest in the arts. With Elena working in the field, she¡¯d grown up surrounded by it. She¡¯d gone through both the first and second floors and still hadn¡¯t seen anything rted to Elena, which left her disappointed. ¡°These pieces aren¡¯t for sale, are they?¡± Ariel asked. Janice, ever the know¨Cit¨Call, shook her head. ¡°Nope. Collecting is just Mr. Spencer¡¯s personal hobby. And since he¡¯s disying calligraphy pieces specifically for his grandpa, this kind of event is really just a refined way to expand hiswork.¡± That made things tricky for Ariel. If she did find a painting by Elena here, how would she even get it back? Up on the third floor, a painting caught her eye almost immediately. She loved the style. But since nothing here was for sale, she had no choice but to walk away. Just as she turned to leave, she heard Nancy¡¯s voice behind her. ¡°Jayson, don¡¯t you think this painting is kind of interesting?¡± Ariel nced back. Nancy was looking at the same painting she had just admired. Jayson looked down at her. ¡°If you like it, I¡¯ll take you overseas to buy a few more from this artist.¡± Nancy gave him a sweet smile. ¡°Thank you, but isn¡¯t that a bit of a hassle?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not.¡± Ariel¡¯s steps froze. But after a beat, she turned and walked away calmly. She¡¯d already seen firsthand how good Jayson was to Nancy. He¡¯d make sure Nancy got whatever she wanted. Ariel couldn¡¯t even have a single painting she liked. And yet, Jayson could casually offer Nancy an entire collection. That was the difference between them. On her way to meet up with Janice, Ariel kept scanning the different exhibit areas to find any clues in this gallery known for housing thergest collection of paintings. And finally, a painting tucked away in a corner stopped her in her tracks. Her breath caught. The moment she stepped closer, she noticed the style matched a half¨Cfinished piece by Elena that hung at Halread University. The brushwork,position, and color palette were all strikingly simr. Ariel immediately gged down the third¨Cfloor coordinator, Peyton Barker. ¡°I have a question. I really love this painting. Would Mr. Spencer consider letting it go?¡± She hoped Peyton could get in touch with the exhibition¡¯s real owner, Liam Spencer. But Peyton responded quickly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, miss. Today¡¯s showing is for disy only. Nothing¡¯s for sale.¡± Ariel was starting to grow anxious and was just about to say something when Frederick and the others walked over. Seeing that she was about to make an offer, Frederick scoffed. ¡°Ms. Walker, have you been to the market too often? You think you can haggle here too? Didn¡¯t you hear the rules?¡± Ariel looked up. It wasn¡¯t just Frederick and Zach. Even Jayson and Nancy had made their way over. She pressed her lips together, then replied calmly, ¡°There¡¯s a reason I asked. I really like this painting. I¡¯ve been searching for a painting my mother lost years ago. This piece looks very simr. That¡¯s why I was hoping to negotiate.¡± Peyton hesitated, clearly unsure. Then Nancy chuckled softly. ¡°I can understand how you feel.¡± A trace of mockery flickered in her eyes. ¡°But¡­¡± She paused for a moment before continuing, ¡°I think you¡¯re mistaken. This painting was by my mother. So maybe don¡¯t go iming things that aren¡¯t yours.¡± Inside 103 Chapter 103 Ariel¡¯s expression shifted. She stared at Nancy in surprise. Nancy, however, smiled back with a calm, elegant grace. Herposure and confidence were entirely genuine. Frowning, Frederick nced over. ¡°Ms. Walker, did you even check the signature? Anything disyed in Spencer Gallery is a masterpiece. There¡¯s no need for you to pretend to be from a schrly background. You might end up embarrassing yourself.¡± It wasn¡¯t hard to read between the lines. He was practically using Ariel of trying to im credit for Nancy¡¯s mother¡¯s work. Nancy understood the implication immediately. Frederick was suggesting that Ariel was being vain. She agreed, though she didn¡¯t say it outright. Instead, she said gently, ¡°This was the first painting my mom sold before going abroad. I never expected to see it here, but¡­¡± She turned to Ariel with a smile. ¡°I appreciate your admiration. You¡¯ve got good taste, Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel was at a loss for words. She couldn¡¯t believe the coincidence. It seemed too perfect. Elena had lost the lower half of her painting, and Sarah had created a piece so simr, one that was being sold for a high price. If Ariel was right, this paint as years ago. probably connected to the problem with Elena¡¯s graduation project all those Ariel quickly regained herposure. Sarah had only entered high society thanks to Elena¡¯s support. She¡¯d been discovered by a wealthy patron and secured a permanent resident card abroad. Sarah had built her career riding on Elena¡¯s achievements. Ariel wasn¡¯t someone who would argue without reason. There was no point in doing so now, especially since the painting clearly bore Sarah¡¯s signature. She quickly collected her thoughts and said, ¡°I really admire this painting. Would it be possible to contact Mr. Spencer? I¡¯d be willing to buy it for a high price.¡± After all, this was evidence. If she held onto it, she¡¯d eventually get to the bottom of the truth. ¡°I¡¯ll take this one,¡± Nancy suddenly said. Her tone carried a sharper edge now, making it clear she hadn¡¯t taken Ariel¡¯s earlier words seriously at all. Ariel turned to face her. Nancy nced at her, then spoke softly, though her gaze wasced with a touch of disdain. ¡°Sorry, but this painting has significant sentimental value to my mom. I¡¯d like to have it returned to her.¡± It was as if she were implying Ariel had no right to argue any further. Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She had no choice but to look at Peyton for support. Peyton seemed torn. The gallery wasn¡¯t selling any of the works today, but he also knew the people present were far too powerful to ignore. He turned to Zach, clearly hoping for guidance. Zach raised an eyebrow and had no choice but to step in. ¡°I can mediate, but ultimately, it¡¯s up to you to figure out who gets the painting.¡± ¡°What if it¡¯s for me?¡± Jayson asked casually. Ariel¡¯s head snapped toward him. He continued, ¡°Please let Mr. Spencer know that if he¡¯s open to selling it, Bluum Corp is willing to give up 1% of the profits in our partnership with Spencer Group.¡± As Ariel looked at him, her gaze gradually turned cold, just like the heart beating in her chest. He was actually willing to make such a major business concession to please Nancy. He knew perfectly well how much Ariel wanted it too. And yet, he cut off that hope without a moment¡¯s hesitation for Nancy¡¯s sake. 1 ¡°Mr. Larkin, to whom are you giving it?¡± Zach, surprised, couldn¡¯t help but ask. Jayson nced at Nancy and asked, ¡°Anything else you want? I¡¯ll take care of it too.¡± Nancy¡¯s face lit up with a sweet smile. ¡°Thank you, Jayson.¡± It was impossible not to notice their intense connection. Jayson¡¯s stance was crystal clear. He was willing to do anything to win Nancy¡¯s favor. It didn¡¯t matter that Ariel was his wife. If Nancy wanted something, Ariel was expected to step aside. Ariel¡¯s expression turned cold. She knew that she didn¡¯t stand a chance going up against Jayson. Everyone around them turned to look at her. Inside 104 Everyone just shook their heads. Even Frederick walked over and scoffed. ¡°Of all the people you could¡¯ve gone up against, you chose Ms. Stanton? With Mr. Larkin standing right there, you really thought she would walk away empty¨Chanded?¡± In his eyes, anyone trying topete with Nancy was just asking to be humiliated. ¡°If you¡¯re that upset about it, maybe bring your husband next time. Let him fight it out with Mr. Larkin,¡± he added mockingly. Frederick had been genuinely surprised when he found out that Ariel was married. Back then, he¡¯d actually liked her. Ariel had been stunning, calm, and self¨Cpossessed. He¡¯d always thought of her as intelligent and refined. But then she suddenly got married. And even more shockingly, she chose to be a full¨Ctime housewife. Her world shrank to the kitchen, and her life revolved around a man. It felt like she¡¯d thrown all her potential away. That was when Frederick¡¯s admiration soured into contempt. She was no different from all the other women. She could neverpare to Nancy. Thetter was educated, capable, independent, and never needed a man to define her. Ariel didn¡¯t care about Frederick¡¯s opinion. But that didn¡¯t make the moment any less bitter. After all, her ex¨Chusband was now fawning over another woman right in front of her. Just then, Janice returned from the fourth floor. Seeing Frederick standing in front of Ariel again, she immediately marched over. ¡°What¡¯s your problem now?¡± Ariel took her hand, then nced coldly at Frederick. ¡°We¡¯re not friends, Mr. Swanson. So please stay out of my business. It has nothing to do with you.¡± She wasn¡¯t a pushover. She just knew when to maintain her dignity. But if someone crossed the line, she wouldn¡¯t tolerate it. Frederick froze. He hadn¡¯t expected such bluntness from someone he¡¯d always known to be polite and soft- spoken. He was momentarily stunned. But when he snapped out of it, his expression turned even more disdainful. As expected,pared to Nancy, Arielcked grace. She couldn¡¯t even take a little truth. All she could do was deceive herself. Ariel and Janice headed to the lounge area. Ariel gave her a quick rundown of what had happened. Janice took a deep breath, her face darkening. ¡°Does Jayson seriously not care if he hurts you? You were married, after all. Why does he always have to hit where it hurts?¡± Were they really considered married? Those who knew about their marriage could tell that Jayson didn¡¯t love Ariel. But to anyone else, it looked like he was deliberately going against her. Was making her miserable some kind of hobby for him? Ariel lowered her gaze. The painting bore Sarah¡¯s signature. She had no solid reason to fight for it. And with Jayson backing Nancy, there was no winning this. She had to find another way. She really didn¡¯t understand. The divorce papers had been signed. Why couldn¡¯t they just part ways peacefully? But then it hit her. Jayson didn¡¯t have a personal issue with her; it was simply that she had gotten in the way of Nancy¡¯s interests. He couldn¡¯t allow her to disturb Nancy¡¯s peace of mind. Still, Ariel had no ns of letting the painting go. She needed to know the truth. She made her way to the restroom to gather her thoughts. As she was lost in thought, someone stepped in behind her, casting a shadow over the bright lights. Ariel looked up and met Jayson¡¯s deep, prating gaze in the mirror. He looked at her for a second. Noticing her calm expression, he walked over to wash his hands. Once he dried them, he turned to leave. Ariel, without thinking, went after him. ¡°Wait, I¡­¡± Before she could finish her sentence, her foot caught on a lipstick someone had carelessly left on the floor. She lost her bnce and ended up tumbling right into Jayson. She expected him to just let her fall. But the next second, Jayson reached out and pulled her into his arms, catching her with ease. He didn¡¯t immediately let go. He looked down at her, raising an eyebrow. His voice was casual as he said, ¡°Throwing yourself at me won¡¯t work. You still won¡¯t get the painting.¡± Inside 105 Chapter 105 Ariel¡¯s words were stuck in her throat. Frowning, she looked up at him. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, Mr. Larkin. I wasn¡¯t going to ask you for it.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t answer right away. He simply stared thoughtfully at her face. From his angle, he noticed her slightly sharper chin. Her once delicate face now seemed even slimmer. It made her eyes appear even bigger. Suddenly, he reached out and pinched her chin, lifting her face to get a better look. His hand hovered near her waist. ¡°Did you lose weight?¡± Jayson asked. Ariel¡¯s waist had definitely gotten smaller. His tone was cool, but there was a hint of something else in his eyes. ¡°Or has something been making you lose your appetite?¡± Ariel avoided his gaze. She was surprised that Jayson noticed the change. But that was probably where his concern ended. If he knew about her condition, he probably wouldn¡¯t care at all. She steadied herself and moved to push him away. ¡°Can you let go now?¡± She didn¡¯t respond directly to his question. Jayson didn¡¯t press her. He let go and stepped back, allowing her to regain her bnce. Ariel propped her arm against his chest briefly for support. As she was about to pull away, she noticed Zaching down the hallway, clearly catching her in the act of stepping out of Jayson¡¯s embrace. Zach¡¯s expression turnedplicated. Not long ago, Jayson had casually given up 1% of his profit to Spencer Group for a painting worth less than one million dors. It was clear that Jayson and Nancy were a couple. So why was Ariel clinging to Jayson? Zach¡¯s look was full of unspoken thoughts. Ariel knew exactly what he was thinking. But there was no easy way to exin this. Back when they were still married, Jayson had never let her acknowledge their rtionship publicly, let alone now. ¡°Mr. Larkin, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Zach asked with a smile as he approached them. Jayson remained expressionless. ¡°Just discussing some things.¡± Zach nodded in understanding. ¡°Got it. I won¡¯t interrupt, then.¡± Before he left, Zach nced at Ariel once more. His expression wasplex. He was surprised. Earlier, when Frederick had spoken about Ariel, he¡¯d never imagined her to be that kind of woman. +25 BONUS After all, Ariel came across as calm andposed with a steady gaze. She didn¡¯t seem like a shallow woman. And she was undeniably beautiful. Zach had a fairly good impression of her. But now she was openly flirting with someone else¡¯s boyfriend. He really shouldn¡¯t judge a book by its cover. Ariel didn¡¯t pay much attention to Zach. She raised her gaze to Jayson. ¡°I wasn¡¯t asking for the painting. You can give it to Nancy, but would you mind if I took a few photos of it?¡± Even if she couldn¡¯t get the actual painting, photos would still be useful. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll send them to you,¡± Jayson agreed without hesitation. Ariel was taken aback but breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Thank you.¡± Upon hearing that, Jayson looked at her for a few seconds with an unreadable expression. ¡°Well, that¡¯s quite polite of you.¡± With that, he turned and walked off. Ariel couldn¡¯t tell whether his words were praise or sarcasm, but she didn¡¯t bother to think about it. As long as Jayson was willing to send her the photos, everything would fall into ce once she found Elena¡¯s painting. Meanwhile, Zach had returned to the lounge area. Frederick, who had just finished greeting someone, immediately approached him. ¡°Mr. Quinton, you¡¯re finally back. Ms. Stanton was nning to talk to you about yourpany¡¯s new materials.¡± Zach took a sip of his drink. His gazended on Nancy, who was happily chatting with someone. Inside 106 Chapter 106 Nancy looked confident, graceful, and poised. Zach couldn¡¯t help recalling the moment Ariel threw herself at Jayson. ¡°Who exactly is Ariel?¡± he asked. Frederick thought for a second. ¡°She¡¯s with Faye Technologies now as Mr. Hockney¡¯s assistant. But if you ask me, their rtionship doesn¡¯t seem strictly professional.¡± Why would a man of Chad¡¯s status pay that much attention to a married woman like Ariel? Frederick couldn¡¯t think of any other reason other than a romantic one, which only made him see Ariel aspletely shameless. Zach was genuinely surprised. He understood exactly what Frederick was implying. Chad had a spotless reputation in the industry, with no gossip or scandals. He didn¡¯t even entertain women at business dinners. He was practically a symbol of self¨Crestraint. So Ariel had Chad wrapped around her finger and was also making moves on Jayson? ¡°Why the sudden curiosity?¡± Frederick asked, raising a brow. Zach clicked his tongue and clinked sses with him. ¡°I just think that we really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover. You never know what kind of demons are hiding behind a pretty face.¡± And just like that, he found himself feeling sorry for Nancy. She was being targeted by Ariel just because thetter wanted to catch the eye of her man. ¡°Gentlemen, what are you talking about?¡± Smiling, Nancy approached with one hand lifting her dress slightly as she walked. She gave Zach a small nod in greeting. Frederick, spotting her, immediately lowered his voice. ¡°We were just saying that some people really shouldn¡¯t botherpeting with you. It¡¯s embarrassing, honestly.¡± Nancy raised an eyebrow. She didn¡¯t know what had happened, but she could tell exactly who Frederick was talking about. She simply gave a faint shake of her head without saying anything. That alone made Zach realize why Jayson was so enamored with her. She really did carry herself with ss. ¡°Frederick, who exactly are you talking about?¡± Janice just happened to walk by and caught the tail end of Frederick¡¯s thinly veiled remark. The sarcasm was impossible to miss. It infuriated her, especially since he was trash¨Ctalking Ariel to Nancy, of all people. Nancy acting like she was Jayson¡¯s wife only fueled Janice¡¯s anger even more. What did they even know? Ariel was the real victim here! Frederick saw Janice¡¯s re and felt a headacheing on. ¡°I didn¡¯t say any names. Seriously, you¡¯re not a kid anymore. When are you going to start using your head? Don¡¯t always jump to defend people. Look at the kinds of people you¡¯re protecting!¡± Janice had been spoiled since childhood. She never studied hard, and her parents never pushed her. She spent most of her youth wasting time, drinking, and partying. When she got older, she asked the family for 50 million dors to invest. Luckily, she chose Chad, and that was how Faye Technologies came to be. That was probably the only smart thing she¡¯d ever done. Now, she was blindly defending some woman who had nothing going for her. Frederick wasn¡¯t about to let Ariel cling to Janice and drag the Swanson family into this mess. Just then, Jayson and Ariel returned one after the other. They immediately saw Janice staring straight at Nancy as she blurted out a sharp, pointed question. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you and Mr. Larkin are always together, but you¡¯ve never really rified your rtionship. Are you his girlfriend or his future wife?¡± Even Ariel¡¯s eyes flickered at that. Janice¡¯s question was a deliberate challenge. Since Ariel was standing right there, if Nancy gave a clear answer, Ariel could step up and announce that she was Jayson¡¯s wife. Nancy¡¯s image would shatter in an instant, and she¡¯d be branded the mistress. Inside 107 Nancy immediately picked up on the subtle jab in Janice¡¯s words. Her brow furrowed, and she shot a displeased nce at her. She didn¡¯t believe she had done anything to provoke Janice. It was likely Ariel¡¯s influence at y. Nancy nced over at Ariel, who was approaching, and a flicker of irritation crossed her eyes. Ariel was only capable of petty schemes like this. She couldn¡¯t match her in other areas, so all she had left were these schemes. Frederick, too, was curious about Nancy¡¯s answer to Janice¡¯s question. Sure, Jayson was protective of Nancy, but he¡¯d never actually introduced her as his girlfriend. If Jayson was only pursuing Nancy, did that mean there was still a chance for him? Zach watched Nancy, waiting for her response. Nancy pressed her lips together. Before she could speak, a tall, imposing figure stepped up beside her. Jayson¡¯s cold gaze swept over Janice and then shifted subtly to Ariel. He spoke tly, ¡°If you¡¯re so curious about her status, you can ask me. I¡¯ll tell you exactly who she is to me. Ariel¡¯s expression softened slightly. The strange emotion she¡¯d felt earlier was gone, reced by an expected calm. Jayson¡¯s words were both a defense and a warning. He wasn¡¯t going to let Nancy publicly acknowledge their rtionship, and he wouldn¡¯t let her be tarnished with anybel. Whether Nancy was his girlfriend or future wife, if he imed it, Ariel would have no chance to reveal her status as Mrs. Larkin. Ariel understood Jayson¡¯s intent perfectly. If she pushed him, he wouldn¡¯t hesitate to turn the tables on her. He had never been afraid of her. After all, they were already in the midst of divorce proceedings. He would make Nancy official after that, and Ariel would have to bear the brunt of any scandal. Ariel even worried that his anger over how she had damaged Nancy¡¯s reputation might hurt those close to her as well. Gradually, Ariel calmed herself. She had never been the recipient of Jayson¡¯s favor, so there was nothing to feel disappointed about. Janice could tell Jayson¡¯s stance as well. She turned to Ariel, stepped closer, and looked at her with a hint of concern. ¡°Ari¡­¡± Ariel met her gaze and gave a reassuring smile. At this point, the situation didn¡¯t bother her anymore. Though Jayson hadn¡¯t responded directly, his protective stance was obvious to everyone. It was clear Nancy held a special ce in his heart. Zach nced at Nancy, then at Ariel. In the end, he gave a knowing smile. After all, he¡¯d just witnessed Ariel in Jayson¡¯s arms not long ago. It was hard not to be amused. He suspected that Jayson had turned down her advances. As for Chad, maybe he still hadn¡¯t caught on to Ariel¡¯s tendency to hop from one man to another. Ariel didn¡¯t argue, nor did she care anymore about Jayson and Nancy. Since she couldn¡¯t find Elena¡¯s painting here, she didn¡¯t feel the need to insist any longer. She took Janice¡¯s arm and began to leave. Jayson turned to look at her. Her slender back was still straight. Since the beginning, she showed no sign of anger, sadness, or joy. It was as if she were entirely indifferent to him now. In the past, Ariel might have been temperamental, buttely, she had be strangely calm and detached. It probably started when Lucas was released from prison. ¡°Jayson?¡± Nancy noticed Jayson staring in the direction Ariel had gone. His expression immediately darkened, and she felt a wave of difort. No wonder Ariel had been acting out so muchtely. She was just trying to get Jayson¡¯s attention. ¡°Yes?¡± Jayson averted his gaze. His expression was cold and distant, and his eyes showed no trace of emotion. Nancy¡¯s mood lightened a little. ¡°Nothing. Let¡¯s go y golf with Perry and the others tonight.¡± Jayson gave a hum in response. Nancy smiled faintly. She didn¡¯t want Ariel stealing even the slightest bit of Jayson¡¯s attention. As far as she was concerned, Ariel could go on being the invisible woman. As for her status as Mrs. Larkin¡­. Inside 108 Jayson never admitted it, so Ariel wasn¡¯t anyone to him. Janice thought today had been a bad day. She wanted to take Ariel out for drinks and karaoke. Ariel used to drink when she worked in PR. But now, with her health issues, she was doing everything she could to avoid it. Besides, Jayson¡¯s matter no longer had much of an impact on her. She didn¡¯t need alcohol to drown her sorrows. So, Janice called her other friends to hang out instead. On her drive home, Ariel got a call from Chad. He asked briefly about the gallery, but Ariel just brushed it off. ¡°Come over for dinner tomorrow. My dad¡¯s off work. We can get on his good side while he¡¯s in a good mood.¡± Ariel thought about it for a moment. She had some difficulties with her new project and wanted to ask Carlos for advice, so she agreed. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll pick you up tomorrow.¡± ¡°Sounds good,¡± Ariel responded. The next day, she went to Eastgate to stand in line at a well¨Cknown pastry shop to buy Carlos¡® favorite palmiers. When Chad arrived, he got out of the car and opened the passenger door for her. While he was at it, he handed her a bag of roasted chestnuts. ¡°Your favorite. Get something in your stomach first.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°Thank you, Chad.¡± Chad ruffled her hair and teased, ¡°No need to thank me. Just look at me more, and you¡¯ll develop better taste in men.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t help butugh. As they left, the window of the Bentley parked across the street slowly rolled down. Perry¡¯s expression wasplicated as he watched them. He hade to buy pastries for Freya. He didn¡¯t expect to see Ariel and Chad together outside of work hours. In all the time he¡¯d known Ariel, he had never seen her smile so warmly at anyone else. Was she really ready to move on from Jayson? He didn¡¯t think so. He¡¯d seen how Ariel had treated Jayson over the years, and so had Matt. He took out his phone, hesitated for a moment, then sent Jayson a message. ¡°What¡¯s going on with you and Arieltely?¡± Unless Jayson was going through with a divorce, Perry couldn¡¯t understand why Ariel would be hanging out with another man. Jayson, probably not busy, replied, ¡°What do you mean?¡± Realizing what he¡¯d done, Perry frowned. Why did he care? And based on Jayson¡¯s response, things seemed the same as ever. Perry pressed his forehead with a finger before replying, ¡°Nothing. I just bumped into her earlier.¡± He didn¡¯t borate. Jayson, clearly uninterested, didn¡¯t ask for more details and didn¡¯t reply further. Perry couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. Jayson¡¯s attitude toward Ariel had been cold and distant for the past couple of years, ever since their first year of marriage, when they still tried to be civil. Matt and he had started to lose respect for Ariel because they had noticed Jayson¡¯s clear indifference. Perry was left wondering. Jayson hadn¡¯t been so annoyed by Ariel in the first year. So, how did things end up like this? Was it just a man¡¯s nature or something else? He couldn¡¯t quite figure it out. Ariel spent the afternoon at Carlos¡® ce. Carlos pointed out every mistake she made and also took time to talk to her about new directions in tech innovation, which gave her a real breakthrough in her thinking. Aside from that, he ignored her. Ariel had no choice but to swallow her pride and keep asking. Finally, exasperated, Carlos snapped, ¡°Are you freeloading off me? You¡¯re not even my student! Get out! We¡¯re done for today!¡± Seeing him lose his temper, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but smile. She wasn¡¯t afraid of his anger. What really bothered her was when he stopped caring about her. After dinner, Chad dropped her off at home. Exhausted, Ariel took her medicine and copsed onto the couch. Just as she sat down, her phone buzzed with a call from Jayson. Ariel hesitated before picking it up. His voice on the other end was calm but carried a hint of coldness. ¡°Did you block me on WhatsApp?¡± ??? Inside 109 Chapter 109 Jayson was actually surprised. He had promised to send Ariel some photos of that painting, so he sent them over when he had some free time today. But to his surprise, the photos he sent only received one gray tick. He didn¡¯t even know when exactly Ariel had blocked him. Was it at the gallery? Or maybe it happened before that? Still, he didn¡¯t dwell on it much. After everything that had happenedtely, it seemed odd that Ariel hadn¡¯t reacted at all. Maybe she was expressing her dissatisfaction by blocking his number now. He vaguely remembered something simr happening before. Ariel had blocked him once, only to unblock him a weekter. In the end, she acted like nothing had happened. This time, however, it was a shame. It wasn¡¯t until now that Jayson realized Ariel¡¯s ¡°effort¡°. Ariel suddenly remembered she had blocked Jayson a long time ago¨Cboth his personal and work numbers. Only now did Jayson realize that. It wasn¡¯t really surprising, though. Even before she¡¯d blocked him, Jayson rarely took the initiative to contact her. It was always her sending multiple messages, checking on him while he selectively replied. If it wasn¡¯t something he thought was important, he probably wouldn¡¯t respond at all. Most of the time, it was just her monologue. In their chat, her long¨Cwinded messages were interrupted only by his asional brief replies. ¡°Oh.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Got it.¡± Jayson must have been enjoying the silence these past few days without hearing from her. Ariel didn¡¯t answer his question but asked, ¡°Why did you call?¡± Jayson paused for a moment, then replied calmly, ¡°Didn¡¯t you want photos of the painting? I can¡¯t send them through WhatsApp, so I¡¯m calling to ask.¡± Ariel traced the rim of her cup. She picked up on the slight ambiguity in his words. Was he implying that she had purposely blocked him just to get his attention, making him feel obligated to call her and ask? But they were on the brink of divorce, so Jayson didn¡¯t need to be so spective about her intentions. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered about what Jayson was thinking. She replied calmly, ¡°Just email them to me. Thanks.¡± It would be a bit more trouble than sending them through WhatsApp, but she had no intention of unblocking him. There was a brief pause on the other end, then Jayson let out a faint chuckle, which was almost inaudible. It was hard to tell what mood it reflected. ¡°Okay, whatever.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t ask her to unblock him. His tone was as cold and detached as ever, with a hint of mockery underneath. He paused before adding, ¡°I¡¯ll help you look for your mom¡¯s painting. Just wait for an update.¡± Ariel was caught off guard. She hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to remember that. She had only mentioned it casually at the gallery, and yet he had taken it to heart? Before she could thank him, Jayson ended the call abruptly. How decisive and indifferent. It was as if the concern he had shown for her earlier had been nothing but an illusion. Ariel stared nkly at her phone screen but quickly pulled herself out of that emotion. Before their divorce, her requests had never been taken seriously. Now that he seemed to care, it no longer affected her. She got up to take a shower. As she looked at her reflection in the mirror, she traced her ribs and waistline. There was almost no fat there anymore. No wonder Jayson had been concerned about her at the gallery. Her weight loss was impossible to ignore. Ever since her diagnosis, she had been feeling low. On top of that, the side effects from her targeted drugs and suppressants had drastically affected her appetite, causing her to lose several pounds. She couldn¡¯t even bear to think about how she would look after undergoing chemotherapy. All she could do was dy it as much as possible. Inside 110 Once the project at Faye Technologies was stable and running smoothly, Ariel could focus on her treatment and start preparing to tell Katie and Leonard about her condition. After she changed into her clothes and stepped out, her phone buzzed incessantly. Ariel picked it up to check. It was a series of photos from Janice. The pictures were taken from a discreet angle. In them, Jayson was at a jewelry store in a shopping mall, apanying Nancy as she browsed. She was holding a beautiful emerald ne. It turned out that he had been on a date with Nancy and had just squeezed in time to call her. Janice wrote, ¡°Damn it! What a bad day! I was right next door, watching Jayson swipe his card like crazy for Nancy, buying her endless luxury gifts. Just a minute ago, he bought her a seven¨Cmillion¨Cdor emerald jewelry set. ¡°He didn¡¯t even blink! Seriously, that little mistress sure is living the high life!¡± Ariel slowly looked away from the photos and reflected on her marriage to Jayson. He had never gone shopping with her, and she had never asked him to. As for the gifts Jayson bought her, most were at Betty¡¯s request. He¡¯d bring back limited¨Cedition bags and jewelry from his business trips abroad. On birthdays or anniversaries, Jayson would ask Colton to send her something. Although this might seem considerate, it felt more like part of his work routine. Even if the gifts he gave were expensive, they still felt cold inparison to the time he personally spent with Nancy. Ariel didn¡¯t take those gifts with her. They were sitting in the wardrobe of their marital home. Even though they were worth a fortune, she no longer cared for them. She replied to Janice with a simple ¡°Go home early¡± before heading off to rest. She didn¡¯t want to dwell on Jayson and Nancy anymore. She was done asking questions or caring. She had no intention of letting it affect her mood. The next day, when Ariel arrived at Faye Technologies, she checked her email. Jayson still hadn¡¯t sent the photos. He had most likely forgotten about it. She didn¡¯t want to nudge him just yet, so she decided to wait. During the lunch break, Ariel called Colton.. Thest time she had brought up Elena¡¯s death anniversary with Jayson, he hadn¡¯t let her finish speaking and had told her to schedule it with Colton. She had no choice but to confirm the date. Colton didn¡¯t pick up immediately, but when he did, his tone was all business. ¡°Ms. Walker, Mr. Larkin is still busy. You can try calling backter.¡± Chapter no He assumed Ariel was calling to ask about Jayson, so he gave a perfunctory response. Ariel didn¡¯t bother to care about Colton¡¯s attitude. She answered tly, ¡°I¡¯m not looking for him. I just need to confirm Jayson¡¯s schedule for the 24th. Is he avable on that day?¡± Colton realized what was going on, then responded slowly, ¡°Sorry, Ms. Walker. Mr. Larkin has a personal schedule on the 24th. I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t be free.¡± ¡°It¡¯s my mom¡¯s third death anniversary ceremony. Could he spare an hour toe and pay his respects?¡± Ariel frowned. She didn¡¯t need Jayson to attend the whole event. Just showing up for a while would be enough. Colton hesitated. ¡°I¡¯ll check with Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t push further. She thought to herself that it was only an hour. Surely, Jayson wouldn¡¯t refuse. After hanging up, Colton was still mulling over how to word things when he saw Jayson and Nancy step off the elevator. They had just finished their lunch together. They were chatting as they walked. Colton hesitated before calling out, ¡°Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson nced over. ¡°What is it?¡± Inside 111 Chapter 111 Nancy turned to look at Colton as well, her postureposed and graceful. Colton instinctively nced at her. After hesitating for a moment, he shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing important. Just wanted to remind you that the meeting with Mr. Boyle from Noirline is at 3:00 pm.¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes remained unreadable. He gave a faint nod and walked into his office. Nancy followed behind him without a word. As Colton watched the two disappear into the office, he decided to keep his mouth shut. With Nancy present, bringing up Ariel felt inappropriate. Besides, Jayson had never visited Elena¡¯s grave over the past few years. Why would this time be any different? Even if he brought up the third death anniversary ceremony, there was no guarantee Jayson would agree. Colton didn¡¯t see the point of ruining their mood by mentioning Ariel. Ariel, of course, had no idea what Colton was thinking or what had transpired. After work that evening, she didn¡¯t go home. Instead, she headed to the nursing home. Katie had cooked a few dishes to bring to Leonard, and Ariel decided to join them. Leonard had just finished a round of chemotherapy that day, and his appetite was poor. He barely touched the food, but he smiled warmly while chatting with Ariel and Katie about his new room. He mentioned that the hospital had assigned him better caregivers¨Cone for the day shift and another for the night. The care was far more attentive than before. Ariel was a little surprised. She wasn¡¯t sure if this was part of the VIP package or if Jayson had arranged something behind the scenes. Normally, in a private hospital like this, every upgrade came with an extra price tag. Could it really have been him? ¡°That must¡¯ve cost a lot, right?¡± Katie turned to Ariel with a disapproving look and said, ¡°You just started a new job. You don¡¯t have to spend this much.¡± She was worried about Ariel. Thetter had taken on too much responsibility for her and Leonard. Ariel snapped out of her thoughts. She didn¡¯t exin the origin of the upgraded room. If Katie found out that Sarah was staying downstairs, it would only lead to anger. ¡°My new job has really good profit¨Csharing. Don¡¯t worry about me. I¡¯ll find an even better doctor for Uncle Leonard soon. Once we get a liver match, he can have the surgery.¡® Ariel had no other wishes at this point. Chapter M She just wanted to quickly reach her goals, make sure she had enough money on hand, and give Leonard the best treatment possible. Leonard felt a deep sense of guilt toward Ariel and gave a bitter shake of his head. ¡°I¡¯m the one dragging you down. If my health hadn¡¯t failed, maybe I could still be helping you somehow¡­¡± Ariel had never really had anyone to rely on growing up. Morgan had always been cold and hypocritical, never caring about Ariel. The Walker family wasn¡¯t some powerful old¨Cmoney n, so they couldn¡¯t give Ariel the kind of backing she needed to stand her ground in her marriage. Plus, Leonard was seriously ill, and his medical expenses were sky¨Chigh. He knew he was a burden to Ariel, and it weighed heavily on him. Ariel¡¯s nose stung, but she still smiled and shook her head. ¡°I¡¯ve picked up the career I¡¯ve always loved. I feel fulfilled, and I¡¯m happy. Things will only get better from here.¡± She had already pulled herself out of the quicksand. All she could do now was focus on what needed to be done and not worry about what she couldn¡¯t control. Katie decided to stay the night. As she walked Ariel downstairs, she held her hand and asked, ¡°Have you told Jayson and Lucas about your mom¡¯s death anniversary ceremony?¡± To her, Jayson was Ariel¡¯s husband, so he should attend. And Lucas had once been the closest person to Ariel. When Elena was buried, it was Lucas who had stood by Ariel and handled the arrangements. How could he note now? Ariel froze. She didn¡¯t know how to answer. She had already informed Jayson, but there was no confirmation yet. As for Lucas, she honestly wasn¡¯t sure he woulde. Katie picked up on Ariel¡¯s hesitation. Her expression darkened, and she couldn¡¯t hide her frustration. ¡°It¡¯s one thing if it¡¯s just a regr visit to the cemetery, but this is a significant ceremony. How could Jayson not attend?¡± Inside 112 Chapter 112 ¡°Ari, tell me the truth. Is there something going on between you and Jayson?¡± Katie¡¯s eyes were fixed on Ariel. Her gaze was full of worry. Ariel pressed her lips together, unable to bring herself to tell Katie about Jayson and Nancy. Nancy was Sarah¡¯s daughter, after all. If Katie found out, she¡¯d be devastated. ¡°He¡¯lle,¡± Ariel finally said, choosing to avoid the heart of the matter. Katie stared at her for a moment, then sighed. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the bond between Jeremy and Timothy as warrades, I would¡¯ve confronted Betty myself by now and demanded an exnation.¡± It was Betty who had firmly agreed to the marriage back then, promising that Ariel would never be mistreated. Katie had believed her. But now? What was with this lukewarm attitude? Ariel gently tried to calm Katie. ¡°Grandma, it¡¯ste. You should go get some rest.¡± She would handle these things herself. She didn¡¯t want Katie getting involved and ending up angry or hurt. Katie seemed like she wanted to say more, but in the end, she just reminded Ariel to be careful on the road and went back upstairs. Ariel had driven herself to the hospital, but the nursing home¡¯s parking lot was full, so she¡¯d left her car near the outpatient building out front. She took her time walking over, treating it as a chance to clear her head. When she reached the parking lot, she suddenly heard a flirtatious voice not far off. ¡°Lucas, kiss me again¡­¡± Ariel¡¯s steps faltered. She instinctively turned toward the sound. Under the dim lighting of the parking lot, a woman was clinging to a man by the door of a shy Mercedes G- Wagon. She was tiptoeing, nting light kisses along the man¡¯s jaw. It was the kind of action that came with a hint of seduction. Lucas had one hand at her waist. His expression was hidden in the shadows, but his voice was casual and unrushed. ¡°Getting this bold out in the open? You know there are¡­¡± His words cut off abruptly as his peripheral vision caught Ariel standing not too far away. A flicker of something crossed his eyes. The next moment, he changed his demeanorpletely. He pulled Wendy into his arms. With one hand braced against the car door, he tilted her chin up and lowered his head to bite and kiss along her neck. Wendy moaned softly. Truth be told, Lucas hadn¡¯t been in the mood. But the moment he saw Ariel, he recalled the words she had said to him-¡°No one will stay in the past forever.¡± Was that so? He wanted to see whether she had truly stopped caring or was just putting on an act. Watching them from a distance, Ariel felt an instinctive wave of difort. She genuinely didn¡¯t understand how Lucas had turned into this kind of person. He had always been bold and free- spirited, but he had cared deeply about her feelings. He had never thrown this kind of scene in her face without restraint. Ariel turned away, exhaled slowly, and resumed walking toward her car with a nk expression. Seeing her reaction, Lucas frowned at once. He let go of Wendy almost immediately. Wendy, still caught up in the moment, looked up at him breathlessly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frowning, Lucas pulled out a pack of cigarettes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say your stomach was hurting? Let¡¯s see what the test results sayter.¡± Wendy pouted and clung to his arm. ¡°It doesn¡¯t hurt anymore. Why don¡¯t we just go back? Stopping halfway is torture¡­¡± She had gone to Lucas¡® ce today, nning to get a little intimate. But he¡¯d been buried in work and ignored her. Bored, she started ying with the knick¨Cknacks in his study. She identally broke one of a pair of handmade ceramic cups on his bookshelf. To her shock, Lucas had gotten angry at her for the first time. His face had gone cold, and he snapped at her for touching things without permission. When he snatched the broken pieces from her hands, Wendy saw a deep sorrow and a flicker of panic in his eyes. In that moment, all the frustration she¡¯d felt from him snapping at her disappeared. She realized that Lucas was worried she might get hurt by the broken shards. Inside 113 Chapter 113 Wendy was being clingy again. Lucas took a drag from his cigarette and ruffled her hair. ¡°Listen to me. Go in and wait for the results. I¡¯ll be there once I finish this.¡± Seeing hisid¨Cback but firm expression, Wendy knew he wasn¡¯t in the mood for her antics. She gave his arm a little shake. ¡°Okay, fine. But don¡¯t keep me waiting too long.¡± When she had broken Lucas¡® cup, seeing him angry made her feel both nervous and a little giddy. On instinct, she pretended to have a stomachache to ease his anger. Thankfully, after cleaning up the broken pieces, Lucas brought Wendy straight to the hospital. The fact that he cared about her so much made it impossible for her to admit she¡¯d faked the stomachache. Once Wendy had gone inside to the ER waiting area, Lucas finally looked in the direction Ariel had left. For just a second, he wondered if she had seen that. Would she be furious and jealous again? He frowned at that thought. With the cigarette between his fingers, he strode quickly toward Ariel. Ariel had just unlocked her car and was about to get in when a hand suddenly reached past her, mming the door shut with force. She turned and saw Lucas. Her expression instinctively tightened. Seeing that she was not the least bit shaken, he frowned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe and say hi?¡± he asked. Ariel pressed her lips together. She hadn¡¯t expected him to follow her. ¡°It¡¯s dark. I didn¡¯t see you,¡± she replied evenly, as if nothing had happened. Lucas let out a scoff. ¡°You didn¡¯t see me? But you ran off pretty fast. You¡¯re married. Why get so embarrassed just watching someone kiss?¡± Ariel heard the edge in his voice. Every word he said struck a harsh tone. She kept her calm as she looked at him. ¡°What do you want?¡± Lucas studied herposed face. He flicked away his cigarette and said, ¡°You saw me and walked away. Didn¡¯t you do that to get me to chase after you?¡± That used to be her thing. And back then, he always gave in. Ariel pressed her lips together, finding his words absurd. ¡°You¡¯ve misunderstood. What you do with your girlfriend is your business.¡± Seeing her calm demeanor, Lucas suddenly let out a coldugh. ¡°Right. Just like you never said a word when Jayson treated his lover like his wife.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Lucas to twist the knife regarding her already fractured rtionship with Jayson. The mockery stung, especially since it came from someone who had been like family. She said nothing, simply turning to get into her car. Lucas suddenly grabbed Ariel by the shoulder and pulled her close. A low chuckle escaped him as he said, ¡°You didn¡¯t say hi to me, but you can¡¯t just ignore your husband, can you?¡± Ariel followed his gaze and saw that a Maybach had just passed the security booth. Inside the car, Jayson and Nancy looked over at them. Jayson was in the driver¡¯s seat. His gaze was unreadable. But he quickly looked away, treating Ariel as if she were invisible. Ariel thought he must be here to see Sarah. Jayson had been to visit Leonard more in thest few days than he had in the entire time Leonard had been here. Leonard had lived here for years, yet he hadn¡¯t visited nearly as often as he had in just these few short days since Sarah moved in. Men, huh? Where their time and money went was where their love was. Lucas chuckled. ¡°Ari, you really do have a high tolerance. You can put up with that? Want me to give you a little lesson? A man¡¯s never gonna value a woman who doesn¡¯t know her own worth.¡± ¡°Why not take a page out of Nancy¡¯s book and learn to carry yourself with a bit more pride?¡± he added, giving her some ¡°friendly advice¡°. ¡°That¡¯s between me and him. You don¡¯t need to worry about it.¡± She dismissed himpletely, no longer fazed by his barbs or his attempts to twist the knife further. Ignoring Lucas¡® cold expression, she slid into her car and drove off without any exnation. She didn¡¯t feel the need to tell Lucas that she was divorcing Jayson. As Ariel¡¯s car disappeared from view, Lucas¡® expression soured. Wendy¡¯s calls came through one after the other, but he ignored them. Inside 114 Chapter 114 Lucas didn¡¯t head inside until he¡¯d finished an entire cigarette. After the car was parked, Nancy turned to Jayson. ¡°The way Mr. Sanderson was looking at her felt tense. Did they have a fight?¡± Jayson was looking at his phone. Without even ncing up, he replied, ¡°No idea.¡± He was truly cold. But Nancy smiled, satisfied. She liked this side of Jayson¨Cthe version that couldn¡¯t care less about Ariel. ¡°Do you want to go up?¡± she asked with a smile, dropping the subject. Jayson checked his watch. ¡°I¡¯ve got something to handle at the office. I¡¯ll visit your mom another time.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t push it. She stepped out of the car and said, ¡°Drive safe.¡± ¡°I will. Go on in.¡± After seeing Jayson off, Nancy headed upstairs and found Sarah reading. As she sat down, she casually mentioned that Jayson had dropped her off and that they¡¯d bumped into Ariel. Sarah turned a page and smiled. ¡°As expected, Ariel really takes after that useless mother of hers¨Cpathetic and dumb. They couldn¡¯t even hold on to a man. She¡¯s no threat to you.¡® Nancy paused. ¡°Her mother?¡± Sarah set the book down. ¡°Just some dumb and hypocritical woman. She thought a little money gave her the right to y the saint. ¡°She sponsored me just so everyone would find out about my family situation. It made herself look generous and noble, all to win people over and draw more attention from men.¡± Did she think she was saving the world? Sarah frowned at the memory, but it passed quickly. Well, times had changed. Even Elena¡¯s daughter couldn¡¯t outshine hers. Nancy didn¡¯t respond because Ariel was never in her league to begin with. After a few packed days at work, Ariel finally cleared her schedule and sat down with Katie to finalize the details for Elena¡¯s third death anniversary ceremony. In past years, they had just gone to the cemetery. This time, they nned something more intimate¨Ca ceremony set up at home for just the family. Chad and Janice showed up early that morning. Ariel pulled them aside and lowered her voice. ¡°I haven¡¯t told Grandma about my divorce yet, so don¡¯t let anything slip. I¡¯m nning to talk to her after today¡¯s ceremony.¡® Chad nodded, understanding the awkward position she was in. He patted her shoulder. ¡°She doesn¡¯t know yet, but will Jaysone?¡± Now that they were filing for divorce, Jayson technically had no reason to show up. But Ariel hadn¡¯t told Katie, and that left her caught in the middle. She sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± This wasn¡¯t how she wanted things. Jayson was the one who had cheated. He should be the one cleaning up the mess. When Katie came out, she instinctively nced toward the door. ¡°Is Jayson not here yet?¡± Ariel quickly looked down. ¡°Grandma, let¡¯s start on the pastries first.¡± A clean deflection. They needed to prepare the offerings. Elena had always loved Katie¡¯s shortbread cookies, so they¡¯d nned to bake a batch in her memory. Katie noticed that something was off but went along with it. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s get to it.¡± Janice, always quick to adapt, chimed in brightly, ¡°Katie, I¡¯ll help! I¡¯m great in the kitchen.¡± With Katie sessfully distracted, Ariel exhaled and rubbed her temples. Chad asked, ¡°Do you want me to call Jayson?¡± Ariel shook her head. She had made her decision. ¡°No need. If he doesn¡¯te today, I¡¯ll tell Grandma and Uncle Leonard about my divorce after the ceremony.¡± It was better to say it straight than keep dancing around it. Chad agreed. Later, Ariel got a call from Lucas. He asked her toe outside, saying he was here. She was a little surprised. She hadn¡¯t actually expected him to show up. But when she reached the door, her expression darkened in an instant. Inside 115 Chapter 115 Two cars came to a stop outside. Lucas was the first to get out, followed closely by the uninvited Morgan and Lori. Ariel¡¯s expression darkened. She had never intended to invite Morgan to Elena¡¯s death anniversary ceremony. Most of Elena¡¯s suffering came from Morgan. And in all the years since she passed, Morgan had never once visited her grave. So what was he doing here now? ¡°Ari, why didn¡¯t you let me know about today?¡± Morgan, frowning, walked up to her. His expression showed a mix of frustration and resignation. ¡°I should be here for this.¡± Ariel instinctively nced at Lucas. If it weren¡¯t for him, Morgan might have forgotten the day entirely. When Lucas met her gaze, he frowned as if he was about to say something. But Morgan waved his hand and said, ¡°Don¡¯t me Lucas. Elena and I were once married, after all. How could I forget this day?¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t help but feel amused. Morgan¡¯s hypocrisy was sickening. Of all days, he chose to show up today? The Walker family wasn¡¯t the least bit happy to see him. ¡°We don¡¯t need you here. My grandma and uncle don¡¯t want to see you either. Please leave,¡± Ariel said, her voice as cold as ice. Morgan frowned, looking at her with a mix ofplexity and displeasure. ¡°What¡¯s with the attitude? Don¡¯t forget, I¡¯m your father.¡± Ariel smiled. ¡°Mr. Walker, should I remind you that I¡¯m a Walker?¡± Their father¨Cdaughter bond had evaporated three years ago. ¡°You¡­¡± Morgan¡¯s face darkened. Furious, he said, ¡°You¡¯re bing more like your mom¨Cstubborn and impossible to reason with. If it weren¡¯t for me, you wouldn¡¯t have married Mr. Larkin and lived thisfortable life as Mrs. Larkin. You could¡¯ve never reached that level on your own!¡± To him, Ariel was nothing but an ingrate. Ariel¡¯s expression turned cold. Recalling her sufferings from the past three years, she mocked, ¡°Oh, you¡¯re right. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t be in this mess.¡± If it hadn¡¯t been for Morgan paying the paparazzi to stake out the hotel and snap those photos of her with Jayson in bed, Jayson wouldn¡¯t have misunderstood, and she wouldn¡¯t have ended up tangled in this disastrous marriage. What was there left to value in a father who¡¯d trade his daughter¡¯s reputation for public entertainment? ¡°You¡¯re not wee here. Don¡¯t disturb my grandma. Please leave.¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze grew colder. She no longer bothered with pretending. She had no more patience for them. Chapter IIS On this day of mourning, the Sandersons were here only to cause trouble. Morgan¡¯s face twisted with anger. As he looked at Ariel, his eyes were full of usation and disappointment. To him, simply showing up today should have been seen as an honor. Yet Ariel had the audacity to turn him away? Lori scoffed loudly. ¡°The Walker family has only a few members. We only came out of pity, and you don¡¯t even appreciate it? You really don¡¯t know what¡¯s good for you!¡± Lucas¡® eyes shifted toward her, dark and unreadable. Ariel shot back, ¡°Not knowing what¡¯s good for me is better than being as delusional as the two of you.¡± None of them were wee here. Lori fumed for a moment, then suddenly broke into a smile. She peeked around, looking over the yard. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Larkin? Isn¡¯t it a special day? Why isn¡¯t he with you?¡± Her smile was dripping with mockery. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious why he isn¡¯t here?¡± Ariel had a sinking feeling in her stomach. The next second, Lori tilted her head and continued with a grin, ¡°Because he¡¯s celebrating his living future mother -inw¡¯s birthday!¡± She ced extra emphasis on the word ¡°living¡°, clearly trying to undermine the solemnity of Elena¡¯s death anniversary. Ariel froze. She hadn¡¯t expected this turn of events. Lori pulled out her phone and shoved it into Ariel¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Stanton posted on her Instagram this morning. Today is Mrs. Stanton¡¯s birthday, and Mr. Larkin booked a resort vi for a party. Why would he remember your mother¡¯s gloomy death anniversary?¡± Inside 116 Chapter 116 Ariel felt as though a hole was bored through her chest. A cold, empty feeling rose within her. She looked at the photos Nancy shared. One of them was a photo of a resort vi, where they had finished the decorations for the party venue. The next photo was a photo of an exquisite emerald jewelry set. Ariel recognized the set of jewelry. It was the one Janice had witnessed Jayson spending seven million dors on at a jewelry shop when he and Nancy went there. The jewelry set turned out to be a gift for Sarah. This somewhat exined why Ariel did not receive any replies from Jayson even after she had contacted Colton. It seemed like Jayson had made his choice from the start. Nancy included a caption along with the photos. ¡°This will be the liveliest and the most extravagant birthday party that we¡¯ve ever thrown for my mom. There¡¯s a special someone whom I feel extremely grateful to¡­. Everyone, please look forward to the fireworks show tonight!¡± It was obvious who the special someone she had mentioned in the caption was. Ariel¡¯s eyes hardened. There was a faint mocking look on her face. It was because she knew that today was not Sarah¡¯s birthday. Back when Elena and Sarah were still close, Elena had celebrated Sarah¡¯s birthday with her and took photos at the time. She also wrote down the time and date on the photo tomemorate the day. Ariel had stumbled upon the photo when she was going through Elena¡¯s belongings previously. Sarah was supposed to have her birthday next month. ¡°Yet, these people chose to celebrate Sarah¡¯s birthday and have a fireworks show on the day of my mom¡¯s death anniversary? What do these people think they¡¯re doing?¡± Ariel fumed internally. Lori was extremely pleased as she took in the stony expression on Ariel¡¯s face. She felt like she had finally won for once. ¡°I only told you the truth since I didn¡¯t want to see you being kept in the dark forever. Mr. Larkin must be with Ms. Stanton right now,¡± Lori took back her phone and said mockingly. Ariel remained silent. She was lost in her train of thought after facing such a ridiculous situation. ¡°That¡¯s enough, Lori.¡± Lucas gave her a stern, disapproving look. Lori could see that Lucas was still taking Ariel¡¯s side. She bit her lip and red at Ariel indignantly. Then, Lori took a step backward. Morgan had no intention of staying around anymore. He was very disappointed with the current situation. Before leaving, Morgan said, ¡°You couldn¡¯t even keep your husband¡¯s heart and attention on you. We¡¯re losing the backing of a prestigious family such as the Larkins to someone else! It was pointless for us to put our hopes in you in the first ce!¡± The Sandersons would have managed to gain something out of their union if Ariel was able to win Jayson¡¯s favor and affection. Morgan and Lori got into the car. Lori directed her gaze toward Lucas. She had a longing look in her eyes. ¡°Lucas? Let¡¯s go home. There¡¯s no point staying here any longer.¡± Lucas did not even bother ncing over his shoulder at her. ¡°You guys should head back first.¡± Lori clenched her jaw and stared at Ariel. After she closed the door, their car drove off. Ariel came to her senses. She looked at Lucas indifferently. She appeared so calm that it was as though what she had just been informed of was of little importance to her. ¡°Go on in. My grandma¡¯s waiting for you inside.¡± She could not be bothered to criticize Lucas for bringing Morgan and Lori over today, nor did she want to listen to what he had to say. Ariel headed toward the garden alone. A chilly wind was blowing. Ariel heaved a deep breath. She decided to give Jayson a call. He could choose not toe over. Ariel had expected that much. Something like that would not ruffle her at this point. However, Sarah was deliberately aggravating Ariel and her family by pulling an act like this. They arranged for a fireworks show and a grand, joyous celebration on Elena¡¯s death anniversary just to mock the Walker family. Ariel could not just stand by and do nothing after having realized Sarah¡¯s malicious intent. She wanted to ask Jayson face¨Cto¨Cface if he knew what that day meant for the Walkers. If he did and chose to side with Sarah and Nancy regardless, Ariel would not stand for it. After waiting for some time, the line finally got through. Inside 117 Chapter 117 Before she could say anything, Ariel heard Nancy¡¯s voiceing down the line. ¡°May I know who¡¯s speaking?¡± The words seemed to stick in her throat. Ariel felt her mouth go dry. It was even hard for her to swallow. ¡°Did Jayson not save my number on his phone?¡± She wondered. Ariel looked down at her feet and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson?¡± ¡°He¡¯s beside me. I¡¯m afraid he won¡¯t have the time to entertain you today,¡± Nancy replied unhurriedly. The calm, steady tone in her voice made it sound as though Ariel was the mistress who had to keep her identity a secret and could be dismissed at any time. Ariel furrowed her brows. Just then, she picked up on Colton¡¯s voice speaking in the background. ¡°Ms. Stanton, a staff member from the bakery called and asked if they should deliver the cake to the venue first?¡± Ariel hung up right away. She stood in the same spot for quite some time. Her face was drained of color. With a frown on her forehead, she gently rubbed her abdomen. The difort in that area seemed to have worsened. It was pretty clear at that point that Ariel did not have to ask Jayson what was going on. Colton was helping Nancy with the cake reservation. It implied that Jayson had instructed him to help out with these errands. Jayson hadpletely disregarded Ariel¡¯s thoughts and opinions on the matter. He had no respect for her whatsoever. A sense of powerlessness was dragging her down. It made Ariel feel like she was about to suffocate. She took some time to cool off and regain herposure. Then, Ariel headed for the front yard as if nothing had happened earlier. Just as she walked away, Lucas, who was standing under a tree, stubbed out his cigarette. He snickered as he stared in the direction where she was headed. At Bluum Corp Tower, Nancy had just ced the phone back on the desk when Jayson came into his office after dropping by the meeting room. He strode over and nced at his watch. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you departed yet?¡± Nancy smiled faintly. ¡°I wanted to wait for you so we could head over together. Do you still have more work to do?¡± Jayson had bought Sarah¡¯s birthday present early on. Nancy could tell that he actually cared enough to pay attention to her personal matters. Jayson had even reserved the resort vi owned by Matt for an entire day to celebrate Sarah¡¯s birthday. All of that was to make her happy. They were nning on having dinner and sharing the cake with everyone that night. Jayson lifted his gaze. ¡°You should head over to the venue first. There are still a few things I need to take care of.¡± Nancy studied his expression for a moment. Then, she slowly nodded while maintaining a gentle, understanding expression on her face. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll wait for you there, then.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze fell on the documents on his desk. Nancy took an exquisitely decorated box out of her bag. She moved closer to Jayson, opened the box, and ced it on the desk right beside him. ¡°My mom picked out this tie for you. Since we¡¯re celebrating a joyous day, do you mind wearing it to the venueter?¡± Jayson took a nce at the tie. It was a ck tie with dark red line patterns. The red stood out well against the dark background. He replied tly, ¡°I¡¯ll have my driver send you there.¡± The corners of Nancy¡¯s mouth turned up. ¡°Okay.¡± After Nancy left, Colton entered Jayson¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Larkin, we¡¯ve postponed the rest of your schedule for the day. What time are you nning to depart for the party venue?¡± He studied Jayson¡¯s expression briefly but did not notice anything out of the ordinary. Hence, Colton decided to not bring up the matter about the death anniversary ceremony that Ariel had told him about. It was pretty obvious that Jayson would prioritize matters rting to Nancy. Colton reckoned it would be fine even if Jayson did not attend the ceremony held by the Walkers. Ariel was never one to make a big fuss about these things. Colton figured she would be understanding of the situation this time as well. ¡°Did you receive any calls from Ariel today?¡± Jayson asked abruptly. Colton paused momentarily. Then, he said hesitantly, ¡°No.¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes were unreadable. ¡°Is that so?¡± Colton could feel his body breaking out in cold sweat at that moment. Somehow, he started feeling anxious and uneasy. ¡°Mr. Larkin¡­¡± Jayson frowned slightly. Then, he lowered his head and looked at the document in his hand. ¡°Is there something else you need to report to me about?¡± Colton debated for a while before he carefully suggested, ¡°Mr. Crosby called and asked what time the fireworks show shouldmence. He also asked me to remind you to wear an outfit with brighter colors. Ms. Stanton will be wearing a red dress tonight. That tie happens to match the color of her dress.¡± Jayson looked at the tie on his desk. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he said, ¡°I need you to take care of something first.¡± Back at the Walker residence, Ariel ran into Lucas just as she was about to enter the living room. Lucas chuckled as he scrutinized the straight face Ariel had put on. ¡°Do all married womenpromise so easily? Stop getting your hopes up. Jayson won¡¯t be here today.¡± Inside 118 Chapter 118 Lucas narrowed his eyes. There was not a hint of sincerity in his nonchnt voice. ¡°Why don¡¯t you try begging me, Ari? Perhaps I¡¯ll consider helping you escape from the miserable situation you¡¯re in.¡± Ariel could clearly sense the heavy sarcasm in his tone. She simply ignored him and walked away. The smile on his face faltered as Lucas watched Ariel¡¯s receding figure. She must love Jayson deeply judging by how she had remained meek and submissive despite having been treated like this. Lucas stared at Ariel from behind for quite some time. Then, he took out his phone and snapped a photo of her from where he was standing. Then, he sent the photo to a WhatsApp chat window, which he had not sent anything to before. ¡°Mr. Larkin, Ari might just retaliate if you push her too hard. She¡¯s found out that you¡¯re celebrating Mrs. Stanton¡¯s birthday. The situation might get ugly if she shows up and causes a ruckus at the party. ¡°How about this? Let Jadeon Technologies own one percent of Bluum Corp¡¯s shares. Ari listens to me. I¡¯ll make sure to keep her calm and happy so that she won¡¯t interrupt your lovey¨Cdovey time with Ms. Stanton. It¡¯ll be a win -win situation. What do you think?¡± Unfortunately, Lucas did not receive any replies. It was as though he were the only one who could see what was shown in the chat window. Clearly, Jayson had chosen to ignore his message. Lucas clicked his tongue. Jayson had perfectly demonstrated hisplete indifference to Ariel. When Ariel went up to Janice, thetter had a frown on her face. Her expression was grim. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Ariel lightly pinched Janice¡¯s cheek. Janice finally snapped out of it. She had a conflicted look in her eyes as she gazed at Ariel. ¡°Ari, don¡¯t be mad¡­¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Ariel lifted her gaze and asked. She was cing the items needed for the ceremony on the nearby table. Janice clenched her teeth. She asked Chad for his phone. ¡°Nancy shared a new post on her social media page¡­ Look.¡± Ariel was not particrly curious about what Nancy had shared. However, her eyes hardened the moment her gazended on the phone screen. This time, Nancy had shared just one photo. She was leaning against the edge of a table and holding a ck tie with dark red embroidery in her hand. The arm of a man wearing a white shirt could be seen in the lower left corner of the photo. Ariel could tell just by looking at the arm that the man was Jayson. ???? Chapter BS ¡°It matches my red dress perfectly.¡± Janice was exasperated. ¡°Does she not know shame? There¡¯s no way she doesn¡¯t know that today is Aunt Elena¡¯s death anniversary. Yet, she¡¯s asking Jayson to dress up so extravagantly on his mother¨Cinw¡¯s death anniversary? What is she thinking? ¡°She¡¯s clearly trying to mock us! She and her mom are out there celebrating while we mourn for Aunt Elena¡¯s death. Is Jayson going to turn a blind eye to all their wrongdoings and rub salt in your wound just to indulge Nancy?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression hardened. She eventually came to her senses when she felt a sharp pain in the center of her palm. ¡°Jayson¡­ Must he do this? Doesn¡¯t he already know what day it is today? Still, he allowed Sarah and Nancy to do something so cruel and inconsiderate?¡± she pondered. Chad¡¯s face darkened as well. ¡°I¡¯m quite surprised to see how much Jayson cares about Nancy.¡± His expression turned serious. ¡°If he¡¯s doing this despite knowing what day it is today¡­ Ari, you¡¯ve pretty much wasted thest three years of your life living with that man.¡± How cold and heartless Jayson must be to be doing something like this to Ariel? They had been married for so long, after all. Chad could not help but wonder if Jayson¡¯s heart was made out of stone. Ariel fell silent. Putting aside the matter about the tie, she already had an inkling that Jayson would choose to be with Nancy instead. She was not particrly surprised or disappointed by that. Yet, Ariel could not overlook the fact that Jayson was ultimately the reason how things had unfolded so far. Regardless of Sarah¡¯s reason for throwing such a huge party to celebrate her birthday, she was still undeniably trying to provoke the Walkers. Moreover, they had Jayson¡¯s help and support no matter what. Both Nancy and Sarah knew very well that Jayson would surely take their side, especially under these circumstances. ¡°It¡¯s about time.¡± Katie came into the room while Leonard supported her. She had prepared herself mentally for the possibility of something like this happening. Still, when it did, Katie could not help but sigh with a dark look on her face. ¡°It¡¯s fine if he¡¯s noting. Anyhow, we need to proceed with what we have to do today.¡± At that moment, Ariel felt extremely apologetic toward Katie and her other family members. These people had to suffer such unfair treatment alongside her simply because she married someone unsuitable. For a split second, Ariel wanted to just forget about all her concerns and restrictions. She drew a long breath.¡± Grandma, there¡¯s something I need to tell you.¡± Inside 119 Chapter 119 Before she could say anything else, Ariel picked up on the sound of footstepsing from the door. A calm, deep voice said, ¡°Have I gotten here a bit toote, honey?¡± Ariel was interrupted by the voice. She turned around with a bewildered look on her face. Ariel thought she might have heard it wrongly. The others looked in the direction of the voice, seemingly surprised as well. Jayson strode into the room. Lucas furrowed his brows the instant he saw Jayson. He was rather surprised by the fact that Jayson was willing to do Ariel such a big favor by addressing her so intimately in front of all these people. On second thought, Jayson was probably willing to pretend to acknowledge Ariel as his wife since only the Walkers and their close friends were there. There were no outsiders present. Ariel probably would not have been able to hear Jayson address her that way if they had a clueless soul with them that day. Jayson¡¯s tall form, which was d in a in ck suit, moved closer toward the group. After taking a nce at Ariel, he turned his eyes to Katie and said tly, ¡°I got held back because of some issues at work. I¡¯m sorry, Grandma.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression hardened. She almost forgot to control her expression after hearing Jayson calling her ¡°honey¡± nonchntly. The shock she received from hearing the way he addressed her was much greater than the shock of her seeing him here. It made Ariel wonder what exactly Jayson was trying to achieve by doing this. He was willing to do this much just to keep up appearances? Jayson had not once called Ariel ¡°honey¡± ever since they got married. Besides, Ariel hade to terms with the fact that Jayson chose to keep Nancy and Sarahpany that day. She could not help wondering what Jayson was doing here. She subconsciously nced at his tie. It was not the tie with the red embroidered pattern that Nancy had shared on her social media ount. Instead, it was a in ck tie that fitted today¡¯s asion. The frown on her forehead deepened as Ariel still could not figure out the reason behind Jayson¡¯s actions. Jayson directed his gaze to Ariel. He said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariel finally noticed how she must be staring at him in a really strange way. She steered the topic away since Katie and the others were watching them. ¡°Where were you just now?¡± ¡°At the office.¡± Ariel fell silent. She did not buy what he said. However, she had no intention to pry and get to the bottom of things. It was not something she should do considering their current rtionship. Katie¡¯s expression had softened considerably. As the elder in the family, she did not try to scold or give Jayson an earful. She waved her hand at the couple. ¡°It¡¯s good enough that you¡¯ve made it here in time. Let¡¯s get started with the ceremony, then.¡± Jayson gave a slight nod. He calmly followed Katie¡¯s instructions. Janice was momentarily stunned when she heard Jayson calling Ariel honey. With a confused expression, she poked Chad a few times. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± She could not understand why Jayson was calling Ariel that when they were already getting divorced. Chad lowered his voice. ¡°Perhaps the two of them have reached some sort of agreement. Anyhow, I¡¯ll take back what I said earlier since he¡¯s here. I guess he¡¯s not that awful of a man.¡± If Jayson had really not bothereding here today, Chad would advise Ariel to justpletely forget about the man and the years she had spent beside him. Anyway, none of them had expected to see him there right now. Logically speaking, Jayson should be staying by Nancy¡¯s side as one of the main guests at their party. ¡°Perhaps¡­ The fireworks show happeningter at night should be the main event. That¡¯s why Jayson is free toe over now?¡± Chad pondered. He was not the only one who thought about it. Ariel had also made a simr guess. The The ceremony for Elena¡¯s third death anniversary would end roughly before noon. Ariel reckoned Jayson would probably leave around that time. That way, he would not appear cold¨Chearted and disrespectful. At the same time, he could still make time to meet up with Nancy¡¯s group. He could kill two birds with one stone. Lucas remained in the same spot. As if he was totally unaware of what had happened, Lucas curled his lips and greeted Jayson. He smiled enigmatically. ¡°I thought you¡¯d be too busy toe over today, Mr. Larkin.¡± Yet, Jayson came. Lucas was frankly quite surprised. It was because he had sent Jayson the WhatsApp message around ten minutes ago¡­ That meant Jayson was already on his way here at the time. Jayson turned his gaze toward Lucas. His expression remained unchanged. ¡°Work was still alright. I still have the time to make it to our family gatherings.¡± ¡°Our family gatherings?¡± Lucas repeated inwardly. He was amazed by Jayson¡¯s ability and efforts to keep up appearances. Jayson always managed to say these things while keeping a straight face despite his reluctance. Katie¡¯s mood had improved. She instructed, ¡°Ari and Jayson, you two should light the incense for your mom.¡± Ariel hesitated and looked toward the man beside her. She was not sure if Jayson was willing to cooperate andplete the task with her. Jayson sensed her gaze. He said nothing and proceeded to light the incense. He bowed slightly and carried out Katie¡¯s instructions carefully. There was no sign of him handling the task half¨Cheartedly. Ariel.was momentarily dazed. However, she swiftly assisted him. As they lit the incense for Elena, Ariel felt so sad and heartbroken that her eyes turned red. Chapter ip However, she was not one to show her vulnerable side to other people. She stood facing Elena¡¯s photo for quite some time so that others would not notice her teary eyes. That was until someone held out a piece of tissue toward her. She met Jayson¡¯s cool gaze. There was an unreadable look in his eyes. ¡°You should use it to wipe away your tears?¡± Ariel was surprised by how he was showing her this much consideration. Inside 120 Chapter 120 They rarely shared such moments since the two of them had hardly spent any time together. Moreover, Jayson was not a romantic or affectionate person. Ariel reckoned it was most probably because Nancy did a good job educating Jayson that he turned out to be so considerate now. She epted the tissue expressionlessly and was about to turn around. However, Ariel tripped on her foot and fell forward. ¡°Watch out!¡± ¡°Watch out!¡± Two voices called out at the same time from her front and back. Simultaneously, two hands caught hold of Ariel¡¯s arms. Ariel raised her head and nced at Jayson and Lucas, who were standing beside her. Jayson had a calm look in his eyes. His voice had remained steady the entire time. Lucas turned his eyes to Jayson. His brows arched. ¡°It seems Mr. Larkin is a kind and caring person too.¡± Ariel was slightly ruffled by those words. Lucas was indirectly reminding Ariel of Jayson¡¯s indifference to her all along to mock her. She squirmed free from their grips and said tly, ¡°Thanks.¡± Jayson did not make any furtherments to Lucas¡® remarks. He looked down at Ariel and said, ¡°Be careful.¡± On the other hand, Janice managed to pull out her phone and capture the moment of those two men preventing Ariel¡¯s fall as it happened. She tugged at Chad¡¯s sleeve and whispered to him, ¡°You¡¯ve added Nancy as a friend on your social media ount, right?¡± ¡°What would you like for me to do?¡± Chad could tell right away that Janice was up to no good. ¡°Share this photo on your social media ount and set it so that only Nancy can see this post. It¡¯s our payback for Ari!¡± Janice sent Chad the photo immediately. She put her hands on her waist and snickered. ¡°If she doesn¡¯t have a clear understanding of her position, I¡¯ll help put her in her ce instead!¡± Chad was struck speechless. He could not help but acknowledge the fact that Janice was good at ticking people off. Anyway, Chad was not a goody two¨Cshoes. Moreover, he was pretty loyal to his friends. As for the post, Chad did not just set it so that only Nancy could see it. He also included Matt and Perry in the list of people who could view the post. That way, one of them would surely stumble upon his post. ¡°Look at how kind I am. I¡¯m making sure all of them have an equal chance to get the scoop,¡± Chad thought. Ariel waspletely oblivious to what Chad and Janice were up to. She had no time or attention to spare since she had toplete the remaining steps for the ceremony. At the resort vi, Nancy finally saw Chad¡¯s post when Matt sent it to her. Matt found it amusing. ¡°As expected, Ariel has pulled some sort of tricks to get Jayson to go to her instead. Isn¡¯t she doing this to tantly provoke you?¡± The group of them had agreed to meet up and celebrate Sarah¡¯s birthday at the resort vi that day. They had finished preparing everything for the party, yet Jayson was not even there. Nancy knitted her brows. She had an impassive look on her face as she looked at how Jayson was supporting Ariel by holding her arm in the photo. ¡°She¡¯s much more cunning and maniptive than I thought. I¡¯m not like her. I can¡¯t pretend to be weak or fragile.¡± It appeared Ariel was only reserved and dignified on the surface. She would pounce at Jayson whenever the opportunity presented itself. Nancy detested Ariel¡¯s sly mindset and approach. Ariel was still trying to seduce Jayson even though she knew Nancy was pretty much his partner now. Ariel was overstepping her boundaries. ¡°I¡¯ll call and remind Jayson toe over as soon as possible.¡± Matt also felt that what Ariel did was a bit too much. She kept getting jealous of Nancy and tried to win Jayson¡¯s attention. ¡°I don¡¯t even know why Jayson bothered to meet with the Walkers. Ariel has never tried to bug him about these things. Why did he even bother trying to keep up appearances?¡± Nancy turned off the phone since she did not want to see Ariel¡¯s distasteful actions as portrayed in the photo anymore. The smile on her face faltered. ¡°I¡¯m sure that Jayson doesn¡¯t care about Ariel. However, there¡¯s no telling if she¡¯ll pull some kind of act to keep Jayson there.¡± Matt frowned and scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jayson knows what he¡¯s doing. Otherwise, Ariel wouldn¡¯t have spent so many years trying but still could not win his heart.¡± Nancy shared the same opinion. ¡°As for the photo¡­¡± Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Ariel may have deliberately asked Mr. Hockney to share it online?¡± He could not help thinking about how sly and calctive Ariel was. Nancy had a contemptuous look in her eyes. She said in a gentle voice, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯d be bothered by a photo like this.¡± She had no intention of making this apetition. Frankly, Jayson would always prioritize matters rting to Nancy if she ever needed anything from him. It would be pointless regardless of what tricks Ariel tried to pull. The Walkers decided to hold the ceremony at home instead of visiting the cemetery this year. Katie had prepared a variety of dishes for their guests. There were enough seats around the table for everyone. Ariel had nned to discuss the matter of them telling Katie the truth once the ceremony was over with Jayson first. While she was looking for him, Ariel found Jayson chatting with Chad. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Mr. Carlos will soon lead a team to develop a new flight system. Are there any spots left for people to join for learning and observational purposes?¡± Ariel halted. She had a sudden realization. She finally understood why Jayson hade and acted that way earlier. Inside 121 Chapter 121 Chad was quite surprised by how fast Jayson had received the news. He had only found out about this yesterday, yet Jayson was already taking relevant actions today. Chad acted as though he had little information about the project. He shook his head. ¡°Nothing much has been confirmed yet. Do you perhaps have someone you¡¯d like to rmend to join the team, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson smiled slightly. ¡°There is one person I¡¯d like to rmend.¡± Chad made no furtherments since the answer was pretty obvious. He spotted Ariel, who stood not too far away. There was a conflicted look on Chad¡¯s face. As someone who had been in the business circle for many years, Chad instantly realized the real reason why Jayson hade over to the Walker residence today. It appeared Jayson had dropped by to meet Chad and ask him about these things. He did not really care about Ariel¡¯s personal matters. Ariel was not particrly sad or disappointed. She hade to ept the reality of her situation early on. After all, there was no way Jayson would suddenly change his ways this year after having ignored and neglected her before that. It was solely for Nancy¡¯s sake that he was willing to attend the ceremony this time. She walked over to them calmly. ¡°Thank you foring today, Chad.¡± Ariel felt extremely grateful to him since Chad had canceled several work¨Crted appointments to be there. Chad patted her head lightly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to be so courteous with me. I¡¯ll be leaving in a bit, though. I need to attend an important meeting with our overseas partners. Can you handle things here on your own?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll be here.¡± Jayson nced at his watch. His tone was calm and steady. Ariel found his actions today strange. Chad¡¯s eyes were unreadable as he gazed at Jayson. ¡°Right. I¡¯m sure there won¡¯t be any problem since you have Mr. Larkin with you.¡± After Chad left, Ariel turned her eyes to Jayson. She noticed he had dressed differently from his usual go¨Cto style. The suit that he was wearing was in a shade of ck matching his tie and suitable for the solemn asion. He had not put on any extra essories. Still, Jayson oozed sex appeal even when he was wearing a rather simple outfit. It was obvious Jayson had changed into a more suitable outfit beforeing here. ¡°Are you leaving soon?¡± Ariel reckoned he would not stay around for too long. Jayson¡¯s gaze fell on her. He curled his lips. ¡°Are you sending me away already?¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. She found his responses odd. ¡°No. Don¡¯t you have other things to attend to, though? ¡°Tell me then. What is the other thing that I have to attend to?¡± Jayson took a sip of tea. His brows lifted as he stared at Ariel. Ariel fell silent. For a moment, she could not figure out what Jayson¡¯s ns were. ¡°Is he not going to be there for the fireworks show that¡¯s been scheduled for Sarah¡¯s birthday?¡± she pondered. Jayson did not offer any other exnation, and Ariel had no intention of prying. That was considered his personal affairs. Ariel had no qualms about it as long as he showed up for today¡¯s ceremony. Janice stayed and had lunch with the Walkers. During the meal, Lucas took a few calls. Ariel could vaguely hear the sound of a woman¡¯s soft and sweet voice talking. Lucas did not seem to mind others overhearing their conversation. He said coaxingly, ¡°Mhm. I¡¯ll go and meet you tonight. There are others with me. So, don¡¯t make too much of a fuss now.¡± Katie took a nce at Ariel, who had not even looked up. Beside her, Jayson had a look of indifference on his face. Various emotions shed through her eyes. Truthfully, she was roughly aware of what had happened between Ariel and Lucas in the past. Katie felt slightly more reassured now after seeing how those two seemed to have moved on and let go of past grudges. Fortunately, Jayson was unaware of their past rtionship. Otherwise, Ariel¡¯s married life might have be even more chaotic. Each of them had different thoughts on their mind as they had lunch together. Wendy kept asking Lucas to meet up with her, and thetter conceded. Before leaving, he said, ¡°Should we meet up some other time, Mr. Larkin? Wendy said she had invited Nancy to go skiing. Should we all go together?¡± Lucas made sure to only bring up the topic when Katie was not around. However, he did not try to avoid Ariel when he said that. He did not seem to find any problem in mentioning Jayson¡¯s mistress in front of his wife. Jayson lifted his gaze. ¡°Let¡¯s discuss it some other day.¡± He gave an ambiguous answer. Lucas smiled enigmatically. ¡°Sure. You can get in touch with me any time, Mr. Larkin.¡± He looked at Jayson. Then, Lucas cast a nce at Ariel. Anyone could tell these two were not a happy couple. Inside 122 Jayson did not react any differently. ¡°Of course.¡± It was almost impossible to tell whether Jayson was really being sincere when looking at his proper and elegant demeanor. Lucas paused briefly. He took another nce at Ariel. Then, he left to meet his girlfriend. Ariel had ced a lot of importance on the ceremony for Elena¡¯s third death anniversary since it marked the closure point of their grieving her death. She was not required to stay up all night. However, Ariel had been feeling a little anxious and restlesstely. Staying near Elena¡¯s photo, which they had ced on the table along with the offerings, made her feel much better. So, Ariel decided to do that while she stayed up for the night. It was already evening by the time Ariel had finished the chores and seen Janice off at the front door. To her surprise, Jayson had not left. Ariel sat next to the table, where Elena¡¯s photo was. Jayson sat in a chair nearby. When he noticed she was looking at him, Jayson said tly, ¡°I¡¯ll stay and keep youpany.¡± His voice was devoid of any warmth or emotion. Nevertheless, his actions spoke louder than words. Ariel stared at him with a confused expression. ¡°I¡¯m staying up all night.¡± ¡°I know.¡± He checked his watch, lookingpletely calm and rxed. ¡°Do you want me to leave?¡± His lips turned up in an enigmatic smile. For a moment, Ariel could sense this odd feeling of indecisivenessing from him. She was a bit flustered. ¡°Is he not going to go and meet up with Nancy? Did he perhaps feel some sympathy for me after seeing how sad and miserable I was earlier? Is he trying to be considerate toward me?¡± Ariel pondered. Her expression remained the same. She was not moved by his actions either. Ariel decided to pay no mind to it since she could not wrap her mind around why Jayson was doing this now. When it was almost 8:00 pm, Ariel moved her stiff limbs around to stretch her muscles a little. She nced over her shoulder and spotted Jayson sitting in his chair and looking at his tablet. Although he had a frown on his forehead, Jayson remained there and kept Arielpany this whole time. She knew he did not have to do so much for her today. Jayson was not obliged to do these things since they were already getting divorced. Ariel was a sensible and reasonable person. Frankly speaking, Jayson was more like a guest to her and her family now. Still, she felt the need to treat him with the most basic amount of respect. Ariel stood up, poured a ss of water, and ced it next to Jayson. ¡°Thank you for staying here for so long, but you won¡¯t have to keep mepany for the rest of the night. Since you¡¯re already here, you and I should inform my grandma about our current situation.¡± That was what Ariel found was more important. Jayson¡¯s gaze fell on the ss of water Ariel had put on the table. Before he could think about her words deeply, his phone rang. Ariel spotted the caller¡¯s name out of the corners of her eyes. It was Nancy. Jayson directed his gaze to Ariel¡¯s face. He answered the phone right in front of her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jayson frowned slightly after listening to the other person speak for a while. He got up immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll head over right now. Wait for me there.¡± He ended the call and looked at Ariel. ¡°Something came up. So, I have to leave now.¡± Jayson was not trying to ask for Ariel¡¯s opinion. He was simply informing her his decision. Ariel had expected something like this happening. ¡°Okay.¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at her impassive face. He could not find any hint of her wanting him to stay from the look on her face. Without offering any other exnation, Jayson strode toward the front door. Ariel did not try to make Jayson stay, nor was she curious to find out why he had left so abruptly. It was because she knew that anything rted to Nancy, regardless of how insignificant it might be, was Jayson¡¯s first priority. It was already a rare urrence that Jayson was willing to do her the favor of staying around until now. As for him promising to stay with her for the entire night only to go back on his word¡­ Did Ariel find that surprising? Not really. She had gotten used to this. Ariel turned around and stared at the photo, where she could see Elena smiling softly, for quite some time. She stepped forward and carefully wiped the photo frame. Then, she headed for Katie¡¯s bedroom. Katie was still up. She was going through and tidying Elena¡¯s belongings. She waved her hand at Ariel when thetter entered the room. ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson?¡± Ariel took a deep breath. She walked over to Katie and took her hand. ¡°Grandma¡­ He won¡¯t being here anymore. He and I are¡­ We¡¯re in the midst ofpleting our divorce procedures.¡± Inside 123 Chapter 123 For a moment, Katie was so shocked that she was at a loss for words. Gradually, she noticed how there weren¡¯t any turbulent emotions reflected in Ariel¡¯s calm eyes. She simply looked serious. Katie opened her mouth, but she only managed to find her voice a whileter. ¡°No wonder¡­ No wonder¡­¡± Frankly, there was no way they would not notice what the situation was really like in Ariel and Jayson¡¯s marital rtionship. It was just that¡­. ¡°Ari, be honest with me. Did you and Jayson decide to get divorced because of Lucas?¡± That was the issue Katie was worried about. They had been together for several years. Yet, the two of them suddenly decided to get divorced not long after Lucas was released from prison? ¡°No. It has nothing to do with him.¡± Ariel could tell that Katie had some misunderstanding. She exined, ¡°I¡¯m not doing this for anyone. I simply understand now that there¡¯s no point in trying to force a rtionship to work. We should stop putting each other through torture.¡± Whether it was Jayson or Lucas, Ariel had made up her mind. She could not change people and their ways. However, she could free herself from this misery and focus on her life instead. Katie¡¯s eyes felt hot. She held Ariel¡¯s hands. ¡°I¡¯m really happy that you¡¯ve finally freed yourself from those chains that have held you down. I didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary with Jayson. He¡¯s shown us, the Walker family, a lot of respect by dropping by today.¡± ¡°Still¡­¡± Katie gazed at Ariel¡¯s lower abdomen. ¡°Jayson has never tried asking you about the scar on your lower abdomen?¡± Ariel dropped her gaze. She subconsciously rubbed the area. Ariel was reminded of the moment she had taken the blow, which would have been a fatal hit for Lucas. She shook her head. ¡°He and I are not close. He¡¯s not interested in my personal matters either. He never asked me how I got the scar, even after he saw it.¡± Now that she thought about it, Jayson seemed to be strangely indifferent to her. They had spent countless nights together. He had even shown an infatuation with her body briefly. Jayson knew better than anyone else about Ariel having a scar on her lower abdomen. Yet, he had never asked Ariel how she got the scar. Even a stranger would be curious about the reason. However, it was Jayson that they were talking about. He seemed to have no interest in Ariel whatsoever. Katie realized at that moment how hard things must have been for Ariel during the past few years. As their elder, it was not right for her to meddle in the couple¡¯s affairs or carelesslyment about their rtionship. Yet, now¡­ ¡°It¡¯s for the best. You should put an end to the rtionship if it¡¯s impossible for you to stay in it. You¡¯re much smarter than your mom. You didn¡¯t waste any more time struggling in that unhappy marriage. I give you my full support!¡± Ariel felt the weight over her heart was instantly lifted. There was nothing much she had to worry about now that she had her family¡¯s support. She spent the night at the Walker residence. Then, Ariel went back to work. Jayson had not contacted her after that night. Still, Ariel found out from Chad about what happened on Nancy¡¯s side. Jayson left in a hurry that night because Sarah had suffered an attack and was rushed to the hospital. They did not even manage to hold the birthday party or the fireworks show. Jayson had rushed over to apany Nancy, who had to watch over Sarah. He could not bear to let Nancy experience the bleak sense of helplessness alone. What about Ariel, though? She was having a difficult time too. In the end, Jayson broke his promise and chose to stay with Nancy instead. Fortunately, she no longer had any expectations of him. After they had officially separated, they would pretty much beplete strangers. That was why Ariel could react so calmly to this now. On Wednesday morning, Ariel received a call from a courierpany. They had a parcel for her. After she signed and retrieved the parcel, Ariel opened it. She was momentarily stunned. Ariel thought she had seen it wrongly. Inside a beautiful box was a painting. It was Elena¡¯s painting, which Ariel had been searching for all this time. Ariel was shocked. She quickly thought about the promise Jayson had made her. She immediately phoned him. As soon as the line got through, a voice asked, ¡°Have you received the painting?¡± Ariel found it rather absurd when she got the confirmation. ¡°You really found it¡­¡± ¡°You thought I was just joking when I made that promise?¡± It sounded like Jayson was at a busy ce with a lot of noise. Ariel picked up on the sound of the airport announcements in the background. She pursed her lips. ¡°Thank you.¡± After all, Jayson had never shown any interest in her personal affairs. Ariel could not quite get used to it now that Jayson was slowly fulfilling his promises after they got divorced. ¡°You¡¯re being really polite and courteous with me, Ariel.¡± There was a trace of mockery in Jayson¡¯s voice. Ariel was not sure if he was being sarcastic or not. She looked at the painting ced on the table. Ariel did not respond to what Jayson said earlier. Instead, she said, ¡°You said that you¡¯d send me the photos showing the details of Sarah¡¯s painting. I haven¡¯t received anything like that in my email. Have you forgotten about it?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jayson replied nonchntly. Ariel did not catch the meaning behind his words. She asked tly, ¡°Can you send them to me when you¡¯re free?¡± ¡°Ariel, I can ept any requests you may have. However, I can¡¯t help you with this.¡± Jayson refused her request slowly and adamantly. Inside 124 Chapter 124 Ariel frowned. Her heart sank. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°You know the reason better than I do. I hope you won¡¯t attempt something you shouldn¡¯t.¡± Jayson hung up right after saying that. Ariel had a look of bewilderment on her face. Then, it slowly dawned on her what Jayson meant by those words. He must have realized what she was trying to do. Jayson realized Ariel was nning on exposing the truth of what really happened in the past. She wanted to crush the fame and glory Sarah had earned by using Elena¡¯s painting. However, Jayson would not allow her to harm Sarah in any way. He could not possibly watch Ariel damage Nancy¡¯s reputation because of the incidents involving Sarah. Ariel quickly realized that Jayson was trying to protect Nancy. For that, he chose to disregard the fact that Sarah had exploited Elena to reach her current sess. Ariel balled her fists. She stared at the painting on the table intently. The initial feelings of joy and gratitude were instantly reced with one of bitterness. It cleared her head right away. Ariel spent just two minutes persuading herself toe to terms with the current situation. Wasting her time wallowing in sadness was not something she would do anymore. When Ariel was about to put away the painting, Chad entered her office. He spotted the painting on her table and eximed, ¡°You have that painting in your possession?¡± Ariel paused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chad walked over to the table and took a closer look. He replied, ¡°That¡¯s right. This is the painting! I¡¯ve heard it from a friend who lives overseas and owns an auction house dealing specifically with artworks. An anonymous rich man bought this painting at a price of 80 million dors two days ago during an auction.¡± Ariel was momentarily stunned. ¡°80 million dors?¡± She eximed internally. Chad continued, ¡°My friend said that the starting price of this painting was only 1.5 million dors. At the time, a prince from a certain country had his eyes on the painting too. You know how members of the royal family are usually insanely loaded. They normally don¡¯t care about the price when they¡¯ve found something they like. ¡°He and the anonymous buyer kept going until the price of the painting reached an amount of 50 million dors. Somehow, the anonymous buyer called out a ridiculously high price and managed to secure the painting in the end.¡± A painting with a starting price of 1.5 million dors was sold at a final price of 80 million dors. Those men¡¯s level of wealth was on an unfathomable scale. This incident had even be hot news among their circle of friends. They would not spend money like that even if they had that much to spare. Chad¡¯s friend also said that the buyer had dered that he would pay however much money was required to secure the painting. Shop 124 Ariel was astonished. She knew that Jayson would mostly make it happen once he had promised someone something. Yet, she never imagined he would spend 80 million dors. She just could not understand what Jayson was thinking. Ariel shook her head. The biggest problem for her now was that Jayson did not want her to use Elena¡¯s painting to bring Sarah down. However, Ariel was not going to give up on her ns. Anyhow, she would find the opportunity to take back the glory and achievements Sarah had stolen from Elena. Katie had been urging Ariel to move back in with them after she learned that thetter was getting divorced. Ariel used the excuse that her current rental ce was located nearer to her workce to turn down the suggestion. Her condition could be quite unstable at times. Sometimes, Ariel would experience severe side¨Ceffects of her medication. There was a high risk of her family noticing about her illness if they were to stay under the same roof. On Friday, Chad came into Ariel¡¯s office as soon as he got back from an outing. ¡°I have good news. Are you free tomorrow?¡± Ariel put down her pen. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°My dad has a project which will bemencing soon. Many parties will be involved in it, including the military, the government, and various business corporations. They¡¯ll work on developing a new flight system and the relevant tools. ¡°In an effort to nurture and promote talent, they¡¯ll pick several candidates from different corporations to join the team and learn from the process. I want you to join the team as Faye Tech¡¯s representative.¡± Ariel was quite surprised. ¡°Are you sure I¡¯m suitable for the role?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the mostpetent expert we have in Faye Tech. How could you not be suitable for the role? We¡¯ll only be visiting the tech zone tomorrow to have a look at thetest military tech tools and inventions they¡¯ve been using for the past two years. You should join me on this tour.¡± Ariel had no objections. As for the opportunity to join the team, the parties involved would probably make other necessary arrangements for it. The tech zone was located right beside the research institute. One would need to have a pass and go through several strict security checks to enter the zone. After they got in, the two of them were taken to the exhibit hall in a car. Ariel and Chad got out of the car upon arriving at their destination. Ariel had been here many times when she was leading the team for the creation of the U.N2 reconnaissance and strike drone. She was feeling both conflicted and excited to be able to return here after so many years. Initially, this was the ce she could shine and flourish the most in life¡­ While she was momentarily distracted, Ariel¡¯s notebook and her pen that was wedged between the pages fell onto the floor. 273 chomet Ariel bent forward to pick her things up. At the same time, someone stepped toward her and leaned forward to help pick up those items too. Their hands bumped into each other. Inside 125 Ariel looked at Perry in surprise, while he stared nkly at their brief touch, seemingly lost in thoughts. She subconsciously frowned and quickly pulled her hand and her notebook away. Her gaze grew distant when she said, ¡°Thanks.¡± Perry couldn¡¯t help but purse his lips at the way Ariel was being cold and avoiding him like the gue. ¡°What a coincidence to see you here at the military tech exhibit as well.¡± She put away her notebook and nodded. ¡°I¡¯m here with Chad.¡± ¡°Chad?¡± Perry frowned slightly, surprised to find that she was on a first¨Cname basis with Chad. Ariel didn¡¯t catch his focus. ¡°See youter.¡± She then gave a slight nod before going off to catch up with Chad. Perry turned to watch her leave, deep in thought. Meanwhile, Nancy, who had just gotten out of the car, happened to see what happened. Perry had helped to pick something up for Ariel, and she seemed to have held his hand. Nancy frowned, wondering if she was overthinking it. As soon as Zach and Frederick got out of another car, they noticed her staring at Perry, seemingly preupied. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Ms. Stanton?¡± Frederick asked, concerned. Nancy snapped out of it and nced at him. She then nodded at Zach before replying, ¡°I¡¯m fine¨Cjust saw someone unexpected.¡± This part of the zone was reserved for the research institute¨Conly national research scientists and corporate executives like them could enter. If it weren¡¯t for the joint project mandated by the higher¨Cups, even they would¡¯ve had a hard time getting clearance. And yet, Ariel had managed to get in. Nancy was perplexed. ¡°Who?¡± Frederick asked out of curiosity. Zach didn¡¯t think much of it. He went over to greet Perry. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind, Mr. Houston?¡± Nancy turned to look at Perry with aplicated look, but he reacted normally. He said, ¡°Nothing. It¡¯s time to head in.¡± Zach stopped asking, yet Nancy walked over to Perry and softly asked, ¡°What were you and Ariel talking about earlier?¡± Perry recalled Ariel¡¯s indifferent attitude¨Cshe couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste time talking to him. He rubbed the tip of his nose and replied, ¡°There¡¯s nothing to talk about when we¡¯re not even acquainted.¡± Nancy actually agreed with his words. After all, he had never thought much about Ariel¨Cit was unlikely for him to make the first move to talk to her. When Ariel caught up with Chad, he was talking to a man in his mid¨C30s. Tony Sachman, a PhD student of Carlos, was now one of the leading figures in the country¡¯s aerospace engineering field. Ariel had worked alongside him here for half a year, so they were fairly familiar with each other. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw her. ¡°You¡¯re finally back, Ariel! It¡¯s been so long since west met. You had no idea how¡± Everyone knew how fond Carlos was of Ariel. Back then, she was on track for an integrated master¡¯s and PhD program under him. Carlos never stopped praising Ariel, calling her a rare talent, while he constantly criticised the rest of them, who were all top students across the country. The moment she left, all his frustrations got dumped on them instead. He was grumpy all the time¨Cnothing they did was right. It was to the point Tony, a grown man, was reduced to tears every night. ¡°Long time no see, Tony,¡± Ariel replied with a smile. Tony stopped himself from catching up with her when he saw Zach and the others walking in one after another. He knew about her non¨Cdisclosure agreement, so he wasn¡¯t about to say anything he shouldn¡¯t. As soon as Nancy entered, she nced over to Ariel, who was standing beside Chad, and smirked slightly. She figured that Ariel had gotten in with Chad pulling strings. Perry and Frederick had already greeted Tony. They knew he wasn¡¯t just anyone as Carlos¡® student, he was now leading a major national research project on his own. Inside 126 Chapter 126 As for Zach, he casually greeted, ¡°Long time no see.¡± His grandfather, Andy Quinton, used to be a top¨Clevel government official and his father, Gary Quinton, was in the Department of Defence. So naturally, he was no stranger to people like Tony. After that, Zach nced over at Ariel again with raised brows. He found it amusing how Chad must have been pulling some serious strings for her if she had ess to ces like this. Meanwhile, Nancy gracefully nodded. ¡°I¡¯m Nancy Stanton, here on behalf of Mr. Larkin of Bluum Corp. Jayson got held up with things, so he might be running a littlete¨Chope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Ariel carefully considered the term ¡°on behalf of Bluum Corp¡°. Jayson and Nancy must¡¯ve been close enough that he¡¯d give her the authority to speak on his behalf. Ariel wondered if he was trying to tell everyone how special Nancy was to him. Tony studied Nancy for a moment. ¡°So you¡¯re Ms. Stanton. I¡¯ve heard about you from Mr. Larkin¨Che seems to hold you in high regard.¡± She smiled modestly, yet the affection in her gaze was hard to miss. Anyone could tell there was something more going on. Ariel didn¡¯t bother looking at Nancy. She turned around to quietly ask about the exhibits they¡¯d be touring today. Before Chad could reply, Frederick, who had been staring at her, spoke up. ¡°Some of the world¡¯s top military tech is showcased here, Mr. Hockney. I¡¯m quite surprised you didn¡¯t bring one of your lead engineers here¨Cinstead, you brought someone who¡¯spletely out of the loop.¡± He chuckled before continuing, ¡°It¡¯s all about what you can do here unlike in your own turf, looks don¡¯t get you very far here.¡± Thatment was loaded¨Cjust shy of outright using Ariel of being a pretty face with no use. Perry couldn¡¯t help but frown, finding thement insulting. He observed her expression, only to find that she waspletely unperturbed. Chad let out a dry chuckle. ¡°Naturally, Faye Tech has its own arrangements. Are you offering some guidance, Mr. Swanson?¡± ¡°Not at all¨CI just thought it¡¯s a bit of a missed opportunity. It would¡¯ve been a great chance for the engineers of Faye Tech to broaden their horizons. Of course, I¡¯d hate to see your choice ofpany invite unnecessary gossip,¡± Frederick said, as if offering his polite concern. Zach found himself agreeing to his words. If apany leader started making decisions for the sake of a woman rather than the bigger picture, people on the team were bound to talk. Resentment would build, and it was only a matter of time before things started to fall apart. Zach¡¯couldn¡¯t help but wonder¨Cwhat exactly had Ariel done to have someone like Chadpletely wrapped around her finger? It wasn¡¯t just Chad¨Ceven Tony could see the disdain they had for Ariel. He frowned, but he couldn¡¯t say anything in her defense. After contemting, he said, ¡°Anyone working alongside Mr. Hockney clearly doesn¡¯t need their abilities questioned. None of these really matters, so let¡¯s move on¨CI¡¯ll show you today¡¯s highlights.¡± Ariel remained unbothered. They¡¯d been biased from the start, so she hadn¡¯t taken it to heart. Frederick coldly eyed her before trailing after Nancy to the exhibit hall. It was only after they¡¯d arrived that they found out that they¡¯d be getting a closer look at the U.N2 reconnaissance and strike drone. Ariel instantly recognized the disy unit. It was the very first sessful model she had personally tested. She had spent countless days and nights pouring over data, inspecting every part¨Cit meant everything to her. Even Zach¡¯s face lit up with genuine awe and admiration upon closer inspection of such an advanced and groundbreaking piece of technology. Frederick couldn¡¯t stop praising it. Ariel wasn¡¯t paying attention to their reaction. She felt as if she was transported back in time. She couldn¡¯t help but step closer to inspect the details. Just as she was about to touch it, Nancy¡¯s sharp voice rang out, ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing, Ariel?¡± Inside 127 Chapter 127 Ariel¡¯s hand froze mid¨Cair. She turned and looked over. Nancy had swiftly made her way over. Her gaze wasced with displeasure when she said, ¡°Do you think this is some kind of toy model? It¡¯s the result of years of hard work by research scientists¨Cyou¡¯re not allowed to touch it. without permission!¡± Ariel met Nancy¡¯s sharp, using gaze¨Cand felt the weight of the gazes of others, who were starting to look her way. She then started frowning. Frederick stormed over with a hardened expression. ¡°As expected of someone who knew nothing! Didn¡¯t anyone tell you before you came in? You¡¯re only allowed to look at the exhibits here. If you want to handle them, you¡¯ll need to apply for authorized assistance first!¡± He thought Ariel was being reckless and disrespectful, far from Nancy, who clearly knew how to carry herself in ces like this. Even Zach had worn a rare look of seriousness. He was raised under strict discipline in a militarypound, and knew well the kind of tight regtions research institutes like this followed. After all, the U.N2 was still military tech. If someone unfamiliar with the system identally triggered something by touching the wrongponent, the consequences would be catastrophic. He couldn¡¯t believe how Ariel didn¡¯t even show any ounce of respect or caution. Zach¡¯s expression darkened slightly. He softened his tone when he said, ¡°It¡¯s best to be cautious if you¡¯re not familiar with the equipment, Ms. Walker. ¡°What Ms. Stanton said wasn¡¯t wrong¨Cshe came from a ce of professional respect for the researchers and their work. I¡¯m just offering you a reminder since you¡¯re here with Mr. Hockney¨Cnothing more.¡± Even if Ariel was unfamiliar with the field, she could still learn from Nancy¡¯sposed demeanor. After all, Zach had watched the U.N2 go from prototype to full¨Cscale deployment. Thest thing he wanted was to see it disrespected by someone who didn¡¯t understand its weight. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected to find herself in such an awkward situation. Their gazes were full of disapproval, condemning her for her ¡°recklessness¡°, yet she wasn¡¯t at all angry. After all, they weren¡¯t wrong in a way¨Cordinary people really shouldn¡¯t be touching something like this.. However, U.N2 was Ariel¡¯s brainchild¨Cshe knew it better than anyone else. That was also the reason she¡¯d let her guard down a little. She replied calmly, ¡°Thank you for your reminder.¡± Zach didn¡¯t expect Ariel to remain so calm and unruffled. If it were anyone else, they¡¯d likely be mortified or upset by now, but she remained so unbothered. He couldn¡¯t help but frown in quiet contemtion. ¡°Ms. Walker didn¡¯t actually touch anything¨Cit¡¯s not that serious.¡± Perry couldn¡¯t stand staying silent any longer. He could tell that with Nancy around, the others were looking down on Ariel. Nancy looked at him in surprise. She pursed her lips, wondering why he would speak up on behalf of Ariel. Chad and Tony clearly caught some of the conversation when they walked over. Chad couldn¡¯t help but frown slightly. He lowered his head and whispered to Ariel, ¡°Are you okay?¡± He found the entire thingughable. The U.N2 in front of them was the same one Ariel had personally tested. She had been there every step of the way -overseeing the first prototype, running countless tests on every part and system. She not only had the right to touch it¨Ceven if she wanted to dance on top of it, she¡¯d have every right to do so. Even Tony was left stunned. He muttered, ¡°This really is a misunderstanding¨Ctoo bad Ariel¡¯s non¨Cdisclosure agreement hadn¡¯t expired yet.¡± Chad did a mental calction and asked, ¡°It should be soon, right?¡± Ariel shook her head lightly. ¡°It¡¯s fine¨Cit¡¯s no big deal.¡± She honestly didn¡¯t care much about such a trivial matter. Her self¨Cconfidence was strong enough to withstand any misunderstandings. Only then did Chad smile with satisfaction. ¡°They probably don¡¯t even know how to read you. It¡¯s honestly not worth your time paying attention to them.¡± Ariel did not reply to him, merely shing him a faint, indifferent smile. However, she was surprised by Nancy¡¯s attitude. There was something else in Nancy¡¯s tone today¨Csomething personal. In the past, she had never paid Ariel any real attention. Ariel wondered if it was because of Jayson¡¯s visit to the Walker family on the death anniversary that had caused Nancy to harbor some dissatisfaction. Inside 128 Chapter 128 Meanwhile, the others didn¡¯t miss out on Ariel¡¯s smile. Frederick frowned. ¡°I can¡¯t believe she¡¯s still smiling now. It seems like our advice fell on deaf ears!¡± Nancy stayed silent, although she was equally dissatisfied. ¡°She¡¯s just a housewife who doesn¡¯t understand tech¨Ctrying to reason with her is just wasting your breath. Don¡¯t let someone like her ruin your mood, Ms. Stanton,¡± Frederickforted her. The contrast only made it clearer to him just how rare someone like Nancy was. She was highly professional, respectful, and someone who truly valued the work of others. It took a real talent to understand another¨Che figured she must¡¯ve felt a kind of kinship with the developer behind U.N2. Zach nced toward Ariel before shifting his gaze toward Nancy, who looked graceful andposed. He finally understood how she¡¯d managed to win over Jayson¨Cit was through her charming charisma. No wonder he¡¯d brushed off Ariel¡¯s attempt to flirt with him at the art gallery that day. However, Zach caught something else. ¡°Housewife?¡± he repeated. Frederick nodded and replied, ¡°She¡¯s married¨Cdidn¡¯t see thating, did you? Mr. Hockney is just the man she¡¯s stringing along on the side.¡± He hadn¡¯t exined Ariel¡¯s situation to Zach properly thest time, so this news took Zach by surprise. Zach turned to look incredulously at Ariel and Chad, who were talking happily. ¡°Who¡¯s her husband?¡± he asked curiously. Frederick hesitated before replying, ¡°That¡­ I¡¯m not too sure of.¡± Even Janice had not revealed this to him. ¡°Enough with the gossip¨Clet¡¯s focus on the products instead,¡± Nancy calmly interrupted them. She then gracefully turned away to check the detailed introduction. Only then did Zach really take a good look at her. A woman like Nancy was rare¨Cshe was calm,posed, and never flustered by praise or judgment. She didn¡¯t gossip, nor did she concern herself with other people¡¯s private life. Even if she disliked Ariel, she¡¯d still steer the conversation away from personal attacks, choosing to only focus on herself. It was an admirable trait¨Cno doubt Jayson was lucky to have her. Perry stayed silent the entire time. He shot aplicated look at Nancy¡¯s back before eventually shaking his head. Ariel couldn¡¯t care less what they thought of her. She recorded the functions, categories, and system upgrades of the various military tech on disy in her notebook. The field had advanced quickly in the three years she had been away. It stirred something within her¨Cthe Fexcitement to catch up, but at the same time, a quiet sorrow. If Ariel hadn¡¯t fallen ill, she could¡¯ve thrown herself back into all these without hesitation. Instead, she was now living with the threat of her condition constantly hanging over her. She was still lost in thought when the steady, unhurried footsteps echoed from the entrance. A soft voice sounded, ¡°You¡¯re here, Jayson.¡± Ariel subconsciously looked over to the entrance and saw Jayson, dressed in a loose¨Ccut overcoat, looking sharp andposed. He handed Nancy a bottle of hot chocte, which looked out of ce against his usual image. ¡°For you to warm yourself up.¡± She couldn¡¯t help but smile sweetly. ¡°Thank you. My stomach is not hurting as much now.¡± Ariel quietly watched their interaction, figuring that Nancy was on her period now. She was surprised to find that Jayson was indeed capable of being thoughtful and gentle. It turned out that there was no such thing as men being naturally clueless or emotionally¨Cunavable¡ªit all came down to whether he truly cared. All those were just excuses from either people who were desperate to be loved or those who never really nned on loving anyone at all. Ariel merely cast them an indifferent nce before looking away to continue with her recordings. Zach happened to catch sight of the easy interaction between Nancy and Jayson. Out of amused curiosity, he nced over to Ariel to check her reaction. Sure enough, he caught the quick look she gave Jayson. Zach was surprised to find out that even after being turned down, she was still reluctant to give up on someone else¡¯s boyfriend. Inside 129 Chapter 129 Chad¡¯s gaze shifted to Ariel as soon as Jayson arrived. He couldn¡¯t help but smile seeing herpletely unfazed while focused on recording data. He¡¯d known that she was a strong¨Cwilled woman all along. Once she made up her mind about something, she¡¯d pull herself out of it without hesitation. Ariel had always been good at keeping her emotions in check. Chad couldn¡¯t help but observe Jayson. The moment he walked in, he would¡¯ve known that Ariel was here. However, his gaze brushed past her without a second thought. To anyone watching, regardless if they knew of Jayson and Ariel¡¯s history, it would seem like the two of them didn¡¯t know each other. The way he¡¯d made her seem like a stranger so effortlessly cut deeper than words ever could. ¡°Has he ever brought you a hot drink?¡± Chad huffed before turning to look at Ariel. ¡°Mr. Larkin is quite the thoughtful man, isn¡¯t he?¡± She continued scribbling in her notebook and replied without so much a nce up. ¡°No,¡± she replied truthfully. The man who was currently ying the role of a perfect, attentive boyfriend to someone else was once her cold, distant husband. It was just a matter of showing care to a different woman. Chad couldn¡¯t help but chuckle as he patted Ariel on the shoulder. ¡°Little Ari is all grown up now! In order to celebrate you finally shaking off your lovestruck phase¨Cdinner¡¯s on me tonight!¡± Ariel looked at him, amused. ¡°Stop teasing me.¡± The easy interaction between the two made it clear that they were close. Perry couldn¡¯t help but steal nces at them before turning his gaze to Jayson, who was standing by the side, currently deep in conversation with Nancy. He seemed utterly uninterested in what was happening with Ariel, nor did it seem like he minded how close she and Chad seemed to be. ¡°Everyone, let¡¯s have a seat here. We can share about our takeaways from today,¡± Tony stepped out to guide the situation. With that, the group slowly began to gather. Ariel felt like she¡¯d gained a lot today, with new ideas sparking in her mind. She started recording them down as she walked over. Chad¡¯s expression turned to one of surprise when he caught a glimpse of the contents in her notebook. They were critical, core technological points that could make or break the industry. Anyone who could ess this would be massively important. No wonder Carlos had been so unsettled all these years. Ariel¡¯s mind was something else¨Cshe could make connections and see patterns others couldn¡¯t even dream of. Frederick had also noticed Ariel¡¯s doodling. He whispered to those around him, ¡°Anyone who doesn¡¯t know better might¡¯ve thought she¡¯s a tech guru here- eager to learn and dive into things.¡± Nancy noticed Ariel¡¯s focused state, briefly nced at the notebook in her hand, and let out an inaudibleugh. She knew what Frederick was ying at¨Che was implying that Ariel was merely pretending. ¡°Today¡¯s session has been eye¨Copening, but I¡¯m more curious as to why the developer behind the U.N2 hasn¡¯t been revealed¡ªis it someone from the research institute as well? Or perhaps, it¡¯s even Mr. Carlos?¡± Frederick asked as he walked over. Zach and the others all turned to Tony, equally curious about the answer to the question. Meanwhile, Jayson quietly nced over to Chad. Chad had already made it clear that he wasn¡¯t the developer of U.N2 back then. To this day, there hasn¡¯t been any news about who the real developer was. ¡°I hope it¡¯s not too forward of me to ask, but could I meet the developer?¡± Nancy looked at Tony and asked sincerely, ¡°I¡¯d love to exchange some thoughts and insights.¡± If given another five years, she knew she could easily reach this level. Everyone¡¯s gaze fell on Nancy as soon as she spoke. Zach chimed in, ¡°Any chance you could introduce me as well?¡± Although Gary was in the Department of Defense, he never disclosed the information¨Cwhich meant Zach was just as in the dark as anyone else. However, Tony merely gave a wry smile. ¡°I¡¯m afraid we can¡¯t at this moment.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Nancy frowned, perplexed. Ariel¡¯s gaze remained unchanged,posed as ever. Tony finally cleared his throat behind his fist and said, ¡°Researchers tend to be a little solitary. Maybe you¡¯ll get the chance when the time is right.¡± After all, Ariel¡¯s non¨Cdisclosure agreement was still in ce. 1 ¡°Or maybe they just don¡¯t want to meet any of you.¡± Chad leisurely picked up where Tony had left off, smiling as if he was merely joking¨Cbut he was speaking the truth. Ariel had no obligations to cater to them anyway. Nancy¡¯s expression dipped, surprised to find that the developer was harder to meet than even Carlos. She¡¯d managed to meet him, so she couldn¡¯t understand what made the developer any different. However, Nancy wasn¡¯t one to push. Jayson would arrange it for her when she felt like it. After all, who¡¯d dare turn him down? She calmed down and stopped asking. Unperturbed, she looked up at Jayson, and he met her gaze without hesitation. They looked at each other affectionately, as if no one else was in the room. It was hard for Ariel, who was standing across them, not to notice them, yet she merely averted her gaze calmly. Chater 29 Perry, Zach, and the others didn¡¯t think much about Tony¡¯s remark. It was only reasonable for a rare talent like that to be somewhat arrogant and standoffish. Tony said, ¡°This is just one of the exhibit halls¨Cthere are still two more zones to visit. Once we¡¯re done touring, we¡¯ll have a briefing on the key policy direction for the uing year¨Cit might give you all some ideas.¡± With that, he motioned for someone to bring the vehicles around. The zones were spread out at some distance, so a car ride was necessary. Chad and Tony moved off to discuss some logistical details, while Ariel decided to wait in the car. Several shutter vehicles were already lined up at the entrance. She nced around before heading straight to the nearest one. Ariel walked over and opened the door, only to meet the gaze of Jayson, who was already seated within. He was mid¨Ccall, speaking to someone on the other end of his online meeting. But the moment he caught sight of her, he said, ¡°Let¡¯s pause for now¨Csomeone else is here.¡± Ariel immediately understood that Jayson was probably on a call discussing sensitive Bluum Corp intel¨Che didn¡¯t want her to overhear. She nodded at him briefly¨Cshe wasn¡¯t nning to take the same car as him anyway. Just as she was about to leave, the sharp click of heels echoed beside her. Nancy walked over and casted Ariel a nce. With a soft tone that belied an air of superiority, she said, ¡°Would you mind moving, Ms. Walker? This seat is mine.¡± Inside 130 Ariel tilted her head slightly, calmly meeting Nancy¡¯s gaze. Nancy stood tall in her heels, chin lifted slightly just to look down at Ariel. Despite her elegant posture, the haughty gaze in Nancy¡¯s eyes was unmistakable. Even when she knew about Ariel¡¯s rtionship with Jayson, she¡¯d never addressed her anything but ¡°Ms. Walker¡°. As for Nancy¡¯s earlierment¨Cwas she merely iming the seat beside Jayson, or was she making a statement that the seat of Mrs. Larkin was now hers? But regardless of what she meant, it was still arrogance at its core. Ariel didn¡¯t particrly care what Nancy was trying to imply, but that didn¡¯t mean she had the patience to endure Nancy¡¯s silent jabs. ¡°There¡¯s no need to rush, Ms. Stanton. I¡¯m not interested inpeting with you,¡± she replied coolly, making her stance clear. Nancy didn¡¯t like the terms-¡°rush¡± and pete¡°-that Ariel had used. She¡¯d never once felt threatened by Ariel. Moreover, if Ariel wanted topete, she¡¯d first need to prove she was in the same league. Nancy chuckled coldly before slipping into the car. She didn¡¯t shut the door right away. Instead, she turned slightly to talk to Jayson, her gazending on the screen of hisptop. He merely looked up, casting an unreadable gaze at Ariel. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking, and Ariel didn¡¯t care enough to try. But she¡¯d realized that he didn¡¯t bother shifting hisptop away from Nancy. Jayson¡¯s guard wasn¡¯t up around her, unlike how he¡¯d done when with Ariel. Ariel coolly shifted her gaze away, her expression unreadable. ¡°You should just take another car, Ariel.¡± Frederick stepped out just in time to catch the scene, misreading the situation. ¡°There are so many cars here.¡± Perry nced over and, seeing that Ariel wasn¡¯t even bothered, remained silent. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about it. Ari is riding with me and Tony.¡± Chad and Tony walked over. Chad was smiling, yet it didn¡¯t reach his eyes. ¡°We¡¯ve got work to discuss.¡± Tony immediately waved and said, ¡°I was hoping to hear more about Faye Tech¡¯s recent project, Ms. Walker. Let¡¯s ride together.¡± Ariel nodded slightly. ¡°Alright.¡± She didn¡¯t spare a nce at Jayson and Nancy¨Cthere was no point wasting her breath on them either. Ariel then got into the car with Chad and Tony. Nancy frowned, wondering what Ariel could possibly discuss with someone like Tony when she wasn¡¯t even in the field. 172 Chapost 130 ¡°Don¡¯t you think Mr. Sachman is rather friendly with Ariel?¡± Frederick asked, noticing something was off. Tony was mentored by Carlos. And now, he was the top figure of the research institute and a nationally recognized expert in aerospace engineering. They¡¯d have to show respect to him. Nancy¡¯s tight¨Cknit frown soon smoothed out. She said dismissively, ¡°Have you forgotten that Mr. Chad is Mr. Carlos¡® son? Tony isn¡¯t being polite to Ariel out of respect for her¨Che¡¯s just doing it for the sake of Mr. Chad.¡± To put it bluntly, Ariel was just riding on someone else¡¯s coattails¨Cthat was the only reason Tony gave her the time of day. Nancy had no respect for women who got ahead by relying on men. Realization hit Frederick as he found her words reasonable, yet Perry didn¡¯t quite buy it. He nced at the car Ariel had just gotten into. If he wasn¡¯t mistaken, there had been a subtle eagerness in Tony¡¯s eyes when he looked at her. It was the kind of look someone might give a kindred spirit or a rare talent, instead of a polite acquaintance. A flicker of doubt crossed Perry¡¯s mind as he wondered if he was overthinking it. Meanwhile, Zach quietly took everything in from nearby. Inside 131 Chapter 131 Zach had watched the whole thing unfold¨Cfrom when Ariel opened Jayson¡¯s car door to when Nancy, the actual girlfriend, showed up. He couldn¡¯t help but shake his head with a chuckle. Why did he always end up catching these entertaining little dramas? No wonder Ariel had given Jayson that look earlier. It turned out she had another idea brewing. And now, just as she tried to get in his car, the actual girlfriend came and put her back in her ce. ¡°What¡¯s so funny?¡± a low male voice asked from the phone. Zach flicked the ash from his cigarette. ¡°Just saw a juicy little scene unfold. I¡¯m telling you, too much romantic luck can be a pain. Some women really have no end of tricks when they¡¯re trying to get a man¡¯s attention.¡± The voice on the other end was calm and cutting. ¡°Since when did you get so gossipy?¡± Zach choked. ¡°Only you would say that to me. I¡¯m just enjoying the show.¡± He stubbed out the cigarette and changed the subject. ¡°Liam, when are youing back? Are you going to make it back for the federal holiday?¡± ¡°We¡¯ll see,¡± came the unhurried reply. Zach clicked his tongue. ¡°Dr. Spencer, don¡¯t let your talents go to waste overseas. It¡¯d be better to bring those skills back home and help the millions of patients here.¡± ¡°Fair point.¡± Zach let out augh, tossed in a teasing curse, then hung up and hopped into his car. It was past 4:00 pm by the time the tech zone tour wrapped up. Ariel chatted with Tony about Faye Technologies¡® end¨Cof¨Cyear project. Tony was moved to the point of misty eyes. ¡°This project fills a major gap in the domestic market. Ariel, you don¡¯t make a move unless it¡¯s something big, huh? Once it¡¯s up and running, taking Faye Tech public will just be a matter of time.¡± Chad agreed. If Ariel hadn¡¯t taken time off years ago for marriage and had stayed with them, Faye Technologies might already be a global name. Even if she wasn¡¯t at Faye Technologies, she¡¯d surely be working alongside Carlos on the national aerospace engineering project. But thankfully, Ariel was still young. It wasn¡¯t toote. Ariel merely gave a quiet smile. She didn¡¯t like forecasting the future. She just wanted to focus on the present. Results would speak for themselves. The follow¨Cup n for Carlos¡® team was still being worked out, so Ariel hadn¡¯t made it her main focus. Faye Technologies was about tounch the new project. There was more than enough to keep her busy. That afternoon, she got a call from Leonard¡¯s attending physician, Ewan Burton, and headed to the hospital. Ewan didn¡¯t sugarcoat the truth. ¡°Mr. Walker¡¯s condition isn¡¯t improving. There are signs of metastasis, and we haven¡¯t found a suitable liver donor yet. If we stick with conservative treatment, he may only have two years left.¡± Ariel felt her stomach drop. Her lips went pale. ¡°Is there no other option?¡± Ewan hesitated. ¡°There is. But¡­¡± ¡°But what?¡± Ariel¡¯s voice caught with a flicker of hope. ¡°There¡¯s a renowned oncology expert returning from overseas around the holiday. If we can coordinate a joint consultation, it might lead to a new treatment approach. But I¡¯m not sure exactly when he¡¯sing back. You¡¯d have to wait.¡± Ariel understood what he meant. A joint effort between experts would be ideal, but the one thing she couldn¡¯t afford to waste was time. Leonard¡¯s body was a ticking time bomb, and truthfully, so was hers. As Ariel stepped out of the consultation room, her thoughts surged like a tide. She walked through the lobby, her mind racing with ways to solve the current crisis. Too caught up to notice anything around her, she didn¡¯t even realize when she brushed past someone. The other person stopped abruptly and turned to stare at her fading figure. Inside 132 Chapter 132 Ariel walked to the hospital¡¯s entrance and sat down on the stone steps to rest. The expert Ewan had mentioned had no set date for his return. And if he really was a renowned expert, getting an appointment with him would be a battle. If she could find some way to contact him directly, maybe she could buy Leonard more time. ¡°Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel looked up at the voice. When Perry walked over, he took a quick look at Ariel and noticed her face still looked pale and worn. It reminded him of thest time he had brought her to the hospital. ¡°You¡¯re not feeling well again?¡± he asked. Ariel seemed momentarily distracted, then shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Perhaps realizing that her reply sounded too curt, she asked, ¡°What are you here for?¡± Perry held up a pharmacy bag. ¡°Ie by regrly to pick up Freya¡¯s inhaler.¡± That made sense. Ariel recalled that Freya suffered from asthma¨Cher health had never been great. Perry, at least, was a good brother. He was always meticulous when it came to Freya. Ariel and Perry didn¡¯t have much of a connection. And in the past, their interactions were far from friendly, so she didn¡¯t really have much to say to him. The silence between them was awkward. Perry clearly felt it too. He asked, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I spoke with my uncle¡¯s doctor about treatment ns,¡± Ariel replied politely. When Perry saw Ariel earlier, he sensed she was weighed down by something serious. After hesitating for a moment, he finally asked, ¡°Are you facing some kind of trouble? Do you need any help from me?¡± Ariel looked at him, unsure what to make of it. Given how Perry used to treat her, his offer caught her off guard. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯m just trying to find a specialist for my uncle.¡± ¡°What¡¯s his diagnosis?¡± ¡°Malignant tumor.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze, feeling a bit unsettled. But given the situation, she couldn¡¯t afford to break down now. Perry didn¡¯t know how tofort her. He paused, deep in thought. Then, looking her straight in the eye, he said, ¡°I know an expert. If you don¡¯t mind, I can send you his contact info. Ariel looked at him with a hint of surprise. Her eyes reflected a flicker of doubt. Perry noticed the distrust. Pressing his lips together, he pulled out his phone and tapped a few times. Ariel¡¯s phone vibrated. He said, ¡°This is a friend of mine who¡¯s been studying abroad and has be an expert in this field. Even if it¡¯s not an exact match, he has ess to the best medical resources.¡± Ariel was genuinely surprised. Perry had sent her a contact number on WhatsApp. ¡°Why are you helping me?¡± she asked without thinking. After all, Perry disliked her. He wasn¡¯t like Matt, who would openly mock her from time to time, but Perry had always looked down on her and mostly just ignored her. That question left Perry speechless. His eyes flickered, then he finally said, ¡°No reason. Just trying to help.¡± Although Ariel couldn¡¯t quite understand his intentions, this was indeed a way out for her. As a top heir from a wealthy family, Perry naturally had valuable connections at his disposal. She exhaled and genuinely said, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± He could still feel her distance and didn¡¯t me her. After all, he had been pretty terrible to her before. ¡°Where are you heading? I can drive you.¡± Perry checked the time and made the offer. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t want to trouble you.¡± But Perry looked straight at her. ¡°You¡¯re probably heading to Faye Tech, right? I¡¯m going the same way. It¡¯s no trouble at all.¡± Ariel hesitated. Her car was out for maintenance with Janice, so she¡¯d taken a cab today. And if she went outside now to catch another, she¡¯d probably have to wait a while. Besides, Perry had just done her a huge favor. Turning him down now would feel ungrateful. After thinking it over, she nodded. ¡°Okay. Thank you.¡± Perry gave a slight smile. The drive back to Faye Technologies took around 20 minutes. Ariel hadn¡¯t slept well. Her painst night had kept her up for hours. Once in the car, she leaned against the window and closed her eyes to rest. Clearly, she wasn¡¯t in the mood for small talk. Perry nced at her, then quietly adjusted the air conditioning to afortable level. When they arrived at Faye Technologies, Ariel opened her eyes right on time. Perry had already stepped out and opened the door for her. She didn¡¯t think anything of it. In high society, proper etiquette was drilled in from childhood. This was nothing unusual. §³§ä§à§Ú§Þ§å§ß 132 ¡°Thank you,¡± she said as she grabbed her bag and got out. Maybe because she was already feeling unwell, the moment her foot touched the ground, a sudden sharp pain twisted in her lower abdomen, Ariel¡¯s face went pale, and her legs buckled. Quick as a sh, Perry reacted faster than his brain could process and caught Ariel by the waist. Even through her thick cashmere coat, he could feel the warmth and softness of her narrow waist. His body froze for a split second. He leaned down, ready to ask if she was alright, when heavy footsteps thundered up behind them. A cold, sharp voice rang out, ¡°Who do you think you¡¯re touching?¡± Perry turned around, only to be met with a fierce punch straight to the corner of his mouth, forcing him to step back several paces. Inside 133 Chapter 133 Ariel didn¡¯t even have time to react. While applying pressure on her lower abdomen, she looked up in shock. Blood was already smeared at the corner of Perry¡¯s mouth. His face darkened with fury. Across from him, Lucas¡® usually roguish gaze had turned cold and sharp. Without a word, he stormed forward and grabbed Perry by the cor. ¡°What the hell are you doing with her? Don¡¯t you know who she is? You sure have a bad taste in women!¡± Perry had never taken that kind of disrespect from anyone. He immediately threw a punch in return. ¡°Show some respect for me and Ms. Walker!¡± Lucas ran his tongue over the corner of his mouth and let out a coldugh before lunging forward again. Respect? After what he just saw? Perry¡¯s ears were burning red! Just as it looked like the two men were about toe to blows, Ariel stepped in with a pale face. ¡°Lucas! What the hell is wrong with you?¡± Lucas froze mid¨Cmotion and nced back at her. He gave a cold, mockingugh. ¡°Did you want this?¡± He smirked and clicked his tongue. ¡°You could¡¯ve said so earlier, Ari. I really gotta hand it to you for going after your man¡¯s buddy like it¡¯s nothing. Aren¡¯t you worried they¡¯reparing notes about you behind your back?¡± Ariel¡¯s face went white. Her jaw clenched so hard it trembled. She couldn¡¯t believe he actually said that. Suddenly, Perry delivered a punch to Lucas¡® cheek. ¡°Mr. Sanderson, that¡¯s way over the line!¡± Lucas frowned from the pain. Just as he was about to lose his temper, the sound of police sirens grew louder. Sitting in the police stationter, Ariel felt her headache intensify as the troublesome situation weighed heavily on her. Her expression grew even colder. Lucas was never easy to deal with. Maybe in that moment, he had misunderstood her and Perry. A reflex from his protective instinct toward her in the past made him throw the first punch. But what he said afterward were casual, cutting insults. They made Ariel feel suffocated and, frankly, ridiculous. They¡¯d finished taking statements, but someone still needed to post bail and sign off. Wendy rushed over and threw herself into Lucas¡® arms with red eyes. She gently brushed his split lip. ¡°What happened? How did you end up in a fight?¡± Lucas pulled her close, slipping back into his usualid¨Cback demeanor. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Angry and anxious, Wendy nced around instinctively and spotted Perry, who was also hurt, and Ariel sitting in a chair with a cold expression. Her eyes welled up again, and she snapped, ¡°Ariel, you¡¯re here too? Why didn¡¯t you stop Lucas? What the hell happened?¡± Wendy knew Perry, but she couldn¡¯t make sense of the situation. In their circle, even with only a distant rtionship, they didn¡¯t usually tear each other apart like this. Ariel looked away. She didn¡¯t have the energy to deal with Wendy right now. Instead, she walked over to Perry and pressed her lips together. ¡°Did you call someone?¡± Noticing her sour mood beneath the calm exterior, Perry cleared his throat and replied, ¡°Yeah. Matt will be here soon.¡± Ariel nodded. After hesitating for a moment, she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± No matter what, she felt responsible. Lucas only threw the punch because of her. Even though things were tense between them now, old habits from childhood wouldn¡¯t change easily. Lucas¡® reaction to step in when he saw something was wrong came from instinct, not true intent. That was why things ended up so awkward and ufortable. Perry looked at her, then shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s not your fault.¡± He figured it was normal for Lucas to be sensitive. He was Ariel¡¯s brother, after all. Meanwhile, Lucas had calmed Wendy down. He stepped forward with one hand in his pocket. As if suddenly realizing the weight of his actions, he felt apologetic. ¡°Mr. Houston, this was all a misunderstanding. I¡¯m really sorry. Maybe we can have a meal sometime, and I can apologize properly.¡± Perry wasn¡¯t one to hold grudges, especially since they were all in the business world, where keeping some goodwill mattered. He replied, ¡°As long as it¡¯s cleared up. You definitely misunderstood, Mr. Sanderson. Ms. Walker and I are not close.¡± He didn¡¯t want to make things harder for Ariel. Lucas shot Ariel a half¨Csmile. ¡°Yeah, Ari¡¯s so loyal to her husband she¡¯s practically attending to his mistress. Guess I was just being paranoid.¡± That was really harsh. He practically spelled out how little self¨Crespect and boundaries Ariel had in her rtionship. Her lips turned pale, but she had no strength left to argue. Perry frowned, wanting to say something, but he couldn¡¯t. Everyone had seen how patient and forgiving Ariel had been with Jayson over the years. Matt even called her apdog more than once. Wendy, clueless about the full story, blurted out, ¡°Wait, what? Ariel¡¯s husband has a mistress?¡± She looked at Ariel sympathetically and spoke her mind. ¡°Doesn¡¯t he even try to hide it? He really doesn¡¯t see you as his wife, then. No wonder you never had kids. It seems he never wanted any.¡± Ariel froze, unsure how to respond. But fortunately, she could listen to all this calmly now. It was the truth, after all. Plus, they were getting divorced. There was no point in getting worked up anymore. But¡­ Ariel touched her stomach subtly. Everyone kept questioning why she never had children after all those years of marriage. It reminded her of the possibility that treatments for her illness might take away her chance to have kids. Wendy turned to Lucas and asked coyly, ¡°Lucas, you only got eyes for me, right? Promise me that you¡¯ll stay faithful after we¡¯re married.¡± Lucas nced sideways at Ariel, who was looking down lost in thought, and let out a softugh. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re different.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t care about their lovey¨Cdovey act. That was their business. She just wanted to get through this mess as fast as possible. She was about to ask a police officer when she could leave when the sound of a car pulling up outside caught her attention. Voices came through the door. ¡°Sorry you had toe all this way, Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel turned, surprised. Two figures came into view¨Cone tall, one short¨Ca strikingly matched pair. Nancy frowned when she saw Ariel there. Jayson¡¯s eyes flicked over Ariel and paused for a beat. Inside 134 Chapter 134 Jayson gave Ariel a thoughtful nce, as if piecing together the situation in his mind. After a brief moment, he looked away coldly, then turned his attention to Perry and Lucas. But Ariel caught something strange in that look. ¡°Why did youe here?¡± Perry asked, clearly surprised. Nancy exined, ¡°Matt had somethinge upst minute and asked us toe. What¡¯s going on here?¡± She wasn¡¯t happy. Why was Ariel here? They¡¯d been running into each other way too oftentely. This was their usual circle. Ariel somehow slipped in quietly. Perry felt a headacheing on. He hadn¡¯t expected things to get so messy. Matt was really unreliable. Jayson strode in and asked seriously, ¡°Mr. Sanderson, what¡¯s going on here?¡± Perry frowned. How could Lucas exin? If he had said he only acted because of Ariel, Jayson would have only overthought it. Lucas¡® eyes flickered with something subtle. He pulled Wendy into his arms and said casually, ¡°It was just a misunderstanding. We had a little scuffle. It¡¯s nothing serious.¡± Clearly, Lucas wasn¡¯t going to borate. Jayson¡¯s eyes showed no emotion. ¡°Alright, then.¡°! He didn¡¯t even bother to press further. Ariel wasn¡¯t surprised by his attitude. There were probably plenty of people and things Jayson cared about, but she definitely wasn¡¯t one of them. Lucas noticed Jayson¡¯s coolness too. He gave Ariel a sly, almost mocking nce. Jayson tantly ignored Ariel with Nancy right beside him. It was seriously humiliating. Wendy turned to Nancy. ¡°I¡¯m taking Lucas to get his wounds treated. Let¡¯s catch up another time.¡± Nancy nodded. Lucas didn¡¯t look back at Ariel. With his arm around Wendy, he walked off and coaxed her as they left. Ariel watched them leave, then said, ¡°Since everything is settled, let¡¯s go.¡± Nancy pulled a tissue from her bag and handed it to Perry. ¡°Here, wipe your lip. You¡¯re bleeding.¡± Perry took it. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Jayson nced at his watch. ¡°Let¡¯s talk outside.¡± No one objected. Ariel stayed quiet, trailing behind like a stranger. At the car, Jayson threw a subtle nce her way and said, ¡°I¡¯m taking Nancy back to the office.¡± After a pause, he asked, ¡°Where are you headed?¡± Ariel knew what he meant and replied coolly, ¡°I¡¯ll grab a cab.¡± Jayson chose to drive Nancy back, but since she was here, he had to ask. Ariel knew that he wanted her to say she¡¯d go on her own to make things easier for him. Perry shifted slightly, feeling it wasn¡¯t right to let Ariel go alone. But if he gave her a ride, that¡¯d be even more awkward. After all, Jayson was her husband. Ariel didn¡¯t bother with what they were thinking. She simply looked down and pulled out her phone to call a ride. At that moment, Jayson¡¯s phone buzzed. It was Betty calling, so he answered. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± Betty¡¯s voice was sharp. ¡°Are you done with work yet? Go pick Ari up and take her back to your home. I stopped by today, and Georgia said you two are hardly ever there. The ce feels cold and lifeless. How could you let things get to this point?¡± If she hadn¡¯te by, she wouldn¡¯t have known they were avoiding home. Jayson lowered his eyes. Flicking a lighter between his fingers, he replied smoothly, ¡°Work¡¯s been busy.¡± ¡°So? You still have to live your life. Don¡¯t change the subject. Go pick Ari up. You¡­¡± ¡°My ride¡¯s confirmed. I¡¯ll leave first,¡± Ariel said calmly, ncing up after seeing her ride confirmed. She was ready to go. Betty, catching Ariel¡¯s voice on the line, hurriedly asked, ¡°You¡¯re right there with her, aren¡¯t you? That¡¯s great. Bring her home.¡± Jayson¡¯s expression stayed unreadable as he nced at Ariel. ¡°Grandma wants you back at our marital home.¡± Ariel frowned. Her eyes flicked to his phone screen, where the call was still active. She wanted to say no, but Nancy was there. How could she refuse? She couldn¡¯t exactly tell Betty that Nancy was with them and that Jayson was actually just trying to give Nancy a ride. But Betty was pressing hard for Jayson to bring her home. Before Ariel could answer, Betty hung up. She didn¡¯t know what to do, so she looked at Jayson. Given how much Jayson cared about Nancy, there was no way he¡¯d ignore her needs. At that moment, Nancy¡¯s expression didn¡¯t shift in the slightest. She just looked at Jayson and said calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll go to the office with Perry. Your grandmaes first. You should go check on her.¡± Her tone was perfectly poised and gracious, like a couple smoothly negotiating. She had no problem stepping aside and letting Ariel take this chance. That calm confidence only came from Jayson¡¯s clear favoritism toward her. Ariel¡¯s lips curved in a bitter smile. Since when did she, the rightful wife, have to wait for permission from another woman? She had no intention of getting dragged into this mess. A decision formed swiftly in her mind¨Cshe¡¯d go on her own. She looked up, ready to speak. But Jayson had already nced over coolly and beat her to it. ¡°You¡¯ve already booked a ride, right? Then just take the cab back. No need to make things difficult.¡± He made the call without hesitation. Ariel knew it wasn¡¯t because his car couldn¡¯t fit her. He could¡¯ve dropped Nancy off first and then brought her home. He simply didn¡¯t want her ruining his time with Nancy or tagging along as an unwee third wheel. She wasn¡¯t surprised. ¡°Okay.¡± Even Perry shot Ariel a nce, feeling an indescribable, suffocating helplessness from the sidelines. How much more so for Ariel herself? But no matter how closely he watched, Ariel showed no sign of making a scene. This was unusual. Anyone would struggle to handle such a blow to their pride in a situation like this. Arguing, yelling, or crying were all understandable. But Ariel was almost too calm. She didn¡¯t care what they nned. Just then, her ride arrived. Without sparing anyone another nce, she walked away. Watching Ariel get into the car, Perry nced back at Jayson. He coolly withdrew his gaze from Ariel, clearly indifferent to her choice. Then, he kindly opened the car door for Nancy. At that moment, Perry finally understood why Ariel had given up like this. When all the negativity she threw out got no response, she would just run out of energy to react. Inside 135 Chapter 135L When Ariel returned to the marital home, Betty instructed Georgia to simmer some soup. The bubbling sounds from the kitchen filled the air with a subtle, savory aroma. Betty smiled warmly when she saw Ariele in. ¡°Why are you alone? Where¡¯s Jayson? Is he parking the car?¡± Ariel stayed calm. ¡°He had something to take care of. I came back first.¡± Betty¡¯s smile faded instantly. ¡°Whatever it is, it¡¯s after work hours. He could¡¯ve at leaste with you!¡± Ariel forced a small smile but said nothing. ¡°Has work been this busytely?¡± Betty had Georgia pour Ariel a ss of juice. ¡°Georgia said you and Jayson hardlye back here anymore. What¡¯s going on?¡± Ariel paused, uncertain how to respond. Betty had no idea they were nning to get a divorce. She simply assumed they were both tied up with work and looked at Ariel with concern. Ariel couldn¡¯t help feeling frustrated and resigned. She had no idea what Jayson was nning to do. If he didn¡¯t tell Betty, how was she supposed to know what to say? ¡°It¡¯s the end of the year. Things are tight at work,¡± she replied after a moment¡¯s thought. Betty patted her knee. ¡°Your healthes first, so don¡¯t push yourself too hard, okay? I¡¯ve already arranged for someone to make you some herbal soup. You always say you¡¯re fine, but I can tell you¡¯re not at your best. Herbal soup will help restore your energy.¡± Ariel knew Betty meant well and couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse. Betty grumbled, ¡°By the way, what¡¯s wrong with Jayson? It¡¯s already sote. Ari, you should call him and give him a piece of your mind!¡± Ariel thought for a moment and soothed her, saying, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Grandma. Let¡¯s eat first. If he¡¯s driving, it¡¯s not safe to talk on the phone.¡± She came up with an excuse so that she wouldn¡¯t risk Nancy picking up the call instead. Betty didn¡¯t push it any further. Ariel assumed Jayson probably wouldn¡¯te back tonight. But just as dinner was ready, he strode through the door. She nced at him briefly and looked away, quietly calcting when Betty might leave so she could slip out. Betty¡¯s expression softened a little upon seeing Jayson walk in right on time for dinner. Mid¨Cmeal, Betty suddenly brightened with an idea. ¡°How about we take a family photo? What do you think?¡± Ariel¡¯s hand holding a ss paused. Jayson gently set her ss down and calmly said, ¡°We took onest year. It¡¯s unnecessary.¡± Ariel looked at the ss, unmoved. In the past, her heart might¡¯ve fluttered. But now, clear¨Cheaded and detached, she saw it for what it was. Women really were prone to sentimentality. They would take the bare minimum of decency and dress it up as love, fooling themselves without even realizing it. Jayson¡¯s blunt refusal to take a family photo didn¡¯t surprise her. In truth, she didn¡¯t think it was necessary either. Besides, he probably refused because they were on the brink of divorce. Betty took in Jayson¡¯s unyielding expression, then nced at Ariel¡¯s uninterested look, and sighed softly. ¡°If you¡¯re both too busy, we can do itter.¡± Then her eyes fell on Ariel¡¯s hand. ¡°Ari, where¡¯s your wedding ring?¡± Betty had noticed Ariel hadn¡¯t been wearing it for a while but hadn¡¯t pressed before. Now, seeing it gone for so long, she couldn¡¯t help but ask. Jayson nced sideways, briefly catching sight of Ariel¡¯s hand. Ariel answered calmly, ¡°It gets in the way.¡± 11 In truth, when she sent the divorce papers to Jayson, she included the wedding ring. She had no idea what Jayson did with his ring. He had probably asked Colton to get rid of it. Plus, she was the only one who ever wore a ring since the wedding day. Jayson never once put on his, always presenting himself as single. Her one¨Cwoman show had gone on long enough. To Betty, one ring shouldn¡¯t get in the way. She nced at Jayson¡¯s empty finger, understanding now that Ariel¡¯s disappointment wasn¡¯t new. Betty shot Jayson a look, silently urging him to say something, even just a word tofort. Jayson caught the look but seemed clueless. Without asking Ariel why she¡¯d taken off her ring, he handed Betty a shrimp. ¡°What¡¯s with the blinking? Do you want me to peel it for you?¡°! He was truly a master at changing the subject. He had no intention of setting an example by putting his wedding ring on. Betty¡¯s eyes shed with frustration. She opened her mouth but stopped. Her expression shifted to resignation. She gave up and focused on her meal. Throughout it all, Ariel kept her head down, eating quietly as if she didn¡¯t notice. She knew better than anyone that if Jayson wanted to, he wouldn¡¯t have gone three years without wearing his ring. It was probably lost somewhere. Ariel thought Betty might leaveter but was surprised when she settled into the guest room instead. Feeling a little helpless, Ariel went upstairs. When she entered the room, she found Jayson sitting on the couch, texting on his phone. She walked past him, who noticed her approaching and quickly flipped his phone face down. She guessed he was texting Nancy and didn¡¯t want her to see the screen. Not paying it much mind, she stepped around him to grab the charger. After a full day, her phone was dead and had already shut off. As she sat on the bed charging it, Jayson stretched out his legs and casually asked, ¡°Do you want me to send you the photos and videos?¡± Ariel looked up, confused. ¡°What?¡± Seeing her nk expression, Jayson stopped lighting his cigarette and put the lighter away. ¡°The photos of us Grandma took the other day.¡± Ariel suddenly remembered. Betty had asked him to send them to Ariel, but nothing had happened after that. She was surprised Jayson still had the photos. But then she remembered he had been texting Nancy earlier and that Nancy had answered the call she made. Maybe Nancy often checked his phone. Jayson was probably worried Nancy might see those pictures. Besides, she didn¡¯t care about their photos anymore. They were getting a divorce. What was the point of keeping their photos? At this thought, Ariel replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can delete them.¡± Inside 136 Ariel knew Jayson only cared about the photos because of Betty, but since they were getting a divorce, there was no need to keep up appearances behind the scenes. Deleting the photos was the best solution. There was no point in taking up space on his phone and risking Nancy seeing them and getting the wrong idea. Jayson¡¯s eyes lingered thoughtfully on her face for a few seconds. Then he smirked lightly. ¡°Fine, whatever you want.¡± He turned and headed into the bathroom, not insisting or pushing. He was probably even relieved. Ariel didn¡¯t bother guessing what was really going on in his head. She rubbed her temples, feeling troubled. Betty staying over was unexpected, and it looked like she nned to be here for a few days. Ariel couldn¡¯t keeping here. She sat on the bed waiting for Jayson to finish showering and took the time to organize some project ns. When Jayson came out, his hair was half¨Cdried. He walked while typing away on his phone. Ariel paused, wondering if couples in love were always like this unable to stop checking in with each other, sharing everything, even bringing their phones into the shower. Was Jayson afraid of missing Nancy¡¯s messages, or was he worried Ariel might see something if the phone was left out in the open? Ariel¡¯s gaze was calm. Pretending not to notice Jayson¡¯splete absorption in his phone, she spoke softly, ¡± Grandma¡¯s probably staying a few more days. I won¡¯t be back after this. I¡¯ll tell her I¡¯m going on a business trip.¡± She thought it was a good n. It¡¯d keep Betty from reading too much into things. With the federal holiday approaching, she guessed Jayson wanted Betty to celebrate peacefully before telling her about their divorce. She understood. Jayson stopped beside the bed, a faint smile ying on his lips as he read a message. After sending a reply, he nced up at Ariel with casual indifference. ¡°Business trip?¡± He didn¡¯t seem to catch everything she said. Clearly, most of his attention was on his phone. Ariel knew it but felt no real emotion. She answered quietly, ¡°Yeah.¡± She knew he might not have caught all of it, and she wasn¡¯t in the mood to repeat herself. ¡°Do as you please.¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was calm, revealing nothing of what he felt. Then he turned over and got into bed. Leaning against the headboard, he looked at Ariel again. ¡°Want me to turn off the lights?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t feel awkward anymore. At this point, calm eptance was the only way forward. Shey down at the edge of the bed. ¡°Yes, please.¡± Only then did Jayson nce at her back. Beneath the thin cotton T¨Cshirt, her protruding bones were faintly visible, making her look especially slender. His eyes narrowed for a moment, a fleeting thought crossing his mind. Suddenly, his phone vibrated. He pulled his attention away, pushing the brief flicker of doubt aside. He turned off the lights, and they went to sleep. That night, Ariel slept soundly, unaffected by the man behind her. When she woke, Jayson was gone. After freshening up and heading downstairs, she found him already back from the gym, dressed and sitting at the dining table. When Betty arrived, she brought many expensive supplements and herbal soup packs. They were all neatly stored in the cab. As soon as Ariel came down, Betty handed her a warm bowl of herbal soup. ¡°Take one pack morning and night. It¡¯s great for boosting your energy. You must remember to take it on time, okay? I feel so sorry seeing you looking so worn out.¡± She even suggested Ariel get a full checkup, but Ariel was too busy for that. ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± Ariel took the soup and drank it down in one go. The bitterness was fierce, but after all the bottles and pills she¡¯d taken at home and on the go, she had long since learned to swallow them without flinching. Inside 137 The only issue was that her appetite had been poortely. Any strong taste easily triggered nausea. But faced with Betty¡¯s concerned look, Ariel forced herself to hold back the wave of queasiness. ¡°Jayson, get Ari something sweet to wash down the bitterness,¡± Betty instructed right away. That finally drew Jayson¡¯s attention. He didn¡¯t refuse, but instead of grabbing something himself, he turned to Georgia and said, ¡°There¡¯s a jar of dried cranberries in the kitchen fridge. Bring it here.¡± Georgia quickly returned with it and set it on the table. Ariel¡¯s eyes fell on the dried cranberries. She had a preference for sweet and tart vors. While she rarely snacked, she would asionally buy dried fruits and stash them in the small fridge in the kitchen. She hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to know about that. Not that it mattered anymore. After a moment¡¯s hesitation, she took a seat at the table. Seeing their interaction, Betty finally smiled with relief. At least they weren¡¯t fighting. Feelings could be cultivated over time, after all. Since Ariel took a cab over yesterday, Betty arranged for her to ride in Jayson¡¯s car. Toby R Today, the driver, Toby Booth, was behind the wheel. Sitting in the back seat, Ariel opened up the material Carlos had sent her a couple of days ago. She read while making notes, with no intention of speaking to Jayson beside her. The way they got along now wasn¡¯t all that different from how they used to be. The only difference now was that she no longer went out of hand Silence was the only thing that filled the car. way to please someone who didn¡¯t care. Jayson didn¡¯t seem particrly interested in making conversation either, until his eyes casuallynded on part of her screen. ¡°You read this kind of academic material?¡± he suddenly asked. Ariel¡¯s brows instantly furrowed. She turned her screen face down. ¡°How much did you see?¡± Her gaze turned cold, tinged with frustration and displeasure, To her, it was basic decency not to peer at someone else¡¯s phone orputer screen. It was intrusive and inappropriate. Jayson had once told her not to touch his phone orptop. Ever since, she had kept her distance, respecting that boundary. She had assumed he understood that courtesy went both ways. Seeing the chilly look in Ariel¡¯s eyes, Jayson suddenly squinted and answered honestly, ¡°I didn¡¯t see much. Just some terms rted to AI.¡± That made sense. Her notes were in small font, and from his angle, it would¡¯ve been hard to read anything in detail. ¡°Okay.¡± She didn¡¯t feel like reading anymore, so she just put her phone away. ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Jayson rested his fist against his temple and locked his gaze on her, his look sharp and intense. ¡°What?¡± Ariel looked at him, confused by the question. Jayson studied her face, which waspletelyposed now. Even when she was annoyed earlier, she¡¯d kept it restrained. She didn¡¯tsh out or say any harsh words. Ignoring Ariel¡¯s confusion, he let out a dry chuckle. ¡°You clearly dislike it, but you never say so outright. You just never fight.¡± Even now, when she was angry, she stayed quiet, didn¡¯t throw a tantrum, and didn¡¯t start a fight. Was she just that easygoing, or did she simply not care enough to bother? ¡°Would it make a difference?¡± Ariel turned to look out the window. She wouldn¡¯t need to fight for him if he were truly hers. She wouldn¡¯t have to overthink things if he were someone who wouldn¡¯t put her in difficult situations. But since he was neither, she didn¡¯t see the need to waste her energy on him. Jayson stared at her profile, the quiet only broken by the sudden ring of an iing call. Inside 138 Chapter 138 Jayson picked up the call. His deep voice was unreadable. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± The car was cramped. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but hear Renee¡¯s coy tone from the other end. ¡°Jay, you¡¯ve left your house, right? Come pick me up.¡± Jayson was never one to indulge Renee¡¯s demands. Usually, he was pretty blunt with her. He asked coldly, ¡°Am I your driver?¡± Renee shrank back a little, pouting. ¡°It¡¯s just on the way. Grandma said you¡¯d have to go this way anyway, so why not give me a ride?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t bother arguing. ¡°Wait there.¡± He gave Toby an address, then nced at Ariel. ¡°I¡¯m picking her up. Are you okay with that?¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just drop me off somewhere along the way.¡± She hadn¡¯t really nned on riding with him anyway. ¡°It¡¯s on the way to Faye Tech. I¡¯ll drop you off afterward,¡± Jayson said, checking his watch. His voice was low and emotionless. Ariel didn¡¯t say anything else. After Toby pulled up to Renee¡¯s spot, Ariel spotted Renee waiting by the curb. Next to her was Nancy. They were together. No wonder Jayson had suddenly been so easy with Renee just now. Renee eagerly opened the car door but froze the moment she saw Ariel. Her smile faded, reced by a frown.¡± Why are you here too?¡± She turned and nced awkwardly at Nancy. ¡°Nancy, I didn¡¯t expect her to be here.¡± Nancy, carrying her crocodile¨Cskin handbag, remained calm andposed. ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s probably just catching a ride since it¡¯s on the way.¡± Renee finally rxed, grinning as she linked arms with Nancy. ¡°You¡¯re so understanding.¡± Ariel watched them quietly. It felt like she was expected to thank Nancy for being gracious enough to let her ride in Jayson¡¯s car. Nancy carried herself like Jayson¡¯s legitimate wife, and Ariel was the outsider. She had cared for Renee for three years. Sometimes, she just couldn¡¯t understand why her kindness never earned her any respect. ¡°But this is awkward. I can¡¯t exactly have you squeeze in there, Nancy.¡± Renee shot Ariel a sidelong nce, lips curled in disdain. ¡°I really didn¡¯t know you¡¯d be here. I don¡¯t recall Jay ever picking you up.¡± Ariel got the message loud and clear. Renee wanted her to make room for Nancy. Her presence was a nuisance. Nancy said nothing, only flicking a nce at Ariel. It was clear she agreed. Nancy didn¡¯t need to do anything. People already gave her the full treatment and authority of Mrs. Larkin. Ariel no longer cared. She got out without hesitation. If they didn¡¯t want her there as an awkward third wheel, fine. She wasn¡¯t keen on being stuck in the middle anyway. ¡°Do you want me to call you a ride?¡± Jayson finally nced her way. His tone was neutral. He stayed silent throughout, but now, he silently acknowledged her ¡°consideration¡°. He was even being kind and ¡°thoughtful¡± by offering to call her a ride. Funny how not long ago, he was the one insisting on driving her to Faye Technologies. When Ariel met his gaze, she thought that if any other woman were in her ce, they probably wouldn¡¯t have tolerated this, and things might not have gone their way. But she just didn¡¯t have the energy or time. ¡°No, it¡¯s fine.¡± Ariel declined. Ignoring whatever expressions shed across Jayson and the others¡® faces, she walked off toward the nearby bus stop. Nancy got in and sat beside Jayson. She caught the faint scent of Ariel still lingering in the car and discreetly frowned. ¡°Jayson, can you roll down the window? It¡¯s stuffy in here. Let¡¯s get some fresh air.¡± She didn¡¯t want Ariel to have too much contact with Jayson. Inside 139 Nancy didn¡¯t want Ariel¡¯s scent or any trace of her left on Jayson, his things, or in his personal space. Jayson didn¡¯t refuse. He nced up through the rearview mirror and saw the slender figure who had just reached the bus stop. Ariel¡¯s body wobbled slightly¨Cmaybe low blood sugar¨Cand she had to steady herself by leaning against the nearby billboard. She looked unwell. Jayson¡¯s eyes stayed cold and indifferent, but he said, ¡°Stop.¡± Nancy and Renee both turned to look. Renee was the first to notice Ariel¡¯s condition. Guessing what Jayson was thinking, she grumbled, ¡°Jay, don¡¯t get tricked. She¡¯s just upset about being kicked out of the car and putting on an act. Don¡¯t pay attention. If you do, you¡¯re falling right into her trap.¡± She hurriedly urged Jayson to leave. Nancy nced back and smirked. Ariel¡¯s tricks just kept piling up. She couldn¡¯t achieve anything and kept desperately throwing herself at a man who didn¡¯t love her. It was honestly pretty pathetic. Jayson looked back in the rearview mirror, thoughtful for a moment. Renee got annoyed and tried to grab his sleeve to get his attention. But she identally bumped Nancy¡¯s arm. Nancy quietly gasped. Renee panicked. ¡°Nancy, did I hurt you?¡± Jayson immediately turned to look at her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Noticing how much he cared for her, she smiled softly. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I bumped my wrist yesterday when checking parts at work. It¡¯s much better now.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°It waste. I didn¡¯t want to worry you.¡± Nancy shook her head. Jayson pressed his lips together and then said to Toby, ¡°Go to the hospital.¡± He no longer cared for Ariel. Nancy couldn¡¯t help but let out a quiet, happy smile at his concern. As Ariel steadied herself against the billboard, her lips were slightly pale. She heard the roar of the car in the distance and turned to nce that way. Jayson¡¯s car sped away, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust fumes that seemed to engulf her. He seemed to be in a hurry. But she didn¡¯t care what was going on with them. She sat down to rest for a while. The cold crept in relentlessly, making her shiver. When her Uber arrived, she headed home. With the federal holiday approaching, thepany was basically shutting down soon. This year was different, though. Now that Ariel was getting a divorce, she didn¡¯t have to spend the holiday at Larkin Manor. She could go home and be with Katie and Leonard. The family was small, and Elena was no longer around. It would be quieter. After thinking it over, Ariel decided to take Katie and Leonard out to celebrate the holiday. She asked Janice for suggestions on ces in Eldoria suitable for elderly rxation and entertainment. Janice quickly sent her a long list. After filtering through the options, Ariel settled on a hot spring resort. They offered fancy dinner services. The resort was in a mountain area outside the city, with a scenic zone and nightly bonfires. It was a popr choice for people wanting a festive holiday getaway. It was convenient, low¨Ceffort, and more fun. Ariel booked a room for herself and reserved arge suite for Katie and Leonard, with the option to dine indoors. When she told them about it, Katie was excited and happy to get a chance to unwind. ether On Tuesday, the day before the holiday, as Ariel made her way up the mountain, she debated whether to tell Jayson she wouldn¡¯t be returning to Larkin Manor. She looked at his name in her contacts. In the end, she put her phone away. Jayson would figure out on his own that she wasn¡¯ting back this year. He¡¯d surelye up with some excuse to brush Betty off. Inside 140 The resort was quite full for the holiday season. Most of the guests were wealthy or influential, and the service was top¨Ctier, on par with a five¨Cstar experience. As soon as Ariel and her family arrived, resort staff stepped forward to help with their luggage. Katie had spent most holidays in hospitals with Leonard over the years. This year, the whole family was finally together. She smiled happily. ¡°The air here is so fresh. It¡¯s really lovely. Spending the holiday with so many people like this is a whole new experience for me.¡± Ariel pushed Leonard¡¯s wheelchair and responded with a gentle smile, ¡°As long as you like it. By the way, your suite with Uncle Leo is right next to my room.¡® ¡°A suite has a bunch of rooms, though. Why not just stay together?¡± Leonard asked. Ariel smiled lightly. ¡°I might have an online meeting with Chadter. I didn¡¯t want to bother you two, so I booked separate rooms.¡± She casually moved on from the subject. Her bag was packed with bottles of targeted drugs. Over the years, Leonard had be highly sensitive to medications due to his illness, so Ariel had to be extra careful not to raise any suspicion. The dinner had to be arranged in advance with the resort. After settling Katie and Leonard in, Ariel went downstairs to confirm the dinner booking with the resort manager. Once that was handled, she headed to the elevator. Just as she reached it, she saw Perry on a call nearby. He caught sight of her from the corner of his eye and froze for a moment before giving a nod in greeting toward Ariel. Ariel was momentarily surprised but walked over to him. She noticed the elevator button had already been pressed, so she simply stood there quietly, watching the floor numbers blink as she waited. Perry said into the phone, ¡°It¡¯s a newly developed resort. Great environment, but I think they¡¯re fully booked for tonight.¡± Matt groaned from the other end. ¡°Man, if I¡¯d known, I would¡¯ve gone with you. I just got home, and Grandpa chewed me out for an hour.¡± ¡°That¡¯s sad.¡± ¡°Can Ie over now? I¡¯ll crash in your room.¡± Matt wanted to join. With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Ariel stepped in first. Seeing Perry still on the phone, she asked politely, ¡°Are youing in?¡± Perry looked up. ¡°Yeah.¡± He stepped inside. Matt, on the other end, suddenly sat up straight. ¡°Wait, was that a woman? You¡¯re with a woman? Who¡¯s that? Her voice sounds nice!¡± He immediately smelled something suspicious. Perry nced at Ariel, who stood calmly before him with a cool expression. He pressed his lips together. ¡°You heard wrong. Anyway, there¡¯s no signal in the elevator. I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°There is a signal!¡± Ignoring Matt¡¯s yelling, Perry pocketed his phone and looked at Ariel. ¡°Are you here for the holiday?¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t nned to chat, but since he asked, she replied politely, ¡°Yes.¡± Perry instinctively followed up. ¡°You¡¯re not going back to Jayson¡¯s ce?¡± She couldn¡¯t me him for asking. In previous years, after all the family obligations were out of the way, they¡¯d often go out drinking. And every year, Ariel would worry about Jayson overdrinking. She¡¯d alwayse early to pick him up, bringing hangover soup she had made herself. Not just for Jayson, but she¡¯d bring enough for the rest of them too. She had been gentle, thoughtful, and easy to get along with. But what had they done? Matt would drink the soup and tease Ariel, saying, ¡°Ms. Walker, not to be rude, but when Jaysones out to have fun and doesn¡¯t invite you, it¡¯s because he doesn¡¯t want to be bothered. You don¡¯t need to use hangover soup as an excuse to see him.¡± Perry had said nothing at the time. Even though he knew those words were harsh for a young woman, he hadn¡¯t stopped Matt. He had even silently agreed with Matt. They all hated Ariel, believing she had forced her way into Jayson¡¯s bed and ruined his marriage. Inside 141 From beginning to end, Perry had viewed Ariel through biased eyes. Now, as he looked at her, she looked so calm without any emotional fluctuation. Her gaze no longer held the old politeness or tolerance she once showed them. Instead, it was sharp and distant. Ariel had changed. ¡°Yeah, I came with my grandma,¡± Ariel answered simply, refusing to exin anything more to Perry. Perry was slightly surprised but understood she didn¡¯t want to talk, and he knew why she was acting this way. Just then, the elevator reached Ariel¡¯s floor. She gave Perry a faint nod before leaving. Perry watched her walk until she disappeared around the corner. The elevator doors closed again. After a while, he rubbed his forehead and let out a small, wry smile. He felt like a freak. Even though Ariel barely acknowledged him, he found himself wanting to talk to her more. He just felt like he had never truly known the real Ariel. Back in Katie and Leonard¡¯s suite, resort staff had already sent a delicate fruit tter. Katie cheerfully greeted Ariel, ¡°Ari, have a bite to settle your stomach. The staff just told me the bonfire party starts at 10:00 pm. Are you going?¡± Ariel approached. Leonard had already picked up a slice of kiwi and offered it to her. She opened her mouth to eat before saying, ¡°Depends on when I finish reviewing the documents. Grandma, Uncle Leo, you two can go join the fun.¡± Katie gave her a reproachful look. ¡°You¡¯re busy even on a holiday? You¡¯ve turned into a total workaholic.¡± ¡°Mom, Ari¡¯s always been driven. She wants to do her best at everything. If she likes it, we should support her.¡± Leonard didn¡¯t have the heart to lecture Ariel, so he chuckled and changed the subject. Ariel quickly shifted gears. ¡°Dinner¡¯s at 7:00 pm. I¡¯ve booked a ce for us in the restaurant. Grandma, you two can head down and look around first.¡± Katie, still excited about the ce, immediately agreed, ¡°Okay!¡± She pushed Leonard ahead. Ariel took the chance to finalize her remaining work. Then a ringtone pulled her back from theptop. She nced at her phone and noticed it was Evelyn calling. Normally, Evelyn rarely contacted her. She had never really epted her as a daughter¨Cinw, treating her as if she didn¡¯t exist both publicly and privately. After some hesitation, Ariel answered. Her mind quickly ran through the facts. Evelyn rarely saw her, and Ariel hardly ever called her by her first name. They weren¡¯t close, after all. If anyone else was around, Evelyn insisted she be called Mrs. Larkin. Now that she and Jayson were getting divorced, Ariel had no reason to keep up the pretense of closeness. ¡°Mrs. Lar-¡°1 Before she could even say ¡°Larkin¡°, Evelyn¡¯s cold, impatient voice cut in, ¡°Where are you? Why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± Ariel nced out the window. Fireworks were already going off in the distance. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Evelyn frowned. ¡°I checked the kitchen. Why haven¡¯t you started making the desserts? Did you forget?¡± Ariel pressed her lips, her expression calm. ¡°I didn¡¯t forget. I just didn¡¯t make them.¡± 1 In those years, she had devoted herself to taking care of Jayson¡¯s daily life, and her cooking skills had improved immensely. Her desserts rivaled those of a master chef. Evelyn loved her desserts and insisted she make plenty during the holidays. Back then, Ariel thought that they would eventually ept her if she worked sincerely and hard enough. But now, forget Evelyn¡¯s likes or moods; even Jayson no longer had anything to do with her. Inside 142 Evelyn was caught off guard. She stayed silent for a moment, trying to unpack the meaning behind Ariel¡¯s words. She knew Ariel¡¯s personality well¨Calways good¨Ctempered and considerate. If something was within Ariel¡¯s ability, she rarely said no to any of Evelyn¡¯s requests. So now, Ariel¡¯s sudden assertiveness made Evelyn instinctively wonder if she already had something else nned. After some hesitation, Evelyn asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Why didn¡¯t you make them? You know perfectly well thosedies love your desserts. Didn¡¯t I tell you to remember this and prepare extras as gifts every year?¡± Thosedies in Evelyn¡¯s social circle would always exchange little holiday gifts. Their gatherings were about more than just tea; they were how power and rtionships were maintained. And Ariel¡¯s baking had earned their approval. For the past few years, Evelyn had her make more than enough to be boxed up and gifted to each household. They were just small desserts¨Ctroublesome, yes¨Cbut wasn¡¯t it Ariel¡¯s duty as the Larkin family¡¯s daughter¨Cin-w? Ariel kept her eyes calmly on herptop screen. ¡°Didn¡¯t Jayson tell you I¡¯m spending the holiday with my grandma and uncle?¡± Evelyn spoke as if it were only natural. But the truth was, Ariel didn¡¯t enjoy it at all. Over the years, to keep the peace, she had said yes to everything, even if it meant exhaustion. Yes, they were just desserts. But they took time and effort. Every year at this time, she spent the whole day busy in the kitchen. By the time she went to bed past midnight, her back and legs felt stiff and sore. They almost seemed like they didn¡¯t belong to her anymore. But no one cared. Evelyn was a little confused. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Ariel had suddenly changed. Ariel had always tried to please them in the past, obediently staying at Larkin Manor during the holidays. But Evelyn didn¡¯t really care what was wrong with Ariel. ¡°If you¡¯re married, then you should spend the holidays with your husband¡¯s family. How could you leave without a word? Mrs. Fletcher even said she missed your desserts. There¡¯s still time. Eithere back after dinner with your grandma, or just make them there at your house and send them over.¡± Whether Ariel came back to Larkin Manor or not didn¡¯t matter to Evelyn. What mattered was Ariel still had value. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I don¡¯t have time.¡± Ariel¡¯s voice was calm but firm. Evelyn bossed her around like it was nothing, expecting her to work hard even during a holiday, as if she didn¡¯t deserve to enjoy the celebration herself. But now, Ariel wouldn¡¯t be so harsh on herself anymore. From now on, none of this was her concern. Evelyn was left speechless for a moment before finally saying, ¡°Ariel, what¡¯s gotten into you?¡± It didn¡¯t even ur to her that Ariel might be rebelling or trying to disrespect her because Ariel wouldn¡¯t dare. She loved Jayson too much and valued her title as Mrs. Larkin too deeply. She had always treaded carefully, eager to please. How could she possibly be trying to go against Evelyn? ¡°You can ask someone else to do it. My grandma¡¯s calling me for dinner. Happy holidays.¡± Ariel said nothing more and hung up, not wanting to waste her holiday on an argument. After that little episode, Ariel simply shut herptop and went downstairs. The resort restaurant had a unique design. The ceiling was a full ss dome offering panoramic views of the night sky and fireworks. The festive atmosphere was in full swing. Katie and Leonard had already taken their seats. Ariel walked over and let the waiter know they could start serving the meal. People bustled in and out of the dining area. Out of the corner of her eye, Ariel spotted Perry walking past the corner. He saw her too, paused for a second, then gave a polite nod. Ariel nodded back, her expression calm as ever. They didn¡¯t exchange a single word. But Katie had noticed the brief interaction. She gave Perry¡¯s retreating figure a once¨Cover. ¡°You know that young man?¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Kind of.¡± ¡°A regr friend? Or¡­ is he pursuing you?¡± Katie was surprisingly cool about it. Now that Ariel was getting a divorce, she had every right to pursue happiness again. ¡°That young man¡¯s tall and well¨Cproportioned. Not bad at all!¡± Inside 143 Ariel almost choked on Katie¡¯s words. ¡°Grandma, you misunderstood. He¡¯s Jayson¡¯s friend.¡± Katie¡¯s expression stiffened for a moment. ¡°Well, that won¡¯t do. He¡¯s not suitable. Keep looking, then.¡± Leonard helplessly cut a piece of steak for Katie. ¡°Mom, Ari just decided to get a divorce. There¡¯s no need to rush.¡± They had talked about this before. He supported Ariel¡¯s decision. A marriage without happiness would only drain a person. Staying was of no benefit. Katie shot him a nce. ¡°I know that. You young people always say the best way to get over someone is to meet someone new. If she finds a suitable and nice man, why not give it a try?¡± Ariel chuckled. ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re quite open¨Cminded, huh?¡± She¡¯d expected Katie to worry about her, but it seemed Katie¡¯s experience studying abroad in her youth had made her very open¨Cminded. That put Ariel at ease. The bonfire party was at 10:00 pm. When they finished dinner, it was just over 8:00 pm. Ariel asked, ¡°Do you want to try the hot springs? Warm up first, then head to the party.¡± Katie and Leonard didn¡¯t mind. The resort had separate indoor hot springs for men and women, plus an open¨Cair scenic spring. Katie and Leonard liked quiet, so they went indoors. Ariel preferred the view, so she headed alone to the outdoor spring. Wrapped in a towel, she entered. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. Ariel stopped and nced at it. It was a message from Jayson. ¡°Happy holidays.¡± So simple and concise. She could almost hear his indifferent tone, like he was just checking off a box. Ariel quietly stared at the two words. She knew it wasn¡¯t a mass message. Though she had blocked him on WhatsApp, he didn¡¯t care and sent her this out of basic manners. Ariel put her phone away without replying. They were getting divorced anyway. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to go through the motions. ¡°Ms. Walker!¡± A cheerful voice behind Ariel snapped her back. Freya had run over, with Perry following in a bathrobe. ¡°Perry said he ran into you. I didn¡¯t expect it to be true. Does this mean we¡¯re on holiday together?¡± Freya chattered, her face flushed from the steam. Ariel smiled when she saw her. ¡°Happy holidays, Freya.¡± ¡°Too bad, I just got out. Perry rushed me to my medicine.¡± Freya sounded a bit annoyed. If only she hade a littleter, she could¡¯ve stayed and had fun with Ariel. ¡°No worries. You take your medicine first. Healthes first,¡± Ariel said kindly. Freya nodded immediately. ¡°I¡¯ll go now. I¡¯lle find youter!¡± Perry walked over and patted her head. ¡°Don¡¯t dawdle. You¡¯ve got to take your medicine on time. Go on.¡± Freya reluctantly squeezed Ariel¡¯s hand. ¡°Wait for me, Ms. Walker.¡± She kept ncing back every few steps. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but smile. Perry didn¡¯t leave. He was here to enjoy the hot springs and hade for Freya as well. Running into Ariel was just a coincidence. He nced her way. ¡°If you¡¯re ufortable, I can go somewhere else.¡± He knew Ariel didn¡¯t like him. Ariel wasn¡¯t that overbearing. After all, they both paid to be here and had every right to enjoy the hot springs. It wasn¡¯t her ce to tell anyone to leave. ¡°No need. Do as you like.¡± Perry smiled faintly. ¡°Alright, thanks.¡± At the door, Freya turned back and saw the two¨Cone tall, one short¨Cchatting. She could almost see a smile ying at Perry¡¯s lips from his side profile. Freya clicked her tongue. Perry was obviously happy to see Ariel. Suddenly, a lightbulb went off in her head. She quickly snapped a photo of the two. From where she was, all she could catch was the back of Ariel. After thinking for a moment, Freya decided to share a series of photos from the day¨Cshots of the fancy dinner, a family picture, scenic views, and the one of Ariel¡¯s back with Perry. Once she was done editing, she posted them on Instagram. Inside 144 The outdoor spring was thergest hot spring in the resort and had the best view. From there, one could see fireworks bursting in the sky and towering mountains in the distance. Ariel quickly sensed something was off. She was wearing a swimsuit underneath. If she took off the bathrobe, it might be a bit inappropriate with Perry around. So she simply sat on a chair at the edge, watching to see which side Perry would choose. Perry hadn¡¯t guessed what was on her mind. A staff member had already brought over a beautifully arranged fruit tter and drinks. As he nced over, he caught sight of Ariel¡¯s long legs under the bathrobe. Her posture was perfect. As she sat with her legs naturally crossed, the long lines of her legs looked even more striking. Perry abruptly looked away and cleared his throat before stepping into the water. Turning his back to Ariel, he avoided looking again. He pulled out his phone and started replying to a few holiday greetings on WhatsApp. Ariel didn¡¯t notice Perry¡¯s reaction. She also received holiday greetings from Chad, Janice, and the Faye Technologies team she¡¯d recently been getting along with. Ariel replied sincerely to every one of the messages. Meanwhile, Perry had just finished replying when a notification popped up about Freya¡¯s new Instagram post. Out of habit, he tapped on it. Her caption was simple. ¡°Happy holidays! I¡¯m still wishing for the same thing. When is my brother going to bring home a sweet wife?¡± Perry couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He swiped through the photos andnded on thest one¨Ca shot of him and Ariel from behind, both in bathrobes. His expression darkened. He sat up straighter, fingers tightening around his phone. He stared at the photo for a few seconds, then quickly opened Freya¡¯s chat. ¡°Delete thest photo from your Instagram post. People will misunderstand. Ariel might be ufortable too.¡± Freya sensed his seriousness and replied with disappointment, ¡°Fine¡­¡± Just as Perry sent that message, Ariel also stumbled upon Freya¡¯s post. She was a little surprised. But since her face wasn¡¯t visible, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Perry had already gotten out of the hot spring and walked over in his robe. Noticing Ariel looking at the photo too, he said, ¡°Sorry, Freya didn¡¯t mean any harm.¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t about to reprimand Freya. She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Seeing no trace of anger on her face, Perry finally rxed a little. He sat down on the chair next to her. ¡°I already told Freya to delete the photo. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± He figured that even if Ariel didn¡¯t say anything, she¡¯d probably be bothered. She still cared about Jayson and wouldn¡¯t want him to get the wrong idea. ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t look up. She stayed focused on replying to messages. Perry nced at her but said nothing else. Just as he was about to stand up, his phone suddenly buzzed several times in a row. He looked down. It was their private friend group chat. Matt had taken the lead, firing off several messages in a row. ¡°Who is this woman? ¡°Perry, are you dating someone behind our backs? ¡°I knew I heard a woman¡¯s voice on the phone just now! What are you hiding from us? ¡°Freya just deleted the photo, but I definitely saw it!¡± Nancy wrote. ¡°Is it true?¡± Jayson hadn¡¯t said anything, but he¡¯d definitely seen it. Frowning, Perry looked up instinctively at Ariel. Ariel had a sharp sense for stares. She looked over too. The indoor lighting was dim, making the glow from Perry¡¯s phone screen especially eye¨Ccatching. She couldn¡¯t help but catch a glimpse. It was a group chat. She couldn¡¯t make out most of the content, but she clearly saw the group chat name¨CThe Great 4. It was obviously a group chat with four members. Inside 145 And then, Ariel noticed a familiar name below that¨CNancy. Her gaze dimmed slightly. So they had their own private group chat. Nancy really was the center of their universe, the one everyone flocked around. All those years married to Jayson, she never knew that a spouse could be added to their friend group chat like that, openly acknowledged. Even if she no longer cared, learning about this now felt like some private humiliation had been dragged into the open¨Csomething they could allugh at behind her back. She almost found it funny. Perry wanted to say something, but then he saw a private message from Nancy. ¡°Are you really dating someone? Who is it?¡± Perry pressed his lips together, not replying to her directly. Instead, he wrote a message in the group chat. ¡°Don¡¯t jump to conclusions.¡± Meanwhile, after dinner, a few men gathered together, including wealthy heirs from family¨Crun businesses. The private room was lively, filled with clinking sses andughter. Matt saw Perry¡¯s message in the group chat andughed out loud. ¡°This doesn¡¯t sit right. He didn¡¯t even exin anything!¡± Jayson just sipped his drink silently, not joining in. Nancy seemed thoughtful. ¡°Maybe it¡¯s not official yet. He doesn¡¯t want to say anything prematurely.¡± She looked down again at her private chat with Perry, wondering what he was doing. He didn¡¯t reply to her; he only responded in the group chat. Matt shook his head. ¡°It still doesn¡¯t add up. I just asked him toe have a drink, and he said he was tied up with family stuff. But don¡¯t we always hang out on this day every year?¡± So was he really tied up, or did he just not want toe? ¡°Why don¡¯t you go find him?¡± Jayson finally spoke, slow and indifferent. Matt shrugged. ¡°Not like I¡¯m that bored. By the way¡­¡± He looked around and checked the time. ¡°It¡¯s almost midnight. Wanna bet when Ariel¡¯s gonna show up with hangover soup?¡± There was a hint of mockery in his voice, along with some disdain. The same thing happened every year. He was used to it by now. Bringing soup was just an excuse to check up on Jayson. Women and their little tricks¨Cit was obvious. ¡°Hangover soup?¡± Nancy looked up, cing her phone on the table. Matt chuckled and leaned in. ¡°Back then, Jayson never brought Ariel to these events. She wasn¡¯t allowed to mix in. But she just wouldn¡¯t give up. ¡°Every year she¡¯d show up with hangover soup for everyone, pretending to be considerate, but really just trying to prove she was Mrs. Larkin. We all saw through it. We just couldn¡¯t be bothered to say anything. Honestly, she was just wasting her time.¡± He shuffled the cards and clicked his tongue. Nancy finally curled her lips into a smile. She could tell that Ariel¡¯s self¨Csacrificing gestures only made her more irritating to them. If love could be won just through hard work, then it would be way too cheap. Men were much more realistic than women. They picked the woman who was prettier, more capable, and more likely to bring honor to their name. Unfortunately, Ariel had lost from the very beginning. All she had was a pretty face but no substance or skill. She was only ever fit to fuss over chores and domestic things. ¡°Hey, Jayson. Howe she hasn¡¯t shown up yet today? Honestly, I¡¯ve gotten used to that soup of hers,¡± Matt asked casually. Jayson set down his ss and answered tly, ¡°She¡¯s noting.¡± After sending Betty a holiday greeting, Ariel¡¯s phone rang. It was Betty calling. ¡°Ari, are you with your grandma and uncle? Jayson said you probably weren¡¯ting back, so I figured I¡¯d call and ask. Did you two get into a fight?¡± Inside 146 Chapter 146 Looking out of the window, colorful fireworks could be seen exploding in the air. Ariel raised her head and gazed at the night sky. Then, she turned her eyes toward Katie and Leonard, who were recording the fireworks show by the window. She could sense that Betty had genuine concern for her. Ariel would have had a harder time living with the Larkins if not for Betty, who had always taken her side during thest few years. ¡°Grandma, we didn¡¯t get into any fights,¡± Ariel replied slowly. ¡°You know how Jayson and I hardly ever fight with each other.¡± The way they had settled most of their issues was by putting it aside until they could reach a consensus through negotiation. Normally, couples would get into arguments when they still cared about each other and their rtionship. Unfortunately, Jayson felt nothing but detestation for Ariel. For a moment, Betty was at a loss for words. She was also aware of this particr issue that Ariel and Jayson had. Regardless of how close or happy a couple might be, arguments and disagreements were sometimes inevitable. Ariel and Jayson had been married for a few years now. At this point, they should already see each other as the most important person in their lives. Yet, the couple¡¯s interactions had always been cold and formal, as if they were total strangers. Ariel had tried everything she could to break down Jayson¡¯s walls, but to no avail. Jayson refused to open up to her. He treated Ariel as if she were one of his business partners and did only what was required of him as a spouse. Betty was probably stumped by what to do about the issue as well. She sighed. ¡°Well, you should indeed spend more time with your Grandma Katie and Uncle Leonard since they¡¯re both getting older. ¡°I¡¯m sure you and Jayson are doing fine since you¡¯re not having any arguments. How about this? I¡¯ll talk to Jayson and give him a good lecture. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure he doesn¡¯t do anything to upset you.¡± Ariel knew how deeply concerned Betty was about her and Jayson¡¯s rtionship. After a moment¡¯s consideration, she said in a roundabout way, ¡°It¡¯s fine, Grandma. That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Betty did not have to do something like that since she and Jayson were already getting divorced. Ariel did not want Betty to waste her time doing something pointless. By dropping a few subtle hints now, Ariel hoped that Betty would find it easier to ept their decisionter on. Betty paused briefly as she kept getting the feeling that there was something more to Ariel¡¯s words. She was feeling rather confused. ¡°Alright¡­ Well, enjoy your time with your family. Send my regards to Katie and help me wish her a happy holiday! ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel gave a soft sigh after the call ended. She thought about it for a bit. Then, Ariel decided to borrow some space in the hotel¡¯s kitchen to make some snacks for her family. Katie had blood glucose problems, yet she enjoyed having snacks. The snacks made by the hotel¡¯s kitchen staff would contain too much sugar and were unsuitable for Katie. Fortunately, she did not have much trouble getting permission from the hotel management team. Ariel made palmiers, a simple snack. While she was making them, her WhatsApp notification ringtone went off several times. Ariel checked her phone when she was taking a break. They were messages from Renee. ¡°What time are youing back? My mom said that you won¡¯t be making any desserts this year?¡± 20 ¡°You¡¯re so annoying. You know I crave for them today! Where are you? Say something!¡± ¡°Fine. Are you jealous? I¡¯ll do you a favor and call you sister¨Cinw today, then. Just don¡¯t tell Nancy about it. You¡¯lle back and make those desserts now, right?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Renee would only ever approach Ariel when she needed thetter to do something for her. She would always sound assertive and condescending. At one point, Evelyn became extremely engrossed in the activity of investing in antiques. She would often travel to different ces in and out of their country. During those times, she would leave Renee in Ariel¡¯s care. Under her care, Renee grew to be someone who had a sophisticated pte and extremely high standards for many things. She could not tolerate even the slightest mistakes, and she was dissatisfied whenever someone other than Ariel was looking after her. For a while, Renee would stick by Ariel¡¯s side whenever she could. Ever since Nancy came into the picture, Renee started treating Ariel with scorn and disdain. Whether it was because of her vanity or just her being in a rebellious phase, there was no reason for Renee to treat Ariel so harshly. Ariel was not going to continue to indulge her whims. She stopped whatever she was doing, pressed Renee¡¯s WhatsApp contact number, and ticked the option to block her number. Then, she turned off the phone screen and went on with her tasks. Ariel made three boxes of palmiers. After giving it some thought, she sent Freya a WhatsApp message, asking her toe down and take one box of palmiers. Previously, Perry had helped Ariel by sharing the doctor¡¯s WhatsApp contact number with her. Although that person had not replied to her messages yet, Ariel did not like the feeling of owing others favors. Freya was extremely delighted. She clutched the box of palmiers tightly and chatted with Ariel on drone¨Crted topics for quite a while before leaving cheerfully. After watching the holiday special show on TV with Katie and Leonard, Ariel went back to her room and got ready for bed. Once she was done taking a shower and applying her skin¨Ccare products, Ariel received Janice¡¯s text messages along with two photos. ¡°They¡¯re so disgusting! I never imagined seeing something so off¨Cputting on a day I was supposed to be out and having fun! I wish I could unsee this! ¡°Nancy must really be the apple of Jayson¡¯s eye. He¡¯s spending time with her on a special day like this! Has he ever done that for you? That awful cheater!¡± Ariel stared impassively at those two photos. One of them was a photo Janice had taken secretly inside the pool club. Nancy could be seen bending forward while holding a cue stick. Beside Nancy, Jayson leaned toward her and helped with adjusting her hand position. The two of them were in close proximity. The second photo was a screenshot of Nancy¡¯s post on her social media ount. Janice told Ariel that Chad had taken the screenshot and sent it to her. Are Someone captured a photo of Jayson helping Nancy with her hand position, which she then shared online. She captioned the photo, ¡°Having the most important person in my life by my side on a special day makes me feel safe having someone to lean on.¡± Ariel could see how happy and intimate the pair looked. For a moment, she was lost in deep thought. It somewhat exined why Jayson had taken the initiative to exin to Betty about Ariel¡¯s n to spend the night before the federal holiday with the Walkers when he had not even informed Betty of their decision to get divorced. Jayson must prefer it more for Ariel to be with the Walkers on that day. That way, she would not do what she did either willingly or because Betty had prompted her during the past few years to go and fetch Jayson home for the celebration. Nancy was not around then. However, the situation was different now. Jayson would eliminate any possibility of Ariel interrupting his and Nancy¡¯s alone time. Ariel closed the WhatsApp application calmly. Despite that realization, she remained unaffected and was not ovee by any particr emotion. She wasn¡¯t hurt by any of those things since Jayson was practically a stranger to her now. Ariel decided to extend their stay since Katie liked the hotel a lot. Every morning, Katie and Leonard would take a stroll in the nearby woods, which had been developed and modified for recreational purposes. On the other hand, Ariel had spent most of her time resting in the hotel, trying to distance herself from all the chaos of the outside world. In the meantime, she sent the doctor Perry had rmended her holiday greetings and her questions regarding Leonard¡¯s illness on WhatsApp. Ariel was unsure about the reason, but the doctor had not replied to her messages thus far. She had no idea what that person¡¯s name was even until now. Inside 147 Perry would ask Ariel if she had managed to get in touch with that doctor from time to time. Ariel told him frankly about the situation she had encountered. Perry responded, ¡°That person hardly ever uses his phone. He¡¯s often in remote areas overseas, where there is no signal or inte connection. He didn¡¯t mean to ignore your messages. After seeing Perry¡¯s exnation, Ariel could not possibly try to prompt any one of them for a quicker response. After all, Perry was not obligated to help Ariel in the first ce. Ariel was certain the doctor Perry had rmended to her must be a first¨Crate expert. However, she could not possibly just wait and do nothing while they still could not reach that person. She needed to prepare an alternative n. During her days off, Ariel focused on finding out which experts would return to their country for work after the federal holiday was over. She used every connection she had to gather information about that. As for Jayson, neither he nor Ariel had tried to contact the other person. Ariel was so preupied with her search forpetent experts that she did not have the time to think about their issues. At an equestrian club, Nancy went around the field on a horse for a while and dismounted. Sitting somewhere in the distance, Matt immediately pped and praised her. ¡°You¡¯re brilliant! With those skills, you can even consider joining somepetitions for professionals. You looked really cool!¡± Renee, who was following Jayson around, stared at Nancy with admiration. ¡°Is there anything you can¡¯t do, Nancy? You¡¯re smart, and you¡¯re good at so many things. A genius must be someone like you!¡± ¡°See! Even Renee has be your fan now,¡± Matt said jokingly. He directed his gaze to Freya, who was ying mobile games at the side. ¡°Freya, do you not want to learn horse riding? Nancy can teach you how to.¡± Freya was the only person there who had not learned to ride a horse. Perry turned his eyes toward her. ¡°Do you want to give it a try?¡± Freya lifted her gaze and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯m going to y games with my pretty friend instead.¡± Nancy¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°Your pretty friend?¡± Perry knew right away that the person Freya was talking about was Ariel. Freya nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve gotten to know thisdy, who¡¯s super pretty and good at ying games. You guys should go ahead and enjoy your time riding the horses. I¡¯m not that interested.¡± Nancy could tell Freya liked that friend a lot. On the other hand, Perry did not seem shocked or surprised to hear that. He obviously knew who Freya was referring to. Nancy took a bottle of water ced near Perry and removed the cap. ¡°I don¡¯t think you¡¯ve ever mentioned someone like that to us before?¡± Jayson cast a nce in their direction as well. Perry paused briefly while he was trying to drink some water. ¡°It¡¯s not really anything worth mentioning.¡± It was pretty clear that he had no intention to borate. Nancy frowned slightly. Then, she smiled softly. ¡°Alright.¡± She nced at Jayson and raised her brows. Nancy issued a challenge. ¡°Would you like to go up against me for a race, Jayson?¡± Jayson¡¯s brows arched. He had a cool, rxed look in his eyes. ¡°Sure.¡± Matt was so excited and ready to cheer for them. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter which of you wins. Most importantly, I¡¯ll definitely take great photos of you two! Make sure to thank me afterward!¡± Nancy beamed. ¡°We¡¯ll be counting on your photography skills, then.¡± She and Jayson headed out to the fields. Matt took his SLR camera and hurried after them. Perry did not tag along. After ying her games for a while, Freya remembered that she had brought some snacks along. She reached into her bag and took out a box. She cast a nce at Renee and asked politely, ¡°Do you want some of this?¡± Renee looked her way. ¡°What?¡± Freya picked up a piece and held it out to Renee. ¡°You know Ms. Walker too. She¡¯s thedy who went camping with usst time. She made these and gave th to me. It¡¯s really delicious. You should try it.¡± Renee¡¯s expression hardened. She stared at the palmiers in disbelief. ¡°Why would she give you these snacks?¡± Freya gazed at Renee with a puzzled look on her face. ¡°It¡¯s because she likes me, of course. She made these specially for me.¡± ¡°That¡¯s absolute nonsense!¡± Renee shot to her feet. She was positively fuming. ¡°Why would she make those for you?¡± She had softened her tone and asked Ariel to make desserts for her the night before the federal holiday, but Arielpletely ignored her. Ariel used to be willing to do anything for her. Renee could not understand why Ariel was being friendly to Freya now instead. She had decided to ignore Ariel since thetter did not reply to any of her messages. Renee did not want Ariel to feel too pleased with herself. Yet, Ariel refused her requests and made the desserts for Freya instead. Freya looked at Renee in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± She could not understand why Renee was suddenly so upset. Renee clenched her jaw. Without saying anything, she turned around and left. Ariel hadpletely gotten on her wrong side. Renee decided to give Ariel the cold shoulder from now on. Perry was not entirely sure what the youngdy was thinking, but he had an inkling of why Renee acted this way. No one among their circle of friends had ever mentioned the fact that Ariel was Jayson¡¯s wife. Even Renee had never openly acknowledged Ariel as her sister¨Cinw. That was why Freya had absolutely no idea that Ariel and Jayson were in that kind of rtionship. Perry patted Freya on the shoulder. ¡°Can I have a piece?¡± Inside 148 Freya debated for a bit before snapping off a small piece of a palmier and handing it to Perry. ¡°I¡¯ll give you this much. You can just have a taste. Ms. Walker has made them specially for me.¡± Perry was rendered speechless as he looked at the tiny piece of palmier on his palm. Matt and the others came back fairly quickly. Nancy walked over while checking the photos on Matt¡¯s camera. A faint smile yed on her lips. Jayson noticed Renee was missing. He asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Renee?¡± Freya answered immediately, ¡°She went back to the lounge. She got upset for some reason just now. I¡¯m not even sure what I¡¯ve said that ticked her off, though.¡± Jayson did not think much of it. ¡°Hmm¡­ Don¡¯t mind her. She¡¯s been spoiled rotten.¡± After hearing Freya¡¯s exnation, Matt suddenly recalled the post she had shared on her social media ount the other day. He sat down next to Freya and poured her a drink. Then, Matt probed, ¡°Tell me, Freya. You posted about your brother and ady the other day. Who¡¯s thatdy?¡± Perry¡¯s eyes hardened. Nancy subconsciously looked toward Perry. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder why Perry had not told them anything if he was really seeing someone. She had asked him about it, but Perry never gave her any clear answers. Jayson slowly turned his gaze toward Perry. Curiosity gleamed in his eyes. Freya instinctively stole a nce at Perry. In truth, Perry had told her that he and Ariel were not in that kind of rtionship. Moreover, Ariel would not want others to misunderstand their rtionship. So, Perry had reminded her not to make any hastyments about him and Ariel. Freya blinked a few times and said, ¡°She¡¯s just a randomdy we met the other day. She¡¯s not really someone special.¡± ¡°How boring¡­¡± Matt responded in disappointment. Nancy¡¯s brows lifted. She knew Perry would not keep something like that to himself. ¡°I could still recall how your brother was smiling so brightly at that person in the photo.¡± Jayson unbuttoned the first few buttons on his jacket as he made that remark. There was a moment of awkward silence. It took Perry some time toe up with an ambiguous response. ¡°Well, it¡¯s probably because she¡¯s really pretty.¡± Everyone was looking at him this time. Their expressions were all different. Nancy¡¯s gaze fell on Perry. She had never heard Perry praising any other woman except for her. 1 After enjoying a week¨Clong break, Ariel went back to work. She reckoned they needed to run some of the tests again for several datapiled for certain projects managed by her ever since joining Faye Tech. Hence, any ns to attract investments for those projects would have to be postponed ordingly. At the same time, they had to make sure to execute other ongoing projects in a timely manner. On Wednesday, Faye Tech received an invitation to attend theunch of a new material hosted by Vireon Technologies. As Faye Tech¡¯s technical shareholder, Ariel joined Chad in attending the event. They might consider using the material in Faye Tech¡¯s drone production process if the new material produced by Vireon Technologies demonstrated a lot of potential. Upon reaching Vireon Technologies¡® building, Ariel suddenly received a call from Betty. She nced at Chad. ¡°Chad, you should head in first.¡± Chad nodded. A staff member showed him into the venue. Ariel answered the phone. Betty sounded like she was in a really good mood. ¡°Ari, have you started working already?¡± ¡°Yes, Grandma. Is something the matter?¡± ¡°There is something I need to talk to you about. Do you realize that it¡¯ll be Valentine¡¯s Day soon?¡± Ariel paused momentarily. ¡°No, I haven¡¯t.¡± After all, she had never celebrated Valentine¡¯s Day before. Betty responded instantly, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be spending all your time working. Haven¡¯t you or Jayson made any ns for that day?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do! Valentine¡¯s Day is such a wonderful day. You shouldn¡¯t just treat it like any other day. If you two haven¡¯t made any ns, I¡¯ll do it for you!¡± Betty was displeased with Jayson¡¯s indifference and insensitivity. She decided to give him an earfulter. Ariel dropped her gaze. A small frown creased her forehead. She had a weary look in her eyes. Ariel felt extremely frustrated. She was troubled by the fact that Jayson was still keeping his family in the dark about their divorce. Betty did not say much after that. She gave a final reminder. ¡°You should continue with your work, then. Leave all the nning to me!¡± She did not even allow Ariel a chance to say anything as she hung up right away. Ariel frowned and stood in the same spot. While she was considering what to do, a car pulled up in the distance. Ariel recognized the car te number and the car¡¯s model. Jayson¡¯s tall form came into sight the next instant. His gaze drifted toward Ariel for a few seconds. Then, he looked away indifferently. He moved to the other side of the car to open the door. Nancy put her hand on Jayson¡¯s arm and got out of the car elegantly. Several top executives working for Vireon Technologies came out to greet the pair. The group of them were about to move past Ariel and enter the building. Jayson showed no intention of greeting Ariel. Just as he and Nancy were about to walk past her, Ariel pursed her lips and called out right away, ¡°Jayson, I need to ask you something. Can you spare me a few minutes?¡± Inside 149 As soon as Jayson and Nancy arrived, the group of executives weed the pair warmly before escorting them into the building. They even showered the pair with ttery. ¡°Ms. Stanton and Mr. Larkin make such a handsome pair. It¡¯s our honor to have you two as our guests at a Vireon Technologies¡® event.¡± 11 ¡°Please follow me, Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton. We¡¯ve already arranged for your seats. 11 Ariel cut those people off when she called out to Jayson abruptly. For a moment, all eyes were on her. These men had spent years mingling and building connections with the rich and powerful in their industry. They scanned Ariel from head to toe, but none of them could recall having met her. One of the executives asked, ¡°Miss, may I know your name¡­¡± Ariel looked at Jayson. Still, she responded to the question, ¡°I¡¯m Ariel Walker, and I¡¯m from Faye Tech.¡± Those top executives finally realized who Ariel was. ¡°So, you¡¯re from Faye Tech. Are you and Mr. Larkin well acquainted, though?¡± Otherwise, Ariel could not possibly have called Jayson by his first name and even asked to speak to him for a while. Frankly speaking, Jayson was considered the most important guest at today¡¯s event. Even if Ariel was an employee working for Faye Tech, someone like her could not possibly be acquainted with someone like Jayson. It was not like she had simr status and background to someone like Chad. Those men could not help wondering whether Ariel was simply acting out of line or if she was really acquainted with Jayson. Ariel did not answer the question this time. It was not like she could anyway. She could not possibly just go ahead and tell the others that they were married. Besides, Jayson might not even acknowledge it. Nancy had an impassive look on her face. An enigmatic smile flickered across her lips. She raised her head and looked at Jayson¡¯s face, which remained unreadable. She let go of his arm. ¡°Jayson, I¡¯ll wait for you inside.¡± Nancy appeared calm and graceful. She could not be bothered to argue with Ariel over something like this. She did not like that Ariel had tried to show off her connections to Jayson in public. However, it was not that big of a deal for her to get upset over. Nancy was well aware that Jayson was not someone whom Ariel could easily sway with her words. Ariel did not look at Nancy. Her expression remained frigid. Jayson directed his gaze at Nancy and said tly, ¡°No, I¡¯ll go in with you.¡± Then, he looked toward Ariel with those cold, deep¨Cset eyes. ¡°Sorry. I¡¯m not free at the moment.¡± Ariel was quite surprised to get an outright refusal from Jayson. She had never tried to greet Jayson whenever she ran into him in public. Moreover, Ariel had made it clear that she needed to talk to him. With Jayson¡¯s perceptiveness, he could not possibly not get the hint that Ariel really had something important to discuss with him. Yet, Jayson refused to do Ariel this favor or even spare her some of his time. It seemed like he did not want to risk having Nancy feel neglected since they had attended the event together. After Jayson rejected Ariel¡¯s request, Nancy could barely conceal the delight in her eyes despite her efforts to maintain the same expression. She ced her hand on Jayson¡¯s arm again and said endearingly, ¡°Let¡¯s go in now, then.¡± She did not spare Ariel another nce. Nancy simply treated her as if she were invisible. Jayson nodded calmly. The two of them walked past Ariel. The shift in the air caused a light breeze to blow in Ariel¡¯s face, and it made her feel as though she was pricked by thousands of needles on her skin. Vireon Technologies¡® top executives exchanged meaningful nces among themselves after watching the exchange between those three people. They could tell that Jayson could not even be bothered to be courteous to Ariel. Jayson had rarely responded so coldly to people who approached him to talk about work. Furthermore, he had no reason to turn Ariel down, given how well Faye Tech had been performing recently. Anyhow, these men would still try to keep things cordial with Ariel. They gave a quick nod almost simultaneously and hurried into the venue. Ariel did not care about what those men were thinking. After the initial shock, she did not feel anything in particr about how Jayson had treated her. They had agreed to keep their marriage a secret since the moment they decided to marry. Ariel did not have any specific reasons to reveal the truth about their rtionship with the public. Inside 150 Chapter 150 If Ariel were to go ahead and tell all those people that she was Jayson¡¯s wife earlier, Nancy might end up getting criticized for dating a married man. Jayson might not let Ariel and her family off if that happened. In the end, Ariel made her decision based on a fair sense of reason. She still had a chance to speak to Jayson anyway; they would both be here for a while for tonight¡¯s event. Once she was done arranging her thoughts, Ariel followed the crowd as they entered the venue. Inside the hall set up for the productunch, Chad spotted Ariel right away and waved his hand at her. When Ariel got there, Chad patted the seat next to him. ¡°Sit here. Let¡¯s have a look at whether the new material created by Vireon Technologies possesses any advanced, noteworthy features. They are a decentpany worth looking into.¡± Ariel nodded pensively. ¡°So, Mr. Quinton owns Vireon Technologies?¡± Zach was an only child. Instead of joining the political scene, he chose to venture into business. Zach would often receive advice or guidance from his elders, who held high government positions and appeared frequently in their local news. He was indeed someone they could consider coborating with. ¡°Let¡¯s have a chat with himter?¡± Chad suddenly recalled how Zach seemed to have some sort of misunderstanding about Ariel back when they visited the aerospace research institute. Zach thought that Ariel was rather unprofessional. They just needed to be given a chance to talk to each other. With Ariel¡¯s profound insight into their industry and her professional analysis of Vireon¡¯s new material, Chad was certain they would be able to resolve the misunderstanding. He believed Zach¡¯s impression of Ariel would improve once Zach had spoken to her. Ariel had no objections. She did not mind the fact that Zach had scolded her for tinkering with the U.N2 previously. She happened to agree with his views and concerns. Anyhow, what happened back then was not that big of a deal to Ariel. While they waited for an opportunity to meet and talk to Zach, Ariel¡¯s gaze drifted across the hall. She quickly spotted Jayson and Nancy, who were talking to the top executives from differentpanies who had formed a circle around them. Ariel nced in Jayson¡¯s direction several times as she tried to figure out how to discuss the matters rting to their divorce with him. When Zach came down from the second floor and looked slightly to the side, he could pretty much see the entire hall. With Ariel and Chad sitting in the first row, Zach caught sight of it right away¡­ Ariel kept stealing nces at Jayson! A look of bewilderment and exasperation shed in his eyes. He hadpletely underestimated Ariel, who only seemed to get stronger and more persistent after each defeat. Some of Vireon¡¯s top executives following behind Zach noticed he had suddenly halted. They followed his gaze and quickly realized who he was looking at. ¡°Mr. Quinton, do you know Ms. Walker too?¡± Zach turned his eyes to them. ¡°Do you guys know her too?¡± Vireon Technologies had not had any chance to coborate with Faye Tech on any projects. There was no way hispany¡¯s employees would know Ariel when she was just Chad¡¯s assistant. After seeing the puzzled look on Zach¡¯s face, one of the executives answered, ¡°We just got to know her. We ran into Ms. Walker outside our building not too long ago. She¡¯s quite interesting.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Zach snickered. He could sense that there was something more to his words. The same man replied, ¡°We met her when we went out to greet and wee Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton. Ms. Walker came up to Mr. Larkin and asked to speak to him in private rather abruptly. We¡¯re not even sure if they¡¯re acquainted or not. ¡°Ms. Stanton was alright if those two needed to talk, but Mr. Larkin did not want to. He did not even bother if it would make Ms. Walker lose face as he led Ms. Stanton away. Even I could sense how awkward and embarrassed Ms. Walker must have felt.¡± Zach had no idea something like that had happened. A frown drew his brows together. Zach directed his gaze at Ariel, who was sitting quietly in her chair. It appeared Ariel was not just stealing nces at Jayson. She was openly trying to covet him. She even asked to speak to Jayson privately when Nancy, his girlfriend, was right beside him. Ariel was acting out of line! Zach thought that Jayson did brilliantly by rejecting Ariel¡¯s request. Someone like her clearly did not know when to give up. The situation would only worsen if Jayson had even allowed her the slightest bit of hope. Inside 151 Ariel waspletely oblivious to all these things happening on Zach¡¯s side. She and Chad discussed for a while the high¨Ctech material that Vireon was about tounch. Even before the event started, Ariel had roughly listed out the pros and cons of this new material made by Vireon. After she was done making her notes, Ariel noticed that Jayson and Nancy had split up. Nancy was nowhere to be seen. On the other hand, Jayson was trying to move away from the crowd forming around him, heading toward the hall. Ariel put down her pen and stood up. She informed Chad before leaving her seat. ¡°I¡¯m going to the restroom for a bit.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Chad was looking down as he responded. Ariel stopped Jayson just as he turned the corner. Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged when he saw Ariel. ¡± What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariel lifted her head. Her face was so tiny that it made her big, serene¨Clooking eyes stand out even more. ¡°I need to ask you something. So, just give me a moment.¡± This time, Ariel did not try to get Jayson¡¯s permission first. She made her demand clear without allowing Jayson a chance to refuse. Jayson lowered his gaze and stared at her. ¡°Alright.¡± Ariel scanned their surroundings as she tried to find a quiet spot. Many people were passing by where they were at the moment. Ariel wanted to prevent any instances of someone overhearing their conversation since Jayson might use that as an excuse to punish her. Just as she was about to say something, Jayson stepped toward Ariel and lifted his hand, positioning it beside her arm. Ariel looked to the side and saw a group of staff members walking past them while carrying various sound equipment. These men might bump into Ariel at any moment if they had not paid enough attention to their surroundings. It appeared Jayson was trying to protect Ariel by holding his arm up and shielding her. For a moment, Ariel felt quite surprised. However, she decided to pay no mind to Jayson¡¯s ambiguous actions. Instead, she furrowed her brows and asked frigidly, ¡°I sent you the document two months ago. Have you not settled the relevant procedures?¡± ¡°The document?¡± Jayson looked at Ariel. Then, he directed his gaze in a certain direction. It seemed like something had caught his attention. ¡°Grandma wants you and me to spend Valentine¡¯s Day together. I think you need to exin our situation to her as soon as possible.¡± Ariel did not want this situation to drag on any further. Not only would she be troubled by it, but Betty would also be wasting her time doing something pointless. Betty had high blood pressure and a weak heart. Ariel just could not bring herself to tell Betty the truth. Instead, she was going to let Jayson take care of the mess he made since he was the one who had an affair. ¡°Mr. Larkin, it¡¯s been a couple of days since we celebrated the federal holiday. I think we should get on withpleting the divorce¡­¡± Amotion erupted in the distance just then. Ariel nced over her shoulder to check what was going on¨Cthe tall form standing before her moved at that moment. Jayson strode past Ariel. He did not stay and let Ariel finish what she had to say. Jayson¡¯s expression hardened as he hurried off. Ariel opened her mouth, but Jayson had already moved too far away for her to call after him. She could not understand why Jayson suddenly left without saying anything when he had agreed to spare her some of his time. Ariel turned around and tried to catch up with Jayson. Then, she realized he was hurrying toward Nancy. She only noticed at that point that Nancy had gotten into trouble. A man in a suit lunged toward Nancy. His eyes were red. The man kept mumbling to himself, ¡°Don¡¯t get in my way. Nancy is my girlfriend! She and I studied in the same college. Nancy!¡± Nancy¡¯s face grew pale. She stared at the man with a troubled look on her face. Security guards rushed over and pulled the man away. The man bellowed, ¡°Nancy, why won¡¯t you answer me? We studied together in the library back then!¡± He looked at Nancy with a fervent gaze. It was as if he were staring at a goddess. Nancy seemed like she had gotten quite a shock. Jayson made it there just as the man was about to reach for Nancy¡¯s hand again. He grabbed the man by his cor and yanked forcefully, hurling the man onto the floor. As if she had seen her savior, Nancy threw her arms around Jayson and buried her face in his chest. Inside 152 Chapter 152 Jayson lowered his head and looked at Nancy. He lightly patted her back to calm her down. The people around them started looking at Nancy a bit more seriously after witnessing how Jayson had stepped up to protect her. With Jayson showing so much concern for her, these people figured it would only be a matter of time before he took Nancy as his wife. The crazed man was escorted out of the hall. Ariel felt nothing as she watched the entire incident. The people around her were murmuring amongst themselves. ¡°Gosh! Mr. Larkin is so protective of his partner! He looked so dashing!¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard from others that Ms. Stanton is Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend. Judging by the look of things, we¡¯ll very likely hear some good news from them soon.¡± ¡°It isn¡¯t just likely. It¡¯ll happen for sure! I¡¯ve heard from my dad that Ms. Stanton has been gaining a lot of attention in their circle. Mr. Larkin has been introducing a lot of his connections to her. ¡°Moreover, he would bring Ms. Stanton to various events and parties where the rich and the famous had also been invited. It¡¯s clearly an effort to introduce her to everyone and to help elevate her status.¡± ¡°Goodness gracious! Ms. Stanton must feel very pleased and reassured since Mr. Larkin is pretty much openly acknowledging their rtionship.¡± ¡°Ms. Stanton is an amazing woman, after all. She studied abroad and graduated with a PhD degree. She¡¯s capable, and she¡¯s even beautiful enough to be a star. Who wouldn¡¯t like someone like her?¡± Ariel did not give thosements much thought. Standing there, she felt like an outsider, listening to these people share and praise her husband and another woman¡¯s love story. It did not matter to her anymore. Ariel could not be bothered with these things. She turned around and went back to where Chad was. Her eyes were devoid of emotion. Chad witnessed what happened earlier as well. He also heard what the others were saying. When Chad spotted Ariel, he was a bit worried that she might feel hurt. Although they were already getting divorced, Ariel had nevertheless spent three years doing everything she could to win Jayson¡¯s heart. Yet, the man was extremely cruel to her. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Ariel merely responded to his question with a faint smile. She would be fine. Everyone needed to grow and move on with their lives. Ariel would not allow herself to keep wallowing in misery. She had decided not to let anyone affect her emotions and mental well¨Cbeing. Chad frowned as he watched Jayson put his jacket around Nancy¡¯s shoulders. ¡°That man has such lousy taste! It was right for Ariel to want a divorce!¡± He spat internally. ¡°Let¡¯s not bother ourselves with people who don¡¯t matter that much. Come with me. We should meet Mr. Quinton and chat about the new material. I¡¯m sure he¡¯ll see you in a different light once he¡¯s listened to your insights and opinions.¡± Chad patted Ariel on her shoulder. ¡°Nancy can¡¯t even think aboutparing herself to you once we¡¯veunched our new project.¡± Ariel fell silent. However, she agreed with Chad¡¯s suggestion to meet and talk to Zach. Coincidentally, Zach and his men were headed their way at that moment. With Ariel following beside him, Chad went up to Zach and greeted him. ¡°Hello, Mr. Quinton.¡± Zach admired and acknowledged Chad¡¯s capabilities and achievements. He replied politely, ¡°Mr. Hockney, thank you for gracing us with your presence today despite your busy schedule.¡± Chad lightly waved his hand. He was an expert at making people feel pleased and ttered with the way he phrased his words. ¡°You¡¯re being overly humble; Mr. Quinton. It¡¯s our honor to be invited to today¡¯s event as well.¡± Zach¡¯s mouth turned up in a smile. ¡°Should we have a chatter?¡± Chad nudged Ariel forward just then. ¡°You probably still remember Ariel. I think the two of you haven¡¯t been properly introduced to each other. She¡¯s Faye Tech¡¯s lead¡­¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Chad looked at Zach in confusion. Zach cast a nce at Ariel. The earnest smile that hung on his face when he was speaking to Chad had vanishedpletely. Zach recalled seeing Ariel stealing nces at Jayson earlier and hearing Vireon¡¯s top executives¡® description of her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mr. Hockney.¡± Zach grew certain of the kind of woman Ariel was after everything he had heard and seen. He decided that she did not deserve his time or respect. ¡°I have no interest in getting acquainted with a woman who puts more focus on flirting with men than on her work.¡± Inside 153 Even Ariel, who was usually mild¨Ctempered, could not help feeling a bit piqued and shocked by his words. She could not understand why Zach seemed to have a lot of scorn and disdain for her. ¡°Mr. Quinton, have I somehow offended you previously?¡± Ariel did not try to steer the topic away. She stared at Zach expressionlessly and asked straightforwardly. A cold light shone in her eyes. Still, Ariel maintained a steady tone in her voice. She did not lose her temper or yell at him. Yet, Zach did not think that Ariel was acting this way because of her mild temperament. Instead, he reckoned Ariel dared not argue with him and try to defend herself because she had a guilty conscience. After all, he had personally witnessed Ariel¡¯s attempt to seduce Jayson. ¡°No. You and I barely know each other. There¡¯s no way you could¡¯ve offended me.¡± Ariel creased her brows. She felt even more confused now as to why Zach had made that absurd, unfounded remark earlier. Chad¡¯s face darkened. He had always thought Zach was an impressive businessman who was bold and visionary. Furthermore, his family¡¯s elders provided him with great support. Therefore, Chad had always looked upon Zach with favor. Yet, he never imagined Zach would be so disrespectful andpletely disregard Ariel. ¡°How did you end up having that kind of opinion of Ari then, Mr. Quinton?¡± The smile on Chad¡¯s face faltered. ¡± You¡¯re being quite ungentlemanly toward ady.¡± Zach was not just being ungentlemanly. His remarks were outright offensive and deprecating. Zach furrowed his brows as he watched Chad defend Ariel. He couldn¡¯t understand what was so good about Ariel except for her being pretty. Even someone like Chad was so bewitched by her charm that he had lost his sense of judgment. ¡°Calm down, Mr. Hockney. Just think of it as me having a slip of the tongue earlier. I wouldn¡¯t want something like that to damage our friendship,¡± Zach felt that Chad could not possibly be offended by what he said about a mere assistant. They were both businessmen, and they could potentially profit from working on coborative projects. They knew what mattered. the most in their line of work. Zach patted Chad¡¯s shoulder and offered him some advice. ¡°Mr. Hockney, everyone knows how capable you are. People have to survive the harshpetition to secure a position at Faye Tech. ¡°I think you should reconsider whether those around you arepetent enough for their job and whether they are worthy of your trust.¡± He felt the need to warn Chad about that sly, greedy side of Ariel. Even after Chad had sumbed to her charms, Ariel still tried to approach Jayson. Zach felt that they should be protecting and appreciating capable and dignified women such as Nancy. Ariel could neverpare to someone like her. Chad furrowed his brows. He found Zach¡¯s words utterly ridiculous. However, Zach said nothing else as he turned around and walked away. Chad scoffed in exasperation. ¡°What a load of bullshit!¡± He had a fiery temper. ¡°What right does he have to make those baseless assumptions about you?¡± Ariel frowned slightly. She could not wrap her mind around it as well. She and Zach had only met for a few times thus far. They had not even been formally introduced to each other. Yet, he seemed to have a very negative view of her. ¡°Alright! I¡¯ve made up my mind. From now on, we¡¯re rejecting all projects and coborations that involve Vireon Technologies!¡± Chad snickered. Initially, they had nned to involve Vireon in many of Faye Tech¡¯s projects. However, Chad no longer saw the need for that. Ariel was not someone who would willingly choose to put herself in a difficult situation, nor did she have the desire to please someone who clearly disliked her. They would soon receive the government¡¯s support for Faye Tech¡¯s projects. Many businesses andpanies would being to them for coboration opportunities. Working with Vireon was not a must. Anyhow, they were already at Vireon¡¯s productunch. Ariel would not let some misunderstanding someone had of her affect her. She did what she had to do so that she would not leave today¡¯s event having gained nothing. Ariel paid attention in learning all the details regarding Vireon¡¯s new material. She also took note of some important data. Ariel learned only after the event was over that Jayson had taken Nancy and left the venue early on. It was because he decided to file a police report about that man earlier. Jayson was going to make sure that the man would be punished for what he did. Although the man had not actuallyid his hand on Nancy, Jayson could not forgive him for shaking Nancy up so badly. ording to Vireon¡¯s top executives, Jayson was really serious about it. Ariel simply paid no mind to what they were saying. Inside 154 Chapter 154 Ariel had nothing to do with anything, no matter what it was that Jayson had done for Nancy. Ariel and Chad arrived at Faye Tech¡¯s building. It was not like they had gained nothing from attending Vireon¡¯s productunch. Ariel had written down details worth noting. After getting back to the office, she, Chad, and the members of the technology department discussed and did an in -depth analysis of the information she had gathered. Zach might appear a bit arrogant. However, there was no denying that Vireon was at the top of their game. For the past two years, they had been one of the leadingpanies in the country that had created many new, innovative technologies. Their meeting went on for almost two hours. In the afternoon, Ariel received a WhatsApp message from Ewan. He informed her that they had some good news regarding securing a suitable liver donor for Leonard. They would be able to get confirmation by the end of this month. If they could get that expert, who was currently abroad, to agree to perform the surgery, they would also be able to increase the surgery¡¯s sess rate. This was one of the most wonderful news Ariel had received in a long time. She felt slightly relieved. She needed to make arrangements for Leonard to undergo the surgery. There was a high chance for Leonard to live a normal life again if he experienced little to no transnt rejection after the surgery. Ariel sent Ewan a reply to express her gratitude. When it was almost evening, Janice came to the office. She brought Ariel another piece of good news. ¡°The expert that you¡¯re looking for may have kept his schedule and whereabouts a secret, but thankfully, I¡¯ve made great connections. I¡¯ve found some information regarding his recent arrangements.¡± Ariel was pleasantly surprised. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Janice looked smug as she raised her brows. She hummed briefly before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve tried asking some of my friends who live abroad and found out that people call him Fergus. ¡°He¡¯s already returned to the country. He¡¯s been keeping a low profile and hasn¡¯t made any public appearances. I didn¡¯t manage to obtain his contact details or find anyone who could introduce us to him. However, rumor has it that he¡¯ll be attending a charity auction this Friday.¡± ¡°A charity auction?¡± Ariel repeated inwardly. She thought about it for a bit. ¡°We¡¯ll attend the charity auction and see if we can find him there.¡± Janice replied a little hesitantly, ¡°I checked and found out who the organizer of the charity auction was. It¡¯s the Johnstone family. Lucas might be there at the auction.¡± Janice was aware of what happened between Ariel and Lucas. She reckoned Ariel might feel ufortable seeing Lucas. However, Ariel was not particrly bothered by it. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I won¡¯t let the past affect me. I¡¯m just going there to meet the expert. Nothing else mattered more than that.¡± Janice felt more reassured hearing that. She immediately offered to take Ariel there. ¡°Just wait for my message. I¡¯ll attend the auction with you this Friday.¡± The charity auction would start at 7:00 pm. Janice drove her car and picked Ariel up at her ce. Ariel wore a fitted white satin dress, and she had a white fur shawl draped around her shoulders. She looked cool and elegant wearing light make¨Cup. While she was mesmerized by how stunning Ariel looked, Janice asked, ¡°Howe I¡¯m getting the smell of medicine from you?¡± Ariel was rather surprised. She did not think Janice would be able to detect it. The smell of disinfectant from the hospital still lingered on her body after she went there for radiation therapy this morning. The medicine she took did not give off much smell, and Ariel had even sprayed perfume on her body. ¡°I¡¯ve been taking some herbal medicely to boost my energy.¡± Ariel made up an excuse. Janice was not one to overthink these things. She nodded without probing any further. After arriving at the venue and getting the numbered paddles, Janice said, ¡°That expert, Fergus, is actively involved in providing medical humanitarian aid overseas. Also, he¡¯s attending tonight¡¯s auction. I think he¡¯s probably a really nice person.¡± Ariel was also hoping for that. If the man were kind and soft¨Chearted, she would have a higher chance of persuading Fergus to perform Leonard¡¯s surgery. After entering the venue, Ariel only realized how grand and fancy tonight¡¯s auction was. She even spotted several movie stars among the guests. Since Ariel could not drink, Janice got her a ss of juice. When they were heading toward their seats, a group of people came walking toward them from a certain direction. Matt and Frederick were standing in front of the group. Inside 155 Matt spotted Ariel first. His brows arched. Still, he greeted her and Janice. ¡°What a coincidence seeing you here.¡± Ariel merely cast him a brief nce. Then, she grabbed Janice¡¯s arm and led her away. She clearly had no intention to interact with him. Despite how often Matt had treated her with scorn and disdain in the past, Ariel endured all of it because of Jayson. However, she did not have to do that anymore. On the other hand, Janice had no intention of speaking to Frederick. She simply ignored Matt and him. Matt felt quite surprised. He was not mad or annoyed about it. It seemed to him that Ariel had been growing boldertely. He could not help but wonder if she was trying to use another approach to catch Jayson¡¯s attention. Just as Jayson had predicted, Ariel did not personally deliver any hangover soup to them the night before the federal holiday. ¡°Don¡¯t you think Ariel is acting a bit haughtily these days?¡± Frederick furrowed his brows. He was a little bbergasted. ¡°Why do I get the feeling that she¡¯spletely ignoring us?¡± Matt couldn¡¯t understand it either. He wasn¡¯t sure whether Ariel was trying to gain Jayson¡¯s attention by using other methods or if there was some other reason she was doing this. Ariel had indeed treated them as if they were invisibletely. ¡°I don¡¯t think she¡¯ll do something like that.¡± Matt shook his head. With how deeply she loved Jayson, Ariel would not foolishly try to get on their wrong side. She was most likely devising ways to get Jayson¡¯s attention. Matt waved his hand dismissively as he did not think much of what had just happened. Perhaps because she had gone for the radiation therapy in the morning, Ariel felt unwell. After walking in her heels for a while, she quickly felt exhausted. Janice could tell that Ariel was feeling a bit under the weather. She had Ariel sit down in the lounge. ¡°You should rest for a while. I¡¯ll help you look for Fergus.¡± Ariel agreed with her suggestion. She was in no shape to move around and mingle. So, Janice walked off to meet and talk to the other guests. Ariel did a mental calction to find out the time she should be taking her medicine. She decided to take one first. Someone came up to Ariel and stopped before her just as she opened her bag. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lucas stared at her with a frown on his forehead. He did not seem to wee Ariel here. Ariel paused briefly. She closed her bag and looked Lucas in the eye. Ariel said tly, ¡°I don¡¯t think I need your permission before doing anything.¡± Lucas chuckled and pressed the tip of his tongue against the roof of his mouth. ¡°Very nice, Ari. You¡¯ve learned how to talk back now.¡± Ariel dropped her gaze. She saw no need to exin anything to him. Yet, Lucas bent forward and grabbed her wrist. ¡°Come with me! I¡¯ll have someone send you home.¡± Lucas was holding her with so much force that Ariel felt a sharp pain in her wrist. Her expression hardened. Ariel tried to yank her hand free. ¡°I¡¯m not leaving, and you have no right to decide that for me!¡± She couldn¡¯t understand why Lucas was acting this way after seeing her here today. ¡°It¡¯s just a charity auction. What¡¯s the big deal about it?¡± she pondered. ¡°Ariel, stop being a nuisance.¡± Lucas¡® gaze hardened. There was a hint of menace in his voice. Those were the tone and manner Lucas would adopt when trying to warn or threaten someone. Ariel suddenly stopped struggling. She looked at him and said calmly, ¡°Lucas, I¡¯m no longer the younger sister whom you have under your control and protection. I don¡¯t need you worrying about me or disciplining me. I hope you see that now.¡± They had gone their separate ways. Lucas no longer had the right to tell her what to do. Lucas understood what Ariel meant by those words. The light in his eyes dimmed. The corners of his mouth twitched. However, he quickly regained hisposure. Lucas figured Ariel was just throwing tantrums. It was pretty understandable for Ariel to be upset about him seeing another woman. However, there was nothing he could do about it. Lucas had no ns to break up with Wendy. Ariel did not care about what he was thinking. She just wanted to pry Lucas¡® hand off. Just then, she heard noisesing from a distance. Ariel looked up instinctively and met Jayson¡¯s cold gaze. Jayson had Nancy, who had dressed up nicely, standing beside him. He seemed to have noticed Ariel and Lucas being overly ¡°intimate¡± since the beginning. Yet, he merely paused briefly before slowly averting his gaze. He did not seem interested in finding out what was going on between those two, and he didn¡¯t seem to care in the slightest. Ariel calmly averted her gaze from Jayson as well. It was as if the person she had just seen was a total stranger. ¡°Lucas, what are you two doing?¡± Wendy lifted her skirt slightly as she walked over to them. She was quite surprised to see Lucas holding onto Ariel¡¯s wrist. She had a questioning look in her eyes. Inside 156 Chapter 156 Lucas let go of Ariel immediately. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier so I could fetch you here?¡± Wendy smiled. She went up to Lucas and ced her arms around his waist. Leaning against his chest, Wendy mumbled shyly, ¡°I didn¡¯t want to trouble you. You kept wanting to do it more even though it was alreadytest night¡­¡± Ariel lowered her gaze expressionlessly. She felt nothing as she listened to those words, whereby Wendy was pretty much dering that Lucas was hers. Ariel appearedpletely uninterested.. Just then, Wendy looked at Ariel and beamed. ¡°Can you stay around for a bit longer today? We have a big surpriseter, and we need you here.¡± Ariel met Wendy¡¯s eyes. ¡°What is it?¡± Wendy blinked. ¡°You¡¯ll find out in a bit.¡± She wanted to keep the event a surprise. Then, Wendy gently pulled Lucas along and led him in a certain direction. ¡°My dad¡¯s here. You should go and greet him,¡± she said. Lucas ced his arm around Wendy¡¯s waist and followed her. Before he walked away, Lucas cast Ariel another nce. His eyes were unreadable. Ariel did not think much of it. Janice shook her head when she returned. ¡°I didn¡¯t find anything. That guy is such a mysterious person.¡± Ariel nced at their surroundings. She didn¡¯t spend too much time worrying over it. ¡°Let¡¯s head over to our seats first.¡± They were seated at a round table ced in the second row. As for the first row¡­ Ariel lifted her gaze. As expected, she spotted Jayson bringing Nancy to a table located at the center of the first row. Guests with a higher social status and background usually received special treatment at events or such asions. Ariel did not exactly mind these things. However, from where she was seated, Ariel would always see Jayson and Nancy first whenever she tried to look toward the stage. Ariel had raised her head and looked toward the stage twice. Each time, Ariel caught sight of Nancy speaking to Jayson, and thetter would lower his head and listen to her. She had no idea what they were talking about, but Jayson would smile slightly and look at Nancy. He had a gentle, intent look in his eyes. Ariel¡¯s expression remained impassive. She looked past them and focused on the stage. Janice saw Jayson and Nancy¡¯s interactions too. She said through gritted teeth, ¡°Is this a ce for them to showcase their lovey¨Cdovey time? Should I just get them a bed here instead?¡± Ariel tried to calm Janice down by lightly gripping her hand. As for herself, she did not feel anything. Tonight¡¯s charity auction was being held at a rtivelyrge scale. Nearly 200 famous and influential figures had attended the event. The items that would be put up for auction were donated by numerous well¨Cknown people or organizations from in and out of their country. All of the proceeds collected from tonight¡¯s auction will be donated to help children living in remote areas or to support special needs healthcare. It would be a meaningful event. Although Ariel¡¯s main goal today was to look for Fergus, she wanted to help contribute to a good cause too. Ariel decided to join the bidding if she were toe across any items she liked. The items were brought onto the stage one after another. From her seat, Ariel saw Jayson handing his numbered paddle to Nancy. It seemed like Jayson would let Nancy make the decisions, and he would just pay for whatever it was she wanted to buy. Nancy smiled softly. She went ahead and kept raising the paddle. She managed to win the bidding time and time again. Nancy gained almost everyone¡¯s attention because she contributed the most money during the auction thus far. The people around her were all looking at her with envy. Janice mmed her empty ss down on the table. ¡°Those who don¡¯t know better probably think that Nancy is his wife! Jayson¡¯s already giving her the wife treatment when he hasn¡¯t even married her yet! Don¡¯t be sad, Ari.¡± In her opinion, Ariel had loved Jayson wholeheartedly during their three years of marriage. Even if they had decided to get divorced, it would not have changed the fact that Ariel¡¯s feelings for him were real and sincere. Jayson¡¯s actions now were no different than driving a knife to Ariel¡¯s heart. Ariel slowly exhaled and said tly, ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Except for the fact that Nancy being Sarah¡¯s daughter had made her feel extremely pathetic and miserable, Ariel could not care less about anything else. ¡°She thinks she¡¯s all that just because she¡¯s got backing now.¡± Janice was irked. She shot a few res at the first row and grumbled angrily. More than half of the items prepared for the auction had been sold off. Yet, Ariel had not seen anything she liked. She was going to randomly choose two items and join the bidding when the beautiful auctioneer smiled slightly and announced, ¡°The next item is an emerald cabochon diamond cluster ring with a starting price of 12.9 million dors!¡± Ariel was not feeling hopeful when she looked up. Yet, her eyes widened the instant she had a clear view of the ring. Inside 157 Ariel would recognize the ring anywhere. It was a family heirloom that Katie had passed down to Elena. Back then, Elena wore this ring as her wedding ring. At one point, the Sanderson family encountered some financial issues. Morgan took the ring and sold it for cash to gather funds for his business. Elena felt really hurt because of what Morgan did. He did not discuss it with Elena before selling the ring. By the time she realized the ring was gone, it was already toote. The ring was nowhere to be found. Elena still could not forgive Morgan for his actions, even after their rtionship fell apart. Although Katie had not said anything, Ariel could tell she would think about the ring asionally. Ariel never thought she woulde across the ring at a charity auction after all these years. ¡°I suppose what belongs to the Walker family will eventuallye back to us one way or another,¡± she pondered. Even Janice had noticed the sudden change in Ariel¡¯s emotions. Tears welled in Ariel¡¯s eyes. Her hand, holding onto the numbered paddle, was shaking slightly. She wanted to raise her paddle the second the auctioneer made the announcement. Before Ariel could even open her mouth, someone in the first row raised their hand. ¡°15 million.¡± Ariel looked in the direction of the voice with widened eyes. Nancy curled her lips as she sat there elegantly. She seemed determined to secure the item currently disyed on the stage as she fixed her gaze on it. She leaned toward Jayson slightly. ¡°That ring is a work of amazing craftsmanship. These antiques that were made decades and even centuries ago are so extraordinary. Sometimes, they¡¯re even much more impressive than items made with modern craftsmanship.¡± Jayson looked at the erged photo shown on the big screen. He paused briefly. ¡°You should bid for it if you like it. 11 Nancy beamed. ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel did not miss the moment when those two were whispering to each other with their heads lowered. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Ariel had no idea what Jayson had said to Nancy, but she had a bad feeling about it. Anyhow, the ring once belonged to the Walker family. Ariel needed to get it back. She tried to calm herself down and called out, ¡°16 million!¡± After Ariel made her bid, several people sitting in the first row directed their gazes toward her. Nancy narrowed her eyes when she saw that it was Ariel. She smirked. Nancy did not really see Ariel aspetition. Meanwhile, Matt clicked his tongue. He could not understand why Ariel was trying to follow suit as soon as Nancy made the first move. Frederick was visibly annoyed as he knitted his brows. He muttered in a low voice, ¡°As I¡¯ve said, Ariel is always trying to pick a fight with Ms. Stanton. She¡¯s always trying to take away what Ms. Stanton hasid her eyes on. Does she feel that inferior to Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy heard his words. She chuckled quietly and said, ¡°20 million.¡± Ariel tightened her fist. ¡°25 million.¡± Nancy could easily top Ariel¡¯s bid since she had Jayson supporting her with his immense wealth. ¡°30 million.¡± Ariel felt as though someone was jabbing her heart with a needle. Her back had stiffened up. She was considering whether she had enough money to continue bidding. Ariel had not saved up that much personal savings. Thergest sum of money she had received was when the military requisitioned the U.N2 that she had developed and paid herpensation. All of the money she had would only add up to a total of around 50 million dors. Ariel needed to secure Elena¡¯s wedding ring by winning the bid. Also, she needed to have enough funds to pay for her and Leonard¡¯s treatments. She could not back down now. Ariel¡¯s lips turned pale. She took a huge risk and made the highest bid she could afford. ¡°40 million!¡± Before she passed away, Elena kept saying how sorry she was for letting Katie down. The man she had chosen to marry was an awful person. She even lost their family heirloom. Elena had harbored a lot of resentment during the final moments of her life. Ariel could not afford to lose the ring again. The amount of money she could afford to spend on the ring was 40 million dors. The remaining 10 million dors had to be reserved for her to pay for the treatments and the subsequent rehabilitation therapy. Ariel could not just act on impulse and spend all her money on the ring. 3772 Nancy frowned when Ariel made a bid of 40 million dors. Even though she liked it, the ring was worth at most 20 million dors. 30 million dors was the highest amount she would be willing to pay for the ring. ¡°Can¡¯t she tell that the ring is not worth that much money? Or is she just trying to raise the price?¡± Nancy wondered. She looked toward Jayson. ¡°It¡¯s not worth it if I try to make a higher bid than that. We should be spending the money on things that are more worthy.¡± Inside 158 Nancy reckoned Ariel probably did not know much about the market price for these types of antiques. Jayson slowly put down his cup. ¡°What matters is that you like it and it¡¯ll make you happy. Raise your paddle.¡± Nancy froze for a second. Then, her face broke into a smile. She had a gentle, loving look in her eyes. She lifted her numbered paddle and jutted her chin up slightly. ¡°50 million!¡± Ariel stared in Jayson¡¯s direction after she made the bid. She saw that Nancy had decided not to continue bidding. Yet Jayson convinced her to continue by offering to pay for the ring no matter how much it would cost. Ariel¡¯s face was drained of color. At that moment, an indescribable, suffocating sensation overcame her. She felt this pain and numbness in her chest. It was as though her heart was being squeezed tightly. Matt and the others who sat in the first row looked amused as they watched what had happened so far. They cast mocking nces in Ariel¡¯s direction, as if they were silentlyughing at Ariel¡¯s failure and naivety. Ariel could almost hear these people asking her if she thought she had what it took to go up against Nancy. Frankly, Frederick had mixed feelings about this. He nced at Nancy. Then, he whispered to Matt, ¡°Mr. Larkin, he¡­ he treats Ms. Stanton really well. Have they really decided to get married?¡± Matt paused momentarily. He subconsciously nced at Ariel, who had a dazed look on her face. ¡°I think so.¡± It would only be a matter of time before that happened once they had gotten Ariel out of the way. Frederick fell silent. He was feeling a bit bitter. However, he had a clear understanding of his situation. Jayson was way better than him in pretty much every aspect. Meanwhile, Janice could roughly picture Ariel¡¯s mood at the moment. She hurriedly asked, ¡°Do you like the ring that much?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°That¡¯s not it. That ring was our family heirloom. It was also my mom¡¯s wedding ring¡­¡± Janice¡¯s expression hardened. She quickly grabbed onto Ariel¡¯s hand and tried to raise the paddle. ¡°Raise it! We¡¯ll continue bidding until we get the ring! I have at least 100 million dors in my bank ount. We can definitely secure the ring!¡± Ariel shook her head in resignation. ¡°You don¡¯t understand Jayson.¡± Jayson would not mind spending 100 million dors or more on the ring. No matter how many times she raised her bid, Jayson would surely and eventually call out a number that Ariel would find impossible to surpass. It was pointless no matter what they did. Janice was so exasperated that her eyes turned red. ¡°Fuck! What the hell is he doing, then? Does he know that the ring was once your mom¡¯s wedding ring?¡± Ariel was lost in thought. ¡°He knows¡­¡± she muttered inwardly. Back when they had just gotten married, Ariel felt that Jayson might be able to help her find the ring since he had a lot of connections and resources. So, Ariel had asked for his help regarding finding the ring. She had also shown him a photo of the ring. Jayson had agreed to help her at the time. He even kept the photo of the ring with him. Jayson said that he couldn¡¯t promise anything, but he would try his best to find the ring. Now¡­ Ariel found it ironic because Jayson knew about the ring. He knew everything. Still, he chose to drive a knife to Ariel¡¯s heart because he wanted to help Nancy. He knew how much it would hurt for Ariel. He also knew she would not be able to ept this. Jayson had been absolutely cold and merciless to Ariel. As the gavel struck the table, a thunderous apuse erupted in the hall. People were congratting Jayson and Nancy for winning the bid for the ring. Those who were feeling envious started murmuring among themselves. ¡°Mr. Larkin is being so nice to Ms. Stanton! He¡¯s a businessman. Yet, he didn¡¯t mind spending more than double the price just to get the ring and make Ms. Stanton happy!¡± ¡°What kind of ritual should I perform to ask the heavens for a man like Mr. Larkin?¡± ¡°Say, don¡¯t you think that¡­ the ring may carry a very special meaning?¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s already pretty unusual for Mr. Larkin to help Ms. Stanton buy a ring in such a shy manner. Don¡¯t you think there¡¯s a chance he may¡­¡± Janice had already made a bold prediction. She had an incredulous look on her face. ¡°Jayson isn¡¯t nning to use your mom¡¯s wedding ring as an engagement ring and propose to Nancy with it, right?¡± Inside 159 Ariel fell into deep thought after hearing Janice¡¯s words. ¡°Is that it?¡± she pondered. She stared at Jayson with a somber look in her eyes. Ariel could not tell what he was thinking at the moment. If it were just as Janice had predicted, Jayson would be outright trying to humiliate her and the Walker family. Ariel could not stand the thought of Nancy, Sarah¡¯s daughter, wearing Elena¡¯s wedding ring! ¡°Ari, we¡¯ll figure out a way.¡± Janice looked at her worriedly. She noticed Ariel was growing pale. It was obvious Ariel had received quite a blow because of this incident. Ariel calmly nodded. She had no choice but to take one step at a time and see how things would progress. Ariel would have to think of some other way to get the ring back. There were rules they had to abide by for the charity auction. Ariel could not just vite them. She lifted her head and stared ahead. Nancy was clearly in a great mood. She turned her head slightly as she was speaking to Jayson, who listened to her quietly. Anyone would think those two were a loving couple and a match made in heaven. Yet, it was because of Ariel¡¯s despair and misery that had made the couple shine more. Ariel closed her eyes. She tried to use as little time as possible to calm herself down. Ariel was not a pessimistic person. Even if there was no path for her to walk on, Ariel would figure out a way to make one. She would not just give up on Elena¡¯s ring. The auction went on. Once all the items were auctioned off, someone from the Johnstone family, the charity event¡¯s organizer, went up to the stage and announced the total amount of money they had gathered through tonight¡¯s auction. They had raised as much as 700 million dors. The money would be donated to help people living in poor, remote areas in their country and to pay for the treatment of orphans with chronic illnesses. Also, the highlight of today¡¯s auction was¡­ The host smiled brightly. ¡°Congrattions to Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton for being the guests who have contributed the highest amount of money during tonight¡¯s auction!¡± Apuse echoed around the hall. Ariel watched expressionlessly as everyone praised and apuded Jayson, who had done so much just to make Nancy happy. She smirked. Tonight¡¯s charity auction was a bit different from a regr auction in terms of the scale and program. Tonight¡¯s auction was a lot more entertaining. The stars and celebrities who had been invited to the charity auction would perform on stage to liven things up. The host said, ¡°Since everyone seems to be having a great time tonight, we¡¯ve changed things up a little and added a fun program. Guests are wee to perform or showcase their special talents. ¡°For the person who wins first ce, we¡¯ll build five schools in their name.¡± Janicemented, ¡°That¡¯s a really nice segment. It¡¯ll offer more kids a chance to learn.¡± She looked at Ariel. ¡°Ari, aren¡¯t you really good at ying the piano? We didn¡¯t get anything from tonight¡¯s auction. You should give a piano performance. Perhaps you¡¯ll be the one who¡¯ll help with building the five schools for the kids.¡± 1 It would also be a way for them to contribute to tonight¡¯s cause. Ariel had already regained herposure after what happened earlier. They had not been able to find Fergus even after searching the entire venue. If Ariel could catch everyone¡¯s attentionter, it might help in her search for Fergus. After a moment¡¯s consideration, she nodded. Janice was waiting for that answer. She raised their numbered paddle the instant she saw Ariel nodding. ¡°Over here! My friend would like to y a song on the piano for everyone. Is that alright?¡± Janice was extremely confident of Ariel¡¯s piano skills. Ariel had received elite education while growing up. She was born into a wealthy family. Yet, the Sandersons had treated her poorly. On the contrary, the Walker family had consistently produced a lot of schrs among their family members over the years. Katie had studied abroad when she was young. The members of the Walker family possessed a greater amount of knowledge than the regr people. Elena had done everything she could to provide Ariel with the greatest amount of support and the best resources to nurture her talents. Around 12 or 13, Ariel had mastered Grade 10 piano skills. She was a naturally gifted girl. Ariel could pick up on almost anything very quickly. Yet, Ariel had kept that side of her hidden after she got married. After all, nobody cared about or appreciated those qualities she had. Slowly, Ariel also lost the desire to express herself. Ariel showed no signs of being intimidated as she looked toward the stage. Yet, the host suddenly nced at Wendy, who was in the first row, while looking slightly troubled. Wendy nced over her shoulder at Ariel. She seemed a bit surprised and apologetic. ¡°Well, this is a bit awkward. Nancy informed us before you did that she would perform a song on the piano. You two happened to have chosen the same type of performance.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes narrowed. She nced at Nancy, who sat there and slowly sipped on her tea. ¡°It feels too much to be a coincidence,¡± Ariel thought. Wendy sighed and smiled slightly. ¡°This isn¡¯t a concert event. We don¡¯t have to listen to two piano performances. Why don¡¯t one of you choose another type of performance?¡± Inside 160 Chapter 160 Even though that was what she said, Wendy had kept her gaze fixed on Ariel. It was clear what she was trying to imply. Wendy wanted Ariel to take the hint and back off. Janice was irked. She frowned and got up. ¡°Why don¡¯t you be a bit more direct with what you¡¯re trying to say, Ms. Johnstone?¡± All these people were eager to support Nancy. Yet Nancy had only received so much attention and special treatment because of Jayson. In truth, that woman was nothing more than Jayson¡¯s mistress. Wendy had not expected Janice to be so rude and unreasonable. She felt quite displeased. Matt took a bite of an apple and grinned. ¡°Ms. Walker, is this really necessary? You want to have the ring that to have Nancy hasid her eyes on. Nancy¡¯s nning to y the piano this time. So, are you going to start learning how to y the piano now?¡± In his opinion, Ariel must have overheard Nancy¡¯s n and chosen to y the piano too. ¡°She¡¯s racking her brain, trying toe up with ways to agitate Nancy. Also, she¡¯s copying Nancy to gain more attention. She¡¯s working so hard to get Jayson¡¯s attention,¡± Matt thought. Frederick furrowed his brows. He felt that Ariel had seriously underestimated Nancy. ¡°Are you even aware of how well Ms. Stanton can y the piano? She received the certificate for the Grade 10 piano examst year. She had even won prizes inpetitions. She¡¯spletely different from those who can only y nursery rhymes on the piano.¡± Ariel should be avoiding going up against Nancy if she knew better. This time, even Jayson had cast a nce at Ariel. Ariel was not sure what he was trying to convey with that look in his eyes. However, he remained poised and elegant, looking as though he had nothing to do with any of this. Yet, there was a faint mocking look in his eyes now. Ariel pursed her lips upon sensing Jayson¡¯s scornful nce. With her arms crossed, Janice snickered. ¡°Is she the only one in the world who has Grade 10 piano skills? You think others can¡¯t do that? Ari passed the Grade 10 piano exam back when she was only 12. She¡¯s incredibly talented. Have you heard of anyone like that before?¡± Just as she finished talking, Nancy let out a soft chuckle. She didn¡¯t seem nervous at all. Instead, she slowly scanned Ariel from top to bottom. ¡°Ariel Walker? She passed the Grade 10 piano exam back when she was only 12? Why haven¡¯t we heard about it before? Why hasn¡¯t she shown off her skills if she¡¯s that good? Does she not want to, or is itpletely made up?¡± Nancy pondered. Nancy was not the only one who reacted this way. Matt and Frederick were both grinning and shaking their heads. Jayson was the only one who had not said anything all this time. He merely stared at Ariel pensively. It was hard to * tell what he was thinking since he did not overtly show any feelings of distrust. Another person with a simr reaction was Lucas. He nced at Ariel before dropping his gaze and tracing his finger along the edges of his phone. Others did not know, but he did. Ariel had indeed gotten the certificate for the Grade 10 piano exam back when she was 12. It was all through her hard work and effort. Even Lucas was once deeply impressed by Ariel¡¯s talent and intelligence. Despite how everyone seemed to have a lot to say about her, Ariel¡¯s expression remained calm. ¡°Since we happened to pick the same type of performance, which of us would you pick? What¡¯s the reason or standard you have in picking the person that you wish to see perform on stage?¡± Ariel had asked about a key issue straightforwardly. All of the people there were very perceptive. Most of them would choose Nancy because of her connection to Jayson. All of them were aware of that. Yet, they felt they would lose face if they shared the true reason. A man standing inside a private room located on the second floor had witnessed the entire incident. He slowly brushed his fingers against his ss. He was observing Ariel with a pensive look in his eyes. Beside him, Zach drew on his cigarette. ¡°That¡¯s the craftydy I told youst time. Isn¡¯t it quite interesting? She knew about Nancy and Jayson¡¯s rtionship. Yet, she was asking that question while pretending to bepletely oblivious about it. She¡¯s really amusing.¡± Liam gazed at Ariel¡¯s fair, slender neck. Looking at her side profile, he could see the calm expression on her face. She remainedposed and dignified even when facing a situation like this. He put down his ss. ¡°Did they ever specify in the rules that only certain people get the chance to perform?¡± Zach froze. He was renderedpletely speechless. Downstairs, Lucas could tell that the discussion had reached a stalemate. He got up and looked at Ariel. Lucas had a conflicted look in his eyes. In the end, he announced, ¡°Ms. Stanton has made the biggest contribution since the total amount of money she¡¯s spent during tonight¡¯s auction is the highest. So, Ms. Stanton should be the one performing on stage.¡± Ariel turned her gaze toward him. It would be a lie to say that she was not affected or disappointed by what Lucas said. Lucas was once the closest person to her. Yet, even he was siding with the mistress, who had ruined Ariel¡¯s marriage, just like Jayson. While things were at a stalemate again, Nancy stood up and said in a gentle voice, ¡°Sorry, I forgot to mention one thing¡­ I¡¯ve decided to ask Jayson to join me in ying piano four hands.¡± Inside 161 As soon as Nancy said that, people looked toward Jayson, who remained calm andposed, with shock and delight. All of them would have the honor of watching him perform on stage if Jayson were to agree to Nancy¡¯s request. Even Ariel had a look of bewilderment on her face as she directed her gaze to Jayson. She stared at his side profile. Inwardly, she felt like she hardly knew this person. They had been married for several years, yet Ariel had no idea that Jayson could y the piano, even the piano four hands. Jayson had never shown his true self to her. Janice¡¯s expression hardened. She straightened her back and said hesitantly, ¡°Jayson won¡¯t agree to it, right? If he does, it¡¯ll be the same as him helping Nancy to crush and humiliate you¡­¡® Ariel pressed her lips together and gazed at the pair calmly. Nancy turned around and looked at the man before her with a gentle gaze. She held her hand out toward Jayson. ¡°To be able to help build more schools for the children who need them and to have the honor of having those schools built in my name¡­ I wish to share the honor of doing this with you. Would you be willing to join me, Jayson?¡± Her words were almost like a confession. It was so touching and heartwarming. The otherdies had looks of envy on their faces. Some of the younger women sped each other¡¯s hands in excitement and swooned after hearing what Nancy said. On the other hand, Ariel felt as though she was just a bystander. She watched as everyone shared their support and best wishes for her husband and his mistress. The hand that Janice had used to hold her ss was trembling slightly. Her face flushed red with anger. ¡°Isn¡¯t Nancy Stanton being outright shameless right now?¡± Even though she knew Ariel, Jayson¡¯s legal spouse, was here, Nancy had brazenly acted lovey¨Cdovey with Jayson in front of all these people nheless. Moreover, she could do this because Jayson had allowed it. ¡°If Jayson agrees to it¡­ I¡­ I¡­¡± The mere thought of it was enough to make Janice feel like she was about to suffocate. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Ariel sounded calm. However, just as she said that, Ariel noticed Jayson was putting down his cup. He nced at Nancy¡¯s outstretched hand. Instead of holding her hand, Jayson stood up and bent his arm slightly. He bowed in a gentlemanly manner and replied in a steady voice, ¡°Sure.¡± Nancy did not mind the fact that he had not held her hand. She curled her fingers into a fist. Then, Nancy ced her hand on Jayson¡¯s arm. Her smile broadened since Jayson had agreed to y the piano four¨Chanded with her. Upon seeing what had happened, Ariel slowly lowered her gaze and stared at the half ss of kiwi juice ced on the table. The juice was supposed to taste sweet, yet Ariel could not taste any sweetness from it. Instead, she thought it tasted bitter. Lucas grinned broadly and pped his hands. ¡°You two ying a four¨Chand piano piece would be a more exciting performance. I¡¯m sure the guests are more interested in seeing Mr. Larkin perform a piece for us. I guess this is our lucky day.¡± Meanwhile, Wendy cast a nce at Ariel, who remained in her seat quietly, with a slightly troubled expression. ¡°Oh well¡­ With Mr. Larkin joining Ms. Stanton on stage, their performance bes even more special and meaningful. I hope you won¡¯t mind this, Ari.¡± If it were just about deciding between Ariel and Nancy, the others would have to watch what they say since it might sound like they were siding with a certain party too much. However, Jayson had now agreed to join Nancy in ying a four¨Chand piano piece. Naturally, Ariel was in no position topete with Nancy anymore since thetter had an extra edge. After all, Ariel did not have a partner to perform a four¨Chand piano piece with. She had an icy look in her eyes. Ariel replied tly, ¡°It¡¯s alright. There¡¯s no helping it since Ms. Stanton has gotten Mr. Larkin to assist her.¡± Instead of being insistent, Ariel gave up on fighting for the opportunity. She had no ns to give some other form of performance either. It was because the results for this segment had already been determined. With Jayson¡¯s status and influence, their performance would surelye in first ce, making Nancy the star of the evening. Ariel thought she was imagining things when she sensed that someone was looking at her. She lifted her gaze and noticed that Jayson was staring at her expressionlessly. His eyes were unreadable. Inside 162 Chapter 162 Jayson stared at Ariel for about two seconds before averting his gaze. Then, he turned his head and went up the stage with Nancy. Ariel was no longer looking in the direction of the stage. She picked up her ss and drank her juice. On the second floor, Zach and Liam had not missed a single moment of what transpired earlier. Zach leaned back against the couch and chuckled. ¡°How amusing! Thatdy, Ariel Walker, doesn¡¯t seem to know her ce. Earlier, shepeted with Ms. Stanton for the ring during the auction. Then, she tried topete with her for the chance to perform on stage. ¡°I can literally see her eagerness to prove that she¡¯s much better than all the otherdies!¡± He suddenly recalled the time at the art exhibition when Frederick had told him the gossip about Ariel¡¯s husband. Back then, Nancy had even helped Ariel by stopping them from speaking about that gossip. At the very least, Nancy was not someone who was so obsessed with proving she was more superior to others. She had even put aside her personal feelings and helped preserve Ariel¡¯s dignity. Ariel could neverpare to Nancy in that regard. Liam¡¯s brows lifted. He lowered his gaze until it eventuallynded on Ariel. Zach leaned toward him. ¡°I think¡­ Ariel won¡¯t give up on Mr. Larkin just yet.¡± Liam had a pensive look on his face. ¡°It¡¯s a little too soon to say that.¡± Zach nced at him, looking confused. However, Liam wasn¡¯t nning on exining anything further. Actually, just as Jayson and Nancy were going up to the stage, Ariel had turned away slightly to drink her juice. During that brief moment, Liam happened to catch a fleeting expression on Ariel¡¯s face that no one else had noticed. It was a look of scorn and indifference. Ariel clearly did not care about any of this. ¡­ Ariel was able to maintain herposure because she had spent several years training her heart to be strong enough to handle any stress. Meanwhile, even as a bystander, Janice could not help seething with anger. She glowered at the lovely pair on the stage while feeling extremely sad and sorry for Ariel. Janice wondered if Jayson had ever actually seen Ariel as his wife. Was it really necessary for him to publicly express his affection for another woman andpletely neglect Ariel? ¡°If it weren¡¯t because we had to look for Fergus, I would have left this ce right away! Who on earth would want to watch those two perform a piece together!¡± Janice downed a ss of iced soda. Still, it did not help ease the anger boiling in her. Janice could not even begin to imagine how Ariel had managed to pull through during their three years of marriage. Ariel shook her head. ¡°As long as we can find Fergus, nothing else matters.¡± Janice slowly nodded. ¡°Fine. Jayson is pretty good at ying the piano, though it was as expected of someone who received the relevant training and education in preparation to be his family¡¯s sessor. People like him have often mastered various skills and talents.¡± Ariel made noments about it. It was because she had not expected to see this side of Jayson either. Ariel had spent three years trying to get to know him better, but still could not. On the other hand, it only took Nancy a few months to get Jayson to open up to her. It was clear how guarded Jayson was around Ariel, especially when it came to matters of his personal life and feelings. Jayson and Nancy¡¯s performance ended. The guests broke into rapturous apuse. This time, Jayson stood up and held his hand out toward Nancy. Nancy beamed and ced her hand on top of his. She got up as well and bowed slightly, looking absolutely graceful and elegant. She seemed even more radiant and alluring standing next to the handsome and stoic Jayson. What happened next was extremely predictable. The organizer decided that they would build five schools in Jayson¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s names. Ariel felt nothing. Her heart had gotten so immune to these urrences that it no longer ached. The event went on. The host walked up to the stage with a smile on his face. ¡°Actually, tonight¡¯s charity event isn¡¯t just held to collect donations for children living in poor, remote areas. The Johnstone Group also has some good news to share with us!¡± Ariel finally turned her eyes to the stage. She could see Wendy holding Lucas¡® hand as they went up to the stage together. Wendy was glowing with joy and happiness. She clung to Lucas¡® arm. Her gaze drifted across the hall. ¡°Lucas and I are getting engaged today!¡± Inside 163 Ariel was honestly quite surprised. She had not expected that the highlight of tonight¡¯s event was the announcement of Lucas and Wendy¡¯s engagement. It somewhat exined why Wendy had asked her to stay around until the end earlier. Ariel wondered if Wendy had considered her as Lucas¡® younger sister and that she was hoping Ariel would give them her blessings. Lucas stood on the stage and looked down. Despite the dim lights, he found Ariel, who was sitting in a dark corner of the second row. Ariel was probably quite shocked to hear the news. There was a sh of bewilderment on her face. Yet, it happened for only a split second. Then, those emotions seemed to vanish the next instant. Lucas fixed his gaze on her. His eyes reflected the various emotions surging through him. Yet, Ariel merely stared at him expressionlessly without showing any other reactions. In the end, Lucas smiled nonchntly and pulled Wendy closer to him. ¡°We¡¯ve decided to hold tonight¡¯s charity auction in hopes of receiving some good energy for my rtionship with Wendy. Once everything¡¯s set, we¡¯ll invite everyone to our engagement party.¡± Wendy leaned against Lucas¡® chest shyly and clung to him like a starfish. Meanwhile, Lucas kept staring in Ariel¡¯s direction. He was hoping to find a hint of shock, sadness, or resentment on Ariel¡¯s face. Yet, she looked absolutely calm. Lucas furrowed his brows. Ariel should not have remained so unresponsive. With how well he knew her, Ariel should be flying into a rage at this point. Lucas could not help but wonder if she truly did not care that he was getting engaged. Yet, he quickly dismissed the thought. He and Ariel had been together for more than ten years. Lucas knew her like the back of his hand. Ariel could let go of a lot of things, except for him. Lucas was certain Ariel still had him somewhere in the deep recesses of her heart, where she could not seem topletely erase his existence. Ariel must still care about him. ¡°Congrattions on getting engaged to such a lovelydy, Mr. Sanderson!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. Mr. Johnstone must be really happy with all the good news today, especially since he¡¯s getting someone as capable as Mr. Sanderson to be his future son¨Cinw.¡± Dexter was in a great mood as he responded to the guests¡® congrattory remarks. Lucas finally averted his gaze from Ariel and looked down at Wendy. He lightly pinched her waist and grinned. ¡® Thank you. We hope to see everyone at the party when the timees.¡± Ariel dropped her gaze. She realized she seemed to be having a hard time getting used to these happy, lively asions. She kept getting the feeling that she did not fit in. Janice observed Ariel¡¯s expression for a while since she was worried. She felt slightly relieved when she noticed how Ariel remainedpletely unruffled. 11 ¡°If you ask me, men are all unreliable! Who do they think they are? Ari, you should be living your life to the fullest potential!¡± Janice had known Ariel for many years. She had witnessed pretty much everything that had happened to Ariel over the years. If it were not because Lucas had gotten into trouble and was sent to prison back then, perhaps things would be different now, especially since¡­ ¡°Did you tell Lucas about how you tried to block the attack and got stabbed back then?¡± Janice cast a nce at Ariel¡¯s abdomen and recalled the time when thetter got hospitalized. ¡°Lucas has been giving you a hard time ever since he was released from prison. You were the one who saved his life, though. How could he be so cruel and heartless¡­¡± Ariel held Janice¡¯s hand and stopped her from continuing. The situation was rather tricky at the time. Moreover, Lucas was someone proud and conceited. He had made quite a number of enemies before being sent to prison, which then led to the incident. Ariel still had the scar on her body. ¡°Mr. Sanderson and Ms. Johnstone will be having their engagement party soon. What about Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton, then? When will we be hearing some good news from you two?¡± Ariel heard someone saying that and subconsciously raised her head. In an instant, Jayson became the center of everyone¡¯s attention. Even Nancy, who was beside him, paused briefly and smiled with resignation. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t the stars of tonight¡¯s event be Wendy and Lucas¡­¡± After saying that, she directed her gaze to Jayson. Jayson¡¯s mouth turned up in a slight smile. He responded calmly, ¡°It¡¯s a special day for Mr. Sanderson and his fianc¨¦e today. We shouldn¡¯t try to steal the spotlight from them.¡± The others chuckled and agreed with him. ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯m sure good news wille soon since you¡¯ve secured the ring through the auction earlier, Mr. Larkin.¡± 1 Ariel did not think much of what they were talking about. Jayson was a careful and meticulous person. He would not share any unnecessary information with the public since they had yet toplete all the relevant divorce procedures. And it was because¡­ Inside 164 Chapter 164 Jayson would not allow anyone to spread anything that could potentially harm Nancy¡¯s reputation before he could officially marry her. After all, loving someone meant doing what was best for that person at all times. Lucas stared at Jayson with an enigmatic look on his face. ¡°I¡¯ll be looking forward to receiving the invitation to your wedding, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson¡¯s brows arched. Still, his expression remained pretty much the same. While making sure the conversation did not end on an awkward note, Matt chuckled and replied, ¡°Well, of course! Ariel got up. She had no interest in watching their seemingly warm, amicable exchange anymore. Janice followed behind her. Ariel checked the time and realized there was around half an hour left until the event ended. She only had that amount of time left to look for Fergus. ¡°Jan, I¡¯m going to check the guest list. Can you check over there? Janice agreed, ¡°Sure.¡± Ariel tried to ask a staff member if there was a guest named Fergus on their guest list. Yet, the person politely refused Ariel¡¯s request and told her that they could not divulge any information regarding that. Ariel could fully understand their concerns. Realistically speaking, tonight¡¯s event¡¯s organizers were the Johnstone family, and Lucas was practically Wendy¡¯s fianc¨¦ now. With Lucas¡® rtions to the Johnstone family, it would probably be easier for Ariel to get her hands on the guest list through Lucas. Ariel hesitated for a moment. When she considered how critical Leonard¡¯s condition was, she slowly made her way back toward the hall. She sent Lucas a WhatsApp message. ¡°Can you meet me outside the hall for a moment?¡± Lucas did not reply to her message. Ariel had no choice but to just wait somewhere outside the hall. Ariel rubbed her temples, which had been throbbing for a while. She threw up twice after going for the radiation therapy during the day. She had caught a bit of a cold as her immune system had weakened considerably. Ariel had not waited for too long since Lucas showed up shortly afterward. With one hand in his pocket, Lucas had a cigarette dangling from his mouth. Like a hungry predator, his eyes roamed Ariel¡¯s body. Usually, Ariel would have a coat on, so there was not much to see. However, she was wearing a pearl white satin dress today. Below her slender neck, Lucas could see Ariel¡¯s ample bosom and sometimes the deep cleavage that could be seen above her dress. The dress entuated Ariel¡¯s curvaceous body and her feminine charms. She looked much more feminine now than she did a few years ago, Lucas¡® breathing became a bit uneven at the thought of that. He knew exactly the reason for this change in Ariel. It was because of all the times she had been in bed with someone else during the past few years¡­ Lucas¡® lips were pressed into a thin line. A cold light glistened in his eyes. Eventually, he suppressed those emotions burning in him. Ariel waspletely oblivious to what Lucas was thinking. Still, she could sense that he was not in a good mood, even though he was smiling at the moment. She pulled the shawl draped around her shoulders tighter and said, ¡°Can you get me a copy of tonight¡¯s event¡¯s guest list? I¡¯m looking for a person.¡± Lucas slowly blew a puff of smoke. ¡°That was what you wanted to talk about?¡± Ariel furrowed her brows. ¡°What else would I need to talk to you about?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you have anything to say to me now that you know I¡¯m getting engaged soon?¡± He stepped closer toward Ariel and bent forward slightly. ¡°Weren¡¯t you thinking of stopping me?¡± ¡°Or perhaps you¡¯ve even thought about asking me to take you back?¡± Lucas thought. Ariel was momentarily stunned. The crease on her forehead grew deeper. ¡°I¡¯ve never thought about doing something like that. I just wanted to ask for the guest list.¡± Lucas snickered. There was a stony look in his eyes. ¡°Ari, whether it¡¯s about the guest list or the engagement, don¡¯t make things difficult for me.¡± Ariel felt extremely frustrated. Clearly, Lucas was so convinced of what he believed to be true that he would never listen to Ariel¡¯s exnation. She backed away. ¡°Never mind if you can¡¯t help me with that.¡± Just as Ariel was about to walk away, she happened to meet Jayson¡¯s gaze. He was standing not too far away, speaking on the phone. Jayson nced in their direction nonchntly. After he was done saying what he needed to say, Jayson ended the call and was about to head back inside the hall. Lucas tilted his head and grinned. ¡°Mr. Larkin, your wife can sometimes be a little too difficult to deal with. Shouldn¡¯t you try to talk to her about it?¡± Inside 165 Ariel stopped breathing for a second. Then, she frowned and sent Lucas a re. She nced at the expressionless Jayson next. He seemedpletely uninterested in what was going on between Ariel and Lucas. Earlier, Ariel noticed that Jayson had frowned almost unnoticeably when Lucas mentioned the word ¡°wife¡°. Jayson¡¯s phone rang again before he could say anything. He nced at the screen and saw that it was a call from Nancy. His expression softened visibly as he answered the phone. ¡°Mhm¡­ I¡¯m heading back inside now.¡± It was impossible for Ariel not to notice the changes in Jayson¡¯s facial expression and voice tone. Jayson did not answer Lucas¡® question. Instead, he nodded at Lucas, nced at Ariel, and strode off. He acted as though Ariel waspletely unrted to him in any way. Ariel could tell without a doubt that the caller was Nancy. Nancy was the only person who could make Jayson show his soft, vulnerable side like earlier. Ariel slowly averted her gaze. As the person at the center of all this, no one could better understand how Jayson and Lucas had always scorned and ridiculed her. Ariel had given up on the n to ask for Lucas¡® help, considering his words and attitude earlier. Without a word, she walked off. Lucas stood in the same spot and stared at her receding figure. Ariel looked so frail and fragile that it felt like she could shatter at any moment. Lucas knitted his brows and drew on his cigarette. He managed to suppress the strange sense of unease in him as he convinced himself that he was just overthinking things. Ultimately, she failed to find Fergus, the expert who had supposedly already returned to the country. Ariel could not help feeling a bit down. She had searched the entire venue but could ot find anyone who looked like they might be Fergus. As the event ended, the guests started leaving. Ariel had no choice but to give up this time and think of another n. She waited by the building¡¯s entrance as Janice left to get the car. It was cold and windy around this time of the year in Eldoria. Ariel still felt that it was freezing cold even though she was already wearing a long padded jacket that she had brought along. As she picked up on the sound of someone talking, Ariel lifted her head and looked in the direction of the voice. She stiffened slightly. Zach and a young man wereing out of the hall. When he spotted Ariel, Zach nced at her briefly before looking away. He had no intention of greeting her. Ariel was not going to bother greeting someone who had constantly treated her with scorn and disdain. She merely cast a nce at the man beside Zach. The man was someone Ariel had not met before. However, he was most likely someone from the elite circle as well since he seemed to be a close acquaintance of Zach¡¯s, The man exuded a refined air. It would be hard for people not to notice him with his good looks. That person seemed to have noticed Ariel was looking at him. He directed his gaze toward her. Just as Ariel was about to look away, the man gave a slight nod of the head in response to her curious gaze. Ariel paused briefly. She thought that those who were close to Zach would look at her with scorn and disdain as well just like Zach. She did not expect that the person she had just seen would be so polite and gentlemanly. Just then, Janice pulled up nearby and beeped her horn. Ariel snapped out of her reverie and got into the car. She had pushed what happened earlier to the back of her head. After Ariel got into the car, she closed her eyes. Her mind was filled with concerns about Elena¡¯s wedding ring. Ariel could not afford to take any chances. It would be utterly infuriating and mortifying for her and the Walkers if Jayson were really nning on letting Nancy wear the ring. Sarah had betrayed Elena¡¯s trust and stabbed her in the back multiple times. Her daughter, Nancy, had ruined Ariel¡¯s marriage. Ariel could not possibly allow Elena¡¯s ring to fall into Nancy¡¯s possession, no matter what. Ariel called Jayson, but he did not pick up. She continued calling his number, yet it remained unanswered. Ariel was not sure whether he was trying to ignore her calls or if he really had not noticed. She could not be bothered to find out the truth anyway. She looked at Janice and said, ¡°Jan, can you drop me off at Larkin Manor?¡± Even if Jayson had refused to pick up the phone, Ariel still had to find a way to resolve the issue. She needed to meet him in person. Janice slowly nodded as she could tell what Ariel was nning to do. On the way, Ariel took out herptop and worked on rewriting some of the code in the car¡¯s back seat. When she got to Larkin Manor, Jayson had not returned home. P Inside 166 Chapter 166 Ariel reckoned Jayson was probably with Nancy at the moment. Normally, Ariel would not care at all no matter how long or how often Jayson wanted to spend his time with Nancy. However, today¡­. She had no choice but toe up with a n. Betty was very pleased to see Ariel dropping by the manor. She held Ariel¡¯s hand and asked her how she was doingtely. Soon enough, Betty brought up questions rting to Jayson. ¡°Howe he¡¯s not here with you? What¡¯s been keeping Jayson so busytely?¡± Ariel dropped her gaze. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Feeling dissatisfied, Betty had someone fetch her phone and called Jayson. This time, Jayson picked up the phone. It seemed like he had deliberately ignored Ariel¡¯s calls earlier. Betty said sternly, ¡°It¡¯s already well past 8:00 pm. Are you noting back for dinner?¡± Ariel had no idea what Jayson said, but Betty¡¯s expression softened a little after hearing his reply. When she ended the call, Betty said, ¡°Let¡¯s not wait for him. He can sort out his own dinner.¡± Ariel knew for sure now that Jayson would return to the manor sometimeter tonight, even if he could not return right away. Betty had someone serve some sliced fruits to Ariel. Unfortunately, Ariel did not have an appetite. She had been feeling quite unwell the entire day. Ariel had tried her best to endure the difort throughout tonight¡¯s charity event. Her head was still throbbing even now. She could barely hold out any longer. Ariel took herptop and went upstairs to rest for a while. She drifted off into a restless sleep. Ariel even dreamed of the night Elena passed away and how she was ovee with guilt, despair, and indignation before she passed on. Ariel¡¯s eyes flew open. Sweat beaded her forehead. Even though a bedsidemp was left on, the room was still quite dark. The bedroom felt empty, and an overwhelming sense of loneliness pervaded the space. However, Ariel had slowly gotten used to this over the past three years. She checked her phone and noticed it was already 4:00 am. ¡°Is Jayson still not back yet?¡± she wondered. Ariel tried to sit up, but she noticed the covers felt unusually heavy. ¡°You¡¯re up?¡± A deep, steady voice came from behind her. Ariel¨Clooked over her shoulder. Jayson had changed into his pajamas. He was leaning against the headboard while looking at hisptop. Ariel reckoned he was probably doing some work. However, she could not understand why Jayson was still up when there were only a few hours left until dawn. At the same time, Ariel felt really heavy and listless. She had probably started running a fever during her sleep. Her throat felt dry and sore. She was about to ask Jayson what time he had gotten home when the sound of a notification ringtone could be hearding from aptop ced on the bedside table. Jayson put hisptop on the bed and turned slightly to check Ariel¡¯sptop. He had just ced his hand on theptop when Ariel said frigidly, ¡°I¡¯ll look at itter. You can just leave it be.¡± Jayson paused momentarily. Seeing how Ariel seemed a bit rmed made him wonder if she was being wary of him. His eyes hardened slightly. ¡°Does yourptop hold secrets that you can never let others find out?¡± Jayson sounded like he was teasing her as he asked the question nonchntly. Although Ariel did not give him any response, Jayson did not try to pry for an answer. He got out of bed. A thermal sk and a few boxes of medicine were ced on the coffee table. Jayson poured a ss of water. Then, he read the instructions carefully to check for things like the correct dosage, the contraindications, and the side¨Ceffects. After that, he took one tablet for each type of medicine and walked over to the bed. ¡°You¡¯re having a fever. You should take these medicines first.¡± Ariel was a bit confused. She knitted her brows. She finally spotted several used cooling patches that were left on the table. It was probably Jayson who had helped change the cooling patches for her. Ariel wondered if that was the reason why he was still awake at this hour. She stayed in the same spot, unmoving. The expression on her pale face remained the same. Jayson could not possibly just turn a blind eye to Ariel after finding her in her weakened condition. Jayson thought that Ariel had reacted this way because she did not like the bitter taste of medicine. He put the water and the medicine tablets down on the bedside table near Ariel. Staring at her pale face, Jayson frowned slightly and softened his tone. ¡°I got you some dried cranberries. You can have some after taking the medicine, alright?¡± Ariel looked down at the items on the bedside table. Jayson could see how Ariel¡¯s face was as white as a sheet. She had also pushed her covers to the side. Since she might catch a cold like this, Jayson bent forward and tried to pull up the covers for her. However, as soon as Ariel saw Jayson reaching his hand toward her, she instinctively shoved it away. ¡°Don¡¯t touch me!¡± Inside 167 Chapter 167 Ariel had reacted quite strongly. She still had a calm expression on her face. However, the way she had subconsciously resisted and raised her hand to push Jayson¡¯s hand away was done by following her instincts. Jayson stiffened. Under the warm, orange lights, his cold, deep¨Cset eyes were unreadable. He managed to observe the series of changes in Ariel¡¯s emotions. Jayson pulled back his hand and said tly, Alright. You should tuck yourself in, then.¡± 11 Jayson turned around and sat on the leather couch ced at the side. He thought about lighting a cigarette. Just as he produced a lighter, Jayson furrowed his brows and put the cigarette back into the box. Ariel did not try to refuse to take the medicine. She lifted the covers and stuffed the medicine tablets Jayson had brought over for her into her mouth. She swallowed them with a mouthful of water. As for the box of dried cranberries left on the bedside table, Ariel did not touch it. Jayson noticed that. They had been married for three years, after all. Ariel had a weak constitution, often having fevers or headaches from time to time. Previously, it took Ariel a long time to prepare herself to take her medicine because she was afraid of the bitter taste and the possibility that it might be hard to swallow. She would eat a lot of candies or dried fruits even after taking just one single tablet of medicine. However, Ariel had not even looked at the dried cranberries just now. She did not even wince as she swallowed those medicine tablets at one go. Jayson could not help but wonder when she overcame her fear of the medicine¡¯s bitter taste. Ariel was feeling light¨Cheaded. Still, she was thinking about the ring. She looked at Jayson and asked straightforwardly, ¡°I came back today because there was something I needed to talk to you about. Can you sell me the ring?¡± Jayson cast her a sideways nce. ¡°You want me to sell u the ring?¡°: Ariel could not tell much from Jayson¡¯s reaction whether he was willing or not. She tightened her fists and said anxiously, ¡°I¡¯m willing to pay any price you wan for the ring!¡± ¡°Do I look like I¡¯ll be needing the money from you?¡± Jayson gave a little snort. There was an enigmatic look in his dark eyes. Ariel¡¯s heart sank. Before she could say anything¡­ ¡°Is Ari doing a bit better now? Betty spoke softly as she pushed the door open. She gave a sigh of relief when she saw that Ariel was awake. ¡°Ari, are you still feeling unwell? Jayson came backst night and said that you were running a fever. He tried, but he could not wake you up at all.¡± Betty had not gotten much sleep as she was worried about Ariel¡¯s condition and if she was doing alright. Since she was having trouble going back to sleep after waking up earlier, Betty decided toe over and check on Ariel. Ariel froze. She felt bad for having made Betty worry. ¡°Grandma, I¡¯m fine now. It¡¯s still pretty early. You should try and get some more sleep.¡± She could tell that Betty was seriously worried about her. However, an elderly person like Betty should be getting enough rest every day. Betty lightly waved her hand and said nonchntly, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. People naturally sleep less as they get older. Besides, I can use some light exercises now. You fell asleep pretty earlyst night. Are you feeling hungry now?¡± Ariel slowly nodded. She had dozed off before it was even 9:00 pm, and she had been sleeping until now. Ariel was famished. Betty put her hand against Ariel¡¯s forehead and continued, ¡°I¡¯ll ask the maids to make you some porridge, then. It won¡¯t take long.¡± The maids here worked in either the morning or night shift. Therefore, there were people who remained on standby even at this hour. A warm feeling filled Ariel¡¯s chest. She said softly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you worry, Grandma.¡± Betty stroked her hair gently. ¡°Just wait for a moment, alright?¡± As soon as Betty left, the air inside the room felt stifling once again. Jayson nced at his watch. ¡°It¡¯s almost 5:00 am. I¡¯m going to take a shower.¡± He had not given Ariel any reply to her question earlier. Ariel massaged the area between her brows. She was still feeling a bit dizzy. Nevertheless, she got up, took a fresh change of clothes, and went to the guest room to shower. She and Jayson went downstairs and sat next to the dining table at about the same time. Betty felt quite pleased looking at the couple. At the very least, Jayson had done pretty wellst night by looking after his sick wife. Betty scooped some food into Ariel¡¯s te and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made some arrangements for you two on Valentine¡¯s Day. I¡¯ve reserved a candlelight dinner at a restaurant and¡­ a suite designed specifically for couples. You guys should make use of the opportunity to enjoy a rxing time Inside 168 Chapter 168 Ariel looked up from her food. She did not expect Betty to know so much about these rtively new, trendy things. Not only did she know about candlelight dinners, but Betty was also aware of suites designed specifically for couples on Valentine¡¯s Day. Before Ariel could think of a way to turn down the suggestion, Jayson opened his mouth and said tly, ¡°Those are for couples who have just started dating. I¡¯m swamped with work. There¡¯s no need for things like that, Grandma.¡± Jayson rejected the ns Betty had made for them before Ariel could. Ariel was not surprised at all. She lowered her gaze and ate her porridge silently. With Jayson stepping up and taking care of the issue first, Ariel would have one less problem to worry about. Betty was struck speechless for a moment. ¡°You¡¯re only going on a date after you get off work! I¡¯m not telling you to free up the whole day! What kind of excuse is that anyway?¡± Jayson raised his brows. ¡°It¡¯s not an excuse. I really do have work on that day.¡± Ariel lifted her head and turned her eyes to Jayson. Just then, Jayson¡¯s phone¡¯s notification ringtone sounded. He picked it up to read the message. Perhaps it was because Ariel was sitting beside him, Jayson took a quick nce and put the phone back on the table with the screen facing down. It was as if he were trying to prevent others from seeing what was on his phone. Ariel did not bother herself fussing over what he did. She did not even have to think so hard about it to know that Jayson had not necessarily rejected Betty¡¯s n because of work. Instead, it was most likely because the person that he wanted to go on a date on Valentine¡¯s Day was Nancy. Betty was clearly displeased. She could not stand how indifferent Jayson was about the matter. She was breathing heavily as she mmed her hand down on the table. ¡°What could possibly matter even more than your marriage? Postpone whatever you have on that day! I¡¯ve already reserved the hotel and the restaurant. The two of you must go on a date!¡± Ariel did not think Betty would be so ticked off. The words she had been preparing to exin about her and Jayson¡¯s ns to divorce were stuck in her throat. She pursed her lips and decided not to add fuel to the mes. When he saw that Betty had lost her temper, Jayson smiled faintly and patted her back gently. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll do as you say. Don¡¯t be mad.¡± Betty¡¯s expression softened. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. You should stay with Ari while she¡¯s having breakfast. I need to take my high blood pressure medications now.¡± Ariel kept silent and continued eating her breakfast. She could tell that Jayson had only yielded just now since he did not want to further aggravate Betty. Even if Betty had prepared a detailed n for them on Valentine¡¯s Day, Jayson would not show up anyway. After she had finished breakfast, Ariel left to wash her hands. By the time she returned to the dining room, Jayson was gone. Ariel¡¯s face darkened. Jayson had not yet given her any replies or confirmation. Ariel would be more than happy to buy the ring from Jayson. She was not nning on taking it back from him without giving anything in return. After she had informed Betty that she was leaving, Ariel got a cab to pick her up at Larkin Manor. On the way to her apartment, she sent two messages to Jayson. ¡°The ring means a lot to me. I¡¯m willing to pay you any amount of money for it. Please reply to me once you¡¯ve given it some thought. Jayson, I¡¯m sincerely begging you.¡± Unfortunately, Ariel did not receive any response. There was no telling whether Jayson had ignored her messages or he had not seen them. Even though her anxiety was eating away at her, Ariel had no choice but to just wait for Jayson to reach out first. Anyway, there was nothing she could do about it. While she was waiting for Jayson¡¯s reply, Ariel did not ck off on work at Faye Tech. She waspletely upied with work during the next couple of days. Their project would be put out to tender in a week¡¯s time. Ariel could not afford to take any time off now. At the same time, Ariel had been keeping in touch with people from the hospital regarding Leonard¡¯s liver transnt operation. Leonard had waited almost five months for the opportunity to undergo the operation. It was finally going to be his turn on the waiting list. Ariel was equally thrilled and nervous. She had been keeping up with hospital updates at all times. On Friday, at around 7:00 pm, Ariel finished work and packed her things. She was getting ready to head home. Just as she exited her office building, Ariel received a call from Jayson. Ariel¡¯s heart missed a beat. She wondered if Jayson had finally called to discuss matters regarding the ring. She swiped her finger on the screen and took the call. The voiceing down the line was deep and monotonous. ¡°I¡¯ve sent someone to pick you up. They¡¯re waiting outside Faye Tech¡¯s building.¡± Inside 169 Ariel raised her head as she heard the sound of a car honking. A Bentley parked by the roadside had its hazard lights on. Toby dutifully got out of the car and opened the door for Ariel. Ariel finally recalled that it was Valentine¡¯s Day today. She could tell that Jayson was merely going along with Betty¡¯s ns to appease her. However, today¡¯s arrangement would also offer Ariel an opportunity to talk to Jayson face¨Cto¨Cface about the ring. ¡°Alright,¡± she responded. ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting for you.¡± Jayson sounded calm and rxed. Ariel got into the car. She did not care where they were taking her. She simply closed her eyes and rested. She did not even bother looking out the window to admire the lovely scenery on the streets. Eventually, Ariel was brought to an open¨Cair rooftop restaurant. Ironically, Jayson had never celebrated Valentine¡¯s Day with Ariel after they got married. Yet, they were finally doing it this year after already deciding to get a divorce and also because Betty had forced Jayson to. Even though one of her past wishes was finallying true now, Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about it. She even found the current situation rather absurd. Ariel assumed that Jayson was just going along with all this. She followed the restaurant manager to the spot with the best view in the restaurant. She looked ahead and saw that Jayson was sitting there. He was wearing a dark gray tailored suit. His jacket had been taken off and ced on an empty chair. The dark gray vest, which was made with exquisite material, entuated Jayson¡¯s broad shoulders and strong waist. Jayson looked really attractive even when he was just sitting there doing nothing. A big bouquet of red Freud Roses was ced opposite Jayson¡¯s chair. He cast Ariel a sideways nce and asked, Do you like the flowers?¡± Ariel paused momentarily. 11 Jayson had never given her any flowers, and he had never bothered doing things that couples would do with Ariel, either. Ariel used to look forward to these moments. However, any feelings of passion or affection in her had slowly diminished after she was brushed off or neglected time and time again. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ariel sat opposite Jayson. She did not say it out loud whether she liked the flowers or not. Freud Roses were a type of rose that wasn¡¯t that well¨Cknown. Ariel didn¡¯t even have to think too deeply to make a guess about how a man like Jayson would know about these roses. Jayson could sense Ariel¡¯s indifference from the way she reacted. His eyes were devoid of emotion. He didn¡¯t seem bothered about it. Jayson instructed the manager, ¡°You can serve the dishes now.¡± Betty had reserved the entire ce for the night. So, Ariel and Jayson were the only guests there at the restaurant. They could see the faint neon lights in the distance. The flickering mes from the candles created a nice ambience around them. Soon enough, the main dish was served. Ariel stared at the steak before her for a moment. Before she could reach for her cutlery, Jayson reached for her te and took it away. Then, he ced the te of steak he had just finished cutting up in front of her. He was looking out for her in a considerate and gentlemanly manner. Ariel nced in Jayson¡¯s direction. Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged. His brows arched when he noticed Ariel was looking at him. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Does the food not suit your taste?¡± Ariel replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Thank you.¡± She wondered if Betty had nted some of her people here to observe them since it was her idea for them to be there. Otherwise, Jayson would not have acted so considerate toward Ariel. Back when Ariel and Jayson were married for about a year, Betty had gotten some people to keep a close eye on the couple since she was worried their rtionship might fall apart at the time. Naturally, Ariel was making these assumptions since something like that had happened before. Jayson turned his eyes to her. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to be so courteous with me.¡± Those words seemed to imply other meanings as well. However, Ariel didn¡¯t think too deeply about it. They finished the meal wordlessly. Those who didn¡¯t know better would probably think that they were two strangers sharing a table instead of it being a date on Valentine¡¯s Day. Ariel did not eat much because she did not have much of an appetite. However, she noticed that she had not seen any scallions added to any of the dishes served to them tonight. Even two of the dishes usually garnished with scallions to enhance vor had their garnishes reced with parsley. Ariel was allergic to scallions. Whenever she dined out, she had to remind the restaurant staff about it. She had to be careful and pay a lot of attention to it. Ariel was a bit puzzled. After some thought, she figured Betty had probably reminded the staff about the scallions. Ariel put down her cutlery after taking just a few bites. Jayson did not seem to be that hungry either. He lifted his head. ¡°Grandma reserved a suite for us downstairs.¡± Inside 170 Chapter 170 Jayson paused briefly. ¡°This ce offers a spectacr night view.¡± Ariel could tell that Betty wanted them to enjoy an amazing night together. She looked around them. A violinist yed a song on her violin to create a romantic mood for the couple. Ariel could sometimes see the waiters passing by in the distance. Overall, they were surrounded by quite a few people. ¡°I¡¯m done eating. I¡¯ll head over to the suite first.¡± Ariel got up. This was not the ce for them to discuss matters regarding the ring. If they weren¡¯t careful enough, what they discussed here might be ryed to Betty right away. Jayson didn¡¯t try to stop her. He took a cigarette out of the box and gazed at her intently. ¡°It¡¯s quite chilly out here on the rooftop. You should head in first.¡± Ariel turned around and walked away without the slightest hint of hesitation. She didn¡¯t seem to mind leaving this romantic spot, which had been set up by spending a lot of money on it. The suite was huge. Rose petals were scattered on the floor, forming a path that started at the front door and went all the way to the living room. Ariel turned her head and nced in the direction of the bedroom. She could vaguely see that the bed waspletely covered in rose petals too. With dimmed lights and tasty wine prepared in the room, the suite perfectly fit the Valentine¡¯s Day theme. Yet, Ariel did not let her gaze wander. She seemedpletely unaffected. She walked over to the couch in the living room, swept the rose petals to the side, and sat down. The suite was a private space. Betty would not be able to find out anything that happened there. Ariel checked the time and found that it was just past 8:00 pm. She had decided to face Jayson head¨Con and negotiate about the ring tonight. ording to the divorce agreement she passed to Jayson, Ariel had not asked for anything inpensation from him. If Jayson refused to give her the ring, which was her family heirloom, Ariel would request that the agreement be revised and that returning the ring to her be one of the conditions. Ariel was determined to get the ring back, even if she had to file for awsuit. She believed that Jayson would weigh and consider all the pros and cons before epting her proposition. It would be troublesome for Jayson if they could not reach a consensus on the terms of the divorce agreement, as it would mean they would have to start all over. There was no way Jayson would want to waste his time on something like that. Ariel let out a sigh. She sensed a throbbing pain in her lower abdomen. She put one hand over the area. Ariel had gotten used to getting these pains from time to time, so she did not think much of it. She took her tablet out of her bag and began reading the academic paper Carlos had sent her. While she was focused on reading the paper, Jayson entered the suite. He strode into the room whilst looking at his phone. He took a nce at Ariel, who was staring at her tablet with a frown and seemingly deep in thought. Jayson did not disturb her. He stepped over to the other end of the couch and sat there. The two of them sat far apart from each other doing their own things. Even though various preparations had been made in the room to create an intimate mood, all of that was pointless to the couple. Ariel was distracted as the pain in her lower abdomen gradually intensified. She spotted Jayson, who sat with his legs crossed and stared at his phone with his head lowered. It seemed like he was chatting with someone as he was busy tapping away at his phone. Ariel slowly drew a long breath and tried her best to endure the pain. ¡°Let¡¯s have a chat, Mr. Larkin.¡± If it were not because today was Valentine¡¯s Day, she probably might not get the chance to talk to Jayson in a peaceful, distraction¨Cfree environment. Jayson turned off his phone and looked at Ariel. It almost felt as if he had been waiting for her to initiate the conversation. Ariel clenched her jaw, trying to pull herself together and appear normal. ¡°Have you considered what to do about the ring?¡± If Jayson were to give his mistress his mother¨Cinw¡¯s wedding ring, it would be deeply mortifying for Ariel and the Walkers. Ariel could not back down now. Jayson stared at her and chuckled. ¡°Is that the only thing you want to say to me today?¡± Ariel responded calmly, ¡°I don¡¯t think there¡¯s anything else we need to talk about.¡± Silence fell over the room. Inside 171 hapter 171 Jayson didn¡¯t refute her words. However, he had begun to notice the slight changes in Ariel¡¯s attitude. From a distance, he kept his eyes trained on Ariel as if he were trying to discern whether the expressions on her face were a true reflection of her honest feelings. Yet, Jayson¡¯s phone¡¯s ringtone broke the silence just then. It was a call from work. At first, Jayson was going to answer the phone right away. However, he paused and looked at Ariel. ¡°Can I take the call first?¡± It sounded as though he was asking for Ariel¡¯s permission first. Ariel could not be bothered with minor details like that at the moment. She was starting to break out in cold sweat on her forehead. The pain in her lower abdomen had intensified by the folds. Ariel nearly let out a moan in pain. Under the dim lights, her lips were turning pale. Her breathing became uneven as she gave a slight nod. Jayson turned away slightly and picked up the phone. A man¡¯s voice came down the line. ¡°Mr. Larkin, Ms. Stanton has been working on fixing her data today. However, the tests haven¡¯t been going well. Ms. Stanton is still in the office now, and she hasn¡¯t eaten for a whole day. I think she won¡¯t leave unless she¡¯s finished her work¡­¡± A small frown creased Jayson¡¯s forehead. Behind him, Ariel waspletely drenched in cold sweat. She had no strength left to walk over to the front door and fetch the medicine from the bag she had left around there. She mustered the little strength she had and inched toward Jayson. ¡°Jayson¡­¡± Ariel had no idea who he was speaking to on the phone, but Jayson had a grim look on his face. He did not seem to hear her calling him. Ariel was not sure what was happening to her body, and she could not afford to take any risks. She slowly lifted her hand to tug at Jayson¡¯s sleeve. However, just as she grabbed his sleeve, Jayson ended the call and turned further away. He bent forward and grabbed his jacket from the couch. Jayson was moving very quickly. He unknowingly shoved Ariel¡¯s hand away while he was grabbing the jacket. He had not noticed Ariel¡¯s condition at all as he strode toward the door. ¡°Something urgent came up. You should go ahead and rest. Don¡¯t wait for me.¡± There was the sound of the front door opening and mming shut. Ariel swayed slightly after she got pushed away. She directed her gaze toward the door. Jayson was already gone. He had left in quite a hurry. Ariel¡¯s pale face was devoid of emotion. She averted her gaze from the door. Then, Ariel curled into a ball on the couch. She was hoping to reduce the immense pain by curling herself up. It took about 20 minutes before the pain finally subsided a little. Ariel climbed to her feet and dragged herself toward the cupboard by the front door. She opened her bag, tossed the painkillers and targeted drugs into her mouth, and swallowed them dry. She did not at any point feel sad or angry whatsoever. She calmly epted what had happened without losing her temper. Ariel went back over to the couch and sat down. She was not interested in knowing where Jayson had gone off to. Soon enough, Ariel felt a lot better as the drugs¡® effects quickly kicked in. She rinsed her face with cold water. Then, she went back to where she was sitting and picked up her phone. She typed onest message and sent it to Jayson. ¡°You¡¯re free to buy Nancy any rings or jewelry. However, I can¡¯t let her wear my mother¡¯s wedding ring. I¡¯m willing to pay any amount of money for the ring if you¡¯re willing to sell it. Otherwise, I¡¯ll just request that it be given to me through a division of our shared assets after we get divorced.¡± As long as they had not gotten the divorce certificate, Ariel would have the right to im any item that Jayson had purchased for Nancy. Ariel had not considered resorting to this method at all. However, Jayson had left her with no other options. As she sat on the couch, Ariel received Chad¡¯s WhatsApp message. ¡°Can you get in touch with Mr. Chapman of Nexura Solutions? He hasn¡¯t sent us the data report for our previous project. Can you remind him about it?¡± Faye Tech and Nexura Solutions, one of Jayson¡¯spanies, had coborated briefly on a project. Ariel and Janice had been to Nexura Solutions¡® office before. They had also created a group chat between their staff and some of Nexura Solutions¡® staff. Ariel sent a message to Tom¡¯s WhatsApp number. Tom replied with a voice message. ¡°I¡¯m so sorry about it, Ms. Walker. I got held up with some other matters today. I¡¯ll send it to you in a moment.¡± Ariel could not be bothered with listening to his excuse. She typed another message. ¡°Can you give us a precise time for when you¡¯ll send it, Mr. Chapman?¡± Tom responded, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry, Ms. Walker. I¡¯m not trying to fool you with some excuse. It¡¯s about Ms. Stanton, thedy you met when you came to our officest time. Do you remember her? ¡°She¡¯s encountered some issues with her work. She¡¯s been working the whole day without eating anything. She¡¯s really dedicated to her work. ¡°Mr. Larkin has just rushed over to our office. Since he was worried that Ms. Stanton might wear herself out, Mr. Larkin had all of us work overtime and help Ms. Stanton with her tests. So, I¡¯ll have to ask for your kind understanding.¡± Inside 172 Ariel sat there silently for a moment. It turned out Jayson had left in a hurry because he was worried about Nancy skipping meals and overworking herself. She replied with another message. ¡°Alright.¡± It appeared one could easily make their mothers and lovers yield to them by threatening to skip their meals. After replying to Chad¡¯s message, Ariely listlessly on the couch. She did not even have the strength to walk all the way to the bedroom. She still had not gotten used to the pain, even though she would experience it from time to time. The pain felt so much worse this time. It was to the extent that Ariel had even tried to seek Jayson¡¯s help. Fortunately, since there was another situation on Nancy¡¯s side, Jayson failed to notice how Ariel was in so much pain earlier that she looked like she was about to die. Anyway, Ariel was not conceited enough to think that Jayson would choose to stay with her even if he did notice how she looked unwell. She was simply d she had managed to keep the fact that she had a terminal illness a secret. Once Leonard¡¯s illness was cured, Ariel would not have to bother about hiding these things or her abilities anymore. By the time Jayson got to Bluum Corp¡¯s building, Nancy had worked nonstop for two days. She was visibly exhausted. Jayson checked his watch. ¡°You should head home and rest. We¡¯re not in that much of a hurry.¡± Nancy shook her head. ¡°I shouldplete the tasks properly since you¡¯ve put your faith in me. I can¡¯t let you and the other staff members, who are also working overtime, down.¡± Colton nced at Jayson briefly and said, ¡°Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin is worried about you as well. Why don¡¯t you eat something first? I bought you some porridge.¡± Nancy¡¯s mood lifted when she heard those words. She beamed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry for making you worry, Jayson.¡± Jayson gave a slight nod. He sat down at the desk and looked at theputer to check theirtest progress. Colton stepped forward and helped Nancy with opening the food container. Since Nancy was experiencing symptoms of low blood glucose, she identally spilled some porridge onto her shirt when her hand shook uncontrobly. She quickly tried to wipe the stain off. However, it only seemed to make things worse. Jayson noticed what had happened. He instructed Colton, ¡°Get her a new set of clothes.¡± Colton nodded. He returned fairly quickly with a brand new men¡¯s white shirt, which still had the price tag on, in his hand. Nancy was a bit displeased. ¡°Isn¡¯t that a men¡¯s shirt? Where did you get that from?¡± She didn¡¯t want to wear something that might belong to someone whom she didn¡¯t even know. Colton exined, ¡°This is Mr. Larkin¡¯s shirt. Since it might be ufortable for you to keep wearing your shirt which had been soiled, I thought you could wear this shirt first while I go and prepare a new set of clothes for you. 11 Nancy¡¯s expression softened when she heard that the shirt was Jayson¡¯s. She even looked rather pleasantly surprised. There was a certain level of intimacy for a woman to be wearing a man¡¯s white shirt. ¡°It¡¯s fine if it¡¯s Jayson¡¯s shirt. I¡¯ll put it on, then.¡± Before she could take the shirt from Colton, Jayson cast his gaze in their direction. ¡°Where did you get that shirt from?¡± Jayson did not recall having left any of his clothes here. Colton paused briefly. Then, he answered a little hesitantly, ¡°I took it from the cupboard in your office that contained things you had left mostly unused.¡± That cupboard was filled with various gifts Ariel had carefully picked out and sent to Jayson during the past few years. Yet, they were all left inside the cupboard unused. There were items like shirts, ties, cufflinks, and so on. Colton remembered the things stored in the cupboard, so he grabbed one of the shirts for Nancy. Anyway, Jayson would not use or wear any of those items. Colton reckoned Nancy could just wear the shirt for now and discard it afterward. The look in Jayson¡¯s eyes remained unchanged. He got up and took the shirt from Colton. ¡°She won¡¯t need to wear this. Go and buy her some new clothes.¡± Nancy¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°Jayson?¡± She could not understand why he would not let her wear his shirt. Jayson turned his eyes to her. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to wear something that doesn¡¯t fit you. It¡¯ll be morefortable for you to wear something of the right size.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression brightened. That sounded more like it. Jayson was a thoughtful person who would consider what was best for her. Colton left to buy Nancy some new clothes. Meanwhile, Jayson took the shirt and headed to his office. As he stopped before the cupboard, Jayson looked at the beautifully wrapped items, which were neatly arranged in their respective spots. There were many items inside the cupboard, yet Jayson had never opened any of their seals. When he was putting the shirt back into the cupboard, Jayson spotted a big, sealed envelope left in a corner. His eyes narrowed. Jayson recalled Ariel mentioning a document during an event. He wondered if this was the document she was talking about. Moreover, what kind of document could Ariel be so concerned about that Jayson had not evenid his eyes on? As for the reply, Jayson could only give her an answer once he had read the document. He furrowed his brows and reached out to take the envelope. Inside 173 Jayson held the envelope in his hands. He checked the shippingbel for the time this envelope was mailed. It was actually mailed two months ago. As he held the envelope and turned around, Jayson identally shook it. He could hear the sound of something small rolling around inside. It seemed like something else was also stored inside the envelope. Jayson dropped his gaze. He was considering giving Ariel a call. Suddenly, the door to his office was flung open. Nancy, whose eyes were red and teary, rushed into the room. ¡± Jayson, can youe with me to the hospital? My mom slipped into aa¡­¡± Jayson¡¯s expression hardened. He subconsciously tightened his grip on the envelope. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Nancy hurried out of his office. Jayson looked down at the envelope for a moment. Then, he swiftly decided to bring it along. Colton ran into Jayson and Nancy just as they were about to head downstairs. Jayson instructed frigidly, ¡°Bring the car over. We¡¯re going to the hospital. 11 Colton spotted the envelope in Jayson¡¯s hand. It looked oddly familiar to him. ¡°Understood.¡± As soon as they arrived at the hospital, Nancy quickly headed upstairs. Jayson watched as she hurried off. Then, he directed his gaze to Colton and passed the envelope to him. ¡°Take this and all the items in my office¡¯s cupboard to the marital home. Tell Georgia to put them in my study. I¡¯ll stop by there tomorrow.¡± Colton was stumped and confused about why Jayson was suddenly paying attention to these things. Still, he responded dutifully, ¡°Understood, Mr. Larkin.¡± As he headed upstairs, Jayson pulled out his phone and nced at what was shown on the screen. He halted briefly. Then, he put his phone away and continued walking expressionlessly. Ariel slept on the couch that night. However, she did not get much rest as she kept drifting in and out of sleep the entire night. For some reason, she felt this sense of unease in her. Ariel stayed in the room all by herself for an entire night. Frankly, she had expected something like this to happen. Even if Jayson did not receive the phone call, Ariel reckoned there was no way he would spend the night here just to keep up the act. Ariel took some time to clear her head. She looked at her phone. Jayson did not reply to her message, and she was not sure whether he had seen it. Perhaps Jayson was not worried at all about Ariel¡¯s proposition to divide their assets. Eventually, Ariel pushed herself up from the couch. Her body was no longer racked with pain. She went to the bathroom to wash herself. Just as she was leaving the hotel, a message from the hospital popped up on the screen of her phone. It was a message regarding Leonard¡¯s liver transnt operation. Ariel was asked to drop by the hospital toplete some relevant procedures. Ariel felt her eyes grow hot. There was finally some good, exciting news. She wasted no time as she headed to the hospital right away. At the top and most well¨Cknown private hospital in Eldoria, their lobby was absolutely crowded at this hour. Ariel had not even eaten breakfast yet. She could not wait to find out and confirm about the date for Leonard¡¯s transnt operation. She found the person¨Cin¨Ccharge and informed her about the message she received. Thedy looked at her dubiously. ¡°Are you sure that they¡¯ve informed you the patient¡¯s been arranged to go for the operation by the end of this month?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Yes. The details were stated clearly in the message. Is something the matter?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s been a mistake. Mr. Leonard Walker¡¯s operation has been postponed for another week. Another patient is scheduled to undergo the operation two weeks from now.¡± Ariel¡¯s heart missed a beat. ¡°That¡¯s impossible. You can have a look at the message I¡¯ve received.¡± Ariel was about to take out her phone. Suddenly, someone who looked like thedy¡¯s supervisor rushed over and pulled the nurse aside. She had an awkward expression on her face. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but what she said is true. Currently, Mr. Leonard Walker isn¡¯t at the top of the waiting list. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ll have to wait a bit longer for his turn.¡± Ariel had previously done public rtions work and understood how society worked well. At this point, it was obvious that something very wrong had happened to change the original arrangements. They were at a private hospital. With money or power, anything could be arranged, including cutting queues! Ariel¡¯s face darkened. She asked tly, ¡°Who¡¯s the other person?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry. That information is considered private and confidential. I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t tell you that.¡± Ariel¡¯s ears were ringing. Her mind raced. Leonard had been waiting a long time for the opportunity to undergo the liver transnt operation. They had joined the waiting list and waited patiently. Yet, a problem like this arose when Leonard was already this close to having the operation. Theter they performed the operation on the patient, the more challenging it would be for the patient. It would add a lot of risks and uncertainties to the operation¡¯s sess rate and the possibility of the patient sufferingplications afterward. Chapter 173. Ariel simply couldn¡¯t allow someone else to abscond with the precious spot that was, by rights, Leonard¡¯s. She tried to look for a doctor. At that very moment, she spotted two people who had also stopped by to take care of the necessary procedures. In the distance, it was Nancy and Jayson. Inside 174 Chapter 174 Jayson lifted his gaze and looked at Ariel. His eyes showed no emotion. A thought urred to Ariel at that moment. Sarah was also staying at this hospital. This ce was the registration area for patients undergoing liver transnt operations. Now that Nancy and Jayson were here¡­ Nancy merely nced at Ariel and then went to the registration counter. Ariel could hear very clearly when the staff member mentioned the time and details for Sarah¡¯s operation. It was the exact date Leonard was initially scheduled to have the operation! Sarah had taken Leonard¡¯s spot to go for the liver transnt operation! Ariel¡¯s chest heaved with anger. She turned around and strode toward the pair. ¡°Jayson Larkin, my uncle was supposed to go for the operation first.¡± Ariel tried her best to control her volume. She stared at Jayson with a piercing gaze. Jayson fixed his gaze on her. He had a calm look in his eyes. Before he could say anything, Nancy pursed her lips and said, ¡®¡®We¡¯re at a hospital. This isn¡¯t a marketce where you can im things however you like. We all have to wait for the news or announcements from the hospital.¡± ¡°Announcements from the hospital?¡± Ariel stared stonily at Nancy. She snapped, ¡°How long has your mom been staying at this hospital? Yet, she¡¯s been scheduled to undergo the operation before my uncle does? Did you think you¡¯d have the chance to say these things to me if it weren¡¯t for Jayson¡¯s help?¡± Nancy knitted her brows. Her face darkened. ¡°Who does she think she is to talk to me this way?¡± she grumbled inwardly. Ariel took a nce at the medical report Nancy was holding. It was cirrhosis. Sarah had liver cirrhosis, and the cause was found to be long¨Cterm, excessive drinking. Her life was not in any danger at the moment. Yet, Sarah was taking away a precious, life¨Csaving opportunity from Leonard, who was a patient withte¨Cstage liver cancer. ¡°Ariel, stop being so emotional. It won¡¯t help you solve your problems.¡± Nancy lifted her chin. Her eyes reflected her dissatisfaction. She walked toward Ariel. ¡°The rules have been stated clearly. Regardless of the process, the oue was that my mom had been arranged to undergo the operation before your uncle. So, stop being unreasonable.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes were devoid of warmth. She had decided not to hold back anymore the moment Nancy stepped forward and said those things. Ariel threw a heavy p across Nancy¡¯s face. Nancy was caughtpletely off guard. She raised her hand and felt around her cheek. She turned around and stared at Ariel in utter bewilderment. She never thought Ariel would actually do something like this. Moreover, they were in a public space. Jayson¡¯s expression cracked a little. He strode toward Nancy and supported her by holding her arm. Nancy stumbled forward and leaned against his chest. She had a grim look on her face. Someone like her, who had always remained proud and dignified, had never suffered such humiliation. Jayson circled his arms around Nancy. He cast Ariel an icy gaze. Frankly, he was surprised Ariel hadshed out at Nancy. However, those emotions merely appeared briefly in his eyes before disappearing altogether. The onlookers were staring at those three curiously as they murmured amongst themselves. Nancy had a frigid look on her face. Her eyes zed with fury. She asked, ¡°Jayson, can I report this to the authorities?¡± It seemed like things were about to get out of hand. Nancy had indeed been treated quite harshly. Jayson looked at her for a bit. Then, he turned his gaze toward Ariel, who had clearly calmed down. His eyes were unreadable as Jayson spoke to Nancy. ¡°You should head back first.¡± Nancy¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. She managed to calm herself down fairly quickly, thinking about the elegant,dylike image she usually had. Nancy decided not to press the matter any further. Before she left, Nancy shot Ariel a re. She knew very well that Jayson would help her get back at Ariel this time. Ariel had destroyed the final shred of patience he had for her. Ariel did not regret her actions. Nancy was trying to take away a precious opportunity from Leonard, and Ariel would not allow it. She could not be bothered if Jayson would punish her for what she had done earlier. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have hit her.¡± Jayson stared at her with those dark eyes. His voice was cold and distant, but he radiated an overwhelming presence despite not shouting at all. Ariel could not help but think that Jayson must have felt terribly sorry for Nancy. He was probably trying to think of a way to punish her in Nancy¡¯s stead. Ariel smiled slightly. ¡°What¡¯s done is done. What do you think we should do now, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson stared at Ariel for a while without a word. Suddenly, he lifted his hand and swept back a few strands of hair that fell over Ariel¡¯s cheeks. His voice was frigid, even though his movements were gentle. ¡°Ariel, I¡¯ll meet you at the courthouse on Monday at 9:00 am.¡± Inside 175 Chapter 175 Ariel met Jayson¡¯s gaze. There was a look of indifference in those eyes. He was waiting for Ariel¡¯s reply. Honestly, Ariel was not that surprised to see Jayson react this way. He probably thought Ariel had crossed the line with what she did today. Ariel had already signed the divorce agreement two months ago. Finally, Jayson had informed her of the time and date for them to proceed with the divorce procedures. However, it was because of Nancy that Jayson finally decided to end their rtionship cleanly and stop wasting each other¡¯s time. ¡°Yeah, sure.¡± Ariel nodded. They should have done it a long time ago. Everything would be resolved as soon as they visited the courthouse and got divorced. It was Saturday today, and the courthouse was closed for the day. Otherwise, Ariel was sure Jayson would want to head over and settle the procedures immediately. Upon seeing how calm she appeared, Jayson scoffed. ¡°Alright. Don¡¯t bete.¡± He paused briefly and continued, ¡°As for the spot for the liver transnt operation¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m not giving away that spot. With how capable you are, I¡¯m sure you can think of some other ways to resolve your issues.¡± This was what Ariel was concerned about now. Jayson had agreed to meet at the courthouse andplete the divorce procedures. However, he might not back down regarding the matter of the transnt operation. Ariel¡¯s eyes turned red at the thought of that. Yet, she kept her gaze fixed on Jayson. She was fiercely stubborn. Jayson looked at her silently for quite some time. Eventually, he said, ¡°Fine, you can have the spot for the liver transnt operation. You don¡¯t have to worry about that anymore.¡± This time, Ariel was sincerely shocked. She had hit Nancy right in front of Jayson¡¯s eyes just now. Yet, he decided to return the spot to her. Judging by Nancy¡¯s attitude earlier, she would never agree to it. However, Jayson did not offer any exnation. He turned around and strode off. Ariel sighed in relief as she watched his receding figure. She could not tell what Jayson was thinking. However, they had set the time and date to meet at the courthouse. Ariel could not care less about anything else. Nothing else mattered more than this. Ariel let out a long exhale and snickered. She probably had to thank Nancy since thetter had yed a big role in helping them finalize their divorce. Jayson must care about Nancy a lot. After Ariel had pped Nancy, Jayson finally decided he would not let Ariel impose herself on Nancy again, especially by using her status as his wife. When Ariel checked back with the staff member some timeter, the person told Ariel that Leonard had been given the first priority again. Ariel couldplete the relevant procedures around the end of the month. She was quite surprised that Jayson had really made it happen. Ariel could not fathom how he had managed to persuade Nancy to ept this arrangement. Judging from how she had reacted earlier, Nancy clearly would not agree with this. ¡°Did Jayson perhaps offer Nancy something else topensate her?¡± she pondered. Ariel shook her head and tried not to think too much about it. Ariel did not tell Katie about the incident involving Leonard¡¯s transnt operation. She would not want Katie to get too upset anyway. Everything was good now since the problem had been resolved. As for her hitting Nancy, Ariel had not noticed Jayson or Nancy taking any subsequent actions. It seemed like Nancy had not reported the incident to the police either. Ariel was not exactly worried about it. Nancy did not necessarily have the upper hand if she nned to escte the issue. Moreover, Nancy could not risk revealing her rtionship with Jayson Going to the police meant all those things would be dug up and investigated. Also, one could not expect everyone to be tight¨Clipped. If rumors about the three of them started spreading, it would only hurt Nancy¡¯s reputation. Ariel reckoned Jayson was in a hurry to get divorced because he was upset about her hitting Nancy. Secondly, Jayson was probably trying to make sure Nancy would not be that affected if the words of their rtionship had gotten out. Ariel could not be bothered with what Jayson was nning to do. There was still one more issue she had to tackle. Ariel checked her phone. After she had sent the message to Jaysonst night, Jayson had yet to answer whether he would sell her the emerald ring. Inside 176 Chapter 176 Jayson was busy looking after his future mother¨Cinw. He probably didn¡¯t even have the headspace to reply. The court date was already set, but Ariel still hadn¡¯t gotten Elena¡¯s wedding ring back. Once the divorce was finalized, it would be even harder. Still, Ariel had no desire to deal with Jayson anymore. If he refused to give it back, she¡¯d take him to court. Ariel reached out to Janice and asked her to help find a goodwyer. She¡¯d be bringing thatwyer with her to the courthouse on Monday. If they could settle things peacefully, great. If not, she¡¯d see him in court. She wanted the divorce, and she wanted the Walker family heirloom, too. When Janice heard they were finally finalizing the divorce, her first reaction was to snark, ¡°Divorcing the day after Valentine¡¯s Day? That¡¯s a new one. I¡¯ve never heard of it.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond. She hadn¡¯t told Janice the full story because thetter would surely blow up with her short fuse. Janice, in a good mood, said, ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re finally free. Let¡¯s go out tonight. My treat. We¡¯re celebrating!¡± Ariel, for once, felt rxed. ¡°Sure.¡± On Sunday, at the marital home, Georgia gave Ariel a call. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mr. Zeller dropped off a big box yesterday. He said it¡¯s yours. I took a quick look, and it¡¯s full of unopened men¡¯s clothing. Should I do theundry, or are youing back to iron them?¡± Ariel frowned. She hadn¡¯t expected this. ¡°What clothes?¡± ¡°Mr. Zeller said they were gifts you bought for Mr. Larkin. They¡¯d been sitting in his office. Mr. Zeller said Mr. Larkin thought they were taking up space, so he had them sent back. I guess he wants you to deal with them.¡± Ariel¡¯s head cleared. Right, she had asked Colton to pass some things along to Jayson. No wonder she¡¯d never seen him wear any of it. He must¡¯ve just let them collect dust, Well, this wasn¡¯t her problem anymore. ¡°You can throw them out,¡± Ariel said calmly. Back then, she used to iron all of Jayson¡¯s clothes herself, so Georgia had gotten used to calling her. Georgia sounded surprised. ¡°But they¡¯re all brand new! Some of them even look¡ª¡± ¡°Georgia, don¡¯t ask me about his things from now on,¡± Ariel cut her off. ¡°Handle it however you want.¡± With that, she hung up. She got up and pulled open the curtains, feeling a sudden rity wash over her. On Monday, Ariel got up early and packed everything she needed for the divorce. Jayson had set the appointment for 9:00 am. Her ce was over six miles from the courthouse, and she didn¡¯t want to risk beingte because of traffic. So she grabbed her bag and took the subway. She left at 7:30 am and arrived just before 8:30 am. She wasn¡¯t one to make people wait. It was better to get there a little early. As soon as she arrived, she texted Jayson. ¡°I¡¯m here.¡± She grabbed a queue number and waited in the main hall. Time passed. It was getting close to 9:00 am. Thewyer Janice had hired for her had already shown up, yet there was still no sign of Jayson. Ariel hesitated, then finally gave in and called him. But as soon as the call connected, a robotic voice came through. ¡°Sorry, the number you¡¯ve dialed is no longer in service.¡± Ariel frowned. No longer in service? She tried again but heard the same thing. A knot of dread twisted in her gut. What kind of situation would make a number suddenly go out of service? Just as panic started to set in, Jayson¡¯s cool, detached voice sounded from behind her, ¡°Sorry, I got held up.¡± Inside 177 Chapter 177 Jayson walked in from outside, dressed in a sleek ck overcoat. His sharp features were as emotionless as ever. His gaze fell on Ariel without a trace of what anyone would expect from a man about to finalize a divorce. Behind him were Matt and another man with a polished, , Mr. Larkin¡¯swyer.¡± Ariel gave him a slight nod in return. At her side, herwyer, Vincent Glover, stood up in shock when he saw Edward. ¡°Mr. Graham, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Edward gave him a brief smile in acknowledgment. Eldoria¡¯s legal circle wasn¡¯t that big. Of course, they knew each other. Noticing that Ariel was looking at him, Vincent leaned over to exin quietly, ¡°Mr. Graham is my senior. He runs his own firm now and is one of the best in the country. He usually handles high¨Cstakes financial cases. If he¡¯s here today, we might be in for a long one.¡± Ariel instantly understood what he meant. When he said ¡°a long one¡°, he really meant it wasn¡¯t going to be easy. All she wanted was the ring. But with Edward on the other side, even when Vincent was fighting for her, the odds still didn¡¯t look great. What she couldn¡¯t wrap her head around was that she didn¡¯t even ask for anything in the divorce agreement. So why did Jayson bring in a top¨Ctierwyer today? Did he think there was some loophole in the divorce agreement? Was he afraid she¡¯d pull something shady in the terms? He was guarding himself against her. Jayson sat across from Ariel. Edward opened his briefcase and pulled out a document. Jayson slid it across the table to her and said coldly, ¡°Take a look. If there¡¯s anything else you want, we can add it in.¡± Matt was stunned. He leaned over and whispered, ¡°When did you even write up a divorce agreement? I thought we were going to hash it out on the spot. Jayson said nothing. Ariel opened the file. It was apletely new agreement. Her brows furrowed¨Cnot from the harsh terms, but because Jayson was offering too much. ording to the agreement, he was giving her ten primemercial properties in Eldoria, a billion¨Cdor divorce settlement, and their marital home in the city¡¯s most expensive district worth over 500 million dors. All of it would be hers. The whole thing added up to almost two billion dors. However, Ariel noticed one thing. The properties and the house would be transferred to her name right away. But the one billion dors would be paid in installments over three years. She didn¡¯t quite understand why Jayson structured it like that. She looked up at him. He simply met her gaze and asked, ¡°Anything you¡¯re not happy with?¡± So she could still negotiate? Matt noticed the terms too. He looked at Jayson in disbelief and whispered, ¡°Seriously? You¡¯re giving her all that after everything she did to force you into this marriage? What for?¡± Why the hell had he gone through the trouble of bringing in Edward, then? Whether Jayson was technically at fault or not, he could¡¯ve left Ariel with nothing. Once the divorce went through, how far could she really go? She was just a woman with a bachelor¡¯s degree who spent three years as a housewife. It wasn¡¯t even guaranteed Chad would keep her around for long. Without real skills, she might not evenst in a basic assistant job. Eventually, she¡¯d realize that she was nobody without Jayson. Jayson showed no reaction to Matt¡¯s words. His expression was calm and unreadable. Ariel was still frowning. She couldn¡¯t figure out what Jayson was trying to do. She hit Nancy, which angered him enough to go through with the divorce. Shouldn¡¯t he be teaching her a lesson? Instead, he was handing her a lifetime of financial freedom. Was this his version of making amends? Ariel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. She just asked one thing, ¡°When does the house transfer happen?¡± ¡°Once the divorce is finalized.¡± ¡°Alright. Got it.¡± Ariel nodded. Matt looked genuinely thrown. Inside 178 Ariel was surprisingly businesslike. She waspletely emotionless, like it was just another business meeting. But soon, she frowned. That brief thought that maybe Jayson was being kind vanished as she spotted two more conditions in the agreement. One said she couldn¡¯t tell Betty the truth about the divorce for a whole year. The other forbade her from ever revealing to anyone that they¡¯d been married for three years or disclosing the exact date of their divorce without Jayson¡¯s permission. If she broke these terms, Jayson had the right to protect his reputation and image, reim all the properties, shops, andpensation he¡¯d given her. On top of that, he could demand reasonablepensation from her. And thepensation would be entirely up to Jayson. Ariel¡¯s fingers slowly curled tighter as she looked up at him. ¡°What does this mean?¡± Jayson met her gaze evenly. ¡°Which part don¡¯t you understand? Do you want Mr. Graham to exin it to you?¡± ¡°Why can¡¯t I tell Grandma the truth?¡± ¡°She¡¯s not in good health. I hope you can understand.¡± Ariel took a deep breath. ¡°And the other one?¡± Jayson raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°It¡¯s literal.¡± Ariel almostughed because she knew exactly what that use was about. He was forbidding her from telling anyone they¡¯d been married or when the divorce happened not for any other reason, but to protect Nancy¡¯s spotless reputation. No one would know Nancy was the homewrecker. The fact of her interference would be erased. Jayson really had gone all out for Nancy. ¡°What if I don¡¯t agree?¡± Ariel exhaled slowly and asked calmly. ¡°If you agree, this ring goes back to you.¡± Jayson casually ced an elegant, vintage ring box on the table. Ariel stared at the box and immediately recognized it as the Walker family¡¯s heirloom ring. She never expected this. Bringing Vincent here to negotiate returning the ring was a wasted effort. Jayson was using this ring to threaten her. A chill ran down Ariel¡¯s spine. Because now she wasn¡¯t sure if Jayson had bought that ring at the charity auction with no hidden agenda or if he¡¯d nned all along to use it against her. That use meant she couldn¡¯t tell Betty the truth. She had to y along with Jayson¡¯s act, which meant that she would lose a part of her freedom. The other use was even more of an invisible pressure. She, the legal wife, was now expected to protect the reputation and image of his mistress. Ariel finally understood now. All the generous benefits in Jayson¡¯s agreement were just bargaining chips to keep Nancy safe. What looked like generosity was really just money spent to keep Nancy out of trouble. Her chest rose and fell quietly, her face expressionless. ¡°Ms. Walker, what are you hesitating for? Sign it.¡± Matt grinned, clearly enjoying the drama. He could see it in as day. Ariel didn¡¯t actually want the divorce. She was just stirring things up to get Jayson¡¯s attention. He was curious to see how far she¡¯d take the act. 1 Vincent leaned closer and said, ¡°Ms. Walker, if you¡¯re not happy with the terms, you don¡¯t have to sign today. I can talk with Mr. Larkin and try to negotiate better terms for you.¡® Of course, Vincent could see the reality here. Jayson¡¯s wealth might be immeasurable, but he was a businessman. Getting that much money out of him was nearly impossible unless he was willing. It all came down to whether Ariel could ept Jayson¡¯s terms. Ariel lowered her gaze. If she were the woman she used to be, there was no way she¡¯d ept those two conditions. They felt like an insult, and she would¡¯ve refused to sign in a heartbeat. But things weren¡¯t the same anymore. Her health was deteriorating. She didn¡¯t have the time or energy to waste battling Jayson. ¡°Give me the pen.¡® 11 Ariel made her decision in the blink of an eye. She borrowed a pen from Vincent and signed her name decisively right there in front of Jayson. Her expression was cold, and her movements were sharp and sure. Matt¡¯s smile suddenly froze. The oue he was so sure of had shattered. He stared at Ariel in disbelief. She signed it? She actually signed it? Inside 179 Unlike Matt, who was stunned, Jayson¡¯s face showed no reaction at all. His gaze was unreadable, resting thoughtfully on Ariel. Ariel had already set the pen down. No wonder Jayson brought out a brand¨Cnew divorce agreement. He wanted to keep full control of the negotiation from the start and bind her with his own rules. But it didn¡¯t matter now. She didn¡¯t care enough to fight anymore. As long as she could finalize the divorce quickly, she was willing to go along with anything. She pushed the agreement back toward Jayson. ¡°Can we proceed now?¡± Jayson nced at the signature and then looked up. ¡°Yes.¡± It wasn¡¯t often couples negotiated like this at the courthouse. After going through the process, the judge nced up at them. ¡°Do you have children?¡± Ariel¡¯s throat tightened before replying, ¡°No.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t react. But Matt curled his lip in disdain. Ariel might¡¯ve wanted kids, but Jayson never gave her the chance. ¡°Alright. The documents you¡¯ve submitted will be reviewed. Once approved, the 30¨Cday cooling¨Coff period will begin from the date the divorce application is received. ¡°During that time, if either party changes their mind, the application can be withdrawn. Please make sure you¡¯ve both fully considered this decision.¡± Ariel already knew this part. She understood that finalizing the divorce would take at least another month. But that was fine. She could wait for another 30 days. ¡°Thank you. But there¡¯s nothing more to consider,¡± she said calmly. Jayson nced sideways at her. After theypleted the process, Vincent checked the time. ¡°Ms. Walker, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± Vincent chatted briefly with Edward, then left. Ariel stood at the courthouse steps, pulling her cor tight as she walked down. A chill still lingered in the spring air, and ayer of invisible frost coated the steps. Her foot slipped. Fortunately, a hand reached out from behind, steadying her. Her handnded in a man¡¯s. The warmth around her fingers was oddlyforting. For a moment, it looked like they were walking out of the courthouse hand in hand. To a stranger, it might have looked like they just got married. Ariel turned to look. Jayson had walked up behind her. When he was sure that she had steadied herself, he nced down at their joined hands before slowly letting go. ¡°I¡¯ll have someone drive you. Don¡¯t call a ride.¡± Ariel withdrew her hand and replied politely but coldly, ¡°That¡¯s unnecessary. I¡¯ll manage.¡± Jayson gave her a look. ¡°Ariel, no need to be so stubborn. It¡¯s cold. Go home early.¡± She pressed her lips together and said nothing else. Jayson called for the car. Ariel didn¡¯t argue. She opened the door and got in herself. When she saw Colton driving, she said without looking up, ¡°To Faye Tech. Thanks.¡± She was decisive, saying nothing more than necessary. Outside, the three men watched the whole thing. She didn¡¯t even nce back. That wasn¡¯t what Matt had expected at all. He came along because he thought today would be a spectacle¡ªAriel begging Jayson to stay, refusing to sign, and crying not to go through with the divorce. What happened to Ariel? Watching the Bentley drive off, Matt turned to Jayson. ¡°This is weird. Don¡¯t you think that was a little off?¡± Jayson kept his expression cold. He lit a cigarette and stared in the direction the car had gone. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Even Edward gave Matt a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Guess you were wrong this time. Didn¡¯t you say she¡¯d never agree to the divorce? She signed faster than anyone I¡¯ve seen.¡± Matt couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. He was so sure Ariel wouldn¡¯t agree to the divorce that he brought Edward along to block anyst¨Cminute resistance. Who would¡¯ve expected it to go this smoothly? Ariel didn¡¯t say a single unnecessary word the entire time. Matt thought for a moment, then asked curiously, ¡°Are you two considered divorced during the cooling¨Coff period?¡± 2 Inside 180 Chapter 180 This time, Edward answered Matt¡¯s question, ¡°No, they¡¯ll have to wait for the 30 days to pass. That¡¯s a necessary stage of the process.¡± Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°So that means she gets a free month. Jayson, this policy is quite frustrating, huh?¡± Jayson seemed unconcerned with the details. He turned to Edward. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Graham. How about we have a simple meal togetherter?¡± Edward agreed. Matt became the driver. After getting in the car, he suddenly remembered something and asked, ¡°Jayson, why did you change your number all of a sudden?¡± Without looking up from his phone, Jayson replied, ¡°Work needs.¡± Matt shrugged and didn¡¯t press further. Ariel actually had some attachment to the marital home. After all, every detail was touched by her care. But many unpleasant memories lived there too. Even though Jayson had given the house to her, she had no ns to move back. Yet, there were still many of Jayson¡¯s things there. And the study she was never allowed to enter held many of his important belongings. She had forgotten to ask when Jayson nned to move out. After thinking it over, Ariel decided he should clear out as soon as possible. Transferring the property title and handling other matters would only get moreplicatedter. She tried calling. ¡°Sorry, the number you¡¯ve dialed is no longer in service.¡± That same robotic voice again. Ariel¡¯s eyes cooled as she looked at Colton ahead. ¡°Why can¡¯t I reach Jayson?¡± Colton nced at her through the rearview mirror. ¡°Mr. Larkin changed his number on Valentine¡¯s Day. He no longer uses that one. Didn¡¯t he tell you?¡± Ariel was briefly taken aback but stayed silent. She was surprised. He¡¯d evenpletely changed his number. Jayson seemed even more eager than she was to cut ties with the past. She suddenly thought of couples who delete the opposite sex from social media to please their partners. Would Jayson¡¯s action count as something like that? Ariel asked calmly, ¡°How do I contact him when it¡¯s time to get the divorce certificate?¡± Colton answered in a businesslike tone, ¡°Mr. Larkin probably has other arrangements. You should make an appointment directly with him. Maybe he¡¯ll give you the new number if he¡¯s in a good mood.¡± Ariel frowned. In the end, she¡¯d still have to wait for Jayson to notify her. She rubbed her temple and looked quietly out the window. This problem probably wasn¡¯t hers to worry about. When it was time to collect the divorce certificate, Jayson would probably be more anxious than she was. Colton watched Ariel¡¯s expression through the rearview mirror. It was calm and cold. She wasn¡¯t even upset that he changed his number without telling her. Colton silently shook his head. But really, even if Ariel was angry, what good would it do? She still had to wait for Jayson to make a move. Even if she had urgent matters, she¡¯d have to figure out how to contact him herself. Afterpleting the divorce application, Ariel returned to Faye Technologies. Janice had nned to apany her to the courthouse, but Ariel refused. Now, Janice was anxiously waiting in the office. As soon as Ariel walked in, Janice rushed up and pulled her inside. ¡°How did it go? Did it go smoothly?¡± Ariel hesitated for a few seconds, recalling Jayson¡¯s two special demands, but finally nodded. ¡°The registration is submitted. We have to wait a month for it to be processed.¡± Janice frowned. ¡°There are so many rules these days!¡± Ariel didn¡¯t mind that. Janice suggested they have a dinner gathering tonight. Ariel agreed. She took the core employees of Faye Technologies to Velvet Fork. At Velvet Fork, Chad¡¯s face looked odd after he returned from the restroom. Janice leaned in. ¡°What¡¯s with the face, Chad? You take a hit or something?¡± Chad shot her a re and pulled out his phone to show her and Ariel. ¡°Look. Your ex¨Chusband is really something else.¡± Inside 181 Ariel nced at Chad¡¯s phone screen. It was an Instagram post from Matt. He posted nine photos showing a party at some upscale club with wine, champagne, and everyone clearly having a great time. Thest photo caught her attention. In a corner, Jayson satzily in a chair while Nancy leaned in close, speaking to him with a gentle smile. They shared a look and a smile. The moment looked picture¨Cperfect. Anyone looking at it could tell that there was definitely something going on between them. The boldest part, though, was Matt¡¯s caption. ¡°Good days call for champagne! Mr. Larkin is picking up the tab for everyone tonight!¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes showed no reaction. But Janice mmed the table. ¡°What the hell is this? They¡¯re celebrating now?¡± This felt like a tant celebration of the divorce. On the very night the divorce paperwork was filed, Jayson was already throwing a party? ¡°Jayson and Nancy sure look cozy,¡± Chad muttered with a frown, then he scoffed. ¡°Are they holding a promotion ceremony for her now?¡± Janice fumed. ¡°They were married for years! No one expects him to be crying over it, but couldn¡¯t he at least keep it low¨Ckey? How could he throw a party the same night? Doesn¡¯t he care how Ari feels at all? That¡¯s just heartless! 11 Honestly, who wouldn¡¯t be mad about something like this? Jayson was only picking on Ariel because she was too nice. At that thought, Janice turned to look at Ariel, only to find her unmoved. She had only nced at the screen once before looking away, like she was an outsider. ¡°That¡¯s their business.¡± She put her fork down. ¡°It has nothing to do with me anymore.¡± Janice let out a breath, though her voice was still indignant. ¡°But they still crossed the line¡­¡± Chad tapped the table, raising a brow. ¡°Well, now that you¡¯ve filed for divorce, there¡¯s no reason to protect their reputations anymore, right? Why let Nancy keep basking in the spotlight as the official girlfriend? Why not just expose her for what she is? Jayson can¡¯t touch you now anyway.¡± Ariel paused, then shook her head. ¡°Jayson has already prepared for what you can think of. He made me sign an agreement barring me from revealing anything about our marriage or divorce to the public. Jayson ns ten steps ahead. He shut down every possible threat to Nancy before it could happen.¡± That agreement was Jayson¡¯s preemptive move. No matter what he or Nancy did, Ariel had no choice but to look away. Then again, she didn¡¯t care anymore. Even if Jayson hadn¡¯t made her sign that agreement, she wasn¡¯t about to waste time on petty revenge. Her time and energy were tied to her very life. Anything she chose to do would be a top priority in her life n. Everyone else was just passing through. Janice and Chad were both stunned. They hadn¡¯t expected that. Janice finally blurted, ¡°That sneaky bastard!¡± He was practically guarding Nancy like she was a national treasure. Chad gave Ariel¡¯s shoulder a pat. ¡°Good riddance. Cut off the scumbag and lock up your heart. A thriving career is the real source of happiness. With money in hand, you can find any kind of man you like.¡± Ariel smiled faintly. ¡°Couldn¡¯t agree more.¡± Chad checked the time. ¡°Our project¡¯s going live Saturday. My old man wants to have dinner with you. Can youe after work Wednesday?¡± Ariel knew Carlos had been following their project closely. She nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± After dinner, Ariel stopped by Katie¡¯s house with the emerald ring. Katie hadn¡¯t expected to see the ring again in her lifetime. She asked how Ariel had found it. Ariel simply gave a faint smile and said, ¡°Just a lucky coincidence.¡± She didn¡¯t mention the string of events the ring had set off. Inside 182 There was no way Ariel could exin to Katie how Jayson had once fought her over this ring for Nancy¡¯s sake or how he had used it to pressure her into signing the divorce agreement. If she said all that, Katie might get so upset she¡¯d fall ill again. Still, Ariel did mention one thing. ¡°I¡¯ve filed for divorce. It¡¯ll be finalized in a month.¡± Katie paused for a long moment. Then she finally exhaled and nodded. ¡°As long as things are settled. But Ari, was it just irreconcble differences? Or did something happen?¡± Ariel had long since learned to handle this kind of question. ¡°We couldn¡¯t build a connection. Rather than keep dragging it out, we figured we shouldn¡¯t waste each other¡¯s time.¡± Katie¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°Is it because you didn¡¯t give him a child after three years?¡± ¡°Grandma, you¡¯re overthinking. Jayson never cared about that,¡± Ariel replied with a light shake of her head. If it had only been about children, it wouldn¡¯t have ended this way. Besides, Jayson had never even nned for her to carry his child. Katie had expected Ariel to be downcast. But watching her now, she could tell that Ariel truly had let go. She finally felt reassured. She reached out and gently patted Ariel¡¯s hand. ¡°As long as you¡¯re okay, I¡¯ll support whatever decision you Ariel smiled, a softness flickering through her calm eyes. make.¡® She stayed with Katie for the night and also exined Leonard¡¯s situation. The liver match had been confirmed, and now they were just waiting for a surgery date. For the Walker family, Ariel¡¯s divorce and Leonard¡¯s liver match felt like a double win. On Wednesday morning, Ariel made a call to Georgia. ¡°Georgia, I can¡¯t get in touch with Jayson. Could you let him know he needs to clear out his things from the study as soon as possible?¡± Georgia didn¡¯t quite understand what this meant but agreed nheless. When Jayson received the call, he was in an elevator at Bluum Corp. Georgia said over the phone, ¡°Mr. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin asked me to ry something. Do you have a minute?¡± The enclosed elevator space made it easy for others to overhear the conversation. The executives around him nced at each other. Mrs. Larkin? What was that about? Jayson stood with one hand in his pocket. ¡°Got it. Tell her I¡¯ll take care of it when I have time.¡± ¡°Do you have any message for Mrs. Larkin in return?¡± Georgia asked. ¡°No.¡± He then ended the call. One of the executives chuckled. ¡°Mr. Larkin, is the wedding with Ms. Stantoning up? You¡¯re already calling her Mrs. Larkin? That was about Ms. Stanton, right?¡± Something crossed Jayson¡¯s mind, and a faint smile tugged at his lips. He didn¡¯t respond, but he didn¡¯t deny it either.. Back on Ariel¡¯s end, Georgia called her back. Once she ryed Jayson¡¯s response, Ariel understood that Jayson had clearly given his new number to everyone around him¡ªeven Georgia had it. Everyone but her. Then again, it made sense. He probably figured there was no reason for them to speak again. ¡°He didn¡¯t say when he¡¯de by?¡± Ariel asked. ¡°No. Do you need anything packed up? I coulde by and help.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Ariel¡¯s voice was calm. Those were Jayson¡¯s things. She had no right to make the decision for him. As for the marital home, she had no intention of staying there. She nned to sell it once Jayson cleared out. She¡¯d put a lot of care into decorating that ce. But in the end, it was just a lifeless shell. To her, it meant nothing now. ¡­ By evening, Ariel went with Chad to a fine dining restaurant to meet Carlos. As Chad parked the car and they headed inside together, they didn¡¯t expect to run into Jayson and Nancy just before reaching the private room. Ariel nced up calmly and couldn¡¯t help but see what was right in front of her. Nancy was resting a hand on Jayson¡¯s arm as she bent down to straighten her outfit. Inside 183 Chapter 183 Jayson looked up, his gaze locking on Ariel. She looked surprisingly well. She was wearing light makeup and a tan¨Ccolored belted coat that ttered her graceful figure. She stood there calmly, with a serene expression in her eyes. Ariel noticed Jayson looking at her, but she didn¡¯t return the gaze. Instead, she nced at her phone to check the time. They were right on schedule. Next to her, Chad raised his brows and smiled. ¡°Well, what a coincidence, Mr. Larkin. Are you here for dinner?¡± Upon hearing his voice, Nancy finally looked up from adjusting her clothes. The moment she saw Ariel, her gentle features instantly frosted over. If she hadn¡¯t been waiting for Jayson to finalize the divorce, she would¡¯ve already found a way to make Ariel spend a few days behind bars. Still, her hand resting in the crook of Jayson¡¯s arm remained there. Jayson nodded, then casually offered, ¡°We¡¯re meeting some friends for dinner. Mr. Hockney, if you don¡¯t mind, why not join us?¡± He didn¡¯t seem to care that Chad had Ariel with him. Nancy nced up at Jayson, frowning slightly, then immediately understood. Jayson was just being polite to Chad. He¡¯d just divorced Ariel. There was no way he¡¯d actually want to share a dinner table with her. That would be awkward as hell. Smiling, Chad replied politely, ¡°Sorry, not tonight. I¡¯ve already got ns. But next time, for sure.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t seem surprised. He gave a nod of cool courtesy. ¡°Then I won¡¯t keep you.¡± The entire exchange passed without Jayson sparing Ariel a single word. She didn¡¯t care either. She simply continued walking with Chad. Just then, from the other side of the staircase, Matt and Perry wereing up. Ariel passed right by them. Matt raised a brow. He knew Ariel would find a way to show up and get attention. He was just about to greet her, but her eyes drifted past him indifferently. There wasn¡¯t even an extra nce. Matt blinked, stunned. He turned to watch her and Chad enter a private room. As the door swung open for a second, he caught a glimpse of the person inside. He frowned immediately, and his expression turned serious. Carlos? Was it Carlos in that room? Perry pressed his lips together and nced in the direction Ariel had gone. He had only just found out at that party the other day that Ariel had filed for divorce from Jayson. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if she was heartbroken. But just now? There was no trace of sadness on her face. Noticing Matt staring at the private room, Nancy walked over and asked, ¡°Matt, what are you staring at?¡± He frowned. ¡°I saw Mr. Carlos.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression shifted slightly. ¡°Where?¡± Matt pointed to the private room Ariel had just entered. He couldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°I¡¯m telling you, it¡¯s just the three of them in there. Ariel¡¯s having dinner with Mr. Carlos?¡± Nancy frowned instinctively and dismissed his words. ¡°No way. With Mr. Carlos¡® status, even a high¨Cranking official has to wait on his mood to meet him, let alone Ariel.¡± But she still looked over. The door hadn¡¯t shut all the way yet. She saw Ariel walking over to Carlos, bending slightly to present him with a gift she¡¯d brought. Nancy¡¯s lips twitched. So it turned out Ariel was just there to tter and curry favor. ¡°I don¡¯t get it. Why would Mr. Chad bring Ariel to meet Mr. Carlos? Is there something shady going on?¡± Matt walked up to Jayson, puzzled. Jayson showed no surprise. He simply turned and started walking to their own room. ¡°Why don¡¯t you go ask them? 11 Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°That¡¯s a private meeting. If I barge in, I¡¯ll just get on Mr. Carlos¡® nerves. Might as well let Nancy go over and say hi.¡± Nancy pressed her lips together. She had met Carlos once, but it hadn¡¯t gone well. He clearly wasn¡¯t interested in her, and certainly not in helping her with her thesis. She had tried several times afterward to get another meeting, but it only got harde Inside 184 Now that Ariel couldnd a dinner with Carlos just through her connection to Chad, Nancy couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of contempt. ¡°I just saw her giving Mr. Carlos a gift,¡± she said casually after taking her seat. ¡°A gift?¡± Mattughed. ¡°What¡¯s that going to do for her? Giving her an opportunity is like handing a top¨Ctier university¡¯s eptance letter to someone who can¡¯t even read. It¡¯d be a total waste.¡± She was a housewife with only a bachelor¡¯s degree. The only reason she even got to meet Carlos was because Chad was obviously blinded by lust. Even if Chad wanted to polish her image, Ariel had to be capable of being polished. Nancy nced at Matt with amusement. ¡°You really don¡¯t sugarcoat it, huh?¡± He shrugged. ¡°Truth tends to sound harsh.¡± Then he turned to Jayson. ¡°Jaydon, what do you think Chad¡¯s trying to do? Why did he bring Ariel to meet his dad? Has something been going on between them?¡± ¡°No,¡± Jayson dismissed Matt¡¯s assumption. Nancy couldn¡¯t help watching him closely to look for any flicker of emotion. Thankfully, there wasn¡¯t any¨Cjust cold indifference. But then again, it made sense. Coming from a family like Chad¡¯s, where everyone was a heavyweight in national scientific research, how could he possibly fall for someone like Ariel? Jayson took a sip of tea. ¡°Faye Tech has a new projecting up. Ever wonder why they¡¯re meeting with Mr. Carlos now?¡± Perry finally chimed in, ¡°Their past projects never had this kind of lineup. Either Mr. Carlos is personally overseeing the technical side, or it¡¯s a government¨Cprioritized initiative.¡± Nancy¡¯s face grew serious. ¡°You¡¯re saying it¡¯s likely Mr. Carlos is involved behind the scenes?¡± Perry only said, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± But even as he said that, doubt lingered in his mind. If Carlos really was backing the project, it should have been a major industry breakthrough. Opportunities like that didn¡¯te often. Perry looked over at Jayson, who had remained calm andposed throughout. Suddenly, he asked, ¡°By the way, when will your divorce be finalized?¡± His one sentence made Nancy look at Jayson too. Jayson raised his brow slightly. ¡°Around a month from now. Why ask?¡± Perry leaned back, turning his phone in his hand. ¡°No reason. It just seems like it¡¯s been dragging on for a while.¡± Meanwhile, things were going smoothly on Ariel¡¯s side. Beforeing, she¡¯d gone out of her way to buy some of Carlos¡® favorite desserts. He was clearly in a good mood now. She and Chad told Carlos about the tech innovations in Faye Technologies¡® new project. Carlos pushed up his sses and gave a slight nod. ¡°You¡¯ve finally put that brain of yours to good use. If you¡¯d spent even half the energy on your career that you wasted on men, you¡¯d be world¨Crenowned by now.¡± Ariel had noeback for that. Chad picked up a bite of food and said, ¡°Old man, don¡¯t gaslight her. If she really goes all¨Cin on her career and gives up marriage and kids, her grandma wille after you with a broom.¡± ¡°Ariel¡¯s not like you. She¡¯s got vision. No matter how it turns out, at least she¡¯s experienced love. You, on the other hand, have been a lifelong bachelor. And you don¡¯t even seem embarrassed about it.¡± Carlos scoffed. Chad was rendered speechless. Fine. Guess he should shut up and behave today. Ariel chuckled softly. Then Carlos asked, ¡°Will Ariel be credited as the lead on this project?¡± That was a real question. She had taken the lead, been involved from the ground up, and essentially carried the entire development on her own. But if she epted credit publicly, it would confirm that she was the core of Faye Technologies. Plus, the non¨Cdisclosure agreement wasn¡¯t up yet. There were a lot of constraints still in ce. ¡°Of course, she will,¡± Chad said without hesitation. ¡°She led the whole thing. How does it make sense to show everyone else¡¯s faces except hers?¡± And honestly, it was time people saw how truly capable Ariel was. Ariel herself didn¡¯t seem to care too much. She lowered her gaze and thought for MUNDO a took a deep breath. Suddenly, she looked at Carlos and sald, possible?¡± -7 ment, t Tos, I¡¯d like to apply to be your graduate student. Is it still¡­ Inside 185 Chapter 185 Ariel had thought this decision over carefully. She had given up on herself too early over the years, bing a sacrifice for the Sanderson family, for Lucas, andter for Jayson. She¡¯d never truly lived for herself. How could she not have dreams or ambitions? Now that she had finally woken up to that truth, time was more precious than gold to her. Whether or not she got epted, whether or not she could continue research and advanced studies, she wanted to try again. Chad paused, looking at Ariel in surprise. Carlos took a moment before reacting, then pounded the table. ¡°Of course! What¡¯s impossible about it? No matter howte in life, it¡¯s never toote to start over!¡°. He couldn¡¯t hold back a smile but quickly masked it with a cold snort. ¡°You don¡¯t be my graduate student just by saying so. Don¡¯t be overconfident!¡± ¡°Exactly, why not pick another professor? This old man hasn¡¯t taken on any students in three years. Who knows if he¡¯s even still good enough?¡± Chad teased, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Brat, don¡¯t butt in where you¡¯re not wanted!¡± Carlos pped the table again. Ariel watched this scene, smiling gently. It was rare to feel so at ease. Once Faye Technologies¡® project was underway, she¡¯d start preparing for the graduate degree. Whether her cancer could be cured or not, as long as she had the energy, she wouldn¡¯t leave regrets behind. On Thursday morning, after finishing a project nning meeting with Chad and Noah, Ariel received a call from Colton. ¡°Ms. Walker, do you have time this noon? Mr. Larkin has arranged for property ownership transfer and rted matters that require your signature.¡± Ariel checked the time. It was already past 11:00 am, toote to authorize Vincent, so she agreed. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m avable. Where exactly?¡± Colton¡¯s tone remained unchanged. ¡°Pleasee to Bluum Corp¡¯s CEO¡¯s office around 12:00 pm.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Ariel replied. The divorce process was tedious but necessary. At the courthouse, Jayson said the property transfer would happen. after their divorce was finalized. She thought the title change would take a while, but to her surprise, she was already notified. Ariel skipped lunch and took the subway straight to Bluum Corp Tower. Probably under the CEO¡¯s office¡¯s instruction, once inside, she was taken straight to the top floor. She met Colton at the entrance. He gestured for her to enter. ¡°Mr. Larkin is still in a meeting. Would you mind waiting a moment, Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel frowned slightly. Jayson had scheduled 12:00 pm, and she was exactly on time, yet he was still in a meeting? ¡°Does it matter? He won¡¯t exactly cut his meeting short,¡± Ariel said calmly, without the usual polite excuses. Colton was momentarily taken aback. He had never seen Ariel so sharp before. All the patience and care she had shown Jayson before were nowpletely gone. Her attitude changed right after the divorce. There was no denying that she was a great actress. Colton said with a poker face, ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± Ariel was brought to Jayson¡¯s office. It was kind of funny. She had worked at Bluum Corp for three years but had never been allowed inside Jayson¡¯s office. Now that they were divorced, she coulde in. Ariel entered and sat down on the ck leather couch in the waiting area. Just as she settled, her gaze caught the open door of the lounge across from her, where a cream¨Ccolored women¡¯s suit was hanging on a coat rack. In an office with such cool¨Ctoned decor and a heavy work atmosphere, that suit looked especially out of ce. It was obvious the woman who owned it was not only allowed free ess to the office but had even used the private lounge. Ariel nced once but immediately turned her gaze away, uninterested. ¡± ¡°Ms. Walker, have some coffee.¡± A secretary brought her a cup. Ariel nodded and thanked her. She nced at the coffee but didn¡¯t touch it. She waited nearly half an hour before footsteps came down the hallway outside. When the door opened, Ariel turned around. Jayson walked in, speaking into his phone in a calm, low voice, ¡°I¡¯lle when I¡¯m done.¡± Jayson was on a video call. Inside 186 Jayson was on a video call. Nancy¡¯s soft, melodiousughter floated out. They must have been having a pleasant conversation earlier. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll wait for you,¡± she said. Jayson suddenly paused mid¨Cstep. When he looked up, he saw Ariel sitting across the room. His expression remained calm as he lowered his gaze and said to the other end of the call, ¡°I have a guest. Let¡¯s talkter.¡± Ariel felt nothing in particr about being called a guest. But she did begin to doubt something. If Jayson had juste out of a meeting, he wouldn¡¯t be on a video call with Nancy so soon. And judging by the tone of their conversation, they had clearly been chatting for a while. Which meant Jayson had probably ended his meeting a while ago. He had just gotten so caught up on the phone with Nancy that he forgot Ariel was waiting for him. After hanging up, he walked in with long strides. ¡°Have Mr. Grahame in,¡± he instructed, then finally sat across from Ariel. Looking at her with a raised brow, he asked, ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± ¡°Mr. Larkin, you should be more mindful of time next time.¡± Ariel nced at her watch, a trace of annoyance in her eyes. Jayson caught it. His pupils narrowed slightly, and his gaze lingered on her face for a long moment. Then, a faint, unreadable smile tugged at the corners of his lips. He called Colton back in. ¡°Bring Ariel a cup of tea.¡± Colton noticed the untouched coffee on the table. He hesitated, then nodded. ¡°Yes, Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t move. She didn¡¯t respond with courtesy or say a word. When Edward came in, he found the two of them sitting in silence. But Jayson was staring at Ariel with a pensive expression. Edward cleared his throat and pulled out a stack of papers. ¡°We meet again, Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel gave him a polite nod. Edwardid out the contract. ¡°Just sign here. The other copies are the same.¡± Ariel had spent years in the PR department, so she was well¨Cversed in contracts. She carefully confirmed there were no issues before signing her name. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Graham.¡± She offered her thanks and stood up. Edward gave a small smile. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Jayson also stood. Adjusting the buttons on his suit, he said calmly, ¡°If anythinges up, feel free to contact me. Ariel picked up her bag. ¡°No need. Just make sure to clear out anything important from the house when you have time.¡± She didn¡¯t even have Jayson¡¯s new number to contact him. And truthfully, she didn¡¯t see any reason why she¡¯d ever need it. Jayson looked at her and replied tly, ¡°Alright. Are you heading back to Faye Tech? I can drop you off.¡± ¡°No need. I¡¯ll take the subway.¡± Ariel declined, clean and firm. She didn¡¯t care if Jayson was just being polite. Even if it was a bit of a walk to the nearest station, there was no reason to get in his car. After a polite goodbye to Edward, she left. Jayson turned slightly, watching her back as she walked away, then walked out with Edward. Edward nced at him and said, ¡°You two are kind of strange.¡± Jayson¡¯s expression was calm. ¡°How so?¡± Edward replied, ¡°I¡¯ve seen a lot of divorcing couples. Most of them never split on good terms. There¡¯s always fighting, yelling, and ming each other. ¡°At best, they ignore each other, but even then, you can still see the hatred on their faces. But you two¡­ You¡¯re calm and distant. I don¡¯t see any love or hate.¡± Even business partners would argue when their ideas sh, let alone a married couple. ther ex But the two of them, after all those years of marriage, treated each other even more coldly than strangers. Jayson responded calmly, ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t notice.¡± Edward couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. No wonder. Jayson had never really taken Ariel seriously. So naturally, he wouldn¡¯t notice her emotions. When Ariel returned to Faye Technologies, Chad told her to make a trip to Westcrest International School tomorrow. 2 Inside 187 Chad was an alumnus of Westcrest International School. As an honored graduate, he was invited back to give a speech to the soon¨Cto¨Cbe high school graduates. Faye Technologies had a new project about tounch, and this stage required investment. Many influential figures from the investment world would attend the Westcrest event, so it was a great opportunity for publicity and fundraising. As a key team member, Ariel naturally apanied Chad. Westcrest was a top¨Cranked international school in Eldoria. Its students were mostly wealthy or from affluent families. Although Ariel didn¡¯t graduate from there, she had been to the school twice to attend parent¨Cteacher meetings for Renee. Chad¡¯s car pulled into the campus. They got out, and many senior students were already filing into the auditorium. As a respected figure in the aerospace academic circle, Chad was immediately greeted by people once he stepped out. Ariel quietly stood by the side. Just as she was about to climb the stairs, Renee spotted her from a distance and rushed over in surprise. ¡°Ariel? What are you doing here?¡± Ariel nced back with a cold expression, saying nothing. Renee stomped her foot in frustration. ¡°What are you doing at my school? Go home! Don¡¯t embarrass me! Everyone here today is influential! You don¡¯t belong here!¡± She was clearly unhappy. Today wasn¡¯t just a gathering of influential people invited by the school; parents of the students were also attending. What could Ariel possibly show off? She had little education, spent her time in the kitchen, and had no impressive skills to earn anyone¡¯s respect. If anyone asked, Renee wouldn¡¯t even dare admit she was her sister¨Cinw. Jayson had promised not to bring Ariel here but instead to bring Nancy to make her look good. At that moment, a curious ssmate walked over and asked, ¡°Renee, who¡¯s this? Do you know her?¡± Renee pressed her lips and instinctively replied, ¡°She¡¯s my family¡¯s housekeeper.¡± The ssmate¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. ¡°She¡¯s so pretty!¡± Renee¡¯s face tightened as she hurriedly pulled the ssmate away, unwilling to say another word. The entire exchangested less than a minute. Ariel nced coldly in the direction Renee had left and decided not to bother arguing with her. Chad turned around and asked, ¡°Who was that?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°No one important.¡± They entered the auditorium together. Ariel spotted Jayson and Nancy surrounded by admirers. It wasn¡¯t unusual for Jayson to attend events like this. Renee, who just scolded Ariel, had already rushed over to them. She beamed with pride as she clung to Jayson and Nancy, one on each side, acting all chummy. Ariel could faintly hear Renee calling out to Nancy in a sweet, affectionate tone. Chad clicked his tongue. ¡°Your ex¨Chusband¡¯s practically glued to his little sweetheart.¡± Jayson brought Nancy with him everywhere, giving her all the prime connections. Ariel ignored them and took a seat at the designated spot. Meanwhile, Chad turned away to mingle with guests. Ariel began setting up the 3D renderings and project proposal for Chad¡¯s uing presentation. Perhaps too focused, her bag identally slipped and fell to the floor. Just as she bent to pick it up, someone else stooped first. She looked up to see Jayson. Her eyes were calm as she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Jayson ced the bag on the table and smiled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Serena Rose, a member of Westcrest¡¯s board of directors, arrived just then and took in the scene. She greeted Jayson warmly, ¡°Mr. Larkin, it¡¯s been so long. Thank you for taking the time to attend and speak at our school.¡± Jayson¡¯s lips curled in a subtle smile. ¡°Ms. Rose, it¡¯s my honor to be invited.¡± Serena nced at Ariel. ¡°This must be your girlfriend everyone¡¯s been gossiping abouttely. She¡¯s really pretty.¡± By now, everyone knew Jayson was dating a high¨Cachieving returnee. Ariel bit her lip instinctively. There was a big difference between an ex¨Cwife and a girlfriend. Inside 188 Chapter 188 Ariel could tell that the woman was likely a member of Westcrest¡¯s board of directors. Jayson didn¡¯t respond but smoothly introduced, ¡°This is Ms. Walker, Mr. Hockney¡¯s assistant at Faye Tech.¡± Serena¡¯s expression brightened with understanding. Ariel closed herptop politely and nodded, ¡°Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Ariel Walker.¡± Serena found Ariel¡¯s confident demeanor quite likable at first nce. Just then, Nancy and Renee, having finished their chat, walked over. Apparently, Nancy hadn¡¯t heard Serena¡¯s words. She naturally linked her arm with Jayson¡¯s and greeted Serena gracefully, ¡°Good to see you, Ms. Rose. I¡¯m Nancy Stanton.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t spare Ariel even a nce. Ariel¡¯s gaze turned cold, and she quietly turned away. Since the hospital incidentst time, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to keep up the pretenses anymore. Serena didn¡¯t notice the tension between Ariel and Nancy. She only saw the intimacy between Jayson and Nancy and immediately understood their rtionship. She pretended nothing had happened earlier. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I¡¯ve heard of you from my son, Zach. You¡¯re a rising star in aerospace, right? Very impressive.¡± Nancy smiled modestly. She hadn¡¯t expected Zach to have mentioned her to his mother. ¡°Mr. Quinton speaks so highly of me.¡± Serena had other business to attend to, so she said, ¡°Please have a seat. We¡¯ll start shortly. We can talk more after the event.¡± Chad returned at that moment. More people were streaming in, and Ariel saw many familiar faces. Frederick and Zach entered and took seats nearby. Several industry leaders had arrived as well. Ariel didn¡¯t pay much attention. Instead, she focused on tidying up the project proposal in the presentation. Tonight, besides Jayson, the most prominent figures were Chad, Zach, and their circle. Their seats were adjacent, so as the event was about to start, they inevitably exchanged a few words. Jayson, aware of Faye Technologies¡® recent publicity, said to Chad, ¡°Mr. Hockney, will you talk about the new projectter? From what Mr. Pearce told me, the core breakthrough this time is the engine system technology, right?¡± Nancy smiled faintly and added, ¡°Domestic aviation tech has some shorings. Mr. Hockney, is the engine breakthrough really true?¡± She had returned from studying in Merinia and was well aware of the gap in this field. If Faye Technologies truly had new technology, Nancy suspected that it must have been backed by Carlos behind the scenes. It was impossible for just the other engineers and technicians to achieve it. If Faye Technologies had such a big expert, how could they have been so quiet and unnoticed? ¡°Mr. Hockney, why not share some details with us first?¡± Frederick asked with interest. ¡°Mr. Hockney, as you know, Vireon¡¯s strength lies in new materials. Faye Tech needs funding but also production technology support. Perhaps we can discuss it further?¡± Zach smiled. Chad calmly replied, ¡°Sure.¡± Ariel understood Chad¡¯s meaning. He wasn¡¯t ready to dive deep into the discussion yet. She nced at the time and leaned to Chad in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯re not scheduled to speak for another hour. Any investors you¡¯re interested in?¡± The new project was expected to raise around 500 million dors¨Carge sum requiring careful consideration. Her voice was low. Those nearby didn¡¯t know what she said to Chad but felt she was interrupting the tech discussion. Nancy subtly frowned. Then, she smirked and lightly but firmly pped her purse on the table. Frederick frowned briefly, then smiled. ¡°Ms. Walker, please don¡¯t interrupt. Can¡¯t you see everyone¡¯s talking to Mr. Hockney? Or do you speak for him?¡± In his eyes, Ariel was just an assistant, unprofessional andcking tact. How could Chad be so obsessed with her? Inside 189 Though Frederick said it with a smile, the condescension in his tone was unmistakable. It left an unpleasant undercurrent¨Csharp, pointed, and impossible to ignore. Even bystander observers might think his remark was a little too much. Nancy nced at Frederick. She knew part of the reason Frederick spoke up was because he¡¯d witnessed how Faye Technologies had once brushed her off. That was why he was standing up for her now. Without saying anything, she lifted her ss, took a sip, and curved her lips into a graceful smile. Zach, meanwhile, looked around with some interest. His first instinct was to nce at Jayson, but he found out that Jayson waspletely detached from the moment. He was focused on replying to messages on his phone, clearly unconcerned whether Ariel was embarrassed or not. Then Zach looked at Nancy. She was speaking quietly to Jayson. Whatever she said, it made the corners of his mouth lift ever so faintly. Those two seemed to live in their own little world, untouched by what was happening around them. They didn¡¯t even blink at the awkwardness Ariel faced under Frederick¡¯s sarcasm, let alone try to mediate. Zach realized then that even if Ariel had feelings for Jayson, thetter remained utterly unmoved, only treating her like thin air. Chad, on the other hand, frowned for a second, then chuckled. ¡°Mr. Swanson, this isn¡¯t how you catch a woman¡¯s attention. You¡¯re a bit rusty. Maybe you should ask Mr. Larkin to give you a few tips.¡± Frederick nearly choked. He instinctively looked toward Ariel. Catch a woman¡¯s attention? Was he trying to get Ariel¡¯s attention? As Chad spoke, he tilted his head toward theposed and refined Jayson, then praised, ¡°Look at Mr. Larkin. He¡¯s got a beauty by his side. He must be quite the romantic. Surely it wasn¡¯t Ms. Stanton who had pursued him, right?¡± Nancy had just raised her ss when her hand froze mid¨Cair. She turned to Chad. He was still smiling and lookedpletely unthreatening, but those words felt vaguely off. Jayson finally nced over without much expression. He replied tly, ¡°Mr. Hockney, you must be joking.¡± Chadughed heartily. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s just a joke. Don¡¯t take it seriously.¡± Ariel arched a brow at Chad. She knew Chad didn¡¯t actually have that good of a temper. But he always wore that cheerful smile,cing his jabs with humor, so people chalked it up to him being too unfiltered. Frederick was at a loss. Chad had been perfectly polite, yet somehow, Frederick still felt attacked. In the end, Ariel wasn¡¯t the one embarrassed. It was them who were starting to feel ufortable. Ariel didn¡¯t care. She understood people. Once someone formed a prejudice, it was nearly impossible to change. Even if sheid out the facts right in front of them, they still might not believe it. She had no interest in what irrelevant people thought. Nancy nced at Ariel, then turned and said quietly to Jayson and the others, ¡°Faye Tech seems to be making a serious move this time. We happened to run into Mr. Chad dining with Ariel and Mr. Carlos. If Mr. Carlos really is backing their new project, that says a lot.¡± ¡°They were dining together?¡± Zach and Frederick both raised their brows in surprise. If Chad had dinner with Carlos, it would¡¯ve just been a family matter. But bringing Ariel along? That either meant something was going on between them or it was business. Nancy pressed her lips together and nodded. ¡°If Mr. Carlos is supporting Faye Tech¡¯s project, we should take a closer look at it.¡± Zach immediately fell into thought. His mother, Serena, had warned him before to build a good rtionship with Chad and aim to secure manufacturing partnerships. The domestic smart tech industry was far from saturated. If Faye Technologies was really innovating, backing the right bet on them could lead to unimaginable long¨Cterm returns. If what Nancy said was true, that this new project had Carlos¡® involvement¡­ Jayson could see right through what Nancy was thinking. He leaned closer and asked, ¡°Are you interested?¡± Nancy smiled lightly and said openly, ¡°If Mr. Carlos is truly behind it, then yes. I think there¡¯s a lot to learn.¡± Jayson nodded in acknowledgment. Nancy then turned and looked toward Chad, offering him aposed smile. ¡°Mr. Hockney, since Faye Tech is now bringing in funding, you must be in a critical stage to look for talent to build a strong team.¡± Inside 190 Chapter 190 Nancy continued gracefully, ¡°I wonder if I might have the honor of joining you. I¡¯ve spent years studying in Merinia. I could offer Faye Tech some technical support.¡± She was volunteering herself. After all, building a project from the ground up wasn¡¯t a simple affair. It required cooperation across multiple fields. While funding was key, the core issue was having a reliable,petent team with clear leadership. That was when Ariel finally cast her a calm nce. A good partner was important, of course. But talented professionals weren¡¯t hard to find in this country. She wasn¡¯t desperate enough to settle for Nancy joining the team. Chad understood Ariel¡¯s thinking immediately. He gave her a quick look. Noticing that she made noment, he responded, ¡°We¡¯re still in the early stages of nning. If we need any technical expertise, we¡¯ll definitely keep you in mind, Ms. Stanton.¡± A textbook polite refusal. Nancy didn¡¯t seem bothered. Instead, she smiled with confidence. ¡°Of course. I just wanted to show my sincerity. Mr. Hockney, you¡¯re wee to consider me.¡± Such a poised and courteous reply. Zach couldn¡¯t help but admire Nancy¡¯s confidence. But¡­ He narrowed his eyes slightly. He was almost certain he hadn¡¯t imagined it. Chad had looked at Ariel first, as if waiting for her input. Zach never expected Chad to be such a hopeless romantic. He¡¯d gone so far as to subtly reject Nancy just because of Ariel¡¯s personal opinion. Zach was disappointed. Ariel clearly had a talent for stringing men along. Sensing a gaze, Ariel looked over. Her eyes met Zach¡¯s. He was leaningzily in his seat, lips curled in a subtle smirk. Ariel turned her head away indifferently. She had no time to guess at his intentions. Also, she waspletely uninterested. Zach didn¡¯t miss the chill in her gaze. His hand paused mid¨Ctea sip. There was a flicker of surprise in his eyes. So this was how Chad had gotten hooked. Ariel clearly knew how to y the game of ying hard to get. She probably understood all too well how to trigger a man¡¯s urge to conquer. Ariel didn¡¯t know what Zach was thinking. But just as she withdrew her gaze, she noticed Jayson watching her casually. His expression was unreadable. Ariel could guess, though. He was probably annoyed that Chad didn¡¯t take Nancy up on her offer. Not that it mattered to her. She calmly looked away. Just then, Serena walked up from the side, greeted everyone, and said, ¡°We¡¯ve invited leaders from various fields today to set an example for the students and offer some professional insights. There¡¯s one speaking slot left. Is anyone interested?¡± Chad raised an eyebrow. He turned slightly toward Ariel and murmured, ¡°Do you want to go up and say a few words?¡± When it came to professional expertise, Ariel was certainly more than qualified. She could break downplex ideas into something digestible for the students. ¡°Me?¡± Ariel raised a brow and was about to decline. But Frederick chimed in, ¡°Of course it should be Ms. Stanton. She¡¯s an Arcadia Tech PhD. Academic credentials like that speak for themselves.¡± ¡°I agree,¡± Zach added. ¡°Ms. Stanton would be a great choice.¡± Nancy, after all, was enrolled in abined master¡¯s and PhD program in aerospace, closely connected to national projects. She made an ideal role model for the students. Nancy looked at everyone in surprise. Smiling, she asked, ¡°Everyone¡¯s choosing me?¡± ¡°Who else could it be?¡± Frederick said encouragingly. ¡°We all studied finance. Mr. Hockney will speak on his project and products. As for the other person, with just a regr bachelor¡¯s degree, she doesn¡¯t really have the presence for the stage. You¡¯re the only one who can step up.¡± Everyone knew who the ¡°other person¡± meant. Chad looked displeased. The chance to speak on stage was open for discussion, but they¡¯d already made up their minds. Ariel didn¡¯t care about petty matters like this. As long as Chad was speaking on behalf of Faye Technologies, the rest didn¡¯t concern her. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go.¡± Nancy epted the offer. She then looked at Jayson and asked, ¡°What do you think, Jayson?¡± Serena looked between the two with interest. Smiling, she made a suggestion. ¡°Mr. Larkin, why don¡¯t you join Ms. Stanton on stage? You two are such a stunning pair. It will be a real treat for the audience.¡± 2 2 Inside 191 Chapter 191 Having Jayson apany Nancy onstage changed the meaning entirely. His status already ced him in the top tier of the elite. Rather than saying he was giving a speech with Nancy, it was more like he was boosting her image. There were many top¨Ctier executives and corporate heads present. Seeing this would almost certainly give Nancy a clear path in her career. Even Chad frowned, then nced at Ariel beside him. If that really happened, it would be no different from publicly confirming their rtionship. Ariel returned his look with a calm gaze. It didn¡¯t matter to her. At this point, how could she not see how much Jayson valued and cherished Nancy? It no longer came as a surprise. Noticing that Ariel waspletely unfazed brought Chad some relief. Nancy tilted her head toward Jayson. ¡°Jayson?¡± Jayson nced at his watch. With a trace of regret in his voice, he replied softly, ¡°I have a calling in soon. I have to take it. You go ahead.¡± Nancy looked briefly disappointed. But it made sense. Jayson was always busy. He often took long international calls even in the middle of dinner. It was understandable. Nancy smiled. ¡°Then could you at least walk me to the stage?¡± She gestured down at her heels. ¡°They¡¯re too high, and it¡¯s a bit slippery.¡± Jayson lowered his eyes to look and smiled faintly before replying casually, ¡°Of course.¡± He stood and offered his arm with gentlemanly grace. With a sweet smile, Nancy slipped her hand through his. The two of them walked right past Ariel. Thunderous apuse erupted behind them. Ariel watched the scene like an outsider as Jayson escorted Nancy up the stage under the spotlight. A handsome man and a beautiful woman stood side by side, radiating charm. The students burst into excited cheers. Renee suddenly dashed over and held her phone high, recording from multiple angles. ¡°Good luck, Nancy!¡± Perhaps Nancy had heard the shout. She nced down toward the audience, then turned back and shared a smile with the man behind her. Behind Ariel, some of the guests began whispering in hushed voices. ¡°Walking her onstage himself? That¡¯s too sweet. This is what it means to lift each other up.¡± ¡°No one else gets that treatment.¡± ¡°Exactly. Mr. Larkin¡¯s always been known for being disciplined and rumor¨Cfree. But for the right woman, he gives her his full support. That¡¯s the kind of man who gives you security.¡± ¡°If I were a man, I¡¯d like someone like Nancy too. She¡¯s beautiful, aplished, perfect for social settings, and definitely wife material. They¡¯re a real power couple.¡± Chad heard it all. He sneered and muttered to Ariel, ¡°They should really get the ¡®Most Virtuous Couple¡® award.¡± Ariel said nothing. Now, watching their so¨Ccalled affection, she feltpletely detached. She had reached a state of inner peace. Onstage, Nancy¡¯s theoretical knowledge was impressive, and she spoke with a calm confidence thatmanded respect. She carried herself with elegance and poise. Ariel looked up, only to catch sight of Jayson gazing at the stage. There was unmistakable admiration in his eyes. She turned to Chad. ¡°You¡¯ll be up next.¡± Chad nodded. When Nancy finished, Chad stepped up as the final speaker. He shared fascinating stories from the aerospace field, gave an overview of recent decades of progress, and ended with invaluable career advice for the students. Finally, he introduced the innovative highlights of Faye Technologies¡® new project. Ariel nced around. The audience was clearly captivated. The reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic. As Chad wrapped up, he flipped the presentation to the final slide. Smiling, he said, ¡°And that¡¯s it for today. If any of you are interested, feel free to reach out. Faye Tech looks forward to strong coborations.¡± At that instant, the back rows erupted in thunderous apuse. However, the front row remained quiet. Jayson stared at the projection screen. The list of project leads for Faye Technologies¡® new project included seven names. Chad was at the top, with Ariel listed just below him. Jayson narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. And he wasn¡¯t the only one. Zach and Frederick both frowned immediately. Their faces showed clear disbelief, or maybe they thought they had misread. Nancy¡¯s smile began to fade the moment she spotted Ariel¡¯s name. Confusion and surprise passed through her eyes. But once the shock wore off, she chuckled inwardly. Why would Ariel¡¯s name be included on a key project at Faye Technologies? Had there been a mistake? ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Frederick leaned over. ¡°That can¡¯t be right, can it?¡± Nancy pressed her lips together. Apparently, she wasn¡¯t the only one who thought it was absurd. It just didn¡¯t add
  1. up.
Zach nced at Ariel¡¯s profile, then saw Chad step off stage. He was the first to walk over. ¡°Mr. Hockney, this project¡¯s tech scope is bigger than I imagined. But¡­ if I may ask, why is Ms. Walker listed as one of the project leads?¡± The others began to gather. Frederick added, ¡°Mr. Hockney, is this some kind of joke?¡± For a project of this magnitude, it was unlikely such an error would ur. Chad, seeing the small crowd forming, pulled Ariel slightly closer and into the center. Raising an eyebrow, he said, ¡°It¡¯s not a joke. Ari is indeed one of the project leads.¡± Frowning, Frederick looked Ariel up and down, then suddenly let out augh. ¡°Mr. Hockney, this is a serious project. You¡¯re putting a junior employee in a lead position? That¡¯s a bit much, isn¡¯t it?¡± Zach gave Ariel aplicated look. He seemed genuinely incredulous. ¡°Well, it seems you and Mr. Hockney share a close bond. He¡¯s going all out to support you. Honestly, having a friend like him in your corner is something to envy.¡± Ariel raised her eyes to meet his. She understood what he was implying. He meant Chad was ying favorites and pulling strings to prop her up. Zach didn¡¯t believe for a second that she had actually contributed. Nancy understood the subtext too. She nodded, then said with a professional air, ¡°Mr. Hockney, I know this project needs investors, but naming a non¨Cspecialist as lead could raise doubts. ¡°It might cause people to question Faye Tech¡¯s standards and credibility. Perhaps you should reconsider for the sake of the bigger picture, Mr. Hockney.¡± Inside 192 Chapter 192 Nancy¡¯s concerns were reasonable. Everyone here was a businessman, after all. The investment world¡¯s evaluation of a project wasplex and rigorous. From her perspective, if Faye Technologies truly had Carlos¡® guidance, it would be best not to let some nobody jeopardize the project¡¯s sess. Ariel nced coldly at Nancy, then shifted her gaze away. ¡°This is an internal matter for Faye Tech to worry about.¡± Her tone was calm and emotionless, yet sharp and to the point. Nancy paused, surprise flickering in her eyes. Even Jayson watched Ariel¡¯s impassive face with a curious look. After a moment, he narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Frederick and Zach were also taken aback. They hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to so casually throw the question back. Zach narrowed his eyes slightly. Was that really how Ariel talked to investors? Frederick softened his tone. With a smile, he tested the waters. ¡°Mr. Hockney, everyone knows the engineers and technical staff at Faye Tech are mostly graduate students from top universities, and their skills are unquestionable. ¡°As far as I know, Ms. Walker only has a bachelor¡¯s degree. Didn¡¯t anyone object to adding her to the project team just to ride on coattails?¡± A sessful project required tireless dedication, day and night. No one would want an unrted person to benefit unfairly. Zach thought for a moment, then said with a smile, ¡°Mr. Hockney, you¡¯re seeking investment now, and teamposition is naturally part of the investors¡® assessment. It¡¯s only normal that everyone is confused.¡± Chad nced at Ariel. For the first time, he was frustrated. Ariel¡¯s confidentiality agreement for the U.N2 reconnaissance and strike drone project had about six months left. Plus, Ariel was indeed just a bachelor¡¯s degree holder. No matter how much Chad imed Ariel was carrying the project, people with a deep¨Crooted bias of seeing her as just a housewife wouldn¡¯t believe it. ¡°I understand everyone¡¯s concerns. Investing requires caution. But Ariel deserves to be on the list. If anyone has doubts and coboration falls through, so be it. It just means we¡¯re not meant to work together this time.¡± Chad¡¯s stance was clear. He could walk away from the deal, but he was standing firmly by Ariel. Zach¡¯s expression shifted to surprise. Chad was actually willing to risk losing a major investment deal over Ariel? In short, it wasn¡¯t them backing out over doubts about Faye Technologies¡® decision. It was Chad who rejected them. That was way too rash. Nancy studied Chad more carefully. She admired him a lot. He was the top talent of his generation and Carlos¡® only son, yet he was so nice to Ariel. Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on Ariel for a few seconds too. Clearly, the key was Ariel. Chad waved his hand. ¡°I¡¯m busy with work. Let¡¯s meet next time.¡± Ariel nodded and turned to leave with Chad. Frederick was dumbfounded. ¡°I thought Mr. Hockney would at least discuss coboration with Mr. Larkin. After all, Mr. Larkin has no issue with the investment amount. But they just left like that?¡± He frowned. ¡°That¡¯s not very professional.¡± Nancy had a lot on her mind. ¡°Have Mr. Hockney and Ariel be that close?¡± She was surprised that Chad actually gave up on investment talks for Ariel¡¯s sake. She expected Chad to negotiate harder for the funding. Zach nced at her and nodded in agreement. Who would¡¯ve thought Chad was such a love¨Cstruck fool? Nancy pressed her lips together. She hadn¡¯t expected Ariel¡¯s name to appear as a lead on such a major Faye Technologies project, let alone see her sharing that honor with Chad. In the end, she smiled with a shrug. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Faye Tech¡¯s financing isn¡¯t something that can be solved overnight. Mr. Hockney wille to understand in time.¡± Inside 193 After all, it was 500 million dors. This project was clearly a money pit. Even though Faye Technologies stood out in the industry, securing that kind of capital wouldn¡¯te easy. At present, there weren¡¯t many in Eldoria with the capability to handle aerospace projects and the willingness to invest heavily in them. Jayson¡¯s Nexura Solutions was one. Zach was another. How many investors outside their circle would it even take to pull together 500 million dors? ¡°Jayson, what do you think?¡± Nancy turned to him. Jayson toyed with a metal lighter, eyes dark with thought. After a moment, he smirked. ¡°Maybe.¡± Zach nced over as well. He seemed to agree that Chad would eventuallye to his senses and choose the bigger picture over personal ties. He might evene back and invite Nancy to join the research team temporarily. Back at Faye Technologies, Chad tossed a file onto the desk with a sneer. ¡°They don¡¯t doubt the project at all. What they really doubt is you. They want me to kick you out so Nancy can swoop in and have it all to herself.¡± Jayson probably didn¡¯t want Ariel involved with the team either. Nancy had made her intentions clear. She wanted in on the technical development. There was no way Jayson would want Ariel to overshadow her. Ariel calmly gathered the documents. ¡°What if we invested using our own funds?¡± Chad froze. ¡°500 million dors? Faye Tech doesn¡¯t have that kind of liquid capital.¡± ¡°What if I do?¡± Ariel looked up. Chad raised a brow slowly. ¡°You? 500 million dors?¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°I signed the divorce papers with Jayson. He gave me our marital home. That ce is worth at least 500 million dors. I was nning to sell it anyway. Now seems like the perfect time.¡± As for the billion¨Cdor divorce settlement Jayson had promised, it was to be paid over three years. She hadn¡¯t received the first payment yet. Ariel used to be deeply attached to that house. After all, it held three years of memories with Jayson and was a ce she had poured her heart into. But now? Jayson meant nothing to her, and the house even less. ¡°Well then!¡± Chad pped his hands. ¡°Self¨Cfunding means we hold the power. That¡¯s definitely ideal.¡± He never would¡¯ve guessed Ariel had so much money. For an investment of 500 million dors with no short¨Cterm returns, many would hesitate. Even with Faye Technologies partnering with the government, securing funding would still take time. But if Ariel could cover it, then the only things left to worry about were the technical development and production timeline. Ariel didn¡¯t waste time. Once her decision was made, she immediately began contacting the real estate agent to sell the house. She had weighed all the pros and cons. Sure, self¨Cfunding meant giving up investor promotion. However, since it was a government¨Cbacked project, promotion and market expansion woulde naturally in theter stages anyway. Those people were not important. After making sure Georgia had a new job, Ariel listed the property for sale at the lowest price possible. Her goal was to sell quickly, and she had no patience for haggling and dy. The next day, Ariel and Chad visited Jonathan to discuss the next phase and potential contractors. But Jonathan said, ¡°Mr. Larkin came by with Ms. Stanton yesterday. He rmended she join the team. I¡¯d like to hear your opinions.¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze sharpened. Annoyance shed in her eyes. Jayson knew she was working at Faye Technologies, yet he still rmended that Nancy join the team. How were they supposed to work together under the same roof? Besides, Chad had already politely declined. But Jayson¡¯s position gave him easy ess. He could speak to Jonathan whenever he wanted. Without hesitation, Ariel replied, ¡°Apologies, but Faye Tech already has its technical team arranged. We¡¯re not adding new members at this time.¡± As soon as she said that, the person who had just arrived outside suddenly paused. Inside 194 Zach peeked through the doorframe. L-G He had some items up for approval to go over with Jonathan, and he hadn¡¯t expected to run into this scene. He honestly couldn¡¯t understand it. Ariel¡¯s education couldn¡¯t match Nancy¡¯s world¨Css PhD. How could she confidently go to Jonathan and oppose Nancy joining Faye Technologies¡® team? If Ariel could just calmly ept and objectively acknowledge Nancy¡¯s capabilities, Zach would think more highly of her. But no. She got caught up in petty jealousy, fighting over a man and losing all sense of reason. The real twist? Jayson was Nancy¡¯s boyfriend. Failing to be his lover, Ariel turned her sights on his official girlfriend. The door opened. Ariel and Chad walked out, one after the other. They ran straight into Zach. Chad put on a professional fake smile. ¡°Mr. Quinton, are you here to see Mr. Pearce?¡± Zach saw Ariel was about to pass him, so he immediately stepped aside to give her space, as if avoiding contact. ¡± Yes, I¡¯ll go in first, then.¡± ¡°Sure, Mr. Quinton. See you next time.¡± Ariel noticed Zach¡¯s little gesture. She nced at him but didn¡¯t care enough to dwell on it. Jayson was smart. He knew how she and Chad felt about Nancy. He didn¡¯t waste time talking with them but went straight to Jonathan, determined to clear the path for Nancy. If Jonathan wanted to pull strings and do favors, they had to consider his request. Fortunately, since they had their own funding for the project, they weren¡¯t beholden to anyone. Back at Faye Technologies, Ariel was thinking about the house. She had already put it on the market. That house, with its prime location and top¨Cnotch features, would sell easily. Ariel wasn¡¯t worried about that. But she still reached out to Colton. He answered. Ariel took her medication before saying calmly, ¡°I¡¯ve already told Jayson to remove his personal things from our marital home, but he hasn¡¯t sent anyone yet. If he¡¯s truly too busy, I¡¯ll take it as a sign he no longer wants them.¡± Colton was silent for a moment, surprised by Ariel¡¯s cold attitude. ¡°I¡¯ll let Mr. Larkin know.¡± Ariel hung up without hesitation. At noon, she finally received a reply from the doctor Perry rmended. She had sent a consultation request before the federal holiday. The doctor replied with several long messages full of detailed liver cancer precautions but ultimately declined to treat Leonard. ¡°Unfortunately, my schedule won¡¯t allow me to take on your uncle¡¯s case. I¡¯m sorry.¡± Ariel could tell that the doctor was responsible. He was sincere in his advice. She thanked him and didn¡¯t press further. After all, there was still the returnee expert Fergus. There were always options. At Bluum Corp, Colton finished organizing the reports and delivered them to Jayson¡¯s office. Jayson had just finished a call with Jonathan. He showed no emotion as he signed the documents. Colton set down the reports and hesitated before saying, ¡°Mr. Larkin, Mrs. Lark¨CMs. Walker is pressing you to clear your important belongings from the marital home. She said that if you don¡¯t act, she¡¯ll handle it herself.¡± Jayson signed the papers and looked up: ¡°Anything else?¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s all.¡± Jayson closed his pen. ¡°Okay. Tell her I¡¯ll go within the next few days.¡± Colton looked puzzled and tried to probe. ¡°Should I help with the clearing?¡± ¡°No need. She won¡¯t throw anything away,¡± Jayson said calmly while ncing at his watch. Hisposed demeanor showed that he seemed to understand Ariel well and was confident about it. Colton thought it over and agreed. Ariel was just putting on a brave face. He could tell how much she used to care about Jayson. Inside 195 Even if Jayson and Ariel were divorced, feelings wouldn¡¯t just disappear overnight. Ariel was likely just acting tough. Chances were, she would end up treasuring all of Jayson¡¯s things and quietly packing them away herself. Just as Jayson was about to get up, his phone rang. It was Betty. He rubbed his forehead and answered, ¡°Grandma, have you had lunch already?¡± Betty snorted. ¡°Oh, you still remember I¡¯m your grandma?¡± Jayson loosened his tie and smirked faintly. ¡°Now that¡¯s unfair.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to change the subject.¡± Betty was clearly annoyed. ¡°You haven¡¯t been back in ages. Since Valentine¡¯s Day, there¡¯s been no word from you or Ari. You didn¡¯t do anything to upset her, did you?¡± The more she thought about it, the more it didn¡¯t sit right. She had gone out of her way to set the mood for them on Valentine¡¯s Day. Even the hotel confirmed that Ariel didn¡¯t leave until the next day. By all logic, something like that should¡¯ve brought them closer. So why the sudden radio silence? Jayson raised a brow and tapped his desk. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Well, aside from that trip to the courthouse. ¡°Oh, save your lies.¡± Betty snapped. ¡°You¡¯re almost 30. When are you going to get serious about having kids with Ari? Don¡¯t you like children?¡± Jayson used to be fond of kids. But ever since marrying Ariel, he had shown no interest in having one. Their rtionship was lukewarm at best. Married for three years and still no child? To Betty, that was just unthinkable. It was already their fourth year now. It was time to start pushing. Jayson didn¡¯t mention the divorce. He simply said, ¡°It¡¯s not in my ns for now.¡± ¡°You brat!¡± Betty cursed. ¡°No wonder Ari always dodged the topic. So you¡¯re the problem!¡± If he didn¡¯t want kids, what could Ariel do? Jayson didn¡¯t argue. Betty took a deep breath, then added, ¡°This is your responsibility. Don¡¯t try to brush it off. Bring Ari back here for a few days. That¡¯s final.¡± With that, she hung up without giving him a chance to refuse. Jayson looked at the screen and didn¡¯t take it to heart. Ariel had just walked out of Faye Technologies when Colton¡¯s message came through. He said Jayson would go as soon as possible, but still did not give an exact time, as if she had no choice but to wait. Since she had no direct way to contact Jayson, even if he was deliberately leaving her hanging, there was nothing she could do. Ariel frowned, but she couldn¡¯t be bothered anymore. When the house was sold, he couldn¡¯t me her for not giving him enough notice. That evening, she had a meeting to go over project nning details with Jonathan and the team. The meeting was set at a golf club. Chad had to make an unexpected business trip and was now driving back. He would bete, so he told her to go ahead without him. Janice couldn¡¯t handle the technical side of the project, so Ariel had to go in person. Already feeling a bit drained, she called a cab straight to the venue instead of driving herself. After checking in under Chad¡¯s membership, a staff member guided her through the grounds. They took a shuttle to the course. Just as Ariel stepped off, she heard cheerfulughter not far off. Turning around, she saw a group of people who also spotted her. Nancy was in the middle of swinging a golf club. Nearby, Jayson sat with his legs crossed, chatting with Perry. Hearing the noise, he turned to look. Matt, standing next to them with a club slung over his shoulder, spotted Ariel. He tilted his head and grinned.¡® Ariel, you¡¯re already divorced and still so clingy?¡± Inside 196 Ariel heard Matt¡¯s so¨Ccalled joke, but her face remained calm and unmoved. They must have misunderstood, thinking she had known they were here and hade on purpose. Jayson showed no reaction to her arrival. Instead, he turned back to Perry and continued the topic they had been discussing, as if she weren¡¯t even there. Perry nced at Ariel, who was standing off to the side. She looked a little isted. ¡°Since you¡¯re here, why just stand around?¡± Matt offered, in what was almost a show of kindness. It would look bad to ignore herpletely, like they had no basic manners. Nancy didn¡¯t spare Ariel a nce. She had already heard from Jonathan that Faye Technologies had no ns to restructure or bring in new members for the R&D team. She understood what that meant. It wasn¡¯t that thepany didn¡¯t need fresh talent; it was simply that Ariel was in the way. Ariel clearly had a bias against her. Nancy knew perfectly well Ariel had no authority over Faye Technologies¡® decisions. But if she¡¯d whispered anything negative about her to Chad, that could sway him. Nancy had nothing but disdain for tactics like that and was even less interested in entertaining anyone who used them. She continued swinging her club. Ignoring Ariel, she asked, ¡°Matt, a little match?¡± Matt grinned and strolled over. ¡°If I beat you, won¡¯t Jayson me me for not going easy on you? He¡¯s always so protective of you.¡± Nancy at Jayson and chuckled. ¡°There you go running your mouth again.¡± They were in their own world¨Ca circle no one else could really break into. Nancy especially stood out. She was rxed and confident. She didn¡¯t care about Ariel¡¯s presence in the slightest. That carefree glow of hers was maic. Even someone as emotionally detached as Jayson wasn¡¯t immune. Ariel didn¡¯t bother paying attention to them. She was just about to call Chad and ask where Jonathan was when a voice sounded behind her. ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯ve arrived.¡± Jonathan stepped down from another shuttle cart, clearly headed toward Jayson¡¯s group. And in that moment, Ariel understood. This wasn¡¯t an ordinary meeting. ¡°I just found out Mr. Houston owns this golf course. He suggested we make it a casual gathering. Ms. Walker, you probably already know everyone here, right?¡± Jonathan asked gently. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected this sudden change of ns, but she nodded. ¡°I do.¡± More than just know. She was familiar with them. ¡°Great. That¡¯ll save some awkwardness. Come, have a seat.¡± Jonathan gestured kindly. Ariel could now handle this situation calmly. Herposure was unmatched by anyone else. Jonathan started chatting with Jayson and the others. Ariel didn¡¯t rush to speak. She simply waited. Just then, a server brought out refreshments. She hadn¡¯t eaten anything since getting off work. Ignoring what was going on around her, she quietly took a cup of water and began sipping. Suddenly, a small te of fruit appeared in front of her. Ariel looked up. It was Perry who had brought it over. When he met her cool, questioning gaze, he cleared his throat. ¡°They gave a few extras. Take this one.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t overthink it. She nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Perry smiled faintly. As she picked up a slice of orange, he silently ced another dish of delicate pastries by her hand. Across the seating area, Nancy turned and caught the moment. She saw Perry handing Ariel drinks and fruit. Her eyes flickered with something suspicious. Perry had never liked Ariel. He used to ignore herpletely and barely spoke to her, let alone being gentlemanly. So when did that change? When did Perry stop treating Ariel like she didn¡¯t exist? Just as that thought surfaced, Matt pped his hands. ¡°Well, since we¡¯re all here, why not y something fun?¡± Inside 197 Jayson and Jonathan both looked over. Perry also seemed intrigued. ¡°Let¡¯s hear it.¡± Matt nced at Nancy, then turned meaningfully to Ariel. ¡°There are only twodies here. How about a little friendly match between the two beauties?¡± Ariel paused. She lifted her head and noticed everyone looking at her. Nancy¡¯s tone was unreadable. ¡°Matt, you¡¯ve always got funny ideas.¡± Matt shrugged. ¡°We¡¯ve all yed a few rounds already. Figured it¡¯d be fun to watch the two of you go head¨Cto- head. Right, Jayson?¡± Jayson gave him a t look. ¡°You should ask what thedies want.¡± As Nancy spun her golf club, her eyes brimmed with confidence. ¡°No problem for me.¡± Which, of course, shifted the pressure to Ariel. She withdrew her gaze coolly. ¡°I¡¯m not really good at golf.¡± She wasn¡¯t about to force herself into something she wasn¡¯tfortable with. Of course, she understood what Matt was doing. It was nothing more than a setup. Everyone knew Nancy was a strong golfer and could easily outshine her. With all eyes on Ariel, they probably thought she would agree just to spite Nancy. ¡°In other words, you know the rules, right?¡± Matt was clearly not backing off. ¡°You can practice a bit first. If you¡¯re not confident, we can y doubles. Each of you can pick a partner.¡± He gave Ariel no reason to refuse. Ariel frowned. When she turned around, she saw Jonathan listening to Matt¡¯s arrangements with good¨Cnatured interest. Not wanting to spoil the mood, she finally agreed. ¡°You can choose a partner for doubles.¡± Matt handed the choice to Ariel. Then he turned to Nancy. His tone suddenly became yful. ¡°As for Nancy, of course she¡¯s going with Jayson.¡± Lounging in his chair, Jayson just smiled without saying a word. Clearly, he was fine with the idea. Nancy smiled and gave Matt a mock¨Cscolding expression. Perry, knowing the backstory, gave Ariel aplicated nce. Ariel lowered her gaze, looking distant and unbothered. Suddenly, Jonathan spoke up. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem fair, does it? Everyone knows Mr. Larkin¡¯s a top¨Cnotch golfer. I¡¯ve never even beaten him. If you set it up like that, aren¡¯t you just making sure Ms. Walker loses?¡± He waved a hand. ¡°Let¡¯s draw lots. That¡¯s fair.¡± Matt cleared his throat. ¡°That¡¯s fine too¡­¡± Ariel had no interest in this wholepetition, so she casually picked a ball from the basket. But when everyone saw that the number on her ball matched Jayson¡¯s, their expressions shifted. Nancy, on the other hand, drew Matt. Matt frowned. ¡°This can¡¯t be right. Let¡¯s redo it.¡± But Nancy interrupted. ¡°No need for that. Let¡¯s follow this.¡± She didn¡¯t even seem a little upset. Ignoring Arielpletely, she looked at Jayson, raised an eyebrow, and smiled with casual confidence. ¡°Jayson, let¡¯s see who scores more. Just so you know, I won¡¯t be going easy on you.¡± It was supposed to be a four¨Cperson doubles match. But with her, it became a flirtatious game between her and Jayson. She looked at him like no one else existed. Jayson smiled faintly, which counted as a response. IN As Matt nced at Nancy, his eyes were inevitably filled with admiration. She was confident, elegant, and radiant. Nancy wasn¡¯t like other women. She didn¡¯t stoop to petty rivalry or jealousy. No wonder Jayson had no interest in the cold and dull Ariel. Who would want a woman who was both nd and boring? Ariel didn¡¯t care what the two of them were doing. She adjusted her grip on the club, testing the weight. She hadn¡¯t yed in a while, so she was definitely rusty. Nancy and Matt made a solid team. And Jayson, alone, was more than capable. Meanwhile, Ariel moved at her own pace. After Jayson sank another ball, he nced at her before walking over. Leaning in slightly, he gently wrapped one hand around her wrist while the other brushed softly along her lower back. His eyes locked on her face as he said calmly, ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. No one said you couldn¡¯t ask for help if you mess up.¡± Inside 198 The faint scent of fir on Jayson was sharply aggressive. Ariel instinctively frowned and lowered her gaze to his hand, which was still sping her wrist. She was about to say she could manage on her own when Jayson, reading her reaction, casually said, ¡°Focus on the ball, not on me.¡± So Ariel dropped her gaze. Jayson kept a loose grip on her hand, pulled back, and swung with swift precision. The ball sank cleanly into the hole. Right after that, Ariel stepped away. With a cold expression, she turned and walked off. Jayson nced at her retreating figure, catching the chill in her demeanor. Matt was the first to notice Jayson helping Ariel with her swing. He clicked his tongue and instinctively nced at Nancy. Nancy,posed as ever, eyed the ball before remarking without missing a beat, ¡°Jayson, you lost. Matt and I scored more.¡± Jayson slipped one hand into his pocket and responded calmly, ¡°Fair enough. I lost.¡± Matt gave him a look full of meaning. ¡°You were just being held back. Besides, with your skills, you could beat both of us. You were clearly letting Nancy win just to make her happy.¡± Only then did Nancy raise a brow and nce at Jayson with a quiet smile. Matt then turned toward Ariel and let out a sigh. ¡°As expected, you really can¡¯tpare to Nancy.¡± His words carried a double meaning. It sounded like he was talking about golf, but the remark ran deeper than that. Jonathan didn¡¯t read too much into it, as he was unaware of the tangled dynamics behind the scenes. He waved a hand and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a friendly match¨Cno need to take it so seriously. No one here is a pro. It¡¯s about having fun.¡± Matt chuckled and nodded. ¡°Fair enough.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with Matt. She knew perfectly well that if she pushed back, they would just say she couldn¡¯t take a joke. Luckily, she didn¡¯t care in the slightest. Just then, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Chad, saying he was almost there. Only then did Ariel rx a little. She picked up her ss to take a drink. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you¡¯re really good at golf. Did you train professionally?¡± Jonathan asked from across the table, genuinely curious. Nancy smiled gracefully and looked over at Jayson. ¡°Not exactly. Jayson taught me.¡± Ariel¡¯s hand paused mid¨Csip. She suddenly thought of the way Jayson had nearly embraced her while helping with her swing earlier. A ripple of difort passed through her, making her frown. Just then, Chad arrived. He came straight over to Ariel and whispered under his breath, ¡°Shit. This is a trap.¡± Ariel had figured that out already. Jonathan had arranged to meet here to discuss the project ns, yet somehow Jayson and the others just happened to be here too. What else could it mean? ¡°Sorry, I¡¯mte. Traffic was brutal.¡± Chad greeted the others with a smile after talking to Ariel. His face showed no hint that anything was amiss. Jonathan weed him warmly. ¡°No worries. We just happened to run into Mr. Larkin and his group, so we were chatting.¡± Jayson turned toward Chad. ¡°How¡¯s the financinging along for the past couple of days, Mr. Hockney?¡± Nancy also nced over. She didn¡¯t believe for a second that Faye Technologies could actually raise 500 million dors so quickly. To put it simply, this gathering was just a way to give Chad an easy out. After some conversation, he would naturally end up asking for the investment. Chad nced briefly at Ariel before replying, ¡°Thanks for asking, Mr. Larkin. It¡¯s in motion. So far, so good.¡± Of course, no one really bought it. Who could find 500 million dors just like that? Smiling, Jonathan said, ¡°Mr. Hockney, I¡¯m not familiar with the business side of things, but you can talk with Mr. Larkin about any opportunities to coborate on Faye Tech¡¯s future manufacturing contracts. ¡°Even if your R&D team doesn¡¯t need new members, arge¨Cscale project like this needs the right manufacturing partner.¡± Ariel understood the subtext perfectly. Since they had rejected Nancy¡¯s involvement, Jonathan was asking them to settle for Bluum Corp as the manufacturer instead. Inside 199 This way, Jayson could also get involved with Faye Technologies¡® new products. In the end, he was still fighting for Nancy to get a chance. Chad, of course, was aware of that. Faye Technologies was working closely with the government this time, and since the government had a say in the matter, they had to proceed cautiously. What surprised him was how fast Jayson acted. He even got Jonathan to step in personally. ¡°Of course, this new project is quiteplex. A good manufacturer is essential, but¡­¡± Chad sighed. ¡°On my way here, I got a call from Mr. Sanderson at Jadeon Tech. He¡¯s also interested in partnering with us. That makes thingsplicated.¡± Ariel was surprised and pondered quietly. Lucas? He was extending an offer too? Besides Nexura Solutions under Bluum Corp, Jadeon Technologies was one of Eldoria¡¯s best when it came to product quality control. Jayson was now directlypeting with Lucas. Jonathan nced at Jayson. ¡°Jadeon Tech isn¡¯t bad either.¡± Jayson raised his eyes slowly and said calmly, ¡°That¡¯s alright. Faye Tech should have the freedom to choose. Partnership depends on strength and fate. Mr. Hockney, you don¡¯t need to feel pressured.¡± He had no intention topete with Lucas. Chad was somewhat worried about Ariel. Jonathan rmended Jayson as their manufacturer, and Lucas showed interest too. With one being Ariel¡¯s ex- husband and the other her adopted brother, she might not be thrilled about the situation. Ariel looked at Chad calmly and spoke matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°Let¡¯s not rush. Once the funds are in ce, we can carefully evaluate and choose the manufacturer.¡± Chad nodded. Matt observed Ariel¡¯s and Chad¡¯sposure and was puzzled. He leaned to Nancy and Perry, whispering, ¡°They haven¡¯t said a word about investment. Could they have other funding channels?¡± Nancy sipped her tea. ¡°I don¡¯t know, but I think that¡¯s unlikely.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Matt shook his head with a smile. ¡°If the money¡¯s not secured, everything else is just talk. They¡¯ll have to address the funding sooner orter.¡± Nancy silently agreed. She figured that if she hadn¡¯te today, Ariel might have swallowed her pride and begged Jayson for the investment. Perry, however, looked at Ariel thoughtfully. He felt that Ariel¡¯s and Chad¡¯s calmness wasn¡¯t just putting on a brave face. The business talk was over for now. No one pursued it further. 24 Ariel sat quietly to rest. Soon, her phone buzzed. She checked it, and her expression immediately rxed. The real estate agent had replied. There was a buyer interested in her marital home. They didn¡¯t haggle, said the price was fair, and were ready to pay in full. If everything checked out, they could sign the contract immediately. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected it to go so smoothly. She quickly replied, ¡°Okay, please proceed with it.¡± She had already notarized the listing and authorized the agent to handle the sale directly. This saved her from having to deal with it herself while she was busy at work. The agent soon replied, ¡°Understood, Ms. Walker. You should receive the full payment in about three business days.¡± A big weight was lifted from Ariel¡¯s chest. Her normally even¨Ctempered mood brightened considerably. A faint smile appeared on her usually reserved, cool face. Faye Technologies¡® funding was confirmed to be in ce. Just then, Jayson came over to grab his coat and happened to catch sight of Ariel¡¯s smile. Though she looked gentle, her personality was cool and distant, as if she didn¡¯t want anyone getting too close. It was rare to see her this happy. He paused slightly, squinting at her. ¡°You seem to be in a good mood. Got some good news?¡± Inside 200 Chapter 200 The moment Ariel saw Jayson, she quickly put away her phone and put on a calm expression. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she said, then walked past him without another word. Her reply was polite but minimal. As Jayson watched her retreating figure, his expression was unreadable. Meanwhile, Chad and Jonathan had almost finished their discussion. Ariel didn¡¯t say anything further. At this point, repeatedly refusing would only look ungrateful. In their circle, they had to be tactful tost long. The next day, Ariel and Chad held a meeting. Chad said, ¡°Nexura is one of the leadingpanies in aerospace manufacturing. They specialize in military aircraft,mercial nes, and drones. Jadeon Tech may be a rising star, but when ites to stability, Nexura is clearly ahead.¡± Ariel reviewed the performance analyses of bothpanies. She finally said, ¡°Then Nexura it is. Our project has high technical demands. We need to avoid production risks.¡± She made the decision swiftly. When it came to business, she kept personal feelings out of it. In Eldoria, Nexura Solutions was the clear top choice. Looking for a manufacturer outside the city would bring higher costs and potential quality control risks. Chad gave the final word. ¡°Notify Nexura Solutions.¡± He then approached Ariel. ¡°So should I reject Mr. Sanderson¡¯s side?¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± Chad sighed. ¡°I don¡¯t know why Nancy¡¯s so fixated on this project that she¡¯s trying to get involved through the back door. Jayson¡¯s got plenty of tricks up his sleeve, and Mr. Pearce can¡¯t keep turning him down outright. We need to do him this favor.¡± They knew perfectly well that Nexura Solutions was the top choice for aerospace manufacturing. While it seemed like they had chosen it over Jadeon Technologies, in reality, Jayson had lined up this contract to keep Nancy happy. Even if Nexura Solutions was truly the best option and would benefit Faye Technologies most, something about the arrangement still felt uneasy. However, Ariel didn¡¯t care much. She smiled faintly. ¡°I¡¯m happy as long as Nancy doesn¡¯t join the R&D team.¡± true.¡± Chad nodded in agreement. ¡°Th They had been busytely. Now that the funding was about to arrive and the manufacturer was confirmed, Ariel took two days off to rest and recuperate. On the third day, Ariel was notified that the full payment for her house had arrived. After confirming the amount, she immediately went to Faye Technologies. The project officially started. News about Faye Technologies and the funding spread quickly. It had only been a few days since the initial talks. No one knew whichpany had put up such arge sum. When Jayson got the news, he was in a meeting. He saw Matt and the others chatting in their group chat. Matt was so stunned that he sent seven messages in a row. ¡°No way. Who the hell invested? ¡°They didn¡¯t say a word about funding at the golf course that day. Did they really secure it? ¡°Why hasn¡¯t Faye Tech announced the investor? This is just unbelievable!¡± Nancy asked, ¡°Is this news for sure?¡± Perry replied, ¡°Yeah, even the government¡¯s acting now. Faye Tech really has the funds.¡± Matt asked, ¡°Jayson, do you know what¡¯s going on with your ex¨Cwife?¡± Jayson exited the chat and checked Faye Technologies¡® announcement. As expected, he saw that they had sessfully secured 500 million dors in funding. A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he put away his phone. Meanwhile, Frederick was having dinner at home when he heard this news. He was shocked too. He had thought Chad woulde begging for investment. But in the end, he quietly managed to secure it himself. Inside 201 Frederick couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. He immediately turned to Janice and asked, ¡°What¡¯s going on? Who did you partner with?¡± Janice didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Frederick frowned. ¡°Janice, I¡¯m your brother. You¡¯re a Swatson. How can you not share internal updates? Faye Tech has great potential. I¡¯ve decided to invest ande on board as a partner.¡± Janice looked at him, speechless. He pressed his lips together and continued, ¡°Still, I stand by what I said. A good project shouldn¡¯t have any stains. I know you¡¯re close with Ariel, but you need to look at the bigger picture. Take her off the project team. You can listen to me on this. I¡¯m just looking out for you.¡± Janice gave a sneer and smacked her fork down on the table ¡°So now that the cake¡¯s ready, you want a slice of it? You want to invest now? Keep dreaming¡± ¡°What kind of attitude is that?¡± Frederick snapped, annoyed. ¡°Some things I can¡¯t exin in detail due to confidentiality but I¡¯ll say this. Don¡¯t target Ari again. You¡¯ll only embarrass yourselfter.¡± Janice didn¡¯t want to say more. She gave Frederick a light pat on the shoulder as she left. ¡°Forget about getting a slice of the cake. You won¡¯t even get a taste of the cream.¡± She actually knew Frederick had once had feelings for Ariel. But once Ariel got married and became a housewife orbiting around Jayson, Frederick had looked down on her ever since. That prejudice ran deep. He couldn¡¯t understand why Janice was always so protective of Ariel. In his eyes, Ariel had nothing So how could Janice and Chad willingly let her leech off them? Frederick couldn¡¯t take it. He started contacting Zach, Matt, and the others to dig for answers. At Faye Technologies, Ariel didn¡¯t get a break all morning. There were a ton of things to coordinate once the funding came through. She hadn¡¯t gone back to clean up the house. Actually, most of the stuff left there was Jayson¡¯s. She didn¡¯t care and didn¡¯t n to keep any of it. Eventually, it would all be tossed out. She had reminded him. If he didn¡¯t handle it, it was on him. That afternoon, Ariel had just finished reviewing thest document when Chad came back from outside. She looked up. ¡°Done talking with Nexura?¡± Since they had decided to move forward with Nexura Solutions as the manufacturer, it was time to iron out the contract details. Chad dropped the contract on her desk and let out a scoff. ¡°Just as we guessed. Nexura assigned Nancy to handle the follow¨Cup with us. Jayson really is grooming her.¡± 1.2 Apparently, Nancy would now be in charge of the product manufacturing coordination for Faye Technologies. Jayson was giving her real responsibility. Ariel paused at the news, but she wasn¡¯t surprised. Anyone could see that once the project went public, Nancy track record and reputation as the project lead at Nexura Solutions would rise with it. ¡°That¡¯s his business.¡± Ariel nced over the contract. After confirming the terms, she added, ¡°As long as no one is stuffed into our R&D team, I don¡¯t care.¡± Chad clicked his tongue. ¡°Seriously, what¡¯s going through Jayson¡¯s head? Shoving his girlfriend into his ex¨Cwife¡¯s project? Who¡¯s he trying to annoy?¡± Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°If he cared about how I felt, we wouldn¡¯t be where we are. The truth is, he¡¯s never cared what I think.¡± Still, none of this really bothered her anymore. A littleter, Janice arrived at thepany. The moment she walked in, her face was all scrunched up like something was bothering her. Ariel reached out and pinched her cheek. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Frowning, Janice let out a deep breath. ¡°Are you sure your house is really sold?¡± Inside 202 Ariel didn¡¯t understand what Janice meant. ¡°What do you mean? I¡¯ve received the full payment, and our project¡¯s up and running. Of course, it¡¯s sold.¡± But Janice looked even more baffled. ¡°I went to the county recorder¡¯s office today. Remember how my dad bought me those two properties? I went to handle the paperwork. Guess who I ran into?¡± ¡°Who?¡± Ariel asked. ¡°Colton. Jayson¡¯s secretary.¡± Janice¡¯s face was full of disbelief. ¡°He was there handling some real estate stuff for Jayson. I chatted with one of the staff. They said Colton was filing for a property in Crescent Point.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression froze. Crescent Point? That was where their marital home was located. What was going on? Ariel¡¯s face showed clear disbelief. She immediately pulled out her phone and messaged her real estate agent. The reply came quickly. ¡°Ms. Walker, the buyer¡¯s identity is confidential, but the person who came in to handle the paperwork had thest name Zeller.¡± There was no more doubt about it. The buyer of the marital home was Jayson. Ariel had listed it for sale, and Jayson had bought it back without a word. No wonder Jayson had asked her that question the same day she got confirmation that the house had been sold. ¡°It¡¯s really him?¡± Janice was stunned. Ariel frowned deeply. She couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it Jayson had already given her the house. If she chose to sell, that was her right. Why would he turn around and buy it back? Ariel waspletely baffled. Still, the money had arrived and pulled Faye Technologies out of its financial crunch. That was what mattered. But as the evening approached and work wrapped up, Ariel got a call from Colton. ¡°Ms. Walker, do you have time tonight? Mr. Larkin would like you toe by Crescent Point,¡± Colton said. His tone left no room for negotiation. Ariel didn¡¯t care much about the house anymore. She said calmly, ¡°If he has something to say, he can say it directly.¡± ¡°You¡¯ll understand once you¡¯re there. Per the terms of the divorce agreement, we hope you¡¯ll cooperate, Ms. Walker.¡± Colton didn¡¯t borate. Since he mentioned the divorce agreement, it was probably something important. Ariel gently pressed her fingers to her brow. ¡°Alright, I got it.¡± Because the agreement required her to cooperate within the first year, Ariel drove over after work. When she arrived at the marital home, she habitually entered the code. Suddenly, a beep sounded, indicating that she had entered an incorrect password. That was when it hit her. Jayson had bought the house back and immediately changed the code. That was really quick. Then again, unless he had asked to meet, Ariel hadn¡¯t nned oning back anyway. There was no need for him to be on guard. Ariel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change much. She pressed the doorbell instead. After a moment, the door opened. Jayson stood there. His deep eyes showed no emotion as he looked at her, just as they always had. ¡°You just got off work?¡± he asked. Ariel was momentarily taken aback because he had clearly just showered. He was wearing a bathrobe. The cor fell open to reveal solid chest muscles and faint outlines of his toned chest muscles. Ariel subtly looked away. ¡°Say what you need to say.¡± Jayson turned and looked back at her. ¡°Aren¡¯t youing in?¡± Ariel frowned slightly. Jayson leanedzily against the kitchen ind and chuckled ¡°What are you so nervous about? Do you think I¡¯m gonna eat you?¡± Ariel pressed her lips together and ignored his teasing. ¡°De need to change into slippers?¡± Noticing her overly polite manner, Jayson responded calmly, ¡°Up to you.¡± So Ariel didn¡¯t bother. The house would be cleaned by someone else anyway. ¡°Do you want something to drink?¡± Jayson offered. ¡°No.¡± Ariel checked the time. It was nearly 8:00 pm. She looked up at him. ¡°Just get to the point.¡± She had no intention of staying here long. If not for the use in the divorce agreement, she wouldn¡¯t have shown up at all. As for why he had bought the house back, she had no intention of asking. That was Jayson¡¯s business. Maybe he had always liked this ce. Back when they were married, he avoideding home because of her. Now that they were divorced, he probably found it peaceful to be here again. ¡°Fine.¡± Jayson stepped forward and stood in front of her. ¡°Grandma¡¯s been asking questions, I need you to help me deal with her.¡± Inside 203 Ariel had already guessed what this might be about beforeing. Either it was about the house, or there was some trouble with Betty. Before she could respond, Jayson¡¯s phone rang. It was a WhatsApp video call. She nced over. Unsurprisingly, it was Betty. Jayson answered immediately. Betty¡¯s eyes quicklynded on Ariel beside him. She smiled warmly and called out, ¡°Ari, are you both home?¡± Ariel hesitated for a moment but forced herself to say, ¡°Yes, Grandma. Thepany¡¯s been busytely, so I haven¡¯t had time toe visit.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the divorce agreement, she wouldn¡¯t be here ying this act. Betty said affectionately, ¡°That¡¯s alright. Work is important. But you still need to take care of your body. I told Jayson to bring you back to Larkin Manor. He¡¯s always saying you¡¯re too busy.¡± ¡°I wasn¡¯t lying, was 1?¡± Jayson responded calmly. Betty gave him a re. ¡°You have the nerve to say that? What kind of husband are you? You can¡¯t even take care of your own wife. Look how thin Ari¡¯s gotten!¡± Ariel knew Betty truly cared about her. If it weren¡¯t for Betty protecting her these past years, life would have been even harder. She tried her best to soothe Betty and exchanged a few words with her. Before hanging up, Betty suddenly said, ¡°Your grandpa¡¯s warrade, Jackson, is having a birthday party next month. I¡¯m not feeling well, so you two will have to go and represent me.¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t prepared for that. She and Jayson showing up together? Back when they were secretly married, no one knew about their rtionship. Now that they were divorced, showing up together would be even more inappropriate. Jayson was thinking about the same thing. He nced at Ariel before politely declining, ¡°Grandma, we¡¯ll see if we have time.¡± Betty was not happy. ¡°No excuses! Jackson saved your grandpa¡¯s life. This is a matter of respect. No arguing! Alright, you two rest early. I won¡¯t keep you.¡± She clearly wasn¡¯t open to discussion. She waved her hand and ended the call Ariel¡¯s expression darkened. How could they possibly refuse without letting Betty know they were divorced? Jayson nced at her. ¡°We¡¯ll figure it out when the timees.¡± Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°Fine, you handle it.¡± He put away his phone and casually added, ¡°There are still some of your things here. I had you tome to deal with Grandma and ask if you want those things.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t hesitate. ¡°No, just throw them out.¡± ¡°The items you sent to my office have been returned. Georga stored them in the study. Is there anything you want to take?¡± Jayson asked. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Georgia to keep the things. +25 BONUS ¡°No need. They¡¯re not important or valuable anymore. You can deal with them yourself.¡± Ariel thought back. The gifts she had once carefully prepare for Jayson had been gathering dust in his office for years. Maybe the things themselves weren¡¯t out of date, but the feelings behind them were. She didn¡¯t care, and Jayson probably thought of them as burlens. It was better to throw them away. As Jayson looked down at her, his eyes were unreadable. Finally, he smirked. ¡°Fine.¡± Ariel thought the conversation was over, so she stood up to leave. Jayson studied her thoughtfully. His gaze drifted over her from head to toe with a detached look. Then, suddenly, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve really lost weight.¡± Inside 204 Ariel was caught off guard by Jayson¡¯sment and froze She looked coldly at Jayson, noticing that there was a sharp edge behind his rxed gaze. ¡°You¡¯re all grown up and still can¡¯t take care of yourself?¡± toyson looked at her with a faint smile. His words sounded strange, like concern but not quite, with a hint of mockery. Ariel didn¡¯t bother guessing what he was thinking. ¡°I don¡¯t need your concern,¡± she said as she turned to leave But then she suddenly remembered the brokenptop she¡¯d left in her study¨Cthe one she¡¯d never gotten around to fixing. She had left it there andpletely forgotten about it. She asked, ¡°Can I go get something?¡± Jayson was already at the kitchen ind pouring water, ¡°What?¡± ¡°Myptop.¡± Only then did Jayson pause, seemingly recalling something, ¡°I think it was thrown out.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression darkened slightly. ¡°That was mine.¡± ¡°Want me to have someone find it for you?¡± Jayson raised an eyebrow as he watched her face turn stubborn. She couldn¡¯t tell if he was joking or serious, but she felt a trace of disdain. He had just bought the marital home back and had already tossed her things out? He didn¡¯t want to keep any of her stuff at all. She rarely used theptop. Though its hard drive didn¡¯t hold much important Information, she still felt Jayson¡¯s handling of it without asking was improper. She pressed her lips together, her tension easing. ¡°Forget I¡¯ll leave now.¡± ¡°It¡¯ste. I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± Jayson maintained his usual gentlemanly manner. Ariel nced at the time and didn¡¯t look back. ¡°No need. I¡¯ll go myself.¡± But Jayson had already draped on a coat and approached. He looked at Ariel, asking for the car keys. Ariel opened her mouth to refuse. Before she could, Jayson¡¯s phone buzzed. He immediately checked it. After seeing the message, he smiled faintly. He hesitated a¨Cmoment, then looked at Ariel and turned off his screen. Suddenly, he asked, ¡°You really don¡¯t want me to?¡± Ariel picked up on something right away. She turned calmly and opened the door. ¡°Yes.¡± Ignoring whatever was going on with Jayson, she got into her car and left. She truly didn¡¯t want him to drive her. But she wasn¡¯t blind to his expression just now. He had meant to offer, but that sudden question afterward made it obvious that some ¡°unexpected situation¡± had he was hoping she would back out on her own However, that was none of her business anymore.. The next day, after arriving at Baye Technologies, Ariel finalized the working n with Nexura Solutions alongside Chad and the team. But just as the meeting ended, Lucas called. Ariel looked at the familiar number and promptly rejected the call without any expression. Lucas was likely surprised she didn¡¯t answer. He called repeatedly, but Ariel cut every call off. She had a good idea why Lucas was calling. He had probably found out that Faye Technologies had chosen Nexura Solutions as their manufacturer and came to ask her about it. Lucas might have assumed Ariel would favor him over Jayson But she wasn¡¯t choosing between the two of them. She picked the best option based on the project itself. Janice noticed the calls Ariel was getting. She walked over with a cup of coffee, nced at the screen, and gave a thumbs¨Cup. ¡°I thought you¡¯d block him.¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°There¡¯s no need for that.¡± Rtionships between people weren¡¯t always ck and white. There was more than just good or bad. Especially with Lucas, there wasn¡¯t any unforgivable grudge between them. It was true he had treated her well, and it was just as true that they had made different choices in life. Chapter 205 Inside 205 Ariel simply felt that whatever happened with Lucas was no longer her concern. She would just follow her own judgment. Janice was briefly surprised but soon found herself affected by Ariel¡¯s calm detachment. She nodded approvingly.¡± True. Saving an adult¡¯s dignity is about silence and indifference.¡± Ariel nced at the time. ¡°Don¡¯t we have a 10:00 am meeting at Nexura?¡± she asked Janice nodded. ¡°Yeah, Chad wants me to go with you.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t think much of it and stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s head over how. Better to finish early.¡± There was still a lot to follow up on for the project. Every stage needed oversight and precise control. When they arrived at Nexura Tower, Tom, whom they had met before, greeted them. He led them into the conference room with a friendly smile and a staff member brought them coffee. ¡°Ms. Swanson, Ms. Walker, it¡¯s good to see you again. Have some coffee first before we dive into business.¡± Janice frowned slightly. ¡°No need for coffee. Let¡¯s get straight to it. We don¡¯t want to waste time.¡± She was hoping to finish quickly and grab lunch with Ariel afterward. Tom hesitated for a moment, then forced a smile and said,¡± Sorry about this. There¡¯s a bit of a situation. You probably know Ms. Stanton is in charge now, but she¡¯s currently still in a meeting with Mr. Larkin at Bluum Corp. We¡¯ll have to wait a little.¡± Ariel finally looked up, her gaze cool. The meeting had been scheduled since yesterday. And now they were being left to wait? Janice, who had no filter, let out a dryugh. ¡°Mr. Chapman, I need to ask. You¡¯re a veteran at Nexura, right? With all the talent you¡¯ve got in¨Chouse, you guys were really okay letting a young returnee take charge of this major project?¡± Were there really no objections at all? After all, no matter how capable Nancy was, she clearly didn¡¯t have Tom¡¯s seniority. Tom understood what Janice was implying. He waved it off casually. ¡°That¡¯s not an issue at all. Mr. Larkin has thought this through carefully. He knows it wouldn¡¯t be proper to have Ms. Stanton directly overseeing the project¡¯s manufacturing. ¡°So he arranged in advance that once the project ispleted, we¡¯ll be treated as the leads. Our achievements and bonuses will be counted ordingly. As for Ms. Stanton, this gives her room to shine too. It¡¯s a win¨Cwin situation. That way, no one would object to her taking the lead. Corporate life was all about flexibility anyway. Ariel lowered her eyes and couldn¡¯t help but smirk. She hadn¡¯t realized before how far Jayson was willing to go for one woman. : He paved the path and gave Nancy all the room to grow. He even appeased the team, making it clear that no one was to question her. That way, no one would whisper behind her back. ¡°Mr. Larkin is surely meticulous,¡± Janice muttered with a sheer. It was obvious that Jayson was grooming Nancy to be one of Nexura Solutions¡® top executives. Tom, oblivious to the truth, grinned. ¡°Well, of course. Everyone in thepany knows Ms. Stanton and Mr. Larkin are in a stable rtionship. Honestly, she¡¯s already petting the Mrs. Larkin treatment. Of course, we¡¯ll cooperate. Janice clenched her teeth, about to retort. But Ariel gently pressed her hand on Janice¡¯s, then gave a small shake of her head. The project mattered more. Janice swallowed her words but inwardly cursed Nancy as a homewrecker. Just then, the conference room door opened. Nancy stepped in on high heels. Her face was calm and graceful. Dressed in a tailored designer suit, she truly carried the air of a top executive. ¡°Ms. Swanson, sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Inside 206 Nancy went up to Janice as soon as she entered the room. She held out her hand, acting like they had never had any past conflicts or disputes. ¡°I hope we¡¯ll enjoy a good, fruitful experience working together this time¡± Janice pointed to Ariel, who was beside her. She raised her brows. ¡°You can tell that to Ark. I¡¯m not the person you should be saying that to.¡± She did not hold or shake Nancy¡¯s hand either. Nancy¡¯s fingers curled slightly. She nced at Ariel out of the corners of her eyes and pulled her hand bad Alright. Let¡¯s get started, then.¡± She was not going to extend a greeting to Ariel. Nancy sat on the couch opposite them and flipped through the pages of the contract. She did not even bother looking up. ¡°I had a look at the contract. Faye Tech wants absolute say In deciding when to run the finished product¡¯s trial and in Nexura Solutions¡® manufacturing process?¡± Ariel looked at her impassively. ¡°Is there a problem with that?¡± Nancy kept her head down as she looked through the contract. ¡°Moreover, you¡¯ve requested us to have the sample ready within two weeks¡® time. Some of your requirements just seem a bit too harsh.¡± She did not even respond to Ariel¡¯s question first. It was as if she did not hear her at all. Ariel noticed it too. Nancy appeared to be reluctant to discuss work¨Crted matters with her. It might be because Nancy felt that Ariel was in no position to do that with her. Perhaps what happened at the hospital the other day was also a major contributing factor to why Nancy was acting this way. Ariel was actually quite surprised that Nancy did not report the incident to the police afterward. Anyhow, work was work. Janice had also noticed Nancy¡¯s seemingly gentle yet haughty attitude by then. She acted as though she would be putting herself down by talking to Ariel. Tom could vaguely sense something strange from their exchange. He stepped in and said, ¡°Having the sample ready in two weeks should be fine. However, we might have trouble executing our tasks smoothly if Faye Tech demands to have full control over our work process. Ms. Walker, you may rest assured and put your faith in the quality of our products.¡± Ariel had a calm expression. However, she did not concede. If none of you can make the call here, our people can reach out and talk to Mr. Larkin instead.¡± Ariel¡¯s tone sounded harmless, yet those words packed quite a punch. Tom¡¯s brows twitched. He did not expect Ariel to be so obstinate regarding the matter. He subconsciously cast a nce in Nancy¡¯s direction. After all, Jayson had put Nancy in charge of handling these matters as a representative of Nexura Solutions. Yet, Ariel just implied that she could skip this discussion with Nancy and talk to Jayson instead. She clearly couldn¡¯t care less about showing Nancy any respect. Janice nearly burst intoughter. Ariel managed to make Nancy lose face with a simple remark. Nancy finally turned her eyes to Ariel. It was obvious that she had the authority to make the decision on behalf of Nexura Solutions. Yet, Ariel wanted to skip discussing with her and talk to Jayson instead. Nancy didn¡¯t like how conceited Ariel was. She felt that Arie ought to know her ce now th divorced her. that Jayson had Nancy closed the folder containing the contract. ¡°Ms. Swanson, I¡¯ll discuss these terms with Jayson again. Let¡¯s have a look at the parts first.¡± Janice was in a pretty good mood. She ended up dragging Ariel along. During that time, the two groups of people discussed and negotiated things several times. Mostly, it was Nancy asking various questions regarding some of the requirements Faye Tech had In the end, their meeting dragged on for an hour. Janice had the urge to yell at people at that point. They were supposed to settle the matter before noon. Yet, they were still with these people when it was almost 2:00 pm. Janice was famished. She directed her gaze to Ariel. ¡°Are you hungry? When on earth is this going to end?¡± Ariel was still feeling alright. She hadn¡¯t had much of an appetitetely anyway. Just then, a group of people showed up by the door carrying take¨Cout bags from Indigo. Ariel turned her gaze toward them. Those people ced the nicely packed boxed meals on the table. Nancy happened to pass by the area. Her brows arched. ¡°What are these?¡± The person leading the group replied, ¡°Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin ordered these. He knows that you haven¡¯t had lunch. So, he ordered some food and had us deliver them to you. You should take a break from work.¡± Nancy seemed to have recalled something. She shook her head and chuckled. ¡°I couldn¡¯t make it to have lunch with him today since I was busy with work. He could even tell that I wouldn¡¯t have time to grab lunch. ¡°I¡¯m alright. I¡¯ll WhatsApp him and let him know the food¡¯s here. Thanks for your hard work.¡± Inside 207 Chapter 207 Those people left the room shortly afterward. Nancy took her phone out to send a message on WhatsApp She looked at Tom. ¡°All of you should eat too, Mr. Chapman. Jayson ordered a lot of food.¡± Tom grinned and replied, ¡°We¡¯ll go ahead and dig in, then it¡¯s all thanks to you that I get to be treated by Mr. Larkin to a hearty meal, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy beamed and lowered her gaze to type on her phone. Tom brought Ariel and Janice each a boked meal. ¡°You must be hungry already. Here, eat these. This is Mr. Larkin¡¯s way of being considerate toward us.¡± Janice had a frigid look on her face. ¡°Those are the hearty meals Mr. Larkin has ordered specially for Ms. Stanton. Is it really okay for us to eat them?¡± Tom smiled and exined, ¡°Mr. Larkin may be more concerned about Ms. Stanton, but he¡¯s thoughtful enough to consider the rest of us as well. He¡¯s ordered enough food for us.¡± Then, he beckoned the other staff members toe and get their lunch. ramusing Janice smirked. ¡°You¡¯re getting treated by your husband to some nice food because of his mistress. How a is this¡­¡± Ariel scooped up a piece of sliced beef and fed it to Janice. She had a clear look in her eyes, and her voice was gentle. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you were hungry? You should eat then.¡± Janice could feel her mouth watering. She chewed the meat briefly. After seeing how calm and unruffled Ariel was, Janice grinned broadly. ¡°I must say though¡­ Free food tastes really good, especially when it¡¯s from high¨Cend restaurants.¡± Ariel curled her lips. She kept her head lowered as she continued looking at some of her code. It was almost 2:00 pm by the time they had ended the meeting with Nexura Solutions¡® staff members. Nancy left fairly quickly. She hurried off to take the elevator and headed upstairs. Tom nced in the direction of the elevator and said, ¡°Mr. Larkin is probably here. Well, we¡¯ve pretty much concluded things here anyway. He pulled out his phone. ¡°We¡¯ve created a group chat for this project. You can send any requests or questions that you have to the group. Ms. Swanson and Ms. Walker, I¡¯ll add both of you to the group chat.¡± Ariel nodded. Then, Tom showed the two of them out by the entrance of their building. After they exited the building, Janice opened the group chat and took a look at it. She let out a low hiss. ¡°Why¡¯s Jayson in the group chat too?¡± Ariel paused briefly. ¡°Perhaps he¡¯s taking the project quite seriously. They¡¯ll also need him to review and approve thingster on.¡± Janice pursed her lips. ¡°He may have joined the group chat to handle work¨Crted matters. At the same time, if he¡¯s not around, who¡¯s going to back up or clean up after Nancy?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t refute the assumptions Janice made. She didn¡¯t bother to check the group chat either. Just as they got into the car, Janice said hesitantly, ¡°Are Jayson and Nancy using matching profile pictures?¡± She pointed the screen of her phone toward Ariel. Ariel took a nce at Janice¡¯s phone. Janice had clicked on the section showing the list of members in the group chat. The person at the top of the list was Tom, who had created the group chat. Jayson¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s names were found below him. Jayson¡¯s profile picture was a bright moon against a blue background. Meanwhile, Nancy¡¯s profile picture showed a cluster of stars against a simr blue background. The two profile picturesplemented each other perfectly, though one was above the other. It was as if the moon and the stars had been bound together by fate. For a moment, Ariel was quite astonished. She did not expect a stern, cold¨Chearted man like Jayson to use matching profile pictures with Nancy. ¡°I gue guess so,¡± Ariel responded without making any furtherments. She got off work in the evening that day. Ariely sprawled on the couch and rested for a bit. She felt slightly better some timeter. After taking her medicine as she always did, Ariel turned on herptop. She finally came across the feedback from Tom. Nancy felt that the time limit given to them and some of the technical requirements Faye Tech had asked of them were not feasible. She wished to discuss those matters again in detail. Bluum Corp seemed to support Nancy¡¯s stance. Ariel furrowed her brows. She asked, ¡°What does Mr. Larkin have to say about this?¡± Tom sent her a reply. ¡°We need Mr. Larkin¡¯s approval before making any major decisions regarding Nexura Solutions¡® affairs, and he hasn¡¯t given us any definite answers yet. ¡°How about this, Ms. Walker? If you wish to save time, you can add Mr. Larkin¡¯s WhatsApp number and ask him about it yourself.¡± Inside 208 Chapter 208 Ariel stared at Tom¡¯s message disyed on the screen. She calmly took a sip of warm water and typed her response. ¡°Alright.¡± After she exited her chat window with Tom, Ariel opened the work group chat for theirtest project with Nexura Solutions. She did not check the list of members or add Jayson¡¯s number, Instead, she tagged Jayson¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s names in the message she sent in the group chat. ¡°Mr. Larkin, what are your questions regarding our terms and requirements? Ms. Stanton is wee to discuss with us if she¡¯s found issues. We hope that the Nexura Solutions team won¡¯t cause any dys to the work progress. Ariel wanted to resolve the issue quickly and efficiently to avoid wasting too much time during the project¡¯s execution. Unfortunately, those two never responded to her message, even after some time had passed. Ariel wasn¡¯t the least bit surprised. She checked the time. It had been 20 minutes since she sent that message in the group chat, and neither Jayson nor Nancy had sent a word during those 20 minutes. Despite all that, Ariel remained calm and unruffled. Janice saw how Ariel had asked Jayson and Nancy those questions straightforwardly in the group chat. She gave Ariel a voice call. ¡°The Nexura Solutions team must feel very entitled, having Bluum Corp as their backing. Instead of discussing it with us, Nancy reported her concerns to Jayson and even started questioning the client¡¯s ns and proposals?¡± Janice grumbled in dissatisfaction It made her wonder if people at Nexura Solutions had always been rude and unreasonable when doing their jobs. Ariel checked the time again and asked, ¡°Where¡¯s Chad?¡± Janice thought about it for a bit. ¡°He¡¯s attending the Commercial Drone Trade Exhibition. The event¡¯s probably not over yet at this hour.¡± Ariel had a pensive look on her face. Tom probably noticed how there was no response from Jayson and Nancy. He sent a message. ¡°Ms. Walker, Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton probably didn¡¯t see your message because they were too upied with something else at the moment. They could have muted the notification from our group chat, or they might have had too many group chats on their WhatsApp that they hadn¡¯t noticed your message. 11 ¡®Anyway, I suggest that you just add their WhatsApp numbers. You¡¯ll be able to reach Mr. Larkin or Ms. Stanton right away without needing them to approve your friend request first.¡± Ariel read his message. Then, she exited WhatsApp. At the trade exhibition, Jayson and Nancy spotted Zach not long after they reached the venue. Zach saw the two of them as well. He came over and greeted them. ¡°Are Mr. Houston and the others noting today?¡± Nancy smiled softly. ¡°Matt is away on a business trip. Perry will be here in a bit.¡± Zach fixed his gaze on Nancy and curled his lips. He turned his eyes to Jayson. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Nexura Solutions and Faye Tech are coborating on a project this time. Did you know how the Faye Tech team had done it, Mr. Larkin? They managed to secure 500 million dors in just a few days! Mr. Hockney happens to be here tonight. We should all sit down and have a chatter.¡± Jayson smiled faintly and said nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure, Faye Tech probably has its own methods that we don¡¯t know of.¡± Zach was honestly quite baffled since Faye Tech¡¯s business had not grown into a scale big enough to be able to secure such arge amount of funding. Nancy lowered her head and nced at her phone. She slowly raised her brows. Then, she lifted her gaze and looked at Jayson. ¡°Someone from Faye Tech has asked us some questions in the group chat. Will you take a look at it, Jayson?¡± Jayson looked down at the screen of Nancy¡¯s phone. He saw the message Ariel had sent in the group chat and the message Tom had sent in an attempt to mediate between the different parties. seyes betrayed nothing as he looked through the messages in the group chat. Meanwhile, Nancy had made few guesses inwardly. Logically speaking, even if Faye Tech¡¯s team had any questions regarding their progress, the person who should be asking the questions should be people like Chad, Janice, or one of Faye Tech¡¯s engineers. Yet, it was Ariel who had asked the question and even tagged Jayson in her message. Nancy smirked. Her expression remained impassive. She had an inkling of what Ariel was trying to do. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Zach asked since he could tell those two seemed to have encountered some sort of issue. Nancy put away her phone, lookingpletely unruffled. She didn¡¯t reply to the messages in the group chat immediately. ¡°Someone from Faye Tech is asking some questions regarding the project we¡¯re coborating on.¡± Zach pointed in a certain direction. ¡°Mr. Hockney is right there, though? You can just talk to him in person. It¡¯ll save you some time and make things a lot easier.¡± Nancy chuckled and shook her head. ¡°The issue isn¡¯t that serious. It¡¯s just that one of their assistants is trying to prompt Jayson for a quicker response.¡± ¡°An assistant?¡± Zach pondered. The image of a certaindy, who often exuded a cold, distant demeanor, came to his mind. ¡°What kind of assistant could speak directly to Jayson? People on that level should be speaking to the Nexura Solutions¡® team or Nancy, right?¡± Zach thought. He had a rough idea what this was about. It could work as a way for Ariel to appeal to Jayson by ignoring Nancy and the other Nexura Solutions¡® staff members and speaking to Jayson directly instead. Coincidentally, Chad had just finished chatting with another group of people and was heading their way. Inside 209 Chapter 209 Zach held his hand out toward Chad. ¡°You¡¯ve been really busy since Faye Techunched the new project, Mr. Hockney. You have everyone¡¯s attention wherever you go these days.¡± Jayson said with a nod toward Chad, ¡°Mr. Hockney.¡± Chad greeted all of them politely. He grinned. ¡°It¡¯s safe to say things are going well so far. After all, ourpany is working with Nexura Solutions this time. With their employees¡® level of expertise and professional work ethics, I¡¯m sure I won¡¯t have to worry about a thing regarding the project.¡± Nancy subconsciously furrowed her brows upon hearing those words. Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°Of course. You can put your faith in us, Mr. Hockney.¡± Zach nced alternately between the two of them. Then, he whispered to Chad, ¡°I¡¯ve heard that Faye Tech will need high¨Cend, enhanced material and support from various businesses and industries for your new project. Why not consider coborating with Vireon as well, Mr. Hockney?¡± Zach¡¯s parents had reminded him to grab the opportunity while he could. Zach was rather disappointed with how Faye Tech had handled their internal affairs and how their leaders could not seem to remainpletely objective and were easily influenced by a mere assistant in their decision¨Cmaking process. Still, their project was undeniably very profitable in the long run Chad responded tactfully, ¡°Well, of course. Vireon is considered one of the top yers in the industry. However, issues rting to coborative work are noughing matter. I¡¯ll have to discuss with our shareholders first beforeing back to you with a reply, Mr. Quinton.¡± Zach frowned slightly. There was no way Chad did not have the authority to decide on that matter. It was obvious he was only saying that to subtly turn down Zach¡¯s offer. ¡°I see that everyone¡¯s here.¡± A middle¨Caged man with a stoic face walked up to them and stopped beside Zach. ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Larkin and Mr. Hockney.¡± Jayson smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s been quite some time, Commander Quinton.¡± Chad showed Gary Quinton, who held a high position in their country¡¯s Department of Defense, a lot respect. Gary was also Zach¡¯s father. ¡°Who might this be?¡± Gary nced at Nancy and asked. Nancy replied calmly, ¡°Hello, Commander Quinton. I¡¯m Nancy Stanton. I specialized in the studies of aerospace engineering. I just came back from Merinia not too long ago afterpleting my studies there.¡± Zach added, ¡°Ms. Stanton was one of the top performers among her peers. Shepleted an integrated master¡¯s and PhD program in aerospace engineering at Arcadia Tech. She¡¯s one of the very few females who¡¯s shown a lot of potential in her field of expertise.¡± Nancy looked humble with a faint smile on her lips.. Gary cast a nce at Zach and nodded. ¡°She¡¯s Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend?¡± He could tell that Jayson and Nancy were not just friends with how Nancy had ced her hand on Jayson¡¯s arm. Chad stiffened slightly. His gaze drifted toward Jayson. A lot of the guests here could not possibly know that Gary would be attending today¡¯s exhibition. Yet, Jayson might not necessarily be unaware of it. It made Chad wonder if Jayson had deliberately brought Nancy here to introduce her to Gary Jayson raised his brows after hearing Gary¡¯s question. Meanwhile, Nancy dropped her gaze and smiled. Before the two of them could say anything, Gary turned his eyes to Zach. ¡°You should be learning from Mr. Larkin He¡¯s sessful in his business, and he even has an extremely capable girlfriend. It¡¯s about time you consider settling down too.¡± Zach seemed awkward as he gave a little cough. Gary¡¯s schedule was usually packed. He managed to visit the exhibition today since he had made time for it. He checked the time. Gary didn¡¯t try to find out what the differentpanies had been working on togethertely ¡°I have to leave now. You guys should carry on with your discussion.¡± Zach followed him all the way to the entrance to see him off Gary nced in the direction of the hall once more. ¡°Faye Tech is showing a lot of potential for growth and development in their business. You should try to form a strong connection with Mr. Hockney. Their business might soon expand into the defense industry as well.¡± Zach recalled Chad¡¯s ambiguous response from earlier. He massaged the spot between his brows. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best. Gary nodded. He had a stern, piercing look in his eyes. ¡°You have pretty high standards. Are women like Ms. Stanton your cup of tea?¡± Zach chuckled and shook his head. ¡°Dad, what are you even talking about?¡± Before he got into the car, Gary patted Zach¡¯s shoulder. ¡°The identity of the engineer who created the U.N2 reconnaissance and strike drone has been kept a secret. All we know is that the person is a young woman. If there¡¯s a chance, we may be able to introduce her to you.¡± Zach was bewildered. He never expected to learn such shocking news. ¡°The developer of UN2 was a young woman?¡± He eximed inwardly. In the exhibition hall, Chad just received a call from Ariel. His expression turned grim after he learned what had happened from her. Ariel spoke calmly on the phone. ¡°The Nexura Solutions team and Nancy had objections to our requirements and felt that our team was being too idealistic with our ns and requests. That means the twopanies have a disagreement with regard to our goals and ideals for the project. ¡°We shouldn¡¯t waste our time fussing over these details with them. It¡¯s either they rece the person in charge of the project or we terminate the project altogether.¡± Inside 210 Jayson received Tom¡¯s phone call just as Perry had met up with them ording to Tom, the Faye Tech team had informed him directly of their decision. The other party also stated clearly and adamantly that there would be no room for discussion regarding their decision. They didn¡¯t even bother beating around the bush. Jayson lowered his gaze, a certain emotion appearing in his eyes. Then, he slowly replied, ¡°Alright.¡± Tom ended the call with mixed feelings. He couldn¡¯t believe how Jayson had remained so calm despite all this. Tom was aware that Nancy was quite prideful. After all, she had always been considered someone who was naturally gifted since she was young. She hadn¡¯t faced any major obstacles even after graduating from her university. Nancy had gotten used to people showering her with praise. Moreover, she was the apple of Jayson¡¯s eye now. Naturally, she had some shorings when it came to handling her interpersonal rtionships. Nancy could have easily resolved the issue if she had properly exined her concerns to the Faye Tech team. Tom was astonished by how calm Jayson was, even when the Faye Tech team had requested that they rece the project¡¯s person¨Cin¨Ccharge. In his opinion, it would be best if they had a seasoned employee from Nexura Solutions take charge of the project instead. Tom was simply worried things might get out of hand during this process. He really hoped that they wouldn¡¯t lose the opportunity to work with Faye Tech on the project. Sitting beside Jayson, Nancy vaguely heard parts of their conversation. She had a stony look on her face. Frankly, she was pretty surprised. Nancy simply thought that the requirements that the Faye Tech team had asked of them were too idealistic. Thus, she nned on negotiating with them again regarding those issues. Yet, their team didn¡¯t even have the patience for that. Perry noticed how the air felt slightly tense. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Nancy pursed her lips. Jayson replied monotonously, ¡°The Faye Tech team wants us to rece Nancy with someone else to lead the project we¡¯re coborating on.¡± Even Perry was quite surprised to hear that. He was aware that Nancy had joined Nexura Solutions and was put in charge of the project involving Faye Tech Initially, he reckoned Ariel and Nancy would have no choice but to meet often since bothpanies would be working closely. He had expected conflicts to arise between the two of them, whether it was personal or work¨Crted. What he hadn¡¯t expected, though, was the Faye Tech team¡¯s sudden request to rece the project manager. Zach was sitting at the table next to theirs. He nced over his shoulder when he overheard the news, looking bewildered. ¡°What did Ms. Stanton do wrong? Did she happen to have offended someone from Faye Tech?¡± Nancy was looking less irritated at that point. ¡°We just started working on the project. There¡¯s no room for me to make any mistakes.¡± In other words, Nancy was implying that she must have somehow offended someone on Faye Tech¡¯s side instead. The others automatically thought of Ariel upon hearing Nancy¡¯s remarks. Zach snickered. ¡°It seems others may think of you as an eyesore when you¡¯re too good at your job, Ms. Stanton. Ultimately, it¡¯s not your fault that something like this has happened.¡± Nancy was frankly quite surprised that the Faye Tech team ad ended up making such a biased and unprofessional decision. She believed she had treated her work seriously. She had merely raised some questions as someone with relevant expertise. Yet, someone used that as an excuse to find fault with her. Perry fell silent. He frowned slightly, lost in contemtion After having spoken and interacted with Ariel several times he could tell that Ariel was not the type to go around and sabotage others just because she felt like it. A lot of things and factors woulde into y during coborative work. Sometimes, hearing just one person¡¯s exnation wouldn¡¯t be enough to represent the full story. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I don¡¯t mind.¡± Nancy crossed her legs. She made her stance clear as well. ¡°I won¡¯t make things difficult for them if the Faye Tech team can¡¯t objectively appreciate my expertise and abilities. I¡¯ll back out of the project.¡± Zach was bbergasted. Nancy had chosen to back out of the project. She could not be bothered to argue with the Faye Tech team or try to win their favor. ¡°What about the project with Faye Tech, then?¡± Perry asked the question that mattered the most at the moment. Jayson dropped his gaze and fiddled with the lighter in his band. He seemed to be in deep thought. Nancy looked at him and said nonchntly, ¡°Jayson, you don¡¯t have to feel burdened because of me. Nexura Solutions should continue working with Faye Tech on the project. ¡°We can¡¯t change some people¡¯s opinions. Nevertheless, we should put aside our prejudices and focus on achieving our goals. Completing the project sessfully should be our top priority. Jayson met her gaze and a momentter asked, ¡°Are you sure you¡¯re okay with it?¡± Nancy beamed. ¡°I¡¯m backing out of the project on my own ord.¡± No one had forced her to do it, and she hoped to make this clear to those from Faye Tech as well She might have lost the opportunity to gain more from Carlos¡® advice and insights on this project, but Nancy could still join and learn from his next one. Inside 211 Nancy refused to be affected by what just happened. Zach stared at Nancy¡¯s side profile for a while. Before him was an intelligent, cultured, and confident woman. ?nparison, some people from the Faye Tech team seemed bit overly righteous, Zach reckoned that Nancy and the woman who developed UN2 must share a lot of things inmon. Perry made no furtherments after seeing how things had unfolded. Instead, he opened WhatsApp and scrolled down until he came across the chat window with Ariel¡¯s name on it. He wanted to ask her some questions, but worried it might seem rather abrupt. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he found another friend¡¯s number on WhatsApp and sent him a message. ¡°I sent your business card to a¡­ friend recently. Have you replied to her messages?¡± After a while, Liam finally responded to his message. ¡°You mean the one with the username Ari? ¡°I turned down her request. I¡¯ve been quite busytely. Are you guys close?¡± Perry furrowed his brows. Since Liam had turned down Ariel¡¯s request, Perry wouldn¡¯t have anything substantial to talk to Ariel about. Liam sent him another message. ¡°How about I adjust my schedule and try to make time? That person was quite polite. She didn¡¯t try to bother or pressure me to help her after I turned her down. Perry traced his finger along the edge of his phone. He reckoned Ariel had probably made some other arrangements. He sent a response. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know again if I do need your help with that.¡± The next morning, the Faye Tech team received the response from Nexura Solutions. Nancy had chosen to back out of the project. Tom will be taking charge instead. He and his team spent the entire nighting up with various ns to tackle the issues that had been raised. Chad was quite surprised. ¡°I thought your ex¨Chusband would choose to terminate the project and defend Nancy with how much he cared about her.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t think much of it. She simply remarked, ¡°Jayson had always been very cool¨Cheaded and rational when it came to work¨Crted matters. He could tell better than anyone how well they¡¯d be able to profit in the long term by working on this project with us.¡± Chad poured Ariel a ss of water and put it in front of her. ¡°Nancy was quite prudent this time. This was smartest way for her to resolve the problem this time.¡± the It would be much better for her to willingly back out of the project instead of getting removed from the position. Ariel had offered them a chance to resolve the issue peacefully by sending that message in the group chat yesterday. Since the other party didn¡¯t show any willingness to settle the problem, Ariel went ahead and made the decision for them quickly and effectively. Faye Tech had many other partners andpanies to choose from to work with. They didn¡¯t have to waste their time negotiating or yielding to the other party¡¯s demands. Chad knew Ariel was never inherently harsh or difficult; she had always been very decisive and sensible when it came to making important decisions. Still, she wasn¡¯t totally inflexible. Anyhow, being a bit more forceful sometimes could bring about unexpectedly good results. At around 10:00 am, Ariel and Janice met up with the top executives of several renewable energypanies to talk about the usage of high specific energy wide temperature range lithium batteries in drones. When it was almost lunchtime, the two of them went to a restaurant they had been meaning to visit. Janice went inside the restaurant first to order food. Ariel finally headed toward the building after she was done parking the car. When she was passing by a private room, Ariel spotted Nancy and Sarah, who were chatting away happily inside the room. Both of them seemed to be in a cheery mood, especially Nancy. She didn¡¯t seem to be affected in the slightest by the incident involving their project with Faye Tech. Instead, Nancy appeared absolutely bubbly and cheerful. Ariel averted her gaze and continued walking straight ahead. Just as she turned a corner, Ariel saw Jayson, who was standing in the corridor and smoking a cigarette. He was obviously here to have lunch with Sarah and Nancy. Jayson spotted Ariel as well. He didn¡¯t act as if he didn¡¯t see her this time. Instead, Jayson turned around and stared at her expressionlessly. Ever since they decided to rece Nancy with someone else to lead the project, Jayson had not once questioned the decisions the Faye Tech team had made regarding it. It was as if the incident had never happened in the first ce. That was why Ariel didn¡¯t n on exining anything, even though she had run into Jayson here. She continued walking. Ariel showed zero intention of greeting Jayson. Jayson could tell that much. He slowly stubbed out his cigarette just as Ariel was getting closer. He snickered.¡± I¡¯ve hardly ever seen you lose your temper.¡± Inside 212 Ariel could tell from Jayson¡¯s remark that he was talking about Faye Tech¡¯s request to have Nancy reced with someone else. He didn¡¯t seem or sound angry at all. His face showed no emotion as it always had. Still, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether Jayson was trying to me her for what happened or if he was just trying to be sarcastic. She slowed down in her steps. She couldn¡¯t be bothered with what Jayson was trying to tell her. Ariel continued walking in big strides. Jayson probably hadn¡¯t noticed Ariel was trying to leave. He dropped his gaze and shoved his lighter into his pocket. Then, Jayson directed his gaze to Ariel. ¡°Was it your idea to request a recement for the person in charge of the project?¡± As if she had seen iting, Ariel halted and turned her eyes to Jayson. She said tly, ¡°You don¡¯t necessarily have to work with us if you¡¯re unhappy with that, Mr. Larkin.¡± She didn¡¯t bother to offer any further exnations. Ariel saw no need to argue with anyone over this incident involving Nancy. There was no point in doing something like that. Jayson tilted his head down and stared at Ariel¡¯s face. Ariel didn¡¯t show any strong emotions when talking about the incident. It was as if the incident waspletely insignificant to her. A brief momentter, Jayson let out a soft chuckle while his gaze was still on Ariel. His voice was devoid of warmth and feeling Jayson curled his lips. His eyes were unreadable. ¡°Is terminating the project or the coboration the harshest word you can think of?¡± Ariel¡¯s brows knitted at that. Somehow, what Jayson just said made her feel quite uneasy. He spoke nonchntly, sounding as though the incident was not that big of a deal to him. Truthfully, Jayson wasn¡¯t nning to oppose or argue against the Faye Tech team¡¯s decision. After staring at Ariel for a moment, Jayson walked past her and entered the private room where Nancy and Sarah were. Ariel could vaguely hear Nancy¡¯s gentle voiceing from the room. ¡°Jayson, thank you for taking some time to have lunch with us, especially since it¡¯s on a day when my mom has finally gotten permission to leave the hospital briefly.¡± That exined why Nancy was in a good mood despite being forced to back out of the project. Jayson had managed to cheer Nancy up by doing this for her and Sarah. Frankly, Ariel was quite surprised to see Jayson¡¯s current attitude. She thought that Jayson would fly into a temper. After all, they were quite blunt and straightforward when they informed the Nexura Solutions team of their decision. A proud, dignified woman like Nancy had gotten used to having things her way most of the time. Moreover, Jayson cherished her dearly. Could he really overlook the incident just like that? Ariel decided not to pay any mind to these details anymore. She headed toward the table she and Janice had made a reservation for. As for whether Jayson would take any actions regarding the incident, they could worry about itter. It would be pointless for them to dwell on the issue before it happened. Ariel didn¡¯t tell Janice what had taken ce at the restaurant before she met up with her. She quickly put the Incident out of her mind. After having lunch, the two of them went back to the office. Just as they reached the office building, Ariel received Noah¡¯s WhatsApp message. ¡°Ms. Walker, we have several guests in the office. Mr. Hockney isn¡¯t back yet. Can I know how long it will take before you and Ms. Swanson get back to the office?¡± Both Ariel and Janice were feeling quite puzzled. They took the elevator to head upstairs. As they entered the conference room, Ariel and Janice spotted Frederick and Zach, who had just taken their seats on the couch. Janice¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°What are you doing here? Do you have so much free time on your schedule?¡± Frederick stared at Janice with a disgruntled look on his face. ¡°Dad had mee here to discuss with Faye Tech¡¯s team about potential coborations and opportunities for ourpanies. Janice Swanson, don¡¯t forget which family you actually belong to.¡± He found it ridiculous that Janice was being so cold and rude to him because of someone who wasn¡¯t even rted to them by blood. Janice couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with him. She directed her gaze at Zach, who sat there rxedly. ¡°Mr. Quinton, what are you doing here today then?¡± Zach¡¯s gaze drifted across Ariel¡¯s face before he said, ¡°I mentioned it to Mr. Hockney yesterday, and I think it¡¯s best if we can sit down and discuss the matter more thoroughly. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware of Vireon¡¯s capabilities at producing new, enhanced materials, Ms. Swanson. These materials will prove to be helpful in the process of creating newer, more innovative technologies. So, can I know when Mr. Hockney will be back in his office?¡± Zach visited home yesterday. Gary told him that Faye Tech most likely had an extraordinary expert helping them with their operation. That person was probably someone Chad had found. Even the government was showing a lot of interest and attention in the projects that the said person was working on. It would be perfect if both Vireon and Faye Tech could profit from a coboration. Zach was aware that the Faye Tech team could sometimes be rather stuck¨Cup and demanding Inside 213 Zach also felt that it was rather inappropriate for the Faye Tech team to ask for Nancy to be reced without a valid reason. However, being a businessman, Zach¡¯s priority was profit, and he knew he had to grasp opportunities when he saw them. ¡°Mr. Hockney told us he had found more suitable options for ourpany,¡± Ariel replied tly. ¡°Thank you expressing so much interest in coborating with us, though.¡± for Yesterday, Chad told her that Vireon¡¯s side had expressed their eagerness to work with them. However, Ariel was not inclined to choose a partner who clearly held some form of prejudice against those in Faye Tech¡¯s management team. The best thing, she could do was to politely reject his offer. Zach hadn¡¯t expected Ariel¡¯s response. He chuckled. Then, ach turned his eyes to Janice and said jokingly. ¡°Ms. Swanson, I know Ms. Walker is your friend. I suppose the two of you are so close that she can even speak on behalf of Faye Tech now?¡± Frederick nced at Ariel and chimed in, ¡°Ms. Walker, could you fetch us some water?¡± In their opinion, Ariel¡¯s duties should include weing the guests and serving the refreshments. She should not be acting as though she were someone important in Faye Tech just because she was close to Chad and Janice. Ariel directed her gaze toward the pair. But before she could say anything, Janice responded with a dark look on her face, ¡°Did you not have any drinks in your office?¡± ¡°Also, about Ari¡¯s authority¡­¡± Janice fixed Zach and Frederick with a piercing gaze and said slowly, ¡°Ari has every right toment on the topic since she¡¯s in charge of the projects.¡± Zach furrowed his brows. He could tell that Janice was someone who always said what was on her mind. They were already aware that Ariel was included as one of the very few people in charge of leading and overseeing Faye Tech¡¯s projects. However, they reckoned that her position was just for show. Therefore, Zach could not understand why Janice was suddenly bringing that up now. Frederick got to his feet and was about to say something. Yet, Chad showed up at that very moment. He was holding two drinks in his hands. Chad raised his brows when he spotted Zach and Frederick He greeted both of them. Then, Chad passed the first drink to Ariel. ¡°This only has 50 percent sugar. I told them not to add any ice to it. You should have something warm.¡± Ariel epted the drink and smiled faintly. Zach was bbergasted when he saw those two smiling at each other. Chad was being really kind to Ariel. He bought drinks for Ariel despite his busy schedule. Chad even remembered her preference for how sweet her drinks should be. Moreover, he even ordered something without ice because he was concerned about her health Chad was already used to these social situations. He knew very well what Zach and Frederick hade here for. Nevertheless, he adopted a polite yet slightly apologetic tone. ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry. We¡¯ve just met and talked to some people from the renewable energypanies regarding their inaterials and resources. I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t have the opportunity to work together this time. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll have a chance to do that next time.¡± Zach frowned. He and Frederick exchanged a nce. They could tell very clearly at this point that Faye Tech had no intention of working with them.. Zach got up, Before leaving the room, he asked, ¡°Mr. Hockney, there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m curious about. You det turn down Vireon¡¯s offer for a coboration out of reasons involving prejudice or personal gridges, righe After hearing about yesterday¡¯s Incident Involving Nancy, Zach understood a few things. He turned his gaze to Ariel. Meanwhile, Ariel stared frigidly right back at him. Chad¡¯s brows arched. ¡°Of course, I hope you won¡¯t have that sort of misunderstanding about us, Mr. Quinton.¡± Zach had nothing else to say. He shot Ariel a scornful nce as he passed by her and headed for the door. ¡°So what if she¡¯s pretty? Deep down, she¡¯s sly and calctive. We¡¯ll see how much longer Chad Hockney will pander to her whims!¡± Zach grumbled internally. He and Frederick left the ce shortly afterward. After exiting the building, Zach still felt pretty annoyed. He loosened his tie and sent Liam a WhatsApp message. ¡°Liam, are you busy tonight? I¡¯m feeling a bit frustrated. Wanna grab a drink together?¡± Liam sent him a reply. ¡°What happened?¡± As he thought about Ariel, Zach lit a cigarette. ¡°Do you remember that woman you saw during the charity auction we attended together? I visited Faye Tech¡¯s office today. That woman turned down the offer to coborate with Vireon on behalf of Mr. Hockney, What¡¯s more, Mr. Hockney listened to her! ¡°That Ariel Walker sure is cunning and foxy! She¡¯s an expert at seducing men!¡± Not only was Ariel awfully chummy with Chad, but she would also throw herself at Jayson whenever she saw the opportunity. Zach felt that she was shameless and indecent. He sent another message out of frustration. ¡°You must stay away from her if you happen to run into her. Who knows, she might make you her next target.¡± Inside 214 Liam didn¡¯t reply to his message this time. He had no interest in sharing anyments on such a strange and random topic. Ariel waspletely oblivious to the opinions Zach had formed of her. She was in a rather cheery mood. Tom and his team from Nexura Solutions had swiftly prepared most of the project¡¯s finer details, andmunication between the two teams had been smooth. They should be able toplete the first round of data testing within the estimated time. Ariel went to the hospital during her lunch break. Once they had secured the liver donor for Leonard¡¯s transnt operation, the hospital would soon set the time and date for the operation ordingly. Ariel tried asking the hospital staff again if they had any news about Fergus, but the people there told her that he still hadn¡¯t stopped by their hospital. That gave Ariel quite a headache. It would be best if she could get the mostpetent doctor she could find to operate on Leonard. Unfortunately, Ariel had run out of ways to reach the expert. She couldn¡¯t help but realize how important it was to have connections when seeking treatment at the hospital. Ariel visited Leonard and had lunch with him. Howard had advised Ariel to go for regr checkups to monitor her cancer¡¯s primary site and find out how well the radiation therapy was working on her body. It would take some time to get the results after the medical examination was done. So, Ariel sat and waited in the waiting area. She had gone for radiation therapy twice. It would be great if the treatment were effective in suppressing the cancer¡¯s growth. However, if the tumor was still growing or spreading. Ariel took a deep breath and curled her cold, numb fingers into fists. Freya and Perry saw Ariel sitting by herself in the hospital¡¯s waiting area the moment they got there. Ariel was clearly lost in deep thought. Freya asked, ¡°Perry, Ms. Walker came to the hospital alone? Why doesn¡¯t she have anyone with her?¡± She believed that anyone would needpany, especially when the person had fallen sick. Freya was born with asthma. Her parents and Perry would take turns to apany her whenever she had to go for her checkups or treatments. If no one were there with her, Freya would feel really sad and lonely. Although Ariel was a few years older than Freya, she was nevertheless a woman who might be feeling scared and helpless too. Freya could not help feeling bad for Ariel when she saw thetter was there all by herself. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say that Ms. Walker is married? Why isn¡¯t her husband here to keep herpany?¡± Freya asked curiously. Perry pressed his lips together. He had a conflicted look on his face as he was reminded of the situation with Jayson. ¡°Don¡¯t bring that op in front of Ms. Walker¡± He remindedeya Perry worried that the topic might make Ariel Jelsad Freya was unsure of what the real situation was. Still, she nodded and hurried over to Ariel. ¡°Ms, Walker, are you feeling unwell? Ariel paused momentarily when she saw Freya, whose eyes were filled with concern, and Perrying toward her. She responded, ¡°I¡¯m fine. It¡¯s nothing serious. Did youe here to collect your medication?¡± Freya shook her head. ¡°I visit the hospital regrly for physiotherapy. I have the entire day off today. Let me stay here and keep youpany, Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel froze for a split second. Lately, she had been making these hospital visits alone despite her sick, weakened state. She never had anyone with her. ¡°Thank you for the offer, but it¡¯s fine.¡± Ariel smiled at Freya. Her mood lifted slightly. Perry stared at her. He said after a moment¡¯s consideration, ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. She has nothing better to do anyway.¡± Ariel hesitated for a bit. In the end, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to refuse Freya¡¯s kind offer. While Freya happily chatted with Ariel, Perry remained silent. It was as if he wasn¡¯t even there. As soon as she received the medical report and prescriptions, Ariel put all those things in her bag Perry finally spotted his chance to initiate the conversation. ¡°Have you settled everything for your uncle¡¯s operation?¡± Ariel had a calm look in her eyes. ¡°We¡¯re still looking for the doctor.¡± Perry paused thoughtfully before saying, ¡°The doctor I told you about said that he might be able to adjust his schedule. I¡¯ll try talking to him again and see if I can arrange for you two to meet.¡± Ariel flinched. She nced at Perry, looking slightly worried. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t it be too much trouble for you?¡± She and Perry weren¡¯t that close to begin with. Ariel¡¯s impression of him used to be quite unfavorable as well. She even found it rather bewildering when Perry previously shared the doctor¡¯s WhatsApp contact with her. On the contrary, Perry appeared calm and collected. ¡°Freya says that you are her friend. She¡¯ll be very happy to be able to help you.¡± Freya nodded tactfully. Inside 215 Chapter 215 Ariel looked at Freya for a moment. Eventually, she epte Perry¡¯s offer to help. ¡°Thank you. I owe you one.¡± After all, she and Perry weren¡¯t even that close. If possible, Ariel didn¡¯t want to owe anyone any huge favors. Perry could sense that Ariel was trying to keep her distance. He hesitated for a moment before nodding ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll let you know once I¡¯ve made an appointment with him. Ariel came up with an excuse and left first. Freya watched as Ariel walked away. She turned her head and nced at Perry. ¡°Ms. Walker¡¯s husband is an awful man. Am I right? He didn¡¯t care for Ms. Walker or try to keep herpany, even though she¡¯s sick. I definitely won¡¯t date a man like that in the future. Perry was struck speechless. ¡°You can¡¯t say things like that when others are around. Alright?¡± Freya pursed her lips. ¡°Why, though?¡± ¡°Ms. Walker¡¯s divorced now.¡± Freya was shocked at first. However, she quickly said, ¡°Really? Can you try pursuing Ms. Walker and ask her to be your girlfriend, Perry? I like her.¡± patted Freya¡¯s head as he stared in the direction Ariel had headed off to. He muttered, ¡°You can¡¯t start a rtionship if only one person feels attracted to the other person.¡± Ariel managed to prevent Freya and Perry from tagging along as she left to meet Howard and discuss the results of her checkup. Fortunately, everything seemed to remain under control. Although they had not observed any drastic improvement, it was still good news to Ariel as long as her condition had not worsened. Howard prescribed a new targeted drug for her. After that, Ariel went back to the office. At 3:00 pm, Ariel received a call from Betty. It was rare for Betty to call her during work hours. Ariel took the call since she thought it might be for something urgent. ¡°Grandma?¡± Betty said gently, affectionately, ¡°Ari, are you busy right now?¡± Ariel nced at her watch. ¡°Not really. Is something the matter?¡± Betty responded, ¡°Have you and Jayson settled everything for the house? Do you guys want toe and stay over at Larkin Manor?¡± Ariel felt rather confused. She wasn¡¯t sure what Betty was talking about. ¡°The house?¡± ¡°Aren¡¯t you two looking for the interior designer at the moment?¡± Betty sounded like she was in a good mood. She said cheerfully, ¡°Jayson said that the two of you had decided to renovate your marital home. He already instructed some men to clear out everything and knock down some of the walls and structures inside the house today.¡± From outside, their marital home still looked the same. However, theyout of each floor had changed now since a lot of the structures inside the house were torn down. Ariel froze for a moment. However, she quickly snapped out of it. Betty continued, ¡°I¡¯m sure it¡¯s pretty much like a wastnd inside the house at the moment. It¡¯ll probably take a few months for you to finish renovating the house. So, I was thinking, why not the two of you stay at Larkin Manor for the time being? It¡¯ll save you a lot of trouble.¡± Ariel finally understood what Belly was trying to tell her. Jayson bought their marital home and tore down almost everything Inside the house¡­. Three years ago, Ariel personally oversaw the whole process of their marital home being built, starting from theyout design to picking the furniture. Be it the tiles, the walls, or the kitchen equipment¡­ Ariel had poured all of her heart and effort into building their home. This somehow exined why Jayson had seldom stayed in their marital home. He did not just despise Ariel Jayson probably hated everything about the house as well. The other day, he changed the house password and discarded herptop and some of her belongings. This time, he tore down everything inside their marital home. Jayson didn¡¯t even inform her beforehand, even though he knew Betty might ask her about the house. They had signed an agreement to keep their divorce a secret. And yet, Jayson didn¡¯t seem worried about Ariel making a slip in front of Betty. As for him renovating the house, Ariel felt that Jayson was probably trying to stop Betty from visiting their marital home since she might notice that Ariel had moved out and that they had even divorced. With the house being under renovation, Jayson would be able to get rid of any underlying risks. Ariel lifted her gaze and nced at the calendar ced on the left side of her desk. She had drawn a circle on a specific day by using a red pen. Grandma, I¡¯ll be busy with work in theing days. It¡¯s far for me tomute to work from Larkin Manor. So, won¡¯t be staying over.¡± Inside 216 Betty didn¡¯t notice anything strange from Ariel¡¯s calm, steady voice since thetter sounded very much like her usual self. She expressed her concerns. ¡°I was thinking you and Jayson could stay here at Larkin Manor. Have you settled down at your new ce, then? Should I send some of our hipers over?¡± Jayson owned quite a number of properties. The couple could just pick a location that suited their needs the most. Betty was offering to send help over to clean up the ce for them. Still, their new ce would probably be empty and deste since Ariel and Jayson were often busy with work. Ariel replied in a gentle voice, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma We¡¯ve taken care of pretty much everything.¡± ¡°That¡¯s great,¡± Betty responded. Then, she asked, ¡°Why did you guys suddenly decide to do such a huge renovation now, though?¡± They hadn¡¯t had any major issues with the house previously. Moreover, it had only been three years since it waspleted. Betty could still vividly remember how much time and effort Ariel had put into getting the house ready then. Ariel dropped her gaze and said tly, ¡°Perhaps it was to clear out everything that we didn¡¯t like previously so that we could start anew.¡± What Jayson was trying to remove weren¡¯t the things found inside the house. Instead, he was trying to erase three years of unhappy marriage to Ariel and act as though she never existed. Betty failed to pick up on the underlying meaning behind those words. She thought that Ariel was saying she and Jayson had decided to work toward building a happy life together. Her mood improved instantly. ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Well, I¡¯ll leave it to you two to handle those matters then. You can always drop by home for dinner when you¡¯re free. Don¡¯t overwork yourself.¡± ¡°I know. You need to take good care of yourself too, Grandma.¡± Ariel¡¯s voice was soft and soothing. After she hung up, Ariel stared at the date she had marked on the calendar and lightly tapped her pen on that spot. Ariel recalled what she did in the past. When they were renovating the marital home, Ariel carefully selected each item, be it a vase or a tablecloth. She sometimes visited different malls to look for the item she truly liked. Bit by bit, Ariel filled up the house with various things. When she was staying with the Sandersons, Ariel felt like an outsider even though she was living with Morgan, her biological father. Perhaps it was because she never felt a sense of belonging while living with the Sandersons. Ariel deeply cherished their marriage. She even did her best to protect it. Sadly, all the hopes and expectations she had a few back had slowly diminished due to the constant, silent neglect. years Ariel put down her pen. She did a mental calction. It would happen soon. She just had to hold out for another 12 days, and the cooling¨Coff period would be over. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on the matter for too long. She turned on herputer since she needed to look at the subsequent ns for the project. Just then, Chad knocked on the door and entered Ariel¡¯s office. He ced a small plece of cake, which was contained inside a box, on the desk He began, ¡°My old man¡¯s joint research project is about to art soon. They¡¯ll be traveling to Sorenta for learning purposes and stay there for three days. All thepanies involved are allowed to send one or two technical staff members to join the trip. You and are going together.¡± Ariel beamed as she looked at the cake. ¡°When are we leaving?¡± ¡°Tomorrow afternoon.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± Chad took his phone out to check for the flights avable. Il book the flight tickets now, and I¡¯ll have Jan take over liaising with the Nexura Solutions team for the project temporarily. After he was done booking the tickets, Chad headed for the door while he opened his WhatsApp. Suddenly, he came to a halt. A small frown creased his forehead. He nced over his shoulder at Ariel. ¡°Crescent Point is where you and your ex -husband¡¯s marital home is located, right?¡± Ariel lifted her gaze. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chad passed his phone to Ariel. ¡°Your ex is really doing a lot for Nancy now.¡± Ariel could see a post shared by Matt disyed on the screen. He had taken a photo of their marital home from afar. In the right corner of the photo, a woman could be seen with her back to the camera as she gazed at the house. Inside 217 Chapter 217 Ariel had no trouble recognizing the woman in the photo was Nancy. Moreover, Matt had included a caption with the picture. ¡°Being a consultant for the day.¡± They were probably discussing and deciding how to give the house a brand new look, both inside and out. When Ariel received Betty¡¯s phone call, she had an inkling Jayson had torn down many of the structures inside their marital home to build a new one for Nancy. After all, this house was located in one of the most strategic locations in Eldoria, so there were hardly any downsides to living there. ¡°He took her to the marital home in which the two of you had lived for three years. Is he already nning to have her move into the ce?¡± Chad knitted his brows. ¡°It looks like Jayson might be in a more of a hurry to divorce than you are.¡± Ariel averted her gaze. ¡°He¡¯s tearing down a lot of the structures inside the house. The construction process will probably take several months.¡® They were likely at the stage where Nancy¨Cthe future Mrs Larkin¨Cneeded to decide on their interior design style. ¡°He¡¯s absolutely heartless. A normal person would feel some form of attachment to someone or something they had been living with for three years.¡± Chad clicked his tongue, looking utterly displeased. Ariel shook her head. She paid no mind to these matters, That night, Ariel stayed at the office for a bit longer since she was working overtime. Now that their projects were going smoothly, Ariel also needed to start making preparations for her postgraduate studies. Some time after 8:00 pm, Ariel received a call from Colton Ever since Jayson had changed his number, Ariel noticed that he would only contact her through Colton. Considering they still had to settle the divorce procedures, riel didn¡¯t just ignore these calls. She answered the phone. ¡°Does he need something from me?¡± A deep, emotionless voice came down the line. ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Ariel paused briefly. ¡°Mhm. Is something the matter?¡± Jayson said unhurriedly, ¡°You nted a few gardenias in our marital home¡¯s garden. Do you still want them?¡± Ariel finally recalled how it was Georgia who had been managing things at the marital home after she moved out of the ce. Back then, Ariel was suffering from a lot of distress and mental trauma because of her health problems. In the end, she just left a lot of the things that she cherished at the marital home unattended. Ariel had been growing those gardenias even before she got married. Those nts were precious to her. ¡°I¡¯ll head over to retrieve them.¡± She decided fairly quickly Previously, Jayson got rid of herptop. Now, he had decided to tear down and renovate the house¡¯s interior. It seemed like Jayson nned on modifying the area around the house as well, since he was trying to remove the Chapte 217 gardenias in the garden. +25 BONUS After the incident with theptopst time, Jayson had taken the initiative to ask Ariel about the gardenias first before taking any actions. ¡°You don¡¯t have toe here,¡± Jayson slowly responded. Ariel furrowed her brows. She heard him say next, ¡°We dug up the gardenias and sent them to Larkin Manor this afternoon. You can just retrieve them there.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Her tone was cold and distant. ¡°I¡¯ll head over there right away.¡± Jayson probably didn¡¯t want to allow her to be anywhere near the marital home anymore. After all, they were modifying and renovating the whole ce to prepare for their new life there. Besides, Nancy might get upset if she knew Ariel had been there. Jayson replied in a husky voice, ¡°Alright. Drive safe on your way there.¡± He hung up right after saying that. Jayson didn¡¯t bother saying another word. Ariel stared at Colton¡¯s number, which was disyed on the screen. She could tell that Jayson was trying to keep his distance. Even though he changed his phone number, Jayson had not once used his own number to call Ariel. Perhaps it was because he didn¡¯t want Ariel to have his new contact details and risk getting involved with her again. Anyhow, none of Jayson¡¯s ns or thoughts had anything to do with Ariel anymore. She swiftly packed her things. Then, Ariel grabbed her bag and headed downstairs. It took her about 40 minutes to drive to Larkin Manor. Fortunately, there wasn¡¯t much traffic on her way there. Inside 218 Betty was delighted to see Ariel dropping by Larkin Manor he went up to her and sped her hands. ¡°Howe you got here so ? You just finished work?¡± After speaking to her on the phone, Betty thought Ariel wouldn¡¯t be able to visit her for quite some time. Ariel responded gently, ¡°I came here from the office. Didn Tayson send some gardenias here today? I¡¯m nning on moving them to where my office is.¡± Betty paused momentarily. ¡°Yes, he did. He said that they were your favorite. Since they¡¯re tearing down parts of the house and working on the renovation soon, the nts may not survive if they just leave them there.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I¡¯m taking them to where my office building is It¡¯ll be easier for me to look after the nts there, Ariel exined. ¡°They¡¯re over here. Come and have a look at them yourself, Ari.¡± Betty led her to the sunroom, found to the left outside the door. Ariel spotted the gardenias, which had been carefully dug up and moved here.. She hadn¡¯t checked or monitored these nts for the past two months, but it was obvious they were well taken care of. The leaves looked fresh and green, and Ariel could also find tiny flower buds growing on the branches. She breathed a sigh of relief. As Betty checked the time, a thought urred to her. ¡°Ari, you should call Jayson and ask him toe back now Ariel stiffened. She had a calm look in her eyes. She didn¡¯t even have to consider whether she could get Jayson toe and stay over. Although they were once married, they didn¡¯t even have each other¡¯s contact numbers. They could even say their rtionship was worse than one would have with a random stranger ¡°Grandma, my phone¡¯s out of battery. Besides, I don¡¯t think we need to call him.¡± Ariel smiled faintly, yet she sounded quite firm. Betty observed her response and made no furtherments. She stepped out of the room and called Jayson when Ariel checked the nts. Betty mentioned nothing about Ariel. Instead, she told Jayson she was having a headache and asked him to return as soon as possible. Jayson conceded eventually. Betty was beaming as she returned to the room and chatted with Ariel. ¡°You haven¡¯t had dinner, right? Should I ask the maids to prepare some food for you?¡± She looked at Ariel¡¯s thin, fragile form worriedly. Ariel seemed even more frail since she was quite tall. Betty couldn¡¯t help feeling concerned about her. Ariel nced at her watch. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma. I¡¯m not hungry. I¡¯m taking the gardenias back to my office in a while.¡± Betty was bbergasted, ¡°It¡¯s almost 9:30 pm already. Why make another trip to your office when it¡¯s already sote? You should just stay over tonight and arrange for the nts to be delivered tomorrow.¡± Just as Betty finished saying that, they could hear the sound of a car engineing from outside. (L) Ariel and Betty looked in the direction from which the sound wasing Jayson was on his phone as he got out of the car. He didn¡¯t even blink when he spotted Ariel¡¯s car, which was parked in the distance. He went on speaking to Matt. ¡°Uh¨Chuh, I just found an interior designer. They¡¯lle up with a newyout design¡± Jayson noticed Ariel as soon as he entered the room. He stared at her for a brief moment, then turned his eyes to Betty, who was grimming widely. It was obvious Betty had tricked Jayson intoing home. He wasn¡¯t really bothered by these things. Instead, Jayson asked, ¡°Grandma, where did you put the books I left here recently? Betty was extremely pleased to see Jayson home. She said chirpily, ¡°They¡¯re in your bedroom. Do you need them now?¡± Jayson nodded. ¡°Yeah.¡± Betty immediately instructed a maid to fetch the books for Jayson. Ariel happened to notice the covers of those books. She was quite familiar with the titles since they shared in- depth knowledge of aerospace engineering. Moreover, these were rare, special¨Cedition books. Betty wasn¡¯t curious about why Jayson wanted those books. She directed her gaze to Ariel. ¡°You should stay here tonight, Ari. I¡¯ll have someone make you some chicken soup.¡± Ariel shook her head. She gently refused the offer. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma. I¡¯m just stopping by to get the gardenias. I can¡¯t stay around for long since I still have a few things to do at the office.¡± Betty pursed her lips. She grumbled, ¡°It¡¯s already sote. What kind of workce is that to be making you work until thiste?¡± Ariel smiled. ¡°I¡¯m alright, Grandma. I¡¯ll get going, then.¡± Betty had no choice but to nce at Jayson and signal him to do something. But Jayson hadn¡¯t noticed Betty was looking at him. He was still talking to Matt on the phone. He didn¡¯t spare them any of his attention. Jayson also didn¡¯s seem to care whether Ariel was staying or leaving. Betty shot him a re. There was nothing else she could possibly say when Ariel refused to stay over with the excuse of work. Soon enough, she instructed a few people to help move the gardenias into Ariel¡¯s car. Ariel was only using work as an excuse. She had only stopped by Larkin Manor for the gardenias. No matter howte she had gotten there, Ariel wouldn¡¯t choose to sleep over at her ex¨Chusband¡¯s house. Matt had overheard the conversation between Ariel and Betty while he and Jayson were still on the phone. He sounded quite surprised. ¡°Ariel¡¯s leaving even though it¡¯s already sote? I thought she¡¯d use the opportunity to stay over.¡°! He was certain that Jayson truly wanted to divorce Ariel. As for Ariel, Matt still had doubts about how she felt about the divorce. Jayson¡¯s expression remained impassive as he checked the books the maid had brought over. He seemedpletely uninterested in what Ariel would be doing next. Inside 219 Betty nced alternately between the couple. She stepped forward and pped Jayson on his arm. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything to Ari, you heartless boy? When will you ever change that attitude of yours?¡± It wasn¡¯t like Betty hadn¡¯t noticed how Jayson had only given his attention to those books ever since he returned. He acted as though the books were much more interesting than Ariel was. Matt heard those words as well. He said teasingly, ¡°It¡¯s because you¡¯re worried that Ariel may suddenly change her mind and refuse to get divorced if you show her even a bit of kindness now. After all, women are mostly¡­ soft- hearted and sentimental.¡± Especially if it was Ariel, who was deeply in love with Jayson. Jayson paid no mind to Matt¡¯sment. He simply ignored it and ended the call. ¡°Why are you still standing there? You should drop Ari off at her office.¡± Betty couldn¡¯t possibly let Ariel leave on her own. She dragged Jayson along as she stepped through the front door. Ariel had just closed the trunk. She said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma. There¡¯s no need to trouble Jayson.¡± Jayson raised his brows. It seemed like he never intended to offer to drive Ariel anyway. He curled his lips and Jayson¡¯s use of ¡°Ari¡± made her pause, her brows furrowing slightly. Sometimes, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but be amazed by how good Jayson was at keeping up appearances. It was true that she didn¡¯t and wouldn¡¯t want Jayson to drive her to her destination. However, Jayson was exceptionally good at leaving the choice up to Ariel whenever it came to doing something he didn¡¯t want to do. Ariel directed her gaze to Betty. ¡°I¡¯ll get going now, Grandma.¡± She got into the car without saying another word to Jayson Ariel didn¡¯t head back to the office. Instead, she brought the gardenias back to her ce. She had been taking care of these nts for years. Back when she was staying with the Sandersons, Lori would tell her to get rid of the gardenias by iming that she had a pallen allergy. Morgan would also try to persuade Ariel to discard the nts since he was concerned about Lori¡¯s health. He would tell her to be more considerate of her younger sister, or not to be too selfish and think only about herself. After Morgan¡¯s affair began,pounded by Elena¡¯s death, and Ariel being sent to Jayson¡¯s room, Ariel stopped viewing Morgan as her father. There was a time when things were really tense and hostile between her and Morgan. As for the gardenias, Lucas instructed some men to build a small sunroom for Ariel on t preserve what few belongings she had left. balcony and helped her After Ariel married Jayson, thetter gave her full authority to do whatever she wanted with their marital home. Anyway, Jayson was rarely home. He couldn¡¯t be bothered about these insignificant matters. Ariel checked the soil moisture and examined the gardenias leaves and branches. Once she confirmed that the nts were healthy, she packed her luggage for the Sorenta trip. There were a lot of things she could learn from Carlos¡® joint project this time. The experience would be very helpful in Ariel¡¯s uing ns to write a scientific paper and apply for postgraduate studies. Chad picked Ariel up in his car the next day, and they drove to the airport. They still didn¡¯t know who the otherpanies had sent as their representatives. At the airport, Chad left briefly to obtain their boarding passes. When be returned, Chad and Ariel spotted Nancy, who had on a coat and a pair of high heels. Behind her was Colton, who had driven her to the airport. Nancy noticed them too. She calmly greeted Chad by giving him a nod. Then, she headed upstairs. Nancy didn¡¯t even bother sparing Ariel a nce. She treated Ariel as if thetter wasn¡¯t even there. Ariel stiffened slightly when she saw Colton. However, she soon paid no mind to the pair. One could tell how much Jayson cared about Nancy when he instructed someone like Colton, his personal assistant, to take Nancy to the airport. Chad exined, ¡°Nancy is also one of the people joining the Sorenta trip to observe and learn this time.¡± Ariel checked the boarding time. ¡°Didn¡¯t they say that the representatives have to be chosen from eachpany¡¯s lead engineers or technicians?¡± Chad helped pull Ariel¡¯s suitcase. He replied, ¡°Initially, Nancy was on the Nexura Solutions team. After some disagreement with us, she could no longer remain on that team as one of the project leads. ¡°However, I heard that Jayson had helped her put together a team just to make her eligible for this trip. With a valid reason, she managed to snatch a spot to join the trip. Anyone would be shocked to hear about Nancy¡¯s preferential treatment. It was no surprise that almost everyone on the Nexura Solutions team treated Nancy like their boss¡® wife. Ariel¡¯s expression remained unchanged. She didn¡¯t find any of this surprising. With Jayson doing so much to assist and protect her, Nancy¡¯s career should take off smoothly. She would be able to go on and achieve many extraordinary things in the future. ¡°Still¡­¡± Chad clicked his tongue. ¡°This is quite unusual. I thought Jayson would postpone his work and travel to Sorenta with Nancy. I don¡¯t see him here, though.¡± Ariel fell silent. However, she was not about to waste her time getting distracted by those people or their affairs. The arrangement was to gather at Sorenta at a specific time. Carlos was dispatching a few men for pickup since all thepany representatives would arrive concurrently. Theynded in Sorenta safely. As soon as she exited the airport, Ariel spotted a familiar face among the crowd. Inside 220 A Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan was parked right in front of them. Jayson was standing next to the car. He spotted Ariel instantly. However, he didn¡¯t seem surprised. Jayson calmly looked away and directed his gaze to a particr spot behind Ariel. Nancy smiled sweetly the moment she came out and saw Jayson. She walked past Ariel without sparing her a single nce and headed straight for Jayson. Chad knitted his brows, ¡°I was wondering why he hadn¡¯te along. Turns out he¡¯s been waiting to pick her up in Sorenta!¡± Chad reckoned those two should just stick together at all times if they wanted to be with each other so much. Ariel pulled on her cor slightly. She decided to just ignore them. Meanwhile, Zach had exited the airport as well. When he saw Jayson and Nancy, Zach went over to greet them. ¡°I wasn¡¯t expecting to see Mr. Larkin here.¡± His gaze fell on Nancy. Zach surmised Jayson must havee here to keep herpany. Nancy beamed. ¡°Jayson flew here yesterday to attend a meeting. He¡¯s nning on staying here until I¡¯m done with my trip.¡± Zach felt like he had learned something new about Jayson and Nancy¡¯s rtionship yet again. For a busy, sessful businessman like Jayson to postpone his work and choose to stay with her, it was not that difficult to tell how much Jayson cherished Nancy. Their rtionship seemed unshakable. Their group was enjoying a good chat. Ariel was hardly paying any attention to them. She checked the time. They were awaiting military transport from the military base to take them to the hotel. Soon enough, the top executives and engineers from variouspanies had gotten into their respective cars. A man in charge of arranging the transport came over and said apologetically, ¡°One of our vehicles broke down on the way. The driver can¡¯t make it here anytime soon. All the other cars are fully upied at the moment as well.¡± Ariel nced at the cars parked nearby. She was about to suggest that she and Chad could just hail a cab. The man turned his gaze toward Jayson and asked politely, ¡°Mr. Larkin, do you mind giving Mr. Hockney and thisdy a lift?¡± Almost everyone was caught off guard by the man¡¯s question. Nancy¡¯s gaze hardened. Unfortunately, Jayson and Zach were the only ones who had their cars with them. Moreover, Zach was already helping to give someone a ride. Ariel furrowed her brows. She didn¡¯t wait for Jayson¡¯s response as she said monotonously, ¡°It¡¯s alright. We can arrange for our own transport.¡± Nancy finally cast Ariel a nce. Even Zach thought this situation was amusing. It would have been absurd if Jayson had allowed Ariel into his car. Suddenly, he let out a chuckle and made a bold suggestion. If it¡¯s about giving anotherdy a lift, you¡¯ll have to ask Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend¨CMs. Stanton¨Cfirst¡­ if she¡¯ll permit it.¡± Nancy lifted her brows upon hearing those words. A faint smile yed across her lips. Chad¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Since when does the wife have to ask for the mistress¡® permission to get a ride from her husband? What kind of nonsense is that?¡± He fumed internally. On the other hand, Jayson remained calm andposed. His gaze drifted toward Ariel. A cold light shone in Ariel¡¯s eyes. ¡°We never said anything about needing a ride.¡± Zach made it sound as though she and Chad were desperately begging Jayson and Nancy for help. Ariel simply felt that Zach was too full of himself. This wasn¡¯t the response Zach expected from Ariel. He spected about her intentions, wondering if it was a ploy or if she was simply ying hard to get. He quietly observed Jayson¡¯s reaction. Fortunately, Jayson didn¡¯t seem to be intrigued by Ariel¡¯s proud and dignified act. Meanwhile, Nancy wore a soft, haughty smile. She directed her gaze at Chad and invited him to join them. ¡°Mr. Hockney, do you want toe with us?¡± Even though she had some friction with the Faye Tech tearn a few days ago, Nancy felt that the incident shouldn¡¯t affect her rtionship with Chad. She didn¡¯t mind giving him a ride. Chad smiled dryly. He appeared rather cold and distant. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Whether it¡¯s the military base or the hotel, I¡¯m extremely familiar with those ces. It¡¯s like I¡¯m going back home. Ari and I can get there ourselves.¡± After he turned down the offer, Chad took Ariel¡¯s hand and led her away. Jayson noticed how Chad had reached out and grabbed Ariel¡¯s hand. He froze for a split second. Then, he averted his gaze, seeminglypletely unbothered. Chad was truly quite familiar with those locations in Sorenta. Ever since he was still a kid, Chad had often followed Carlos here on his business trips. Their amodation was a five¨Cstar hotel located near the military base. When they checked into the hotel, Chad and Ariel ran into some of the otherpanies¡® top executives and engineers. Since Faye Tech¡¯s projects had been getting a lot of attentiontely, these people came over to offer their greetings. having a few exchanges, Chad noticed Houston Group had also sent their representatives here. He asked, Did Mr. Houston note along this time?¡± Frank Lebowitz, an executive from the Houston Group, smiled. ¡°Mr. Houston has a few things to take care of. For the past two days, he has been in Humberston to meet a friend who is also a doctor. Perhaps it has something to do with Ms. Houston¡¯s condition?¡± ¡°A friend, who is also a doctor?¡± Ariel repeated inwardly. She instinctively thought about how Perry had promised to help her make an appointment with the doctor. Ariel reckoned Perry couldn¡¯t possibly be away doing that for her now. She shook her head and decided not to dwell on it. The receptionist passed them their ess cards. ¡°Sir, ma¡¯am, here are your ess cards. Mr. Larkin has instructed us to upgrade everyone¡¯s room to the most expensive suites so that you can enjoy the best experience during your stay here.¡± 20 Ariel looked up and spotted the hotel¡¯s logo. She quickly regized this was one of the hotels owned by Blum Corp In Sorenta. Frank remarked, ¡°This trip was organized to provide the participants with a good learning experience. They alto arranged for everyone to stay in the same type of rooms. ¡°I heard that Ms. Stanton was allergic to the aroma diffuser that could be found in all of these rooms. To not seem like he was giving her preferential treatment, Mr. Larkin decided to upgrade everyone¡¯s room Chad whispered to Ariel, ¡°Should I be praising him for being kind and considerate now? Frankly, Ariel had no idea Jayson could be this thoughtful. She remained silent and decided not to pay any mind to it. The group of them entered the elevator. Samuel Clifford, an executive from anotherpany, and Frank took the opportunity to ask Chad about Faye Tech¡¯s project. They had a lively discussion, and Chad didn¡¯t mind sharing a few things himself. When they started talking about the swarm algorithm in the flight system, Chad managed to get Ariel to share her opinions on the topic. She began sharing the highlights of the technology in a structured, orderly manner. At first, the engineers in the elevator weren¡¯t interested in what Ariel was sharing, Gradually, they were all in awe and deeply engrossed in listening to what she was saying. Frank and Samuel had looks of bewilderment on their faces as they fixed Ariel with an intense gaze. They all thought Chad was keeping Ariel around because she was more than just an assistant to him. Yet, everyone was shocked after hearing her insights. They were deeply impressed with how immensely knowledgeable Ariel was. Most of all, Chad was actually keeping a talent like her by his side all this time! Inside 221 Chapter 221 Chad and Ariel got out of the elevator when they reached the floor of their rooms. After the two of them left, Frank, Samuel, and those who remained in the elevator exchanged a few nces with each other. Frank remarked, ¡°Did you guys notice how Mr. Hockney seemed to show Ms. Walker a lot of respect? Moreover, their interactions didn¡¯t look like the kind of interactions a superior would normally have with their subordinate. Instead, Mr. Hockney seemed really proud of Ms. Waller.¡± Colin Heathome, one of the engineers, responded, ¡°I can tell that Ms. Walker really knows about the topic that she was sharing. For a moment, I was so thrown off and humbled by the depth of her knowledge..¡± Frank felt even more shocked since those words came from Colin, who was one of the most experienced senior engineers working for theirpany. This incident further confirmed Frank¡¯s spection about Baye Tech having a lot of amazing, talented employees working for them. A reception was held on the first day of their arrival to give everyone a chance to get acquainted. Carlos would also attend the reception. After sorting through the things in her suitcase, Ariel put on a smart yet casual coat with a fitted design around the waistline. Chad came to get her before the two of them went downstairs for the reception. The reception was held in a medium¨Csized banquet hall Chad and Ariel entered the hall together. He turned his gaze toward her. ¡°My old man will be here in a bit. He¡¯ll probably try to check the progress of your reading.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit nervous. Apart from working on Faye Tech¡¯s projects, she had been spending her free time reading and studying. Getting epted as one of Carlos¡® postgraduate students was no mean feat. Ariel could not afford to take things lightly. Even though she had previously been involved in a project for the military, Ariel still needed to invest her time and effort and try to give her best shot. Just then, Frank and Colin from Houston Group came up to them. Colin¡¯s eyes lit up the instant he spotted Ariel. The man who was already in his 40s walked over to the pair and greeted Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker.¡± After having shared and discussed some knowledge and opinions earlier, Colin was eager to ask Ariel some even more in¨Cdepth technical questions. He had a feeling that Arjel might have profound insights regarding the matter. ¡°Ms. Walker, do you mind if I ask you some questions regarding the technical difficulties that we¡¯re currently facing in developing the autonomous navigation system and smart technology for drones?¡± Colin had an earnest look in his eyes. Ariel was quite surprised to see how keen he was. She nodded. ¡°Sure, please go ahead.¡± Colin asked, ¡°There are some technical issues with the sensors¡® uracy that we have yet to ovee at the moment. What are your thoughts on that, Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel briefly considered how to articte her points sinely and effectively. Meanwhile, Zach overheard Colin asking Ariel those questions just as he walked through the door. He was rather puzzled as to why Colin had approached Ariel and asked her about these technical issues, Then, Zach saw Chad, who stood just a few steps away from Ariel. It quickly dawned on him that the person Colin really nted to talk to was probably Chad, As for why he was chatting with Ariel now¡­ Colin probably thought Ariel was also someone with exceptional abilities since she was with Chad. Zach approached their group and clinked his ss with Chat¡¯s, directing his gaze to Colin. ¡°Mr. Heathorne, Mr. Hockney probably won¡¯t have the time to discuss the matter with you further since everyone will be trying to meet and talk to him tonight. Why don¡¯t Introduce you to someone who has better knowledge in that regard?¡± Ariel looked at Zach with a stony gaze. Zach pointed in a certain direction. ¡°Have you gotten acquainted with Ms. Stanton? She¡¯s probably second to Mr. Hockney in terms of their academic qualifications in aerospace engineering. Why don¡¯t you go and have a chat with Ms. Stanton instead?¡± Ariel looked toward where Zach was pointing and spotted Nancy entering the hall with her hand ced on Jayson¡¯s arm. With Jayson by Nancy¡¯s side, the top executives and engineers from differentpanies soon gathered around the pair. Several engineers and technicians were already engaged in a conversation with Nancy. Nancy lookedposed and elegant as she calmly shared her opinions. Jayson stood beside her and smilednguidly, offering Nanty a chance to shine. Nancy gradually took the limelight not long after she showed up in the hall After taking in the sight before her, Ariel headed silently to the refreshments area. It was obvious that she and Colin would not be able to continue their conversation after the earlier interruption. Ariel decided to have some snacks first and leave the sharing and teaching to the others. Chobter 222 Inside 222 Zach¡¯s brows arched when he noticed how Ariel had tactfully excused herself and stepped away. It seemed like Ariel was smart enough to know that someone like her shouldn¡¯t foolishly try to act as if she belonged in a circle she didn¡¯t belong to now that Nancy was there. Ariel waspletely oblivious to those thoughts he had. At that point, Chad was surrounded by a group of people who were trying to ask him if there were any opportunities for them to coborate with Faye Tech. Ariel lipped away to take a breather. She filled a small te with some desserts and nibbled on them since she was a bit hungry. Soon, Ariel started feeling a little thirsty. She nced at the drinks on the table, but she couldn¡¯t tell which had a lower alcohol content. In the end, she chose one that looked like fruit juice and reached her hand toward it. Just then, someone ced their hand over the drink Ariel was looking at. Ariel lifted her head and met Jayson¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes. Her expression hardened. Jayson didn¡¯t seem to mind the change in her expression. He moved the drink away and said monotonously, Don¡¯t you have alcohol intolerance?¡± A small frown creased Ariel¡¯s forehead. For a moment, she was at a loss for what to say. It was because she was indeed troubled by that condition. However, the symptoms were not that severe. Ariel was quite surprised that Jayson knew about this. Then again, they were married for three years. Jayson might often be cold and distant, and he didn¡¯t harbor any special feelings for Ariel, but his keen observation skills likely meant he remembered that about her. Ariel instantly let go of the ss. Jayson was probably there to get a drink for himself. He nced at Ariel, who clearly had no desire to speak to him. Then, he took a ss of fruit juice from a little further away and put it in front of Ariel. ¡°You can drink this.¡± Then, Jayson took his drink, turned around, and walked away. It appeared as though he had only helped Ariel with the drinks because he happened to be there just now. Ariel furrowed her brows. However, she felt nothing as she gazed at the ss of fruit juice. Meanwhile, Carlos entered the hall in quick strides. The atmosphere inside the hall was charged with excitement as soon as he made an appearance. Chad immediately made his way through the crowd and got to where Ariel was. ¡°Let¡¯s go. You should tell my old man the thoughts and new findings you have after having done some readingtely.¡± Chad was convinced that Ariel wouldn¡¯t have any issue answering any questions once she had gone through the relevant reading materials. For three years, Carlos didn¡¯t ept any students after Ariel decided not to further her studies. This year, Ariel finally decided to get back on her feet and resume her studies. Carlos immediately announced he would be taking one student under his tutge. Chad could tell that one spot was reserved for Ariel Ariel said tly, ¡°Jayson and the others are talking to Mr. Carlos now.¡± Chad turned his head and found that Jayson had brought Nikhey to where Carlos was With Jayson leading the way, the other guests held back from approaching Carlos right away since they didn¡¯t want to risk offending Jayson. Jayson spoke in a gentle, polite manner. He had an impassive look on his face. Still, he was willing to approach Carlos and initiate a conversation with him just to help Nancy. Chad smirked. ¡°Previously, Jayson gave the acrospace research institute 200 million dors just to help Nancy meet my old man. This time, he¡¯s personally introducing her to him. He¡¯s really invested in this!¡± Then, Chad started pulling Ariel along toward the trio. ¡°They can still ask my old man whatever questions they have while we discuss our matters with him. Let¡¯s go and join them now.¡± Ariel followed behind Chad. However, she heard Nancy saying to Carlos as soon as she got close enough. ¡°Mr. Carlos, I¡¯ve heard from Jayson that you¡¯re nning to take a postgraduate student this year. Although I¡¯ve to be yourpleted my PhD studies in Merinia, I believe there¡¯s still a lot for me to learn. I¡¯d like to apply t postgraduate student and receive your guidance.¡® Ariel¡¯s expression turned frigid. It appeared Jayson was trying to help Nancy obtain the spot after receiving news about it. Through the application method, Nancy wouldn¡¯t have to take any tests. Instead, she could just go for the interview. However, Carlos was only taking one postgraduate student this year. Ariel nced at Nancy with widened eyes. Then, she turned to look at the calm andposed Jayson standing beside Nancy. Jayson paid no mind to those around him as he kept his gaze on Carlos. ¡°Mr. Carlos, Nancy is very talented. I hope you¡¯ll consider her request.¡± Chapter 223 Inside 223 Chapter 223 Even Chad had trouble controlling his expression when he heard what Jayson and Nancy sald. He thought Jayson had brought Nancy here to meet Carlos and ask him some questions that required Carlos¡® knowledge and expertise. Chad didn¡¯t expect that they were actually aiming to secure Nancy¡¯s spot as Carlos¡® postgraduate student this year. Chad subconsciously nced at Ariel. That spot was meant for her. Yet, Jayson always seemed to have a way to intercept during crucial moments and ruin things for Ariel. Meanwhile, Ariel had used the shortest time possible to regain herposure. She fixed Jayson and Nancy with a stony gaze. Then, Ariel lightly tugged Chad¡¯s sleeve to remind him to calm down. Nancy studied Jayson¡¯s side profile for a moment. Then, in an earnest tone, she said, ¡°I know our country implements a slightly different system for how students can apply to undertake postgraduate studies. ¡°However, I¡¯ve done extensive research and studies during my time at Arcadia Tech. I also have a lot of experience conducting various projects. You¡¯re one of the early pioneers in this industry. My dream is to help improve people¡¯s lives through technology. I sincerely hope you¡¯ll consider giving me a chance.¡± Nancy had 200 million dors as research funding from Bluum Corp. Carlos turned his gaze toward Jayson. Although it was almost unnoticeable, a conflicted look was in his eyes. ¡°Ms. Stanton, right?¡± Carlos¡® tone remained unchanged. He had a stern look on his stoic face. His remarks were critical. ¡°Every year, countless brilliant, remarkable geniuses wish to be my postgraduate students. Being talented and showing the resolve to work hard are the bare minimum a student must achieve before they meet me. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking about bing my student, are there any aspects about you that make you exceptionally special or outstanding?¡± It sounded like Carlos was just asking her a verymon question.. Yet, Nancy¡¯s expression gradually hardened. She even seemned a little confused. Carlos had already been informed about her academic qualifications and the projects she was involved in when she was still in Merinia. Yet, it sounded as though he still found those thingscking. Chad couldn¡¯t stop himself from grinning. He was amused by what Carlos just did. Carlos had made it pretty clear just now that he would not allow anyone the chance to take any shortcuts just because that person came asking for favors through their connections. Chad lowered his head and looked at Ariel. His brows lifted Ariel could see how d Chad was upon witnessing Nancy fail at her attempt. She chuckled and shook her head, finding the way Chad was acting a little childish. Somewhere nearby, Zach had just finished chatting with someone, He overheard Nancy bringing up her request. Zach also caught Ariel smiling up at Chad just now. Zach furrowed his brows, thinking that Ariel had no right tough at Nancy. He was sure Nancy would pass the tests and secure the spot if she willed it. Besides, did someone like Ariel, who had no redeeming qualities, even possess the right to mock Nancy? Nancy swiftly regained herposure. She sounded incredibly earnest and sincere. ¡°I understand. I hope you¡¯ll allow me a chance to attend the interview. I¡¯ll do my best to impress you.¡± Carlos had his hands on his back. He said frigidly, ¡°I don¡¯t take students through the application method. The admissions exam is the fairest way for me to judge a student¡¯spetency. ¡°Ms. Stanton, there are numerous students who have the same ambitions as you do. However, I¡¯m only epting one student this year.¡± At this point, almost anyone could tell that Carlos wasn¡¯t interested in having Nancy as his postgraduate student. Ariel dropped her gaze. She knew Carlos really well. Even if Jayson had brought Nancy here and provided her the opportunity to speak to Carlos, that didn¡¯t mean Nancy could necessarily secure the spot. Jayson was aware of that as well. Although Carlos didn¡¯t say it outright, it was nheless obvious he had rejected Nancy¡¯s request. Still, Jayson¡¯s face didn¡¯t show much emotion. He seemed calm and collected. Jayson didn¡¯t try to persuade Carlos to change his mind either. Nancy pursed her lips. As she tried to calm herself down, Nancy asked another question since it was hard for her to give up just yet. ¡°Mr. Carlos, do you already have a candidate you¡¯re feeling inclined to ept as your student?¡± Nancy was perceptive enough to arrive at that conclusion almost instantly. Yet, the notion that there could be other exceptional geniuses in their country, entirely outside her awareness, was something she couldn¡¯tprehend. This time, even Jayson was looking in Carlos¡® direction. On the side, Zach took a sip of his drink, feeling both shocked and confused. He pondered how even Nancy had failed to impress Carlos with her current achievements, yet they were saying there was possibly someone else far more capable and impressive than Nancy. Carlos nudged the bridge of his sses a little. Curiously, his gaze fell on Jayson this time. Then, Carlos gave a soft short. Inside 224 Carlos made no attempt to exin anything further. He turned around and headed into the hall. When b the passed by Ariel, Carlos furrowed his brows. There was a hint of sadness and disappointment in his eyes. Ariel had dropped her ns to further her studies and decided to marry Jayson instead. Yet, Jayson betrayed Ariel andpletely let her down. Even with Ariel around, Jayson didn¡¯t hold back and treated Nancy extremely well. Ariel had ended up wasting three years of her life on that man. Ariel shrank back slightly as she felt a little guilty. Zach caught Carlos looking at Ariel with a rather disdainful gaze. He curled his lips, thinking that it was just as he had expected. After Carlos walked away, Zach and the other guests went up to Chad. All of them stared at Chad curiously. ¡°Mr. Chad, do you happen to have any insider info? Does Mr. Carlos already have a particr candidate on his mind? Can you share some information with us?¡± If there really was some exceptional genius Carlos hadid his eyes on, these people were eager to get acquainted with that person first. It would be even better if they could get that person to work for theirpany. Nancy frowned. She fixed her gaze on Chad as well. She was also curious about the identity of this genius. Chad raised his brows. He had an enigmatic look in his eyes. ¡°About that¡­ All of you will find out when the time Chad had no intention of sharing anything. First, they had not set the date for the admissions exam, so there was no need to create too much of a buzz about it. Secondly, these people probably would not give a positive response even if Chad were to reveal that person as Ariel now. Once Ariel had been confirmed to be Carlos¡® new postgraduate student, Chad wouldn¡¯t have to bother convincing these people about Ariel¡¯s abilities. Anyone c could tell from Chad¡¯s response that he was not going to let them in on any information. Jayson didn¡¯t seem to mind how things had turned out. He lowered his gaze and nced at Nancy, who appeared lost in thought. He handed her a drink and said nonchntly, ¡°You can take your time. It¡¯s too soon to tell what Mr. Carlos¡® final decision will be.¡± Nancy smiled brightly as she drew constion from his words. ¡°I know.¡± For someone like Carlos, who was one of their country¡¯s top experts, Nancy could understand if he was harsh, strict, and even picky. She decided she would give her best and do so well that Carlos would have no choice but to acknowledge herpetence. Zach added, ¡°It¡¯s only natural that Mr. Carlos is stricter about these matters. I¡¯m sure everything will be fine once he sees your true potential. You have a solid foundation, be it your capabilities or academic qualifications. There¡¯s no need for you to feel so anxious.¡± Nancy looked at him and smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Quinton.¡± Ariel had no intention of speaking to these people. She checked the time, wondering if she should return to her room and read some books. She was about to inform Chad about it. Suddenly, Zach grinned and asked, ¡°I don¡¯t recall ever hearing Ms. Walker talk about which school she graduated from. Did you do a bachelor¡¯s degree? Or did you take a diploma? Whe subject did you major in?¡± Ariel cast him a sideways ncer. With Zach¡¯s expression remaining the same, it seemed like he had only asked those questions in passing, Jayson¡¯s gaze slowly drifted toward Zach. Then, he turned his eyes to Ariel, seemingly totally unbothered. While she was feeling much calmer, Nancy lifted her brows However, she kept silent. Meanwhile, Chad sensed how the atmosphere had turned a little awkward. Ariel fixed Zach with an icy gaze. ¡°Are we that close to begin with, Mr. Quinton? Why would I be telling you those things?¡± A deep frown drew Zach¡¯s brows together. He could detect a trace of hostility in Ariel¡¯s tone However, he quickly assumed Ariel had reacted so strongly because she was probably too ashamed to share about those things. Zach found it amusing that Ariel was gleeful about watching Nancy getting rejected when she couldn¡¯t bring herself to tell others her academic qualifications. Zach shook his head and nced at Chad. He said in a roundabout way, ¡°You can¡¯t me me for being curious. It was just that I noticed how Mr. Carlos seemed quite displeased when he looked at Ms. Walker before he left. Is it because¡­ Mr. Carlos doesn¡¯t approve of her?¡± Zach was convinced that Chad and Ariel were more than just friends. Chad had taken Ariel along on such an important trip, where participants had the rare opportunity to observe and learn a lot of things. Zach reckoned Chad was probably trying to make use of the opportunity to find out Carlos¡® opinions of Ariel. Zach felt he had figured out why Carlos had given Ariel that look earlier. Carlos probably disapproved of Chad getting involved with Ariel. Zach grew certain that Ariel would never be able to marry into the Hockney family. Nancy could tell what Zach was getting at. She raised her brows as she agreed with his thoughts internally Chad knew right away that these people were mocking Ariel aga He curled his lips, Chad directed his gaze to Jayson and Nancy the next instant. He acted as though a thought had just struck him. ¡°By the way¡­ Mr. Larkin, has Ms. Stanton already met the elders in your family?¡® Inside 225 Chad¡¯s expression was harmless and natural. He appeared to be only asking that question because they were on that topic. Nancy frowned ever so slightly. She could not understand why Chad was so protective of Ariel. It was to the extent that he wouldn¡¯t even allow others to speak the truth about her. Chad seemed to deliberately steer the conversation toward her rtionship with Jayson, making her doubt his true motives. Zach nced at Nancy and Jayson. Given how close and intimate they were, Zach thought the couple must be nning to marry. Chad looked sincere. ¡°Have you checked the dates, Mr. Larkin? Your family must be very pleased that you¡¯ve chosen Ms. Stanton as your partner, right?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t make anyments. She knew very well that Chad was striking back at these people since he couldn¡¯t stand watching her getting bullied After all, Ariel was the only person Betty had ever approved of to be Jayson¡¯s wife. Otherwise, Jayson wouldn¡¯t have made Ariel sign the divorce agreement containing those absurd terms. Chad continued in a surprised tone, ¡°Could it be that Ms. Stanton still hasn¡¯t met with your family¡¯s elders yet? Howe, though?¡± Zach was quite shocked upon hearing that. Nancy was someone who had demonstrated so many excellent qualities. Moreover, she and Jayson were in a stable rtionship. Logically speaking, they should meet each other¡¯s families soon to finalize their ns for marriage. Nancy cast a nce in Jayson¡¯s direction. She pursed her lips and remained silent. On the other hand, Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He smiled calmly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t share much since that¡¯s something personal. Thank you for expressing your concerns, though, Mr. Hockney.¡± Jayson expressed no desire to divulge more. He remained unruffled despite Chad¡¯s attempt to bring up the topic. Chad¡¯s smile faltered slightly. He could tell that Jayson was trying to protect Nancy¡¯s reputation. He wouldn¡¯t let slip any hints that might suggest Nancy had gotten in between a married couple and ruined someone else¡¯s marriage. Ariel had zero interest in joining the conversation. She was fully aware that it was only a matter of time before Jayson arranged for Nancy to meet with his family members. He had all the freedom to do that.. to my room first.¡± Ariel informed Chad, ¡°You guys should stay and chat for a bit longer. I¡¯m heading back to my She had met and spoken briefly to most of the guests here. Today was their first day in Sorenta, and the initial day served as a period for people to connect and familiarize themselves with one another. The primary objective of their visit was set for the following two days. Ariel excused herself first. She wasn¡¯t interested in what happened during the reception after leaving. By the time Colin finished talking to some of the other guests and tried to look for Ariel, she was gone. Chapter 225 Colin couldn¡¯t help feeling a bit disappointed. He had a gut feeling earlier that Ariel could provide him with some insightful advice regarding the technical issues he wanted to ask her about. Back in her room, Ariel remained productive. Knowing she and Chad would be in Sorenta for three days, she¡¯d packed books to utilize her free time for studying. She had no idea what time the reception ended that day, The next day, military vehicles were dispatched from the military base to pick the participants up. Ariel and Chad were brought to the military base in the same car. When they got out of the car, Ariel saw Jayson disembarking from another vehicle. Then, he opened the car door in a gentlemanly manner. Nancy was smiling as she got out of the car. It was impossible to tell what those two were chatting about. Jayson bent forward slightly and leaned toward Nancy as he tried to listen to what she was saying Ariel averted her gaze and followed the person¨Cin¨Ccharge into the building. Some of the most advanced drones, unmanned aircraft systems, and military aircraft were disyed at the military base. Several experts introduced and exined the drones¡® or aircraft¡¯s features. Participants could even test and pilot the drones or aircraft themselves. As the main speaker, Carlos led the group and showed them the subject of their study for this trip. It was a heavy military transport aircraft. Nancy was quite familiar with these aircraft. After Carlos exined the issue, the other engineers started discussing it among themselves. Just then, Nancy calmly stated a few key points. While she did that, the engineers from the otherpanies directed their gazes in her direction. Even Carlos¡® gaze hadnded on Nancy briefly. He could tell that Nancy was not just pretending as though she knew a lot about these aircraft. It sounded like she possessed extensive knowledge regarding the matter. Still, she was not the only female who had demonstrated exceptional talent and potential in their field of study. Five years ago, Ariel had already achieved incredible feats in developing new, innovative technologies. Nancy still had a long, long way to go before reaching Ariel¡¯s level of knowledge and expertise. Some of the engineers were intrigued by Nancy¡¯s insights, so they went up to Nancy to have a chat with her. A lot of them seemed surprised. ¡°As expected of someone who graduated from Arcadia Tech. You¡¯ll surely achieve great things in the future, Ms. Stanton.¡± Someone remarked teasingly, ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend is going to make a lot of thedies out there feel bitter and envious.¡± Nancy looked a little embarrassed upon hearing those words. Then, she nced at Jayson and beamed at him. Chad felt goosebumps breaking out all over his skin at the sight of that. He couldn¡¯t help but wonder whether Nancy had joined this trip to study or to show off her rtionship with Jayson. Ariel didn¡¯t even look up as she paid zero attention to what was happening at Nancy¡¯s side. Instead, she was holding her notebook as she listened to the exnations and observed the equipment. Sometimes, she would step forward and check the aircraft¡¯s data. She analyzed the data she had gathered so far and jotted down some calctions in her notebook, incorporating some new ideas When Colin came over, he happened to catch a glimpse of writings showcased a truly advanced level of knowledge m ¡°Ms Walker, do you already have some new ideas?¡± Colin focused. He was genuinely taken aback and impressed by A some new ideas. When Colin came over, he happened to catch a glimpse of what Ariel was writing down in her notebook. Her writings showcased a truly advanced level of knowledge and expertise. ¡°Ms. Walker, do you already have some new ideas?¡± Colin liked how Ariel kept a low profile and was always focused. He was genuinely taken aback and impressed by Ariel¡¯s insights in the elevator yesterday. Inside 226 Chapter 226 Ariel looked at him. ¡°Mr. Heathorne¡± Colin suntled slightly. He took the opportunity to ask her a question regarding the fly by wire system. After thinking about it, Arlel rmended a book to him. You can try going through that book. You should be able to find something useful in it.¡± Colin was quite shocked. It was a special edition book that contained fairly hard to read and digest materials, yet it seemed like Ariel had finished reading it. Colin was about to ask Ariel another question, but Nancy approached him just then. ¡°Mr. Heathorne, I didn¡¯t get to greet you because I was a bit upied earlier.¡± Colin turned his gaze toward Nancy and greeted her. ¡°Ms. Stanton.¡± He had met Nancy several times when she followed Matt and the others to Houston Group¡¯s office building Ariel didn¡¯t spare Nancy any of her attention. She finished writing thest line in her notebook. Nancy didn¡¯t spare Ariel a single nce either. She asked Colin, ¡°What time will Perry reach here today? Colin responded, ¡°Mr. Lebowitz said that Mr. Houston will reach here by tonight at thetest. Is something the matter, Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy smiled faintly. ¡°Hmm¡­ Jayson and I have invited him and the others to dinner tonight. Perry¡¯s phone is turned off. He¡¯s probably on his way here.¡± Ariel was not interested in what they were talking about. She and the other participants continued to listen to the briefings about thetest technologies from around the globe. Once Ariel had walked away, Nancy asked pensively, ¡°Mr. Heathorne, what were the two of you discussing earlier? She had noticed earlier how Colin seemed to enjoy his conversation with Ariel. Colin paused thoughtfully. He was still filled with awe and admiration. ¡°I asked Ms. Walker some questions. She was really-¡± ¡°I see.¡± Nancy cut him off and continued tly, ¡°I¡¯ll head over and catch up with the others first, Mr. Heathorne.¡± There was no way Nancy would believe that Colin was asking Ariel questions to get her opinions. She figured Colin was just being courteous and respectful by saying that. Still, she couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to the rest of it. Colin was a little puzzled by Nancy¡¯s response, but he didn¡¯t think much of it. Instead, he looked at Ariel¡¯s receding figure. Colin couldn¡¯t help feeling how great it would be if they had someone like Ariel working for their In the evening, Ariel received Katie¡¯s call. Katie was aware that Ariel was currently in Sorenta. She reminded Ariel to get some targeted drugs, which were in short supplytely within their region, for Leonard during her free time. It was rtively easier to find and purchase imported medication in Sorenta. al went Ariel promised she would get the targeted drugs. After letting Chad know she was heading out, Ariel downstairs to the hotel lobby. Coincidentally, she ran into Jayson, who was taking a phone call outside. With one hand in lits pocket, Jayson lifted his gaze and spotted Ariel as she was hurrying toward the hotel¡¯s entrance. Jayson ended the call after giving his instructions. His gaze shifted to Ariel. Speaking softly, he asked, ¡°Where are you going? I¡¯ll have someone give you a lift.¡± Ariel pulled on the cor of her shirt slightly. Expressionlely, she replied, ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson¡¯s brows arched. His eyes were unreadable as he watched Ariel walk away. She rejected his offer firmly and straightforwardly. Ariel didn¡¯t even bother saying another word For a while, Jayson was in deep thought. When he received Nancy¡¯s call, Jayson turned and headed into the hotel.¡± Alright, I¡¯ming over right now.¡± Ariel only realized how difficult it was to hail a cab here after she went outside. She waited for nearly 20 minutes and still couldn¡¯t get a cab. As she considered whether to ask the hotel staff to arrange her transport, a Range Rover pulled up in front of her. Perry sat in the driver¡¯s seat. Ariel recalled how Colin had mentioned earlier that Perry would arrive in Sorenta tonight. Perry nced at Ariel and said unhurriedly, ¡°You won¡¯t be able to get a cab here.¡± After a short pause, Perry gave a slight cough. ¡°I¡¯m heading out anyway. I can give you a ride.¡± Ariel paused¨Cstaff would soon be leaving the hospital. She couldn¡¯t afford to wait any longer. Finally, she nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take you up on the offer then, Mr. Houston.¡± The corners of Perry¡¯s mouth turned up slightly. Ariel got into the car and informed Perry of the hospital¡¯s address. Then, she kept silent. Perry turned up the heater slightly and said, ¡°I spoke to my friend, the doctor. He said he could meet you on the 20th.¡± She never thought that Perry would follow through. She now had a confirmed meeting with the doctor. ¡°Thank you.¡± After she expressed her gratitude, Ariel continued, ¡°Let me know if there¡¯s anything you need my help with.¡± Ariel decided she would return the favor somehow. Perry tightened his grip on the steering wheel. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Ariel fell silent once again, and perhaps because Perry was driving at a nice, stable speed, Ariel started feeling a bit drowsy. Perry nced sideways at Ariel¡¯s profile. She looked calm and rxed. Ariel had probably applied some lipstick. Her lips were full and plump. They reminded Perry of delicate rose petals. Perry blinked a few times and swallowed dryly. He snapped out of his reverie when he heard his phone vibrating Perry Instantly came back to his senses. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling flustered. Then, he picked up his phone and nced at it. Jayson¡¯s name was disyed on the screen. Perry¡¯s expression remained the same as he held his phone up. Then, he pressed the reject button. Inside 227 Chapter 227 When they arrived at the hospital, Perry parked his car and burned his gaze toward Ariel. She had dozed off for a while. A deep frown drew her brows together. Ariel seemed worried and troubled by something even in her sleep. Perry paused momentarily. He didn¡¯t wake her up right away. Ariel wasn¡¯t sleeping so soundly, to begin with. She woke up not long after Perry had parked the car. She checked the time. Her expression had turned cold and impassive. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ariel opened the car door and got out. Perry gave a slight nod and watched her enter the building By the time she came out with the targeted drugs, Ariel found that Perry¡¯s car was still parked in the same spot. She furrowed her brows. Perry rolled down the car window and exined, ¡°My ns got canceled at thest minute. So, I decided I might as well stay and give you a lift back to the hotel.¡± Initially, Perry considered getting out of the car and opening the door for Ariel. On second thought, he reckoned Ariel might feel troubled or ufortable if he did that. In the end, he held back from doing that. For a moment, Ariel found this situation a bit strange. However, Perry had been kind enough to wait for her here. At this point, turning down his offer felt excessive. She got into the car and thanked him again. Perry smiled slightly. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. You should fasten your seat belt. You can take a nap if you¡¯re feeling sleep I¡¯ll wake you up when we get there.¡± Ariel nodded, but she didn¡¯t sleep this time. She didn¡¯t have anything to talk about with Perry. After entering the car, Ariel looked down at the notes she had saved on her phone. She had made a summary of what she had learned during their tour around the military base today. Perry nced in her direction and caught a glimpse of some special terminology which were rarely used. He had a slightly puzzled look in his eyes. Perry found himself questioning whether Ariel was truly expected to handle such advanced andplex material in her role at Faye Tech. He wondered if Chad had personally guided her. As he reflected on it, he realized that Ariel was far more intelligent than he had initially assumed. He curled his lips. When they reached the hotel, Ariel received Chad¡¯s WhatsApp message reminding her to join him for dinner at the hotel restaurant. They would be having a simple meeting to discuss their findings after the tour in the morning. On the other hand, Perry received a message from Nancy. She told him that Matt had also flown to Sorenta to join them and asked Perry to meet up with them. Ariel and Perry got out of the car. As Nancy exited the elevator into the hotel lobby, she spotted Ariel and Perry out of the corners of her eyes. They were outside the hotel, and one was slightly ahead while the other was just trailing behind. +25 BONUS Nancy stood riveted to the spot. She knitted her brows. With a bewildered look on her face, she took another good look in that direction. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jayson halted and nced at her. Nancy came to her senses. When she looked outside again, Ariel and Perry were nowhere to be seen. ¡°Did you happen to see¡­¡± Nancy blurted out in her curiosity. Jayson had a cold, indifferent look in his eyes. He followed Nancy¡¯s gaze and looked outside. ¡°What is it?¡± Nancy pressed her lips together. In the end, she shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing I probably saw it wrongly just now. There was no way Perry would have any friendly interactions with Ariel. Nancy was convinced that he disliked Ariel. Jayson didn¡¯t try to ask Nancy any more questions either. He had a pensive look on his face as he looked away from where he was staring at. Then, Jayson continued to head toward the restaurant. When Ariel got there, she found Chad chatting with a few people. Meanwhile, several engineers had gathered around Carlos. They were sharing their thoughts after touring the military base that day. Chad waved at Ariel. When Ariel walked over to his side, Chad handed her a ss of juice. ¡°Have you gotten the medication?¡± Ariel nodded. Her gaze drifted toward the side. To her surprise, Matt was also there. He was sitting next to Zach and talking to him. When Matt spotted Perry, he beckoned him over as well. A brief momentter, Jayson and Nancy entered the restaurant. The two of them headed straight for the table where Matt and the others were. Ariel paid no mind to what was happening on that side of the room. She kept her head low as she continued to summarize the findings and information she had gathered during the day¡¯s tour. Ariel felt that she had indeed learned a lot through this experience. Carlos¡® group was still discussing the military transport aircraft¡¯s flight system and engine. They were sharing some really useful and valuable information regarding the topic. As she stared at the document on her phone, Ariel had a clear idea of what she should write for her next scientific paper. Carlos rmended a few books to provide tips and guidance to the participants. ¡°You may be able to find something useful in those books. Unfortunately, the special edition books are difficult to acquire nowadays. The contents of these books are a bit different.¡± Ariel stiffened slightly when she heard the name of those books. However, she quickly put the matter out of her mind. Meanwhile, Nancy said in a surprised tone, ¡°Do you mean these books? I just got them two days ago. Jayson has obtained them for me.¡± Matt said teasingly, ¡°Jayson is really thoughtful when ites to anything rted to you. He even had the foresight to get the books for you in advance.¡± Zach was observing Jayson and Nancy. The two of them appeared to be much closer than he had imagined. On the other hand, Perry had mixed feelings as he nced at Ariel. He noticed Ariel didn¡¯t even look up and waspletely focused on doing her thing It seemed as though the truly felt nothing toward Jayson anymore. Perry dropped his gaze while ruminating on something. Then, he had a sip of his drink. For some reason, he felt slightly relieved. Ariel knew that Nancy was talking about the books Jayson had retrieved from Larkin Manor a few days earlier. She was not surprised, nor was she ruffled by it.. Nancy didn¡¯t seem to mind that Carlos had rejected her application to be his postgraduate student through the application method. Instead, she remained humble and asked Carlos¡® opinion about some questions she had from time to time, Inside 228 As the person with more experience, Carlos would try to remain professional and answer questions involving his. expertise. Frank and Colin sat right opposite Ariel, Colin showed no interest in what was happening around them. He had an Intense look in his eyes as he spoke to Ariel in a subdued voice. Perry caught sight of that just as he was sipping on his drink. There was a curious look in his eyes. He knew Colin was often frigid and unfriendly at their workce. Some would even say he was too reserved. Yet Colin seemed really warm and easygoing when he talked to Ariel. Perry couldn¡¯t help but wonder about the reason for this change. Just then, someone asked Nancy, who was seated at one of the tables in the front row, a question. ¡°Ms. Stanton, we¡¯ve noticed how Mr. Larkin has apanied you during this trip. We¡¯re really curious about one thing. How did the two of you meet?¡± Somehow, the conversation turned to Jayson and Nancy¡¯s rtionship in an instant. Jayson slowly lifted his gaze. Nancy chuckled. ¡°Well, the two of us¡­¡± Chad had a sip of water and whispered to Ariel. He scoffed. No one¡¯s interested in hearing how he cheated on his Wife!¡± Ariel had finished writing thest line. She turned off her phone. At this point, Ariel was no longer bothered by the mention of this topic. Whenever Jayson was around, he and Nancy would surely be the center of everyone¡¯s attention. Ariel wasn¡¯t interested in their affairs in the slightest. Instead of Nancy responding, Matt answered the question. He raised his brows and said excitedly, ¡°Nancy¡¯s probably too shy to share her story. I¡¯ll tell you guys what happened. ¡°I think it was back in Julyst year? Jayson met Ms. Stanton twice when he was doing business with her ex- stepdad¡¯spany, which was based overseas. ¡°After that, Jayson attended an art exhibition at Merinia and bumped into Nancy, who helped organize Mrs. Stanton¡¯s art exhibition. Jayson was considering getting one of Mrs. Stanton¡¯s artworks then, and Nancy was responsible for handling the negotiations with him. One thing led to another. I guess you could say their meeting was fate¡¯s doing!¡± Matt felt that he had more or less witnessed how Jayson and Nancy came together. Merinia had always been quite well¨Cknown for its art exhibitions. Back then, Jayson would often make time to visit those exhibitions, and Matt had tagged along during some of those trips. Nancy smiled wryly. ¡°Back then, Jayson woulde and visit the art exhibitions asionally. I consider myself to be pretty well¨Cversed in art. We got close gradually after meeting each other a few times.¡± Jayson seemed to have thought about something. He dropped his gaze and smiled nonchntly Meanwhile, Ariel drank her tea silently, lookingpletely unbothered. Chad snickered and remarked scornfully, ¡°How admirable of him! He¡¯s traveled across oceans and continents just to meet with his mistress.¡± Chad continued to seethe in silence, his thoughts swirling in frustration. He found it absurd that anyone would want to hear about how one of them had betrayed their partner and destroyed another person¡¯s marriage. It baffled him that they even knew the precise moment the affair had begun as if such knowledge were something to boast about. After thinking about it for a bit, Chad chuckled. He whispered to Ariel, ¡°Mr. Crosby is only putting Mancy in a tough spot by sharing with so many people the exact timeline Jayson and Nancy had met and got together. ¡°What if the fact that you and Jayson were married was somehow leaked or revealed? Nancy will surely be attacked and criticized for seeing a married man and ruining someone else¡¯s marriage.¡± Chad couldn¡¯t wait for his predictions toe true. Ariel recalled some of her memories from that time. She finally learned why Jayson had traveled abroad for work frequently during those days. Chad cast a nce in Carlos¡® direction. Just as he expected, Carlos¡® face had darkened. Perhaps unable to listen to the rest of it, Carlos stood up with an icy expression. With his hands on his back, he walked out of the restaurant silently. Many people were left bbergasted. Nancy seemed confused as she watched Carlos leave. She asked Jayson, who was beside her, ¡°Why did Mr. Carlos suddenly leave? He seems quite displeased for some reason. Jayson didn¡¯t even blink as he replied tly, ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± Ariel could tell that Carlos must be feeling quite upset. After a moment¡¯s consideration, she quietly slipped away without attracting anyone¡¯s attention to look for Carlos. She caught up with him soon enough. Ariel scratched her head. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you finish eating your food, Mr. Carlos?¡± Carlos shot a re at her. ¡°How can you even still smile in this situation?¡± Ariel curled her lips and said firmly, ¡°I¡¯m alright now, Mr. Carlos. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± Carlos wanted to nag at her a bit more but stopped himself eventually. He snorted. ¡°A man¡¯s heart is the most worthless thing in the world. There¡¯s no telling how long those two people¡¯s rtionship willst. As for you, you should work on improving yourself and your knowledge. Those are the things that truly belong to you and you only.¡± Ariel beamed. ¡°Alright.¡± Before he left, Carlos reminded her. ¡°You and Chad should drop by my room tomorrow. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve analyzed and listed down the key points of what you¡¯ve learned so far. We¡¯ll talk about it tomorrow.¡± Ariel agreed to it right away, After Carlos left, Ariel let out a soft sigh of relief. She decided not to go back to the restaurant either. Having resolved the technical difficulties that had stumped the others, Ariel felt satisfied and decided to go for a stroll When she was walking along a corridor outside the hotel, Ariel heard someone talking, ¡°Has the interior design for the house beenpleted?¡± Matt said, followed by the sound of someone flicking the lighter. ¡°Yes, it¡¯s almost done.¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was cold and monotonous. Matt chuckled. ¡°I heard that you even added a baby room in the house. Are you that eager?¡± Inside 229 Ariel, who was walking at a leisurely pace, slowed down. She furrowed her brows She wasn¡¯t expecting to overhear Jayson and Matt¡¯s conversation while they were on a smoke break during her stroll. As for the baby room Matt had just mentioned¡­. How each room would be used had already been decided since the first day they moved into their marital home. On the third floor were Jayson¡¯s study, the gym, and a room for Jayson to meet his guests. Their bedroom, Ariel¡¯s study, and her dressing room were on the second floor. They had never designated a room as the baby room since the beginning Jayson had never brought up the idea during their three years of marriage. Jayson wasn¡¯t interested in conceiving a child with Ariel during those three years. He tried to postpone the matter for as long as he could. Yet, he had torn down the inside of their marital home and renovated the whole ce. He even added a baby room to the house now. Ariel supposed that even a man like Jayson would change after meeting his true love. She didn¡¯t continue on her stroll. Instead, she calmly turned around and went back into the hotel. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to the rest of Jayson¡¯s answer. Just as she entered her room, Ariel received a call from Katie asking her what her n was for her birthday the next day. Ariel paused briefly. It finally dawned on her that it was her birthday tomorrow. She gave it some thought but couldn¡¯t decide what to do. In the end, Ariel told Katie she would decide after she was done with everything tomorrow. The next day, Ariel prepared a hard copy of her findings and analysis summary before leaving her room. Carlos wasn¡¯t a fan of reading things in digital form. As she exited the elevator, Ariel saw Janice¡¯s WhatsApp message. Janice had sent her birthday wishes, adding that she had already picked out a gift. She promised to give it to her once she returned to Eldoria. Ariel, beaming, stowed her phone and took a step. Just then, someone exiting the elevator with a luggage identally bumped into her arm, having been in their blind spot. Ariel lurched forward, dropping both her bag and the documents she held. That person immediately apologized to her. Ariel took no offense. She waved her hand lightly. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± She crouched down to retrieve her things. But before she could, someone strode over and helped Ariel pick up her belongings Zach subconsciously nced at a particr section of the document after he picked it up. He froze for a moment. Then, Zach knitted his brows. 14 Ariel pursed her lips when she saw that it was Zach. She felt slightly annoyed. Then, she quickly yanked the documents and her bag out of his hands. Zach noticed the way Ariel had reacted to him helping her. Truthfully, he didn¡¯t realize it was her. Zach came over reflexively when he saw that someone needed help. He wouldn¡¯t have bothered to lend a hand if he knew it was Ariel. The frown on his forehead deepened as he took in the disdainful look on Ariel¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Walker, is this how you thank someone who¡¯s helped you?¡± Ariel put away her documents. She had a stony look in her eyes. ¡°Sometimes, one will make others feel troubled if they act overly righteous.¡± She didn¡¯t want to waste her time arguing with Zach. Ariel turned around and left. Zach failed to control his expression. He was visibly irked as he stared at Ariel¡¯s back. He couldn¡¯t understand why Ariel had such a foul temper. However, he recalled the content he had just seen. The documents had extremely detailed, advanced, andplex concepts. ¡°Howe Ariel has documents of that level in her possession?¡± Zach frowned and pondered. ¡°Mr. Quinton?¡± Behind him, Nancy just came out of the elevator. She spotted Zach and walked over to greet him. Zach snapped out of it. He looked at Nancy and smiled. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Larkin?¡± Nancy smiled faintly. ¡°He came downstairs first. He¡¯s waiting for me outside now.¡± Zach paused briefly. ¡°The two of you are staying together? Nancy¡¯s brows lifted. She merely smiled without saying anything Zach felt that he had overstepped his boundaries. He tried to change the topic. ¡°Will you guys be going around the military base to learn new things again today?¡± Nancy replied, ¡°Yes. When we return here tonight, we¡¯ll discuss the flight system we¡¯re focusing on for this trip with Mr. Carlos again. It¡¯ll be great if we can generate some new ideas.¡± Zach fell silent. For some reason, he thought about the content he had just seen in Ariel¡¯s document earlier. He nced at Nancy¡¯s side profile and asked, ¡°Have youe up with any new ideas, Ms. Stanton?¡± Chad checked the time as Ariel arrived, then gave her the milkshake he¡¯d picked up for her. ¡°How does our birthday girl want to celebrate her birthday today? Should I take you out to dinner after we finish everything today?¡± There was no way Chad would forget about Ariel¡¯s birthday. A few years ago, Ariel was working on developing the U.N2 at the research institute. The day they officially announced that they hadpleted the U.N2 was on Ariel¡¯s birthday. That day, Carlos had shouted at Chad endlessly, saying how much of an idio he was, even though he was four years older than Ariel. Chad still had a vivid memory of thaty. Ariel grinned and looked at him. ¡°Have you already forgotten? Mr. Carlos wants to talk to us today. We can eat out some other day.¡± low hiss. ¡°That old man can be so heartless at tones. Yet, you still want to be his student. He¡¯s going to make you work like a ve eventually.¡± Ariel dropped her gaze and chuckled. She put her documents In her bag. ¡°Whether I celebrate my birthday doesn¡¯t make much difference.¡± She was no longer that particr about celebrating her birthdays. After a short pause, Chad frowned and gazed at her. ¡°Does Jayson know that it¡¯s your birthday today?¡± With an indifferent look in her eyes, Ariel shook her head. ¡°We¡¯re already divorced. It doesn¡¯t matter whether he knows about it or not.¡± Betty had been the only one to remember her birthday for the past three years. In fact, that first year, Betty even came to their marital home just to celebrate Ariel¡¯s birthday Jayson was also there, so Ariel felt she could genuinely say she¡¯d had a birthday celebration that year. After that, Jayson seemed to have forgotten about her birthdays. He had instructed Colton to send Ariel gifts whenever an asion required him to do it. Jayson wouldn¡¯t have to worry about a thing as his subordinates would fulfill their tasks dutifully. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t specifically remind Jayson about these matters either. Chad scoffed. ¡°I¡¯ll tell my old man about it tonight. We¡¯ll celebrate your birthday for you.¡± ¡°Who cares about Jayson and what he does!¡± Chad grumbled inwardly. After returning from the military base, Ariel felt somewhat drained. She went back to her room and took a bath. Upon exiting the bathroom, she discovered a WhatsApp message from Betty, wishing her a happy birthday and mentioning her present was waiting. Ariel was quite moved. She replied, ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± Betty replied almost instantly. ¡°Is Jayson with you? He¡¯s celebrating your birthday with you, right?¡± Ariel could keep a straight face while typing her response now. ¡°Yeah. You don¡¯t have to worry about that.¡± She had responded that way so as not to worry Betty, who might otherwise call Jayson and urge him to meet with Ariel. As expected, Betty was pleased with Ariel¡¯s answer.. Just as the two of them were done chatting on WhatsApp, Chad came into Ariel¡¯s room with a cake. However, he seemed a bit upset.. Ariel asked curiously, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chad said through gritted teeth, ¡°Look outside your window.¡± Ariel nced over her shoulder. She could see colorful fireworks going off in the air through the window. Chad grimaced and scoffed. ¡°It¡¯s your birthday today. However, Jayson had spent the afternoon apanying Nancy on her shopping trip. He even bought her some fireworks. ¡°He and the others are lighting the fireworks at the barbecue area downstairs!¡± Inside 230 Chad was fuming When he went to pick up the cake earlier, the barbecue area was buzzing withughter. Jayson and Nancy were chatting andughing with Matt and the others. Chad had overheard Frank gossiping. Apparently, Nancy had caught sight of the fireworks beingunched at the port and got excited, so Jayson had someone arrange a fireworks / What a grand gesture. But did Jayson remember today was Ariel¡¯s birthday? He was actually spending her birthday entertaining another woman! for her. Ariel quietly watched the brilliant disy of fireworks outside. They looked dreamy and dazzling; their colors. reflected in her eyes through the window. The memory surged up again. The night she was diagnosed with cancer, there had been fireworks too. Jayson lit fireworks for Nancy on her birthday. And now, on Ariel¡¯s birthday, Jayson was still lighting fireworks for Nancy. Ariel calmly looked away, then gave Chad a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Don¡¯t waste your emotions on things that don¡¯t matter.¡± But Chad couldn¡¯t let it go. He gave a cold snort. ¡°I just think it¡¯s ridiculous. He¡¯s not even pretending anymore.¡± Was wishing Ariel a simple ¡°happy birthday¡± really that hard? Ariel didn¡¯t seem to care. She gathered her notes for a meeting with Carloster. ¡°Birthdays aren¡¯t a punch card. If he showed up, we¡¯d have to give him a slice of cake. We¡¯re better off eating it ourselves.¡± Chad was rendered speechless. That actually made sense. Suddenly, he felt a littleforted. Since the birthday girl had such a clear and calm mind, things were easier to bear. Ariel was about to head to Carlos¡® room with Chad when she received a WhatsApp message. It was from Lucas. ¡°Come downstairs.¡± Ariel frowned. Another message came. ¡°I¡¯m outside the hotel.¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t all that surprised. Severalpanies hade to this military base, so it wasn¡¯t hard for Lucas to find the hotel. She didn¡¯t want to engage, but then Lucas called. Frowning, she hesitated. Since he was already downstairs, it wasn¡¯t something she could avoid. ¡°Who is it?¡± Chad asked. Ariel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. She calmly said, ¡°Chad, you go ahead first. I need to take this call.¡± Chad didn¡¯t think much of it. He took the cake and headed to Carlos¡® room.. Ariel took the call, then turned back at the fireworks Jayson was setting off to please Nancy. There was silence on the other end for a moment before Lucas asked, ¡°Wanna meet up for a bit? I can celebrate your birthday with you.¡± ¡°I¡¯m busy,¡± she replied coolly. Lucas chuckled lightly, as if he didn¡¯t understand what she meant. ¡°Busy with what?¡± Ariel frowned. She heard the sound of a lighter. He was probably smoking I brought Wendy here today to shop. She¡¯s meeting with a wedding dress designer.¡± Ariel continued looking out at the fireworks. Her voice sounded sincere as she said, ¡°Congrattions.¡± Lucas went silent for a moment. Then his voice came again, low and brooding, ¡°So I figured I¡¯d drop by. Celebrate your birthday while I¡¯m here.¡± ¡°No need for that. I already have ns.¡± ¡°What kind of ns? Setting off fireworks with your husband for his lover?¡± Lucas chuckled mysteriously. ¡°Ari, you¡¯re ignoring me now to keep your pride, but when you see your husband close with another woman, pride doesn¡¯t matter anymore?¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t expecting that kind of bluntness. Her eyes lost any trace of warmth. Lucas gave a scoff. His low voice carried a hint of anger as he asked, ¡°Do you have no fight in you when ites to Mr. Larkin? What, do you need to catch him in bed with Nancy before you finally walk away? Come on, Ari. Don¡¯t you think you¡¯re being pathetic?¡± Even though Ariel had long cut ties with Lucas as family, his words still stunned her. Her gaze turned icy, and she didn¡¯t hold back with her words. ¡°My marriage is my choice. Whether I leave or endure it is my decision and mine alone. Lucas, we don¡¯t even share blood, and you have zero right to tell me how to live my life.¡± Without another word, she ended the call. She knew Lucas thought she was stillpromising for Jayson, but she didn¡¯t owe him an exnation. She turned and headed to Carlos¡® room. She no longer wasted emotion or energy on people who didn¡¯t deserve it. Lucas stared at the phone, which now disyed the ended call screen. He remained in the car, chain¨Csmoking, and didn¡¯t call again. He nced at the carefully wrapped gift on the passenger seat. His gaze darkened as he stared at it for a long moment, then he let out a bitterugh. Ariel¡¯s attitude caught him off guard. Even now, she was still loyal to her marriage. How pathetic and ridiculous! He rolled down the window and looked up at the fireworks overhead. His eyes were heavy with resentment. Ariel didn¡¯t let Lucas¡® call affect her mood. Carlos, knowing it was her birthday, was merciful today. Their discussionsted less than an hour, and even his critiques were much gentler than usual. The three of them shared a small cake. Ariel¡¯s mood wasn¡¯t affected by anyone or anything, except for the asional fireworks outside the window. Chad eventually just closed the curtains. Even though Ariel didn¡¯t seem fazed, he still thought it was better not to see it. After dinner, the three discussed the current international climate and future policy directions. They all agreed that the new energy sector was worth heavy investment. By the time they wrapped up, it was nearly 10:00 pm. Carlos finally let them go and asked Ariel to put together a moreplete proposal for a deeper conversation tomorrow before they headed back. Ariel and Chad returned to their rooms. The hotel staff had already cleaned the suite. She noticed that a few items had been added near the entryway. Ariel didn¡¯t think much of it. She changed out of her shoes and walked inside. Right away, she spotted arge bouquet of vintage red roses by the couch. The scent hit her the moment she stepped in. It was unmistakably beautiful. She recognized the variety immediately. It should be top¨Cgrade Ecuarosa. Her brows knit together. Who sent them in? Before she could process it, there was a knock at the door. She turned to open it and came face¨Cto¨Cface with Jayson¡¯s deep eyes. Her expression remained calm as still water. Inside 231 Ariel paused for a moment to think. The hotel brand belonged to Bluum Corp, which Evelyn managed directly Since Jayson was the acting head of Bluum Corp, it wasn¡¯t strange for him to have ess or authority here. So was the bouquet his doing? But they were about to finalize their divorce, Sending a bouquet like this felt wildly inappropriate. ¡°Do you need something?¡± Ariel asked, standing at the door. She made no move to let Jayson in, nor did she ask about the bouquet. Jayson looked down at her cool expression, studying her for a beat before finally saying, ¡°Grandma called me.¡± That one sentence was enough. Ariel instantly understood. Betty must have been worried. She probably called to check whether he remembered what day it was or whether he was really with her at all. ¡°Just do whatever you need to do to get her off your back,¡± Ariel replied evenly. Jayson motioned toward the hotel. ¡°She knows we¡¯re both in Sorenta. I¡¯ll video call herter.¡± Ariel hesitated for a second, then gave a simple nod. ¡°Okay¡± She had already signed the agreement to keep things under wraps for a year. She didn¡¯t need Jayson reminding her of the rules she had agreed on. She turned away, heading back inside, Jayson followed at an unhurried pace. He nced around the room and immediately spotted the bouquet on the couch. It was conspicuous, yet clearly disregarded. His gaze skimmed over it without much interest. He didn¡¯t say a word about the flowers, nor did he mention her birthday. By the time he reached the coffee table, Ariel had already gathered her handwritten notes andptop in a swift motion. She didn¡¯t say a word, but she was unmistakably guarding against him. Jayson picked up on the vibe. He stayed back, keeping his distance until she was done. Once she finished, he raised a brow. ¡°Nothing here I¡¯m not allowed to see anymore?¡± Ariel turned around. She felt like there was a hidden meaning in his words¨Csomething almost teasing, maybe even a little mocking. Then Jayson asked casually, ¡°Mind if I sit ¡°Do what you want,¡± Ariel said. She only felt at ease after putting away all the important documents and files. Jayson sat down and checked the time; his thoughts remained unreadable. Ariel didn¡¯t bother engaging. She was mostly wondering when he nned to leave and when exactly this video call was happening. She was exhausted. Jayson nced up from his phone and noticed how out of if she looked. ¡°Have you had a checkuptely?¡± He paused for a beat, then added, ¡°Is Faye Tech overworking you?¡± Ariel zipped her suitcase closed and locked it. ¡°No.¡± Her answer was curt, just polite enough to pass. She offered no real emotion. Jayson noticed, of course. But he didn¡¯t seem to care. He just gave azy smirk. ¡°We¡¯ll call Grandma at 10:30 pm. Hang in there.¡± Ariel checked the clock. There were still over 20 minutes len. Her brain was fried from days of intense work, and today had drained her even more, so she said, ¡°Knock when it¡¯s time. I¡¯lle out. Do whatever you want until then.¡± Without waiting for a response, Ariel stepped into the bedroom and shut the door behind her. She nned to get a few minutes of sleep. She didn¡¯t care how Jayson spent his time out there. Anyhow, she wasn¡¯t about to sit awkwardly across from him. After all, they had nothing to say to each other now. Since Betty called Jayson to check in, he would definitely know today was Ariel¡¯s birthday. But he didn¡¯t wish her a happy birthday. Honestly, at this point, she didn¡¯t expect him to. As for the bouquet, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to care enough to wonder where it came from. Jayson checked the time on his phone, then leaned back into the couch and gave the closed bedroom door a long look. Eventually, his eyes drifted back to the bouquet sitting on the couch across from him. When Ariel woke up, daylight was already beaming in through the edge of the curtains. Her mind snapped awake immediately, and she sat up, startled. She had actually slept through the night? Jayson never knocked to wake her for the video call. She was a light sleeper. If he had knocked, she would¡¯ve heard it. But Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it. She got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom to wash up. Jayson was gone. The suite waspletely still. She calmly looked away and went to freshen up. But when she stepped into the bedroom, something caught her eye. A small ck velvet box was sitting on her nightstand. She walked over and flipped it open. To her surprise, it was an emerald ne with diamonds, which looked stunning, t When she looked closer, she realized that the design, the materials, and even the craftsmanship were nearly Identical to the Walker family¡¯s heirloom ring Inside 232 Chapter 232 They looked like a matching set. Could the Walker family¡¯s heirloom ring he paired with this ne? Ariel studied it carefully, a flicker of doubt rising in her mind. But then she frowned thoughtfully. Did Jayson leave it there? She was sure there was nothing in the room when she came back to sleepst night. Was this supposed to be a birthday gift? She wasn¡¯t too surprised, though. Jayson had always arranged gifts for her before. He was meticulous about details and behaved like a gentleman. Even if he was cold, he kept basic courtesy. He would never deliberately pretend not to know. But now they were divorced. Ariel nced at the ne for only a few seconds before putting it away. She nned to ask Katle if the ne and ring really were a matching set. If they weren¡¯t, she would have no reason to keep it. If they were, she wouldn¡¯t take it for nothing She was taking an afternoon flight back to Eldoria today. Yesterday, Carlos asked her to meet with him this morning to discuss her progress. Chad had already gone over earlier. Ariel tidied up and headed upstairs. As Zach came out of his room, he saw Ariel knocking on Carlos¡® door before going inside. He frowned, confused. Why was Ariel looking for Carlos? Was Chad in there? He didn¡¯t understand and decided to head downstairs first. Downstairs, Jayson and the others were already seated at the table. They were having their breakfast. Nancy looked like she hadn¡¯t slept well. She rubbed her temples while sipping a coffee. Matt asked with concern, ¡°What¡¯s wrong? You didn¡¯t sleep well?¡± Perry nced up as well. Nancy shrugged. ¡°I was just looking over some books Mr. Carlos rmended. They¡¯re really tough reads. I ended up talking it over with Jayson and barely got two hours of sleep.¡± Matt squinted his eyes. ¡°So you two were togethertest night?¡± Nancy quickly shut down the topic with a smile before switching gears. ¡°I asked Mr. Carlos¡® assistant if I could talk with him about what I¡¯ve learned so far, but Mr. Carlos seemed busy and declined.¡± Zach walked over just in time to hear this. He sat down and said, ¡°Mr. Carlos is busy? I just saw Ariel go into his room. Thatment caused a subtle shift in the room. Jayson looked up thoughtfully. Matt almost choked on his drink. ¡°Ariel? What¡¯s she doing Mr. Carlos¡® room?¡± in Zach shook his head, puzzled. ¡°No idea.¡± How could there be such a coincidence? Nancy wanted to talk to Carlos, but Ariel just happened to show up and interrupted. Matt suddenly took a sharp breath. ¡°Is she¡­ in marriage talks with Mr. Chad?¡± Perry frowned silently at those words. Meanwhile, Nancy mulled it over quietly. Could Ariel really be building Chad up as her backup after the divorce? Given the Hockney family¡¯s status as the top tier in academia and research, they were closely connected with political leaders. Their social standing was no joke. Ariel was more calcting than Nancy had imagined. Still, Nancy didn¡¯t say anything out loud. Zach instinctively denied the possibility. ¡°She can¡¯t marry tom. The Hockney family isn¡¯t just any family. My father said Mr. Chad will only marry someone equally powerful¨Ca top talent and a perfect match socially and intellectually.¡± Ariel wanted to marry Chad? It was more like a pipe dream Perry tapped his phone, lost in thought. He didn¡¯t think Ariel would really want to marry into the Hockney family. She wasn¡¯t the type to get caught up just in romance. Nancy smiled quietly at Zach¡¯s words. Right, the Hockney family wouldn¡¯t settle for a divorced woman with no credentials. As they talked, they saw Ariel and Chad appearing together Ariel¡¯s face showed no emotion. Chad, meanwhile, looked downcast, like a guy who brought his girlfriend home only to be shut out at the door. Seeing that, the group felt their guess was correct. Ariel didn¡¯t notice their looks. She gently patted Chad¡¯s shoulder and said, ¡°Cheer up. Mr. Carlos is a perfectionist. Everyone gets scolded. Since you¡¯re his son, it¡¯s normal that he expects more from you.¡± Chad shrugged helplessly. He was already in the top tier of the younger generation. Still, Carlos yelled at him like crazy, and it was due to the stark contrast with Ariel¡¯s extraordinary talent. As they approached, Matt waved a hand. ¡°Mr. Hockney, feeling down? Do you want to sit with us?¡± Ariel nced over coldly. Jayson crossed his legs, looking up without a word. She was about to decline when suddenly, a stir came from the entrance. The hotel manager¡¯s respectful voice followed ¡°Mrs Larkin, Mr. Larkin is inside. This way, please¡± Inside 233 Everyone there turned to look Ariel was startled as arge group of people swept in through the door. Leading them was an elegant, striking woman, carrying the cold edge of someone tempered by experience. No one had expected Evelyn to show up in Sorenta for a surprise inspection Matt and the others quickly straightened up. Upon hearing the manager¡¯s words, Evelyn, who had flown over on short notice, was surprised to find Jayson here too. She simply said, ¡°Lead the way.¡± The manager gestured politely. ¡°Mr. Larkin and his friends are in the restaurant. His girlfriend is here too.¡± Evelyn paused imperceptibly. Clicking her heels softly as she approached, she noticed Nancy sitting beside Jayson. But soon, Evelyn spotted Ariel standing not far away. Her eyes narrowed sharply, clearly surprised by what she Evelyn nced at Jayson, who remained calm and collected. He seemed unbothered by the scene. ¡°Mrs. Larkin,¡± Perry greeted. Matt and the others also greeted Evelyn. Nancy nodded gracefully at Evelyn but did not speak directly. Evelyn just gave a slight nod in return. ¡°I¡¯m here for an inspection. Carry on as you were.¡± She didn¡¯t speak to Nancy directly. Instead, she walked past her without stopping. ¡°Jayson,e with me,¡± Evelyn called out, ncing at Ariel as she left. She ignored everyone else present. Jayson rose and followed Evelyn out of the restaurant. Zach, who hadn¡¯t met Evelyn before and was just an outsider, noticed the tension and asked Nancy, ¡°Ms. Stanton, you haven¡¯t met Mrs. Larkin?¡± It seemed like Evelyn and Nancy were not familiar with each other. They didn¡¯t even greet each other. But Nancy was so outstanding that Evelyn probably wouldn¡¯t dislike her. Matt rubbed his nose and nced at Nancy. Meanwhile, Perry frowned as he watched Ariel carefully. Luckily, she seemed unaffected and showed no sign of recognizing Evelyn as her mother¨Cinw. She treated her like aplete stranger. Nancy sipped her coffee calmly before answering Zach¡¯s question, ¡°Today isn¡¯t the right asion for formal greetings.¡± Zach understood at once. With so many ¡°uninvited¡± people around, it wasn¡¯t proper for Evelyn to chat openly with Nanry here. But¡­ Zach nced back at Ariel. Was it just his imagination? He thought Evelyn looked like she nced at Ariel before leaving Why? Jayson followed Evelyn to the office. Once inside, Evelyn turned to him and asked, ¡°Didn¡¯t Ariel give you any trouble?¡± She frowned. ¡°You brought Nancy to meet her face¨Cto¨Cface If she gets triggered emotionally, she might publicly expose your marriage. That would be a disaster.¡± Jayson¡¯s expression was indifferent and calm. ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Evelyn didn¡¯t quite understand but reminded him nheless. ¡°With so many eyes around, things can easily spiral out of control and give people something to talk about. Try to keep her calm.¡± Although Evelyn wasn¡¯t pleased with Ariel as a daughter¨Cinw, she had to consider the Larkin family¡¯s reputation If Jayson eventually decided to give Nancy an official status, no hints or signs that he was married to Ariel could be shown today. Whether it was Ariel or Nancy, Evelyn treated them both the same, like mere strangers. Jayson nced at Evelyn¡¯s expression, then said coldly, ¡°Ariel is a dignified woman. You don¡¯t need to worry.¡± Unless pushed too far, Ariel wouldn¡¯t cause a scene. Evelyn hesitated but finally epted his words. She looked at Jayson and asked, ¡°Have you thought this through? Nancy has a solid education and a bright future in the aerospace industry. In the long term, she might even enter politics. But her family background is ordinary. They have nopany or business assets.¡± Evelyn had done her homework. Sarah was an artist who had earned tens of millions of dors butcked apany or capital to support them. In high society, artists could be cultivated easily and weren¡¯t very impressive on their own. However, Nancy¡¯s sharp intelligence and promising career path were impressive. If the Larkin family wanted to push her forward, it wouldn¡¯t be hard. Jayson showed little interest in this topic. Before leaving, he said, ¡°I have my own ns. You don¡¯t need to interfere.¡± Ariel finished packing her luggage. Chad had already booked the tickets. They were heading back to Eldoria today. This trip had inspired her with plenty of new ideas. Once they returned, she nned to discuss Faye Technologies¡± new directions with Chad. Chorver 233 Her mood was fairly good. Coming downstairs, she saw most of the group waiting for their cars. Severalpanies were preparing their strategies after this learning opportunity. Colin approached as soon as he saw Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker, why didn¡¯t youe down for the barbecue yesterday?¡± Chad came over and said, ¡°It was Ari¡¯s birthday yesterday. I was with her.¡± Colin was surprised and quickly said, ¡°Happy birthday!¡± Ariel smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you.¡± Colin hesitated a moment, then added, ¡°Ms. Walker, could I have your contact info? Once we¡¯re back in Eldoria, we might still have a chance to discuss some professional matters.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t refuse. She could tell Colin was genuine and straightforward. They exchanged numbers. After that, she and Chad went to find Carlos. Nearby, Perry noticed this and came over. ¡°Mr. Heathorne, have you gotten close to Ms. Walker? What did you talk about?¡± Colin replied, ¡°Yesterday was Ms. Walker¡¯s birthday. I just wished her.¡± Perry¡¯s expression turned serious at once. Ariel¡¯s birthday? But Jayson was with Nancy yesterday. Colin didn¡¯t notice Perry¡¯s change. He couldn¡¯t help but praise, ¡°Ms. Walker is the most insightful young woman I¡¯ve met. Mr. Houston, have you considered recruiting her? Perry was surprised. It was rare to hear such praise from Colin. ¡°Recruit her?¡± ¡°I spoke briefly with her. She has unique ideas about drone research. She¡¯s one of the few who truly understands the field,¡± Colin said with admiration and envy. Perry¡¯s expression shifted slightly, stunned by the words. Ariel was knowledgeable about drones? Inside 234 No one had ever connected Ariel with drones before, but now, even an engineer of Colin¡¯s caliber was praising her openly. What was going on? Ariel had only joined Faye Technologies for a few months. Perry knew she was smart, but aerospace engineering wasn¡¯t an ordinary field one could master easily. Did Chad teach Ariel theoretical knowledge? Or¡­ ¡°Perry?¡± Nancy came up and tapped him on the shoulder. ¡°Jayson and Matt are waiting over there. Let¡¯s go get in that car.¡± Perry was abruptly pulled out of his thoughts. He nced toward where Nancy indicated. Jayson was on a call nearby. When he sensed Perry¡¯s gaze, he turned to look over. Meeting Jayson¡¯s eyes, Perry suddenly felt a heaviness in his chest. An odd and unsettling feeling crept in. Should he ask Jayson about Ariel? Perry pressed his lips together, his mind racing as he started walking toward them. Yet, the fleeting idea to ask Jayson for information faded. It was reced by another thought. Before getting in the car, Perry pulled out his phone and sent a message to Freya. ¡°Do you want to meet Ms. Walker? Didn¡¯t you say she¡¯s great with drones? You have your college entrance exams this year. Why not ask her out and get her advice?¡± Meanwhile, Ariel rode in a car with Chad and Carlos. When Ariel and Chad got in, Carlos was reading a doctoral thesis from the research institute. Ariel stayed quiet, not wanting to disturb him. She hadn¡¯t seen Evelyn again. Thetter was probably busy with hotel affairs. Ariel wasn¡¯t sure whether Jayson had told Evelyn about their divorce. He had only mentioned keeping it from Betty, so she had no idea what Evelyn knew. When they got secretly married, no one besides the Larkins and those close to Jayson knew he was actually married. It was normal for Evelyn to act as if she didn¡¯t know Ariel in public. But Evelyn hadn¡¯t even greeted Nancy either, which was somewhat strange. In the front seat, Carlos was halfway through the thesis when Gary called. The Department of Defense and the research institute were connected, often holding meetings about military science projects. Carlos answered. Gary asked, ¡°Carlos, is your work in Sorenta finished today?¡± Carlos replied calmly, ¡°You¡¯re quite well informed, huh? What¡¯s up?¡± Garyughed heartily. ¡°You should¡¯ve received the orders. Our focus for the second half of the year is to crack the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet. I was hoping you could assign a few people to the project.¡± Carlos thought for a moment. ¡°No problem. We¡¯ll have time once this project is over.¡± ¡°Um¡­ What about thatdy who developed U.N2?¡± Gary got to the point. Carlos¡® expression shifted subtly as he looked back at Ariel, who was chatting with Chad about Faye Technologies¡® next steps. He smiled and said, ¡°Since you have someone in mind, why beat around the bush?¡± ¡°You know how powerful U.N2 is in actualbat. We can waste such talent.¡± Gary was straightforward. Military research and defense industries needed geniuses like that. Carlos snorted. ¡°We¡¯ll see. I can ask for you,¡± Gary hurriedly said, ¡°Hey, you better take it seriously. Wouldn¡¯t you be proud if your student worked on military projects? Also, I¡¯m sending you some pictures of my son. Maybe you can show her.¡± Carlos was rendered speechless. How audacious of Gary to try to im both Ariel¡¯s talent and her hand! Chad hadn¡¯t even gotten in line yet. There was no way Carlos would let the Quintons cut. Inside 235 Carlos ended the call with a stern face. He turned to Ariel and asked, ¡°Once the Faye Tech project wraps up, would you be interested in researching military aircraft?¡± Ariel raised her eyebrows. Chad instantly felt like he had been punched in the gut. ¡°Are you trying to poach her?¡± Carlos couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Chad. He simply told Ariel, ¡°Just think about it. There¡¯s no rush. When you¡¯ve made up your mind, I¡¯ll take you to meet the folks at the Department of Defense.¡± In his eyes, Ariel¡¯s future was limitless. Faye Technologies was only the beginning for her. But Ariel didn¡¯t answer immediately. She fell into a thoughtful silence. In terms of ambition and dreams, she absolutely wanted to. But her illness was a ticking time bomb. She had too many factors to weigh. As such, she wanted to make this decision with care and responsibility. By the time theynded in Eldoria, it was alreadyte. Chad drove Ariel back to her neighborhood. The moment she got home, Ariel took out the emerald ne Jayson had given her. She snapped a picture and sent it to Katie, asking her to take a look. Soon after, Katie called back. Her voice trembled with emotion. ¡°Ari, where did you find that? It¡¯s the matching set with the ring. Your great¨Cgrandfather lost the ne ages ago; only the ring was passed down to me. It¡¯s been missing for decades! How did you¡­¡® Ariel was stunned. It was real? How did Jayson know the ne was originally part of a set with Katie¡¯s family heirloom ring? Where did he even find it? Ariel¡¯s mind raced. This birthday gift was far more valuable and meaningful than she had imagined. After a moment¡¯s thought, she called Colton. If she and Jayson were still married, she wouldn¡¯t have cared. But now they were divorced and had already settled their finances. If it were any other piece of jewelry, she would¡¯ve returned it immediately. But this was Katie¡¯s long¨Clost heirloom. That made thingsplicated. She needed to ask Jayson where it came from and how much it cost. She couldn¡¯t just ept something like that. She didn¡¯t want things left vague between them. Colton picked up. ¡°Yes, Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel nced down at the ne. ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson?¡± Colton hesitated before saying, ¡°Mr. Larkin is busy right now.¡± Ariel paused, just about to ask him to pass on a message when she suddenly heard Nancy¡¯s voice faintly through the line. It was filled with a mix of helplessness and happiness. ¡°Jayson, take a break. Don¡¯t wear yourself out. You¡¯ve already done so much for me.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. She acted as if she hadn¡¯t heard it. ¡°Please have Jayson send me the receipt or invoice for the ne when he has time. Thanks.¡± She didn¡¯t say another word, nor did she show the slightest curiosity about what Nancy was referring to. Ariel arrived at Faye Technologies the next day and checked in with Janice about the progress made over the past three days. Everything was running smoothly. Byte morning, she received a WhatsApp message from Freya. She asked Ariel out for afternoon tea, hoping to ask for advice on choosing a major rted to drones and aerospace. Ariel thought it over and replied, ¡°Sure. See you in the afternoon.¡± The military project Carlos had mentioned yesterday would demand a lot of time and energy. She gave it serious thought again, then sent a message to her doctor, Lesley Gagher. ¡°There¡¯s something I¡¯d like to confirm. If I go for a full hysterectomy, would my chances of recovery improve significantly?¡± After a while, Lesley replied, ¡°In theory, yes.¡± Ariel curled her fingers into a fist. Her heart, once chaotic, gradually found its rhythm. She typed back. ¡°Can I schedule the surgery now?¡± Inside 236 Making this decision wasn¡¯t easy for Ariel. For a long time, she had deliberately avoided confronting the topic of treatment. But now, with a clearer goal and a more definite path, she had no choice but to face it. It took a while before Lesley replied, ¡°Ms. Walker, given your current condition, we still need a detailed treatment n. Preoperative chemotherapy is essential. But I still hope you¡¯ll think this through.¡± Ariel quietly stared at the message. Lesley had exined that a more conservative approach might be viable, aside from the necessary removal surgery. Butpared to a full hysterectomy, it worked more slowly and was much more unstable. The only real advantage of the conservative route was that it could temporarily preserve her fertility. Ariel took a deep breath. She had thought about this. With the treatment timeline extended, the oue remained uncertain. It was possible that in the end, all the conservative treatment would amount to was needless suffering. She didn¡¯t want to risk everything on an oue full of uncertainty. After a long silence, Ariel decisively replied, ¡°It¡¯s okay. Let¡¯s start with the preoperative chemotherapy. Please schedule the surgery.¡± Better to make a clean decision than waste away in daily fear. Noticing her determination, Lesley responded, ¡°The surgery can only be scheduled after chemotherapy. You¡¯ll need three sessions first.¡± Ariel did the math and felt everything lined up well. The military project Carlos had mentioned wouldn¡¯t start until the second half of the year. Each round of chemotherapy was spaced three weeks apart, and even factoring in the post¨Csurgery recovery, it all fit neatly into her schedule. It didn¡¯t seem like a major issue. Having made up her mind, Ariel let out a long breath. Then, she sent Carlos a message. ¡°If everything goes smoothly, I should be avable in the second half of the year. If her treatment went as nned, she could join the military project. After a long while, Carlos replied, ¡°I¡¯ll arrange for you to meet the folks at the Department of Defense when you¡¯re free.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t waste much emotion on this matter. This trip to Sorenta had been an eye¨Copener. She was already nning for Faye Technologies to explore a deep partnership with new energy sectors and kick off an innovative R&D direction. Over lunch, she talked it through with Chad. He pped his hands excitedly. ¡°Yes, absolutely! New energy is the future. We¡¯ve got to ride the wave while it¡¯s hot.¡± After lunch, Ariel didn¡¯t forget her appointment with Freyal They had agreed to meet at a trendy dessert spot near the World Trade Center. Plenty of people came here for dates, meetings, and remote work. When Ariel arrived, Freya was already waiting with drinks on the table. Seeing Ariel, she waved cheerfully. ¡°Ms. Walker!¡± Ariel walked over. ¡°Have you been waiting long?¡± Smiling, Freya slid a yogurt drink across the table. ¡°Not at all! I thought I¡¯d get here early and order for us to save some time.¡± Ariel had always liked Freya. She was sweet, polite, and naturally thoughtful. ¡°So,¡± she asked, ¡°do you already have a major in mind?¡± Freya nodded quickly. ¡°I want to work in drones or aircraft manufacturing. Do you have any advice, Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel thought for a moment before replying, ¡°There are many paths within that field. Aerospace engineering is one, but there¡¯s also mechanical engineering, materials science, and evenputer science. ¡°It depends on whether you want to focus on building and design or if you¡¯re more interested in developing aircraft systems.¡± Freya¡¯s eyes sparkled as she listened. ¡°What did you major in?¡± Ariel looked up, a faint smile on her lips. ¡°I majored in physics.¡± Freya blinked, taken aback. Then her eyes widened in realization. ¡°Wait, you¡¯re a double major?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t deny it. She had indeed pursued a dual degree, majoring in physics and minoring in aerospace engineering. Inside 237 Chapter 237 Ariel was even at the top of her ss. If she weren¡¯t that outstanding, Carlos wouldn¡¯t have been so upset that he needed medication to lower his blood pressure when she married Jayson. But during her college years, the Sanderson family didn¡¯t pay attention to her. And after she married Jayson, the Larkins barely cared either. They only knew she studied physics, just like Leonard. They thought it wouldn¡¯t help much for the business. Her value after marriage seemed to be reduced to when she could bear heirs for the Larkin family. Later, even the decision to have children came with an evaluation of whether she was qualified intelligence¨Cwise. Freya was truly amazed. To her, physics alone was already challenging enough. How could Ariel manage to double major? She couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°What was your minor?¡± ¡°This field isplex. Considering your health, I¡¯d suggest you lean towardputer science.¡± Ar¨ªel didn¡¯t answer Freya¡¯s question but instead carefully broke down the pros and cons and various factors to consider within the majors. Freya listened intently. Her admiration grew stronger. After their chat was nearly done, Perry appeared. When he saw Ariel and Freya talking so happily, a faint smile curved his lips before he approached. ¡°Ms. Walker.¡± He sat down beside Freya. Ariel nodded slightly at him. ¡°I still have some matters to handle at Faye Tech. I should get going.¡± She wasn¡¯t nning to stay longer. She had told Freya everything she intended to anyway. From here on, it was Freya¡¯s personal choice. Perry pressed his lips together, then slid an exquisitely packaged box toward Ariel. ¡°I heard your birthday was two days ago. It¡¯s a bitte, but¡­ happy birthday.¡± Ariel froze, looking at him with suspicion. As Perry met her cool but puzzled gaze, his heart skipped a few beats, but his face remained calm. He exined, ¡°This is a gift from Freya and me. I know you haven¡¯t been feeling well. This is a custom aromatherapy candle. It helps with sleep and rxation.¡± Ariel was about to refuse but stopped herself and nced at Freya. Freya nodded eagerly and said sweetly, ¡°Ms. Walker, please ept it. This is a birthday gift, but it¡¯s also a thank- you gift for taking the time to talk with me today.¡± Ariel finally understood that the gift had been Freya¡¯s idea, so she didn¡¯t refuse again. ¡°Thank you.¡± Seeing that Ariel¡¯s expression held no disdain, Perry immediately felt the tension in his chest ease. After saying goodbye, Freya gave Perry a disdainful look. ¡°You bought the gift yourself, but you had to drag me into it? Are you afraid she would refuse?¡± +25 BONUS Perry slowly withdrew his gaze and ignored her remark. Instead, he asked the main question on his mind. ¡°What did Ms. Walker tell you?¡± Freya immediately spilled everything excitedly from start to finish. Perry¡¯s expression shifted from rxed to increasingly serious, even shocked. A double degree? What was Ariel¡¯s minor? Moreover, the advice she gave Freya was impressively insightful. It was a thorough analysis based entirely on the direction of aerospace engineering. No wonder Colin had praised Ariel so highly. Her knowledge was far beyond that of a mere assistant¡¯s. As far as he knew, a physics major could absolutely participate in drone research and development. Suddenly, Perry recalled seeing Ariel¡¯s name as one of the project leads on the Faye Technologies¡® project. Inside 238 Perry couldn¡¯t hide the shock on his face anymore. Was Ariel¡¯s name added to Faye Technologies¡® project not because Chad was trying to pad her r¨¦sum¨¦, but because she had genuinely participated in the development? That thought cracked open something in his mind and quickly took over all his reasoning. Perry sat there in deep contemtion for quite some time. It wasn¡¯t until Freya nudged him that he came back to his senses and drove her back to school. Right then, he got a call from Matt, asking him toe by Bluum Corp. Perry hesitated for a second before agreeing. When he arrived, he headed straight to the top floor and noticed Nancy was also there. A flicker of suspicion shed in Perry¡¯s eyes. Inside the office, Jayson was sitting on the couch reading a document. In addition to Matt and Nancy, two sharply dressed businessmen were present. ¡°What took you so long?¡± Matt turned to look at Perry and teased, ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯ve been secretly dating someone.¡± Nancy also looked over, observing Perry¡¯s expression. ¡°Really?¡± she asked. Even Jayson lifted his head. But Perry remained calm. ¡°No.¡± Nancy raised an eyebrow but wasn¡¯t surprised. Perry was different from Matt. Thetter had dated a few people, but Perry had high standards when it came to rtionships, If he really was seeing someone, it meant the woman was exceptional, and he would have introduced her formally. The truth was, Perry hadn¡¯t had such intentions at all. He didn¡¯t continue that line of conversation. Instead, his gaze drifted to Jayson with a bit of contemtion. If his suspicion was correct, if Ariel had really contributed to Faye Technologies¡® project, should he tell Jayson? Did Jayson even know? And if he didn¡¯t, would finding out change the way he saw the divorce and everything that came after? Jayson noticed Perry¡¯s gaze. He looked overzily. ¡°What?¡± The moment their eyes met, Perry crushed the thought entirely. He rubbed his phone for a moment, then shook his head. ¡°Nothing.¡± In the end, he said nothing. Though it was still just spection without confirmation, Perry had already made up his mind that he would do everything he could to secure a part in Faye Technologies¡® uing projects. ¡°So? What¡¯s going on? And who are these two?¡± He shifted the topic, masking his inner turmoil. Seeing that Perry had no interest in continuing the dating topic, Matt shrugged in boredom, then replied, ¡°It¡¯s great news for Nancy. She¡¯s finally ready to make it public. When Ariel returned to Faye Technologies, Lesley texted to say the surgery date had been confirmed. It was set for early June. She had no objections. When she brought the gift from Freya and Perry upstairs, she realized it was from one of the most high¨Cend aromatherapy candle brands. If what Perry said was true and it was a custom order, then it had to be quite expensive. She found it odd. She already owed Perry a favor for helping her book that doctor for Leonard. And now the siblings had gifted her something. She shook her head and didn¡¯t think more of it. She had a meeting lined up at 3:00 pm. She had also arranged to meet n White from the new energypany. She and Chad headed over to the central business district for it. n showed a strong interest in coborating and expressed approval of Ariel¡¯s proposals. After an hour and a half of discussion, n, still feeling inspired, suggested they grab dinner and continue the conversation. Positioned near the central business district, the restaurant faced an imposing ss A office building that towered across the street. From her window seat, Ariel¡¯s eyesnded on it immediately. Seeing her gaze linger there, Chad raised a brow and leaned over. ¡°The location¡¯s pretty great, right? I¡¯ve actually been thinking. Should we expand Faye Tech and lease an entire building like that?¡± Inside 239 Chapter 239 Ariel calmly withdrew her gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t bother considering.¡± ¡°Why not?¡± Chad blinked. ¡°Jayson owns that building.¡± Chad immediately looked annoyed. ¡°Ugh, capitalism at its worst.¡® ?? Across the table, n had been quietly hearing their conversation about the office building. His expression shifted slightly. ¡°You two don¡¯t know?¡± Ariel looked up. n pointed toward the building across the street. ¡°A newpany is moving in over there.¡± Seeing their puzzled looks, he borated, ¡°You¡¯ve heard of Nancy Stanton, right? The rumored girlfriend of Mr. Larkin from Bluum Corp? Well, she¡¯s not joining Bluum Corp. ¡°She¡¯s starting her own dronepany. That building is the registered address. The news just leaked today. It¡¯ll be called Veyo Solutions.¡± Chad¡¯s expression darkened instantly. Nancy didn¡¯t join Bluum Corp but wasunching her ownpany? Ariel frowned. ¡°When did that happen?¡± n answered, ¡°It was just announced today, though it¡¯s still in the preparation phase. I heard it¡¯s already been registered. But as you can see, that office building spans seven full floors. Clearly, it¡¯s no small operation.¡± That was putting it mildly. This was downright high¨Cprofile. Launching apany like that would require going throughyer afteryer of procedures. The funding alone would be in the hundreds of millions of dors. Ariel was sure Nancy didn¡¯t have that kind of financial power on her own. Suddenly, she fell silent. That building was Jayson¡¯s private property, and now Nancy¡¯spany was registered there. Suddenly, she realized what Nancy had meant during her call with Coltonst night. So Jayson was helping Nancy set up thispany. Ariel had assumed Nancy would be ced in Bluum Corp and climbed to the top under Jayson¡¯s wing. She never expected that Nancy would start her ownpany. Chad¡¯s expression turned grim. This wasn¡¯t just some startup. If he wasn¡¯t wrong¡­ n voiced what Chad had already been thinking. ¡°Mr. Hockney, I¡¯d suggest you be extra cautious. Thatpany is clearly positioned topete with Faye Tech. If Mr. Larkin is backing it with hiswork and resources, they¡¯ll be formidable in future contracts.¡± +25 BONUS Although Faye Technologies was riding high, once Veyo Solutions rolled out its strategic ns, it was bound to be a majorpetitor within Eldoria. Ariel¡¯s eyes narrowed, thoughts racing. Was Nancy¡¯s sudden decision to start apany tied to her being kicked out of the Nexura Solutions¡® project? Did Jayson feel that Nancy¡¯s removal from the team had hurt her pride and interests? And now, to keep anyone from questioning her position again, he was taking on Faye Technologies head¨Con through businesspetition? Ariel frowned deeply. She could see the full picture now. No wonder Jayson didn¡¯t say or do anything after Nancy was removed from the project. His silence had seemed suspicious back then. Now she had the answer. It seemed Jayson was retaliating against Faye Technologies for the decision to cut Nancy. This was his way of supporting her. Even Chad, who usually excelled at keeping up appearances, couldn¡¯t help but curse under his breath, ¡°Did he actually fund it? If he did, you might as well sue him. The proceedings haven¡¯t fully concluded yet. You can still reim the joint assets!¡± Ariel¡¯s face was expressionless. Now, she finally understood why Jayson had insisted she sign that agreement. The one that forbade her from revealing anything about their rtionship under any circumstances. There was no way she could sue him. Just as she was lost in thought, her phone rang. It was Colton. She excused herself from n, then stepped away to answer. As she picked up, Jayson¡¯s low voice came through, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Inside 240- Ariel stood not far from the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. The entire ss A office building across the street was clearly in view. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± she asked. Her mind raced, weighing the possible areas where Veyo Solutions might sh with Faye Technologies in the future. Jayson was likely still in the office. The faint sound of keyboard typing came through the phone. He spoke calmly, ¡°The maid at Larkin Manor called. Grandma caught a bad cold that turned into mild pneumonia. She just got back from the hospital. Do you have time to visit her?¡± Ariel instinctively frowned, concerned about Betty¡¯s health. Late spring chills often caused people to fall ill. Before she could respond, Jayson added tly, ¡°Grandma told me yesterday she prepared a birthday gift for you but hasn¡¯t given it yet. You can pick it up when you visit.¡± That reminded Ariel. Betty had called about a gift when Ariel was in Sorenta. ¡°She keeps mentioning your name. But if you can¡¯t make it, that¡¯s fine,¡± Jayson said, his voice cool and indifferent. ¡°I¡¯ll go see her,¡± Ariel agreed. She knew well how Betty had cared for her over the years. Whether by agreement or simply out of basic affection, she felt she ought to go and visit. Her eyes flicked back toward the office building across the street, then she asked calmly, ¡°The cooling¨Coff period is ending soon. Should I notify Colton, or should we schedule a meeting?¡± ¡°Jayson?¡± Nancy¡¯s voice came through the line. ¡°Who are you talking to? Take a break. I got dinner for you.¡± Then the line went dead. Though Ariel hadn¡¯t gotten an answer, she was familiar with this action from Jayson. She calmly put away her phone and returned to the table. Jayson hadn¡¯t given a clear response this time. She would have to find a chance to ask again. Divorce wasn¡¯t a trivial matter. She didn¡¯t want any missteps or surprises. After dinner, Ariel and Chad headed downstairs with n. n had picked up on some unusual wording and finally asked, ¡°Mr. Hockney, I heard you mention joint assets. Is Ms. Walker involved in a divorce case?¡± He was surprised that she was married so young. Chad nced at Ariel before replying to n, ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it. She picked the wrong guy. He cheated on her, didn¡¯tst long in bed, and was going bald, Ms. Walker is finally free from all that misery.¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. Meanwhile, n was shocked. So Ariel¡¯s husband was someone from their circle? And she hadn¡¯t officially divorced yet? After a quick word with Chad, Ariel went to Larkin Manor. It was still early. When she arrived, the maid¡¯s face lit up. She took Ariel¡¯s bag and said, ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin Senior is resting upstairs. She¡¯s been coughing all day and just finished a nebulizer treatment.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll take the bag with me. I¡¯ll be leaving soon!¡± The maid looked slightly surprised. Ariel went upstairs to Betty¡¯s room. Betty smiled lovingly the moment she saw her. ¡°Ari, why did you suddenlye here?¡± Ariel approached and checked Betty¡¯s condition. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been sick. Are you feeling better?¡± Betty squeezed her hand gently. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. Getting old means the immune system weakens. I keep getting colds and fevers. Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve already been to the hospital.¡± ¡°Have you eaten?¡± Ariel noticed Betty¡¯s pale face and asked ¡°How about I make you some soup?¡± Betty looked worried. ¡°Don¡¯t trouble yourself. I¡¯ll be fine after some rest.¡± Ariel soothed her gently. Knowing Betty hadn¡¯t eaten, she went downstairs and made a simple bowl of soup. Inside 241 Ariel knew that Betty had always liked her cooking. After the soup was ready, Ariel stayed with Betty as she ate and chatted for a while. Then Betty asked Ariel to go to the bedroom she shared with Jayson to get the gift she had prepared. As Ariel walked into the living room, she spotted Jayson drinking soup in the dining area. He was calmly finishing it while browsing his tablet. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected him to be back, and he had even finished the soup she had just made. Didn¡¯t he already eat with Nancy? Noticing Ariel¡¯s gaze, Jayson looked up slowly. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He was confused about why she was staring. Ariel frowned but said nothing. Instead, she turned toward the bedroom to get the gift. The room hadn¡¯t changed one bit. Her personal items from earlier were still there. Betty¡¯s gift was a diamond¨Cstuddeddies¡® watch. Ariel knew the brand and guessed it wasn¡¯t cheap. Since it was Betty¡¯s heartfelt gesture, Ariel didn¡¯t hesitate to ept it. Just as she stepped out of the bedroom and opened the door, she heard Jayson¡¯s low voice down the hall. ¡°Yeah, there¡¯s a lot to do during the preparation phase. ¡°The Stantons? Her mother invested 50 million dors. Along with Nancy¡¯s technical shares, that¡¯s 40% equity. Reserve 20% for an option pool. I¡¯ll arrange for additional management toe on boardter.¡± Ariel came to a halt. She was surprised that Sarah had actually invested that much money in Nancy¡¯spany. It made sense, though. Starting apany without capital investment and relying solely on Jayson¡¯s funding meant that Nancy¡¯s technical shares would require professional valuation. It might not give her a major stake. Sarah clearly considered that. That was why she heavily invested in it. Jayson¡¯s chess move after Faye Technologies ousted Nancy was enormous. Now, Nancy had turned the tables and be a boss in her own right. She could finally sit at the same table as Chad and the others. Things were truly different now. While Ariel was still thinking, Jayson ended the call and turned around. His eyes locked on her expression. He leanedzily against the wall. ¡°Did you hear everything?¡± he asked, indicating the call. Ariel lifted her gaze and pressed her lips together, choosing not to respond. She didn¡¯t ask questions, nor did she feel curious or angry. Even though she knew Jayson was helping the Stanton family start apany topete with Faye Technologies, she didn¡¯t bother arguing with him about it. At this point, questioning it was pointless. Ariel looked at him. ¡°Do you need me to remind you when the cooling¨Coff period ends? I want to schedule a time to go to the courthouse.¡± She pressed on with the question he hadn¡¯t answered on the phone. This was crucial and couldn¡¯t be vague. They had tomunicate clearly. Jayson gave her a cold, deep nce. After a moment, he nced at his watch. ¡°Just contact Colton.¡± Ariel sensed he wanted to end the topic, but she still felt uncertain. ¡°What if I can¡¯t reach Colton?¡± This wasn¡¯t the first time. Colton, like Jayson, was very busy with many tasks. Besides, he often ignored her calls in the past. Having learned from experience, Ariel had to be cautious. Jayson had nowe beside her. He paused at her words and nced at her. ¡°Do you need my number?¡± Inside 242 Chapter 242 Jayson¡¯s question caught Ariel off guard. Her brow instinctively furrowed. She didn¡¯t want any mistakes or slip¨Cups in the divorce. Even if she didn¡¯t want to maintain contact with Jayson, she had to consider the bigger picture now. She thought for a moment, then slowly exhaled. ¡°Can I?¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on her. His eyes held something unreadable. A slight smirk yed on his lips as he replied, ¡°Whatever you want.¡± Ariel felt odd about that answer but was too tired to care. She entered Jayson¡¯s new phone number into her contacts, double¨Cchecked it, and finally felt a little relieved. When Jayson nced at her call log on the phone, his expression was calm and unbothered. Ariel checked the time. She had onlye to visit Betty. Now that Betty was resting, she didn¡¯t n to stay longer. Holding the gift box with Betty¡¯s watch, she prepared to leave. Just as she turned, a long, strong hand gently gripped her arm. ¡°Wait,¡± Jayson called out from behind. Ariel instinctively frowned and looked back. Jayson caught the brief flicker of rejection in her eyes and immediately released her arm. ¡°I¡¯m not staying tonight. Don¡¯t tire yourself. Just rest here tonight.¡± His words seemed to acknowledge her dislike of sharing a roof with him. Last time, Ariel insisted on leaving even though it was almost 11:00 p.m. Jayson took a step back and said seriously, ¡°The streets aren¡¯t safe at night.¡± Then he walked past her and left without lingering. Ariel indeed worried about being forced to stay under the same roof after the divorce, but she hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to leave on his own. Soon, it hit her that she had forgotten to ask for the ne¡¯s receipt. Ariel rubbed her temple. She had no choice but to ask him next time. What mattered most now was confirming she could reach Jayson to process the divorce certificate. Everything else was secondary. After Jayson left, Ariel stayed the night. Early the next morning, she drove away. Once she got to Faye Technologies, she overheard the technology department chatting nearby. Seeing Ariel, one of them spoke up, ¡°Ms. Walker, have you heard about Veyo Solutions? They¡¯re all the rage in the industry now. Rumor has it that Mr. Larkin from Bluum Corp is recruiting talent.¡± Noah added, ¡°I was at Nexura yesterday handling data coordination. Mr. Chapman mentioned that Veyo Solutions has a generous option pool, which will attract top talent eager to join.¡± Jayson was the force behind Veyo Solutions. Everyone knew the value it held. If the first batch got dividends and shares from the option pool, anyone would be tempted. Even in its preparation phase, Veyo Solutions set a very high baseline. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected that, but she took it calmly. She had thought Jayson would only help Nancy climb thedder at Bluum Corp, but instead, he helped her start apany directlypeting with Faye Technologies. At noon, Janice stormed in through the door. She mmed down in a chair and said, ¡°I passed by Veyo Solutions today. Guess who I ran into? Sarah! She was all smiles and excitement, looking like she¡¯s almost recovered from her illness.¡± Though Veyo Solutions was still under interior decoration, Sarah¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s confidence was growing by the day. Ariel didn¡¯t even blink. She continued to study the new concept n on herptop. ¡°Where¡¯s Chad? I¡¯ve prepared a new project n.¡± Janice breathed a sigh of relief at seeing Ariel¡¯s calmness. She leaned in happily. ¡°A new project n?¡± Ariel raised an eyebrow, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s about the new energy sector. Others¡® affairs don¡¯t concern us. We only need to focus on making Faye Tech win in the new race.¡± Janice gave her a thumbs¨Cup immediately. For most people, hearing all the gossip swirling around would have been enough to ruin their appetite or focus. But Ariel¡¯s inner strength kept her steady and serene. Inside 243 Chapter 243 Even though Veyo Solutions had burst onto the scene with impressive momentum, Ariel and Chad remained pragmatic. They discussed offering the team at Faye Technologies some additional benefits to keep morale steady during this uncertain time. That evening, Chad reserved a private room at Velvet Fork, bringing along the technology and project departments for dinner to discuss Faye Technologies¡® uing ns. As the group arrived at Velvet Fork, Ariel¡¯s phone buzzed. She nced at the screen. It was Jayson¡¯s first message since she had saved his new number. ¡°The day after tomorrow is Mr. Spencer Senior¡¯s birthday party. Can you make time to attend?¡± Ariel frowned at once. Betty had mentioned it before, suggesting that Ariel attend Jackson Spencer¡¯s birthday party with Jayson. Ariel had assumed he would find a way to decline the invitation. But apparently, he hadn¡¯t. What kind of rtionship did they still have that justified going together? They were already in the middle of a divorce. Attending together would surely raise eyebrows. How were they supposed to exin their rtionship? Even when they were still married, they had kept things private. It was entirely inappropriate. There was no way Jayson didn¡¯t understand that. ¡°Ari? Are you okay?¡± Janice paused and turned back, giving Ariel a puzzled look. Ariel snapped out of it. She gave it a moment¡¯s thought but decided to ignore the message. ¡°I¡¯ming.¡± Chad had already led the group toward their private dining room. Ariel and Janice slowly followed up the stairs. As they passed the second floor, they noticed a lively scene mear one of the other private rooms. Just as they were about to head up to their own, a familiar female voice rang out behind them, tinged with faint surprise. ¡°Ariel?¡± When Ariel turned around, she saw Sarah standing there. At the same time, Nancy stepped out of the private room. Her usual gentle expression was gone, reced by cold contempt. Sarah looked at Ariel with a smile slowly spreading across her face. ¡°Since we¡¯ve run into each other, why not join us for dinner?¡± She paused, then chuckled and pointed toward the room. ¡°I¡¯m treating tonight. You might recognize some of the guests. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve heard that Nancy has started her ownpany. It¡¯s a big asion. As her mother, I just had to invite all her friends to celebrate.¡± A thinyer of frost formed over Ariel¡¯s expression. She could hear the smugnessced in every word. Janice sneered. ¡°Funny, I heard the Stanton family isn¡¯t exactly swimming in money. Must be nice to take a shortcut to such a bigunch, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy disliked Janice¡¯s blind loyalty to Ariel but didn¡¯t care enough to argue. +25 BONUS She understood where the hostility came from. Clearly, Janice was bitter on Ariel¡¯s behalf. After all, Jayson had never treated Ariel this generously. It was only natural that Ariel would be jealous of her. Unbothered by Janice¡¯s jab, Sarah yed dumb and turned Her bright smile back to Ariel. ¡°Come, join us. Maybe some of that good luck will rub off on you. ¡°Nancy and Jayson have a strong rtionship. He¡¯s invested a lot in her future willingly, and Nancy¡¯s more than capable when ites to her career. As close as they are, we¡¯re still a family that values manners. It¡¯s only right we show Jayson our appreciation.¡± Ariel stared coldly at Sarah, who, in her eyes, was nothing short of heartless and ungrateful. Sarah¡¯s pride and arrogance were unmistakable. This was the same woman who once backstabbed Elena, causing thetter to be unfairly branded as a vicious heiress who stole her best friend¡¯s design. Seeing that smug face now stirred a cold heaviness in Ariel¡¯s chest. She had wanted to avoid wasting her energy on people like Sarah, but that resolve crumbled. Ariel turned slowly to face them. Her eyes turned cial as she replied in an even tone, ¡°True enough. Spending another woman¡¯s husband¡¯s money does take a certain kind of capability.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression froze. At that exact moment, a soft click sounded nearby. It was the sound of a lighter being flicked open. Ariel turned to the side sharply and met Jayson¡¯s dark, unreadable gaze. Inside 244 Chapter 244 Jayson stood not far away. Dressed in a slightly loose ck shirt, he blended into the dim lighting. An unlit cigarette dangled between his fingers. The distance wasn¡¯t close enough for Ariel to clearly see his expression. The mood, however, had turned subtly tense. Ariel remained calm. She didn¡¯t think her words were wrong, except for the ill¨Ctimed use of the word ¡°husband¡°. Nancy noticed Jayson over there and frowned instinctively. She then looked at Sarah and said, ¡°Mom, let¡¯s head back inside.¡± Although Nancy found Ariel¡¯s remark utterly unreasonable, she refused to stoop to petty arguments. That would only lower her own standards. Only the insecure wouldsh out loudly to protect their pride. Sarah¡¯s expression shifted slightly when she saw Jayson, but she quickly masked it with a smile. ¡°Jayson, for us to attend Mr. Spencer Senior¡¯s birthday party together. I hope you can handle it.¡± Jayson narrowed his eyes at her. ¡°I can¡¯t do that. Grandma feels guilty that she can¡¯t attend due to her health. Out of etiquette, she insists we appear together to show sincerity.¡± His tone was calm, leaving no room for argument. Ariel¡¯s expression turned colder. Her displeasure was almost visible on her face. Jayson lowered his gaze to her, recognizing her temper. After a long pause, he said, ¡°You just need to show up. That¡¯s enough for Grandma to ept.¡± Ariel knew he was subtly invoking the agreement she had epted. She said nothing and turned to leave. Janice quickly followed. Jayson stood still, watching her retreating figure with calm eyes. After a moment, he lifted the corner of his mouth in an ambiguous smile. Nearby, Matt had arrived just in time to witness the whole confrontation. pping his hands, he walked over. ¡°I have to say, Ariel¡¯s definitely changed. But honestly, her words were pretty harsh.¡± It was a good thing that Nancy was generous. Otherwise, if she pushed back, Jayson would have sided with Nancy, and Ariel would have been humiliated. Inside 245 Chapter 245 Jayson finally pulled out the cigarette again and lit it. After some thought, Matt said, ¡°You¡¯re not seriously thinking of bringing Ariel to the party, are you? Most people there will know who¡¯s who. Won¡¯t that basically be admitting Ariel is your wife? ¡°I think she¡¯s probably dying to go with you. Making your rtionship public has always been her dream. Trust me, when the timees, she won¡¯t even wait for you to bring it up. She¡¯ll call you herself, asking to go together.¡± Matt clicked his tongue, making a guess based on Ariel¡¯s past behavior. As for her cold and dismissive attitude earlier, he assumed she was just ying hard to get. Jayson didn¡¯t seem to care. ¡°She won¡¯t.¡± Matt wasn¡¯t sure what he meant. Did he mean that she wouldn¡¯t go public with their rtionship? Or that she wouldn¡¯t ask him to attend the party with her? He still felt the need to caution him. ¡°I think you should prepare for this. Figure out a way to keep her from showing up.¡± Just in case she might cause a scene. Plus, it could damage Nancy¡¯s reputation. Jayson lowered his gaze in thought. He nced at the message that had just arrived on his phone and said quietly, ¡°She¡¯ll be there.¡± Matt was confused. But Jayson didn¡¯t offer any exnation. He simply walked into the private room. Meanwhile, Ariel and Janice entered their own private room. Chad immediately leaned in and asked, ¡°What took you so long?¡± Janice was fuming over Nancy¡¯s earlier remarks and Nancy¡¯s condescending attitude. Without hesitation, sheid out the whole story. ¡°Who do they think they are? You should¡¯ve seen the way they acted! Ari is the actual wife, and they had the nerve to mock her?¡± She was so riled up that her voice rose a couple of octaves. Across the table, Noah and two engineers from the technology department, Alexis Rutledge and Seth Maxwell, looked over curiously. ¡°Wait, did you say Ms. Walker is a wife? She¡¯s married?¡± Noah didn¡¯t catch the full conversation, but he heard the key words. He turned to Ariel in surprise. ¡°Ms. Walker, who¡¯s your husband?¡± The others all turned to look too. Seth immediately asked, ¡°Howe you never mentioned it? Is he in our industry?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond. Janice quickly changed the subject and put on a mock¨Cstern face. ¡°Alright, alright. Why are you all so nosy? Go order food!¡± Chapter 245. Everyone was itching with curiosity but knew they wouldn get any answers now. Janice brought up a concern that had been weighing on her mind. ¡°If Ari really goes with Jayson to the party, he might just ignore her or deny their rtionship. Ugh, just thinking about it is infuriating.¡± It was easy to imagine. Betty didn¡¯t know about the divorce and insisted that they both attend. Jayson was clearly using Ariel¡¯s presence to cate Betty. But once they were there, then what? Would Jayson go along with the act and pretend they were still happily married? Or did he have something else nned? Chad quietly considered the situation before saying, ¡°Actually, I received an invitation to Mr. Spencer Senior¡¯s birthday party too.¡± Both Ariel and Janice looked at him, surprised. Chad tapped his fingers on the table, then said, ¡°Here¡¯s what we¡¯ll do. Ari, you go with me. That way, you show up like Jayson wants, but it has nothing to do with him. ¡°More importantly, the event will be full of people in our industry. It¡¯s a great chance for Faye Tech towork and expand. Let¡¯s just focus on being pragmatic.¡± Ariel thought it over. From the perspective of Faye Technologies, this made perfect sense. If it were just Jayson requesting her to go, she might¡¯ve found a way to avoid it. But with Chad apanying her, and with it being beneficial for thepany, she no longer had those reservations. Inside 246 Ariel didn¡¯t care what Jayson was nning to do. That was his problem. The birthday party was a grand and important social event, with Ariel representing thepany¡¯s image andworking opportunities. So Janice apanied her to choose a formal outfit, and together they carefully picked out a birthday gift for Jackson. On the afternoon of the 18th, Chad came to pick up Ariel so they could go to the Spencer residence together. During this time, Ariel had received no messages or reminders from Jayson. There was an unspoken understanding between them. Neither asked the other how they nned to handle the party. The Spencer residence was a sprawling estate designed in a ssical garden style. Upon arrival, they saw many luxury cars parked at the gate. The scene clearly showed a gathering full of distinguished guests. Ariel wore a dark green silk bodycon dress, and on her slender wrist, a vintage gemstone watch perfectly matched the dress. As Ariel and Chad entered the residence, many people turned to look, especially at Ariel beside Chad. Zach had arrived early. Being a rtive of the Spencer family, he came ahead to help with the preparations. He noticed Ariel with Chad and instinctively sized her up. For a moment, a flicker of admiration crossed his face. Ariel was tall and slender, and her figure was slim but not gaunt. The bodycon dress made her graceful and feminine. Her hair was styled into an elegant low bun, which enhanced her cool and refined presence. Her attire was fitting without being overly shy, perfectly matching the event¡¯s theme. Zach pressed his lips together. He knew all along that Ariel was unusually beautiful, but¡­ He shook his head and approached Chad. ¡°Apologies, Mr. Hockney. There¡¯s still over an hour before the party begins. Please,e in and make yourselffortable.¡± Chad acknowledged without losingposure. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Spencer?¡± Ariel quietly stood aside, making no move to greet Zach. Zach frowned but answered, ¡°Liam is probably busy elsewhere. There are many guests today. Please don¡¯t take offense, Mr. Hockney.¡± ¡°No problem. We¡¯ll head inside first.¡± Chad didn¡¯t want to talk much and gestured for Ariel to follow. Ariel nodded, ignoring Zachpletely. Zach noticed her attitude. As he watched her retreating figure, his expression stiffened and darkened. Just as he expected, Ariel was all looks and nothing more. She didn¡¯t even have basic courtesy anymore. No wonder Carlos looked down on Ariel back in Sorenta. ¡°Mr. Quinton, a guest has arrived,¡± someone reminded him Zach immediately snapped back to attention and asked, ¡°Who is it?¡± ¡­ Ariel and Chad entered the inner garden and immediately spotted familiar faces, including n from the new energypany. Chad nced around and asked Ariel, ¡°I haven¡¯t seen Jayson. Has he contacted you?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Chad sneered. ¡°He must be in a tough spot, huh? He¡¯s about to get a divorce but still has to keep up this charade. I¡¯m curious how he¡¯ll act with you here.¡± Just then, n approached and exchanged a few words with them. Suddenly, there was a stir at the entrance. Ariel nced toward the door. When she saw who had just arrived, she instinctively frowned. There, Jayson arrived apanied by Nancy. Behind them were Matt and Perry, mingling with other guests. Nancy linked arms with Jayson, chatting with those nearby. The handsome man and beautiful woman immediately drew the crowd¡¯s attention. nmented, ¡°Seems like the rumors were true. Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton really are close. She¡¯s always the one on his arm at important events.¡± Chad¡¯s expression darkened. He had thought Jayson¡¯s biggest challenge today would be managing his ¡°secret marriage¡± with Ariel under Betty¡¯s insistence on attending as a couple. But to his surprise, Jayson actually brought Nancy along. Inside 247 Chapter 247 That way, Jayson didn¡¯t need to concern himself with Ariel at all. They had technically fulfilled their promise to Betty by attending the party together. Yet in reality, they were acting as strangers. Chad turned to Ariel and said through gritted teeth, ¡°So that¡¯s what he meant when he said you just had to be here. He¡¯d already nned to bring Nancy all along. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been invited toe today, you¡¯d be standing here alone with no one to vouch for who you¡¯re with or which family you¡¯re representing.¡± Everyone attending today had status. They were from powerful families and major corporations. And the woman by Jayson¡¯s side was Nancy. With the restrictions in the divorce agreement, Ariel would be put in a tight spot, unable to say a word in her own defense. She could only watch as Nancy stood proudly by Jayson¡¯s side, praised and admired by everyone. Frowning, Ariel nced over at Jayson again. Her gaze turned frosty. What Chad said wasn¡¯t wrong. But she had already made up her mind not to attend with Jayson, regardless of how he exined it to Betty, if Chad hadn¡¯t also received an invite. So that hypothetical scene of her standing alone wouldn¡¯t have happened. Still, now Ariel saw it clearly. When Jayson asked her to attend, he had already decided to bring Nancy. He never once considered what kind of position that would put Ariel in. All he cared about was checking off a box to satisfy Betty. And as long as he wanted to, he could easily ensure Betty never heard anything different about how today yed out. Maybe it was the coldness in Ariel¡¯s gaze, but across the way, Jayson finally lifted his eyes to nce at her. He paused for two seconds, then looked away, as if they were strangers. Nancy noticed the look in his eyes. She nced toward Ariel and gave a faint smirk. So what if they were both present? Ariel still wasn¡¯t acknowledged. Soon, the Spencers began directing guests to their seats. Tables had been arranged throughout the garden. Light refreshments were served before the formal party began. Once seated, Ariel realized Jayson¡¯s group was at the table next to hers. She didn¡¯t spare them a single nce. Instead, she asionally exchanged polite greetings with a fewpany heads seated nearby. Matt caught sight of Ariel and gave a look that said, ¡°I knew it.¡± He had predicted Ariel would show up no matter what. And sure enough, she came with Chad. If Nancy weren¡¯t here too, Ariel might have even wanted to go public with her marriage to Jayson. Perry saw Ariel and paused in thought for a moment. He hadn¡¯t known she would be here. He had already helped set up a meeting between her and Liam. And now, by coincidence, they were in the same ce. He pulled out his phone and texted Liam, ¡°Are you still busy? When are youing over to the garden?¡± Zach finished helping with the guests and made his way over to Jayson¡¯s table. ¡°Mr. Larkin. Ms. Stanton.¡± He had heard Nancy was about tounch her ownpany so he offered sincere congrattions. Congrattions on your new role as CEO, Ms. Stanton.¡± ?? 11 Nancy smiled brightly. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Quinton. I couldn¡¯t do it without Jayson¡¯s unconditional support. I just hope I live up to it.¡± As she spoke, she turned to Jayson with a gentle look in her eyes. Zach observed her graceful and poised demeanor and couldn¡¯t help butpare it to Ariel¡¯s earlier cold shoulder. At that instant, he felt there really was noparison. He nced over at Ariel again, who was quietly sipping tea at the neighboring table. His eyes happened tond on the watch on her wrist. His expression suddenly shifted, and he looked back at Jayson with visible surprise. ¡°Mr. Larkin, your watch looks exactly like Ariel¡¯s. Are they¡­ matching couple watches?¡± 2/2 Inside 248 Zach¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t too loud or too soft. It was just enough for the two surrounding tables to hear him. Everyone instinctively turned to look at Jayson and Ariel. Their gazes brimmed with curiosity and scrutiny. Nancy¡¯s expression darkened. She nced down at the watch peeking from Jayson¡¯s cuff, then turned to look toward the neighboring table at Ariel with a frown. So Ariel had nned this far ahead? Even Zach looked speechless. Matching couple watches? That just felt way too deliberate. Guests nearby couldn¡¯t help but tease, ¡°Will there be such a coincidence?¡± ¡°Right? I¡¯ve seen those watches before. They¡¯re from a limited edition couple¡¯s set. They do sell them individually, but still, what are the odds? Must be fate.¡± One person waved it off. ¡°I¡¯m guessing it¡¯s just a coincidence that Ms. Walker is wearing hers today. Ms. Stanton probably has the matching one. She just didn¡¯t wear it. Right, Ms, Stanton?¡± Nancy had no choice but to suppress her frustration toward Ariel. She gave a faint smile in response, neither confirming nor denying. Perry frowned at the situation, casting a worried nce at Ariel. Zach raised an eyebrow and said with a meaningful look, ¡°Ms. Walker, this little misunderstanding really is interesting, isn¡¯t it?¡± Chad frowned and was about to speak. But before he could say anything, Ariel calmly took off the watch and tucked it into her purse. She showed no interest in offering any exnation for being identally ¡°paired¡± with Jayson. She didn¡¯t even bother picking up the thread of conversation. Even with all the teasing and curious looks around her, she acted like an outsider¨Cunmoved and uninterested. Only then did Jayson lift his eyes. His gaze was unreadable¨Cneither amused nor annoyed¨Clike someone watching a scene that had nothing to do with him. Zach noticed Ariel¡¯s calm demeanor. His expression shifted slightly, like he couldn¡¯t quite figure her out. Ariel wasn¡¯t just refusing to exin. She wasn¡¯t reacting at all. Chad jumped in at the right moment, jokingly saying, ¡°It¡¯s a total coincidence. Mr. Larkin¡¯s got a beautiful date right beside him. Maybe we should pay more attention to Ms. Stanton, or she might feel left out.¡± Nancy paused at those words. She pressed her lips together almost imperceptibly. Then, as if nothing had happened, she leaned over and whispered something to Jayson, who had remainedpletely calm the entire time. Now that Ariel had taken the watch off, making it very clear she didn¡¯t want any misunderstandings, no one could keep pushing the topic. Still, the coincidence was hard to ignore. Zach gave Ariel another nce before finally sitting at the table next to hers. Was she just that good at pretending? He was starting to lose his read on her entirely. Ariel took a small sip of tea. Her mind was already sorting through the pieces. The watch was a birthday gift from Betty, left in their bedroom for her to grab. One of the men had said it was a couple¡¯s set. Even if the brand sold them individually, it didn¡¯t change the fact. She guessed that Betty had probably ordered a matching set for her and Jayson without ever mentioning that they were meant for couples. Otherwise, how else would Jayson have ended up wearing one too? While she was still thinking, n, who was sitting beside her, finally said with a smile, ¡°I think you¡¯re all reading way too much into it. Ms. Walker is married. Maybe the watch is something she picked out with her husband.¡± He had always had a good impression of Ariel. The few times they had interacted, her intelligence had left him impressed. Seeing everyone tease her like this, he couldn¡¯t help stepping in. As for Chad¡¯sment about Ariel¡¯s husband, he had assumed it was just a joke. A woman like Ariel would never marry someone unworthy. That one sentence shifted the mood again. Matt¡¯s eyelid twitched. He instinctively nced at Jayson. How the hell did n know Ariel was married? Even Perry frowned. Ariel was in the middle of a divorce. Where had n heard that she was married? ¡°You¡¯re really married?¡± Zach¡¯s face changed. Suddenly, he remembered Frederick mentioning it once. But since Ariel and Chad had seemed so close back then, he had brushed it off as a joke and paid no mind to it. But if even n was saying it, maybe it was true. Ariel was actually married? Zach blurted, ¡°Who¡¯s your husband? Someone in our circle? Is he here tonight?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t even look at him. She had zero interest in airing out her private life for people to gawk at, Zach¡¯s expression grew moreplicated when she didn¡¯t answer. She was married yet still entangled with Chad and even seemed to be eyeing Jayson, who already had a girlfriend. How could Ariel do this to her husband? And Chad was okay with all that? ¡°Right¡­¡± Chad dragged out the word with a faint hiss and nced around the room like he didn¡¯t have a clue. He asked casually, ¡°Is he here tonight?¡± Jayson finally looked over at him. There wasn¡¯t even a flicker of emotion in his expression, like he wouldn¡¯t care even if Chadid everything bare. ¡°If we keep going, Ms. Walker¡¯s going to get embarrassed. Let¡¯s drop the topic.¡± Matt cleared his throat, smiling as he stepped in to change the subject. If they dug any deeper, their marriage might just get exposed. At that, a hint of disappointment showed on everyone¡¯s faces. Ariel had caught their attention today. She was elegant, intelligent, and strikingly beautiful. More than a few had considered trying to get to know her better. But clearly, that window had closed. Ariel, at the center of all this, didn¡¯t bat an eye. She simply turned slightly toward Chad and started talking to him, calm and collected. As Zach watched the scene, he pressed his lips into a tight line. His gaze was clouded with confusion andplexity. Ariel had a husband, and yet even someone like Chad still treated her with obvious care and attention. What was so great about her? Nancy cast a cold nce in Ariel¡¯s direction. There was a sh of disdain in her eyes. How insecure could she be to be going around broadcasting that she was married, like she wanted people to dig and find out who her husband was? Jayson was getting a divorce from her, yet she still went out of her way with matching watches and hints about their marriage. It was nothing more than the desperate iling of someone who had no real cards left to y. Nancy didn¡¯t even want to entertain it. At that thought, she tilted her head and looked toward Jayson. He sat there in his usual poised manner, clearly unaffected by any of it. Nancy finally gave a slight smile, leaned in close, and pointed in a direction. ¡°Jayson, shall we go talk to those CEOS over thereter?¡± Inside 249 Chapter 249 Jayson finally lifted his gaze. ¡°Sure.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t notice when Jayson and Nancy left their seats. Up ahead, guests had started lining up to present birthday gifts to the host. More people continued arriving in waves. Chad gestured subtly toward a few areas. ¡°These are the key contacts we should beworking with today.¡± Ariel knew tonight¡¯s birthday party was drawing in major yers from across the industry. In high society, connections were everything. Deals often started in ces like this. In business, adaptability was key. Ariel had already skimmed through profiles and names, getting a sense of who was who. With a ss of champagne in hand, she followed Chad into the crowd. Chad looked around and said, ¡°Omnivance Technologies was one of the early pioneers in this field, with a solid track record. Meeting their CEO, Can Clements, could really give our next phase a boost.¡± Ariel nodded in understanding. She could only try her best to look for him. As she reached one corner of the room, she spotted Jayson and Nancy standing in front of Can. Jayson had beaten them to it. Chad noticed it too. He frowned at once. ¡°Looks like Jayson¡¯s already introducing Nancy around as the face of Veyo Solutions.¡± Thepany hadn¡¯t evenunched yet, and they were alreadyying the groundwork. With Jayson pulling strings and sharing hiswork, Nancy¡¯s future with Veyo Solutions was already on solid footing. Back when Faye Technologies was just starting out, they had built everything from the ground up. Their sess came entirely from solid knowledge and relentless effort. Veyo Solutions, on the other hand, had Jayson behind the curtain. It wasn¡¯t hard to imagine what kind of spectacle theirunch would be. He really had covered every angle for Nancy. ¡°It¡¯s fine. We¡¯ll just talk to someone else first.¡± Ariel quickly made up her mind. After all, Jayson had invested in Veyo Solutions. It made sense that he would bring Nancy along to represent thepany in front of major corporations. Chad checked his watch. ¡°Then let¡¯s split up. We¡¯ll cover more ground that way.¡± Ariel nodded. She had her eye on Kieran Hyde from an opticsponents firm. She approached with a polite smile. ¡°Mr. Hyde? Nice to meet you. I¡¯m Ariel Walker, an engineer with Faye Tech.¡± Kieran, who was clearly in a rush, paused when he heard her name. ¡°Ariel Walker?¡± He had heard the name mentioned in connection with Faye Technologies¡®test hit project but never before that. He assumed Ariel was probably just a rtively low¨Cprofile rising talent at thepany. If that were the case, he could always circle back and talk to Chad directlyter. He gave her an apologetic smile. ¡± I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Walker. I¡¯ve got something I need to handle. Can we catch up in a bit?¡± Ariel hesitated but could only nod. And then she watched Kieran stride straight over to Jayson and Nancy. He shook Nancy¡¯s hand warmly. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I¡¯ve heard a lot about you.¡± Ariel saw it happen but didn¡¯t flinch. Her expression stayed even. Since they were nearby, Nancy had noticed Ariel trying to introduce herself to Kieran. Too bad, Kieran had better options. Nancy turned back to him with a soft smile. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Mr. Hyde.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t miss the look in Nancy¡¯s eyes. Still, she didn¡¯t dwell on it. She turned and walked away. In these circles, people judged others by status. It was just how things worked. And with Jayson standing next to Nancy, everyone naturally focused on leaving a good impression on him first. Not to mention, Ariel hadn¡¯t revealed her true identity yet. To them, she simply didn¡¯t measure up, and that didn¡¯t surprise her. Inside 250 Chapter 250 On her way to find Chad, Ariel ran into Perry. He looked at her, then held out a cup of hot chocte. ¡°Are you looking for Mr. Hockney?¡± Ariel nced at the hot chocte Perry handed her. It was a cold day, and a warm drink would beforting. It had most likely been thoughtfully arranged by the Spencer family. She epted it with a polite nod. ¡°Yeah. Thank you.¡± Perry had actually witnessed her interaction with Kieran just moments ago. After some serious thought, his usually sharp eyes softened with sincerity. ¡°I didn¡¯t understand Faye Tech¡¯s project well before, but I¡¯ve reviewed the specs of your new release recently. It¡¯s impressive. If the opportunity arises, do you think we could coborate?¡± Ariel was a little taken aback. She hadn¡¯t expected Perry to approach her like this, let alone extend an offer. Many in their circle questioned why her name was even on the Faye Technologies project. Some took it a step further, doubting thepany¡¯s qualifications altogether. ¡°You actually mean that?¡± she asked after a pause while eyeing him with suspicion. Perry caught the guarded look in her expression. Even if he found it disheartening, he nodded slowly. ¡°I believe in Faye Tech¡¯s capabilities.¡± He also believed Ariel hadn¡¯t taken any shortcuts or relied on connections, as some had imed. From what he knew, her professionalism and the feedback he had heard from others had all been solid and fair. Now Ariel was really surprised. She had assumed Perry, as Jayson¡¯s close friend, would naturally lean toward supporting Veyo Solutions. ¡°If you¡¯re serious about this, then Faye Tech would wee the opportunity,¡± Ariel replied. She wasn¡¯t sure why Perry would bypass Veyo Solutions, but if his intentions were genuine, she would take it into ount. If Faye Technologiesunched follow¨Cup projects, she would consider Perry when suitable. It would be a way to return his favor. Ariel didn¡¯t think she knew Perry well enough for a long conversation. After things were made clear, she gave a polite nod and walked away. Perry watched her decisive figure for a moment before turning his conflicted gaze toward Nancy. The Spencer residence had an expansive garden. Ariel strolled around casually, but the chill in her hands and feet made her feel a little off. She decided to head toward the restroom. Standing by the sink, she frowned and pressed a hand to her lower abdomen, trying to ease the pain. She had built up a high pain tolerance over time. She just needed to hide away for half an hour or so to push through it. Gripping the edge of the sink, she took several deep breaths It wasn¡¯t until she saw Chad¡¯s message asking where she was that she finally turned to head out. Maybe it was the lingering pain that had drained her strength, but the moment she turned, a wave of dizziness hit her. Just then, a warm hand caught her arm. Its heat sank deep into her skin with a startling intensity. She lifted her head and was met with Jayson¡¯s deep eyes. He studied her with a frown. ¡°Is it that time of the month? Are you not feeling well?¡± Before Ariel could answer, Zach, who was talking on the phone, passed by in the hallway. He caught sight of them together and slowed his pace. He paused mid¨Csentence, nced at Ariel with a frown, then gave Jayson a nod before striding off to continue his call. Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about what Zach thought. As for Jayson, in the three years they had spent together, he knew her cycle and ovtion dates better than anyone. They always slept together around the same time each month, so it was no surprise he still remembered. She quickly collected herself and pulled her arm from his grasp before saying calmly, ¡°Thanks.¡± She didn¡¯t answer his question. Standing upright again, she nced up at him once more. It¡¯s due tomorrow. Shall we schedule for then?¡± ?????? Inside 251 Ariel was referring to the cooling¨Coff period. Jayson slipped one hand into his pocket and looked at her coldly. ¡°I¡¯ll let you know if I have time tomorrow.¡± Ariel frowned at his answer. Bute to think of it, Jayson was even more eager than she was to get the divorce over with. After giving it some thought, she said, ¡°Please keep it in mind. I¡¯ll remind you when the timees.¡± With that, she turned to leave. Jayson nced at the handbag she had left on the sink and called out leisurely, ¡°You forgot your bag. When Ariel looked back, he had already picked it up and was handing it to her. 11 Not far off, Nancy and Matt happened to be walking by. They caught the moment Jayson handed Ariel her bag. Nancy frowned. Even Matt hesitated for a moment, then blurted out, ¡°Ariel¡¯s not thinking¡­ about getting back together, is she?¡± It didn¡¯t seem impossible. Ariel trying to rekindle things with Jayson in private was totally within reason. After all, she had been crazy about him before. Maybe she wanted a way to patch things up after all the drama. Nancy quicklyposed herself. ¡°She spends more time chasing men than improving herself. No wonder Mr. Hyde couldn¡¯t be bothered with her.¡± With that, she dismissed the whole thing and walked off. Matt patted his mouth. His mouth really did work faster than his brain. On the opposite side, Zach had just ended a call. From his angle, he had a clear view of Nancy and Matt walking over just now and leaving shortly after with not¨Cso -happy faces. This meant that Nancy had also seen Ariel talking to Jayson just now. And really, what woman would be thrilled watching another woman cozy up to her boyfriend? Zach frowned, feeling the whole thing was absurd. On her way back to the garden, Ariel had to pass through a corridor. Just as she stepped through the archway, she ran into Zach. She had no intention of acknowledging him. Zach noticed her silent dismissal again and suddenly stopped in his tracks. A trace of mockery was obvious in his eyes as he said, ¡°Ms. Walker, juggling multiple men must feel like quite an achievement, huh?¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected that. This time, he wasn¡¯t even bothering to hide his dislike. When Zach recalled the scene he¡¯d just witnessed, he sneered. ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid you¡¯ll slip up one day? Maybe when someone steals your man the same way you go after others¡®, it¡¯ll finally hit you how much it hurts.¡± Ariel finally stopped walking. Her eyes were frosted over with indifference. ¡°Do you think you¡¯re some kind of moral crusader?¡± Zach frowned at once. Even someone asposed as Ariel didn¡¯t bother staying polite anymore. ¡°Did no one teach you that when someone clearly doesn¡¯t want to talk to you, clinging for attention is just in rude and annoying? Or are you just that desperate for love and validation?¡± Zach had always thought Ariel seemed calm and mild, at least on the surface. So when she suddenly turned this sharp, he was momentarily stunned. He hadn¡¯t expected her to tear off the mask like that. ¡°Mr. Quinton, stop writing yourself into the story. That¡¯s not righteousness. That¡¯s just stupidity.¡± Ariel¡¯s tone had been calm from beginning to end, yet every word cut to the bone. She didn¡¯t even look at him again as she turned and walked off. Zach stood there, stunned. Only after a long moment did it hit him. Did Ariel just scold him? How could she be so bold and confident like that? He turned around with a stormy expression, only to be caught off guard by the cool, distant look in Liam¡¯s eyes behind him. It seemed Liam had been standing there for a while. He just didn¡¯t interfere. (1 Zach paused for a moment, then asked irritably, ¡°Liam, you saw that? What kind of woman even is she?¡± Inside 252 Liam walked over and gave Zach a once¨Cover before smirking ¡°Since when do you argue with women?¡± Zach was momentarily stunned, then muttered in frustration, ¡°That wasn¡¯t an argument. You saw it. She¡¯spletely unreasonable. She does something wrong and still acts like she¡¯s in the right.¡± Liam arched his brow. ¡°Are you two close?¡± Zach mmed up instantly. He thought it over for a second. They weren¡¯t really close. But he still frowned and insisted, ¡°That¡¯s not the point. The point is that I caught her trying to be the other woman. I mean, she looks decent enough. Why is her sense of morality so low?¡± 1 ¡°Let¡¯s assume for a second that what you saw is even true.¡°Liam stopped walking and shed him a faint smile. ¡± It¡¯s not your business, is it? So why are you so worked up?¡± Zach¡¯s voice died in his throat. And only then did the question hit him. Why was he so bothered? His brows drew in tight. Liam gave his shoulder a pat. ¡°Let¡¯s go to the garden. Uncle Gary should be arriving soon.¡± Zach grimaced. Right, Gary wasing today too. Thank God it was Liam who saw that scene earlier. If Gary had caught him arguing with a woman like that, he would have gotten a lecture for sure. By the time Ariel arrived at the garden, dusk was falling, and the courtyard lights were flickering on one by one. She had just stepped in when Chad slipped through the crowd and made his way to her. ¡°Themander of the Department of Defense just arrived,¡± Ariel followed his gaze. The arrival had been discreet, but the guests¡® enthusiasm made it hard to stay low¨Ckey. People were already crowding around for handshakes and introductions. She recognized the figure immediately. Back when she was on the U.N2 project, this official had publicly praised her work. He was a highly respected leader. ¡°Come on,¡± Chad said, gently guiding her. ¡°Let me introduce you.¡± Gary had just finished wishing Jackson a happy birthday when he spotted Chad approaching. His sharp eyes warmed with a smile. ¡°Chad, your father didn¡¯t make it today?¡± Chad smiled politely. ¡°You know how he is. Something urgent came up at the research institute, so he couldn¡¯t get away. So he sent me to pay respects to Mr. Spencer Senior on his behalf.¡± Jackson let out a heartyugh. ¡°That¡¯s quite all right. The younger generation brings more energy anyway.¡± Ariel stood quietly nearby. Just then, Gary turned to her with a touch of surprise. ¡°And who is this youngdy?¡± Chad¡¯s smile deepened as he introduced her with a touch of formality, ¡°This is Ariel Walker, one of Faye Tech¡¯s key talents. Honestly, I feel outssed.¡± His words carried just far enough to reach the group standing off to the side. Matt blinked in disbelief. ¡°Is Mr. Hockney seriously introducing Ariel to Commander Quinton?¡± And not just introducing her. He made it sound like she was indispensable. Even Nancy frowned. She had underestimated just how protective Chad was of Ariel. He knew she didn¡¯t belong to their circle, yet here he was, going out of his way to pave her a golden path. Almost instinctively, she nced at Jayson beside her. She noticed him gazing at Ariel and seemed lost in thought His eyes carried a hint of something unreadable. She couldn¡¯t quite tell what he was feeling or what exactly was going through his mind. ¡°Jayson?¡± Nancy called softly. Jayson withdrew his gaze and turned to her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± He looked perfectly calm, as if nothing had happened. Only then did Nancy smile faintly. ¡°Nothing.¡± Meanwhile, Gary was taken aback. He knew exactly what Chad was capable of. He was one of the most promising young professionals in the field. For him to speak so highly of someone proved something. Gary turned to Ariel. His gaze was calm on the surface butced with a hidden sharpness. ¡°Ms. Walker, what¡¯s your rtionship with Chad?¡± Ariel thought for a second. ¡°Friends? Colleagues?¡°. Gary couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. He found herposed, unassuming, yet confident. ¡°Seems like you two get along quite well. What¡¯s your role at Faye Tech, Ms. Walker?¡± ¡°I¡¯m an engineer,¡± Ariel replied frankly. ¡°I work on drone development.¡± Inside 253 Gary looked genuinely surprised. He gave Ariel another one¨Cover. ¡°Promising young talent, indeed. You¡¯ve aplished quite a lot at such a young age, Ms. Walker.¡± He suspected she wasn¡¯t just any ordinary engineer. Otherwise, Chad wouldn¡¯t go out of his way for her. Even Jackson turned his attention toward Ariel now. He eyed her from head to toe before letting out a pleased chuckle. ¡°Ariel, you¡¯ve got the looks and the presence. Say, are you and Chad a couple?¡± Though in his Sos, Jackson was still sharp and spirited. His question was loud enough for the surrounding guests to catch the gist. Even Jayson lifted his gaze and nced over. Chad rubbed his nose. He noticed Jayson ncing their way, so he leaned in toward the two elders and said softly, ¡°Not yet.¡± Jackson¡¯s interest clearly grew. He lit up like a child. ¡°Then you¡¯d better hurry! She¡¯s quite the catch¨Cpretty and capable. There¡¯ll be no shortage of men lining up for her. Wait too long, and someone else will snatch her right up! 11 Upon hearing that, Perry instinctively looked over at Ariel and pressed his lips into a thin line. Then his eyes shifted to Jayson. He found Jayson listening to Nancy with his head slightly lowered. He didn¡¯t react to Jackson¡¯s loudmentary. Either he hadn¡¯t heard it, or he simply didn¡¯t care. Matt turned and nudged Perry. ¡°Seriously, Ariel¡¯s definitely got the looks. I bet a ton of guys would be into her without knowing much else. Don¡¯t you think?¡± Perry pulled his gaze back. ¡°¡­Sure.¡± Matt immediately caught the disinterest and waved it off. ¡°Wow. You¡¯re really not hiding how little you like her, huh?¡± Just then, Liam and Zach entered from the side path. Liam made his way over to greet Jayson and the others. ¡°Mr. Spencer,¡± Jayson nodded in greeting. Nancy was meeting Liam for the first time after only hearing about him from others. She offered a graceful smile. ¡°Pleasure to meet you. I¡¯m Nancy Stanton.¡± Liam gave her a brief nce and nodded in return. ¡°Liam Spencer.¡± Jayson asked, ¡°Are you nning to settle back here permanently, Mr. Spencer?¡± Liam¡¯s expression remained cool and indifferent. ¡°Not yet. But it¡¯s on the table.¡± Nancy nced at him, lowered her eyes, and seemed to be deep in thought. ? Just as she was about to speak, Liam checked the time and said, ¡°Everyone, please feel free to move into the inner garden. We¡¯ve prepared a drone fireworks performance tonight. Hope you¡¯ll all enjoy it.¡± Ariel also heard about the show. Jackson had always been a military enthusiast. He had even served in the army when he was younger. With today¡¯s advances in technology and the growing importance of national defense, he had specially arranged a drone fireworks show for the birthday celebration. He had even gone the extra mile to hire a professional drone operator to oversee the entire performance. Ariel knew fireworks drones came in different types¨Csome for entertainment, others for military use. She scanned the drones parked further out in the courtyard. Judging by size and shape, they were mid¨Cto¨Csmall range, likely weighing around 130 pounds each. There were designated spots set up for guests to enjoy the show. Just as Ariel stepped into position, she sensed someone approaching her but didn¡¯t look over. Her focus was on the operators by the pavilion across the way. Soon, the drones¨Crigged with fireworks¨Clifted off with a rumbling whir. Their rotors sliced the air. A momentter, they released a burst of newly developed blue fireworks. Gasps of awe echoed around her. But Ariel¡¯s brain was working overtime, running calctions on the drone¡¯s load¨Cbearing capacity and the stability of the firework system. Just in those few seconds of distracted analysis, a sudden chorus of shocked cries erupted. Followed by panicked shouts of ¡°Watch out!¡± Ariel¡¯s head snapped up, only to see a buzzing drone veering off course. Its navigation seemingly malfunctioned as it dove straight toward her. Inside 254 Ariel¡¯s pupils dted in a sh. In the roar of the rotor wind, the high¨Cspeed des hurtled straight toward her. She instinctively tried to step back, but before she could move, a shadow suddenly loomed over her. In the next moment, she was swept into a warm, solid embrace, and the person holding her swiftly pulled her to the side. At the same time, shouts and gasps erupted around them. The drone was quickly brought under control and guided to a safending beneath the corridor eaves. Ariel barely registered what had just happened until she heard Nancy¡¯s frantic voice cut through the chaos. ¡± Jayson! Are you okay?¡± Still dazed, Ariel opened her eyes and met Jayson¡¯s intense gaze. His brows were drawn tight, his expression was grim, and his pupils were dted. It was the first time she had ever seen Jayson look so intimidating. When he noticed her looking at him in shock, he immediately let her go. As Jayson straightened, Ariel finally noticed that his right sleeve waspletely shredded, torn open by the drone¡¯s spinning des. Bright blood trickled down his arm, pooling fast on the ground beneath them. Even his palm and fingers were covered in deep gashes. Nancy ran over with a pale face. ¡°Jayson, are you badly hurt?¡± Matt and the others rushed over, all looking tense. ¡°What happened? Why would you¡­¡± Matt nced at Ariel, then looked at Jayson, trailing off as if unsure whether to say more. Why would Jayson risk himself to save Ariel? Zach and Liam arrived then, both looking serious. ¡°Ms. Stanton was standing close to Ariel. Mr. Larkin must¡¯ve grabbed the wrong person in the confusion.¡± That was the only possibility Zach could think of. It was only then that the people around them suddenly realized that Jayson had been standing quite close to both Nancy and Ariel just moments ago. With the drone descending rapidly and visibility obstructed, it was usible that Jayson had reacted purely on instinct. Jayson¡¯s brow furrowed deeper, but he didn¡¯t argue. He simply turned to Nancy and asked in a voice rougher than usual, ¡°Are you hurt?¡± Nancy, still pale, gave a slight shake of her head. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Don¡¯t worry about me.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t spare Ariel another nce, as if the entire incident really had been just a mistake in the heat of the moment. Liam stepped forward and checked Jayson¡¯s wound. He quickly performed a simple procedure to stop the bleeding. ¡°He needs to get to the hospital. The cut is deep. Might¡¯ve hit the bone.¡± Zach quickly arranged for a car. ¡°Get Mr. Larkin to the hospital.¡® The scene was tense and chaotic. Chad rushed to Ariel. His face was grim as he checked her over. She was untouched. Not even a scratch. Gary and Jackson joined the scene. Jackson, seasoned and steady, immediately gave orders to calm the guests. Gary looked at Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker, are you alright?¡± Ariel finally took a shaky breath. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Gary gave a quick nod and went to help with hospital arrangements. The car arrived swiftly, and Jayson was helped inside. In themotion, Ariel was jostled by the crowd, bumped back and forth as people swarmed around. Nancy held tightly onto Jayson¡¯s uninjured arm. Just before getting into the car, she suddenly turned around and shot Ariel a cold nce. Without saying anything, she got in the car with Jayson. Ariel didn¡¯t miss the look. And she could guess what Nancy was thinking. Nancy cared deeply for Jayson. Of course she would resent the fact that he had gotten hurt saving Ariel. n squeezed through the crowd from behind, still shaken as he said, ¡°Even if Mr. Larkin meant to save Ms. Stanton, at least Ms. Walker ended up safe. ¡°If that heavy drone had hit her, her small frame wouldn¡¯t have stood a chance. Honestly, it just shows how good the rtionship is between Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton.¡± Good thing Nancy wasn¡¯t hurt. Otherwise, Jayson would¡¯ve been eaten up with guilt for saving the wrong person. Inside 255 Chad pressed his lips into a thin line, worry flickering in his eyes as he nced at Ariel. But Ariel wasn¡¯t shaken by what n had said because she knew that it was the truth. Perry hadn¡¯t left yet. He walked over to Ariel and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jayson will be fine.¡± Pressing her lips together, Ariel turned to the dark bloodstain on the ground. It was obvious that Jayson¡¯s injury wasn¡¯t minor. She rubbed her temples wearily, then finally said, ¡°Thanks.¡± The Spencer family moved fast to contain the incident.. After a quick inspection, it was confirmed that the navigation system had malfunctioned, which led to the drone losing control. Jackson soothed the guests and gave a final order. ¡°Keep this quiet. We¡¯ll apologize to Mr. Larkin in person another day.¡± After leaving the Spencer residence, Ariel was still frowning. She nced at the time. It was already 9:30 pm. She didn¡¯t know which hospital Jayson had been taken to and how badly he was hurt. For something like this to happen at such a critical moment, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a mix of emotions. They had spent three years together, and yet this was the first time she had ever seen Jayson so disheveled. Whether or not he had meant to save Nancy and grabbed the wrong person in the chaos, the truth was, he had shielded Ariel from injury. And in her current physical condition, a hit like that could¡¯ve been devastating. After some hesitation, Ariel decided to call and check on Jayson. But Jayson¡¯s phone never connected. Eventually, the automated voice came on, saying, ¡°The number you have dialed is busy. Please try againter.¡± Ariel guessed someone must have cut the call on purpose. She didn¡¯t try again. Instead, she pulled up her calendar. Tomorrow was the day they could receive their divorce certificate. But now, with Jayson in the hospital¡­ Frowning, Ariel sent Perry a message on WhatsApp, asking which hospital Jayson had been taken to. At the hospital, by the time Jayson was wheeled out of surgery and transferred to a ward, Nancy had already been waiting for over two hours. Matt and Perry had bothe to keep herpany earlier At some point, Betty had heard about Jayson¡¯s injury and called to confirm. She was already en route from Larkin Manor. Not wanting a crowd, Jayson had sent Matt and Perry off first and told them to take Nancy home. His right arm required 23 stitches, and the bone was fractured. He would need to stay in bed and rest for quite some time. When Betty arrived, Jayson was already propped up in bed, going over some documents on hisptop. The gauze on his arm was thick, and even his palm and fingers were covered in scrapes. Betty¡¯s face changed the second she saw him. ¡°How are you? What did the doctor say?¡± Jayson closed theptop and replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need some time to heal.¡± ¡°You had surgery, and you call that fine?¡± Betty was furious. ¡°Don¡¯t even think you can fool me. Jackson already called and told me that you¡¯re quite seriously injured. He also said¡­¡± She took a deep breath, her expression growing darker. ¡°He said there was a Ms. Stanton beside you. Jayson, you¡¯d better exin what the hell is going on.¡± Jackson must¡¯ve given her a summary. And of course, he mentioned Ariel. But Jackson¡¯s original words were, ¡°Mr. Larkin meant to protect Ms. Stanton, but there was a mix¨Cup in the chaos. Betty wasn¡¯t stupid. She could guess the rest. Jayson met her gaze and remained silent, not trying to exin. His silence only fueled her anger. Her heart ached over his injury, yet she was also upset that he had some other woman with him. ¡°Listen carefully, Jayson. I don¡¯t care who this Ms. Stanton is. You deal with her yourself. Don¡¯t you dare hurt Ari!¡± Inside 256 Jayson leaned wearily against the soft pillows, watching Betty¡¯s stern, furious face without the slightest panic. His voice was calm as he said, ¡°Grandma, you have high blood pressure. Please, calm down.¡± Betty frowned at once. ¡°Don¡¯t change the subject. I want a straight answer from you.¡± As she spoke, the corners of her mouth twitched. She looked like she could hardly bring herself to say it. ¡°Is there something going on¡­ between you and that Ms. Stanton?¡± Jayson lifted his gaze. Perhaps from the blood loss, his face was pale, and even his lips were tinged with a faint pink. But he didn¡¯t offer any exnation. He just looked at Betty in silence. The stillness made Betty feel lightheaded for a moment. She paced back and forth twice, then took a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t care whether there¡¯s anything going on between you and her. If Ari minds her presence and you won¡¯t do anything about it, I will.¡± This time, Jayson finally spoke. Unhurriedly, he said, ¡°She doesn¡¯t mind.¡± Betty¡¯s eyes widened. For a second, she waspletely speechless. Jayson knew how fiery Betty could be. He let out a quiet sigh and shifted upright a little. ¡°Grandma, this is between us. You don¡¯t need to get involved.¡± ¡°You¡­¡± As Betty looked at his pale face, the words of reproach stuck in her throat. ¡°Jayson, I just hope you¡¯re not someone who forgets where he came from. Ari is soft¨Cnatured. Anyone else might mistreat her, but not you. You don¡¯t get to.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Jayson gave a faint smile. ¡°You can¡¯t bear to see her hurt. How would I dare to hurt her?¡± Betty sighed. She knew that in the end, no matter what happened, it would be up to the two of them to work things out. What could she really do? ¡°Does it still hurt?¡± she asked, finally stepping forward to check on him. Whatever had happened, she was still worried about Jayson. Jayson gave a casual smile. ¡°Not really.¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Ari?¡± Betty asked, assuming Ariel had just stepped out and would be back to apany him. Jayson¡¯s expression didn¡¯t flicker. ¡°She went to buy something.¡± Betty didn¡¯t press further. She was considered an outsider to their marriage, and even if she wanted to step in, she had no ce to do so. She stayed for another half an hour or so before Jayson finally persuaded her to go home and rest. Once she was gone, Jayson frowned and nced down at his right arm. The anesthesia had likely worn off, and the sharp, searing pain was starting to kick in. Every scrape from his palm to his fingertips burned like the skin had been peeled raw. Still, he barely looked at the wounds. He reached for the phone on his bedside table, unlocked it, and nced through it in silence. Only then did he finally close his eyes to rest. The next morning, just past 7:00 am, Matt and Perry arrived at the hospital with Nancy. Nancy looked like she hadn¡¯t slept well. Her face was pale. The moment she walked in, she rushed to check on Jayson and asked anxiously, ¡°Does it still hurt? Didn¡¯t they give you anything for the pain?¡± Jayson looked at the three of them. His expression remained calm. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡°. ¡°What do you mean by ¡®fine¡®? A drone of that size and its rotors spinning that fast is no different from des. You¡¯re just downying it so no one gets too worried.¡± Nancy took a deep breath. Her eyes were filled with worry. Matt came over and ced a delicate food container on the bedside table. ¡°Nancy was really worried about you. She probably didn¡¯t sleep much at all. She got up early just to make you some soup.¡± Nancy hesitated a moment before saying, ¡°I¡¯ve never cooked before. This is my first time. I don¡¯t know if it tastes any good, but will you try some, Jayson?¡± As she spoke, she opened the container and carefullydled out a small bowl. Inside 257 Chapter 257 Jayson turned to the side to look at Nancy. ¡°Thank you.¡± Perry looked at his arm. ¡°Do you need a bandage change soon?¡± Jayson gave a quiet hum in acknowledgement. Matt let out a long sigh. ¡°You¡¯re really something. You were so worried about Nancy that you didn¡¯t even think of yourself.¡± That drone, plus its payload, weighed over 130 pounds. It was heavier than Nancy herself. It wasn¡¯t surprising that Jayson would throw himself forward without hesitation. The shock was that he had protected the wrong person in that split second of darkness and chaos. Thankfully, Nancy hade out of itpletely unharmed. Hearing Matt say that, Nancy frowned a little. Her feelings were aplex blend of worry, gratitude, and joy. Perry, though, still hadn¡¯t fully recovered from the scare. If Jayson hadn¡¯t mistaken the two, it would¡¯ve been Ariel who got hurt. At that thought, Perry asked, ¡°What happened at that time? How did you get them mixed up?¡± Jayson stirred the soup in the bowl with a spoon. His expression was calm and detached. ¡°The rotor wash was too strong. I couldn¡¯t keep my eyes open and lost my sense of direction.¡± Perry gave a small nod. That made sense. Medium drones were no joke when they spun up. ¡°Did the doctors say how long you¡¯ll need to stay here?¡± Nancy asked. ¡°About a week,¡± Jayson replied. He paused, thinking it over. It wasn¡¯t just a deep wound. His bone was fractured too. At the moment, he couldn¡¯t move his right arm at all. Matt leaned back on the couch and bit into an apple. ¡°As long as nothing critical was hit, you¡¯ll be fine.¡± Nancy seemed to hesitate for a moment, then asked, ¡°What kind of specialist is Mr. Spencer?¡± Perry looked up. ¡°Why are you asking?¡± Nancy was quiet for a beat, then said, ¡°I¡¯m thinking of switching to someone more reputable for my mom¡¯s follow -up care. I¡¯ve heard Mr. Spencer is quite famous overseas, but I¡¯m not sure what he actually specializes in. Perry, you¡¯re quite close to him, right?¡± Perry¡¯s expression shifted slightly. He hadn¡¯t expected Nancy to ask that. But he had already helped Ariel set up a follow¨Cup meeting with Liam. ¡°We¡¯re friends, yeah. But I don¡¯t know the specifics. It¡¯s not really my ce to say.¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes flickered with a touch of disappointment, but she just smiled. ¡°No worries. I¡¯ll ask around.¡± Soon after, she received a work call. She stepped out to take it. Only then did Matt move closer to check Jayson¡¯s bandaged arm. The moment he got a good look, his scalp tingled. ¡°Is that going to leave a scar?¡± Jayson had already opened hisptop. He didn¡¯t seem to care much about a scar. ¡°Probably.¡± Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°Ariel¡¯s got some serious luck, huh? You basically took that hit for her. And look at her. She didn¡¯t get so much as a scratch. Talk about luck.¡± That drone hade plummeting down hard. The fact that Ariel had walked awaypletely unscathed was some serious luck. Jayson tapped at the keyboard with his left hand. He didn¡¯t even bother to lift his eyes as he replied, ¡°Oh, really? I didn¡¯t notice.¡± Matt actually thought it made sense that Jayson hadn¡¯t noticed. In a situation like that, of course he would be worried about Nancy. He wouldn¡¯t have had the headspace to check if Ariel was hurt or not. At this thought, Matt nced around. ¡°Wait, she hasn¡¯t been by at all?¡± Even Perry looked up this time. Jayson replied to a few work emails, then answered slowly, ¡°No.¡± Matt looked genuinely stunned. ¡°Does she have no conscience? Sure, you meant to shield Nancy, and things went a little sideways, but even so, the least she could do ise check on you. What¡¯s her deal?¡± Normally, Ariel would¡¯ve jumped at the chance, staying by Jayson¡¯s side day and night to take care of him without a second thought. But she actually let the perfect opportunity slip this time? Inside 258 Even Perry was a little surprised because Ariel had asked himst night which hospital Jayson was in. Naturally, he had assumed she was worried and would stop by, if not out of lingering feelings, then at least out of gratitude. But she never showed. That caught even Matt off guard. ¡°You guys don¡¯t think she¡¯s been acting really weirdtely?¡± Then, as if a lightbulb went off, he smacked his palm. ¡°Is she actually dating Chad?¡± Maybe she gave up on Jayson and decided to settle for Chad instead. Ariel was divorced now, after all. Anything was possible. Matt even remembered them wearing matching scarves once. Perry¡¯s brows drew together. He didn¡¯t think Ariel was the kind of woman who jumped from one rtionship to another. She didn¡¯t seem like the type who would dive headfirst into something new right after a divorce. Even just thinking that way felt a little unfair to her. ¡°You¡¯d do great in tabloid journalism,¡± Jayson said coolly. He lifted his eyes and gave Matt an indifferent nce. Clearly, he had no interest in Matt¡¯s spection. Matt, of course, was only trying to look out for Jayson. He pulled out his phone. ¡°I just think it¡¯s a bit much. You¡¯re lying here seriously injured, and she hasn¡¯t shown the slightest concern. I¡¯m pretty sure I still have her number. I¡¯ll give her a call.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t even bother responding. He lowered his eyes and went back to answering his emails. Ariel got up early that morning. For once, she actually felt pretty good, so she threw on somethingfortable and went for a walk in the park by her building. When she got back, she felt an odd sense of peace, enough to make her want to cook for herself. Ariel hadn¡¯t done that in a while. Work had been a whirlwindtely. She made a pot of oatmeal, tossed together a fresh sd, and pan¨Cfried a perfect sunny¨Cside¨Cup egg. It was one of those rare, quiet mornings that felt like a little celebration of life. She was halfway through breakfast when she saw a familiar number light up her screen. Back in those years with Jayson, she had been involved in every detail of his life, so much so that she even had his friends¡® numbers memorized. Sometimes, they would call her to pick him up when he had had too much to drink. Matt¡¯s number was one of the first she deleted when she decided to file for divorce and handed over the papers. So when he called again now, she knew it had to be about Jayson. Ariel nced at the screen, then calmly hit decline. She continued having her breakfast in peace. She already knew from Perry which hospital Jayson was in and even his ward number. She hadn¡¯t gone because she knew there were already plenty of people fussing over him yesterday. There was no reason for her to insert herself, And besides, the person Jayson had been trying to protect yesterday wasn¡¯t her. He just picked the wrong person in the heat of the moment. There was no reason for her to y it up and act moved. After eating, she tidied up the ce a little before heading out. She drove straight to the hospital. There was a convenience store downstairs that still had breakfast items out. Ariel hesitated for a second, thinking that visiting a patient empty¨Chanded didn¡¯t feel right. So she went in and bought a cup of oatmeal and a sandwich. Only then did she head upstairs. Just as she reached the door of the ward, she bumped into Colton on his way out. His expression turnedplicated when he saw her. ¡°Ms. Walker. Mr. Larkin just had his dressing changed. Are you nning to stay and take care of him?¡± Ariel paused, looked at him, and said nothing. Colton felt the chill in her silence. He frowned slightly. ¡°If you¡¯ve got anything to say to him, make it quick. Ms. Stanton will be back soon.¡± Nancy wasn¡¯tfortable leaving Jayson alone, so she had decided to stay and help take care of him. She was now downstairs talking to the doctor. Colton wanted to prevent Nancy from running into Ariel and stirring up tension. ¡°Did Jayson say that?¡± Ariel asked calmly. That shut Colton up instantly. His face stiffened with an awkward sh of surprise and difort. Inside 259 Ariel was right. Jayson didn¡¯t say any of that. She didn¡¯t spare Colton another nce as she pushed open he door to the ward. She understood exactly what Colton meant. Even though she was once Jayson¡¯s wife, she had to make way for Nancy, like some secret lover sneaking around to avoid being seen. When Ariel stepped inside, Jayson looked up briefly from hisptop. Seeing her, he didn¡¯t look surprised at all. It was just past 9:00 am. Ariel walked over and ced the breakfast she had bought on the table next to him. ¡°I picked these up downstairs. Have you eaten?¡± Jayson nced at the bag. The truth was, he had never touched these cheap, prepackaged breakfasts from convenience stores. And Ariel knew his habits well. He usually ate around 7:30 am. She wasn¡¯t here to actually feed him. This was just a courtesy. Jayson¡¯s eyes lingered on her face for a moment, then flicked back to the food on the table. He said calmly, ¡°You didn¡¯t have to.¡± Ariel acted like she didn¡¯t hear the sarcasm tucked beneath his words. Instead, she looked at his injury. The bandages were too tight for her to see what was underneath, but it looked like he couldn¡¯t move his right arm at all. The abrasions on his right hand, however, were clear and brutal. In all these years, it was the first time Ariel had seen Jayson lying in a hospital bed. And it was because of her. She wasn¡¯t heartless. Of course she felt something. Everything was just so different now. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± she asked. ¡°A week in the hospital, then observation,¡± Jayson replied calmly. His deep voice was unhurried and steady. It was as if nothing had happened yesterday. As if that near¨Cdeath moment wasn¡¯t even worth bringing up. Both of them were almost unnervinglyposed. Ariel knew his injuries weren¡¯t minor. If it had been her in his ce, she would probably have ended up in critical condition. So she said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Jayson might not have meant to save her, but he had. And she wasn¡¯t the kind of person to act like that didn¡¯t matter. Jayson closed hisptop. The emotion in his eyes was unreadable. ¡°They said you¡¯re fine. So you¡¯re not injured?¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± ¡°Good.¡± He nodded slowly. The air between them was calm on the surface, yet there was an unmistakable tension slowly thickening. Ariel finally looked up and met his gaze. ¡°So, should we set a time?¡± This was, after all, the real reason she hade today. She was grateful to Jayson for shielding her from the disaster. But at the end of the day, he was the one who set sonte disasters in motion. That couldn¡¯t just be brushed aside. Only then did Jayson look at her, his gaze deep and unreadable. ¡°Does it have to be this week?¡± Ariel held his eyes, gave him a quick once¨Cover, and said inly, ¡°It¡¯s just your arm that¡¯s hurt. Your legs work fine. Shouldn¡¯t stop us from handling paperwork.¡± This time, Jayson gave a short, humorlessugh. ¡°You¡¯re quite cold.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°The sooner we get this over with, the better for both of us. You¡¯ll be single again.¡± She could be pretty stubborn at times. Especially now, caught in a fight for her own survival, she didn¡¯t have the energy to wrestle with emotions. All she could do was focus on pulling herself out of the fire first. Jayson just stared at her silently. The tension between them hung in the air. Just then, Nancy¡¯s soft voice came from the doorway. ¡°Jayson, I spoke with the doctor about your follow¨Cup treatments. There¡¯s an option to reduce scarring-¡± She stopped mid¨Csentence. The moment her eyesnded on Ariel sitting beside the bed, her expression iced over. She wasn¡¯t exactly thrilled about Ariel¡¯s arrival. It felt intrusive. Ariel didn¡¯t turn to look. But at that exact moment, as Nancy entered, Jayson looked at Ariel and said calmly, ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel understood immediately. It was the sight of Nancy that pushed him to make the decision. Ariel stood up. ¡°Let¡¯s meet at 10:00 am tomorrow. See you there.¡± Inside 260 Jayson just sat there, quietly watching Ariel without another word. His eyes revealed nothing. Only a faint trace of indifference lingered beneath the surface. Ariel had said what she came to say. She didn¡¯t n to stick around. Without another word, she turned and walked out. As she passed Nancy, she didn¡¯t so much as nce her way. She kept her eyes straight ahead, like Nancy didn¡¯t exist. Nancy frowned. She wasn¡¯t sure what Ariel hade here for. But after a quick moment of thought, she had a guess. Maybe Jayson¡¯s impulsive move at the Spencer residence gave Ariel the false hope that there was still something between them. Nancy hated that kind of self¨Cimportance. Especially from a woman like Ariel, who still had some vague tie to Chad. What, had she weighed her options and decided Jayson was the better bet after all? But Nancy didn¡¯t let a single thought show on her face. She didn¡¯t even ask what Ariel was doing here because she already knew it wouldn¡¯t matter. Instead, she walked over to the bed and, without asking, tossed the cheap convenience store breakfast Ariel brought straight into the trash. Then she poured a ss of water and handed it to Jayson. ¡°Here, have some water.¡± Jayson kept his eyes straight ahead, paying no mind to the breakfast tossed into the trash. Nancy raised an eyebrow, still calm. His reaction was just as she expected. Ariel had always been a stain in Jayson¡¯s life¨Cunremarkable and irritating. Otherwise, how could she possibly have spent all those years with him and still lost out to Nancy, who had only been around a few months? Ariel could never hope for the way Jayson cared for her. Ariel had the day off. After leaving the hospital, she headed home and got on a video call with Chad to discuss the incident at the Spencer residence and what went wrong with the drone. In the industry, product quality varied widely. Issues could stem from the drone itself or from the operator¡¯s handling. This kind of ident served as a wake¨Cup call. They ended the conversation after nearly an hour of technical and safety discussion. By the time Ariel checked the clock, it was almost noon. She figured she would cook something. Just as she got up, her phone rang. She nced at the screen and noticed it was Betty calling. Ariel stared at the name for a moment before answering. ¡°Grandma.¡± Betty¡¯s voice came through, sounding a little tired. ¡°Ari, are you doing okay? Yesterday must¡¯ve shaken you up.¡± Ariel gave a light smile. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Some risks are inevitable when control is lost.¡± Betty sighed. ¡°True, true. Thank God you weren¡¯t hurt. There¡¯s no way you could¡¯ve taken that hit. Jayson¡¯s injury alone will take at least a month to heal, and you¡¯re way more delicate than he is.¡± For once, Betty had to admit that Jayson had done the right thing. At least he made sure Ariel walked away unharmed. Even though Jackson had mentioned that Jayson meant to save another woman, this oue was still for the best, wasn¡¯t it? ¡°Ari, aside from the ident at the Spencer residence, was everything else alright?¡± Betty finally asked the question that had been on her mind. She was worried the events might have left Ariel with lingering resentment. Ariel understood Betty was worried about her and Jayson. She had probably heard something about Nancy. ¡°Everything was fine,¡± Ariel replied calmly, not offering more. Some things couldn¡¯t be resolved by overthinking, especially when she already knew what kind of answer Betty was hoping for. Inside 261 Chapter 261 Betty hesitated for a moment, then her voice sank a little. Ari, don¡¯t worry. I won¡¯t let anyone treat you unfairly. If anything ever upsets you, just tell me. I¡¯ll handle it. As far as I¡¯m concerned, you¡¯re my granddaughter¨Cinw. No one else.¡± Ariel understood exactly what she meant. It was Betty¡¯s way of offering reassurance while also making her stance perfectly clear. Some things couldn¡¯t beid bare. Ariel lowered her gaze. ¡°Thank you, Grandma.¡± Because of the agreement, she couldn¡¯t tell Betty about the divorce. All she could do was vaguely acknowledge her goodwill. At the very least, she was keeping her end of the deal with Jayson. Betty asked if she was still at the hospital. Ariel answered honestly, saying she had been there in the morning. Only then did Betty seem relieved. Once the call ended, Ariel pinched the bridge of her nose. She had no idea what Jayson had told Betty about Nancy. But Betty was far too sharp. Once she knew about Nancy¡¯s presence, she would no doubt have someone look into it. Sooner orter, Betty would find out just how far Jayson had gone for Nancy. Not only did he give her free rein at Bluum Corp, but he¡¯d also prepared tounch Veyo Solutions for her. With all that, there was no way their rtionship could be brushed off as simple. But that was Jayson¡¯s problem to solve. Given how protective he was of Nancy, he would surely figure out a way to spin it. Ariel stopped thinking about it. She got up to make lunch. It wasn¡¯t until now that she truly began living for herself. She devoted all her time and energy to her own life. She actually enjoyed this seemingly uneventful but emotionally fulfilling routine. No more living in someone else¡¯s orbit,promising, and sacrificing in silence. Just after 4:00 pm, she received another call from andline. She answered. ¡°Hello, is this Mr. Jayson Larkin¡¯s family? There are some inpatient documents we need a signature on. Would you be able toe in today?¡± Ariel was crouched beside her gardenias, checking the leaves. She replied lightly, ¡°I¡¯m not.¡± There was a brief pause on the other end. The person double¨Cchecked the information before saying again,¡± Weren¡¯t you the one who spent the day caring for Mr. Larkin? Aren¡¯t you his wife?¡± ??? Ariel gently poured water onto the soil, then replied evenly ¡°No. You¡¯ll want to call his girlfriend.¡± She hung up without waiting for a response. They had obviously mistaken her for Nancy. Nancy had been at the hospital all day. She must¡¯ve stepped out during this gap. Still, it was odd that the hospital called her number in the first ce. Ariel frowned. She nced at her phone. Over the years, her number had been tied to so many of Jayson¡¯s daily affairs. No wonder the hospital still had her listed as his contact. She thought it over for a moment, then decided to change her number tomorrow. It would mark a fresh start. That evening, Ariel spoke with Lesley and finalized the schedule for her first round of pre¨Csurgery chemotherapy. As fate would have it, the slot was for tomorrow. And the hospital only had avability in the morning After some discussion, Ariel¨Cmoved it to the earliest avable time. Before bed, she organized all the paperwork needed for her divorce appointment the next morning. She only went to shower and sleep after making sure nothing was missing Inside 262 Chapter 262 Early the next morning, Ariel quickly got ready and headed straight to the hospital. She had a packed day ahead of her. She had chemotherapy scheduled in the morning, along with handling the divorce certificate. In the afternoon, she was set to meet Perry, who would be bringing his doctor friend along. Her first chemotherapy session was booked for 8:30 am. Before that, she met with Lesley to confirm the treatment n. When Lesley saw her, she couldn¡¯t help but frown. She nced down at Ariel¡¯s file, then sighed softly. ¡°You¡¯re only 25, far too young. The uterus ys such an important role in a woman¡¯s life. I really hope you¡¯ll reconsider.¡± Even Lesley struggled with the idea of removing it. Most women this age were unmarried and childless. It just felt like such a shame to have the uterus removed. Ariel offered a gentle smile. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ve thought it through.¡± Lesley asked again, ¡°Are you married?¡± Ariel looked down, idly rubbing the cold skin of her fingers before answering with a calm smile, ¡°I¡¯m getting divorced today.¡± Lesley blinked in surprise,pletely thrown off. And then came the look of unspoken pity. Divorce and hysterectomy happening at the same time couldn¡¯t be a coincidence. She assumed Ariel¡¯s husband was leaving her because of her illness and because she could no longer have children. Lesley sighed inwardly at the cruelty of people. Then she carefully walked Ariel through the treatment n again. The odds of full recovery after three rounds of chemotherapy and surgery were still uncertain. The surgery sess rate was only about 40%. Ariel epted it all without flinching. ¡°Will I lose my hair?¡± she asked. That was one thing she hadn¡¯t figured out how to hide yet. If it were too obvious, people would start asking questions. Lesley shook her head. ¡°Not necessarily. It depends on the meds we use. Don¡¯t worry just yet.¡± That settled Ariel a little. ¡°Alright, could you print the n for me?¡± Lesley typed out the detailed n. Ariel skimmed through it. She would go through three rounds of chemotherapy, followed by a full hysterectomy in two months. Ariel tucked the papers and forms into her bag and made her way to the oncology department. At that hour, she was the first patient. Ariel gave herself a mental pep talk, took several deep breaths, then walked in. The session took about 20 minutes. Lesley had told her the first two rounds of chemotherapy wouldn¡¯t be too harsh and that the side effects would be manageable. But Ariel still ended uppletely drained. She couldn¡¯t stop vomiting. Her stomach emptied until there was nothing left but bile. One of the nurses, seeing how pale and weak she looked, asked gently, ¡°Is there no one here with you?¡± Ariel wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, already num to the question. ¡°I¡¯m fine alone.¡± She allowed herself just 20 minutes to rest before touching up her makeup and heading straight to the courthouse. When she reached the intersection, it was exactly 9:50 am. As soon as she arrived, she spotted a ck Maybach parked across the street in the shopping district lot near the courthouse. The license te was unmistakable. It was Jayson¡¯s car. He was early today. Ariel quickly understood why. Today marked the real end of their marriage. Of course he would be eager to get it over with. She was about to look away when she saw Colton approaching the car with a paper bag from a well¨Cknown coffee brand in his hand. He didn¡¯t seem to notice Ariel, as he walked straight to the car and opened the back door. Right then, Ariel saw a slender hand reach out from inside the car to take the coffee. Nancy was in Jayson¡¯s car. Even on the day they were finalizing the divorce, he had brought Nancy along. Was it to let her witness the ending for herself and give her a sense of security? Ariel understood Jayson¡¯s intentions and gave a faint, bitter smile. Shaking off her thoughts, she walked into the courthouse alone. The ce was nearly empty today. Therge hall felt cold and hollow. She saw Jayson sitting in the front row. His gaze was on the scrolling screen above. Beside him sat a sharp¨Clooking man in a tailored suit. It was Matt¡¯swyer cousin, Edward. Ariel stood there, puzzled for a few seconds, before finally walking over. Jayson noticed her right away. He still looked unwell. His arm was tightly bandaged, and his already pale face seemed even more bloodless today. ¡°Have a seat,¡± he said, ncing toward her. But when he saw how sickly she looked, he paused briefly. ¡°Are you feeling okay?¡± he asked. Ariel greeted Edward politely before taking a seat. She didnt answer Jayson¡¯s question. Instead, she turned to Edward. ¡°Mr. Graham, what brings you here today?¡± Edward gave a polite smile. ¡°Ms. Walker, the courthouse rejected the agreement you two previously signed. Some of the terms need to be revised and rified. I¡¯ve prepared new copy for review. Please take a look.¡± Inside 263 Chapter 263 Edward handed the new agreement to Ariel. She knew the legal process was strict and bureaucratic, so she didn¡¯t say much. Instead, she lowered her head and began reading. The division of assets wasrgely the same asst time, but this time he added something new. He was giving her 20% equity in Nexura Solutions. Equity, not just shares, which meant she now held actual management rights in thepany. Ariel read carefully. In the separate equity transfer contract it stated that Katie would be the nominee shareholder. Ariel herself would be the true managing party behind the scenes. She looked up at Jayson. ¡°Does this mean that my ownership in Nexura Solutions will be kept hidden, and my grandma will appear as the shareholder on paper?¡± Jayson raised his eyes. His tone was calm and distant as he asked, ¡°Is that a problem?¡± ¡°Are you doing this to hide the fact that I was your wife?¡± Ariel immediately understood. After all, with that much equity involved, thepany would definitely know who the shareholder is. Jayson used Katie as a proxy. No one inside thepany would recognize her name. To put it inly, it was all for Nancy, so no one would start specting or stirring up rumors. Jayson¡¯s expression stayed cold, and his tone detached. ¡°If there¡¯s no issue, sign it.¡± Ariel stared at him. ¡°If you¡¯re so worried about Nexura¡¯s board finding out I hold equity, why give me the equity at all?¡± Wasn¡¯t that a bit unnecessary? And the fact that he was giving her even more equity now was totally unexpected. ¡°I¡¯m not going to harm you,¡± he said simply, not offering any more exnations. Ariel wasn¡¯t about toin about more money, especially when it came to Nexura Solutions. It was a stablepany with long¨Cterm growth potential, and she stood to gain a lot. Still, she couldn¡¯t quite understand why Jayson had done it this way. She nced over the rest of the terms in the agreement once more. The two conditions Jayson had previously brought up were also included. Last time, he asked her to keep their divorce a secret from Betty for a year and not to disclose their marital status or the timing of the divorce. And now, there was a new use. She wasn¡¯t allowed to enter into any new engagement or marriage within a year. If she vited any of these terms, she would owe him reasonablepensation. Her gaze paused at that new use before looking up. ¡°Why?¡± Jayson sat with his usual reserved poise. His expression was detached. ¡°Keeping the divorce from Grandma for a year would be much more secure with that use in ce. Ariel understood that. She didn¡¯t dwell on it and instead zeroed in on the real issue. ¡°So I¡¯m free to date, then?¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes flicked up, but they were unreadable. After a moment, he saidzily, ¡°Interpret it however you want. 11 Ariel gave a soft hum and read on. This time, the agreement spelled out what reasonablepensation meant. If she broke the terms, anypensation he offered would be void. Plus, in anypany where she held shares or equity, she would have to transfer half to him for free. And she would also be subject to any form of mentalpensation Jayson requested, though what that would entail wasn¡¯t specified. Ariel frowned. ¡°What¡¯s this supposed to mean?¡± She was pretty sure Jayson had no idea she had shares in Faye Technologies. Jayson didn¡¯t exin. Instead, he pulled a pen from his pocket. With his right arm injured and his palm bandaged, he used his left hand to sign all three copies of the divorce agreement. Though clearly not left¨Chanded, he didn¡¯t show any impatience. Once he was done, he handed Ariel the pen. ¡°Sign it, and you¡¯ll have the divorce certificate in hand.¡± Ariel stared at the new agreement. She knew for certain that she had no intention of ever revealing her past with Jayson. So even if Jayson included apensation use, it wouldn¡¯t affect her much. There was no way he would get his hands on her shares in Faye Technologies. After careful consideration, Ariel knew she didn¡¯t have the time to drag things out with Jayson. She needed to get the divorce certificate as soon as possible. After a few seconds of deliberation, she took the pen and signed her name. The pen ran out of ink while she was signing the equity transfer contract for Nexura Solutions. Edward handed her his own pen so she could finish signing it. Jayson stood up then, expression cold and indifferent. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± When Ariel rose, she swayed slightly from dizziness. She clenched her fist to steady herself and walked beside him toward the clerk¡¯s office. The clerk reviewed their documents. Everything was filled out and signed properly. Then she handed them each a copy of the final divorce consent form. ¡°Please sign here, and then ce your finger on the scanner to confirm your identity.¡± Ariel stared at the final step. Her chest rose and fell with heavy breath. Without ncing at Jayson, she did as she was told. As the clerk was about to stamp the finalized divorce certificate, she suddenly paused, then looked up and asked carefully, ¡°Just to confirm, are you both voluntarily agreeing to this divorce?¡± Inside 264 Chapter 264 Ariel had just finished the fingerprint scan when the clerk asked the final question. She looked up and replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s voluntary.¡± Jayson nced sideways at Ariel¡¯s unusuallyposed expression. She had never seemed so firm, yet so at ease. There was even a hint of urgency about her that he couldn¡¯t quite ignore. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment before he quietly looked away and gave a slight nod. The clerk nced at the two of them. Neither had shown the slightest trace of emotion, and there was not a hint of conflict or tension between them. It was like watching two strangers quietly finalizing a bothersome transaction. Once their fingerprints and ID data had been verified and recorded in the system, the clerk picked up the steel seal and brought it down with a firm ng. That sound echoed through Ariel¡¯s chest, as if her heart trembled lightly with the strike. In that instant, scenes from their entire marriage¨Cthe good, the bad, all of it¨Cshed through her mind, frame by frame like branded images. Each one stirred up a tidal wave in her heart. Once, she had longed for Jayson¡¯s love. Now, all she wanted was to be free from that endless, draining wait and finally break out of the cage that had bound her. Every stage of it had cost her something¨Ctime, emotion, and even pieces of herself. It wasn¡¯t until Ariel held the document officially ending her marriage to Jayson that her heartbeat finally began to steady. She didn¡¯t spare Jayson a single nce. She wasn¡¯t curious about what kind of expression he had. Whether he was relieved or regretful, it no longer concerned her. Ariel opened her bag and started gathering all the paperwork from the process. The bag was too full, and as she moved things around, a few slips from the hospital slipped out and fell to the floor. She bent down to pick them up. But Jayson was already crouching beside her, picking up one of the folded slips with his left hand. His eyes lowered, sharp and cool, as he nced at the paper in his hand. Because it was folded, only a few words peeked through. ¡°Lectomy.¡± He didn¡¯t catch the prefix. But it was clearly from a hospital! Jayson paused, then looked at Ariel. ¡°You went to see your uncle?¡± But before he could say more, Ariel snatched the slip from his hand. Her face, small and cold, had the sharp edge of ice. ¡°Mr. Larkin, do me a favor. Don¡¯t snoop through my business.¡± Especially now that they weren¡¯t even married anymore. Ariel offered no exnation and didn¡¯t bother to rify. Of course, it made sense for Jayson to ask that. Leonard had been hospitalized for a while and was scheduled for surgery soon. His liver would be partially removed, then reced, so it was only natural for Jayson to assume that. After finishing packing up, Ariel turned and walked away without looking back. Jayson¡¯s eyes followed her. He caught the moment she paused at the door. She stared down at the divorce certificate in her hands. And for a split second, the frost on her face melted into a faint smile. Jayson saw it clearly. His expression didn¡¯t change. Neither joy nor sorrow stirred in his eyes. Just then, Edward came over and asked, ¡°Mr. Larkin, do you want to give Ms. Walker a ride? She doesn¡¯t look like she¡¯s doing great today.¡± ¡°No need,¡± Jayson said coolly, not at all interested in any courtesy ride for the ex¨Cwife. He nced down at his right arm. The pain had been relentless, seeping through nerves and bone and radiating to every corner of his body. It was impossible to ignore. Puzzled, Edward asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be a clean break? What was the harm in giving Ariel a ride? Jayson finally looked up. His expression gave nothing away. Then he started walking. ¡°No point ruining her good mood.¡± Edward blinked, confused, then simply shook his head and let it go. After reaching the bus stop, Ariel pulled out her SIM card and slotted in a brand¨Cnew one. She stared at the old card for a moment. She had used it for over ten years. It felt strange to let it go, but she was ready for a new life. With one decisive snap, she broke the card in half and tossed it in the trash. Ariel checked the time. Lunch hour was creeping up, and she had a 2:00 pm meeting with Perry. Maybe she could sneak in a quick rest. She had been holding it together ever since leaving the hospital. As she looked up to call a ride, a familiar ck Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom pulled out of the courthouse parking lot across the street. Ariel frowned. That was Jayson¡¯s car. But just earlier, she had seen his Maybach parked in the shopping district nearby. It didn¡¯t take long for her to figure it out. Nancy must¡¯vee separately. They hadn¡¯t arrived together at the courthouse. They took two different routes. But whatever the details were, it didn¡¯t matter to her anymore. Just then, her ride pulled up. Ariel rubbed at her pounding temples and got in. After a moment¡¯s thought, she sent a message in the group chat she shared with Janice and Chad. ¡°I just picked up the divorce certificate from the courthouse.¡± In the car, Toby caught sight of Ariel and instinctively gave a quiet reminder. ¡°Mrs. Larkin¡­ Ms. Walker just got in the car.¡± In the back seat, Jayson was holding the divorce certificate, lost in thought.. He only looked up when Toby spoke. His expression was indifferent. Without any particr reaction, he calmly looked away. ¡°Head to the service center at the shopping district.¡± Toby nodded and made a U¨Cturn. The shopping district was only a few blocks away. Once they arrived, Jayson stepped out of the car and saw a message from Colton. He was already handling thepany registration procedures with Nancy. He had only taken a few steps when he saw a strange caller ID light up on his phone. Jayson answered calmly, ¡°Who is this?¡± Whatever the caller said made him freeze for a beat. A momentter, he narrowed his eyes and rubbed his thumb over the divorce certificate. ¡°Got it. Confirm¡­¡± The call ended. Jayson didn¡¯t move. He suddenly lifted his hand and looked at the divorce certificate. His expression was deep and unreadable as he sank into thought. Just then, Nancy stepped out of the building. Seeing Jayson she smiled sweetly and waved. ¡°Jayson, over here.¡± He finally looked up and started walking toward her. But as he passed by a trash can, he tore the divorce certificate across the section with their names and tossed it in without a second nce. Inside 265 Ariel stopped by her ce. She emptied her bag andid everything out. Right on top was the equity transfer contract for Nexura Solutions. Jayson had always been generous when it came to money. With this single contract, she would be earning billions of dors in dividends every year. Even if she never worked another day in her life and spent the rest of it partying and shopping, she would be just fine. Ariel took his action of giving her equity in Nexura Solutions now as just another form ofpensation. She filed the contract away in the cab, then took a photo of the divorce¨Ccertificate before opening the drawer to store it. But just as she reached in, she spotted something small tucked in the corner. It was a charm for fertility she had received at Marie¡¯s great¨Cgrandchild¡¯s 100¨Cday celebration. She had kept it here and forgotten about it. Her fingers brushed over it. Her mood, which had felt surprisingly light after the divorce, suddenly turned bitter. Ariel instinctively touched her lower abdomen. In two months, she would be undergoing a full hysterectomy. After that, the chance to have children would be gone forever. It was already decided. She didn¡¯t have a choice. Ariel stared at the charm for a long time. Her fingers brushed over it onest time before she ced it back in the drawer next to the divorce certificate. She had decided to keep it as a keepsake. She had mentioned the divorce certificate in the group chat Janice had the loudest reaction, spamming over a dozen celebratory messages. Chad, caught in the middle, squeezed in one line. ¡°Dinner¡¯s on me tonight. We¡¯re celebrating your escape from misery.¡± Ariel smiled. She simply replied with a ¡°Sounds good¡± and went to rest for a bit. When the time came, she pulled herself up and headed to the cafe Perry had picked out. He had sent her the location earlier. ¡°No rush. Take your time. He¡¯s quite nice. You can talk first and see how he reacts.¡± The cafe was near the World Trade Center. Ariel replied with a quick thanks. Leonard¡¯s case wasn¡¯t simple. It all depended on whether the doctor was willing to take it on. A When she arrived, she saw Perry already waiting outside. She walked over and asked, puzzled, ¡°Why are you out here¡± As Perry met her curious gaze, his hand curled slightly at his side. Then he smiled lightly. ¡°Just needed some air. Come on, I¡¯ll take you in.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t think much of it. She nodded and followed him upstairs. But when she saw the man sitting at the table, she was surprised. Apparently, he was just as surprised to see her. But he didn¡¯t show it. Instead, he stood up and nodded politely.¡± Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel approached. ¡°Mr. Spencer?¡± She hadn¡¯t expected the person Perry had arranged for her to meet to be Liam. She had seen Liam at Jackson¡¯s birthday party, but they weren¡¯t acquainted. And with so many people around, there hadn¡¯t been a chance to get introduced. ¡°Liam studied medicine,¡± Perry exined, doing his part as the middleman. ¡°He¡¯s young, but you can trust him. He spent a year with Doctors Without Borders. Complex cases are second nature to him. He¡¯s made a name for himself internationally. These days, he¡¯s focused on oncology.¡± He was trying to reassure her, in case she had doubts about trusting a young doctor. But Ariel didn¡¯t have any of those biases. Her eyes were calm andposed. ¡°I know. Thank you, Mr. Spencer, for making the time to meet me today.¡± Liam finally took a moment to really look at her. Her eyes were unusually clear, quiet, detached, but sincere, It reminded him of the birthday party when she and Zach had shed. She had seemed gentle then, but there was steel beneath it. ¡°No need to thank me,¡± Liam replied. His refined and handsome features were free of the slightest arrogance. ¡°Perry¡¯s been trying to get me to make time for a while now. I¡¯m sorry. It got dyed because of some research work and the birthday party.¡± Inside 266 Ariel hadn¡¯t expected that Liam would be so different from Zach when they were cousins. Moreover, Ariel actually spotted Liam on the day she and Zach had a minor argument. She knew he had witnessed the entire incident. Furthermore, Zach had probably only ever said unpleasant things about her to him. Despite that, Liam had interacted with her calmly and normally. However, none of them cared to mention Zach at the moment. Perry didn¡¯t say much after that. When the waiter served a blueberry dessert to their table, Perry pushed it toward Ariel. After having met her several times, Perry noticed that Ariel actually had a sweet tooth. Ariel hadn¡¯t noticed what Perry did. She looked at Liam. ¡°Regarding my uncle¡¯s condition, the hospital has recently suggested a new approach and treatment to increase the sess rate of his recovery. Would you mind taking a look at it for me, Mr. Spencer?¡± She took out all of Leonard¡¯s medical records that she had brought with her. Liam nodded and flipped through the documents. ¡°What a coincidence. I came back from overseas to lead a research team that studies the effects of certain drug use on tumors. This is the hospital where we¡¯re conducting the research.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t expect they would be linked this way. Also, Liam¡¯s skills and experience must be on a different level for him to have received an offer to lead a research team back in their country. Liam looked through the documents and got a gist of Leonard¡¯s current condition. ¡°His condition is quiteplex. Getting a liver transnt is the safest way to go.¡± Ariel was feeling quite nervous. ¡°In that case¡­ Would you be free to take charge of my uncle¡¯s treatment, Mr. Spencer?¡± Perry directed his gaze to Liam as well. Liam paused briefly. Eventually, he pushed the medical records back in Ariel¡¯s direction. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but I probably won¡¯t be free for the next two months. My schedule is pretty tight at the moment since I¡¯m currently working on a research project initiated by an international medical organization. However, I can refer you to another friend, who¡¯s returned to the country with me.¡± Frankly, Ariel was a little disappointed since she knew Liam must possess exceptional skills for Perry to have made the rmendation. ¡°My friend works at this hospital too. He¡¯s an expert in surgical oncology. If you¡¯re alright with it, my friend can be in charge of your uncle¡¯s surgery.¡± In a way, Liam had turned down Ariel¡¯s request. Perry knew that Liam had made an effort to meet with Ariel because of his request. Liam would definitely squeeze in the time toe to this meeting even if he was busy. Moreover, he had even helped by offering another solution to tackle the issue. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on the issue for too long. She epted Liam¡¯s suggestion and expressed her gratitude. Even though she still hoped to get Liam to perform the surgery, Ariel didn¡¯t think she could possibly ask him to drop everything else. At the very least, Liam had shown hea lot of consideration and even rmended another doctor for Leonard. Ariel decided not to force things since this was the best they could do at the moment. Their meeting ended once Ariel had gotten Liam¡¯s friend¡¯s phone number. Perry left to get his car. Meanwhile, Ariel and Liam walked over to the entrance. Ariel was extremely exhausted. She went for chemotherapy in the morning. Then, she dropped by the courthouse. Her face was as white as a sheet after spending nearly all her energy. Liam halted. He narrowed his eyes on Ariel. He could sense that something was off. ¡°Are you feeling unwell?¡± Liam was a doctor. He could tell that Ariel was in a frail, weakened state. Even though the weather was quite chilly, Ariel¡¯s forehead was beaded with sweat. She was also swaying a little as she walked. Ariel felt extremely unwell. It was her first time experiencing the overwhelming after¨Ceffects of chemotherapy. She heaved a deep breath and replied politely, ¡°I¡¯m alright. Although that was what she said, Ariel could feel her knees give out when she was about to go down the steps. Liam moved swiftly and caught hold of Ariel¡¯s wrist. ¡°Do you want to stop by the hospital?¡± Ariel was about to shake her head when she spotted a Rolls¨CRoyce Phantom pulling up in front of an office building in the distance. Jayson and Nancy got out of the car There weren¡¯t many cars or people on that side of the road. Jayson exited the car and lifted his gaze. He happened to look in Ariel¡¯s direction. Inside 267 Chapter 267 When Aria sensed someone was looking at her, she tried to see who it was. She was caught slightly off guard when she met Jayson¡¯s gaze. However, Jayson averted his gaze expressionlessly a few seconds after Ariel looked in his direction. There was a look of indifference on his face. It was not so surprising for them to run into Jayson and Nancy here since they were near the World Trade Center. Nancy ced her hands on Jayson¡¯s arm, the one that was not wounded. The two of them seemed to have enjoyed a fun conversation earlier. They appeared really close and chummy. It had not even been four hours since they received their divorce certificate, yet Jayson and Nancy seemed to have grown much closer. Ariel acted as if she didn¡¯t know those two people. She pulled her wrist free from Liam¡¯s grip and turned around to thank him. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I¡¯ve already been to the hospital.¡± Liam frowned slightly. He kept getting the feeling that Ariel¡¯s condition seemed rather unusual. It did not seem like she was simply feeling a bit under the weather. Nancy spotted Liam and Ariel as well. She had no interest in what Ariel was doing. However¡­ With a frown on her forehead, Nancy nced at Liam, who stood beside Ariel. She couldn¡¯t understand why Liam was meeting someone like Ariel. Nancy wondered whether the two of them had agreed to meet here or had simply met by chance. As far as she was aware, Ariel and Liam were not acquainted. They hardly even knew about each other¡¯s existence. Yet, the two of them seemed rtively close when Liam tried to support Ariel earlier. A deep frown drew Nancy¡¯s brows together. Ariel appeared to be a lot more open¨Cminded than she had imagined. ¡°Could it be that having Chad Hockney as her backing was still not enough for her?¡± Nancy wondered. Nancy¡¯s expression turned cold as she considered the possibility. She had a faintly mocking look on her face. She tried not to let her real emotions show as she said pensively, ¡°When did those two be so close that they even went and grabbed coffee together? Perhaps they happened to run into each other at the coffee shop.¡± Jayson continued on his way while he nced at his watch. His face showed no emotion. ¡°It doesn¡¯t really matter.¡± Nancy raised her head and gazed at Jayson¡¯s side profile. She couldn¡¯t stop herself from grinning. She could tell that Jayson had made an effort to respond to her even though he was not interested in the certain someone that she had mentioned in the slightest. Jayson was being attentive to her. If he were with someone else, would Jayson have bothered being so attentive to that person? The two of them entered one of the shops nearby. Neither of them saw the moment a car pulled up in front of the coffee shop, and Perry got out of the car to open the door for Ariel. On the other hand, Jayson received a call from Matt just as he stepped into the shop. Jayson answered the phone. It sounded like Matt was meeting some clients. He had some free time and decided to call Jayson. ¡°Have youpleted the registration procedures for Veyo Solutions? Jayson watched as Nancy went ahead and greeted some people. He replied unhurriedly, ¡°Yes, we¡¯ve settled pretty much everything.¡± Matt mused, ¡°We¡¯re talking about a rtivelyrge¨Cscale business here. Moreover, you¡¯ve been paying a lot of attention to this matter. Despite your injuries, you left the hospital this morning and have been helping Nancy with handling those procedures. You could have just asked Colton to take care of those things.¡± It was evident how thoughtful and meticulous Jayson was when it came to matters rted to Nancy. Jayson looked down at his right hand, which had been bandaged and fixed securely. He didn¡¯t mention how he had also visited the courthouse during the day. Jayson said tly, ¡°Colton has some other errands to take care of for the next couple of days.¡± Matt didn¡¯t dwell on the matter since he thought Jayson had meant that Colton was preupied with worktely. However, he was someone whose thought process was quite erratic. Matt recalled something at that moment and asked, ¡°The cooling¨Coff period is over by now, right? Have you gotten your divorce certificate?¡± Jayson lifted his gaze and spotted Nancying his way. Instead of replying to Matt¡¯s question, he said, ¡°Nancy and I have just settled some stuff rted to the business operations. Let¡¯s meet up when we¡¯re free.¡± Inside 268 Matt asked, ¡°Is Nancy with you?¡± Jayson merely hummed in response. ¡°Can you put me on speakerphone?¡± Jayson pressed the button that allowed others to hear Matts voice while he was on the call. Matt asked, ¡°Has Perry contacted any of you recently? Did you guys notice how he seemed really busytely? I nned on grabbing a meal with him today at first, but he said he couldn¡¯t make it. I have no idea what he¡¯s been up to.¡± Nancy froze. Perry had hardly gotten in touch with hertely. Moreover, he was slow to respond whenever Nancy had messaged him on WhatsApp asking about a few things. He had been quite cold to her recently. Nancy figured Perry probably didn¡¯t do that on purpose. He might have been upied with work these days. Ariel went back home after having met Liam. She could barely hold herself up at that point. Ariel set an rm and spent the entire afternoon napping. She finally dragged herself out of bed around 6:00 pm. The sense of difort that followed after undergoing chemotherapy had lessened considerably. Chad was treating her and Janice to a meal tonight. Ariel knew how Chad and Janice were sincerely happy for her. She wasn¡¯t going to refuse their kind offer to celebrate the asion for her. After she was done getting ready, Ariel headed to the restaurant Chad had made a reservation at. Ariel told them about how Jayson had given her some of Nexura Solutions¡® shares. Janice widened her eyes in shock. ¡°Nexura Solutions? 20 percent of their shares? Has Jayson always been so kind- hearted?¡± Although Nexura Solutions was just one of Bluum Corp¡¯s many subsidiarypanies, it was nevertheless a strong andpetitive yer in the industry. Among their many rivals, Nexura Solutions was considered one of the top threepanies in their country¡¯s northern region. The business currently boasted a high market price. ¡°Is he plotting something?¡± Janice was filled with both doubt and horror. She made another conjecture. ¡°Did he perhaps give you those shares as a form ofpensation because he started apany for Nancy?¡± ¡°If he had thought about Ari, he wouldn¡¯t have started apany for Nancy. Since Jayson had done it anyway, there was no way he would feel an ounce of guilt toward Ari ¡± Chad scoffed. Some men could be extremely ruthless and unscrupulous if they wanted to, especially for someone cold and calctive like Jayson. There was no way he would bother caring about things like decency and their past history. Ariel wasn¡¯t going to waste her time dwelling on the issue. Unless Nexura Solutions had encountered a serious issue in their management or faced a financial crisis, Ariel would only benefit from this arrangement. She could just stay put and receive money in her ount for the days to After they finished their meal, Janice suggested going to a bar next since she was feeling like it. Ariel had alcohol intolerance, so she would get drunk casily Besides, she shouldn¡¯t be drinking in her current condition. She was about to refuse to join them. However, Ariel notice Chad¡¯s face had darkened as he stared at his phone. She paused briefly and asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Chad?¡± Chad had a grim look on his face. He lifted his head and passed his phone to Ariel. ¡°Someone sent me this photo. Take a look at it yourself.¡± Janice leaned toward Ariel. Ariel¡¯s eyes hardened when she saw what was on the screen In the photo was one of their employees from Faye Tech¡¯s tech department. It was Seth Maxwell. The person sitting opposite Seth was Colton. What could be the reason for Colton meeting a member of their tech department privately? Janice was fuming. ¡°Isn¡¯t that Jayson¡¯s secretary? He¡¯s meeting our employee in private¡­ They¡¯re clearly trying to recruit him!¡± Ariel could tell that much as well, especially since Veyo Solutions was working on hiring and recruiting people at the moment. Yet, these people had decided to make Faye Tech¡¯s employees one of their targets too! Chad knitted his brows and snickered. ¡°He acted right after the two of you had gotten the divorce certificate. I don¡¯t expect to see Jayson looking sad about the divorce. However, he didn¡¯t have to go and stab you in the back afterward like this, right?¡± Jayson had started doing these things to sabotage Faye Tech when he and Ariel had just gotten divorced? Inside 269 Ariel could feel a dull throbbing pain in her temples. She hadn¡¯t expected Jayson¡¯s side to take such a drastic move and attempt to recruit one of their members from the tech department right away. For employees like Seth who were in the tech department, they were required to sign a nonpete use. However, Jayson¡¯s side probably wouldn¡¯t mind paying for the indemnity if they were serious about recruiting Seth. ¡°Isn¡¯t Jayson doing this on purpose?¡± Janice said through clenched teeth. ¡°For a moment, I thought he was a pretty decent man since he had offered to give you those shares. Now, it seemed like he had only done that to lower your guard first!¡± Faye Tech¡¯stest project was a huge sess. Ariel was listed as one of the project leads. Naturally, Jayson¡¯s side would assume that Ariel would continue to participate in Faye Tech¡¯s uing projects. Furthermore, Veyo Solutions would definitely see Faye Tech as their main rival. There was bound to be fiercepetition between the twopanies once Veyo Solutions started operating. It seemed like Jayson¡¯s side had begun making preparations in advance. ¡°So, he¡¯s trying to bring Faye Tech down from the inside first? Is he trying to disrupt Faye Tech¡¯s expansion and prevent any chances of Ariel obtaining sess through our subsequent projects? Is this how he¡¯s getting back at Ariel after the divorce?¡± Janice pondered. Ariel¡¯s chest heaved with anger. Faye Tech was the culmination of everyone¡¯s hard work. It should not be used as a pawn in a battle involving her personal affairs. Jayson had done so much for Nancy. He even had his men approach an employee of Faye Tech while they were preparing tounch Veyo Solutions. His actions would only make Nancy and Sarah feel extremely proud of themselves. Ariel was fully aware that Jayson couldn¡¯t care less about the conflicts between the Walker family and Sarah However, Nancy was Sarah¡¯s daughter. Jayson had chosen to go up against Ariel while trying to elevate Sarah¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s statuses. It made Ariel feel deeply humiliated. Ariel regained herposure fairly quickly. She looked at Chad. ¡°Who sent you this photo?¡± If it weren¡¯t for this photo, they would probably not have been able to prepare any countermeasures in advance. Chad replied, ¡°A friend of mine sent it. He was transferred to that area for work, and he happened to run into those two.¡± Ariel had calmed down. ¡°We need to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Let¡¯s meet and talk about it with Seth tomorrow.¡± Chad had no objections. From the moment Veyo Solutions announced they would have an option pool representing 20 percent of theirpany¡¯s shares, Chad knew the news would shake things up a little in their industry. The next day, Ariel arrived at the office earlier than usual. Chad was already waiting in her office. Ariel went ahead and asked Seth toe to her office. When he saw that both Chad and Ariel were there, Seth could tell it wasn¡¯t just a simple meeting with his superiors. He waited for them to bring up the matter. Ariel didn¡¯t lose her temper. She had an impassive expression. ¡°You can be frank with us.¡± Seth decided to be forward. ¡°Yes, someone found me and told me about Veyo Solutions. Ms. Walker, the pay and benefits they¡¯re offering are indeed the best one can find in our industry,¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t going to waste time trying to change Seth¡¯s mind. ¡°So, you¡¯ve decided to resign from your position here?¡± Seth fell silent. He couldn¡¯t deny that Faye Tech was an up¨Canding business with a promising future ahead of it. However, Veyo Solutions had just been founded. The first batch of early employees could receive high pay and even a portion of thepany¡¯s equity from the option pool. Seth replied straightforwardly, ¡°Everyone knows Ms. Stanton has Bluum Corp¡¯s Mr. Larkin¡¯s backing. Faye Tech has spent years before reaching our current business scale, but Veyo Solutions is already operating at that level from the start. ¡°I know howpetent you are, Ms. Walker. Despite your excellent capabilities, you¡¯re still on your own. You can hardlypete with Ms. Stanton¡¯s Veyo Solutions¡® team, which will have an edge of being protected by Mr. Larkin¡¯s status and influence.¡± Ariel furrowed her brows. Meanwhile, Chad¡¯s expression hardened. He hadn¡¯t expected Seth to say something like that. Not only was heparing Ariel and Nancy, but Seth was also saying that Ariel could neverpare to Nancy, who had Jayson¡¯s support. Seth seemed to have decided not to hold back anymore. ¡°With how much Mr. Larkin cared about Ms. Stanton, he would definitely help promote Veyo Solutions¡® growth and expansion. I¡¯m merely making a reasonable choice now.¡± Inside 270 Chad¡¯s face darkened. ¡°It seems Jayson¡¯s side has offered to help you pay the indemnity for the breach of contract. You¡¯re speaking a lot more boldly now.¡± Chad wasn¡¯t worried that Seth might leak the information regarding Faye Tech¡¯s projects and the technologies used. It was because Ariel was the only person who had full knowledge of the important technologies that had been developed and used in theirst project, Only a handful of their most trusted employees were aware of this. Seth took off his employee badge. ¡°People are always trying to strive for something better. I hope you¡¯ll understand my reasons.¡± No one would refuse a job offer that came with thepany¡¯s shares as well. With no backing or support, Faye Tech would have to face a fiercepetition with their rivals on their own. Seth would rather follow Nancy¡¯s lead and have a better opportunity to wield his skills and knowledge. Chad didn¡¯t try to persuade him to stay. He merely stared at Seth as if he were looking at a fool and snickered. Seth only knew about how smart and capable Ariel was. He thought she didn¡¯t have any backing. In truth, Ariel had the support of the group with the highest level of authority in their country. With her status as the U.N2 developer, she could have ess and clearance to pretty much everything she needed. They were still keeping this part of her information a secret. Unfortunately, those who were too eager to pick a side didn¡¯t realize what they were missing out on. Ariel dropped her gaze and pondered for a moment. Seth was apetent staff member. However, Faye Tech wasn¡¯t short of people like him. Jayson¡¯s side knew that poaching a few of Faye Tech¡¯s employees would have no significant impact on the business, either. Perhaps what they wanted to achieve was not to crush and bring down Faye Tech. Instead, they were trying to sow the seeds of discord and make things ufortable for the Faye Tech team. Even if they were to bring this incident upter on, Jayson¡¯s side could just im that it was Seth who had shown interest and approached the Veyo Solutions team on his own. They couldn¡¯t possibly me Jayson and seek any otherpensation from him for what happened. Fortunately, things were quite stable over at Faye Tech. Seth was the only one who chose to quit. The other members in the tech department had a pretty firm stance. Most geniuses like them had a strong pride and a professional work ethic. With Chad reassuring their employees, Seth¡¯s resignation didn¡¯t cause too much of disturbance in theirpany. They couldn¡¯t force someone who wished to leave to stay, so Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on the incident for too long. That afternoon, she received a WhatsApp message from Carlos. ¡°An official would like to meet you. When will you be free?¡± ¡°Is it someone from the Department of Defense?¡± Ariel wondered. She and Chad needed to handle the issue involving their employees first. Also, Ariel just spoke to Chad today regarding the choice of renewable energy for their new project. They would be quite busy for the next couple of days. Ariel thought about it and responded, ¡°I¡¯m free next week¡¯m avable any time after next Tuesday.¡± Carlos sent another message. ¡°Don¡¯t forget to keep up with your reading. I¡¯ve sent you a new assignment. Meet me once you¡¯vepleted it.¡± Ariel was struck speechless. She felt like a donkey that was pulling a cart nonstop, and carlos would crack his whip from time to time to make her move. After replying to Carlos¡® message, Ariel stared pensively at her phone. She hadn¡¯t informed Betty that she had changed her number. Considering that she had signed the agreement, it seemed a bit inappropriate if Ariel didn¡¯t tell Betty her new number. She didn¡¯t spend too long thinking about it. Ariel called Betty right away. Betty picked up the phone. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°Grandma, it¡¯s me.¡± Ariel exined in a gentle voice, ¡°This is my new phone number. I¡¯m not using my old number anymore. Remember to save this number on your phone.¡± Betty asked curiously, ¡°Why did you suddenly change your phone number?¡± Ariel came up with an excuse. ¡°It¡¯s for work.¡± Betty didn¡¯t try to ask for more details. She said in a warm, loving tone, ¡°Okay. I came to the hospital to visit Jayson. He¡¯s beside me right now. Do you want to talk to him for a bit?¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected that Betty was with Jayson. Her eyes turned cold as she was reminded of how Jayson¡¯s men had poached a Faye Tech employee recently. Ariel furrowed her brows. ¡°It¡¯s alright, Grandma.¡± She had just finished saying that. However, Ariel heard Jayson¡¯s calm and emotionless voiceing down the line the next instant. ¡°Are you free to drop by the hospital today?¡± Inside 271 Ariel was caught slightly off guard by the sudden question Gradually, the realization of what Jayson actually meant dawned on her pretty yet impassive face. Jayson had simply put on an act since Betty was listening to their conversation beside him. He wasn¡¯t really asking Ariel to stop by the hospital. Ariel kept her head low and flipped through the sketches. Her tone was calm and steady. ¡°It depends on what time 1 finish workter.¡± After pausing for a few seconds, Jayson replied slowly, ¡°Alright, remember to eat your meals.¡± Without giving her the time to respond or say anything, Jayson hung up right away. Ariel didn¡¯t think much of Jayson¡¯s seemingly caring reminder for her to eat her meals. It was all part of the act. There wasn¡¯t an ounce of sincerity in those words. Ariel swiftly put what happened during the phone call out of her mind. She put down her phone and continued to do her calctions on the sketches. At the hospital, Betty¡¯s eyes rounded with annoyance when she saw how quickly Jayson had ended the call. ¡°Why were you in such a hurry to hang up? It¡¯s not like someone¡¯s chasing you or something.¡± Jayson lowered his head and looked at hisptop. His brows arched. ¡°She hasn¡¯t eaten yet. We¡¯ll only take up her time if we keep talking to her on the phone.¡± For a moment, Betty was rendered speechless. ¡°It sounds as if you know a lot about her daily habits.¡± After a moment¡¯s consideration, she asked, ¡°Have you exined the matters rting to the Spencer family to Ari? Have those issues been taken care of?¡± Jayson said nothing. He typed on the keyboard with one hand. He merely curled his lips in response to Betty¡¯s questions. Betty was exasperated upon seeing that response. ¡°Don¡¯t even think about fooling me with someme excuse. You know very well about Ari¡¯s feelings for you. I¡¯m warning you! Stop fooling around with another woman. Enough is enough!¡± After taking a pause, she said sternly, ¡°You didn¡¯t cross the line with her, right? If you don¡¯t do something about that girl from the Stanton family, don¡¯t me me when I decide to interfere and send the girl away.¡± Jayson stopped typing on hisptop. He was still smiling faintly. Yet, it was clear¨Cjudging by the look in his eyes -that Jayson had no intention of backing down. ¡°Grandma, you know me. I¡¯m never one to regret the things that I do.¡± He was never one to easily yield, either. Betty¡¯s heart missed a beat. She was momentarily stunned as she came to understand the underlying meaning behind Jayson¡¯s firm remarks. She gave up eventually and decided to not make any furtherments. She took her phone and turned it on. ¡± Help me save Ari¡¯s new number in the contact list.¡± Jayson hummed nonchntly in response. He clicked on thetest phone record shown on the screen and took a nce at it. After typing ¡°Ari¡± in the name section, he saved the number on Betty¡¯s phone and passed the phone back to her. 172 Betty was still feeling a bit puzzled. Then, she suddenly recalled something. ¡°Did Ari just change her number today? She already told you about her new number, right?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t even look up from hisptop. He merely humed. After work, Ariel went back home to rest. She didn¡¯t stop by the hospital. It was just something Jayson had said since Betty was listening in on them. Ariel was so exhausted after having made sure any issue that might arise from one of their tech department¡¯s members leaving had been taken care of ordingly. She was in no mood to think about anything else. If it weren¡¯t because Jayson¡¯s side had poached one of their employees for Veyo Solutions, Ariel would be working on preparing the n for their new project right now. The next day, Ariel and Chad met Augustine Herbert, the head of production department of thepany n was working at, in the morning to learn more about the feasibility of adapting renewable energy in their new project. Fortunately, everything was pretty much just as Ariel had expected. Their meeting helped her gain a better, more structured idea for the direction of their uing project. Augustine tried to invite them to join him for lunch. However, Chad had already made a reservation at a restaurant. Moreover, Ariel needed to discuss the finer details of their project nning with him, so he politely declined the offer. Augustine saw them off by the building¡¯s entrance. While they were there, he noticed the nearby office building undergoing renovation. He couldn¡¯t help saying in a slightly envious tone, ¡°I was in Heincovest night for a business trip, and I just got back this morning. I met Bluum Corp¡¯s Mr. Larkin at a tech exhibition yesterday. He was introducing Ms. Stanton to some people working in the industry.¡± While Ariel showed zero reaction, Chad narrowed his eyes. ¡°Oh? Is that so?¡± Veyo Solutions¡® office, being so close, was all anyone in the area could talk abouttely. Augustine was no exception. He went ahead and shared his thoughts. ¡°Veyo Solutions hase into the spotlight ever since they announced that they¡¯reunching the business. ¡°Our employees can see their office building on the way to or from work. Some of us have also spotted Mr. Larkin¡¯s car here a few times before. He probably couldn¡¯t bear to see Ms. Stanton overwork herself, so he had personally helped with handling a lot of things. ¡°I saw with my own eyes yesterday how Mr. Larkin had gone on a business trip to Heincove with Ms. Stanton even though he was still injured. He was trying to help her select and recruit people at the tech exhibition.¡± Inside 272 Chapter 272 ¡°It seems like Mr. Larkin is even willing to risk sacrificing his own health to help Ms. Stanton.¡± Chad smiled cynically. He couldn¡¯t help thinking how great it would be if the drone had taken Jayson outpletely during the ident that day. Augustine rubbed his belly and grinned. ¡°Mr. Larkin is nning to build an elite team of members for Veyo Solutions. I doubt there¡¯s anyone who¡¯ll refuse Mr. Larkin¡¯s offer, especially when he¡¯s the one asking. Ms. Stanton is extremely¡­ lucky!¡± Ariel lifted her gaze slightly. Chad furrowed his brows upon hearing that final remark. His eyes were filled with concern as he nced at Ariel. Nancy¡¯s good luck was built upon Ariel¡¯s despair and misery. While everyone thought Nancy was incredibly lucky, Ariel must find the situation extremely absurd and ironic. Everyone was singing praises of Jayson and Nancy¡¯s seemingly selfless, passionate love. Ariel hardly showed any reaction to Augustine¡¯s remarks. Jayson was still in the hospital when they spoke on the phone yesterday. Yet, he went on the business trip with Nancy that night. Jayson probably knew Ariel wouldn¡¯t drop by the hospital when he popped the question during the day. Even if Ariel did show up, Jayson probably thought it would be alright for him to just leave her at the hospital and go with Nancy instead, None of that mattered anyway. More importantly, Jayson didn¡¯t try to keep a low profile while doing all these things. Not only did his men poach a Faye Tech employee, but Jayson had also attended one of the biggest tech exhibitions in their country to recruit people. Clearly, Jayson had nned to recruit talent and manpower from both in and out of the country for Veyo Solutions. Moreover, they would hardly face any issues with staff shortages. Still, they decided to give Faye Tech a blow by poaching one of their employees. It was definitely a deliberate move. After showing Chad and Ariel to the lobby, Augustine headed back to his post. Chad lowered his head and said mockingly, ¡°I wonder what Jayson¡¯s heart is really made of? ¡°The two of you were married for three years. He seemedpletely fine and unbothered after the divorce. He even used the excuse of going on a business trip to go traveling with Nancy. He¡¯s really enjoying life to the fullest.¡± Even when his injuries were not fully healed yet, Jayson still did everything he could for Nancy and provided her with a strong sense of security. As for Ariel, he hadpletely neglected her and left her alone to fend for herself. ¡°I¡¯m starving.¡± Ariel had no interest inmenting on any topics rted to Jayson. ¡°Let¡¯s grab lunch first. Then, we can finalize the part of the nning involving renewable energy.¡± No matter how impressive the scale of Veyo Solutions¡® business would be, what mattered the most at the end of the day was how innovative and revolutionary apany¡¯s projects were. Ariel understood that better than anyone else. Chad fixed his gaze on Ariel. He ruffled Ariel¡¯s hair mischievously in an attempt to console her. After they had lunch at the restaurant, Chad left to get the car. To Ariel¡¯s surprise, she bumped into Evelyn while waiting by the entrance. Evelyn¡¯s expression remained unchanged as she noticed Anel and walked past her, Ariel had no intention of greeting Evelyn either. However, Evelyn halted in her tracks as she seemed to recall something. She nced over her shoulder at Ariel. ¡± Have you been busy with worktely?¡± Ariel lifted her gaze and looked in Evelyn¡¯s direction. Evelyn didn¡¯t pause to wait for Ariel¡¯s response. She had a stern look on her face. ¡°Jayson got injured because of you. Why didn¡¯t you stay at the hospital to take care of him? Is your work really that important? The Larkin family is fully capable of keeping you well fed and providing you with enough allowance, right?¡± She had more or less learned about the affairs involving the Spencer family. Evelyn continued frigidly, ¡°It¡¯s important to maintain a happy and harmonious atmosphere at home. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t be bothering your grandma with the minor conflicts happening between you and Jayson. Don¡¯tin to Betty about how sad or disappointed you are. I ll only make things worse if Betty tries to intervene. You should still try to keep things respectful between you and Jayson.¡± Ariel could tell that Jayson hadn¡¯t informed Evelyn about the divorce. She realized once again how cautious Jayson was. As for the part about being respectful, Evelyn probably said that considering Jayson might be nning to marry Nancy in the near future. Once it was revealed that Nancy had gotten in between Jayson and his ex¨Cwife, the Larkin family¡¯s reputation would be tarnished if Jayson still insisted on tying the knot with Nancy. Ariel knew how Evelyn had always been very cold¨Chearted and calctive. In the past, she would just listen to Evelyn¡¯s words quietly without making anyments. However, the circumstances had changed. Ariel¡¯s tone was cold and indifferent. ¡°Jayson has been discharged from the hospital a while back. As his mother, have you not taken any notice of that?¡± Evelyn was quite surprised to hear the way Ariel had responded. Chopter 273 +25 Inside 273 Evelyn got the impression that Ariel was implying she was hardly doing enough as Jayson¡¯s mother. Therefore, Evelyn had no right to make those requests of her. However, she quickly dismissed those thoughts. There was no way Ariel would dare make such implications. Ariel cared not whether Evelyn understood her words. After giving a slight nod, she turned around and walked off. Evelyn furrowed her brows as she stared at Ariel¡¯s receding figure. In the past, she would have been very satisfied with how Ariel had tactfully acted as if they hardly knew each other. Strangely, she felt rather offended today. The next day, Ariel went to the hospital to meet the friend Liam had introduced her to. His name was Isaac Coleman. The man was in his 30s. Isaac, who was also a doctor, came back from abroad along with Liam. He had a lot of photos of him and Liam working to provide medical assistance in various ces across the world on disy in his office. Isaac was offered a high sry to take up his current position. After learning more about Leonard¡¯s condition, Isaac said, ¡°We can arrange the date and time for the operation. Liam has reminded me of what I should take extra notice of Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll do my best to help Mr. Walker.¡± Ariel nodded in acknowledgment. At the same time, her gaze drifted toward a photo of Isaac and Liam. A tiny word was written beside Liam. Ariel couldn¡¯t discern the letters at first. Isaac noticed how she was looking at the photo intently. He grinned. ¡°It¡¯s Fergus. People also call him by that name.¡± Ariel had a look of bewilderment on her face as she lifted her head. ¡°Liam Spencer is that expert, Fergus?¡± She pondered. She had gone through a lot of trouble to look for Fergus previously. After all this time, Ariel finally found out that Liam was actually Fergus. She left the hospital and headed into the office soon afterward. Ariel was lost in thought. A flicker of hope rose within her now that she had learned that Liam was Fergus. Even if Liam couldn¡¯t make time to be in full charge of Leonard¡¯s operation and treatment, Ariel wondered if he would consider working together with Isaac toe up with the treatment n. Ariel waspletely absorbed in her thoughts as she went up to her floor. Suddenly, Janice dragged Ariel into her office and handed her an invitation card with gold embossed lettering. ¡°Ari¡­ This is for you.¡± Janice had an awkward look on her face. Ariel looked down and saw that it was an invitation to Lucas and Wendy¡¯s engagement party. Janice frowned and said, ¡°Jadeon Tech¡¯s staff delivered the invitation cards in person. Chad and I got one each too. They¡¯re holding the engagement party this Friday. ¡°Back when we attended the charity auction, didn¡¯t Lucas say that he would be inviting all the guests from that night to their engagement party?¡± Janice was also reminded of how Jayson and Nancy had stolen the limelight that night. The Johnstone family made a huge donation in the pair¡¯s names to help build several schools for young, underprivileged students. ¡°Lucas¡® secretary ryed his message when he came by to deliver the invitation cards. Lucas said that he didn¡¯t invite anyone from the Sanderson family. If you don¡¯t show up that day, he¡¯lle over to Faye Tech himself to bring you there. ¡°Are you going to attend the engagement party?¡± Janice was somewhat aware of Lucas¡® temperament. He really might do something like that. As for how he would ¡°bring¡± Ariel to the venue, there was a good chance things would get ugly in the process. ¡°You¡¯re saying that those who have attended the charity auction may be attending the engagement party too?¡± Ariel¡¯s face showed no emotion as she asked the question. Janice nodded. ¡°I think so. We¡¯ve received the invitation. Others must have gotten them too. People would rarely refuse these opportunities to expand their connections.¡± Ariel tapped her chin. She put the invitation card on her desk, looking unperturbed. ¡°I¡¯m going.¡± She would wish the couple well now that Lucas and Wendy were getting engaged. Regardless of who Lucas chose to be with, it would not affect Ariel. The reason she had decided to attend the engagement party was because Liam had attended the charity auction that time. Moreover, the Johnstone family and the Spencer family had business rtions. There was a chance Liam might be there. Now that Ariel knew that Liam was Fergus, she wanted to try and talk to him in a more natural setting first. Then, she might bring up the matter regarding the possibility of him working with Isaac on Leonard¡¯s case. Otherwise, it might seem a bit rude if she were to go looking for Liam and make that request to him this instant. Lucas¡® invitation to the engagement party provided the perfect opportunity for her to do so. Soon enough, it was Friday. Lucas¡® engagement party was far from being a conventional one. Instead, it was more like a party held for young people to chill and rx. An entire cruise ship was chartered for the asion. Various drinks were prepared for the guests. People were dancing to the upbeat music. The weather was getting warmer. When Ariel and the others got there, they could see other guests boarding the ship. Janice was amazed by the sight before her. ¡°They say it¡¯s an engagement party. Frankly, it looks a lot more like a party for young people to mingle and make friends. I¡¯ve only been walking for a short while, and I¡¯ve already fallen for eight hot guys. I can¡¯t even get a day off if I¡¯m seeing them separately on different days in a week.¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. Meanwhile, Chad walked a little further away from Janice, looking slightly repulsed. Ariel shook her head and chuckled. Just as they were passing by another group of people¡­. Inside 274 Ariel seemed to have caught the eye of the person leading e group. That person halted in his tracks as his gaze fell on Ariel¡¯s smiling face. Then, he nced over his shoulder at Ariel¡¯s receding figure. The people around him were puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Mr. Pryce?¡± ??? When they reached the top deck, the guests were socializing and enjoying their drinks. It was a grand event where Lucas Sanderson of Jadeon Tech was celebrating his engagement. Many people were invited to the party. The atmosphere was fun and lively. Ariel spotted Lucas, who stood in the distance. He didn¡¯t seem nervous in the slightest even though it was an important day for him today. With one hand in his pocket, Lucas appeared calm andid¨Cback. On the contrary, Wendy, who was beside him, looked bashful and cheery. Suddenly, Lucas looked in Ariel¡¯s direction. For a moment, those eyes that held an overly aggressive and flirtatious look were locked onto hers. Then, Lucas smiled enigmatically. He had a rather brazen, scornful look on his face. Ariel acted as if she hadn¡¯t noticed the expression on his face. She turned around and tried to check if Liam hade to the engagement party. However, she happened to notice Jayson, who was somewhere behind her. Beside him was Nancy, who had dressed up to the nines for the asion. Ariel had no idea when these people had arrived. They were already surrounded by a crowd. Ariel was not sure if it was just her imagination, but Jayson had slowly lifted his gaze and cast a nce in her direction. The light reflected in his eyes felt really cold and foreign to her. With the lights against his back, Jayson exuded a calm and reserved demeanor, which was typical of someone with high status, whilst having casual conversations with other guests. Ariel eventually recalled that Nancy and Wendy were good friends. Naturally, Jayson and Nancy woulde to the engagement party. She paid no mind to these people as she turned slightly and headed toward Chad and Janice. She had spotted a few familiar faces today. Janice had obtained the WhatsApp contact details from a bunch of people after she went around and spoke to different people for a while. Chad excused himself from a friend who came over to greet him. ¡°You can stop looking already. Mr. Spencer isn¡¯t here today. Zach and the others havee to the party, though.¡± He pointed in a certain direction and said in an overly sweet voice, ¡°He¡¯s enjoying a nice chat with your ex- husband and his mistress. It¡¯s as if he sees those two as his parents. He¡¯s always following them around like a lost child Veye Solutions¡® team recruited Seth by iming that he had approached them of his own will. Unfortunately, they would inevitably run into people from their side on different asions. Chad felt that he had been extremely patient and courteous with how he had held back from shouting at those people. Ariel remained silent. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to look in the direction Chad was pointing either. She reckoned there was no need for her to act courteous around Zach anymore after they had that incident the other day. Liam didn¡¯t attend the engagement party. Even though she failed to meet him, Ariel figured she could just look for another opportunity some other time. Zach actually spotted Ariel the moment he got there. After attending the birthday banquet held by the Spencer family, Zach felt increasingly annoyed the more he thought about it. He just could not wrap his head around it. ¡°Who does she think she is to talk to me like that? She made it sound as though I was absolutely worthless and that she was a much better person than I was!¡± Zach grumbled internally. He took a nce at Ariel. Then, Zach smirked and downed his drink. Today¡¯s engagement party was rather different from the usual engagement parties, as the event began with a dance session. Wendy had probablye up with this rtively new idea. Morgan had made sure that Lucas received elite education since he was still a child. Naturally, Lucas had learned how to dance. With Wendy in his arms, they both did the first dance. Wendy¡¯s voice was tinged with excitement. ¡°Everyone, Lucas and I are celebrating our engagement today. We¡¯re lucky enough to have found each other. I hope that everyone here can share our good luck and find their other half soon too. Please go ahead and ask the gentleman ordy who¡¯s caught your attention for a dance,¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t looking at the stage. She sat in a quiet corner beside Chad as she had no ns to participate in the event. Suddenly, Janice poked her and snickered. ¡°Look over there.¡± Ariel turned her head. Jayson and Nancy were seated next to each other. Several men had gone up to Nancy to ask her for a dance. Meanwhile, Nancy seemed to have gotten used to being so popr and receiving so much attention. She appearedpletely calm andposed as she smiled elegantly. Nancy scanned her surroundings. Her gazended on Ariel, who sat in a corner not too far away. Ariel looked really sad and pathetic whenpared to how crowded and lively it was over on Nancy¡¯s side. Nancy gave a soft snort and averted her gaze. She turned her eyes to Jayson; he couldn¡¯t dance tonight because of his arm injury. With a gentle expression on her face, she said teasingly, ¡°Jayson, would you mind if I danced with someone else tonight?¡± 23 The guests around them realized Nancy must be asking for Jayson¡¯s permission first since she was worried her boyfriend might feel jealous. Jayson slowly lifted his gaze. However, before he could say anything, a clear voice with an earnest tone said, ¡°Ms. Walker, may I have the pleasure of having this dance with you?¡± Inside 275 It quietened down a little over on Nancy¡¯s side when they heard that unexpected question. People looked in the direction of the voice, one after another. Ariel was momentarily dazed. She had chosen a seat located in a far corner. Yet, someone actually made an effort to get past Chad and ask her the question. She raised her head and gazed at the man before her. He was a tall and handsome man, full of vigor. This person gave off both a boyish charm and a mature vibe. He had a firm, sincere look in his eyes as he looked down at Ariel. Ariel stiffened. Beside her, Janice immediately answered, ¡°Of course! No problem!¡± The man gazed at Ariel expectantly and waited patiently for her answer. The people on the other side witnessed what was happening at Ariel¡¯s side. Nancy frowned slightly. She had never met the man before, so she had no idea who he was. However, that person hadn¡¯t tried to hide the attraction he felt for Ariel, be it through his speech or actions. Nancy found that rather shocking. Jayson had directed his gaze to that side as well. His eyes were unreadable. However, he was staring at Ariel pensively this time. He didn¡¯t look away even after some time. Zach was the only person whose expression changed upon seeing what had happened. On the stage, Lucas was looking this way with an enigmatic smile on his face. He knew all along how Ariel had nevercked suitors ever since she was old enough to date. Despite her meek, gentle appearance, Ariel was actually pretty guarded. She often chose to ignore her suitors¡® advances. For a moment, the air around them felt a bit tense. Ariel looked at the man. She didn¡¯t hesitate for too long as she gave a slight nod. ¡°Sure.¡± Considering the ce and the asion, Ariel decided not to spoil the mood when someone had already asked her for a dance. She ced her hand on that man¡¯s outstretched hand. Samson Pryce, who was feeling nervous initially, was instantly filled with relief. In a gentlemanly manner, he took Ariel¡¯s hand and led her to the dance floor. He ced his hand lightly on Ariel¡¯s waist and said in a low voice, ¡°I¡¯ll try to go along with your pace.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze. ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t particrly good at dancing. Nevertheless, she had learned the basic steps and was flexible enough. She still looked graceful as she danced. Samson¡¯s eyes crinkled. He subconsciously softened his tone after hearing her gentle voice. ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± The good¨Clooking pair caught quite a lot of people¡¯s attention. Lucas¡® eyes narrowed. His smile had faltered slightly. Then, he cast a meaningful nce in Jayson¡¯s direction. Jayson exuded a dignified air as he remained seated. He was no longer looking at Ariel. He turned his gaze toward Nancy. ¡°You should go ahead and dance with someone.¡± That was his answer to Nancy¡¯s previous question about whether Jayson would mind if she danced with another man. Nancy nced at the center of the deck out of the corners of her eyes. She slowly took a sip of her drink. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I prefer staying here and keeping youpany.¡± Nancy decided to let those rarely able to step into the spotlight enjoy it for the time being. She had lost interest anyway. Zach took a nce at Jayson and Nancy. As someone observing from the side, he found that the couple shared a strong bond. One of them couldn¡¯t dance but wanted his partner to just rx and have some fun. The other person preferred to stay with her boyfriend even though numerous people had tried to ask her for a dance. As for Ariel¡­ Zach had a deep frown on his forehead when he looked in her direction. Ariel was fully capable of being warm and friendly to aplete stranger. Yet, she couldn¡¯t seem to get along with Zach no matter what. Zach reckoned they must have really poorpatibility. ¡°I don¡¯t think I¡¯ve ever seen that person before. Which family does he belong to?¡± Nancy asked curiously. Zach paused briefly as he was raising his ss to take a sip. He nced at Samson but stayed silent since the man had mostly kept his identity and background a secret. ¡°Are the two of you not going in for a dance?¡± Lucas came over and grinned at Jayson. ¡°Are you not intrigued by the atmosphere on the dance floor, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson curled his lips. ¡°I¡¯m in no shape to dance today. So, I¡¯ll pass.¡± Lucas finally noticed how Jayson¡¯s right hand seemed a bit strange. ¡°What happened to your hand, Mr. Larkin?¡± Inside 276 Chapter 276 Nancy froze for a moment. Then, she said in a regretful tone, ¡°Jayson got injured because of me.¡± Lucas was rather surprised. ¡°Mr. Larkin saved you from harm¡¯s way?¡± Nancy merely smiled faintly without saying anything else. Meanwhile, Jayson raised his ss and made a toast. ¡°Mr. Sanderson, I haven¡¯t had the chance to congratte you on finding such a lovely partner.¡± Lucas curled his lips and chuckled. ¡°Thank you. Same goes to you, Mr. Larkin.¡± He raised his brows and nced at Nancy. Jayson¡¯s mouth turned up in a nonchnt smile. He made no furtherments. As he looked up, Jayson spotted Ariel and Samson from among the crowd on the dance floor. They happened to have finished dancing by then. Samson, who was aplete gentleman, escorted Ariel back to her seat. Ariel hadn¡¯t practised this type of dance in years. Coupled with her physical condition, she was starting to feel a little tired. After a moment¡¯s consideration, Samson decided to introduce himself properly. ¡°I¡¯m Samson Pryce. It¡¯s been a pleasure to meet you.¡± Ariel studied his face for a moment. She could tell Samson was quite young. He was probably around 22 or 23. She gave a slight nod. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Ariel Walker.¡± Samson knew that Ariel might find it a bit awkward if he were to try and chat with her a little longer when they had just met. He decided to keep his introduction short. He greeted both Chad and Janice politely before turning around and walking away. As soon as he left, Janice leaned closer toward Ariel. ¡°I give him a ten out of ten.¡± With his brows arched, Chad grinned. He made a few remarks in a serious tone, ¡°He looks like a decent man. Appearance wise, he passed all the minimum requirements Ladies prefer dating younger men these days, right?¡± He continued, ¡°He¡¯s young, handsome, and energetic.¡± Janice added, ¡°You should totally try dating him!¡± Ariel was struck speechless. Samson was clearly still in his early 20s. He was most likely one to two years younger than Ariel. Moreover, Samson had escorted Ariel back to her seat. That was clearly not just him simply being gentlemanly. Ariel reckoned Chad and Janice were just joking. She was about to make a retort when she sensed someone was looking at her. Ariel stiffened slightly and looked to the side. She met Jayson¡¯s gaze. His eyes were unreadable. Jayson probably saw the moment when Samson escorted her back to her seat just now. He smiled enigmatically at Ariel when he noticed she was looking in his direction. 1 Then, he leaned closer toward Nancy and continued talking to her. Ariel furrowed her brows. She couldn¡¯t understand what Jayson had meant with the look on his face earlier. Anyway, it shouldn¡¯t concern her. Ariel had a sip of water and turned her gaze toward the pair who were still gushing about Samson. ¡°Aren¡¯t you guys going to dance?¡± Instead of trying to refute their words, Ariel brought up the question. It distracted those two, who were getting increasingly excited about Samson. Today¡¯s engagement party had more of a fun, rxed vibe. Since they were already there, they might as well join in and have some fun. Chad had always been quite popr. In just a short while, he had severaldies asking him for a dance. Soon enough, he headed toward the dance floor. Meanwhile, Samson made his way to the refreshments area. He had just picked up a drink when Zach walked up to him. The two men were clearly acquainted.¡± ¡°When did you arrive back in the country?¡± Samson¡¯s brows lifted. He didn¡¯t borate much. ¡°Around a few days ago.¡± Zach had an inkling. Since the Pryce family wasn¡¯t just any wealthy, prominent family, Samson¡¯s elders had probably sent him as their family¡¯s representative to attend Wendy¡¯s engagement party. The problem was¡­ Zach recalled how Samson had invited Ariel for a dance earlier. His brows furrowed. ¡°Do you know thatdy you were dancing with?¡± Samson replied nonchntly, ¡°Nope. I just met her.¡± ¡°Are you interested in her?¡± Zach found the notion absurd and ridiculous. He had to fight back his urge tough. Samson traced his finger along the outer surface of his ss. His eyes crinkled as he beamed. ¡°I can¡¯t say that I¡¯m interested.¡± It was because¡­ Samson had fallen for Ariel at first sight. Inside 277 The engagement party was still ongoing. It was a fun, modern party. The organizers had also arrange for an exciting game session. The atmosphere was electric. During the party, Lucas didn¡¯t bother greeting Ariel. This was their first time meeting again in a long while after they had parted ways in a rather spiteful manner the other day. It was because they had lived together as a family for more than ten years that Ariel had chosen to keep things civil and respectful between her and Lucas even at this point. Things weren¡¯t always either ck or white in a grown¨Cup¡¯s world. Most of the time, people would just silently drift apart. Ariel had attended today¡¯s engagement party mostly because she was trying to meet Liam. Also, she wanted to avoid having Lucas show up at Faye Tech¡¯s office and causing a ruckus. At the same time, she was trying to show Lucas that he was nothing more than a family member who used to be kind to her. However, she had chosen to cut ties with him now. There was no such thing as her having any lingering feelings for him. Ariel was certain that Lucas would get the idea after seeing her there today. Ariel reckoned she was just one of the many guests invited to the party. People started gathering around one corner of the deck. Just then, Ariel received a WhatsApp message from Noah, asking about some technical issues. She lowered her head and replied to his message. So, Ariel had not paid attention to what was happening over on the other side. By the time she had sent her reply, Ariel finally noticed that people had gathered around Lucas, Wendy, Jayson, and Nancy. Someone asked Lucas and Wendy about what made them decide to get engaged. Lucas said slowly, ¡°Wendy is a wonderful woman. She was the only one who stayed by my side when I was at my lowest. Most people won¡¯te to appreciate you even if you¡¯ve done a lot for them. Someone like Wendy is hard toe by. ¡°She¡¯s sacrificed a lot for me. I think I should fulfill my promise and take good care of her. After all, I wouldn¡¯t want to let her down like how others had let me down.¡± He cast a meaningful nce in Ariel¡¯s direction. Wendy¡¯s face flushed scarlet. The others wanted to ask the couple more questions. Lucas grinned. He gave another sideways nce at Ariel, who sat in a far corner. ¡°We chose to celebrate our engagement in this format since we wanted our guests to have fun and rx. It won¡¯t be interesting if you¡¯re only asking about me and Wendy. I¡¯m pretty curious about Mr. Larkin¡¯s dating experience.¡± His question intrigued a lot of people. People directed their gazes toward Jayson. Then, they would look at Nancy as well. Nancy was caught slightly off guard. She chuckled and shook her head. Before Jayson could say anything, she responded, ¡°Stop pulling our legs. Jayson and I don¡¯t want to steal the spotlight from you and Wendy.¡± Jayson said nothing. He probably agreed with Nancy¡¯s stance. ¡°I guess she can even speak for him now.¡± Janice crossed her arms and sneered. Lucas was asking about Jayson¡¯s dating experience just now. He didn¡¯t even mention Nancy¡¯s name, yet thetter was too eager to share her opinions as Jayson¡¯s partner. Most of the guests there were already aware that Nancy was Jayson¡¯s lover. Ariel didn¡¯t even look up. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to listen to what they were talking about. Just then, someone suggested ying a new game. Winning the games would be a good omen for Lucas and Wendy, who were getting engaged that day, so yers should try their best.. A lot of the guests at today¡¯s engagement party were young people, and they were mostly interested in joining the game. Janice dragged Ariel along to join in on the fun. Participants needed to draw lots. Ariel drew one. The game she had ended up picking was feeding another guest while being blindfolded. She had to draw lots again to pick the person she would be feeding the food to. Ariel felt that she might feel ufortable doing that with a stranger because of her quiet, reserved nature. She was about to ask Janice if thetter wanted to y the game in her stead. Wendy noticed what Ariel had picked for the game. She beamed as she ced the blindfold over Ariel¡¯s eyes. ¡°You need to be blindfolded when you draw lots to pick the person too.¡± Ariel said nothing else and drew a number. Ariel had no idea who that person was. However, the noises around her seemed to have died down briefly before it became noisy once more. Shortly afterward, Ariel could sense someone stopping in front of her. That person had not spoken. However, Ariel detected a faint, familiar scent. She froze as she had an inkling of who was standing before her. Her brows furrowed. Suddenly, she heard Jayson¡¯s voiceing from somewhere above her. ¡°Why are you just standing there?¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t understand what Jayson was doing here. She said, ¡°You could have said no, Mr. Larkin.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t mind ying along since it¡¯s a gesture of goodwill and my well wishes for Mr. Sanderson and his partner, ¡°he said in a calm, rxed tone. Ariel couldn¡¯t see the expression on his face, and she couldn¡¯te up with a good retort. It would seem like Ariel was overreacting if she were to back down now. After all, most people here were unaware of their rtionship. Others might start getting suspicious if she had reacted strangely now. Nancy and the others were aware that Ariel had picked Jayson¡¯s number while drawing the lot. Zach was a bit curious as he went up to Nancy. ¡°Ms. Stanton, do you not mind that Ariel has picked Jayson¡¯s number earlier?¡± Nancy¡¯s expression remained unchanged. She replied calmly, ¡°It¡¯s not that big of a deal. I gave Jayson permission to join the game. Otherwise, it would be awkward for Ariel to stand there all by herself.¡± Zach had a sudden realization. That made a lot more sense. If Nancy hadn¡¯t given him permission, Jayson might not have even considered doing this favor for Ariel. As expected, a woman who was truly loved and cherished would feel calm and confident. Samson had also noticed what was happening over on Ariel¡¯s side. He just came back after taking a call. He asked curiously, ¡°Do Mr. Larkin and Ms. Walker know each other Zach frowned and nced at Nancy subconsciously. It was not like he could just say it out loud that Ariel liked Jayson. Nancy turned her gaze toward Samson. She could sense his charisma. Moreover, the man seemed to be acquainted with Zach. Nancy reckoned Samson must have quite an unusual background. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± She greeted him politely. Samson finally spotted Nancy. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t notice you just now. I¡¯m Samson Pryce.¡± He introduced himself. ¡°He didn¡¯t notice me?¡± Nancy pondered. She smiled faintly and decided not to take his words to heart. In the past, some men would say something like that when they were trying to get to know her. Nancy felt like she understood now why Samson had asked Ariel for a dance in front of all those people just now. Since Samson didn¡¯t share much about his background, Zach said nothing about the man¡¯s true identity either. On the other hand, Ariel hadpletely lost her sense of direction after she was blindfolded. She had to feed Jayson some fruit. Initially, it was a fun game designed for the couple getting engaged today and the other couples who came to the party. Unfortunately, Ariel had picked Jayson out of so many other guests. She tried a few times, but her attempts were unsessful. Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about sharing her well wishes for Lucas and Wendy anymore. She raised her hand to take off the blindfold. ¡°You have such little patience.¡± Ariel could hear Jayson¡¯s nonchnt voice once again. If she were to pay closer attention, it sounded like he was smiling slightly. Ariel frowned. Jayson had probably bent forward slightly to make it easier for Ariel. He said monotonously, ¡°Don¡¯t you know how tall I am? You can¡¯t even tell that much now?¡± Ariel vaguely sensed that Jayson was moving closer to her. Her brows, which were concealed by the blindfold, drew together in a deeper frown. She backed away immediately. Jayson seized Ariel¡¯s wrist and pulled her back toward him. ¡°Ariel, are you trying to keep your distance from me?¡± 4 Inside 278 Ariel could sense Jayson¡¯s forcefulness from the amount of strength he was using to grip her wrist. Even though he had tried to maintain a light¨Chearted tone, Ariel could detect a hint of scorn in his voice. Anyhow, she didn¡¯t like being put in this situation. Ariel reacted even more strongly than before as she yanked her hand free. The warmth that had spread across her skin where Jayson was touching her earlier slowly dissipated. She took off her blindfold and stared right into Jayson¡¯s cold, deep¨Cset eyes. ¡°Isn¡¯t that how we¡¯ve always acted around each other in public?¡± Ariel tried to keep it civil. She did her best to conceal the look of displeasure in her eyes. ¡°Mr. Larkin, it seems we Jack the teamwork to win this game. Let¡¯s just say we¡¯ve failed the game.¡± She didn¡¯t even care to check the look on Jayson¡¯s face. Ariel turned around and walked away. She simply found Jayson¡¯s question earlier absurd and amusing. All these years, Jayson would simply ignore or act like he didn¡¯t know Ariel whenever they ran into each other in public. He treated her with disdain andplete indifference. Yet, he was asking her that question now? Also, wasn¡¯t this exactly what Jayson wanted when he asked Ariel to sign the divorce agreement? Jayson stared silently at Ariel¡¯s receding figure. His face showed no expression as he went back to where Nancy was. Samson had been paying attention to what was happening at Ariel¡¯s side. After noticing she and Jayson weren¡¯t ying the game anymore, he lowered his gaze and pondered for a moment. Eventually, he headed toward Ariel. Samson had yet to ask for her contact details. He wondered whether asking now would make Ariel feel awkward or ufortable. For once, he was being very careful during a moment like this. While he was lost in thought, Samson received an important phone call. Samson took a nce at Ariel, who had just sat down in her seat. His brows arched. He decided to take the call first. Meanwhile, Chad asked as soon as Ariel came back, ¡°What did he say? Did he mention anything about poaching one of our people?¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes narrowed. She shook her head. ¡°Nope. He didn¡¯t speak a word of it.¡± They had expected that much. Jayson was never one to bother exining himself, regardless of what he was doing. He couldn¡¯t care less, even if his actions might hurt someone deeply. There was no way he would care to exin what happened with Seth. Chad sipped on his drink and snorted. ¡°He clearly knows that we can¡¯t do anything about it. He¡¯s really ruthless and cold¨Chearted.¡± Jayson¡¯s side had merely made a simple move. Yet, there was nothing much they could do about it. Ariel remained silent. She was about to check the time when she heard Lucas¡® voice. ¡°Everyone, thank you for making time out of your busy schedules to attend my and Wendy¡¯s engagement party. I Ch hape all of you had a fun time today. Also, we have some good news to share with everyone¡± Lucas stood in a corner of the deck. He spoke in an unhurriel tone. His voice was just loud enough Ariel looked in his direction. She seemed just like any of the other guests present there. Her face showed no emotion. Lucas pulled Wendy into his arms and slowly curled his lips ¡°Wendy is pregnant. We¡¯re celebrating two pieces of good news today.¡± As soon as he said that, people started showering them with words of well wishes and congrattory remarks. Wendy looked shy as she leaned against Lucas¡® chest. Her eyes brimmed with happiness and the affection she had for Lucas. Ariel was not surprised at all. Lucas and Wendy had been dating for a long time, and they had decided to get married eventually. It was only natural for them to keep the baby now that Wendy had gotten pregnant. Ariel was about to look away when she noticed Lucas was openly staring at her. Various emotions were reflected in his eyes. In the end, there was a dark, mocking look in those orbs. It felt as though those emotions could easily tear a person to shreds. Ariel could vaguely sense resentment among those emotions. She couldn¡¯t say for sure whether Lucas was truly happy with his life or not. Lucas chuckled the next instant. ¡°I¡¯m sharing this good news with everyone, hoping that everybody will be able to live a happy, contented life as well. Also, the person I¡¯m the most concerned about now is my younger sister.¡± Upon hearing his words, Wendy turned her eyes to Ariel. Lucas beamed. ¡°Ari, you¡¯ve been married for a few years now. Wendy and I are having a child soon. Shouldn¡¯t you try for one as well?¡± Ariel furrowed her brows. She didn¡¯t think Lucas would actually bring up the matter in front of all these people and direct everyone¡¯s attention to her. Inside 279 Chapter 279 ¡°You and your husband still don¡¯t have a child of your owns it because you can¡¯t or you don¡¯t want to?¡± The look of scorn in Lucas¡® eyes became even more prominent. Still, he had a smile on his lips. Others would think that this was just Lucas¡® way of teasing Ariel in a yful manner. Lucas could tell that Jayson didn¡¯t love Ariel. Naturally, Jayson wouldn¡¯t want Ariel to bear his child. Yet, Ariel was still trying so hard to maintain her marriage, which was slowly falling apart. Lucas found it extremely amusing Ariel¡¯s expression hardened. Lucas was unaware of her health condition. There was a high chance Ariel wouldn¡¯t be able to conceive in the future. With him asking the question in front of all these people¡­ Others might think Lucas was telling Ariel to try for a baby soon out of concern. For Ariel, what he did was no different than him rubbing salt into her wound. He reminded Ariel about her marriage, in which she waspletely despised and neglected. Also, Ariel was being reminded of the pain and despair of possibly losing her life and reproductive rights. Ariel could tell that Lucas was doing it on purpose. However, these were all her personal matters. She had no interest in arguing with him either. Besides, the topic was rather sensitive. Ariel couldn¡¯t mention or discuss anything about Jayson or their divorce. She had an icy look on her face. ¡°It¡¯s not something you need to be worried about, Mr. Sanderson.¡± Lucas¡® eyes hardened when he heard how Ariel had addressed him. He knitted his brows. Chad stood in front of Ariel, blocking her from Lucas¡® view. He smiled dryly. ¡°Ari ces a lot of focus on her work. Instead of just taking care of her husband and kids, she can showcase her abilities on a bigger tform. Isn¡¯t it a good thing that she¡¯s notpletely bound by her marriage and family life?¡± Lucas narrowed his eyes and responded, ¡°You have a point, Mr. Hockney.¡± Jayson heard what Lucas had said earlier as well. His eyshes fluttered slightly. He was not looking at Ariel¡¯s face or expression. His eyes were devoid of emotion as he remained silent. Nancy froze for a split second. Then, she sent a sidelong nce at Ariel. Some really decent men would wait a long time before getting intimate with the woman they loved because they cherished that person a lot. On the other hand, some men wouldn¡¯t have any urges at all even if they were to sleep on the same bed with a woman they did not love. Naturally, they wouldn¡¯t let the woman conceive their child either. Nancy thought about how Ariel seemed to have zero worth. She found it rather pathetic. She smiled slightly and shook her head. Then, Nancy averted her gaze and crossed her legs. It was impossible to tell what her thoughts were as she smilednguidly. They moved on from that topic fairly quickly. Wendy appeared as though she hadn¡¯t noticed the strange atmosphere from earlier. With a smile on her face, she circled her arms around Lucas¡® waist and directed her gaze to Jayson and Nancy. ¡°Nancy, does Mr. Larkin like children?¡± Nancy chuckled softly and nced at Jayson with a gentle look in her eyes. ¡°He loves kids. Jayson has been working on renovating his house recently. He had the interior designer include a baby room too.¡± With a knowing look on her face, Wendy winked at Nancy. It seems like¡­ Mr. Larkin already has a n, then.¡± Nancy merely smiled faintly without making any furtherments. Jayson kept silent since he had never liked sharing about these private matters. Ariel heard everything they said. However, she couldn¡¯t care less about these things. She turned her eyes to Chad and whispered to him, ¡°The ship will probably sail further out to the sea. I¡¯m thinking of heading back to the shore first.¡± The organizers had prepared the rooms on the cruise ship for their guests. However, Ariel preferred not to spend the night in this environment. She would probably get seasick if she were to stay any longer. Chad nced at his watch. ¡°Jan is probably somewhere on the floor below. We¡¯ll head back with you. They¡¯ve arranged for smaller ships to follow along the cruise ship¡¯s course. Those ships can take people back tond at any time.¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You and Janice should stay and enjoy the night. There are a few of the guests here whom we may consider coborating with in the future. You should try to get acquainted with them.¡± Chad didn¡¯t insist on leaving with Ariel since he agreed with her opinion. Without telling anyone else about it, Ariel disembarked from the cruise ship shortly afterward. Still, Zach noticed it. He looked in the direction where Ariel had walked off to. He had once again heard about Ariel being married. This time, it was Lucas who mentioned it. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he asked Jayson in a seemingly casual tone, ¡°It seems like Mr. Sanderson is pretty close with Ariel¡¯s husband too. Why hasn¡¯t her husbande to the engagement party, though?¡± Inside 280 None of them had expected Zach would be asking about thi Even Nancy had tumed her gaze toward him. She subconsciously took a nce at Jayson. Yet, Nancy noticed Jayson lookedpletely unbothered and unperturbed. ¡°You can try asking Ms. Walker yourself, Mr. Quinton.¡± Zach raised his ss and chuckled. ¡°You must be kidding, Mr. Larkin. She and I aren¡¯t even acquainted.¡± Jayson said nothing else as he slowly clinked his ss with Zach¡¯s. He seemed absolutely uninterested in Ariel¡¯s matters or any topics rted to her. Nancy raised her brows. She grinned, thinking how it was just as she had expected. On the other hand, Lucas just found out that Ariel had left. He paused momentarily before taking a cigarette out of the box. ¡°Alright.¡± As he stared into the horizon and pulled on his cigarette, Lucas dropped around five to six cigarette butts on the floor near his feet after some time. Ariel was showing a lot of grit and resolve these days. She hadn¡¯t spoken a word to Lucas for the entire night. Ariel didn¡¯t express her displeasure or disapproval with the fact that he was getting engaged. She didn¡¯t even try to cause a ruckus. Lucas wasn¡¯t sure how much time had passed when someone came over and told him Wendy was looking for him. Lucas stepped on thest cigarette he was smoking to put out the me. With a frigid look on his face, he returned to the deck. When Samson came back upstairs to the deck, Ariel was nowhere to be seen. He found out she had already left after asking a waiter about it. Samson clutched his phone and leaned against the railing. He didn¡¯t manage to get Ariel¡¯s contact details, and he lost the opportunity to get to know her better. Still, Samson believed he would get another chance to meet her if he willed it. He spotted Chad, who was chatting with other guests in the distance. Samson was struck with an idea. He went up to Chad and greeted him. Chad and Samson hadn¡¯t met each other before. However, Chad¡¯s first impression of Samson was quite favorable after he had seen how kind and friendly Samson was to Ariel earlier. ¡°Mr. Pryce?¡± Samson clinked his ss with Chad¡¯s. ¡°I¡¯ve heard all about how incrediblypetent Faye Tech¡¯s Mr. Hockney is. I finally met you in person today. Would it be alright if I have your contact number?¡± Chad¡¯s brows arched. ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± After he got Chad¡¯s WhatsApp contact, Samson was about to ask if he could have Ariel¡¯s business card when Zach and the others came over. ¡°The two of you exchanged your WhatsApp contact details? Zach saw that Samson was scanning the QR code disyed on the screen of Chad¡¯s phone just now. Jayson cast a nce at Samson. Nancy was observing the man too. Since others were with them, Samson figured it might have seemed inappropriate if he had only asked for Chad¡¯s WhatsApp contact number but not the others¡® contact details. He maintained a neutral expression as he asked, ¡°I was thinking of getting Mr. Larkin¡¯s and the rest of your WhatsApp contact numbers too. Would that be alright with you guys?¡± Jayson probably knew about Samson¡¯s background and identity. He didn¡¯t refuse his request. Instead, Jayson gave a slight nod. ¡°Sure.¡± Nancy flinched when she heard how Sainson had made use of the opportunity to get the contact details of everyone here. With a pensive look in her eyes, her gaze fell on Samson¡¯s face. She had an inkling of what Samson was actually trying to achieve through these actions. She pulled out her phone, no longer surprised. ¡°Of course.¡± After getting on a small yacht, Ariel waster dropped off at the nearest port. There were cars and drivers ready there to take her back to the city center. The next day, Ariel came across Janice, who was suffering from a hangover, when she went into the office. Janice said she had another round of drinks with the others just before the party ended. She managed to get acquainted with some people who were also working in the same industry as them. Janice felt that she had gained a lot fromst night. Seeing how Janice had a grimace on her face, Ariel decided to make her some honey water. Chad stepped out of his office. ¡°I stayed on the cruise shipst night. Luckily, you decided to leave earlier. I could feel how my insides were swaying even in my sleep.¡± Ariel grinned and pointed at the honey water. ¡°Do you want some too?¡± Chad went up to her and asked for a ss of honey water as well. He tossed his phone to Janice. ¡°I feel dizzy even when I¡¯m just looking at my phone screen. You should contact Mr. White and tell him we¡¯ll being over this afternoon to check a few things.¡± Janice grumbled as she straightened herself and sent the message on WhatsApp. Soon enough, she was done informing n of their n. Janice thought she was using her own phone and opened the Instagram app. After scrolling down for a while, she frowned and sat up straight. ¡°Nancy and Jayson stayed in the same roomst night on the cruise ship?¡± Ariel lifted her gaze. Janice showed her what was on the screen. ¡°Nancy shared a post.¡± She had taken a photo of the view outside the window of a suite. Jayson could be seen sitting on a couch behind her in the window¡¯s reflection. ¡°To enjoy a few drinks in the middle of the night with someone who offers you a sense of security. I suppose this is bliss.¡± *18 BONUS The pee wee uurd around 206 m. A than and a woman were together in a room at earth ate pour. It seemed like the couple weren¡¯t trying to hide the rtionship anymore. Aged calmly averted her gaze. It was her first time seeing Nancy clearly stating that she al Jayson had spent the night together. ¡°They¡¯re starting with their baby making ns already?¡± Janice spat, ¡°Did they think Mrs. Larkin Senior would allow the existence of an illegitimate child?¡± Wendy had asked Jayson and Nancy a question about having kids yesterday. It seemed like they decided to work on it that night. Ariel got up and said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°A rich, prominent family like the Larkins cared about continuing their lineage. If Nancy really got pregnant, they might consider epting her as part of the family.¡± Moreover, there was also the fact that Ariel hadn¡¯t conceived a child during the past three years. So, anything was possible. Besides, Jayson would do everything he could to remove any obstacles for Nancy. Janice was at a loss for what to say. Chad flicked Janice on her forehead. ¡°Sometimes, the person who hasn¡¯t been chosen is the luckier person. With infidelity, the cheater normally doesn¡¯t stop at doing it just once. A lot of times, that person will end up with someone who¡¯s able to tame and control them.¡± Janice put her hand over her forehead. She couldn¡¯t help agreeing with Chad¡¯s opinion. On the other hand, despite being involved, Ariel wasn¡¯t curious about Jayson and Nancy¡¯s ns. She swiftly concentrated on her work while ignoring all other thoughts. They were currently working on nning their new project. Ariel had been put fully in charge of doing it again this time. Ariel had an appointment with Carlos on Tuesday evening. They had decided to meet and grab a meal together at a restaurant. Ariel had no idea who wanted to meet her. However, that person probably had an unusual background to have asked Carlos for this favor. She departed for the restaurant before 7:00 pm. It was a rather modest, inconspicuous establishment. When she entered the private room and saw the person beside Carlos, Ariel was momentarily stunned. Inside 281 Carlos turned his gaze toward Ariel and waved at her. ¡°You re here. This is Stanley Pryce. You probably already know who he is.¡± Ariel recognized the man before her almost instantly. Stanley was frequently featured in new coverage rted to politics, international summits, the country¡¯s diplomatic and military affairs, and so on. He was one of the top officials serving in the Department of Defense. Though Ariel was typically poised, meeting someone of Stanley¡¯s stature rattled her more than she let on. She walked up to Stanley and greeted him humbly. ¡°Hello, my name is Ariel Walker.¡± Stanley shook hands with her. He didn¡¯t give off a particrlymanding presence as he said in a gentle voice, I know. I often hear Carlos talk about you. I finally got the chance to meet the impressive youngdy today.¡± Ariel nced at Carlos. With a stoic look on his face, Carlos snorted. ¡°When did I ever do that? This girl was so rebellious. I couldn¡¯t have been bothered to talk about her.¡± Ariel kept silent. It was obvious that Carlos and Stanley were close. However, they could only meet each other once or twice a year as both were extremely busy. This time, they finally had the time to sit down and catch up a little. ¡°Have a seat, Ariel. It¡¯s alright. There¡¯s no need to be so nervous.¡± Stanley clearly had a rather favorable impression of Ariel. He had been very warm and friendly to her. Ariel nodded. Stanley continued, ¡°The U.N2 that you developed has contributed greatly to achieving many other important breakthroughs in military tech. I can¡¯t help but be amazed by how young you are after seeing you today. Your knowledge and expertise in technology have been imperative to our country¡¯s development.¡± Carlos took a sip of his drink and said, ¡°You¡¯ll make her feel too proud of herself if you keep showering her with praises.¡± Ariel smiled wryly. Stanley didn¡¯t respond to Carlos¡® remarks. Instead, he remarked approvingly, ¡°I read the two papers that you published a few years ago in the SCI Aerospace Section One Journals. Your writing was of a top¨Cnotch level.¡± For Ariel to have published two papers in the Section One Journals, someone like her would be highly regarded and widely respected in the academic world. Stanley was both d and impressed that their country had such exceptional talent. However, he was curious about one thing. ¡°Why did you stop working on your research at one point, though?¡± Ariel¡¯s lips lifted in a slight smile. ¡°I got married at some point, so¡­¡± Stanley was a bit surprised to hear that. Carlos frowned and added, ¡°They¡¯re already working on getting divorced now.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t informed Carlos that she had already received the divorce certificate. That was why Carlos said what he did he thought they were still working through the divorce. 11 Inside 282 Since they weren¡¯t there to discuss her experience of getting married and divorced, Ariel decided not to share or exin too much about the matter. Stanley didn¡¯t think that Ariel being a divorcee was a big issue. When it came to rtionships, having a partner who was excellent in every aspect still wouldn¡¯t guarantee that the rtionship wouldst long Stanley nodded and did not pry for more details. Instead, he brought up the main reason for their meeting today.¡± I hope someone as talented as you can contribute their skills and expertise in helping our military tech improve. ¡°In a few days, a project involving civilian urban security and disaster relief initiated by the Department of Defense will be put out to tender. Would you be interested in taking up the project?¡± Strict requirements would be implemented, as these types of projects typically require more advanced, higher- level technologies. Ariel was caught slightly off guard. However, she swiftly responded, ¡°Of course, if there¡¯s ever a chance.¡± Although it was a project intended to help civilians, it was nevertheless a rare and valuable opportunity, as they would have the chance to work with the Department of Defense. However, thepetition was bound to be fierce, aspanies from across the country would also be submitting their tenders. Additionally, the Department of Defense would consider various factors before deciding whichpany should handle the project. During their meeting, Ariel received a call from the office. She needed to assist one of Faye Technologies¡® partners in resolving some technical maintenance issues. Stanley didn¡¯t mind Ariel taking a leave first. He smiled. ¡°That¡¯s alright. Workes first. I¡¯ll see you next time.¡± Ariel gave a slight nod. At a nod from Carlos, Ariel got up and exited the room. After Ariel came out of the room, she passed by someone as she walked down the corridor. Gary halted and nced in the direction where Ariel was heading. He remembered who she was. He had seen Ariel during the birthday party organized by the Spencers. Moreover, she was a key member of Faye Technologies. Without giving it much thought, Gary turned around and entered the private room. Stanley greeted Gary the instant thetter came into the room. ¡°You got here a bit toote. Thedy has just left.¡± Gary sat down and asked, ¡°Whichdy are you talking about? Who were you two meeting just now?¡± Ever since Gary mentioned how he would like to introduce Zach to Ariel, Carlos would scowl whenever he was reminded of it. ¡°Haven¡¯t you been saying how you want to meet the U.N2 developer?¡± ¡°Carlos, why haven¡¯t you told me that you¡¯re meeting her today? You kept it from me on purpose, right?¡± Gary shot a re at Carlos. There was no way he would miss the opportunity to meet that person if he had known about it sooner. All he knew was that they were meeting up to grab a meal together, and it was originally Stanley¡¯s idea. Also, Gary had only joined them now since he had some free time. However, Gary had a dawning realization. His expression changed. ¡°Is the U.N2 developer thedy who just¡­¡± ¡°It was Ariel Walker? That Ms. Walker?¡± Gary pondered. ¡°You probably saw her just now when you wereing in, Stanley responded as he considered the time Gary had entered the room. Gary pped his thigh a few times. ¡°So, it was Ariel Walker¡± That exined why Chad had introduced Ariel and showered her with praise the other day. Gary was aware that the U.N2 developer was very young. Yet, he didn¡¯t expect her to be so young and beautiful! ¡°You know her?¡± Stanley hadn¡¯t expected this reaction from Gary. Gary nodded. ¡°I¡¯ve met her once. Carlos, you¡¯re being unfair. I¡¯ve been asking you to introduce her to me. Have you spoken to her about my son?¡± Stanley finally understood what this was about. He found it rather amusing. ¡°I must say that¡¯s a really nice n. Unfortunately, Ariel is married.¡± ¡°She¡¯s getting divorced now,¡± Carlos immediately corrected him. Gary was briefly stunned. ¡°She¡¯s married but is getting divorced now¡­ Who¡¯s Ariel¡¯s husband?¡± Carlos knitted his brows. He had a close rtionship with the two men before him. Moreover, they were not the kind of people who would recklessly disclose sensitive information. He snorted and said, ¡°It¡¯s Bluum Corp¡¯s Mr. Larkin.¡± Bluum Corp was a familiar name to Gary and Stanley since it was one of the toppanies in their country. Upon hearing that name, Gary¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Jayson Larkin? Doesn¡¯t he¡­ have a girlfriend, though?¡± he wondered. Gary had met Nancy twice. Everyone said that she was Jayson¡¯s girlfriend. Even during the birthday party hosted by the Spencer family, Jayson, Nancy, and Ariel were all there. Gary¡¯s face darkened. He had a rough idea of what was happening between those three now. Gary felt a great affinity toward Ariel. He replied, ¡°He¡¯s not someone she could lean on. It¡¯s a good thing they¡¯re getting divorced now. My son, Zach, is loyal and responsible to his partner. Should we arrange for the youngsters to meet and get to know each other?¡± Inside 283 Gary knew that Zach had attended the birthday party hosted by the Spencer family. However, Zach might not have gotten a chance to meet Ariel that day With them helping with the introductions, it could be a good opportunity for Zach and Ariel to get to know each other. Gary reckoned it would be nice if those two could be friends. He would leave it to fate whether their rtionship could develop into something more. Zach was rather picky when it came to choosing his partner Moreover, he was someone who was honest and upright at his core. Carlos was rendered speechless. After a brief pause, Stanley gave a little cough. ¡°A lot of factorse into y when we¡¯re dealing with matters like our children¡¯s marriage. What¡¯s the point in you trying to rush things here?¡± ¡°You¡¯re not feeling rushed, of course! Your son¡¯s so young. He still has a long way to go before he has to settle down and have kids,¡± Gary grumbled. Carlos knocked on the surface of the table. ¡°Ariel¡¯s situation is quiteplicated. Also, the non¨Cdisclosure agreement she has signed is still in effect. Whether it¡¯s about her identity as the U.N2 developer or her husband, you guys should just keep it to yourselves.¡± Gary and Stanley understood what Carlos meant by those words. He didn¡¯t have to remind them. Both men were usually so upied with work that they wouldn¡¯t have the time to meddle in these affairs. Gary was also aware that the decision was ultimately up to Zach and Ariel, even if he wished to pair them up. All he could do was offer Zach some tips and advice from the sidelines. After resolving the technical issues, Ariel spoke to Chad about the tender that Stanley had mentioned to her. Chad had heard Carlos talk about Stanley before. For someone like him to make time to meet Ariel personally, Stanley must have high expectations for Faye Technologies, The two of them searched for the tender¡¯s information and found that it would be happening next week. They would be able to further expand the market for Faye Technologies if they sessfully make a bid. Chad was all for it, naturally. He even felt that they should give it their best shot for the tender this time. ¡°Still, they¡¯re inviting tenders from any localpanies that are interested in taking up the project. We¡¯ll bepeting with numerous top¨Ctierpanies in our country. The chances of us securing the project are quite slim.¡± Chad analyzed the situation with a frown on his forehead. Ariel agreed with his opinion as well. If they could secure the project, the support and publicity they would be receiving from the Department of Defense would surely help improve Faye Technologies¡® business and reputation. They should not miss a chance like this. Since it rained the night before, the weather was cold and humid on Wednesday morning. They had already entered the final stage of the coborative project with the Nexura Solutions team. The date for their productunch had also been decided. Still, they needed to repeat some tests to verify certain data and functions of the product, ensuring they had not overlooked any defects or issues. As the project lead, Ariel needed to visit Nexura Solutions¡® effice with Chad to follow up on the matter and conclude this part of the project. As they entered Nexura Tower, Chad lowered his head and said teasingly, ¡°You are now low¨Ckey a major shareholder of Nexura Solutions. You need to be hoping that their business continues to prosper instead.¡± After all, Ariel currently owned a major portion of Nexura Solutions¡® shares. If there were ever an instance where they had to make an important decision for thepany, the number of shares and power Ariel possessed would be extremely crucial. Yes, Jayson had poached one of their employees. But hoping he¡¯d go under? That couldn¡¯t seriously be their endgame. Soon enough, Tom came downstairs to the lobby. He needed to discuss the subsequent steps in their project with Chad. Ariel decided to head over to Nexura Solutions¡® 3D sample room first. She had to leave the main building and walk over to the opposite building to get there. A gust of wind swept through her as soon as she came out of the main entrance. Ariel could almost feel the chill prating her skin and reaching her core. She tugged on her cors. Ariel was about to take another step forward when she saw a Rolls¨CRoyce pulling over in the distance. Jayson got out of the car. He spotted Ariel, who stood by the entrance, right away. His expression remained unchanged. There was a cold, indifferent look in his eyes. Ariel thought Jayson would just ignore her and head straight into the building. To her surprise, he walked toward her. A slight frown creased her forehead. Jayson looked at her and asked nonchntly, ¡°You just got here?¡± Ariel could not understand why he had bothereding over to greet her. Ariel hummed frigidly in response as she did not expect him to approach her first. Jayson stared at her paleplexion and nced at the coat she was wearing. ¡°Isn¡¯t it cold? You¡¯re not wearing. enoughyers.¡± This time, Ariel could not help knitting her brows and ring at Jayson. She couldn¡¯t understand exactly what he was trying to do. Was this his way of expressing his concern? Feeling bewildered, Ariel decided to continue on her way. Jayson seemed to have sensed what she was about to do. Paying no mind to Ariel¡¯s cold detachment, he lifted the jacket from his arm and settled it gently across her shoulders. ¡°Put this on. The temperature will probably continue to dropter.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected he would do something so considerate for her. She didn¡¯t even have the time to refuse his help. By the time she had processed what had happened, the jacket bearing Jayson¡¯s warmth had already been draped over her shoulders. Still, they needed to repeat some tests to verify certain data and functions of the product, ensuring they had not overlooked any defects or issues. As the project lead, Ariel needed to visit Nexura Solutions¡® office with Chad to follow up on the matter and conclude this part of the project. As they entered Nexura Tower, Chad lowered his head and said teasingly, ¡°You are now low¨Ckey a major shareholder of Nexura Solutions. You need to be hoping that their business continues to prosper instead.¡± After all, Ariel currently owned a major portion of Nexura Solutions¡® shares. If there were ever an instance where they had to make an important decision for thepany, the number of shares and power Ariel possessed would be extremely crucial. Yes, Jayson had poached one of their employees. But hoping he¡¯d go under? That couldn¡¯t seriously be their endgame. Soon enough, Tom came downstairs to the lobby. He needed to discuss the subsequent steps in their project with Chad. Ariel decided to head over to Nexura Solutions¡® 3D sample room first. She had to leave the main building and walk over to the opposite building to get there. A gust of wind swept through her as soon as she came out of the main entrance. Ariel could almost feel the chill prating her skin and reaching her core. She tugged on her cors. Ariel was about to take another step forward when she saw a Rolls¨CRoyce pulling over in the distance. Jayson got out of the car. He spotted Ariel, who stood by the entrance, right away. His expression remained unchanged. There was a cold, indifferent look in his eyes. Ariel thought Jayson would just ignore her and head straight into the building. To her surprise, he walked toward her. A slight frown creased her forehead. Jayson looked at her and asked nonchntly, ¡°You just got here?¡± Ariel could not understand why he had bothereding over to greet her. Ariel hummed frigidly in response as she did not expect him to approach her first. Jayson stared at her paleplexion and nced at the coat she was wearing. ¡°Isn¡¯t it cold? You¡¯re not wearing enoughyers.¡± This time, Ariel could not help knitting her brows and ring at Jayson. She couldn¡¯t understand exactly what he was trying to do. Was this his way of expressing his concern? Feeling bewildered, Ariel decided to continue on her way. Jayson seemed to have sensed what she was about to do. Paying no mind to Ariel¡¯s cold detachment, he lifted the jacket from his arm and settled it gently across her shoulders. ¡°Put this on. The temperature will probably continue to dropter.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected he would do something so considerate for her. She didn¡¯t even have the time to refuse his help. By the time she had processed what had happened, the jacket bearing Jayson¡¯s warmth had already been draped over her shoulders. Other than the best of the Trapan Jayson normally use wiel also detected a subtle scent of faries¡® perfume from the jacket. It was dy that a woman had woth ore into close contart with the packet earlier Ariel¡¯s expression grew colder. Without the slightest hint hesitation, she grabbed the jacket and hurled it back into Jayson¡¯s arms. hanks, but I won¡¯t need it¡± Ariel moved so swiftly. She didn¡¯t even try to hide her disdain and repulsion Jayson didn¡¯t seem upset or aggravated. It was as though he had expected this reaction from her. He calmly draped his jacket over his arm again. He didn¡¯t seem to mind Ariel¡¯s attitude toward him. Jayson said unhurriedly, ¡°Will Faye Tech be participating in the tender put out by the Department of Defense?¡± Ariel paused momentarily. It seemed that Jayson had also learned about the tender. While Ariel remained silent, Jayson continued, ¡°I think your team understands how fierce thepetition will get during the tender. You¡¯ll only end up losing unless you have what it takes to secure the project.¡± ¡°What is it that you¡¯re trying to say, Mr. Larkin?¡± Ariel calmly cut him off. Jayson stared at her impassive face. He curled his lips. ¡°We should do a joint bidding. Faye Tech can consider coborating with Veyo Solutions, whereby the twopanies will submit a single bid for the project. Faye Tech excels in developing innovative technologies, whereas Veyo Solutions possesses the necessary manpower and technical support. Veyo Solutions is also backed by Nexura Solutions. ¡°Both parties will be able to get what they want from this coboration. It¡¯s the best solution for everyone.¡± Ariel had a sudden realization. It exined why Jayson had suddenly approached her and even offered her his jacket, seemingly concerned. It turned out he was doing all that with an ulterior motive. Jayson had something that he wanted from Faye Technologies¡® side. Joint bidding sounded like a decent n. However, Jayson was merely using the opportunity to help Veyo Solutions make a name for itself. Ariel said nothing. She simply walked past Jayson and headed for the 3D sample room. Nevertheless, she was giving Jayson¡¯s suggestion some serious thought. Doing a joint bidding was indeed a much safer option, which offered them a higher chance of securing the project. Jayson was being a lot more thorough bying up with this n. Moreover, there was not much time left. They wouldn¡¯t have enough time to look for another suitable partner to do a joint bidding with anyway. They would have to discuss the terms and contracts with the other party first. Furthermore, they would have to assess if the other party was a reliable partner. Jayson had made the proposition with perfect timing. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on the issue for too long. She was not the sole owner of Faye Technologies. Naturally, she wouldn¡¯t just go ahead and decide things on her own. She would have to discuss the matter with her partners first. After stopping by the sample room, Ariel met up with Chad again. She noticed Jayson and Nancy were there as well. Both parties acted as if they didn¡¯t have any conflicts recently. No one brought up the incident regarding Jayson¡¯s side poaching a Faye Technologies employee. When Nancy saw Arieling over, she figured thetter must have been away to take care of some errands. She didn¡¯t spare Ariel another nce. Nancy looked at Chad and said in an earnest tone, ¡°After having spoken to Mr. Carlosst time, I feel even more determined to be his student. I¡¯ll try my best to pass the tests. ¡°I¡¯ve been working on writing a paper recently. Mr. Chad, would it be possible for me to ask for your help in getting Mr. Carlos to review my paper? It¡¯s fine if that¡¯s too much trouble.¡± Nancy seemed sincere and eager to learn more, as evidenced by her meek request for the favor. Chad raised his brows. He was quite surprised to see Nancy demonstrating this level of determination. She was still trying to seek Carlos¡® advice and guidance for her paper. ¡°Where do you n to submit your paper to, Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy beamed. She did not sound overly proud or conceited. ¡°The SCI Aerospace Section Two Journals.¡± Nancy was aware that Chad had published a paper in the SCI Aerospace Section One Journals when he was still doing his postgraduate studies. Four sections had been created to help rank journals and papers of varying levels of knowledge and expertise. Papers published in the Section One Journals were of the finest academic writing. They were mostly written by widely acimed experts or top geniuses who had conducted years of research. Papers released in the Section Two Journals were deemed one par lower than those in the Section One Journals. Still, only a handful of people in their field of study had managed to get their papers epted for that category. Nancy figured it wasn¡¯t surprising that Chad¨CCarlos¡® son had published in the Section One Journals. He¡¯d likely had his father¡¯s guidance. With Carlos¡® advice and some hard work, Nancy felt that she might be able to publish her paper in the Section One Journals as well. Chad was amused after hearing Nancy¡¯s request. He subconsciously nced at Ariel, who hade up to them but stayed silent. He had previously published a paper in the SCI Aerospace Section One Journals. However, Ariel had published two papers in that category at the time. Even then, she was already on a different level than he was. For a moment, there was a look of mischief in his eyes. Then, Chad said, ¡°So, you want to publish your paper in the SCI Aerospace Section Two Journals¡­ Perhaps you could ask Ari to help review your paper.¡± Inside 284 Nancy hadn¡¯t expected to get this response from Chad. Her earnest, gentle expression cracked slightly. For a moment, Nancy even wondered if she had misheard. Beside her, Jayson remained unruffled. He slowly lifted his gaze and nced at Ariel. There was a calm look in his deep¨Cset eyes. Strangely, there was a trace of amusement in those orbs. Ariel was cool andposed. Her expression remained the same even after she heard Chad¡¯s words. Jayson¡¯s brows lifted as he seemed to have recalled something. He averted his gaze from Ariel. Nancy pursed her lips and said tly, ¡°Mr. Chad, I know that you probably find my request a bit burdensome.¡± She didn¡¯t think Chad would say something so absurd just because he was unwilling to talk to Carlos about her request. Nancy reckoned he had probably dragged Ariel into this just to refuse her request in a roundabout way. After a short pause, Nancy responded calmly. She did not seem to have taken any offense. ¡°I sincerely wish to receive Mr. Carlos¡® guidance. I¡¯ll also work hard to secure a spot to be his postgraduate student. Let¡¯s not joke about these matters, Mr. Chad.¡± Her paper detailed very advanced andplex concepts and knowledge of their field of study. Excluding the small minority of highly talented people like Chad, Nancy considered someone of her level pretty exceptional. Even if Ariel had learned a lot from Chad, there was no way she had reached the level to understand the paper Nancy was working on. Nancy reckoned Ariel¡¯s level must be way below hers. Jayson said nothing. He did not seem surprised by Chad¡¯s earlier remarks. He said in a steady tone, ¡°It¡¯s alright. You don¡¯t have to worry about it, Mr. Chad. We¡¯ll talk about this some other time.¡± Chad was grinning broadly. However, there was a sense of weariness inside him. He was not even joking. Ariel was absolutely qualified to review andment on Nancy¡¯s paper, yet thetter wouldn¡¯t trust him. It wasn¡¯t like Chad would go so far as to beg these people to find out more information about Ariel. Furthermore, Nancy was prejudiced against Ariel. Chad could only say this much under these circumstances. Just then, Tom approached the group. He informed Jayson about some work¨Crted matters that required his advice. Jayson looked at Ariel. Then, he turned his eyes to Chad. Jayson gave a slight nod. ¡°Mr. Chad, you and Ms. Walker can take your time looking around. Let¡¯s have a chat again soon.¡± Nancy stiffened slightly. She didn¡¯t like the fact that Jayson had even bothered mentioning Ariel. Nancy felt that Jayson should justpletely ignore Ariel during these instances. There was no need for him to mention her out of courtesy. Ariel might misunderstand his actions and take it that Jayson was paying special attention to her. Ariel kept her gaze lowered. With the frigid look on her face, it seemed like she had not heard anything Jayson said. Chad responded politely, ¡°Sure. See you around, Mr. Larkin ¡± It started raining outside all of a sudden. One could feel how chilly it was outside just by looking out the window. Nancy halted and directed her gaze to Jayson. Her lips turned up in a smile. ¡°Jayson, it looks like the weather has turned a bit cold. I¡¯m not wearing enoughyers today. Can you lend me your jacket?¡± preparedhat the Many Troyed his head and smiled certly Arte witnessed the moment. She wanted to revet her ears she could. She was had expressionlessly as Nancy prit on that waiting out of th As esported, het pre therefore Before he offered Artel his jacket, Jayson had probably let Nancy wear that jacket as well. Ariel was so d that she had tossed the jacket back to him quickly. Tom was in awe. ¡°I¡¯ve never seen Mr. Larkin in public with any other woman before. I never got to see the gentler side of him either. Ever since Ms. Stanton showed up, Mr. Larkin had been doing a lot of things he normally wouldn¡¯t do. He even started Veyo Solutions for her.¡± 212 Inside 285 Tom paused momentarily. With mixed feelings, he made a conjecture. ¡°There¡¯s a good chance the Nexura Solutions team will be instructed to fully support the Veyo Solutions team in their work. Once Ms. Stanton bes our boss¡® wife, perhaps she¡¯ll be put in charge of managing Nexura Solutions too.¡°¡ª Anyway, Tom was just guessing. Chad lifted his head and smiled dryly. ¡°It seems like Mr. Larkin is letting his woman affect his decisions a lot.¡± Tom simply smiled upon hearing that. He dared notment on what Chad had just said. The rain had gotten a lot heavier by the time they finished their work at Nexura Tower. They wouldn¡¯t get wet anyway since their car was parked in the underground parking lot. After returning to Faye Technologies¡® office, Chad massaged his neck and spoke with a pleased, mischievous look on his face. ¡°Did you see their reactions? No one believed me, even when I was telling the truth. Not everyone has the privilege of having you share your feedback on their academic papers. Yet, those two didn¡¯t even appreciate my suggestion in the slightest.¡± Moreover, Ariel would be working on preparing her third paper, which would also be submitted to the SCI Aerospace Section One Journals. Chad couldn¡¯t help but wonder how embarrassed Nancy and Jayson would be once they learned about it. Ariel had hardly been affected by the incident. Instead, she told Chad the proposal that Jayson had spoken to her about during the day. Chad¡¯s expression grew pensive. ¡°Putting our conflicts aside, what he said is pretty valid. The Department of Defense will be receiving tenders frompanies found all across the country. Even if Faye Tech has an impressive track record so far, it¡¯ll still be a hard battle for us.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Eachpany possesses different strengths and expertise. We¡¯ll have to consider this carefully.¡± Especially since the Department of Defense would be assessing the participating teams as a whole, rather than focusing on individual capabilities. Chad pondered for a while with a grim look on his face. ¡°With the bigger picture in mind, it is the best n for bothpanies. It¡¯s better to have a win¨Cwin situation rather than having bothpanies fight it out and ultimately lose. Once we secure the project, it¡¯s up to each party how they¡¯ll make use of the opportunity to benefit from it.¡± If they were to let anotherpany take the project, Faye Technologies would lose a massive opportunity to grow and expand further. Moreover, it would be rather unwise and impulsive if they were to give up on the opportunity because of some personal grudges. Ariel nodded in agreement. ¡°If we¡¯re doing a joint bidding, we¡¯ll have to state our conditions clearly in the contract. It hadn¡¯t been that long since Veyo Solutions started operating. ¡°Even if they possess all the necessary infrastructure and technology, they¡¯re still a rtively newpany. Faye Tech has to take the lead for the project.¡± Chad listened to Ariel as she analyzed the situation objectively. He had no objections. ¡°Of course. If you¡¯re okay with the n, we¡¯ll discuss it with the Veyo Solutions team¡± Just as she said, they needed to secure the right to take the lead for the project. While it was already toote for them to find another reliable partner to bid jointly with, the situation was the same for Veyo Solutions as well. Moreover, Jayson had probably made the proposition after taking into consideration Faye Technologies¡®petency and consistency. Frankly, Veyo Solutions probably needed this opportunity even more than Faye Technologies did. Hence, Jayson most likely would not oppose the idea of them taking the lead. Ariel checked the time. She took herptop and was about to head to her office. ¡°I¡¯ll prepare the tender response. You should negotiate with Veyo Solutions.¡± As for assigning the workload, they had to make sure Faye Technologies would be handling most of the project as well. Chad¡¯s phone pinged with a notification just as she rose. He took a nce at his phone and raised his brows. ¡°Samson Pryce. Do you remember him?¡± Ariel halted and nced over her shoulder at Chad. Even though they had only met briefly, her encounter with Samson was quite memorable. Chad waved the phone in his hand. ¡°He sent me a message and invited us to the 8th Tech Seminar happening on the 18th. He says I can bring one or two people with me. Should we go?¡± Ariel was curious. ¡°When did the two of you be so close?¡± Normally, it was someone from a government agency or department who would inform them about this tech seminar. Inside 286 Chapter 286 Chad found it a bit strange as well. He had never met Samson before. It was their first time meeting during the engagement party, Yet, Samson seemed quite interested in the Faye Technologies team. ¡°Perhaps it was because¡­ I was really likable?¡± For once, Chad sounded a bit smug and narcissistic. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to that. She replied curtly, ¡°We¡¯ll attend the seminar. It¡¯s never a bad thing to exchange and learn new knowledge from other people.¡± Chad dropped his gaze and focused on replying to Samson¡¯s message. After that, Chad met up with Jayson and his team to discuss their terms for the joint bidding. Initially, Chad thought Jayson would be more assertive and would not allow Faye Technologies¡® team too much authority over the project. To his surprise, Jayson was very amodating the entire time. He had no objections to all of the requests from Faye Technologies. Ariel understood what Jayson was trying to do. Jayson¡¯s goal wasn¡¯t to maximize profits for Veyo Solutions from the Department of Defense project. Rather, he saw it as a chance to elevate thepany¡¯s visibility andy down a solid foundation for its future. He was looking at the bigger picture for Nancy and Veyo Solutions. Tender matters notwithstanding, it remained uncertain whether Nancy could truly rise to the challenge of leading Veyo Solutions, even with all the backing she¡¯d gotten from Jayson. Ariel treated the matter with care and caution. After discussing the contract¡¯s details with Chad, she also added some terms regarding the liability for the breach of contract. With everything double¨Cchecked and ountability uses clearly stated in the contract, the team wrapped up their tender submission. The bid for the tender was held at Eldoria¡¯s Public Resources Trading Center. It was slowly getting warmer outside. On the day of the tender, Ariel wore a purple formal suit. Her top had a fitted cut around the waist and a ruffled hem. She was wearing a form¨Cfitting, mid¨Clength skirt. Ariel looked formal and feminine but not too shy. Numerous bidders from all across the country showed up at the center. Many famous, prominent figures were gathered there. After entering the main hall, Ariel quickly spotted the most extinguished guest of the event that day. A group of men surrounded Stanley as he moved around inside the hall. Except for important personnel, the information regarding the location and other details of today¡¯s tender had been kept a secret from most people. Ariel finally understood why a lot of security guards had been stationed around the venue. Stanley noticed Ariel too. Ariel reminded Chad that they should greet Stanley. Then, she and Chad went over to meet him. ¡°Ariel, we meet again.¡± Stanley had a lot of respect and admiration for Ariel. The dominating presence that he usually had while facing the reporters¡® cameras had dissipated slightly. Ariel chuckled softly. ¡°Mr. Pryce, this is Chad Hockney. You probably already know him.¡± Chad acted a lot more formal and polite around Stanley. ¡°Long time no see, Mr. Pryce.¡± Normally, Chad wouldn¡¯t have the chance to meet or talk to high¨Clevel official like Stanley. It was Carlos who knew Stanley and would meet him from time to time. Chad had only met Stanley once back when he was doing his work at the research institute. Stanley patted Chad¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Let¡¯s grab some coffee together next time. You have a lot of capable, talented people working for Faye Tech now. With you and Ariel managing thepany, I foresee a bright future ahead of you and your team.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t thank you enough for your kind words.¡± Chad nodded humbly. Ariel smiled as well upon hearing those words. At that moment, there was a smallmotion in the distance. They could vaguely hear people calling out the name ¡°Mr. Larkin¡°. Chad turned around and nced in the direction from which the noise wasing. At the entrance, Jayson and Nancy walked side by side as they entered the hall. With Jayson¡¯s status and background, even the top executives working atpanies based outside of their city knew who he was. They all went over to greet Jayson. As for Nancy, she had grown increasingly ustomed to these social situations after attending simr events with Jayson on numerous asions. Soon enough, Jayson noticed Ariel¡¯s group. He fixed his gaze on Ariel for a brief moment. Ariel stood out in her ssy, elegant outfit. Even though it was supposed to be a rather formal event, there were a few men who could not stop themselves from looking her way. Jayson stiffened slightly. He swiftly averted his gaze and spotted Stanley, who stood before Ariel. Shortly afterward, Jayson led Nancy as he made his way through the crowd to Stanley. ¡°Mr. Pryce.¡± Jayson had a calm look on his face as he greeted Stanley. Stanley paused briefly. He scanned Jayson from head to toe. Stanley knew quite a lot about the current head of the Larkin family. Bluum Corp was one of the leadingpanies in their country, having produced many tools and technologies imperative to the development of various sectors. Theirpany had also worked closely with government agencies on various projects previously. Thepany had a strong, solid foundation. Stanley nodded. ¡°Mr. Larkin, is Bluum Corp participating in the bidding too?¡± he asked. Jayson smiled slightly. He replied in an unhurried tone, ¡°Bluum Corp will only be assisting. Thepany that¡¯ll be joining the bidding is Veyo Solutions.¡± Ariel had expected this to happen. Jayson would never miss the opportunity to introduce Nancy to someone important like Stanley. Nancy recognized the man before her as well. Normally,mon people would never even get the chance to meet an influential person like him. Therefore, Nancy was feeling quite surprised and excited inside. She introduced herself in a polite manner. ¡°Mr. Pryce, I¡¯mancy Stanton. I¡¯m the representative of Veyo Solutions. It¡¯s an honor for me to be able to meet you here today.¡± Stanley cast her a sideways nce when Nancy started talking. She seemed to gain a lot of confidence with Jayson standing by her side. Stanley could also see the ambitious, confident look reflected in her eyes. Then, Stanley nced furtively at Ariel, whose expression was calm and indifferent. He had learned from Carlos that Jayson and Ariel were married. At the moment, Stanley could see how Jayson was treating Ariel as if she were aplete stranger. Moreover, Jayson was being all kind and caring to another woman. Stanley found the situation extremely absurd and ridiculous as he watched what was happening in front of him. He had no intention of speaking to Nancy. With one hand against his back, Stanley merely gave a slight nod expressionlessly. It was impossible to tell whether he had actually taken notice of Nancy or not. Then, Stanley looked at Ariel and said in a gentle tone, ¡°Ariel, you two should go ahead and focus on what you need to handle first. I¡¯m going to head in first.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± With people trailing behind him, Stanley soon made his way to the other side of the hall. Meanwhile, Jayson had a pensive look on his face as he directed his gaze at Ariel. It was pretty obvious how different Stanley was when speaking to Ariel. As the person who was given the cold shoulder, Nancy had also noticed the preferential treatment Ariel had received. A small frown creased her forehead. She felt a little upset and disappointed. However, Nancy quickly figured things out. It was not that Stanley had no interest in her. He had probably given such a lukewarm reaction because he hardly knew her. On the other hand, Chad was Carlos¡® only son. Carlos would often meet important people like Stanley for his work. Naturally, the Hockney family must have formed strong connections with these high¨Clevel officials. Stanley probably knew Chad. As the person working for Chad, Ariel would also receive more attention and enjoy special treatment from Stanley. Otherwise, what could possibly make Ariel so special that someone like Stanley was treating her differently? Inside 287 Nancy quickly regained herposure. She didn¡¯t let her negative emotions show, acting as though nothing had happened just now. Jayson¡¯s gaze drifted toward Ariel. He stared at her briefly. Then, Jayson said monotonously, ¡°Let¡¯s talk a bit more after this is over.¡± Chad¡¯s eyes narrowed as he grinned. ¡°Sure.¡± If they managed to make a sessful bid today, they would have to make sure to assign and distribute work clearly afterward. Jayson gave a slight nod and headed elsewhere with Nancy ¡°Say, Jayson¡¯s really determined to secure the project this time. He agreed to all our requests whereby Faye Tech would be taking the lead in the project, whereas Veyo Solutions would mostly be ying the role of assisting.¡± Chad clicked his tongue several times, feeling impressed. Veyo Solutions sought to capitalize on the opportunity to establish a name for itself. Even for the division of profit, Jayson had only asked for the bare minimum for their team. Ariel pondered for a moment. ¡°He might have some other ns that we don¡¯t know about.¡± Jayson was a smart, calctive person. Although the current arrangement was advantageous to Faye Technologies, they still needed to remain vignt. Just then, a group of people could be seening their way Chad clearly knew who they were. He grabbed Ariel¡¯s arm and led her toward them. ¡°Mr. Hockney, long time no see.¡± The person who came over was one of the judges for today¡¯s event, Travis Zeale. He was a representative sent by the government. Chad smiled and greeted him as well. Travis noticed Ariel, who was beside Chad. ¡°Who¡¯s this?¡± Ariel smiled softly. ¡°Hello, my name is Ariel Walker. I¡¯m one of Faye Tech¡¯s engineers.¡± Travis was rather surprised. He scanned Ariel from top to bottom. He was amazed by how young she was. Travis knew that most of the people here were some of the best, mostpetent employees sent by the differentpanies joining today¡¯s bidding. He turned his gaze to the people beside him who were also in charge of handling today¡¯s event. Since Chad was there, Travis brought up some tech¨Crted issues to gauge Faye Technologies¡® opinions. Chad grinned and looked at Ariel. ¡°What are your thoughts on that?¡± Ariel understood Chad¡¯s intention almost instantly. She began to share her thoughts, covering topics from sensor fusion to the flight control system. She spoke in a soothing, steady tone. While she continued with her speech, Ariel had a gentle expression on her face. Her eyes twinkled. She looked so attractive that a few people started stealing nces at her. Travis, who was calm initially, grew more and more shocked as he listened on. He could not help studying Ariel even more carefully. Travis assumed Ariel was probably just another smart and insights about the maturity of their technologies. Her view innovative. pable employee. To his surprise, she had really sharp and ideas were incredibly forward¨Clooking and Even Jayson, who was chatting with another guest in the distance, started noticing what was happening on Ariel¡¯s side. He lifted his head and looked in her direction. Nancy picked up on some technical terminology as well. She was quite befuddled to hear Ariel talking about those types of technologies. She furrowed her brows. It appeared Chad had made various preparations before bringing Ariel here today. He must have put in a lot of effort just to help Ariel leave a good impression on these people. Nancy had not heard every word Ariel said. She only managed to catch Ariel sharing a few pieces of information that students majoring in aerospace engineering would normallye across. Nancy reckoned that Chad had probably written a few passages and asked Ariel to memorize them so that she could share them here. ¡°Is she doing this just to stand out a little during the tender?¡± Nancy wondered. She frowned at the thought of that. Nancy found it quite bizarre. She felt that Ariel was overdoing it. Nancy snickered. Then, she turned her eyes to Jayson. However, she found that Jayson was looking in Ariel¡¯s direction too. He looked rxed as he stared at Ariel¡¯s group. Somehow, it seemed like he had curled his lips slightly. Nancy thought she had seen it wrongly. She called out his name, ¡°Jayson?¡± Jayson lowered his gaze. The look in his eyes remained the same. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Nancy realized that she had seen it wrongly just now. She shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go to our seats. It¡¯s quite loud over here.¡± She didn¡¯t point out exactly what or who was being loud. Nancy preferred not to steal the spotlight when attending events where many experts and professionals in their industry were present. Regardless of how smart and capable she was, Nancy was still fairly young. She still had trouble learning and understanding some highly technical research. Nancy preferred staying humble and taking one step at a time with her learning process instead of acting like a know¨Cit¨Call to attract people¡¯s attention. On the other hand, Travis was deeply impressed after listening to Ariel¡¯s sharing. He asked, ¡°How old are you, Ms. Walker? Who was your supervisor when you were doing your postgraduate studies?¡± Ariel smiled faintly. ¡°I just reached the age of 25. I didn¡¯t have a supervisor since I didn¡¯t undertake postgraduate studies.¡± If she hadn¡¯t proceeded with getting married back then, Ariel might have been able to dere proudly that Carlos was her supervisor for her postgraduate studies. Travis was momentarily stunned. He thought that someone like Ariel had probablypleted an integrated master¡¯s and PhD program. She had discussed some technical difficulties in great detail While Ariel did cover the basics, several of her suggestions carriedyers ofplexity that would only unfold for Travis after he¡¯d had time to mull them over. Chad observed the changes in Travis¡® face from the side. Inside 288 Chad¡¯s brows lifted. ¡°She¡¯s the best engineer we have at Faye Tech. Mr. Zeale, you¡¯re always wee to discuss any technical problems with us.¡± After the initial shock, Travis was now filled with awe. ¡°That would be a great idea! The Faye Tech team is surprising us with all the talented people you have. It¡¯s truly impressive.¡± Travis was convinced that they would have a lot of interesting findings from today¡¯s tender. Ariel smiled slightly. The tendermenced soon afterward. The process was ratherplicated. The organizers started by opening each tender response and announcing the bid. Then, the judges would review all the bids to conduct an overall evaluation. Eventually, a sessful bidder was chosen. When Faye Technologies was chosen as the winner of the contract for the project, Ariel felt a slight sense of relief. Being able to coborate with the Department of Defense was a really important opportunity for them. The project would help enhance Faye Technologies¡® reputation by leaps and bounds and solidify their position in the industry as well. Previously, Ariel had considered helping Faye Technologies venture into this sector once the non¨Cdisclosure agreement had expired. With investments from Janice and Chad at the helm, thepany had been in operation for only a little less than four years. Moreover, Ariel had only recently joined Faye Technologies. Faye Technologies had yet to make it into the ranks of the first¨Ctierpanies within their country. Most of the time, they would face limitations when it came to choosing or being chosen for a project. Now, without having to wait for the non¨Cdisclosure agreement to expire first, they had managed to secure the opportunity to work with the Department of Defense. In an era where science and technology yed an important role in a country¡¯s development, andpetition among variouspanies to emerge as the leading developer was fierce, this was a precious opportunity that would give Faye Technologies a good head start. Once the project waspleted, Faye Technologies would most likely be one of the first¨Ctierpanies. They would have almost zero limitations in choosing their subsequent projects. Chad let out a sigh of relief. ¡°I¡¯m d we did it.¡± He turned his gaze to Ariel. There was a slightly regretful expression on his face. ¡°If you had joined me and Jan from the start, Faye Tech probably already expanded its business overseas as well by now.¡± Fortunately, it was not toote to start now. With Ariel leading the project, they could still help Faye Technologies rise to greater heights by executing the project perfectly. After the event ended, Chad asked Jayson to meet them at a nearby coffee shop. Jayson and Nancy showed up at the ce shortly afterward. Jayson nced at Ariel. ¡°Congrattions.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond as she continued to look at the contract Chomber Chad grinned. ¡°Mr. Larkin, let¡¯s go over the contract regarding our subsequent ns. We hope that both of you will pay extra attention to the uses regarding the breach of contract. It would be best if neither party caused any dys during the project¡¯s execution.¡± He cast a nce in Nancy¡¯s direction while saying that. Nancy looked at the contract ced before them regarding the allocation of work for the new project. She furrowed her brows when she read the content. ¡°Mr. Hockney, Faye Tech is only letting Veyo Solutions participate in the testing and developing some basic, simple technologies. Doesn¡¯t that mean you¡¯ll be keeping pretty much everything to yourselves?¡± Nancy continued in a critical tone, ¡°In our previous agreement, it was stated that bothpanies would work together. Each party would work on developing the tools and technologies that they specialize in, and we would integrate our work afterward!¡± They could choose to assign the work ordingly and work together on developing the tools and technologies. Yet, Faye Technologies wouldn¡¯t allow them that chance. Before they confirmed a joint bidding, they had signed an agreement that detailed each party¡¯s responsibilities and some basic arrangements. They decided that Faye Technologies would take the lead for this project. The workload would be divided between Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions based on their respective areas of expertise, with bothpanies coborating on the development of new technologies. Normally, the terms served to reinforce the authority of whoever led the project, ensuring they had oversight and a decisive role in decision¨Cmaking. Yet, now that they had won the contract for the project, Veyo Solutions was only offered to participate in the development of basic technologies. This was no different than saying the Veyo Solutions team had participated in the process when they were only asked to tighten all the screws after the Faye Technologies team had finished creating an advanced, high¨Cend drone. Veyo Solutions would merely be Faye Technologies¡® helper, or even worse, their sidekick. Nancy felt extremely offended by that. If they could work on developing the technologies together, Veyo Solutions would also gain huge recognition for their work once the project waspleted. If Faye Technologies refused to change its mind, the Veyo Solutions team would only be considered to be providing basic assistance. How their roles were decided now would produce very different ouester on. This time, Ariel closed the folder containing the contract. She lifted her gaze and looked at Nancy. Her tone was blunt and frigid. ¡°Do you really understand the kind of position you¡¯re in, Ms. Stanton? Veyo Solutions is the one that needs this favor more. If we do give you a certain level of authority, will you dy the work progress like what happened with Nexura Solutionsst time? ¡°You mentioned that both sides should work on developing the technologies that they specialize in. Also, it is stated in the agreement that we¡¯ll work together. ¡°Well¡­ Excuse me for saying this, but Faye Tech hardly has any shorings in terms of developing and producing new technologies. We¡¯re fully capable of handling the entire process. There aren¡¯t any particr areas of expertise that we¡¯re not good at. ¡°If you¡¯re so unhappy with this arrangement, Veyo Solutions can always choose topensate as stated in the previous agreement and back out of the project.¡± Inside 289 In one word, Faye Technologies didn¡¯t mind parting ways with Veyo Solutions right now since they had an edge in their skills and technologies. They merely had a slimmer chance of standing out while going up against numerous famous corporations during the tender. Now that they had won the contract, the Faye Technologies team wouldn¡¯t have any issues devising and developing the tools and technologies required toplete the project. They would not require the Veyo Solutions team¡¯s assistance at all. They were already being quite generous by assigning some work rting to the more basic parts of the project to the Veyo Solutions team. Nancy fixed Ariel with a stony gaze. ¡°Aren¡¯t you being too selfish now by mixing work and your personal feelings, Ms. Walker?¡± Ariel crossed her legs and leaned back against her chair. Her face showed no emotion. She couldn¡¯t even bother to make a retort. ¡°Veyo Solutions has Mr. Larkin¡¯s support. I¡¯m sure paying the indemnity is no big deal for him.¡± Finally, Jayson directed his gaze to Ariel. His eyes betrayed nothing. However, he seemed to be paying more attention to Ariel upon witnessing her attitude so far. Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about Jayson¡¯s opinions right now. Usually, each party participating in a joint bidding had something they specialized in and would work together so that they could make up for what each partycked as a single entity. While there was a risk that Faye Technologies might not make the cut for the tender, their team had demonstrated an all¨Caround excellence in their skills and technology. Moreover, they didn¡¯t have to concern themselves with issues regarding how they should work with the Veyo Solutions team. Before they finalized the joint bidding, the Faye Technologies team had signed an agreement with Veyo Solutions¡® side and secured the right to take the lead in the project. Naturally, Faye Technologies also had the right to decide and assign the parts of the project that the Veyo Solutions team should be responsible for. The Veyo Solutions team could always back out of the project if they had anyints or objections or if they simply couldn¡¯t ept Faye Tech¡¯s decision. However, any party causing a dy to the project¡¯s progress would have to bear full responsibility and pay a huge sum of money as indemnity. It was stated in the tender response that Faye Technologies would be leading the project. Naturally, they would have more say in the matter. From the beginning, Faye Technologies was merely using Veyo Solutions, which had the Nexura Solutions team¡¯s support, to win the contract offered by the Department of Defense. It didn¡¯t matter to them whether the Veyo Solutions team would ept their terms and arrangement or not. Veyo Solutions could choose to back out of this coboration, and it wouldn¡¯t affect Faye Technologies in the slightest. In other words, Faye Technologies used Veyo Solutions and Nexura Solutions to secure the project. Since they had the upper hand in terms of their skills and technologies, Fave Technologies could always just get rid of Veyo Solutions without having to worry about any repercussions Ariel didn¡¯t think it was hical for them to do something like this. The Veyo Solutions team had poached one of their employees first. For them to be using Veyo Solutions now, Ariel didn¡¯t see it as an act of revenge. She was simply giving them a taste of their own medicine. Faye Technologies shouldn¡¯t be the only one suffering a loss. Nancy finally realized the Faye Technologies team was not actually sincere about coborating with them. They had set up this trap for Veyo Solutions, yet there was nothing Nancy could do about this situation. They were forced to either ept this unreasonable contract or back out of the project and pay the indemnity. ¡°Mr. Hockney, isn¡¯t Faye Tech being a bit too harsh by doing something like this?¡± Nancy¡¯s expression hardened. She had given upmunicating with Ariel. She turned her gaze toward Chad, who had the authority to make decisions on behalf of Faye Tech. Chad had a rather apologetic look on his face as he sighed. ¡°We can¡¯t afford to make any mistakes since this is a project under the Department of Defense. As the party leading the project, I feel more reassured to have full ess and control over the tools and technologies developed for the project. ¡°If you¡¯re really unhappy with this arrangement, that means we probably won¡¯t be able to reach an agreement for the project. I¡¯m afraid we¡¯ll have to terminate our coboration then, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy was struck speechless. She never imagined the Faye Tech team would pull such a dirty trick. Meanwhile, Jayson didn¡¯t look surprised or upset in the slightest the entire time. He slowly sipped on his coffee. It was impossible to tell what was going through his head with how calm andposed he appeared. Ariel sensed that he was looking at her. She lifted her gaze and met Jayson¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes. He didn¡¯t seem angry at all. Instead, there was an unreadable look in his eyes. It was as though he had known about Faye Tech¡¯s ns from the start. Ariel frowned and averted her gaze expressionlessly. ¡°That¡¯s fine.¡± With a calm look on his face, Jayson finally said something. Nancy turned her eyes to Jayson. Jayson smiled enigmatically and continued, ¡°It seems Mr. Hockney and Ari have already nned it out ordingly. For the sake of the bigger picture, there¡¯s nothing much we have to say. We¡¯ll follow your n, then.¡± * Inside 290 Ariel froze. ¡°Ari?¡± She repeated inwardly. Jayson had called her by that name before but only on very few asions. It made Ariel frown when he addressed her with the nickname that only those close to her were allowed to the Even Nancy had pursed her lips. Even though she didn¡¯t like Jayson calling Ariel by that name, the good thing was that his voice was devoid of warmth and emotion. It just sounded cold and business¨Clike. Nancy reckoned Jayson had probably made a slip because he was used to using that name previously. She hoped Ariel wouldn¡¯t be getting any strange ideas now. After all, Jayson had already divorced her. As for these terms regarding how their workload would be assigned, Nancy had all the reasons to believe that Ariel might have persuaded Chad to give his approval for the contract just to get back at her. Nancy was convinced there was no way someone who was so vengeful and narrow¨Cminded, even when handling such an important project, could amount to anything. Jayson had no objections. Moreover, Nancy was aware that all of their efforts would go to waste if they were to back out of the coboration now. They would end up getting used by Faye Technologies and even lose their title as one of the partners working on this project. After thinking about it deeply, Nancy signed the contract even though she was seething inside. She saw no need to maintain a friendly rtionship between Veyo Solutions and Faye Technologies after what happened during this coboration. With a frigid expression, Nancy got up first and headed for the door. Jayson smiled faintly. He stood up and said expressionlessly, ¡°I¡¯ll see you around.¡± Ariel kept her gaze lowered and said nothing. Chad was in a rather cheery mood. ¡°Sure. See you next time, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze fell on Ariel briefly. Then, he turned around and left. Once Jayson and Nancy exited the coffee shop, Chad burst intoughter. ¡°She was thinking of splitting the workload evenly and sharing our technologies. How naive! They¡¯re a newpany that¡¯s still working on and figuring out the best way for them to work together as a team. ¡°So what if they have Jayson¡¯s backing and the most advanced tools and infrastructure? We¡¯re already being generous enough by letting them be a part of the project.¡± Chad shook his head. It was all thanks to Ariel¡¯s foresight. She had never intended for Veyo Solutions to take advantage of their team from the start. Given how much Veyo Solutions needed this opportunity, they were likely to agree to the terms that ced Faye Technologies in the lead role for the project. However, Nancy probably hadn¡¯t expected that Faye Technologies would be so ¡°hical¡± and only allow them to participate in the development of basic tools and technologies. Ariel had a pensive look on her face. ¡°It¡¯s very likely Jayson has checked the agreement that we sent to the Veyo Solutions team previously. With how well I know him, he¡¯s probably already seen through our intentions. However, he didn¡¯t request to meet up and revise the agreement.¡± Ariel grew more certain of it after seeing how Jayson didn¡¯t look angry or surprised at all just now. ¡°You¡¯re saying that he predicted this?¡± Chad¡¯s brows arched. ¡°Still, Jayson agreed to it? What is he really up to?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but wonder what Jayson was thinking to have walked right into the trap they had set up for Veyo Solutions when he already knew it was a trap. Ariel¡¯s brow furrowed in contemtion. Since it was decided that Faye Technologies would be leading the project, Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to find out what Jayson¡¯s ns really were. It was big news for those in their industry that Faye Technologies would be leading the projectunched by the Department of Defense. Over the next few days, they received numerous calls from various groups andpanies expressing interest in coborating with Faye Technologies on their subsequent projects. Chad became a lot busier, whereas Ariel remained unaffected. As she mapped out the project n, Ariel simultaneously delved into the potential uses of renewable energy. At the same time, they had officiallyunched the product that they had worked together with Nexura Solutions to create. Since they had finally concluded an important phase, the twopanies decided to throw a party to celebrate. The location was set at a resort vi, which offered various recreation and entertainment facilities. When she arrived at the destination on Friday night, Ariel realized she had visited this resort vi before. It was one of the establishments owned by Houston Group. Ariel obtained the ess card and went to her room to drop off her belongings. A whileter, someone knocked on the door. Ariel felt slightly confused. She put down the clothes she was holding and headed toward the door. Inside 291 Chapter 291 When she opened the door, Ariel found a staff member wearing the resort vi¡¯s uniform standing by the door. The staff member smiled at Ariel and said, ¡°Ms. Walker, are you satisfied with your room? We have another room on this floor that has a better view. Should we help you move to that room instead?¡± Ariel nced over her shoulder and scanned her suite. They were staying at a pretty luxurious resort vi. The room she was given was already more than satisfactory in many aspects. Ariel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s alright. This room is good enough for me.¡± The staff member hesitated for a moment. Then, he beamed. ¡°Alright, Ms. Walker. Do let me know if there¡¯s anything you need.¡± Ariel did not think much of what had just happened. She closed the door and went back to sorting her clothes. Since they were not throwing a really formal party, the attendees could enjoy the asion in a more rxed,id- back manner. Ariel had been feeling quite exhausted with how busy things had beentely. The resort vi boasted various entertainment facilities and several types of herbal hot springs. Ariel had brought her swimwear with her, as she nned to take a dip during her free time. It was only a little past 5:00 pm when she was done sorting her things. Ariel still needed to get changed before heading over to the hall. Ding. Her phone¡¯s notification ringtone sounded. Ariel picked up her phone and nced at the screen. Betty had sent her a WhatsApp message. ¡°Ari, I came to the marital home today to see how things are going so far. The house¡¯s interior looks really different now. I think it¡¯ll take another two to three months to finish up the finer details.¡± Betty also included several photos. Even without clicking on the photos to erge them, Ariel could tell they were photos of the living room on the first floor taken from different angles. She could see how different that space looked now. Ariel could hardly recognize the ce. The house was still undergoing some major construction work. However, Ariel observed that the style of the interior design for some parts of the house waspletely different from the choices she had made previously. Ariel had already been informed about the sweeping changes Jayson was making inside the house, yet this piece of information had not felt real to her. Now that she was seeing actual photos of the house, Ariel finally realized how Jayson hadn¡¯t bothered to preserve the space she had decorated herself and once considered as her home. Jayson had stripped the five¨Cstory house of every trace of Ariel. It was as though even a lingering reminder of their three¨Cyear marriage was too much for him to bear. She left the photos untouched. Whatever she was feeling, it defied exnation¨Can overwhelming sense of Chapter Det disbelief, perhaps, or something even harder to name. Be it a vase or a simple ornament, Ariel had great hopes for her new life there as she slowly decorated the house bit by bit with those items. She had stayed at the ce for three years, It would be hard for her to say that she felt nothing upon seeing all her past efforts reduced to ruins. Still, Ariel sent a reply to Betty. ¡°It looks quite nice.¡± Betty sent her a few more photos this time. ¡°Ari, did you happen to leave this behind?¡± A lipstick could be seen in the photos that Betty had sent her. Ariel instantly recognized the unfamiliar lipstick. Neither the brand nor the color was anything she¡¯d ever used. It wasn¡¯t hers. The lipstick was found inside the nursery that many people had been talking about. The room was already pretty muchpleted. It was quite obvious that a great deal of thought had gone into the nursery¡¯s design. Ariel remainedpletely unruffled this time. She responded to Betty¡¯s message. ¡°You can just leave it there.¡± Without offering any other exnations, Ariel left her room. She took the elevator to get to the ground floor. The hall where the party would be held was located in another building. Ariel would be taking a shuttle bus to get there. When she was waiting outside the resort¡¯s entrance, a man¡¯s voice came from behind her. ¡°Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel greeted him with a nod when she saw Perry walking toward her. After a brief pause, she asked out of courtesy, ¡°You¡¯re staying here as well?¡± Perry looked at her and replied, ¡°I was invited to the party as well.¡± Ariel nodded. Perry was close to Jayson and the others. It was no surprise that he would be attending the party as well. Inside 292 Chapter 292 ¡°I¡¯m heading over to the hall now. Would you like to join m?¡± Perry decided to invite Ariel toe along after hesitating for a moment. Ariel paused briefly. Since the shuttle bus that Perry arranged for had arrived, Ariel went ahead and epted his offer. ¡°Sure.¡± She boarded the bus first. Perry noticed that Ariel had been looking at her phone after she got on the bus. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he chose to sit in the row behind Ariel instead of next to her. He knew Ariel was mindful of her personal space. Perry didn¡¯t want to make her feel ufortable in any way. Ariel knew it would take several minutes for them to reach the ce where the hall was. She nced over her shoulder at Perry and asked, ¡°Do you mind me asking if Mr. Spencer has already started working at the hospital?¡± Perry hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to initiate the conversation first He paused for a few seconds. Then, Perry gave a slight cough and nodded. ¡°He¡¯s probably already started working there. You should be able to meet him there the next time you visit Mr. Walker.¡± Ariel nodded pensively. She nned on dropping by the hospital either tomorrow of the day after. If she could find Liam, Ariel might ask him if he would be willing to help Isaac with Leonard¡¯s treatment. Theypsed into silence once more until they reached their destination. Ariel got out of the bus and was about to head into the building when Perry called out after her. ¡°Ms. Walker, hold on for a second!¡± Ariel turned around. A staff member came over with a bouquet of flowers in their hands. Perry took the bouquet from that person and walked toward Ariel. He had a sincere look on his handsome face. ¡°Congrattions on the sess of Faye Tech¡¯stest productunch. This is my¡­ the flowers prepared by the resort vi¡¯s management team. We hope Faye Tech¡¯s business will continue to prosper.¡± Ariel looked at the bouquet Perry had just handed her. It was a bouquet of blue tulips. The bouquet was pretty and eye¨Ccatching with its detailed and intricate arrangement. Ariel was a bit puzzled. ¡°Does your team give these flowers to all the resort vi¡¯s guests?¡± The Nexura Solutions team had reserved the entire resort vi. The resort vi¡¯s management team had also been instructed to set up and decorate the venue for the party. Ariel wondered if giving flowers to the guests was also part of the n. Perry sensed a fluttering feeling in his chest as he looked at Ariel¡¯s beautiful face. He said slowly, ¡°Uh¨Chuh. We hope you like them.¡± There was a special asion that day, so it didn¡¯t seem strange that flowers were given out to the guests. Ariel epted the bouquet and replied monotonously, ¡°Thank you.¡± After saying that, Ariel took the flowers and headed toward the building. Perry stood in the same spot and watched her receding figure. A whileter, his lips turned up in a smile. Somewhere not too far away, Nancy got out of the car and witnessed this moment. It seemed like Perry was staring at Ariel intently from behind. She went up to him and patted his shoulder. ¡°What are you thinking so deeply about?¡± Perry snapped out of his reverie. He lowered his head and realized it was Nancy. Then, he averted his gaze. ¡°It was nothing. Are Jayson and the others here already?¡°. Nancy nodded. ¡°They¡¯re already waiting inside.¡± There was a pensive look on her face as she asked next, ¡°Did youe here with Ariel just now?¡± Perry¡¯s expression remained pretty much the same. ¡°I happened to run into her earlier.¡± Nancy paused for a split second. She had a dubious look in her eyes. ¡°What about the bouquet that she was holding just now?¡± Nancy was curious to find out who had given Ariel a bouquet out of the blue. Moreover, she was with Perry until just a while ago. This time, Perry directed his gaze to Nancy. His tone was calm and steady. ¡°That¡¯s something only Ariel knows, isn¡¯t it?¡± Then, he strode toward the building as well. Nancy remained in the same spot and watched as Perry walked away. For some reason, she felt that Perry was acting a bit strange. However, she couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what the issue was. Lately, Perry hadn¡¯t been keeping in touch with her as often. It almost felt like he was avoiding her. Nancy wondered if it was because of her rtionship with Jayson. Inside 293 Ariel quite liked the bouquet of tulips. Back when she was managing the household, Ariel often visited the florist to get some fresh flowers and arrange them in a vase. She liked how the flowers could help elevate the mood and make the house look a lot brighter. They had chosen to throw the party at a high¨Cend resort vi, and the management team here was even thoughtful enough to give them flowers to congratte them on their sess. Ariel entered the hall with the flowers in her arms. She swiftly spotted Chad and Janice. The two of them waved at her. When Ariel walked over to where they were, Janice looked at the flowers she was holding in awe. ¡°These flowers are so lovely! Who gave these to you?¡± Ariel scanned her surroundings but couldn¡¯t find Perry anywhere. She replied, ¡°The resort vi¡¯s management team prepared these. Didn¡¯t you guys get them as well?¡± Janice immediately expressed her dissatisfaction. ¡°Are the staff here doing their work properly? How could they forget about the rest of us?¡± Chad looked a little confused as he gently brushed his fingers against the flower petals. ¡°The flowers that they¡¯ve used today to decorate the hall are lilies. Howe the flowers you have are tulips?¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t figure out the reason either. Anyway, she didn¡¯t think much of it, as it was just a simple gesture from the resort vi¡¯s management team. Chad didn¡¯t try to press for more details about the bouquet either. Today was a happy asion for the Faye Technologies team. He raised his phone. ¡°Let¡¯s take a photo together so that I can share it on my Instagramter.¡± Janice moved closer toward Ariel and threw her arms around thetter. Then, she grinned broadly at the camera. After they had taken the photo, Ariel ced the bouquet on the table. In the distance, Matt saw pretty much everything that had happened, starting from the moment Ariel showed up here with the bouquet. He sounded surprised. ¡°Howe Ariel showed up here with a bouquet? Did she receive it from an admirer?¡± Matt wondered if it was Chad who had given Ariel the bouquet. Beside him, Jayson leaned back against the couch in a rxed manner. He saw that moment earlier as well. Ariel was in a pretty good mood when she came in with the flowers in her arms. It seemed like she liked the bouquet a lot. Upon hearing Matt¡¯s words, Jayson barely reacted. He merely tapped on the armrest with his finger in a steady rhythm. He lifted his gaze and nced in Ariel¡¯s direction. Then, Jayson looked away. He didn¡¯t seem bothered by what had happened. Matt appeared to have recalled something as he suddenly let out a chuckle. ¡°Judging by some of the things Ariel did in the past, could she have prepared those flowers herself? Perhaps she¡¯s trying to catch your attention and show you there are men trying to pursue her now that the two of you have separated.¡± Sometimes, Matt would think about how he and Jayson¡¯s frends probably wouldn¡¯t treat Ariel with so much scorn if she hadn¡¯t gotten the reporters to take the intimate photos of her and Jayson just to make Jayson marry her. Jayson gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°You¡¯re pretty cut out to be a screenwriter.¡± Matt could tell right away that Jayson was mocking him. ¡°What are you guys talking about?¡± When Nancy got there, she sat down beside Jayson as if it was the most natural thing to do. Matt scratched the tip of his nose. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We were just chatting.¡± Matt, Perry, and Nancy were not the workers or employees of Nexura Solutions. There would be a lot of people attending the party. However, Nancy said Jayson might seem a bit lonely being here all by himself. She decided prettyst¨Cminute¨Caround an hour ago¨Ctoe and keep Jaysonpany. Meanwhile, Chad shared the photo on his Instagram. He noticed fairly quickly that quite a few people liked his photo. Samson was among those people who did. Chad turned his gaze to Ariel. ¡°Samson Pryce seems like a pretty nice guy. He pressed like for almost everything that I shared recently.¡± Ariel thought about it for a moment. ¡°How much do you know about Samson Pryce? He¡¯s being so friendly to you. He even invited you to the tech seminar. Could he be up to something? You need to be wary of him moving forward.¡± They woulde across all kinds of people in the business circle. It wouldn¡¯t harm them to stay a bit more cautious. Chad nodded in agreement. ¡°You have a point.¡± Some timeter, Tom and his colleagues from Nexura Solutions arrived as well. Both the Faye Technologies team and the Nexura Solutions team were relieved now that the project waspleted. While Chad was chatting with Tom and the others, Ariel left to get a ss of soda water. She noticed thebels listed the vors for each drink. Most were non¨Calcoholic, so she didn¡¯t have to worry about avoiding anything with alcohol. She was very satisfied with this arrangement. When she came back, Ariel could hear Janice grumbling, ¡°Why are there only juice and soft drinks? Did they not prepare any liquor for today¡¯s party?¡± Tom overheard her mumbling. He turned around and exined, ¡°There¡¯s a reason for this. Ms. Stanton has been so busy handling work at the newpany that her health has deteriorated. ¡°Therefore, she¡¯s been taking some herbal medicine to restore her health. Mr. Larkin has instructed the resort vi¡¯s management team in advance to serve non¨Calcoholic drinks only.¡± Inside 294 Ariel dropped her gare and sipped on the sea water. She acted as though site was justboring to some stag love story. Janice snickered upon learning the truth. ¡°Mr. Lakin is send a great men for the saka et one person,, he¡¯s making everyone else drink non¨Calcoholic drinks as well.¡± only Tom hadn¡¯t noticed the underlying meaning behind Janice words. Be thought she met Tom grinned. ¡°Mr. Larkin is really thoughtful when ites to Ms. Stanton¡¯s affairs. I bape you gu this arrangement. Drinking is quite harmful to a person¡¯s health, after all. Isn¡¯t it fine if we just skip the drinks am today Tom continued, ¡°Ms. Stanton has been extremely busy. She has to handle a lot of things on the eye Solutions side. At the same time, she¡¯s been trying to make time to offer her support and expertise for an independent project that Nexura Solutions hasunched. ¡°She¡¯s smart and hardworking. Naturally, Mr. Larkin mustee worried about Ms. Stanton¡¯s condition after learning that she¡¯s fallen ill.¡± Chad smiled dryly. ¡°They¡¯re such lovebirds. Why does it seem like the two of them aren¡¯t nning to get tanned yet, though?¡± Tom gave a chuckle. ¡°I heard Ms. Stanton talking about it before when I worked with her predresy. She said she wanted to focus on building her career and improving ber suse of self¨Cworth for now I¡¯m guessing Mr. Lakin is probably ready to tie the knot whenever Ms. Stanton is rear for it too.¡± Ariel remained unperturbed as she listened to what Tom was sharing. However, Janice couldn¡¯t stand to hear the rest of it. She might gag if she were to listen to any more of this nonsense. She cut Tom off and changed the topic. ¡°We heard that Nextra Solutions would be assisting with the project under the Department of Defense?¡± Tom¡¯s brows lifted. ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s n was to make Nexura Solutions the Vego Solutions team¡¯s backup and support to ensure we could win the contract. During the project execution, Nexxure Solutions would not be interfering with Veyo Solutions¡® work.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t see any issues with this arrangement. After all, Faye Technologies had assigned the most basic parts of the project to the Veyo Solutions team. They wouldn¡¯t need any help from Nexere Solutions However, judging by what Tom just said, Jayson had decided from the beginning that Nexure Solutions wouldn¡¯t? be assisting Veyo Solutions Ariel wondered if Jayson had only added Nexara Solutions to the equation initially just to increas their chances of winning the contract. If Jayson had decided from the start that Nexura Solutions wouldn¡¯t be helping Vege Solutions with the geziect, then he probably already knew that the Faye Technologies team wouldn¡¯t allow Vego Solutions to participate ?n the development of the core technologies for the project. What Ariel couldn¡¯t understand was why Jayson hadn¡¯t tried to prevent this straation from happening, even though he knew it was bound to happen. ¡°What is he up to?¡± Ariel pondered. ¡°Did you and Ms. Stanton already discuss and finish assigning the workload for the project, Mr. Hockney?¡± Tom asked since they were on the topic. Chad responded, ¡°More or less.¡± Tom said, ¡°I¡¯m d to hear that. Veyo Solutions has a prettypetent team of engineers at the moment. The twopanies will work on the research simultaneously and integrate their work in the end. ¡°With the different strengths eachpany has, I¡¯m sure the oue will be wless and impable.¡± With an enigmatic expression, Chad shook his head. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. The Veyo Solutions team won¡¯t have to work so hard.¡± Chad was confused. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ariel mentioned nothing about how Veyo Solutions had fallen for the trap they had set up. She said tly, ¡°Isn¡¯t Ms. Stanton feeling weak and unwell recently? We¡¯re lessening her burden by cutting down on her workload.¡± Janice nearly burst outughing. Ariel could be extremely funny when she was trying to be sarcastic. Tom became even more confused. He was about to ask another question when Nancy came up to their group at that moment. She probably heard what Ariel just said. However, Nancy decided to greet Tom first. ¡°Mr. Chapman.¡± Her voice interrupted Tom¡¯s train of thought. He smiled and greeted her as well. Nancy nced at Chad. Although Chad sided with Ariel now Nancy wasn¡¯t about to make an enemy out of him. Considering Chad¡¯s status and abilities, she believed there was a chance for them to form a friendly rtionship. Even though she was quite unhappy about what happened with the project under the Department of Defense, Nancy decided to be the bigger person and greeted Chad. ¡°Mr. Hockney.¡± Without waiting for his response, Nancy turned around and was about to walk away. Suddenly, she halted. Nancy nced over her shoulder at Ariel. There was an impassive look on her face. ¡°Please be mindful of one thing, Ms. Walker. I¡¯m currently managing Veyo Solutions. So, please try to show me, thepany¡¯s top executive, some proper respect.¡± Inside 295 Nancy¡¯s tone was mild. However, she had an icy expression on her face. It was obvious she was displeased. Nancy even felt that Ariel was very rude and uncultured. Ariel clearly had a lower status and positionpared to Nancy and the others. Yet, she didn¡¯t seem to realize that even after spending all this time in this circle. Ariel gazed at Nancy as well. She had a frigid look on her face. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to show Nancy any patience or decency anymore. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to remind me specifically about that, Ms. Stanton. Perhaps when you¡¯ve officially be Mr. Larkin¡¯s wife, you can make an announcement and have everyone show you some proper respect.¡± Nancy¡¯s brows furrowed. She could sense the hint of mockery and ridicule in Ariel¡¯s words. Nancy simply felt that the way Ariel had overreacted was quite embarrassing. Tom finally noticed the strange tension between Ariel and Nancy. He knew that Nancy was a proud and dignifieddy who had graduated from one of the top universities overseas. She was also the apple of Jayson¡¯s eye. Even though she tried not to let it show, Nancy was nevertheless extremely prideful deep down. As for Ariel, Tom could tell from his observations so far that she held an important position in Faye Technologies. It was pretty obvious, judging from Chad¡¯s and Janice¡¯s attitudes toward Ariel. Tom didn¡¯t want to risk offending anyone. He quickly stepped forward to intervene. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯re not in our offices today. We should all just forget about formalities and¡­¡± Ariel had a stony look in her eyes. Before she couldment on anything, Janice said with a smile on her face, ¡°Ms. Stanton, if you¡¯re so particr about these things¡­ Technically speaking, shouldn¡¯t you be showing Ari some respect first?¡± Nancy was Jayson¡¯s mistress. Even if Ariel had divorced Jayson, there was no denying that Nancy had gotten in between the once¨Cmarried couple. Janice didn¡¯t think it was too much to have Nancy show Ariel some respect instead. There was a scornful look in her eyes. Moreover, Nancy was the one who started it. Janice had merely used her words to give Nancy a taste of her own medicine. Nancy knitted her brows. She understood almost immediately what Janice was implying. Unfortunately, Jayson was walking toward them the moment Janice had finished making that remark. He had most likely heard Janice¡¯s words. Jayson halted in his tracks. He lifted his head and cast a nce at Janice. With his intellect, Jayson could pretty much tell what Janice was hinting at by rting what he already knew to the clues from Janice¡¯s remarks. ¡°Mi Larkin ¡°Tom was a bit flustered by the current situation +26 BONUS He didn¡¯t fully understand what Janice meant earlier by saying that Nancy should be showing Arief some respect first. However, he could clearly sense the alt growing even more tense Jayson gave a slight nod. His gaze fell on Ariel, who remained expressionless. Curiously enough, Ariel could sense something she could not pinpoint aboutyson¡¯s attitude from the look he gave her. However, Jayson made noment. He simply looked at Nancy and began, ¡°Matt is calling us over.¡± Nancy nodded. Before leaving, she frowned and turned her eyes to Ariel. With a look of disdain on her face, Nancy walked away. Ariel averted her gaze. When Jayson was looking at her earlier, Ariel reckoned he probably thought she had told Janice to attack Nancy with those words. Anyway, it no longer mattered to Ariel what Jayson was thinking. He was free to make any assumptions. Once Jayson and Nancy were gone, Tom excused himself and went to chat with other people. Janice smirked. ¡°She¡¯s acting all high and nighty! If we¡¯re going to follow her logic, Jayson has helped establish Veyo Solutions for Nancy, Back then, Ari was still Jayson¡¯s wife. Shouldn¡¯t Nancy at least try to show some respect toward Ari, who was her boss¡® wife?¡± What was that arrogant act from earlier for? Ariel patted her back. ¡°It¡¯s alright. It¡¯s not like we suffered any loss or damage from that.¡± Inside 296 When Janice referred to her as the boss¡® wife, Ariel couldn help but silently apud Jayson for including that That cause really paid off in moments like this. ¡°She probably acted like that because Fave Tech did y Vero Solutions a little dirty,¡± Ariel said calmly. After all, it wasn¡¯t her pride that got bruised in all of this. Chad nced over at Jayson. Nancy was clinging to his arm how, all smiles like nothing had happened. Clearly, she had been coaxed back into a good mood. ¡°Jayson probably thought you were targeting his precious sweetheart on purpose,¡± Chad said. Ariel noticed it too. Nancy wasughing with Matt now. She looked away. ¡°That¡¯s his problem. If he wants toe at me for Nancy¡¯s sake, let him. Or he can just stew in silence. Either way, it¡¯s none of my business.¡± Chad gave her a silent thumbs¨Cup. The celebration went on as nned. Then came the project presentation. The big screen on stage lit up, rolling through a slideshow of the development journey. Even Matt couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°This Faye Tech¡¯s project is really some solid stuff. Even my father heard about it and said it¡¯s top¨Ctier.¡± Perry finally looked up at that. He couldn¡¯t help but nce in Ariel¡¯s direction. He had known for a while now that she was one of the people behind this project. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s definitely high¨Clevel,¡± Nancy said calmly, even giving credit where it was due. ¡°After all, everyone in the industry knows what Mr. Hockney is capable of.¡± Matt knew about the tension between Nancy and Faye Technologies. She had been recedst minute on the project. That was what eventually led to the creation of Veyo Solutions. Well, at least something good came out of it. ¡°Still, it¡¯s a shame. If that person at Faye Tech didn¡¯t have it out for you, you¡¯d be one of the key contributors now. 11 Matt shrugged. It didn¡¯t take a genius to figure out who had pushed Nancy out. If he were Ariel, and his romantic rival was as talented and impressive as Nancy, maybe he would have done the same¨Ccut her out any way he could. Nancy frowned, then said, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Veyo Solutions will have better projects.¡± Matt gave a nod of admiration. That was confidence backed by ability. Onstage, the emcee spoke up. ¡°And now, let¡¯s wee the project lead to the stage to give a speech and walk us through the journey!¡± Jayson turned to the side, and Perry looked up too. Matt and Nancy instinctively nced toward Chad. But then, they saw Ariel rising from her seat and heading to the stage. Matt froze, eyebrows shooting up in surprise. Even Nancy furrowed her brow. Why was Ariel going up there? Shouldn¡¯t Chad be the one presenting the core technical content? Jayson¡¯s eyes followed Ariel onto the stage. She lookedpletely at ease. Her voice was steady as she guided everyone through the presentation. After a while, he raised an eyebrow ever so slightly. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± Matt finally blurted out. ¡°They¡¯re letting Ariel handle the most important segment?¡± Nancy didn¡¯t say a word, but the disapproval in her eyes was clear. Chad actually gave Ariel another opportunity. He let her take the spotlight, just like during the tender that day. Did he prepare the key talking points for her this time too? Chapter 297 At that thought, Nancy turned and nced at Chad, who was sitting there, pping along with Inside 297 Chapter 297 At that thought, Nancy turned and nced at Chad, who was sitting there, pping along with the rest. It was rare to see someone in research and tech go out of their way to support someone unrted to their work. Matt leaned in and murmured, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Chad is putting Ariel on a bit of a pedestal?¡± Jayson nced his way, waiting for him to go on. Matt hesitated, then frowned. ¡°Do you think he¡¯s actually trying to marry Ariel? Could he be grooming her to polish her image? That way, she might just barely measure up to an academic family like the Hockneys.¡± Otherwise, he really couldn¡¯t wrap his head around why Chad kept pushing Ariel to the front. She used to be just a regr stay¨Cat¨Chome wife. Sure, she worked in Bluum Corp¡¯s PR department. But honestly, she got that job because of her inws. Now Chad was handing her prime projects and putting her onstage as the face of it all. What was that if not polishing her image? Perry picked up on what Matt was getting at. He didn¡¯t know the full story between Chad and Ariel, but one thing he did know was that Ariel was an impressive woman. If Chad spent enough time around her, it wasn¡¯t impossible that he might start to fall for her. Perry pressed his lips together and looked back at the stage. As he looked at Ariel¡¯s distant expression, a trace of mncholy appeared in his eyes. Meanwhile, Jayson said nothing. His gaze remained fixed ahead, cold and unreadable, like he was entirely unconcerned. ¡°Jayson.¡± Matt turned to him. ¡°What do you think?¡± Jayson finally replied, ¡°Ariel¡¯s always been one of the project leads.¡± Which meant that it made sense for her to be the one presenting on stage. Matt let out a scoff. ¡°Yeah, a project lead. But we all know how her name got on the list.¡± Nancy gave a faint, mocking smile at that. Clearly, she agreed. Something seemed to cross Jayson¡¯s mind. He smiled faintly and said nothing more. The event carried on until around 9:00 pm. Once Ariel finished her presentation and stepped offstage, Tom and a few others came over to shower her with praise. After some polite small talk, the night was nearly over. Tonight¡¯s event was more of arge team¨Cbuilding gathering, and some people were already making ns for an afterparty. But Ariel was tired. It was gettingte, so she told Chad and Janice she would head back first. Before leaving, she picked up the bouquet of blue tulips from the table and had someone drive her back to where she was staying. She headed upstairs with the key card in hand. As she stepped out of the elevator, she happened to exit athe same time as someone from the one next door. The moment Ariel saw Jayson, she paused for a second. He looked at her, then gave a faint nce at the striking bouquet she was holding, but said nothing. And Ariel had even less to say to him. Holding her key card, she turned to walk toward her room. But behind her, his footsteps followed. He kept a distance of maybe 13 feet. Under the hallway lights, she could clearly see their shadows cast over the thick carpet. His shadow nearly ovepped hers. Ariel frowned silently and adjusted her pace, subtly trying to put more distance between their shadows. Still, she said nothing. It wasn¡¯t until she reached her door that she realized Jayson had stopped right outside the room next to hers. So he was staying right next door. It suddenly clicked. No wonder the front desk manager hade by earlier asking if she wanted to switch rooms. Chances were, Jayson had found out she was next door and asked them to rearrange things. Inside 298 The thought alone made Ariel frown. She hated it when people made decisions for her behind her back. She swiped her key card and was about to enter the room. Jayson, standing at his door beside her, tapped the handle lightly with his thumb, then turned to nce her way with a detached look. ¡°Your presentation today was really good.¡± Thement came so suddenly. Ariel¡¯s brows drew together as she turned to him. But Jayson didn¡¯t stick around to chat. After saying that, he entered his room. Ariel didn¡¯t get it. And frankly, she didn¡¯t care enough to spend any more brain power on him. She stepped into her room as well. After setting down the bouquet, she took a shower and took her daily medication right on time. But the drowsiness she expected never came. Restless, she reopened herptop and started sorting through the outline and concept notes for the military project. By the time she checked the clock again, it was already past 11:00 pm. Ariel rubbed her neck and finally decided to call it a night. But just as she sat down, a dull ache started to bloom in her lower abdomen. That familiar pain was flooding in again. She curled up on the bed with her arms hugging her legs, trying to ride it out. The difort chased any lingering sleep away. Beads of sweat started forming on her forehead. After a long while, Ariely down and closed her eyes. But no matter what she did, she couldn¡¯t fall asleep. Her body felt ufortable and restless. After tossing and turning for a bit, she finally gave up and got up. She got out of bed and went to look for the swimsuit she had brought with her. Since she couldn¡¯t sleep anyway, she figured she might as well soak in the herbal hot spring. Maybe it would help ease some of the difort. It was already nearing 11:30 pm. The resort was huge. A few people were still partying on the other side, but over here by the hot springs, it was quiet. There was not a soul in sight. Ariel¡¯s swimsuit wasn¡¯t the modest kind but a turquoise blue bikini that contrasted beautifully with her fair skin. Back when she and Jayson were still married, their rtionship had always been distant. Janice had even given her advice before. ¡°Sex and appetite are basic instincts,¡± she had said. No matter how cold or indifferent Jayson was, he was still a man. Janice had gone so far as to buy her all kinds of swimsuits, undergarments, and even lingerie meant to spice up their marriage. Ariel had once worked up the courage to try. She deliberately put on lingerie that, for her, felt deeply embarrassing. Her whole body had gone tense and flushed with nervous ligat. At the time, Jayson merely looked up at her. His expression was almost entirely unchanged. He clearly had little to no interest in her that way. His voice had been calm and distant. ¡°If you¡¯re ufortable, don¡¯t force yourself.¡± He didn¡¯t even stay the night. A call hade through from overseas. He took it, stepped around her like she wasn¡¯t even there, and walked out. Ariel hadn¡¯t known where he went that night. It was during the trip to Sorenta that, through something Matt said about the timeline of when Jayson and Nancy met, she finally realized that Jayson had likely gone abroad to find Nancy that day. After that lingerie incident and Jayson¡¯s quiet rejection, Ariel tucked away all the beautiful swimsuits and lingerie Janice had gotten her. Now, she wasn¡¯t dressing up for anyone. She just wanted to look good for herself. She slipped into the bikini and headed for the hot spring. She had just stepped past the screen, not yet fully entered the water, when she suddenly saw a man in the water. Jayson was lounging in the water, arms resting along the edge. Hisshes were damp with steam. He slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers. Then he saw the bikini thatplemented her skin tone perfectly. Ariel¡¯s figure was slim but not scrawny, with a naturally striking hourss shape. As she stepped out from behind the screen, the soft lighting brushed over her, casting a gentle glow on her skin. He paused for the briefest moment. Inside 299 Jayson¡¯s gaze stayed cool andposed, but something unreadable lingered behind his eyes. Still, his face showed nothing. He didn¡¯t look away deliberately, nor did he stare. He looked as calm as ever, even with a full view of her in that bikini. Ariel rarely wore outfits like this, and he probably remembered that. Ariel was caughtpletely off guard. She had assumed that the hot spring would most likely be empty thiste at night. It only took her a couple of seconds to process what was happening. Then she quickly grabbed a towel from the side and wrapped it tightly around herself. Her face showed no embarrassment, just a flicker of annoyance and difort. She turned around, ready to leave without hesitation. ¡°Stay,¡± came Jayson¡¯s voice from behind. Ariel paused and turned back around. He stood up and added, ¡°I¡¯ll go.¡± She gave it a quick thought. Why should she be the one to change her n and leave? So she simply stood off to the side, waiting for him to gather his things and leave. Even in a hot spring, Jayson wasn¡¯t shirtless. He wore a in white tee. On his exposed right arm, a scar that had only recently healed was still visible. It was hard not to be struck by the sight of it. He quickly covered it with a towel. Ariel had no intention of asking about it. After all, that scar was meant to be a badge of honor for the injury he took for Nancy. Still, with the hot spring water soaking through the fabric, his shirt now clung to himpletely. It outlined his toned, muscr frame with striking rity. Ariel didn¡¯t react and didn¡¯t look twice. She just turned her face to the side. She already knew Jayson had a great body. It was a result of strict habits and perfect genes. But that meant nothing to her now. It might as well have been just another piece of flesh. Jayson threw on his robe and finally looked over at Ariel. ¡°Can¡¯t sleep?¡± he asked while tying the belt. Ariel didn¡¯t n to answer. But with just the two of them out here, his question hung in the air, impossible to ignore. Without looking his way, she replied, ¡°Yeah.¡± Her voice was t. The indifference practically seeped from her skin. Jayson suddenly paused. He stared at her profile for a beat, but her distance didn¡¯t bother him. ¡°Alright, head up soon,¡± He picked up his things. But as he passed her, he slowed his steps. Then, almost casually, his gaze swept over her andnded on her abdomen. ¡°You¡¯ve always cared about appearances. Never ought of getting that scar removed?¡± Ariel instinctively ced a hand over her lower belly. She had been wearing a bikini. Of course he saw it. Well, he hadn¡¯t expected him to. That scar had always been there. Even during their most intimate moments back then, Jayson had sometimes brushed past it, but he never asked. He was never disgusted by it either. Ariel knew why. Jayson was a man raised with the finest education for an her. He was cultured, polished, and impably well- mannered. But at his core, he was cold and emotionless. He never had a shred of affection for her, so he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to care. He had no interest, no tenderness, and no concern for her. He was probably only bringing it up now as a casual remark Ariel didn¡¯t flinch. Her voice stayed calm, edged with a distant chill. ¡°That¡¯s my business.¡± Jayson looked down at her. His expression remained calm, and his deep eyes were impossible to interpret. He held her gaze a second longer, then let out a faint smile ¡®Enjoy. No one else will being by.¡± With that, he turned and walked off without a moment¡¯s hesitation. Ariel didn¡¯t care where he was going. Inside 300 Now that Jayson had left, Ariel could finally rx a little. She set the towel down on a chair and slid into the water. The heat soothed her muscles, dulling the difort in her body. But she hadn¡¯t been in the water for more than a few seconds when Nancy¡¯s voice rang out from outside. ¡°Jayson, is someone in there? Why¡¯d youe out?¡± Jayson¡¯s reply came calm and even. ¡°No¡¯one¡¯s in there. Let¡¯s go.¡± Nancy said something else, but their voices faded quickly as they walked off together. Ariel rested her arms on the edge of the hot spring. She cast a nce toward the door before turning back. It seemed like Jayson and Nancy had nned to meet here. If she hadn¡¯t made ast¨Cminute decision toe here, they probably would have had their little romantic night right here. Ariel mulled over it for a moment, then dropped the thought entirely. She absently ran her fingers across the faint scar on her lower belly. It had happened the year Lucas got into serious trouble at thepany. Before he ended up in prison, someone had targeted her in revenge. She had ended up hospitalized for more than two weeks. And after that, her chances of getting pregnant had dropped significantly. Ariel closed her eyes. She stayed in the hot spring for a long quiet while. The next morning, Ariel packed her things just as Janice came to knock on her door and invite her to breakfast. When they got to the dining area, Chad looked up and said, ¡°Jayson and Nancy left earlier. They skipped breakfast. Ariel didn¡¯t respond. She just walked over and ordered a t white. The food here at the resort was excellent. Ariel genuinely enjoyed it. After eating, they waited in the lobby for the car to arrive. That was when Perry approached them from the other side of the hall. Ariel was a little surprised that he hadn¡¯t left with Jayson and Nancy. ¡°Mr. Houston.¡± With Perry already right in front of them, Chad had no choice but to greet him. Perry nodded. ¡°I had a few things to deal with. Since we¡¯ve met, let¡¯s leave together.¡± Neither Ariel nor Janice objected. Chad raised a brow. ¡°Sure.¡± Perry¡¯s gaze flicked briefly toward Ariel, then shifted back to Chad. ¡°Mr. Hockney, feel free to drop by whenever you like. We can arrange a room for you anytime.¡± Chad knew this resort vi wasn¡¯t easy to book. Smiling, he said, ¡°I wouldn¡¯t want to owe you a favor, Mr. Houston.¡± But Perry didn¡¯t seem to be joking, ¡°Oh, please, Mr. Hockney. It¡¯s nothing. Honestly, if it means staying on good terms with Faye Tech, it¡¯s my pleasure.¡± That made Chad arch an eyebrow. He gave Ariel a quick nce. This wasn¡¯t the attitude he expected. Given how rocky things were between Nancy and Faye Technologiestely and how tight their circle tended to be, Perry shouldn¡¯t have been so friendly. But Ariel didn¡¯tment. Chad smiled along, all diplomacy. ¡°You tter me, Mr. Houston.¡± Perry checked his watch, then said casually, ¡°I heard you¡¯ve got some good newsing up, Mr. Hockney.¡± Chad raised a brow. ¡°That depends on what kind of good news we are talking about. I¡¯ve got a few lined up.¡± Perry paused, his eyes cutting sideways toward Ariel. Yesterday, after hearing Matt¡¯s take on Chad¡¯s feelings for Ariel, even mentioning the possibility of marrying her, he just wanted to know if that was really the case. However, he couldn¡¯t exactly ask outright. But Chad didn¡¯t give anything away. After a second, Perry just shook his head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing specific. You¡¯re just glowingtely, Mr. Hockney. Must be doing well.¡± Chad blinked, thoroughly confused. Fortunately, the topic didn¡¯t go any further. When the cars arrived, Perry got into a different one. After thinking it over for a moment, Chad turned to Ariel and asked, ¡°Don¡¯t you think Mr. Houston¡¯s attitude toward me was a little weird?¡± Ariel looked at him, curious. ¡°Weird how?¡± Chad couldn¡¯t quite pin it down. He raised a brow and let out a dryugh. ¡°I don¡¯t know. Just feels like my popritytely is getting a little creepy.¡± Inside 301 The military project demanded much higher technical standards than anything they had tackled before. Over the next two days, Ariel and Chad attended several lon meetings. They dove deep into practical details from every angle. This wasn¡¯t just about the usual entertainment or premium models. It was about disaster relief and emergency response, which came with an entirely different set of demands. Payload capacity, navigation systems, endurance, and every other aspect had to reach a whole new level of reliability and performance. Once they had a rough framework in ce, the next step was syncing with Veyo Solutions to start the formal process. Ariel brought Noah along for a visit to Veyo Solutions to coordinate with their team. It was her first time setting foot there. Veyo Solutions was already running smoothly, with a fully established operational system. It wasn¡¯t until Ariel stood inside the main lobby that she realized just how top¨Ctier thepany really was. Built with real money and serious investment, it didn¡¯t lose out to any long¨Cstanding, well¨Cestablished firm. Backed by Jayson¡¯s capital, Nancy had no trouble getting herpany off the ground. Ariel and Noah met with one of the departments for a meeting. By the time they came back downstairs, it was already past 10:00 am. Noah went to get the car. While waiting, Ariel pulled out her phone and texted Leonard, letting him know she would be joining him for dinner. Just as she hit send, she nced up and spotted Seth walking toward her from around the corner. He saw her too and stopped in his tracks. Ariel didn¡¯t so much as nce at him again. She walked past without blinking. Seth¡¯s expression flickered. He had actually been thinking of saying hello. After all, they had worked together for a few months. But watching her disappear down the hall, he just shrugged to himself. After all, Veyo Solutions had a promising future, and he wasn¡¯t wrong to look out for his own prospects. Nancy happened to walk in just in time to see it. She approached in her heels and asked coolly, ¡°Did you have the meeting with her?¡± Seth shook his head quickly. ¡°No, it was someone else. I just bumped into her.¡± Nancy coldly nced in the direction Ariel had gone. Then she turned and headed toward the elevators. Seth followed close behind. ¡°You used to work at Faye Tech. How well do you know Ariel? Mr. Hockney seems pretty fond of her,¡± Nancy said casually while flipping through the files in her hand. Seth thought for a second. ¡°Mr. Hockney definitely treats Ms. Walker with a lot of respect.¡± Ms. Walker? Seth seemed to respect Ariel. Nancy frowned immediately. Seth quickly exined, ¡°A lot of people in the industry were surprised by how quickly Faye Tech secured full funding for that previous project. Actually, Ms. Walker was the one who put up the money.¡± ¡°500 million dors? All from her?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Nancy blinked, understanding dawning. So that was why Faye Technologies locked in funds so quickly. No wonder they had kicked her out of the project lead team. And no wonder Ariel had spoken to her about the military project with that air of authority. It turned out that she had funded Faye Technologies. So that was why Chad had been so cordial with Ariel, letting her make an appearance at the tender and even giving her opportunities to shine. It all came down to money. It had nothing to do with Ariel¡¯s actual ability. She was still just an empty shell. Nancy closed her file. Her expression was t, but a sneer tugged at her lips. ¡°Well, that exins it,¡± she said softly. She had racked her brain wondering what Chad saw in Ariel. She couldn¡¯t imagine a man like him valuing or even liking someone like her. It turned out that Ariel simplypensated for herck of ability with money. Everything she had was nothing more than a privilege she paid for. Seth looked puzzled. ¡°Ms. Stanton, what do you mean by that?¡± Nancy lowered her head and sent Jayson a message, asking if he was free for lunch. But after some thought, her brows faintly furrowed. Ariel had dropped that much cash into Faye Technologies¡® project. Nancy had a good guess where the money came from¨CJayson. At that time, they were getting divorced, yet Ariel still spent his money. Nancy really couldn¡¯t stand the way Ariel still acted like she was Jayson¡¯s wife. Noticing Nancy¡¯s silence, Seth thought for a moment, then decided to mention to Nancy that Ariel had actually led the previous project at Faye Technologies. ¡°The investment was one part of it, but the other reason was Ms. Walker-¡± With a ding, the elevator doors opened. Nancy didn¡¯t respond and stepped into the elevator, clearly no longer interested. 213 Seth hesitated for a moment. Figuring she probably didn¡¯t care anyway, he didn¡¯t say anything more. That afternoon, around 4:00 pm, Ariel made a stop at the hospital after work. Leonard had been doing fairly welltely. He had already started the pre¨Csurgery treatment. Not long after she arrived, Isaac came in for rounds. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he said as soon as he saw Ariel. ¡°Mr. Walker s test indicators have been rtively stabletely.¡± Leonard also reassured Ariel, saying, ¡°I feel pretty goodtely. The chemo is definitely working.¡± ¡°When¡¯s the surgery scheduled?¡± Ariel asked. Isaac thought for a moment. ¡°Around mid¨Cnext month, once the indicators stabilize and are at an appropriate level.¡± Ariel nodded, mind already moving ahead. She would be undergoing a total hysterectomy herself too. Before her surgery, she could take care of Leonard¡¯s affairs. If the timing worked out, she might even be able to look after him. Checking the time, she hesitated a little before finally asking, ¡°Is Dr. Spencer in today?¡± Isaac replied, ¡°Not at this hour. He¡¯s been swampedtely. He took on a bunch of new grad students. Did you need him?¡± Ariel was just trying her luck. Since she didn¡¯t run into Liam, she shook her head and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll see him next time.¡± She stayed to have dinner with Leonard. It was almost 8:00 pm by the time she headed down to the underground parking lot. No sooner had she started the car than a sharp screech of brakes rang out, rattling her eardrums. A car came speeding toward her from ahead. Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Then, she spotted a figure darting across the space in front of her. Frowning, she mmed the gear into reverse, yanked the wheel, and spun her car sideways into a blocking position. Then she rolled down the window and asked, ¡°Do you need help?¡± Inside 302 Liam took only two seconds to process when he saw Ariel before nodding. Without hesitation, Ariel swung open the car door. Liam slipped inside with the quick, precise movements of someone trained. Ariel caught the detail but didn¡¯t react. Her gaze briefly flicked to the rearview mirror before shifting gears and flooring the elerator. After countless visits to the hospital over the past two years, she knew the nearby roads like the back of her hand. She maneuvered sharply and sped away with ease. Even Liam nced sideways, impressed by her driving skills. Her delicate face showed almost no expression. Even with a car chasing from behind, she stayed remarkably calm. Watching the road carefully, she followed the flow of traffic and quickly lost the pursuer. Soon, Ariel was in a bustling shopping district, which was full of people and cars. ¡°Sorry for the trouble.¡± Liam nced behind them and then at Ariel. She shook her head, then asked, ¡°What was that all about?¡± The car chasing Liam had a chilling, ruthless edge. It was clear that they had no friendly intentions. Liam unbuckled his seatbelt. His calm expression betrayed nothing. ¡°They probably hold a grudge against me.¡± Probably? Ariel sensed he didn¡¯t want to say more, and she wasn¡¯t going to press. ¡°Weren¡¯t you afraid?¡± Liam looked surprised. Ariel, gentle as she appeared, had shown no sign of panic. ¡°I was,¡± she admitted honestly. Liam raised an eyebrow barely perceptibly. ¡°Then why help me?¡± Ariel turned to him and replied, ¡°I needed a favor. I wanted to ask if you could carve out some time to help with a treatment n for my uncle.¡± Her blunt honesty caught Liam off guard. He studied her for a moment, then slowly smiled. After a few seconds, he figured out what Ariel was getting at. ¡°You¡¯ve been meaning to tell me this since west met, haven¡¯t you?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t deny it. That was the real reason she stepped in today. She wouldn¡¯t do favors without strings attached. Liam opened the car door and got out. He looked at herposed expression and nodded. ¡°Okay, no problem.¡± Through this, he could tell Ariel was someone with good judgment. She had been wanting to ask for a while but hadn¡¯t rushed it. Now that he was returning a favor, it felt right, and he wouldn¡¯t make things difficult for her. Ariel felt a wave of relief. Since Liam was Fergus, even the sinallest difference in trement could drastically affect the oue. She had to give it a shot for the sake of a higher chance of recovery. ¡°Thank you,¡± Ariel said after getting the answer she wanted. ¡°Will you be okay getting back on your own?¡± Liam nodded. ¡°Someone¡¯s picking me up.¡± She gave a slight nod. ¡°Alright. See you.¡± Looking at her, he took a small step back. ¡°See you.¡± Ariel calmly looked away and didn¡¯t linger. She turned the car and drove off. Not long after Ariel left, another car pulled up. Liam got in smoothly. Frowning, Zach looked at him. ¡°Are those people from overseas?¡± Liam checked his phone. ¡°Probably.¡± Zach¡¯s expression darkened. He knew Liam had spent years with Doctors Without Borders in war zones, helping people regardless of race or status. That kind of work inevitably stepped on some powerful toes. Retaliation was nothing new, but it had gotten reckless now. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The relevant departments are handling it. They shouldn¡¯t have messed with you here,¡± Zach said grimly. Inside 303 Liam paused, realizing he had forgotten to thank Ariel. He scrolled through his contacts for a while. When he finally found her name, he sent a short message. ¡°Thank you.¡± He didn¡¯t care if she would reply. Instead, he looked up at Zach, who had just turned around and was scanning Liam from head to toe. Frowning, he asked, ¡°Who pulled you out just now?¡± That question hit the mark. Liam tapped the back of his phone as he looked at Zach. ¡°Someone you know.¡± Zach gave him a skeptical look. Before he could press further, his phone rang. It was Gary. Liam made a gesture for him to pick up the phone and didn¡¯t interrupt as he took the call. The moment Zach answered, Gary said, ¡°Come to next week¡¯s tech seminar. You¡¯ll follow up on policy discussions and meet someone important.¡± Zach rubbed at his brow, clearly not thrilled. ¡°We¡¯ll see.¡± Gary snapped, ¡°This one¡¯s not like the others. You¡¯ll want to know them.¡± Without giving Zach a chance to refuse, he ended the call abruptly. Zach stared at his phone and lost all interest in prying into Liam¡¯s business for now. He floored the elerator and drove him home in silence. Ariel locked herself away for three days to focus fully on the disaster¨Cresponse project. Midway through, she got a message from Isaac. He mentioned that Liam had already been in touch, working with him on the treatment and surgical ns. Once everything was finalized, they would keep her in the loop. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Liam to move this fast, and he hadn¡¯t cut corners either. Now that one thing was settled, she felt much more at ease. Later, during a free moment, she received a call from Carlos. Some of his old students were visiting, and he invited her over for a little technical exchange. Ariel was all for it. She drove straight to the Hockney residence. -Carlos¡® former students were now all prominent figures in the industry, and every one of them was senior to Ariel. They engaged in a deep discussion on the current trends in new energy. By the time they wrapped up, it was nearly 2:00 am. Chad had returned home that day too, and he offered casually, ¡°That room you used to crash in is still there. It¡¯s alreadyte. Just stay the night. I¡¯ll have someone tidy it up! Back when she and Chad were working on papers and projects together, they often went without sleep or food. The two of them would pull all¨Cnighters, often looking disheveled. Carlos had set up a room just for Ariel, so she could rest from time to time. He treated her like his own daughter. To this day, that room remained untouched. Ariel hadn¡¯t known the room was still there. Warmth crept into her chest, and she chuckled softly. ¡°Alright, thank you.¡± Chad flicked her forehead. ¡°Wow, that¡¯s so polite of you. Gorest. The guest list for tomorrow¡¯s seminar is out. You¡¯ll be going with my dad.¡± The other guests were also staying over in the guest wing. Ariel asked, ¡°Is Janice going?¡± Thinking of Janice¡¯sid¨Cback, restless personality, Chad shook his head with a chuckle. ¡°Sending her to a formal event like this would be pure torture for her.¡± Even Ariel let out augh. She rubbed her forehead and headed to her room. Tomorrow¡¯s seminar focused on the military¨Ctech sector. It was a high¨Clevel event thatpanies were scrambling to get into. It would serve as a means for the government to assess which firms were suitable and whether they possessed the capacity for technological innovation. The next morning, Ariel made a quick stop at home to change. She chose a sharp, elegant off¨Cwhite suit. At 8:30 am, Chad arrived to pick her up. Her apartment was just along the route to the conference center. Carlos rode with them. When they arrived, Chad got out first and hurried around to open the door for Ariel. After getting out of the car, she stood quietly to the side, waiting for Carlos to get out as well. That scene, as it happened, was caught by someone watching from a distance. Inside 304 Chapter 304 Jayson¡¯s gaze drifted sideways, quietly studying the scene across the lot. Even Nancy nced over in confusion, and her expression grew more serious. Ariel arrived with Carlos? When did she get that kind of ess? And more importantly, it was only just after 9:00 am. Had Carlos picked her up, or had theye from the same ce? ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Jayson said coolly. He remained indifferent. Nancy pressed her lips together, not saying anything. Ever since she had heard from Seth about Ariel being the one behind the major investment, she should have realized this kind of treatment was inevitable. Even Ariel arriving alongside Carlos wasn¡¯t all that surprising. Ariel didn¡¯t notice Jayson and Nancy. She followed Carlos inside and recognized a few familiar faces along the way. Every majorpany that mattered had shown up. Attendees were divided into groups, and the seats in the conference room were nearly all assigned. There was a ripple of surprise as Carlos entered. Many had long wanted the chance to meet him. In a setting like this, no one was about to pass up the opportunity for a face¨Cto¨Cface exchange. Chad shrugged. ¡°Let¡¯s go find our seats.¡± Ariel nodded. The two had barely settled at theirbeled spots when a new wave of movement broke out across the room. On the opposite side, Jayson had just taken his seat. Nancy sat beside him, surrounded by an eager circle of greeters. ¡°Congrattions, Ms. Stanton. Looking forward to possible coborations.¡± Nancy responded with polished grace, ¡°Likewise.¡± ¡°Word is, Veyo Solutions is recruiting talent. You¡¯re building something promising, Ms. Stanton. Very impressive. 11 Upon hearing all the praise, Nancy instinctively nced at Jayson with a smile. Her demeanor softened a little.¡± Thank you. I appreciate it.¡± Veyo Solutions was riding high. With Jayson backing them, everyone wanted a piece. They were clearly optimistic about Veyo Solutions¡® future. The room was filled with top executives. They normally wouldn¡¯t go out of their way to show favor to a newpany. But with Jayson seated beside Nancy, out of courtesy, their enthusiasm didn¡¯t wane. Chad scoffed. ¡°Veyo Solutions technically shouldn¡¯t have made the invite list for today¡¯s session. Jayson being here is just his way of making it clear that he¡¯s Nancy¡¯s sponsor.¡± Ariel already figured as much. With Jayson¡¯s endorsement, it was inevitable that Veyo Solutions would be flooded with coboration offers. He had invested in thepany, after all. Of course, he wanted to see it thrive. Ariel set her notebook down beside her. People continued to filter in, exchanging pleasantries before finding their seats. When Ariel looked up, she caught Jayson looking right at her. He rested one hand on the table, tapping his fingers in an unhurried rhythm. When their eyes met, his gaze lingered before he gave a casual nod as a subtle gesture of acknowledgment. Ariel acted as if she hadn¡¯t seen that and coldly looked away She didn¡¯t respond or acknowledge him. When Samson arrived, he immediately spotted Ariel sitting near the front. A smile flickered across his face. He was about to head her way when a staff member from the conference center spotted him and quickly rushed over. ¡°Mr. Pryce, your seat is this way. Pleasee with me¡± Samson nced where the man pointed. His assigned spot was near the front but several seats away from Ariel. He considered it for a moment, then asked, ¡°Would it be possible to switch seats?¡± He knew that at a conference of this level, seating was pre¨Cassigned, with nametes ced at each spot. It wouldn¡¯t be easy to switch seats, but he still wanted to try. The staff member hesitated for a moment. But considering Samson¡¯s status, he nodded and said, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll see what I can do. Which seat would you like to switch to?¡± Ariel was quietly scanning the crowd, mentally piecing together who represented whatpanies. She was deep in thought, running through Faye Technologies¡® next strategic steps, when someone approached. So focused was she, she didn¡¯t register the presence until a man¡¯s voice broke through. ¡°Ms. Walker, we meet again.¡± Only then did Ariel nce to the side. Seeing Samson, she suddenly recalled him mentioning this tech seminar to Chad. So he was attending too. ¡°Hello.¡± Ariel nodded. Inside 305 Chapter 305 Smiling, Samson looked at Ariel, then turned toward Chad offer a polite greeting. Chad shook his hand, looking clearly surprised. ¡°What are the odds? Looks like we¡¯re seatmates.¡± Samson nodded and tapped casually on his namete on the table. ¡°Yeah, we do seem to have some kind of fate.¡± In truth, he had arranged for the nametes to be switched Neither Ariel nor Chad had noticed. Ariel, not one for unnecessary small talk, promptly turned back to her own thoughts after greeting Samson. She was mentally mapping out Faye Technologies¡® potential development trajectory. He watched her silently as she drifted into thought. She asionally frowned and touched her temple. Seeing that, Samson quietly smiled. He didn¡¯t disturb her.. Not many people around recognized him, so he enjoyed a rare moment of peace. Across the room, the other side was buzzing with activity. Samson nced over and quickly spotted Jayson and Nancy. He knew Jayson. Nancy, though, took him a moment longer And then, it finally clicked. He had seen her at Lucas¡® engagement party. That was likely the only link between them. Just then, Nancy also looked over and spotted Samson. Her gaze lingered for two seconds before she nodded politely. Since she had taken the initiative, Samson returned the gesture. Then his eyes flicked back to Ariel beside him. Nancy slowly withdrew her gaze, then nced at the namete in front of Samson. In fact, she had noticed when the staff came by to switch out the namete. The seat directly across from her hadn¡¯t originally been Samson¡¯s. It had been switched at thest minute. At an event like this, changing seats was umon. It was unlikely to be the idea of the conference center¡¯s staff member. The only possibility was that Samson himself had requested the change. As it happened, the seat directly across from Nancy had been unupied at the time, making the switch easy enough. Nancy calmly looked away, then turned toward the CEO of the advanced materialspany, who had taken the seat beside her not long ago. She twirled her pen thoughtfully. Now that someone was sitting there, switching seats wasn¡¯t an option anymore. With everyone settled, the conference began. To Ariel¡¯s surprise, Gary was also present. He was sitting in the front row next to Carlos. That alone spoke volumes about how high¨Clevel this event truly was. The conference centered around emerging technologies, covering key policy directions and the growing needs of both the public and private sectors. It also highlighted various areas of development with strong potential for entry into the defense industry. Ariel jotted down a rough summary of the conference in her notebook, gaining a clear understanding of the current major areas of demand. Samson happened to catch a nce at her notes. They were sharp, insightful, and impressively thorough. He was surprised. He hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to be this insightful. She was truly an expert. Without a solid technical background, there was no way she could have written something like that. A pleasant surprise, indeed. Back at Lucas¡® engagement party, when he had asked around about Ariel, all he learned was her connection to Lucas and that she worked at Faye Technologies. But today, he was finally starting to get a clearer picture of just how capable she really was. The conferencested for nearly two hours. Once it wrapped up, Nancy finally caught sight of Gary and Carlos seated at the front. A flicker of delight crossed her face. She turned to Jayson and said, ¡°Should we go say hello to them?¡± After all, Veyo Solutions was eyeing expansion into military tech. Getting face time with influential figures like those two could be a game changer. Jayson didn¡¯t object, but his phone buzzed in his hand. He said coolly, ¡°You go ahead.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t hesitate. With a graceful smile, she nodded. ¡°Okay, join me when you¡¯re done.¡± ¡°Nice to meet you, Commander Quinton.¡± Gary had just stood up, ready to leave, when he heard Nancy¡¯s voice. When he turned and caught sight of her, a subtle gleam passed through his gaze. Nancy offered a poised smile. ¡°Not sure if you remember me. We¡¯ve met before.¡± Of course Gary remembered her, whether it was because of her connection to Jayson or because she had been the one who wrecked Ariel¡¯s marriage. He nced toward Carlos, who was already walking off with his hands sped behind his back. He was clearly uninterested in engaging. Gary gave Nancy a polite nod. His expression revealed nothing. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I¡¯ve got something urgent to deal with. Perhaps we can talk another time.¡± He didn¡¯t give Nancy a chance to talk. Without another word, he turned and strode off. Nancy froze in surprise, her brows slowly drawing together. As her gaze followed the direction he was heading, her expression shifted slightly. Gary was actually walking over to Ariel? Inside 306 Chapter 306 To Nancy, the scene unfolding before her eyes was downright baffling. Gary didn¡¯t hesitate for even a second. He walked toward Ariel with clear intent and purpose.. Someone with Gary¡¯s status had never been the one to initiate anything. Usually, people tripped over themselves just to get on his radar. Yet now, he was going out of his way to incet Ariel. Nancy felt an unexinable tightness in her chest. Logically speaking, if Ariel ever got an opportunity like this, she would be the one rushing to talk to Gary. But now, things were happening the other way around. Nancy frowned, unable to make sense of it. Just then, Jayson finished his call and strolled over. His sharp eyes also caught sight of the scene unfolding in the distance. Gary looked oddly cheerful as he approached Ariel and extended his hand. Ariel, calm andposed, returned the handshake with a polite smile. Nancy pressed her lips together and withdrew her gaze to look up at Jayson. ¡°Jayson, Commander Quinton didn¡¯t say much to me. He had someone else to talk to.¡± She didn¡¯t mention Ariel by name. Some people didn¡¯t even deserve a mention. Jayson looked in that direction, his eyes revealing nothing. Nancy frowned slightly. ¡°Does that feel a little odd to you too?¡± But soon, she noticed Chad walk over to Ariel. The scene that had been gnawing at her finally started to make some sense. Gary and Chad knew each other. If Chad had intended to help Ariel make these connections, then sure, some of that respect might have been out of courtesy to him. This wasn¡¯t recognition Ariel earned on her own. At that thought, Nancy smirked and didn¡¯t say anything else. Meanwhile, Jayson casually slipped one hand into his pocket. His gaze was fixed on Ariel as she conversed effortlessly with Gary. Her demeanor was poised, and there was a polite smile on her face. She seemed gracious, yet subtly detached. Even in front of someone like Gary, she didn¡¯t flinch. Jayson had met Gary a few times over the years, but he couldn¡¯t recall him ever being this animated with anyone. Eventually, he tore his gaze away. Hisshes lowered just slightly. The faintest hint of emotion flickered behind his otherwise unreadable eyes. On Ariel¡¯s end, this was the first proper introduction she had ever had with Gary. The look of admiration in his eyes was obvious. ¡°You¡¯re impressive, Ariel. Carlos really has been keeping a gem hidden all this time.¡± Hidden gem was putting it lightly. Someone like Ariel would be highly sought after anywhere in the world. Even Carlos had once praised her, saying, ¡°We only get one prodigy like her every few decades.¡± U.N2 was something Ariel developed when she was just 20 years old. It had already been deployed on real battlefields and exported to multiple countries. From the moment it was unveiled, it drew strong interest from nations around the world. By now, it had earned a fierce reputation worldwide as a powerhouse weapon. To ensure absolute technical control, keeping Ariel¡¯s identity under wraps was essential. Ariel offered a modest smile. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, sir.¡± Chad looked over, eyes brimming with pride and admiration. Gary waved it off with augh. ¡°You¡¯re being far too humble. Carlos probably already mentioned the sixth- generation fighter jet project for the second half of the year. Have you considered it?¡± Ariel nced around instinctively. Thankfully, they were the only ones around here. She replied softly, ¡°Thank you for the offer. If I can contribute to the Department of Defense in any way, it¡¯d be an honor.¡± Gary¡¯s grin widened at her clear response. Just after finishing a conversation, Samson walked over and caught sight of Gary looking unusually cheerful. He gave Gary a slight nod in acknowledgment. Gary nced at him and knew that Samson had no intention of revealing his identity, so he didn¡¯t go out of his way to strike up a conversation. Checking his watch, Gary said, ¡°It¡¯s almost lunchtime. How about we talk over lunch?¡± Inside 307 Chapter 307 Gary hadn¡¯t seen Zach all morning, and that honestly annoyed him. He had nned to drag him along to lunch. Chad agreed, ¡°Of course. It¡¯d be an honor for Faye Tech.¡± As he said it, he nced toward Samson and added politely ¡°Mr. Pryce, would you care to join us?¡± Samson could tell it was just a polite gesture. epting would only make things awkward. Smiling, he replied, I¡¯m sorry, but I¡¯ve got something right after this. Let¡¯s save it for next time.¡± At that moment, Ariel noticed Jayson walking over with Nancy in tow. ¡°Commander Quinton,¡± Jayson greeted Gary Gary didn¡¯t show any particr reaction. He simply nodded ¡°Mr. Larkin.¡± As an outsider, it wasn¡¯t his ce to get involved in the younger generation¡¯s personal entanglements. Jayson¡¯s gaze flicked toward Chad but soon locked onto Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker, I was wondering if you and Mr. Hockney are free for lunch. There are some issues on Veyo Solutions¡® side that need to be discussed.¡± The invitation came out of nowhere. Ariel frowned. Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions weren¡¯t exactly on lunch invite terms. Chad nced at Gary, who hesitated a beat; He had nned to use lunch to learn more about Ariel. Who knew when he would get the chance again? But now that Jayson brought up work, he said after some thought, ¡°If it¡¯s urgent, why don¡¯t you join us? I¡¯d already made ns with Ariel and Chad.¡± Jayson smiled faintly. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind, then we¡¯d be happy to.¡± Gary gave a wave and led the way out. Frowning, Ariel threw Jayson a nce. A clear guess formed in her mind. Jayson likely hadn¡¯t intended to invite her and Chad for lunch at all. His real target had always been Gary. 11 He must have overheard Gary inviting them to lunch. And he knew that if he tried to approach Gary directly, Gary would likely have refused. But if Jayson framed it as a work matter with Faye Technologies, Gary would be forced to weigh the optics. He wouldn¡¯t want to make things difficult for Ariel and Chad. So, to keep the peace, he would suggest they tag along. Jayson had yed the psychological game like a pro. All of this was just so he could bring Nancy and Veyo Solutions to the table. Although Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions were coborating on the military project, the technical work was fully handled by Faye Technologies. There was little need formunication with Veyo Solutions. Jayson did this on purpose, for sure. Ariel didn¡¯t say a word. She just turned and walked off. When Nancy noticed Ariel¡¯s cold expression and irritation, she frowned in displeasure. Chapter 307 Did Ariel think she was someone important now? Did she really think Gary was here just for her? That no one else was allowed to speak to him? Chad didn¡¯t say much. He had a good idea of what Jayson was getting at. Some things just couldn¡¯t be said outright. As they waited by the elevators, more people started leaving the conference room. Samson didn¡¯t bother with others. He made his way straight to Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker, if there¡¯s ever a chance, I¡¯d love to work together. Would you be open to exchanging numbers?¡± He sounded sincere. Jayson happened to round the corner just as those words were spoken. He didn¡¯t break stride. His gaze merely swept over them. Ariel didn¡¯t notice. She had her own considerations about Samson. Anyone attending today¡¯s seminar was bound to have a solid background. It would be a win if he could be a potential business partner. In the world of business, adaptability was key. Without missing a beat, she pulled out her phone. ¡°Sure.¡± Inside 308 Inside 308 Samson was in a good mood. Seeing Ariel¡¯s name now sitting in his contact list made him smile. His eyes lit up. ¡°Hope we get to meet again soon.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t think much of it. She just gave a polite nod in response. Samson had something to deal with and left ahead of them. As Ariel reached the entrance, Chad approached. ¡°My dad had to head back to the research institute. Something urgent came up. So it¡¯s just us for lunch.¡± Ariel nodded. Carlos had to keep a close eye on the research institute. Besides, he rarely took the initiative to attend social events. Since Gary arranged the lunch, he sent them the location of the restaurant. It was a very discreet fine dining restaurant. When they pulled up, a sleek Maybach was already parked out front. Ariel barely nced at it. Chad, on the other hand, clicked his tongue. ¡°Jayson definitely has a lot of clout. He¡¯s been deeply involved with the military sector these past two years, and they worked really well together. Gary knows this well, so it wouldn¡¯t be easy to refuse him.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond, but she knew that Jayson was calctive. Inside the private dining room, they found Jayson and Nancy already seated. A few otherpany executives had joined too. What was supposed to be a private lunch had now clearly shifted into a business gathering thanks to Jayson¡¯s interference. He was seated to Gary¡¯s left. Nancy sat beside him. When Ariel and Chad walked in, Gary waved them over. ¡°Ariel, that conversation would have to wait. But at least he could meet her for now. Turning toward Chad, Gary began chatting casually about recent trends in military tech and innovation. Nancy smiled politely and smoothly took over the conversation. ¡°The domestic techndscape¡¯s reallye into its own in recent years. Talent is everywhere. ¡°At Veyo Solutions, we n to focus more on military¨Cgrade quality and standards in the second half of the year. We¡¯re hoping to y a meaningful role,¡± Only then did Gary turn to her, then subtly shift his gaze to Jayson. Without a word, Jayson sipped his coffee with practiced detachment. He didn¡¯t interrupt, letting Nancy do all the talking. Gary nodded slowly. ¡°Veyo Solutions, huh?¡± Nancy smiled brightly. Seizing the moment, she began introducing thepany. She covered every detail, from the caliber of their talent to the robustness of their hardware. On all fronts, they were truly impressive. But Gary, still smiling, cut straight to the point with a question. ¡°Ms. Stanton, are you Mr. Larkin¡¯s employee?¡± Nancy froze. A flicker of difort passed across her face. She had no idea how Gary got to that conclusion. Chad grinned and gave Ariel a knowing look. Ariel just raised an eyebrow slightly. She hadn¡¯t expected Gary to ask that. It was probably an innocent question, but it still felt like a slight against Nancy. After all, everyone knew Nancy was Jayson¡¯s ¡°soulmate¡°. Inside 309 Nancy quicklyposed herself and asked modestly, ¡°What makes you say that, Commander Quinton?¡± Gary set down his cup, genuinely surprised. ¡°You¡¯ve introduced so much about Veyo Solutions, Have I misunderstood? I thought you were speaking on behalf of Mr. Larkin as one of his employees.¡± At that moment, Jayson finally looked up with a smile. ¡°She¡¯s not.¡± He gave no further exnation about their rtionship. Ariel didn¡¯t look over, but she knew exactly what Jayson was doing. He was paving the way for Nancy¡¯s rise, probably aiming to push her deeper into the military sector Quite the borate n. Just then, the door to the private room opened. Zach arrived fashionablyte. His eyes quickly scanned the room and caught sight of Ariel sitting next to Gary. Even Chad was a seat away. Everyone at the table greeted Zach. Nancy had already moved on from what had just happened and gave Zach a polite nod. Gary, pleased by the arrival, gestured toward the seat next to Chad. ¡°Sit there.¡± That was close enough to Ariel. Zach didn¡¯t object but couldn¡¯t understand why this lunch was happening in the first ce. ¡°Everyone here knows each other, right?¡± Gary asked. Zach hesitated, stealing a nce at Ariel. ¡°More or less.¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze remained steady. She waspletely focused on listening. She didn¡¯t even acknowledge Zach¡¯s arrival. That didn¡¯t escape Zach¡¯s notice. He frowned. Was she deliberately giving him the cold shoulder? Gary was oblivious to the strange vibe between them. As long as they could sit down and have a meal, it was a good enough start. If the first impression went well, the rest would follow. The otherpany executives joined in the conversation, discussing major trends from recent years and exchanging ideas with Gary. After staying uptest night at the Hockney residence debating aerospace topics and waking early today, Ariel- already with a fragile constitution¨Cstarted to feel a headache creeping in. Her body ached all over. Her health was bing more fragile by the day. Seeing that Gary and the others were deep in serious conversation, she didn¡¯t want her current state to affect the mood. She leaned in and whispered to Chad, ¡°I¡¯m going to step outside for some air.¡± Noticing her paleplexion, Chad asked with a frown, ¡°Want me toe with you?¡± Ariel patted his shoulder. ¡°No, you need to stay here.¡± Chapter 309 She quietly rose without interrupting the ongoing conversation. However, her seat was deep inside, so she had to pass several people to leave. She kept her presence low, trying not to disturb anyone as she made her way out. Just then, the door opened again, and a waiter pushed in a cart carrying a steaming pot of soup. He nearly ran into Ariel. He hadn¡¯t expected anyone to be standing so close to the door. The waiter gasped, ¡°Watch out! I¡¯m sorry.¡± The space was cramped. Ariel quickly stepped aside, fearful that the hot pot might burn her. In that split second, she identally mmed the side of her waist against the corner of the table. Themotion caught the attention of those at the table. But Ariel couldn¡¯t care less. She clutched her abdomen in pain. Her face turned deathly pale as cold sweat broke out across her forehead. The blownded right on the affected area, sending unbearable pain flooding through her. She couldn¡¯t maintain her usual calm facade any longer. The world spun around her, and her consciousness slipped away. Just as she was about to faint, a cold voice cut through the chaos. ¡°Go start the car.¡± A shadow moved swiftly, scooping her up just as she was about to copse. Without hesitation, he carried her out of the private room. Inside 310 Inside 310 Everything happened so fast, it caught everyone off guard. When Nancy came to her senses, she shot up from her seat. Her expression was a mix of shock and confusion as she stared at the doorway, where his figure had just vanished with Ariel in his arms. She wasn¡¯t the only one. Everyone at the table froze. The only sound came from the waiter. His face was as pale as a sheet. Trembling, he repeated frantically, ¡°I¡¯m so sorry. I didn¡¯t see her. I¡¯m really sorry.¡± Zach finally realized what had happened. Something was seriously wrong with Ariel. But no one had seen exactly how it happened. It had all unfolded in a blink. By the time Zach realized what was happening, Ariel was already doubled over in pain, her entire body going limp. The most shocking part was that the man who had carried Ariel out of the room was Jayson. While everyone else was still frozen in ce, he had already swept her up and rushed her to the hospital. Chad snapped back to reality. He only caught sight of Ariel on the verge of copsing, having no idea what had triggered it. His expression turned grim. Worried sick, he still made sure to turn to Gary. ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. Ariel¡¯s not feeling well. If you don¡¯t mind, could we continue this another day?¡± Gary looked genuinely concerned. ¡°Of course. Go check on her.¡± He hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to be the one who reacted fastest Chad gave a quick nod and rushed out. Zach instinctively got to his feet too, his expression tense. He nced over at Nancy. ¡°Ms. Stanton, would you like toe too?¡± After all, Jayson was her boyfriend. She had every reason to check in. Nancy pressed her lips together. Her expression remainedposed. She simply gave a nod, showing no sign of frustration over the sudden incident. With perfect grace, she bid Gary farewell before following Zach out the door. By the time Jayson carried Ariel into the car, the pain had shocked her body back into a fragile sort of awareness. When they arrived at the nearest hospital, Jayson got out, walked around to her side, and reached in to pick her up again. Summoning all her willpower, Ariel, looking ghostly pale, flicked his hand off with a sharp smack. ¡°I can walk by myself.¡± Jayson¡¯s expression was cold. He stared at her with an inscrutable gaze. Ariel clutched her aching abdomen and stepped out on her own. Her legs wobbled the second her feet hit the pavement. Jayson didn¡¯t say a word. Without asking for her consent, he bent down and picked her up again. Hepletely ignored the change in her expression and the way she struck his shoulder. It was as if he couldn¡¯t feel the pain at all. The pain had drained nearly all of Ariel¡¯s strength. Her resistance was useless, and her face grew increasingly pale. Jayson carried her straight into the emergency room. Soon, a nurse rushed over. ¡°This way, please.¡± Frowning, Jayson set her onto the hospital bed. The doctor approached quickly to check on Ariel. While sanitizing his hands, he asked, ¡°Are you a family member? Jayson¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. He didn¡¯t answer the question. Instead, he said calmly, ¡°She¡¯s got severe abdominal pain after hitting the edge of a table. Could it be a corpus luteum rupture?¡± The doctor¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°It¡¯s possible. We need to run some tests.¡± He leaned down and began palpating Ariel¡¯s abdomen. A cold sweat broke across her forehead. Still, she gritted her teeth and turned toward Jayson. ¡°You¡¯ve done enough. You can leave now. I¡¯ll have Chade. ¡°1 Thest thing she wanted was for Jayson to see her this disheveled and vulnerable. Especially with how strained things had already be between them. Her pride refused to let her fall apart in front of him. And she sure as hell didn¡¯t want to be entangled with her ex- husband. Jayson finally looked down at her. ¡°Ariel, stubbornness for the sake of pride is just foolishness.¡± Inside 311 This was the first time Ariel had heard Jayson speak so sharply. He showed no expression, and his words didn¡¯t sound like sarcasm or mockery, but they still cut deep. Jayson didn¡¯t bother arguing with her anymore. He turned and left the room to wait outside, giving the doctor space to work. Ariel didn¡¯t want to argue either. The pain was slowly easing. Her face was pale as she looked at the doctor. ¡°I know what¡¯s wrong with me. No need for a detailed exam.¡± She had unexpectedly hit the affected area, triggering a sudden, sharp abdominal pain. But the doctor¡¯s tone was serious. ¡°Your symptoms are unusual. We need to check for internal bleeding.¡± Ariel closed her eyes. She knew all too well that the pain was from her endometrial cancer, made worse by the impact. But at this point, getting tested was the best option. ¡°Alright. Once you receive the results, please notify me directly. The person waiting outside has nothing to do with me. Don¡¯t bother telling him.¡± Her voice was weak, but she still made the request in advance. The doctor didn¡¯t question her and ordered a CT scan and blood tests. The ER was busy, so the results would take some time toe in. Jayson didn¡¯t leave. He sat quietly near Ariel¡¯s bed, not saying a word. He just watched her now and then. Then Chad rushed in, out of breath. Seeing Ariel¡¯s pale face, his expression darkened. ¡°Is it serious? What happened?¡± Ariel shook her head and forced a smile through the difort. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I just bumped into the table.¡± Soon after, Zach and Nancy showed up. Ariel wasn¡¯t pleased to see them. Already feeling weak, she didn¡¯t want to waste energy on them. She knew they hadn¡¯te out of genuine concern. Their presence was just because Jayson was there. It was all about social obligation. Nancy¡¯s expression was cold as she nced at Ariel on the bed. Without a word, she walked over to Jayson.¡± Jayson, did the doctor say what¡¯s wrong?¡± Jayson finally looked up. His face was icy and unreadable. ¡°The results aren¡¯t back yet.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t push further. She wasn¡¯t sure what was really going on with Ariel. How could just a bump be serious enough for emergency care? Zach¡¯s face showed mixed emotions. Ariel did look terrible. Chapter an But beyond that, what surprised him more was Jayson. He was the one who had rushed Ariel to the hospital. He was so quick, so natural, and so concerned. ¡°Mr. Larkin.¡± Zach nced at Jayson, as if about to ask something. Jayson looked up at him. Seeing the cold, serious expression on his face, Zach suddenly understood that it was probably because Jayson was sitting so close to Ariel. He looked over at Nancy, Jayson¡¯s girlfriend, and saw she wasn¡¯t jealous or upset at all. She seemned to understand that saving Ariel was the priority. Still, Zach felt something was off about Jayson carrying Ariel out like that. He couldn¡¯t quite put his finger on it yet. Jayson ignored Zach¡¯s thoughts and fixed his eyes on the hospital bed. It wasn¡¯t until Chad arrived that Ariel finally let her guard down. She said to Chad, ¡°Can you take them out? I want some peace and quiet.¡± She didn¡¯t feel like thanking anyone or pretending to be polite because she was painfully aware that none of those three truly cared about her. Ariel¡¯s words were blunt. Nancy didn¡¯t even look at her. Instead, she turned to Jayson ¡°If it¡¯s nothing serious, then we won¡¯t stay here any longer.¡± Inside 312 Chapter 312 Jayson looked at Ariel. Her color hadn¡¯t fully returned, and even with light makeup on, a clear trace of exhaustion remained beneath the surface. Frowning, he stood up. Chad understood Ariel didn¡¯t want certain people lingering around. Even though he was worried about her condition, he still managed a polite smile and turned to Jayson and the others. ¡°Thank you foring, really. I¡¯ll take care of Ari from here. I¡¯ll treat you all to a meal sometime to show my gratitude.¡± It was a clear sign they were being shown the door. Zach would always show Chad a measure of respect. He nced at Ariel. ¡°Okay. If you need anything, just say the word, Mr. Hockney.¡± He agreed that it wasn¡¯t right for them to linger. With all the medical checks, Ariel clearly wasn¡¯t at ease either. Jayson simply gave a quiet hum of acknowledgement. Without looking at Ariel again, he turned and walked out. There was no hesitation or lingering concern. Watching his straightforward exit, Nancy let out a faint smile. She had been overthinking it earlier. Jayson had helped Ariel out of basic decency. Nothing more. She followed him out without another word. As Zach left, he nced back at Ariel. She had her eyes shut already. Still, he said, ¡°Hope you feel better soon.¡± Once the three of them were gone, Ariel finally felt like she could breathe. But Chad¡¯s face darkened. ¡°How did it get this bad? What did the doctor say?¡± Seeing the worry in his eyes, Ariel felt a lump rise in her throat. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just a bad bump. That¡¯s all.¡± She hadn¡¯t figured out how to tell him the truth yet. Knowing Chad, if she confessed, he would have her pull out of Faye Technologies¡® project immediately and focus on treatment. And right now, she felt like she could still hang on. Unless absolutely necessary, she didn¡¯t want her illness to throw everyone into chaos and worry, especially with Leonard about to undergo surgery. And Katie couldn¡¯t take another blow right now. Feeling slightly better, Ariel said, ¡°Can you get me some water?¡± Chad didn¡¯t ask questions and went to find a convenience store. Ariel had timed it just right. Sure enough, the doctor returned not long after with her results. He frowned as he looked at her. ¡°There¡¯s some irregrity in your uterus. I¡¯m seeing some swelling and localized bruising, but no bleeding at the moment. Have you had any prior symptoms or issues?¡± She could tell he was starting to suspect something more. And once that happened, doctors would start Chapter 312 rmending further exams and a full workup. So she said calmly, ¡°I have cancer.¡± Herposure left the doctor momentarily stunned. ¡°It¡¯s swollen because I hit the area hard. Please just treat the swelling for now,¡± As for the cancer, that was a different matter. The doctor returned to his usual expression, though his tone turned more serious. ¡°You¡¯ll need to stay overnight. We¡¯ll get you started on anti¨Cinmmatory and anti¨Cinfection IVs.¡± Ariel nodded, She pushed through her weakness and quicklypleted the emergency admission process. By the time Chad came back, she nced at the clock. ¡°Chad, you should go. My grandma¡¯sing soon. She¡¯ll stay with me tonight.¡± Chad knew it wasn¡¯t appropriate for him to stay anyway. ¡°I can ask Jan toe. Your grandma¡¯s getting older. It might be too much for her.¡± Ariel smiled and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. The doctor said it¡¯s just abdominal pain. A bit of IV and I¡¯ll be good as new. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Chad still looked like he wanted to protest, but Ariel didn¡¯t give him the chance. She gently ushered him out. Soon after, a nurse came in and set up her IV. By early evening, Ariel¡¯s phone buzzed. It was Betty. ¡°Ari, are you at the hospital?¡± ¡°How¡¯d you know?¡± Ariel blinked in surprise. Betty sounded more anxious now. ¡°Jayson came home for a bit. His driver told me you weren¡¯t well. What happened? Is it serious?¡± Ariel rubbed her temple, trying to reassure her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Just a sudden stomach pain. I¡¯m fine now.¡± But Betty didn¡¯t sound convinced. ¡°I¡¯ll have Jaysone take care of you, okay? Don¡¯t be scared.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°Grandma, that¡¯s really not necessary. I¡¯m already feeling better.¡± ¡°Silly, if you don¡¯t rely on your husband in times like this, when are you going to?¡± It was impossible to argue with Betty. Sure enough, not long after they hung up, she heard a knock at the door. Turning around, Ariel saw Jayson walk in with a thermal food container in his hand. Inside 313 Chapter 313 Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to show up so fast. She had no idea how he even knew which ward she was in. Jayson looked at her and asked, ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± She knew he was only here because Betty found out. He had no choice but to put on an act. Frowning, she didn¡¯t bother answering. She simply said, ¡°You didn¡¯t need toe. Grandma won¡¯t know either way.¡± He ignored her, walked over to the bed, and checked the IV bag. ¡°How many more of these do you need?¡± Ariel frowned. It was clear he had no intention of listening to her. He nced down at her pale face. The signs of illness were in to see. ¡°Is Faye Tech really so busy that you have to run yourself into the ground? Take a look in the mirror. See what you look like right now.¡± His expression was cold, and his tone was devoid of warmth. The words were harsh and critical. As he spoke, he opened the thermal food container. Inside were a few light, in dishes. He unpacked them one by one, set them on the side table, and ced a fork and spoon next to her hand. ¡°Eat a little. Everything¡¯s mild.¡± Ariel nced at the food but didn¡¯t move. Her body felt so weak that even speaking drained her. Still, she said, This is my business. It has nothing to do with you, Mr. Larkin.¡± She was just reminding him about who they were to each other now. Jayson finally looked up at her. He didn¡¯t argue or say a word. The silence hung thick between them. 11 But he didn¡¯t seem affected. He wasn¡¯t here to bicker. Instead, he walked to the water dispenser, filled a cup with warm water, and ced it within reach by her bedside. Frowning, he adjusted the IV drip speed to make sure it wouldn¡¯t swell her hand from going too fast. He did all of it wordlessly. Those were thoughtful gestures, but Ariel wasn¡¯t naive enough to believe they meant he cared about her or had feelings for her. Even when they first got married, Jayson had always been meticulous by nature. There were countless instances like this. His polished manners often made him seem especially attentive to others. Women were emotional by nature. They looked for proof in the tiniest details, signs that they were loved and that they were special. And more often than not, it was those little things that made them fall hard. And it was those very things that had made her fall for Jayson for three whole years. But after years of harsh lessons and bitter reality, she finally understood that Jayson¡¯s gestures could very well have nothing to do with love at all. ¡°No need to trouble yourself. You can leave now.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t want him to stay. Her voice held a cold edge of distance. Jayson nced at her but didn¡¯t press her to eat. He simply walked back to the couch and sat down. ¡°Just pretend I¡¯m not here.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression darkened. She looked his way, only to see he was already busy with hisptop. He was clearly not nning to acknowledge what she had said. She pressed her lips together. Her tone was colder than before as she said, ¡°I¡¯ll tell Grandma you stopped by. You don¡¯t have to worry. I won¡¯t say anything else.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Jayson replied without looking up. His expression didn¡¯t shift in the slightest. He kept typing, making it clear he had no intention of leaving. And just like that, the room settled into a heavy, stifling silence. Ariel couldn¡¯t make sense of Jayson¡¯s behavior. She had no appetite for the food he brought and had no energy to figure out his mind games. She treated him like he wasn¡¯t there. She just turned away andy down. Whether he stayed or left was up to him. If he wanted to y doorman, that was his choice. She wasn¡¯t going to pay him any more attention. Later that night, Ariel spiked a fever. She felt faintly aware of the difort but soon slipped back into sleep. By early morning, her head was still foggy. She vaguely registered a nurse checking in. When she finally opened her eyes, the IV had already been removed. She sat up slowly. Her gaze fell on the couch. Jayson¡¯s jacket andptop were still there. Ariel frowned. Why was he still here? Just then, she heard his voice from the hallway. ¡°What¡¯s her exact condition? When is the doctor who saw her back on shift?¡± A nurse asked, ¡°May I ask what your rtion is to Ms. Walker?¡± There was a brief pause before Jayson replied, ¡°I¡¯m her husband.¡± Inside 314 Jayson¡¯s voice was calm and steady. His wordsnded squarely in Ariel¡¯s cats, leaving her stunned for several seconds. Outside the door, the nurse looked at the striking man in front of her in surprise. A few of the younger nurses nearby couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces his way. Jayson lowered his gaze to the nurse. ¡°I need to speak with the doctor fromst night. Do you know what time his shift starts?¡± ER doctors rotated shifts. When it got busy, they were almost impossible to track down. He still had no idea what exactly was wrong with Ariel. The nurse had just opened her mouth to respond when the door in front of her swung open. Ariel stood in the doorway, looking unwell. Her expression was unmistakably displeased. She stared straight at Jayson. He looked down at the sound and met her eyes calmly. ¡°Good morning. Do you still feel sick anywhere?¡± he asked before she could say anything. With aposed expression, he sized her up. It stopped Ariel cold, cutting off the question that had almost slipped from her lips. She had been ready to demand why he had told the nurse he was her husband, But then she noticed the phone in his hand. The screen was lit, showing an ongoing call. The contact name read ¡°Grandma¡°. He was on the phone with Betty. A tight knot formed in her throat as it all clicked into ce. Betty must have called to ask about her condition. And the nurse just happened to ask who he was in rtion to Ariel. That was why Jayson had said what he said. Ariel pressed her pale lips together. ¡°I feel much better.¡± On the other end, Betty immediately began fussing over her Ariel could hear the genuine worry in her voice and responded softly, trying to ease her concerns. But the second the call ended, the warmth drained from Ariel¡¯s face. She didn¡¯t even look at Jayson. Instead, she turned to the nurse. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. I¡¯ll be checking out soon.¡± Then, she added pointedly, ¡°And he¡¯s not my husband.¡± It was hard to tell who the words were actually directed at. With that, she turned and walked back into the ward. The nurse stood there, stunned. She nced at Jayson again, but his expression was unreadable. It was so neutral that it gave nothing away. Jayson slid the phone into his pocket and entered the ward. Ariel was sipping water. He leaned against the wall and looked at her. Like someone being politely helpful to a mere acquaintance, he asked, ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t want to speak to the doctor again?¡± His eyes lingered on her face. ¡°You still don¡¯t look great.¡± Ariel finally looked up and met his unreadable eyes. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I do appreciate you bringing me here in time. But please don¡¯t say anything that could make people misunderstand our rtionship again.¡± She didn¡¯t beat around the bush. Her words were clear, direct, and firm. It was a reminder to Jayson that they were divorced. Funny, really. She had spent all those years married to him and never once heard him call himself her husband. Now that they were no longer together, he finally said it. Maybe it was how serious she looked, but Jayson stared at her in silence for a long beat. Then the corners of his lips curved slightly. ¡°Get ready. I¡¯ll take you home.¡± He let the matter drop without another word, as if they both silently agreed to move on. He didn¡¯t push her to stay for more observation either. Ariel had her back to him. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t argue. Soon, she heard his footsteps retreating. He left. Ariel wasn¡¯t shaken. She quickly packed up. She had carried the weight alone too many times. No matter how fierce the storm or how crushing the pain, she always found a way to recover quickly. Even when it felt like she was on the edge of death yesterday, she still managed to pull herself back together. Once the paperwork was done and she had paid her bill, she headed downstairs. That was when she saw Jayson not far off, casually smoking. He hadn¡¯t left. He seemed to sense her presence and looked up. Ariel frowned instinctively. Seeing her, Jayson stubbed out the cigarette, which he hadn¡¯t even smoked more than a few puffs, and walked toward her. ¡°Is someoneing to get you?¡± She looked away. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Yeah.¡± He nodded but didn¡¯t budge, just stood there next to her like some kind of personal after¨Csales service. Ariel didn¡¯t speak either. She simply took a small step away Thankfully, after two minutes, Janice pulled up. The moment she spotted Jayson, her expression cooled. But when she turned to Ariel, her tone softened. ¡°Come on, Ari. Let¡¯s get you home.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t say goodbye to Jayson. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to waste her energy. When she got into the car, Janice hit the gas. Jayson stayed where he was,posed as ever. He lit another cigarette. Only when Toby pulled up did he finally nce back at the hospital. Janice had brought breakfast. As she drove, she said gently, ¡®You should eat something. Chad said you need to rest for a few days. Don¡¯t rush back to work. You need to take care of yourself if you want to keep kicking ass, right?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t have much of an appetite, but she didn¡¯t want Janice to worry, so she sipped a little of the soy milk. ¡± Okay.¡± Janice still looked worried. Frowning, she asked, ¡°Chad said your stomach hurt. How did it get that serious? What did the doctor say?¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Ariel knew Janice well. If she gave her the truth, thetter would probably lose sleep for days. So she changed the subject and gave Janice a small bite of the sandwich. Janice, ever easy to distract, immediately shifted focus. Just then, Ariel¡¯s phone buzzed with a message she hadn¡¯t expected. ¡°Hi, Ms. Walker. This is Liam Spencer. There are a few issues with Mr. Walker¡¯s treatment n that I¡¯d like to go over with you. Would you be avable today?¡± Ariel still didn¡¯t feel great, but Liam had been helping with the treatment n. His time came first. ¡°Sure, I¡¯lle now,¡± she replied. She asked Janice to take a detour to Liam¡¯s hospital. By 10:00 am, she was in Liam¡¯s office. The moment Liam looked up and saw her, he paused for a split second. His eyes gave her a quick once¨Cover,. subtle and respectful. ¡°Ms. Walker, are you feeling unwell?¡± Inside 315 Chapter 315 Ariel hadn¡¯t put on any makeup today. After yesterday¡¯s sudden hospitalization, her pale, worn¨Cout face showed every trace of what she had been through. ¡°I¡¯m fine now,¡± she replied politely. Liam poured water for Ariel and Janice before asking, ¡°Did you get checked out?¡± Janice answered for Ariel, ¡°She went to the ERst night. They said it was acute stomach pain.¡± But Liam looked thoughtful. With his years of medical experience, he could tell there was something unusual about how thin and delicate Ariel looked. He didn¡¯t say anything yet; he just called in Isaac so they could walk Ariel through Leonard¡¯s treatment n together. Ariel trusted them. After all, Liam was a top oncology expert whom even other specialists rmended. Once they had gone over everything, Ariel didn¡¯t linger. Liam walked them out. His expression revealed nothing, but he said with measured restraint, ¡°Ms. Walker, you don¡¯t look very well. I¡¯d rmend a full checkup.¡± Though Ariel¡¯s helpst time was driven by her own motives, the oue remained the same. He still felt inclined to give her a few extra reminders. Ariel was a little surprised but simply nodded. ¡°Thank you. I¡¯ll get a checkup.¡± As he watched Ariel and Janice walk away, Liam looked deep in thought. Isaac noticed the way Liam stared after them. ¡°What¡¯s on your mind? Are you close with Ms. Walker?¡± Liam finally snapped out of it. He brushed his fingers over His brow as he pushed the thought aside. ¡°I hope I¡¯m just overthinking it.¡± Ariel took Chad¡¯s advice and actually stayed home to rest for a few days. This had been the first time her condition had red up so badly that she had needed to go to the ER. And she really didn¡¯t want it to turn into something worse. So resting wasn¡¯t the worst idea. But that didn¡¯t mean she justzed around. Every day, she carved out three hours to work on the military project¡¯s concept design and requirements analysis. The project required full team coordination. She couldn¡¯t let her personal issues hold things up or throw off the timeline. She also joined key virtual meetings with Chad and the others, making sure every step stayed on track. At one point, Betty called and asked if she was feeling better. Then she asked if Jayson was taking good care of her. Ariel immediately caught on. Jayson must have told Betty he was staying with her and taking care of her every day. But ever since they left the hospital, he hadn¡¯t contacted her at all. Well, not that Jayson had her number. She wasn¡¯t about to call out his lie, so she just replied, ¡°Yeah, he is.¡± Betty finally rxed and gave a few more reminders before hanging up. Ariel had gotten used to handling these little ¡°check¨Cins¡± with ease. It didn¡¯t take much effort anyway. If the treatment worked, she would just have to make it through the one¨Cyear use in the agreement. And if it didn¡¯t¡­ Well, then none of this would matter. Later, Ariel received a message from Perry. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve been sick. Are you feeling better now?¡± Perry was in the same circles as Jayson and Nancy, so it wasn¡¯t surprising he had heard about her hospitalization. Still, Ariel frowned. She hadn¡¯t expected him to reach out. They never really talked. Was he checking in for a reason? Although Ariel had her doubts, she didn¡¯t ask. She simply replied, ¡°Thanks for your concern.¡± Later that afternoon, she got a call from Carlos. Since her trip to the ER had happened so suddenly¡ªand in front of quite a few people¨Cit was only a matter of time before word spread. ¡°What happened? I asked Chad, but he didn¡¯t say much,¡± Carlos asked, his tone unusually serious. Ariel tried to brush it off. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. I just bumped into the table.¡± Carlos gave a low scoff. ¡°Then howe I heard Jayson carried you out of the restaurant? Chad didn¡¯t tell me that part, and it still made its way back to me.¡± This was just unbelievable to Carlos. Ariel was quiet for a moment, then finally said, ¡°Actually, Jayson and I are legally divorced.¡± Carlos went silent. The pause carried a mix of surprise and sentiment. Inside 316 Chapter 316 After the pause, Carlos said, ¡°Good. Now that you¡¯re done with him, it¡¯s time to focus on yourself. ¡°About the postgraduate admissions exam, thanks to your work on developing U.N2, I rmended you for a preliminary exemption. So, just prepare your paperwork and go straight to the final exam. It¡¯s mostly a formality. 11 Ariel was stunned. But Carlos didn¡¯t give her a chance to ask anything. He hung up on her¨Cssic grumpy Carlos behavior. Still, the news was a pleasant surprise. If she had followed the typical timeline for the postgraduate admissions exam, she wouldn¡¯t have been eligible until next year. Ariel suddenly thought of Nancy. Thetter seemed to have ns to take the same exam as well. Ariel didn¡¯t know how far along Nancy was or what her ns were. And honestly, she didn¡¯t care. Other people¡¯s goals were theirs. All she wanted was to pursue what truly mattered to her. At the very least, she didn¡¯t want to be left with any regrets. Chad had forced her to take a five¨Cday medical leave. She had bounced back a little during the break. By Tuesday, she was back at work. At 10:00 am, Noah came by her office. ¡°Ms. Walker, the people from Veyo Solutions are here for the disaster- response project kickoff meeting.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Are Mr. Hockney and Ms. Swanson back yet? ¡°Not yet. I asked. They probably need another 30 minutes.¡± Without hesitation, Ariel got up and headed to the conference room. As she walked in, she saw Nancy already there, seated on the couch, flipping through documents. She looked elegant andposed, the very picture of a polished professional. When she looked up and saw Ariel, her expression turned cold. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to care what kind of mood or face Nancy was putting on. She held her own folder and calmly took a seat in the front row. Nancy didn¡¯t spare her a nce. Instead, she turned to Noah, who had followed Ariel in. ¡°Mr. Hockney¡¯s not back yet?¡± Noah didn¡¯t really get her tone and replied politely, ¡°He¡¯ll be here soon, Ms. Stanton. The meeting will start at 10: 30 am.¡± Without looking at Ariel, Nancy flipped through the papers and asked in an indifferent tone, ¡°Mr. Hockney and Ms. Swanson didn¡¯t leave anyone behind to oversee things? ¡°This project can¡¯t afford even the slightest error. Leaving someone with poor health, who might faint at any moment, sounds like a recipe for dys and mishandled issues.¡± She had her doubts about Ariel fainting and ending up in the ER. Just one bump and she passed out? Or was it all an act? Too bad Nancy wasn¡¯t like Ariel. She had no craving for the spotlight. Noah¡¯s expression darkened slightly. He instinctively nced at Ariel. It was clear Nancy was talking about her. Ariel looked up calmly, unbothered. She knew Nancy was referring to her fainting at the restaurant. Was she acting like this because she thought Ariel¡¯s health might drag down the project, or was it because Jayson had carried her out in front of everyone? ¡°Ms. Stanton, if you have concerns, feel free to send someone else. Faye Tech doesn¡¯t take kindly to mixing personal feelings with professional work.¡± Her tone was smooth and measured, but there was an unmistakable edge that cut straight through. Nancy¡¯s brow twitched. Her usual polished smile was nowhere to be seen. ¡°Apany as big as Faye Tech really ought to make better choices. This is a military project. Putting someone barely involved in charge seems a little reckless. Veyo Solutions isn¡¯t going to suffer losses because of your mistakes.¡± Ariel had bought the respect of Faye Technologies¡® employees with money. And now she actually thought she was fit to lead a project? Noah¡¯s face flushed with anger the moment he heard that. He was about to speak up, but Ariel let out a smile, then raised a hand to stop him. Noah caught her signal and reluctantly stepped out of the room. Ariel didn¡¯t bother entertaining Nancy¡¯s passive¨Caggressive nonsense any longer. Her gaze was cold andced with scorn, sharp enough to leave Nancy with nowhere to hide. ¡°Jayson funded yourpany while he was still married. If you¡¯re so worried about potential losses, I could help ease your concerns by filing awsuit to take thepany back. Once you¡¯re no longer the owner, you won¡¯t have to worry about any of this, will you, Ms. Stanton?¡± Inside 317 Chapter 317 For a brief moment, the massive conference room fell dead silent. Nancy¡¯s usual gentle expression froze in sheer disbelief. She stared directly into Ariel¡¯s calm, indifferent gaze, which left her with no room for retreat. After a long pause, Nancy¡¯s expression finally eased. Well, she hadn¡¯t misjudged Ariel¡¯s nature after all. Ariel actually dragged personal grievances into such an important meeting and resorted to petty threats just to protect her precious ego. Nancy leaned back in her chair with a quiet scoff. She was clearly done talking. All of a sudden, it hit her just how sad it was that Ariel had poured so much into a rtionship and received nothing back. What was even the point of fighting with her? Just then, Ariel¡¯s gaze drifted to the door and met a pair of sharp, steady eyes. He was watching her, something unreadable behind his gaze. Jayson stood there with Chad behind him. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected to be caught by Jayson at such a critical moment. Her eyes were frosted with calm defiance as she met his gaze head¨Con. She didn¡¯t seem to care what he thought. Unless Jayson was ready to confront her now out of pity for Nancy, thest shred of pretense between them would finally fall apart. If not, then no matter how unhappy he was, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Chad¡¯s expression was interesting. He had definitely heard Ariel¡¯s sharp little speech from the hallway. Thisdy¡¯s got thorns now. Anyone who pissed her off was bound to bleed. If it weren¡¯t for the setting, he would have apuded her. ¡°What happened?¡± ying dumb, Chad pushed open the door and made a weing gesture toward Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin,e on in.¡± Jayson¡¯s expression didn¡¯t show much. His gaze slowly shifted away from Ariel. Nancy turned to look at him. Her expression held a trace of indescribable resignation, but in the end, she chose to be gracious and said nothing more. ¡°Jayson, you came to keep mepany?¡± she asked. He didn¡¯t answer, but he did take the seat beside her. ¡°You all go ahead. Matt invited us to lunch after this. We¡¯ll head over once the meeting wraps.¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was indifferent. He didn¡¯t even mention Ariel¡¯s earlier ¡°threat¡± as if it had never happened. Just like that, the tension snapped. Nancy didn¡¯t take a single word Ariel said to heart. If Ariel could really call the shots, would they even be here right now? ¡°Okay. I should be done soon anyway. Thanks foring out here just to keep mepany.¡± Nancy smiled faintly. Her tone carried a touch of intimacy meant to shut others out. Jayson gave a light nod. Ariel didn¡¯t spare them so much as a nce. She just found it all amusing. Jayson, who was always so busy, had actually taken time out of his day to apany Nancy to this meeting. Was he afraid she would get taken advantage of at Faye Technologies? He came in person to shield her and protect her like she was something precious. Ariel couldn¡¯t care less if he had overheard what she had said earlier. And she didn¡¯t worry for a second that he woulde at her with some ¡°we¡¯re divorced, you have no right¡± speech. She had already made her point. She had humiliated Nancy, put her in her ce, and reminded her she was nothing more than the other woman. That was enough. At one point, Ariel leaned toward Chad and whispered, ¡°Is Jayson allowed to sit in?¡± Chad replied just as quietly, ¡°He set up half the elite management team at Veyo Solutions. He¡¯s basically a co- owner. Yeah, he can be here.¡± Ariel frowned but said nothing more. Of course, she didn¡¯t look at Jayson once after that. This meeting was just a conceptual briefing a necessary formality. It wouldn¡¯t touch on any core technologies. The meetingsted a little over an hour. Nancy had no objections. But when a few of Faye Technologies¡® core engineers showed up, she got up and walked over to chat with them about technical details. Inside 318 Chapter 318 Nancy might think Faye Technologies had made some questionable hiring choices¨Cone in particr¡ªbut she wasn¡¯t blind to the overall talent pool. Any random engineer here could probably outshine the average. Ariel finished organizing her notes. Without sparing Nancy another nce, she stood up to leave. When she walked past Jayson¡¯s seat, he turned toward her. Are you feeling better now?¡± The first thing out of his mouth was concern, but his tone carried zero warmth. Ariel stopped, her expression icy and distant. ¡°You want to talk about what I said to threaten Nancy, don¡¯t you? Why beat around the bush?¡± Jayson tapped a finger against the table, not denying it. He just stared at her. Ariel hated situations like this, especially Jayson¡¯s stance, which clearly showed that he was siding with Nancy. It disrupted her peace. ¡°Rx,¡± she said coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t have the time to deal with her now. But that could change.¡± As long as Nancy didn¡¯t cross her, she had no interest in stirring things up. She believed Jayson would get the message. Only then did Jayson stand up. He was tall enough that his lowered eyes seemed to scan every flicker of expression on her face. The corner of his thin lips twitched slightly. It might have been a smile. ¡°You¡¯re getting bolder.¡± Then, after a pause, he added, ¡°Do what you want.¡± That smile was neither warm nor cold. It waspletely unreadable. But to Ariel, it felt like a silent dare to go ahead and try. It was already close to noon, and she and Chad had been nning to go out for lunch anyway. So they headed downstairs along with Jayson and Nancy. Outside the building, Matt was already waiting by the car. He spotted Ariel and grinned brightly. ¡°Mr. Hockney, Ms. Walker, do you want toe join us for lunch? We¡¯ve got a few friends tagging along today too.¡± Ariel gave him a t look. ¡°Sure. Where to?¡± Matt¡¯s expression froze. The smile on his face faltered. He was caught off guard. Ariel used to respond gently with ¡°It¡¯s okay. You guys have fun.¡± Now she was snapping back at him? Ariel ignored Matt¡¯s frozen expression and turned to head toward the car. Chad kept up appearances, shing a smile as he added, ¡°We¡¯ll leave you to it. Wouldn¡¯t want to make Ms. Stanton ufortable. She almost cost her thepany.¡® With that, he turned and walked off. Nancy frowned ever so slightly. She could tell Chad was referring to Ariel¡¯s remark about suing to take thepany back. Since when did even Chad start making jokes with that kind of edge? Matt, on the other hand, didn¡¯t get it. Jayson said nothing and simply got in the car. Once they were on the road, Nancy turned to Matt and asked, ¡°Are you free this Friday? Come to my mom¡¯s art exhibition.¡± Matt blinked in surprise. ¡°Already? That was fast.¡± Nancy smiled, then nced at Jayson with a touch of softness before replying, ¡°Jayson helped a lot. It¡¯s my mom¡¯s first exhibit since returning to the country. It¡¯s a huge milestone for her. She¡¯s feeling much better, and her spirits are up. You have toe support her.¡± After some thought, Matt said, ¡°In that case, shouldn¡¯t we invite more social elites to help boost her publicity?¡± Nancy nodded. ¡°That¡¯s what I was thinking. I know a few of them. I¡¯ll start reaching out.¡± She pulled out her phone and scrolled through her contact list. Thanks to Jayson, she had met quite a few people in the local scene since returning. She began sending out invitations. Then she scrolled through her contacts for others she had in mind¨CZach, Frederick, Perry, and Samson, who had just recently exchanged numbers with her. After a brief moment of thought, she selected them all, drafted a polished invitation, and hit send. Inside 319 Ariel had been swamped these past couple of days. Carlos had given herst¨Cminute notice that she would be going straight to the final exam, so she needed to dive back into review as quickly as possible. She didn¡¯t let her confidence cloud her judgment. She went over the material again in her spare time. After all, it had been years since she wasst in an academic setting. No one would seed without putting in the work. Carlos had opened up this opportunity just for her. She didn¡¯t want to let him down. If she was going to do it, she was going to give it her all. By Friday, Ariel and Chad held a densely packed meeting with dozens of engineers from the technology department. They reviewed and debated proposals for the flight control system, propulsion system, and navigation. Not long after noon, n from the new energypany showed up. Aside from the military project, Ariel had another venture in early¨Cstage development. She had discussed the concept with n, who was both impressed and excited about it. Once things wrapped up, Chad offered politely, ¡°Mr. White, have you eaten? If not, you¡¯re wee to try the Faye Tech cafeteria.¡± n waved him off with a grin. ¡°Thanks, but I¡¯ve got something across the street. Maybe next time.¡± Chad raised a brow. ¡°Well, let us walk you down, at least.¡± nughed. ¡°No need, really. I¡¯m literally just crossing the street. It won¡¯t even take a minute.¡± Ariel looked up but didn¡¯t press further. Just then, n pointed toward an artfully designed building across from Faye Technologies. ¡°It¡¯s over there. I¡¯m heading to an art exhibit.¡± Both Ariel and Chad turned to look. From where they stood, they could see a steady stream of people flooding into the building. One luxury car after another pulled up outside. The ce looked lively and bustling with activity. ¡°What¡¯s going on over there?¡± Chad asked, sounding curious. n¡¯s smile turned a little cryptic. ¡°Ms. Stanton¡¯s mother is holding an art exhibition. Word is she¡¯s somewhat known overseas. This is her first exhibition since returning to Eldoria. I got an invite.¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze drifted toward the building. Her expression didn¡¯t shift much, but her eyes shimmered with something unreadable. Chad¡¯s smile faded. ¡°Ms. Stanton sure can pull a crowd, huh?¡± n¡¯s expression turned wry with a hint of amusement. ¡°Well, Ms. Stanton and Mrs. Stanton might not be a big deal on their own. After all, Mrs. Stanton is considered just a mid¨Ctier artist at best in Eldoria. But Mr. Larkin? Now that¡¯s a different story. ¡°Sure, some of the invites came under Ms. Stanton¡¯s name but most were sent out under his. When Mr. Larkin extends the invitation, all to support his future mother¨Cinw¡¯s event, who¡¯s going to say no? ¡°Plus, word is Mrs. Stanton¡¯s only putting ten pieces up for sale at this exhibition. Every cent will be donated to charity with full transparency. That helps her establish a solid foothold in Eldoria.¡± Thankfully, n didn¡¯t continue further. He simply apologized, ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s talk over a meal next time. I need to head over there now.¡± Chad had someone escort n downstairs. Shortly after, a few formal invitations were brought up to the office. They were from the exhibit across the street. Ariel nced at the envelopes. One was addressed to Faye Technologies, and the other was for the Walker family. An invitation meant for the Walkers had been delivered to Faye Technologies. Chad¡¯s face darkened immediately. ¡°What are the odds this exhibition happens right across from us? Seems like someone wanted to make sure we¡¯d see it.¡± So many people, so much fanfare. Who was it really meant to impress? And they even came in person just to deliver the invitation? There were countless prestigious galleries in Eldoria. Sarah and Nancy didn¡¯t have to choose one right across from Faye Technologies. And that invitation, which nearly ended up at Katie¡¯s¡­ This wasn¡¯t a coincidence. It was a deliberate provocation. Sarah and Nancy wanted Ariel to watch as they stepped on everything Elena once had and turned it into something dazzling. They wanted her to see Jayson helping elevate the reputation of the very people who stood against the Walker family. ¡°There¡¯s media coverage too,¡± Chad said as he watched from the window. ¡°If this gets enough buzz, the Stanton name might triple in value overnight.¡± Ariel quietly stared at the invitation in her hands. Several printed images of the artwork were disyed on it. The style andyout mimicked Elena¡¯s. Ariel¡¯s chest rose slightly with the surge of emotion. But in the end, she forced herself to push it all down. At the Spencer family¡¯sst exhibition, she had nearly secured one of Sarah¡¯s paintings to have itpared with Elena¡¯s for authentication. But Jayson had stepped in at thest moment and taken that chance away from her. And now, he was the one putting Sarah and Nancy in the spotlight and letting them bask in all the glory. Chapter 3rd Now that¡¯s a different story. ¡°Sure, some of the invites came under Ms. Stanton¡¯s name but most were sent out under his. When Mr. Larkin extends the invitation, all to support his future mother¨Cinw¡¯s event, who¡¯s going to say no? ¡°Plus, word is Mrs. Stanton¡¯s only putting ten pieces up for sale at this exhibition. Every cent will be donated to charity with full transparency. That helps her establish a solid foothold in Eldoria.¡± Thankfully, n didn¡¯t continue further. He simply apologized, ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s talk over a meal next time. I need to head over there now.¡± Chad had someone escort n downstairs. Shortly after, a few formal invitations were brought up to the office. They were from the exhibit across the street. Ariel nced at the envelopes. One was addressed to Faye Technologies, and the other was for the Walker family. An invitation meant for the Walkers had been delivered to Faye Technologies. Chad¡¯s face darkened immediately. ¡°What are the odds this exhibition happens right across from us? Seems like someone wanted to make sure we¡¯d see it.¡± So many people, so much fanfare. Who was it really meant to impress? And they even came in person just to deliver the invitation? There were countless prestigious galleries in Eldoria. Sarah and Nancy didn¡¯t have to choose one right across from Faye Technologies. And that invitation, which nearly ended up at Katie¡¯s¡­. This wasn¡¯t a coincidence. It was a deliberate provocation. Sarah and Nancy wanted Ariel to watch as they stepped on everything Elena once had and turned it into something dazzling. They wanted her to see Jayson helping elevate the reputation of the very people who stood against the Walker family. ¡°There¡¯s media coverage too,¡± Chad said as he watched from the window. ¡°If this gets enough buzz, the Stanton name might triple in value overnight.¡± Ariel quietly stared at the invitation in her hands. Several printed images of the artwork were disyed on it. The style andyout mimicked Elena¡¯s. Ariel¡¯s chest rose slightly with the surge of emotion. But in the end, she forced herself to push it all down. At the Spencer family¡¯sst exhibition, she had nearly secured one of Sarah¡¯s paintings to have itpared with Elena¡¯s for authentication. But Jayson had stepped in at thest moment and taken that chance away from her. And now, he was the one putting Sarah and Nancy in the spotlight and letting them bask in all the glory. Inside 320 Was this art exhibition always part of the n? Or was it Jayson¡¯s way of retaliating after she ¡°threatened¡± his precious Nancy the other day? Ariel tore the invitation clean in half and tossed it in the trash. ¡°Chad, let¡¯s move on to the system programming first,¡± She wasn¡¯t going to waste time getting worked up over things she couldn¡¯t change. All it did was burn energy and stir up pointless frustration. Sure, she had wanted to strip Sarah of that fake artistic gents halo. She had tried once, and Jayson had shut it down without blinking. Chad looked over at her with concern. Even as a bystander, He felt how infuriating this all was. But Ariel didn¡¯t look out that window again. She simply lowered her head and quietly got back to work. She had no intention of letting anything dy what she was here to do. By dusk, Ariel went over the flight control system code she had written that afternoon with Noah and the team. And when she nced up again, she could still see the glow and bustle of the art gallery across the street. She didn¡¯t show any emotion. After work, Ariel didn¡¯t bother with her car. Janice offered to drive, so she stood by the curb, waiting. She checked her phone and sent Katie a quick message, saying she was heading home to have dinner together. Suddenly, a car horn sounded from the roadside. Ariel looked up and saw a crowding out of the nearby restaurant. In the middle were reporters and several familiar corporate executives. At the center of it all were Nancy and Sarah. Jayson was there too, along with Matt and Frederick. They were only a short distance away. Jayson happened to nce in her direction and noticed Ariel. An aerospace CEO nearby asked Nancy, ¡°I thought Mr. Hockney was supposed to be here today. Didn¡¯t hee?¡± Nancy smiled effortlessly. ¡°He couldn¡¯t make it. He¡¯s busy with the research institute, and I didn¡¯t want to impose. But I¡¯m currently studying to apply for his postgraduate program. If I get in, I¡¯ll finally have a reason to bother him.¡± Sarah was beaming with joy. No amount of severe liver cirrhosis could hide her glow. Surrounded by a ttering crowd, she looked noticeably better. She carried herself with the air of a refined socialite. With a gracious smile, she said, ¡°Nancy¡¯s always been bright since she was little. Mr. Hockney holds her in high regard too. But she¡¯s a modest child. No matter how confident she is, she takes everything seriously.¡± n was surprised to hear that. ¡°Really? I heard Mr. Hockney hasn¡¯t taken students in years. Is he setting a slot aside just for Ms. Stanton?¡± Frederick gave Nancy an approving look. ¡°Wouldn¡¯t be surprised. Ms. Stanton already has a graduate degree from overseas. She¡¯s exactly the kind of candidate Mr. Hockney would invest in.¡± When Ariel heard that, her lips curled in a cold smile. Matt also spotted Ariel in the distance. He leaned toward Jayson and remarked, ¡°We invited Faye Tech, but not a single person showed up. Does Ariel really have that much pull over there?¡± Jayson nced again at the figure standing a few feet away¨Cslim, poised, and stone¨Cfaced. Sarah noticed her too. Her smile widened, and she called of brightly, ¡°Ariel! What a coincidence. Why didn¡¯t you drop by today? I was going to give you a painting to hang a home if you had.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected her to speak to her. And the implication behind Sarah¡¯s words was unmistakable. Her gaze swept over coldly, stripped of all pretense and warmth. But Sarah carried on,pletely unfazed. ¡°Did somethinge up? Did Faye Tech keep you too busy with errands to attend? ¡°I always think you¡¯re quite smart, Ariel. You could try studying more like Nancy. It¡¯d be good for you. Of course, Nancy studied at a top university overseas, which is why Mr. Hockney admires her. Well, you can always start from the basics. It¡¯s never toote to learn.¡± Her expression might have been pleasant, but the arrogance and condescension in her eyes and posture were impossible to ignore. Everything she said wasced with one message¨CAriel was no match for Nancy. It was a polished, calcted way to belittle her. Her smugness and arrogance were unmistakably clear. Ariel turned toward Sarah slowly, locking eyes with her. Her voice was calm and smooth. ¡°So what you¡¯re saying is that the postgraduate spot under Mr. Hockney is meant for Ms. Stanton?¡± Inside 321 Chapter 321 Ariel¡¯s voice was calm. It sounded like nothing more than casual chit¨Cchat, with not a hint of sharpness on the surface. For a moment, the smile on Sarah¡¯s lips froze. That question was too sharp. There was just no right answer. Nancy¡¯s expression tightened too, but she didn¡¯t bother responding. Whether she took the exam or whether Carlos had reserved a spot for her had absolutely nothing to do with Ariel. Why should she exin herself to an outsider? Fiddling with a sleek metal lighter, Jayson nced at Ariel, who was standing alone in the night breeze. Frederick looked at Ariel as well. ¡°Why are you asking? Everyone knows Mr. Hockney hasn¡¯t taken students in years. Ms. Stanton returns from abroad and suddenly a slot opens up? What do you think that means?¡± Sarah quickly recovered her smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Nancy would rather earn her ce on merit anyway. That way, it¡¯s official. No one can question it.¡± ¡°Oh? Does Mr. Hockney actually know about this?¡± Ariel locked over. She had grown noticeably thinner, and even her once¨Cgentle eyes now carried a sharp edge. ¡°Did he say he wanted Ms. Stanton as his student?¡± She wasn¡¯t backing down. She wanted a clear answer. Besides, she knew full well that Sarah couldn¡¯t give her one. The smile on Sarah¡¯s face gradually faded. ¡°Ariel, you seem really interested in Nancy¡¯s future, huh?¡± This time, all eyes turned to Ariel. Even Matt, n, and a few executives began sizing her up. Ariel tugged her coat cor a little tighter and said evenly, ¡°Not really. It just so happens I¡¯m applying to Mr. Hockney¡¯s postgraduate program as well.¡± As her words fell, the silence that followed was almost deafening. Even Jayson¡¯s eyes darkened as his gaze fixed on her again. Nancy¡¯s and Sarah¡¯s expressions shifted all at once. Nancy frowned like she had just heard the most outrageous nonsense. Matt¡¯s jaw actually dropped. After a few seconds, he leaned in and whispered to Jayson, ¡°Has Ariel gone mad? She¡¯s just saying whateveres to mind now?¡± And in front of this many people? She really had the nerve to bluff like that just to go up against Nancy? Even Frederick was stunned. To him, this was unthinkable. Did Ariel even know who Carlos was in this country? Sure, applying to a postgraduate program wasn¡¯t a big deal. But Ariel was aiming for aerospace, and she wanted to study under Carlos, the top expert in the country. At that moment, Sarah finally understood just how ignorant Ariel really was. Spewing that kind of nonsense just topete with Nancy? Ariel was just like Elena, chasing things far beyond her reach. Frederick finally snapped out of his daze. His voice wasced with disbelief. ¡°Ariel, you¡¯ve barely scratched the surface working under Mr. Chad for a few months. And now you think you can go straight to the top?¡± Chapter 321 Perry had just walked over from the restaurant and caught most of what was said. He stopped in his tracks and looked at Ariel. The others might not realize it, but he had a pretty good idea that she had been heavily involved in Faye Technologies¡®st project. If she said she was applying to Carlos¡® postgraduate program, then maybe she actually had a shot. Beside him, n muttered under his breath, ¡°Doesn¡¯t sound like she¡¯s bluffing. Ms. Walker¡¯s actually really capable.¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Perry replied softly. n frowned as he stared ahead, not quite understanding why Matt and Frederick were making such a big deal out of Ariel applying for a postgraduate program. Caught in his thought, he didn¡¯t hear Perry¡¯sment. Just then, Janice pulled up at the curb and gave the horn two short taps. Ariel cast a frosty nce at the people in front of her, clearly uninterested in entertaining their doubts. She briefly nced at Sarah, then turned to Nancy and said coolly, ¡°I¡¯m really curious if Mr. Hockney really reserved that spot for you.¡± Inside 322 and ¡®t give my¡¯s darkand experienced ce. With a crisp her, she staf into the car her Backload of a brochen, deliberated the engine and sted a poff of haust in his face hofrere spreding off Best Ariel¡¯s words lingered like a splinter in the back of everone¡¯s mind Katey need hey yes in thought. She figured Ariel must have been triggered by all the buzz around today¡¯s art exhibition. Seeing their family in the spotlight must have gotten under her skin. That was why she spouted such ridiculous nonsense. It was clearly a bluff. The aerospace field wasn¡¯t something anyone could just waltz into. Did Ariel really think getting into a postgraduate program was as easy as picking vegetables at the market? Matt clicked his tongue and nced at Nancy. ¡°That was definitely on purpose. What do you think?¡± Nancy finally walked over to stand beside Jayson and said calmly, ¡°It¡¯s good to be eager to learn, but making big derations in front of a crowd without thinking of how embarrassing it¡¯ll be if she fails? That¡¯s just reckless.¡± She didn¡¯t take it seriously. Deep down, she looked down on Arielpletely. Though after a moment, she nced at Matt and asked, ¡°Was she always this delusional?¡± Matt hesitated. His gaze instinctively flicked to Jayson, who hadn¡¯t said a word. Jayson lookedpletely uninterested. He hadn¡¯t even watched Ariel leave. There was no reaction from him at all. Surely he thought the whole thing was ridiculous too. The old Ariel used to be quiet and gentle. Honestly, today felt out of character for her. Even Jayson thought that she was being impulsive. What if this whole thing blew up in her face? Well, everyone could already see how it was going to end. Jayson changed the subject. ¡°Didn¡¯t you say you invited Mr. Quinton? He never showed.¡± Nancy paused. ¡°Yeah, he said there was ast¨Cminute business trip. But he sent his congrattions.¡± As for Samson, she had included him in the invite list, but he hadn¡¯t replied. He was probably busy. There was no way he was intentionally ignoring her to make a statement. Janice had pieced together most of what happened by now. She smacked the steering wheel and scoffed. ¡°Nancy must really think she¡¯s got that spot locked down. Otherwise, her mom wouldn¡¯t have dared to say all that about Mr. Hockney being impressed in front of so many big shots in the industry.¡± Sarah had wed her way up from nothing and learned to seize every opportunity to dress herself in borrowed glory. Ariel rolled down the window. The wind hit her face, and she squinted slightly into it. She wasn¡¯t angry about the art exhibition. She hadn¡¯t spoken out of frustration, or pride, or some burning need to prove herself. She simply understood how others viewed her in contrast to Nancy¨Chow thatparison always made Nancy shine brighter. She also knew exactly what Sarah was thinking and what kind of effect Sarah and Nancy were aiming for. The only reason she publicly dered she would be applying to Carlos¡® postgraduate program was to corner them. They imed that Carlos admired Nancy and that the spot was always meant for her. Many industry heavyweights had already taken it for granted that Nancy would be the one standing by Carlos¡® side. By throwing her name into the ring in front of all those people, Ariel had essentially raised the stakes. If Nancy ended up failing the exam, it would be downright humiliating. Ariel was never one for meaningless arguments. She preferred cutting straight to the heart of things. Since Sarah and Nancy enjoyed putting on a show, she had no problem helping them make it even louder. As for all the mockerying her way, she wasn¡¯t Nancy. She didn¡¯t have time to get hung up on empty noise. What mattered was the result. Inside 323 Chapter 323 Ariel stopped by Katie¡¯s house. Katie was in great spirits. She had even cooked a few dishes. All of them were Ariel¡¯s favorites. By the time Ariel finished talking, the food on her te had stacked up like a small mountain. She couldn¡¯t help butugh at the sight, but she still did her best to eat everything, even though her appetite had been offtely. She didn¡¯t want to waste Katie¡¯s effort. After dinner, they chatted for a while, and Ariel decided to stay the night. She pulled out the books she needed to study over the next couple of days and dove right in, not wasting a single moment on anything that didn¡¯t matter. She had a methodical way of doing things. She studied with impressive efficiency and even used her spare time to read some research papers. Carlos would check in on her progress from time to time, which only made Ariel more determined not to ck off. The disaster¨Cresponse project she was working on would take time to finalize. Ariel pushed her leisure hours to the limit. On Monday, right after wrapping up a mechanical design meeting, Janice barged into Ariel¡¯s office. She grabbed a bottle of sparkling water, copsed onto the couch, and chugged half of it before finally cooling off. ¡°My family was invited to a banquet yesterday. Guess who I saw there? Nancy and her mom. They¡¯re already making their rounds at all these fancy events, acting like they belong among high society!¡°¡± Ariel put down her pen and looked up from her desk. ¡°You didn¡¯t cause a scene, did you?¡± Janice pointed at herself. ¡°Me? I was a picture of restraint. But Jayson really went all out. He threw Sarah an art exhibition and sent personal invites to half the industry. He¡¯s practically gift¨Cwrapping the Stanton family¡¯s public image.¡± As she said that, she handed her phone to Ariel to show her a post from a charity¡¯s official page. Sarah¡¯s paintings¨Cten of them¨Csold for over five million dors. They were all donated. Ariel nced over but quickly looked away. Still, she had to admit that Sarah knew how to seize opportunities and turn them into bigger profits. ¡°Is she selling her paintings privately?¡± Janice shook her head. ¡°Sarah¡¯s ying the high¨Csociety card now. She¡¯s styling herself as a big¨Cname artist, so there are no more private sales. She won¡¯t sell outside of exhibitions. The next exhibition has already been teased for six months from now. ssic move to raise her profile. Sarah donated everything this time, sure. But once the realmercial exhibition rolled out in six months, with all the buzz they had built up, Sarah and Nancy were going to make an absolute fortune. ¡°Veyo Solutions is thriving too. A friend of mine in the tech circle sayspanies are lining up to partner with them. Wouldn¡¯t be surprised if they start throwing their weight around in front of us next.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze in thought for a moment. Jayson¡¯s public support of Sarah and Nancy had done the job. Nancy¡¯s status was cemented. No one would dare underestimate her now. He had pulled every string to give Sarah her big debut. The rt exhibition let Nancy rub shoulders with the elite, and the donation shot Sarah¡¯s and Veyo Solutions¡® name into the national spotlight. They were officially being positioned as a counterweight to Faye Technologies. Ariel signed thest document and said calmly, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Connections matter, but the quality of our work matters more. It¡¯s more useful to focus on doing our own thing well than to waste energy trying to control what others do.¡± That was something she had truly learned after getting sick Time and energy were limited, and she only wanted to spend them on what mattered. She hadn¡¯t let go of the old grudge between Sarah and Elena Jayson had tried to stop her before, but eventually, she would find her opening. Carlos had asked her toe by that afternoon to go over her paper. Chad had a dinner meeting, so Ariel drove herself over. Carlos waved at her the moment she stepped through the door. ¡°How¡¯s the prep going? You realize you¡¯ve got less than two weeks until the exam, right? It¡¯ll be here before you know it.¡± Ariel was humble to the core. Even though she was confident, she was never cocky. ¡°I¡¯ll try my best.¡± With hands sped behind his back, Carlos snorted. ¡°You¡¯ve been out of school for three years. That¡¯s three years of new talent flooding in. Don¡¯t get cocky. If you can¡¯t do it, don¡¯t embarrass yourself.¡± Ariel gave a light smile. ¡°Embarrass myself? Sounds terrifying. Maybe I shouldn¡¯t take the exam at all then?¡± ¡°You brat!¡± Carlos red at her and smacked a stack of papers lightly on her head. Ariel shrank her neck but kept smiling. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. If I fail, I won¡¯t tell anyone you ever taught me.¡± Carlos wasn¡¯t really worried. He had full confidence in her. Still, it didn¡¯t hurt to add a little pressure to keep her sharp. His wife, Emily Bolton, came over with a warm smile. She handed Ariel some fruit and tea and scolded Carlos, You talk about Ari all the time. Now that she¡¯s here, don¡¯t put on airs. Speak nicely!¡± 11 Ariel lowered her head and chuckled. Carlos was still stern and sharp when it came to anything academic. Ariel didn¡¯t dare interrupt. She just sat there and listened like the good student she was. At one point, Carlos handed her two research papers to review and gave her an assignment rted to the institute¡¯s current project. She was tasked with analyzing a set of experimental data. Eventually, the numbers started swimming before her eyes. Feeling lightheaded, she told Carlos she needed some fresh air and stepped outside to clear her head. Even in early spring, the wind in Eldoria still carried a sharp chill. Ariel¡¯s mind was still running through the data Carlos had just given her. She walked around the grounds of the Hockney residence. The neighborhood housed quite a few families. Just then, Ariel heard a car engine behind her and nced up for just a second. It was a ck Bentley. She barely looked at it before turning her focus back to the mental math running wild in her head. But inside the car, the people were clearly surprised to spot Ariel standing just outside the Hockney residence gates. Matt nced over his shoulder at Jayson and Nancy. ¡°Why is Ariel outside the Hockney residence?¡± After that whole speech about applying to Carlos¡® postgraduate program, was she here trying to cozy up to Carlos after realizing she had gone too far? Jayson looked up from hisptop and out the window. Ariel stood at the gate with her arms crossed and head lowered, deep in thought. Her expression was heavy, as if weighed down by something troubling. Nancy took notice of Ariel¡¯s somber look and dejected stance. Just as she had expected. She gave a quiet smile. Just days ago, Ariel had boldly dered she was going to apply for Carlos¡® postgraduate program. And now, here she was, alone and looking like she had been shut out. Matt couldn¡¯t hold his tongue. His eyes widened in surprise as he blurted out, ¡°Did Ariel get kicked out?¡± Inside 324 Chapter 324 Matt couldn¡¯t be med for thinking that way. The gates of the Hockney residence were firmly shut, and Ariel stood outside, looking lost and weighed down. Anyone with eyes could tell something was bothering h¨¦r. Now this was unexpected. ¡°Didn¡¯t see Chad around either.¡± Nancy leaned back in her seat, casually pulling her gaze from the window. Her tone was almost cheerful. Not even Chad could solve this problem, huh? Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°If Ariel can¡¯t even get past the gate, then Mr. Hockney must be seriously unimpressed. If she really came here trying to pull strings, that¡¯d make it worse.¡± He truly didn¡¯t get it. What was Ariel thinking, making that bold im in public about applying to Carlos¡® postgraduate program? Now she was caught in a difficult spot. Nancy gave a nonchnt smile. ¡°Who knows?¡± But even as she yed it cool, she had to admit Matt wasn¡¯t wrong. Ariel couldn¡¯t even get past the front gate of the Hockney residence. Carlos clearly didn¡¯t take her academic credentials seriously. She had gotten close to Chad, and over time, she started believing she was on that level. She thought she could actually pull this off. Thinking she could get into Carlos¡® postgraduate program was pure fantasy. To those truly dedicated to academia, Ariel¡¯s half¨Chearted attitude was nothing short of irritating. Matt turned to Jayson. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s hit a wall. What do you say? Feel like doing a good deed and offering her a ride?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t even look up from hisptop. He clearly had zero interest in whatever was going on outside the Hockney residence. His tone was t. ¡°Are you offering up your seat for her?¡± It was obvious that he had no intention of giving Ariel a ride. Nancy chuckled at Jayson¡¯s response. ¡°Matt, you shouldn¡¯t even ask that question. She¡¯s already been humiliated. If we go over there now, it¡¯ll just make her feel worse,¡± she said with an arched brow as she crossed her legs. Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°Damn. You¡¯re really thoughtful.¡± Nancy made a quick trip to the hospital. Sarah had returned after the art exhibition. Worried about her health, she had nurses check on her regrly even when there was nothing wrong. But what Ariel said about the postgraduate program still gwed at her. She asked Nancy, ¡°What do you think she¡¯s ying at? Do you think she¡¯s got something up her sleeve?¡± ¡°No.¡± Nancy dropped her bag onto the couch and replied, ¡°I ran into her today. She got kicked out of the Hockney residence. How embarrassing.¡± Sarah found that funny. She smirked. ¡°So her big talk was just bluffing. With that many people watching, she probably panicked and said it to save her dignity. Chad might lose his mind over her pretty face, but his father never would.¡± Nancy agreed. Ariel didn¡¯t even qualify as a threat. She wasn¡¯t even in the same league. But¡­ Nancy turned to Sarah. ¡°Are you sure those paintings are safe?¡± Sarah immediately understood what she meant. She adjusted her cor and repliedzily, ¡°It¡¯s all in the past. Elena¡¯s been dead a long time. She¡¯s not going to crawl out of her grave to haunt me.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t respond. There wasn¡¯t much else to say. The second art exhibition, happening in a few months, would be the big one. If all went well, they would not only recoup every cent they had poured into Veyo Solutions but also secure their ce among the elite.¡± The Walker family was just a sinking ship now. Soon, they would be forever trailing behind the Stantons. Ariel had been powering through her prep books the past two days. Chad and Janice both knew she needed to study, so they had taken on extra work to give her space. Even so, Ariel never used that as an excuse. When Chad had a meeting with a potential partner, she offered to join. She was, after all, the lead on the uing project. She needed to be involved in every aspect. The meeting went well. Chad and the others had a lunch engagement afterward. Ariel didn¡¯t drink, and there was stillpany work to do, so she skipped it. Janice texted and asked her to bring back some desserts from a nearby cafe. Ariel made a slight detour. The cafe near the World Trade Center was always packed. After ordering on the app, she had to wait a while for it to be ready. Lori had just walked in when she spotted Ariel. Her eyes swept over her, and she said with a smirk, ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Ariel turned slightly, her gaze sharp and indifferent. She didn¡¯t bother responding. She also noticed Lucas walking in behind Lori. His eyes immediately found Ariel. He walked over, casual as ever. ¡°Are you here for work?¡± Ariel nced toward the counter to check on her order. She clearly didn¡¯t want to talk. Lucas didn¡¯t seem to mind. He gestured for Lori to ce he order. As Lori nced at Ariel, a flicker of resentment and jealousy shed in her eyes. She then reluctantly turned away to ce her order. Lucas stood with one hand in his pocket as he nced at Ariel. ¡°Word is Veyo Solutions has been riding hightely. Everyone wants a piece. After all, no one¡¯s about to turn down a chance to make money. Jadeon Tech and Sanderson Group are both looking to talk long¨Cterm.¡± Ariel slowly turned to look at him. So the rumors were true. Thepanies looking to work closely with Veyo Solutions included Lucas and Morgan. They knew full well that Nancy was the one who destroyed her marriage, though. What a joke. One had been like a brother to her since childhood, and the other was her own father. Now, both stood ready to support the very woman who had been the mistress in her marriage. Ariel turned her gaze away coldly. When her number was called, she walked over to pick up her dessert without offering so much as a word in response. As she was leaving, Lucas stepped into her path. ¡°If you don¡¯t want this, just say so. There¡¯s still time to talk.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t react. She couldn¡¯t care less, so she just simply said, ¡°Do whatever you want.¡± Lucas¡® pleasant expression faltered. He took hold of her wrist and snatched her phone like it was nothing. She was a second too slow. Her expression darkenedpletely as she reached out to snatch the phone. But Lucas had already dialed a number on her screen. A momentter, his own phone began to ring from his pocket. Inside 325 Chapter 325 Even someone asposed as Ariel couldn¡¯t stay calm this time. She was genuinely pissed. Lucas had always been like this arrogant, forceful, and annoyingly sharp¨Ctongued. She yanked her phone back from his hand. Her expression was ice¨Ccold as she said, ¡°Let go of me.¡± Lucas¡® hand was still mped around her wrist. He had seen this sharp, bristling version of Ariel more than a few timestely. The sting of it left a vague difort in his chest, but he ignored it. Instead, it triggered something rebellious in him. His smile turned cold. ¡°You changed your number and didn¡¯t even bother to tell me?¡± ¡°You really think you¡¯re that important?¡± Ariel stared at him. Her tone was calm but left no room for argument. For a moment, Lucas looked stunned. Then his gaze turned icy. Ariel didn¡¯t bother saying another word. She pulled her arm away. Just then, the sound of footsteps came from the entrance. When Matt spotted Ariel and Lucas, he frowned, then nced at Jayson in surprise. ¡°Is Ariel getting into it with her own brother?¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze flicked over. Ariel had already freed herself from Lucas¡® hold. Ignoring him, she walked out without a pause. Even when she passed by Jayson and Matt, her eyes didn¡¯t flicker, like she didn¡¯t know them at all. She brushed past Jayson without even the courtesy of a nce. Matt was even more surprised now. When Lucas saw the two of them, his earlier emotion faded. He gave a smile as a greeting. From a distance, Matt couldn¡¯t quite figure out what was going on between Lucas and Ariel. He tilted his head toward Jayson and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up with those two? Did they fight or something? She just walked past you like you didn¡¯t even exist.¡± Just then, Jayson¡¯s phone buzzed. He nced down. It was a text from Nancy, telling him not to bother buying her that iced drink. Her body wasn¡¯t up for it. He stared at the screen for a second, then sent back a simple ¡°Okay.¡± Without even lifting his eyes, he responded to Matt¡¯s question, ¡°Does it matter?¡± His tone couldn¡¯t have been more indifferent. Matt nearly burst outughing. He immediately rushed to their group chat and gave a full y¨Cby¨Cy of everything he had just witnessed. He even recounted Jayson¡¯s response with vivid exaggeration. Perry didn¡¯t reply. Meanwhile, Nancy replied with aughing emoji, then added a thumbs¨Cup to express herself. Back at Faye Technologies, Ariel handed off the desserts to Janice. She didn¡¯t mention the run¨Cin at the cafe. She didn¡¯t approve of the way Lucas had forcefully gotten ler number. She blocked his number right away. Then she dived into the technical meeting with Noah and the team to hash out software development details. Military projects like this one were meant for disaster relief and security. Even with existing mature systems, any improvements or breakthroughs in practical application would still require a long development cycle. Many majorpanies had spent years running tests and refining their work. But after doing the math, Ariel was confident she could lead Faye Technologies to streamline the process and shorten it to somewhere between six and eight months. Besides project work, her after¨Chours were spent buried in books. Carlos was right. Three years was a long time for talents to emerge. Even if she used to be on top, being arrogant now would only drag her down. Carlos held a professor position at Ashford University, but he rarely had any teaching duties. Most of his time was devoted to research projects at the institute, although he had mentored a few postgraduate students in earlier years. Ashford University was one of the top universities in the country. As Ariel stood at the gates, watching the steady flow of people outside the exam site, she felt like she was in a dream. Inside 326 Chapter 326 Chad had made time toe here with Ariel today. After they got out of the car, he patted Ariel¡¯s shoulder.¡± You¡¯re the Ariel Walker that all the lecturers were dying to have as their student back then. So, don¡¯t get too nervous.¡± Chad even offered to drive Ariel there today. ¡°1 Today marked a new turning point in Ariel¡¯s life. She had given up on her dreams and aspirations a few years back. Now, Ariel had finally returned to the ce where she belonged. Chad hoped that she would go on to achieve greater things from now on. On the other hand, Ariel was not feeling nervous. Instead, she was experiencing a mix of emotions. ¡°Do you want me to go in with you?¡± Chad asked in an unusually gentle voice. He had graduated from Ashford University. Chad had already applied for permission to enter the schoolpound in advance. He would go in with Ariel to keep herpany if she was feeling nervous. Ariel shook her head and chuckled. ¡°I¡¯m not a kid anymore. ¡°She¡¯s really here?¡± Suddenly, Matt¡¯s voice could be hearding from a certain direction. Ariel and Chad looked in the direction of the voice. Two cars were parked there. Nancy got out of Jayson¡¯s car. Her expression remained unchanged when she spotted Ariel. However, there was a sh of scorn in her eyes. Perry was there too. His gaze fell on Ariel. He stared at her face for some time. Perry knew Ariel would be taking the exam as well. He was hoping to drop by and see if they would run into her. Perry also hoped that Ariel would eventually seed in achieving her goals. Ariel noticed Perry was looking at her. He had a gentle, rxed expression on his face as he nodded at her. Ariel responded politely with a nod as well. Jayson was taking an important call with his face turned slightly away. When Ariel¡¯s gaze drifted toward him, Jayson happened to look up and meet her eyes. Ariel was aware of how popr Nancy was among Jayson¡¯s group of friends. They had all shown up here to support and cheer Nancy on on this important day. She was being cherished and doted on like a real princess. The corners of Perry¡¯s mouth lifted when he saw Ariel¡¯s response. Then, he greeted Chad. ¡°Mr. Hockney.¡± Matt felt rather bewildered. ¡°Mr. Hockney, shouldn¡¯t you try to stop Ariel?¡± From his perspective, Ariel was just doing this out of stubbornness. It would be quite embarrassing for the Faye Technologies team if she were to perform poorly during the exams. Chad smiled dryly. ¡°Ari is really good at her studies. Who knows, she might surprise everyone with her results this time?¡± Matt had a conflicted look on his face. Eventually, he smiled. ¡°Mr. Hockney, you must indulge Ariel¡¯s whims quite a lot.¡± Nancy couldn¡¯t be bothered to pay Ariel any attention. She noticed Jayson had finished talking on the phone. Nancy beamed. ¡°Don¡¯t you need to leave for an urgent business trip today? Yet, you made time toe here with me. Wouldn¡¯t it affect your work over there?¡± Initially, Jayson was to take a flight to Halread at 6:00 am day. However, he decided to book ater flight ande here with Nancy since she was taking the exam today ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Jayson put his phone away. After gazing at his handsome features for a while, Nancy lowered her head and chuckled softly. It was almost time. Nancy turned around and headed toward where the security checkpoint was. When she passed by Ariel, Nancy gave her a sidelong nce. Then, she walked straight ahead silently. Nancy figured someone like Ariel would only have a better grasp of reality after having failed miserably. Ariel also needed to realize the difference between things that were achievable and things that were simply unattainable, be it the opportunity to be Carlos¡® postgraduate student or her wish to have Jayson. Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about what Nancy was thinking. She waved at Chad and headed toward the entrance with her ID card and exam slip. Jayson had probably moved closer toward the entrance to see Nancy off. Ariel would pass by him since she was going in that direction. She did not slow down or stop. With one hand in his pocket, Jayson seemed rxed as he lowered his gaze and looked at Ariel. She heard his voice the next instant. ¡°Good luck, Ariel.¡± Inside 327 Ariel hadn¡¯t spent too long preparing for her exams this title. However, she had ensured that she had revised and reviewed all the relevant books and reading materials. Overall, she didn¡¯t find the process too tedious. Ariel and Nancy were in the same hall since they applied for the same major. 30 minutes before the time was up, Ariel got up, submitted her answers, and exited the hall. Nancy noticed Ariel leaving the hall earlier. She cast a nce in Ariel¡¯s direction and shook her head, looking as if she had expected it all along. Their first exam was an exam in aerospace engineering. Ye Ariel submitted her answers when there was still so much time left. It was obviously because she had finished answering all the questions she knew the answers to. There was no need for Ariel to waste too much of her time here anyway. She shouldn¡¯t have evene to the exam today. Yet, Ariel insisted on putting up a front. Nancy simply could not understand how the minds of those like Ariel work. What was the point of them acting like they were smarter and more capable than they actually were? Nancy curled her lips. She could pretty much foresee the oue when the exam results were announcedter on. By the time Ariel was done with her exams, Janice was already waiting for her by the entrance. Janice grinned widely when she saw Ariel walking out of the hall, looking calm and collected. ¡°Let¡¯s go! It¡¯s my treat today!¡± Ariel paid no mind to how Nancy was doing. She looked rxed as she joined Janice and Chad for a meal. In the following days, she took the exams for the other subjects. Her interview went pretty smoothly as well. What was left was to wait for the announcement of their exam results. It would take around one to two weeks before they could get the results. Ariel was not too anxious or nervous about it. She was really grateful that she had not suffered from any serious health problems during that period, and she was able to finish taking all her exams. She was in charge of developing the main system for the disaster¨Cresponse project. Since it would be a time- consuming process, Chad would take over in overseeing the other projects. During her free time, Ariel started working on preparing for the renewable energy project. However, Chad brought back some news after having gone out to meet a client today. ¡°Veyo Solutions is also looking into the renewable energy sector. They met and spoke to n as well. If the spections are true, they are more or less thinking of doing a simr project like ours.¡± Chad tapped on the desk with a folder that he was holding. Jayson has a lot of connections and resources. He¡¯ll definitely help pave the way for Veyo Solutions.¡± With Jayson as their backing, the Veyo Solutions team wouldn¡¯t have to worry about things like having no connections. Naturally, they would face fewer obstacles in executing their project. Ariel nodded pensively. Veyo Solutions had hired a lot of capable, talented people. Jayson had used his influence and resources to help them recruit brilliant engineers from within and outside the country. Naturally, they would be able to , you still have the spirit of a fighter. You¡¯ve never been someone who¡¯s easily intimidated.¡± Even Chad was bing increasingly excited. He could not wait to see how shocking and astonishing Ariel¡¯s next creation would be. At 2:00 pm, Chad received a rather unexpected phone call. He informed Ariel about it. ¡°You need toe with me to meet a clientter.¡± Ariel asked curiously, ¡°Who is it?¡± Chad checked the time. ¡°Samson Pryce. He called and expressed interest in coborating with us on our renewable energy project. He would like to meet and discuss some details first.¡± Ariel hardly knew anything about the man. She had only met him twice so far. Despite looking rtively young, Ariel found that Samson¡¯s behavior was remarkably mature. There was nothing about him that was particrly annoying or off¨Cputting. When Ariel followed Chad to the conference room, Samson was already waiting there. He sat there with a rxed posture. With his long legs and good proportions, others might mistake Samson for an attractive model at first nce. He radiated a quiet yet undeniable energy. Samson got up and shook hands with Chad. His gaze fell on Ariel¡¯s face. ¡°Ms. Walker, we met again.¡± Ariel gave a slight nod. ¡°Mr. Pryce, please take a seat and make yourselffortable.¡± The corners of Samson¡¯s mouth twitched slightly. He found the way Ariel had addressed him rather amusing. It sounded very formal. Samson let out a soft chuckle. Chad had found out a bit about Samson¡¯s background while they were on the phone. He was quite surprised. Samson was actually a representative of Yeager Group, arge enterprise that specialized in producing military tech in their country. He came back from abroad and joined Yeager Group¡¯s management team after being recruited by them. ¡°Mr. Pryce, what made you consider the possibility of starting a coboration with us?¡± Chad sounded quite puzzled and bewildered. He was well aware of Yeager Group¡¯s standing in the country. Samson did not tell them right away the purpose of his visit. He simply said in a calm voice, ¡°I came here today on behalf of Yeager Group¡¯s Ms. Ulmer.¡± Chad had heard of Kristen Ulmer. She was a well¨Cknown, prominent figure in the industry. ¡°As for myself, I had learned quite a bit about Faye Tech even back when I was still abroad. I really liked some of the products that you developed, Mr. Hockney. I even chose them as the subject for some of the research papers I wrote.¡± Samson sounded extremely sincere. Ariel stared at him and asked straightforwardly, ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve also heard the recent rumors about Veyo Solutions¡® ns, Mr. Pryce. Most people think that they possess more resources than we do. Are you also interested in coborating with them?¡°. She did not shy away from raising the matter. After all, even Lucas and the Sanderson family had chosen to side with Veyo Solutions since they would be able to gain more profit from it. Samson fixed his gaze on Ariel. ¡°I¡¯m only interested in coborating with the Faye Tech team.¡± Ariel was honestly quite surprised. ¡°Can you tell us your reasons?¡± Samson took in the curious expression on Ariel¡¯s face. He curled his lips and answered nonchntly, ¡°For me, I trust my gut feeling and intuition more.¡± Ariel was struck speechless. At the same time, she was feeling dubious. They should be discussing a potential coboration. Yet, it suddenly sounded like a conversation one would have on a blind date. Even Chad was momentarily dazed. It made him wonder if all young people were so free¨Cspirited and unpredictable these days. ¡°Did you also major in aerospace engineering, Mr. Pryce?¡± Ariel asked. Samson¡¯s eyes twinkled. He looked bright and cheerful but not too impatient. ¡°Let me introduce myself. I graduated from Glenbridge University. I majored in aerospace engineering and financial management. I¡¯ve justpleted my PhD studies in aerospace engineering.¡± Ariel was truly surprised by what she just heard. They had a rare, gifted person sitting in front of them. Yet, he did not seem smug or snobbish in the slightest. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t hold back if you have any questions for our side. For now, we can share and learn more about each other¡¯spanies¡® ns and visions first. ¡°As for the opportunity to coborate on a project, we can discuss it and see if it¡¯s feasible. I¡¯m simply trying to convey our willingness to coborate on behalf of Yeager Group and myself today.¡± Samson did not wish for the Faye Technologies team to feel pressured because of the forces and backing behind Yeager Group. Ariel nodded slowly. ¡°Also, there¡¯s one very important thing.¡± Samson lifted his brows. A slightly different light shone in his eyes. ¡°Rumor has it that someone from Faye Tech developed the U.N2. They used to say Mr. Hockney was the developer. One of the major reasons why I chose to work in this industry was because of the U.N2 developer. That person is my idol.¡± Chad just took a sip of water, and he almost choked on it. He subconsciously nced at Ariel, who remained calm and appeared as though the person that Samson was talking about wasn¡¯t her. Inside 328 Samson was telling them the truth. All along, the government had been keeping the UN2 developer¡¯s identity a secret. Even Stanley had never shared that information with him. The U.N2 was introduced to the public five years ago. Samsin was deeply impressed after learning about it. With Stanley holding that kind of position in the Department of Defense, Samson naturally developed an interest in anything rted to military tech. If he were to liken it to a romance, the U.Na was much like his first love¨Cdistant now, but never truly gone from his mind. The U.N2 would definitely fall under the first¨Ctier category of reconnaissance and strike drones. However, it was just confirmed recently that Chad was not the U.N2 developer. Chad had an enigmatic look on his face. He looked at Ariel and raised his brows. ¡°You have pretty good taste, Mr. Pryce. Unfortunately, that person isn¡¯t me.¡± Then, he walked over to Ariel¡¯s side and grinned mischievously. ¡°Look! A cute, good¨Clooking fan of the UN developer. What he just said was really touching.¡± Ariel could tell that he was teasing her. She simply ignored Chad. Samson was not someone who could not take some harmless jokes. He had learned for quite some time that Chad was not the U.N2 developer. Samson got to his feet. ¡°As for the coboration, I do hope Faye Tech and Yeager Group will consider each other as their first option if there¡¯s ever a chance for us to partner up. I¡¯m just trying my best to convey my interest. The decision is still up to the Faye Tech team.¡± Samson was sincere and not overly assertive. The fact that they were part of Yeager Group was enough for the Faye Technologies team to put them at the top of the list to consider for the coboration. Inwardly, Ariel began weighing the pros and cons of coborating with Yeager Group. Samson knew he had fulfilled the purpose of his visit for the day, as he had already said everything he needed to say. He got up. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t take up more of your time, then. You can take your time to consider our proposal first, Mr. Hockney and Ms. Walker.¡± Samson subconsciously scanned his surroundings since it was his first time visiting Faye Technologies¡® office. Eventually, he directed his gaze out of the window at the opposite building. He stared at the building for a brief moment, and Chad happened to notice it. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Samson snapped out of his reverie and pointed at the opposite building. He didn¡¯t say who it was ¡°I thought I just saw a really familiar art gallery. Recently, someone held an art exhibition there and invited me to the event. I didn¡¯t attend the event since I barely know them.¡± Samson had always been like that. For those whom he had no interest in or was not close to, Samson found it a waste of time to interact with those people. He couldn¡¯t understand why the organizer had sent him an invite either. Upon hearing those words, Ariel looked at Samson once more. Samson had also been invited by Nancy to the art exhibition Yet, he didn¡¯t go? Chad¡¯s expression changed drastically. He couldn¡¯t help it as his eyes crinkled. His voice carried more warmth and a note of approval. Chad went up to Samson and patted his shoulder. ¡°You have a great personality, Mr. Pryce. You don¡¯t do something just because most people are doing it. No wonder you¡¯ve chosen to approach us for a coboration!¡± As long as they were someone who chose not to side with Nancy, Chad would automatically consider those people to be kind people with extremely good taste. At the moment, Samson was already one of those kind people to him. Furthermore, Chad even saw Samson off at their building¡¯s entrance. He had never done this for anyone else. Ariel found it rather amusing. Chad was in a cheerful mood. He asked upon returning to the conference room, ¡°How does it feel to have a fan who works for Yeager Group?¡± Ariel put the cap back on her pen. ¡°Even so, Veyo Solutions might approach Yeager Group if they¡¯re thinking of doing a project simr to ours. It¡¯s too soon for us to try to draw any conclusions now.¡± Chad agreed with Ariel¡¯s opinion, especially since the Veyo Solutions team would probably be able to meet and talk to Yeager Group¡¯s higher¨Cups with Jayson¡¯s help. Ariel would definitely want to work with a major enterprise like Yeager Group. They could achieve extremely good results bybining and further improving the cutting¨Cedge technologies of the twopanies. However, everything would only be set in stone on the day they finalized and signed the agreement to begin the project preparations. One simply would not be able to prove their sincerity by making big promises. Moreover, Ariel found it quite surprising that arge enterprise with a strong, mature structure like Yeager Group had sent one of its representatives to approach them. The business world was very much like a real battlefield. Regardless of how sincere Samson might have appeared earlier, Ariel would still have to consider a few more options just to be safe. She still found it a bit odd how Samson was unusually warm and friendly to them. Ariel felt that she would need to give the matter some serious thought. Their projects were assigned to different teams, which would oversee and execute the subsequent ns ordingly. As Faye Tech¡¯s lead engineer, Ariel would have to work a lot more than everyone else. With Leonard¡¯s operation gradually approaching, Ariel tried her best not to make her schedule too tight. She would make time to visit Leonard at the hospital whenever she could. Perhaps Liam¡¯s treatment was quite effective; Leonard¡¯s condition had improved considerably these days. 4 Inside 329 The improvement in his health would also help increase Leonard¡¯s uing operation¡¯s sess rate. ¡°Do you know Dr. Spencer personally?¡± Leonard asked after peeling an apple and cutting it into slices for Ariel. Ariel looked up from the book she had ced on herp. ¡°Ie met him a few times, but I don¡¯t know him that well.¡± Leonard smiled. ¡°Dr. Spencer is a pretty decent man. He doesn¡¯t talk much, but he checks on me whenever he has free time. He¡¯s not my attending physician, but he¡¯s very responsible. He¡¯s a really nice young man.¡± Ariel chuckled as she poured Leonard a ss of water. ¡°Why haven¡¯t I heard you praise Dr. Coleman like that before, though?¡± ¡°That¡¯s because I would praise Dr. Coleman directly.¡± He picked up the ss of water and responded matter¨Cof- factly. ¡°A handsome, talented young man like Dr. Spencer doesn¡¯t need to hear these praises from me. I¡¯ve heard the nurses talking about how Dr. Spencer doesn¡¯t have a girlfriend and how he¡¯s an upright, virtuous man. ¡°Moreover, he seems to havee from a pretty wealthy and prominent family. It¡¯s really rare to find someone with his background yet has such a great personality!¡± Ariel looked impressed as she nodded. ¡°Uncle Leo, you¡¯ve found yourself a really fun pastime activity while staying here at the hospital. You managed to find out so much information about Dr. Spencer.¡± ¡°You clueless thing! He¡¯s what people would call a gold¨Cstandard husband¡ªalmost impossible to find these days. ¡°Leonard gave her forehead a gentle poke. Ariel hadpleted the divorce procedures. She was often preupied with work. Leonard thought Ariel could try dating again so that her life wasn¡¯t just filled with dull, repetitive work. Ariel understood Leonard¡¯s intentions. However, she had no ns to see anyone at the moment. She was just about to tell Leonard not to worry about it. Someone knocked on the door just then. A woman who appeared to be a caregiver stepped in, carrying a slice of cake in her hands. She smiled broadly and ced the cake on the table. ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Walker and Ms. Walker, right?¡± Ariel cast a nce at the cake and nodded. ¡°Who might you be?¡± The woman pointed to the door. ¡°I¡¯m the caregiver who works for a patient staying in one of the wards downstairs. I¡¯m just helping to distribute some cakes to the other patients. ¡°My employer says her daughter will be getting the results of her postgraduate admissions exam soon, and they¡¯re celebrating in advance. They hope to share their joy and happiness with everyone by giving out some cakes. 11 The look in Ariel¡¯s eyes changed gradually. She could tell almost instantly that it was Sarah who had instructed the woman to deliver the cake here. They were celebrating it as though they were a hundred percent certain that Nancy had been selected as Carlos¡® new student. Yet, they were clearly trying to show off and mock Ariel and her family by doing this. Ariel had done everything she could to make sure that Katie and Leonard wouldn¡¯t find out that Jayson was having an affair with Nancy, who was Sarah¡¯s daughter. She didn¡¯t want to risk making her frail, sickly elders upset and end up in a further weakened state. Yet, Sarah pulled such a cheap trick just to try to show off to them? ¡°Who¡¯s this person celebrating such wonderful news?¡± Leonard, who waspletely oblivious, asked curiously. ¡°It¡¯s nobody. Unfortunately, we can¡¯t possibly ept something of unknown origin.¡± Ariel¡¯s face was devoid of emotion. She walked over to the able and picked up the cake. She fixed the caregiver with a stony gaze. ¡°Please lead the way. I¡¯ll personally thank your employer.¡± The caregiver froze for a split second upon meeting Ariel¡¯s gaze. She dared not utter a word as she quickly nodded and headed out the door. They took the elevator to the floor below. Ariel knew very well which ward Sarah was staying at since she had insisted on taking the room that Leonard had been living in for two years and forced him to move to another ward. She walked down the familiar path and stopped outside the door. She could hear the sound of peopleughing and chattering awaying from inside the ward. With a frigid expression, Ariel entered the room. Sarah and Nancy directed their gazes to Ariel. Sarah was still smiling. ¡°Ariel! You¡¯re here? What a lovely coincidence. Do you want to have some cakes with us?¡± Ariel noticed Jayson, who was standing next to the window. He turned slightly to look at her. Ariel didn¡¯t spare him another nce, and she didn¡¯t respond to Sarah¡¯s questions either. With a calm look on her face, she brought the piece of cake she was holding and went over to the huge cake ced next to Sarah. Then, she flipped the te and pressed her piece of cake onto the cake below hard. In an instant, she ruined the cake, which still had many portions left and was decorated with congrattory remarks for Nancy. Sarah¡¯s expression hardened. Meanwhile, Nancy furrowed Her brows. She looked very displeased. ¡°For her to be acting this way! Does she not know any manners? No wonder the Hockney family hadn¡¯t let her into their house the other day!¡± She scoffed inwardly. Ariel didn¡¯t let any of her emotions show. She turned around and stared at Jayson, who appeared cold and indifferent while looking at her. ¡°Jayson Larkin, it¡¯s either you have them out of this hospital today, or I¡¯ll expose the lie about Nancy, whom everyone believes is your girlfriend, and have her kicked out of the elite circle for good. Pick one.¡± Inside 330 Ariel sounded extremely calm. She spoke clearly and monotonously. Even though she was positively fuming, Ariel didn¡¯t lose control of her emotions. Yet, it was the way she had remained cool and restrained that would make anyone feel even more shocked. She had a frigid look in her eyes as she stared right at Jayson. Ariel couldn¡¯t even be bothered to me or argue with Nangy and Sarah over what they did. It was because she knew very well that anyone would make use of the advantage they had to the best of their interests. If it weren¡¯t because Jayson had turned a blind eye to it, Sarah might not have the audacity to do something like this. How so? Even if Jayson hadn¡¯t said anything, Sarah and Nancy felt that they would have his backing no matter what! Therefore, Ariel was simply trying to take care of the source of the problem now. Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Beneath his calm appearance was the usual cold indifference with which he had treated Ariel. He kept silent. Nancy stood up. She pursed her lips. There was a look of scorn in her eyes. ¡°Ariel, have you forgotten all your manners?¡± What did they do to cause Ariel to show up here unannounced and create a scene like this? Sarah¡¯s face turned a little pale. She seemed to think that Ariel had overreacted. Sarah adopted a slightly stern, disapproving look on her face. ¡°We gave the cakes to the other patients too. Perhaps someone made a mistake and delivered the cake to your room. There¡¯s no need to¡­ make a big fuss out of it.¡± Ariel had a slightly mocking look in her eyes. So, she was the one who was at fault now? Her mouth twisted into a smirk. ¡°So, it was all an ident? Should I also ¡®identally¡® reveal to other people about Ms. Stanton¡¯s actual rtionship with Jayson, then?¡± Sarah¡¯s expression changed almost instantly. A look of venom shed in her eyes. Nancy¡¯s face darkened. It was her first time seeing Ariel going all out and making these spiteful threats. She didn¡¯t seem to care about being courteous and respectful anymore. Nancy couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ariel found it shameful to be making a scene like this. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it outside.¡± At longst, Jayson opened his mouth and said something. His eyes were unreadable. It was impossible to tell Jayson¡¯s stance and thoughts from his t tone. He strode toward the door, looking as though he didn¡¯t want to disturb Sarah¡¯s rest. It also seemed like Ariel¡¯s earlier remarks had aggravated him. Ariel didn¡¯t spare Sarah and Nancy another nce. In the corridor, Jayson leaned against one side of the wall. He stared at Ariel with those dark eyes. Ariel¡¯s expression remained impassive. ¡°You can think anything you want. I only want one thing. Sarah needs to transfer to another hospital today, and she and Nancy are to stay away from my family. Otherwise, I don¡¯t mind making things ugly for everyone.¡± Ariel could bear with everything else that was happening. However, anything rted to her family was off limits. Moreover, Sarah had clearly done it on purpose. She knew how much Katie and Leonard hated her, yet she went and pulled that cheap trick. Ariel would not tolerate these actions from her. Jayson looked at her for a while and said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you lose your temper like this before.¡± Even when Nancy started appearing around Jayson, Ariel had not once gotten this upset and agitated. Jayson did not sound like he was angry or that he was trying to question Ariel when he said that. Instead, it almost sounded like he was casually teasing her. Those who didn¡¯t know better might think the two of them were just chatting when Ariel had actually asked Jayson to get his woman out of the hospital just moments ago. Ariel lifted her gaze. A cold light was reflected in her eyes. Please give me an answer now.¡± She had no intention of responding to anything irrelevant to the matter. As for the way she had reacted, Ariel was never one to show such an aggressive side, not even to her enemies. Since she was still a child, Ariel had been taught the ways and manners of a properdy. Aside from being polite and proper, she was also gentle yet resilient. Ariel would getpetitive when it came to her work and studies. Otherwise, she rarely gave off such impressions. However, Ariel did not mind showing others her tougher side, especially when those people did something that crossed the line. Jayson fixed his gaze on Ariel. The air around them seemed to have grown a bit tense. He could see that Ariel¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. Suddenly, Jayson said, ¡°Sure, but make sure you keep to what we¡¯ve agreed.¡± As soon as she got an answer from him, Ariel turned around and walked away without the slightest hint of hesitation. She was quite surprised that Jayson said nothing about her saying those harsh words to Nancy and Sarah earlier. Anyway, what mattered more was that Ariel achieved what she came here for. Ariel returned to Leonard¡¯s ward. The expression on her face was so calm and natural that it was as if nothing much had happened earlier. Leonard looked up from the book he was reading. ¡°Have you thanked the person?¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°I did.¡± Leonard lowered his gaze and continued reading. He did not ask any other questions. Ariel stayed around for a bit longer to keep Leonardpany and make sure no one would show up to do something simr to what just happened. She decided to nip the issue in the bud. Sarah had ill intentions when she had someone deliver the cake to them. The only thing Ariel could do was to get Sarah transferred to another hospital. Otherwise, it would only mean more trouble for them. The next day, Ariel had justpleted some of her tasks when she received a call. Her brows furrowed. She recognized the number. It was Colton¡¯s phone number. Even though Ariel had changed her number, Colton seemed to have found a way to obtain her new number. Ariel paused for a split second before picking up the phone Colton spoke in his usual brisk, business¨Clike tone. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mr. Larkin instructed me to inform you that what you requested had been taken care of.¡± Ariel had no idea why Colton was still addressing her that way. However, she could not be bothered to correct him. She merely replied, ¡°Alright.¡± Colton paused for a moment and asked, ¡°Is there anything you need me to ry to Mr. Larkin?¡± ¡°No.¡± Without waiting for his reply, Ariel hung up. She could tell from this incident that it was not particrly difficult for Jayson to obtain her personal information. Yet, he still would not make the call personally. Also, Ariel would not be so naive to think that Jayson had found out about her new number because he wanted to have her contact details. Instead, he was using this method to warn and inform Ariel that he had taken care of the issue just as she asked. He hoped that she would keep her promise and not reveal the secrets about the divorce and Nancy being his mistress. Ariel knew very well that Jayson was a man of his word. Sarah had most likely been transferred to another hospital. Jayson had not tried to bargain or negotiate about the issue during this process. He was simply trying to avoid further agitating Ariel since she might really go ahead and expose Nancy¡¯s lies about being Jayson¡¯s girlfriend. Jayson was probably worried that Ariel might try to harass Sarah as well. Jayson was a smart man. He didn¡¯t like wasting his time doing pointless things. Therefore, he was usually very quick and decisive whenever he had to resolve an issue. Having dealt with the source of her frustration, Ariel saw no reason to spend her time or energy on people who held no significance in her life. Ariel sounded extremely calm. She spoke clearly and monotonously. Even though she was positively fuming, Ariel didn¡¯t lose control of her emotions. Yet, it was the way she had remained cool and restrained that would make anyone feel even more shocked. She had a frigid look in her eyes as she stared right at Jayson. Ariel couldn¡¯t even be bothered to me or argue with Nangy and Sarah over what they did. It was because she knew very well that anyone would make use of the advantage they had to the best of their interests. If it weren¡¯t because Jayson had turned a blind eye to it, Sarah might not have the audacity to do something like this. How so? Even if Jayson hadn¡¯t said anything, Sarah and Nancy felt that they would have his backing no matter what! Therefore, Ariel was simply trying to take care of the source of the problem now. Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Beneath his calm appearance was the usual cold indifference with which he had treated Ariel. He kept silent. Nancy stood up. She pursed her lips. There was a look of scorn in her eyes. ¡°Ariel, have you forgotten all your manners?¡± What did they do to cause Ariel to show up here unannounced and create a scene like this? Sarah¡¯s face turned a little pale. She seemed to think that Ariel had overreacted. Sarah adopted a slightly stern, disapproving look on her face. ¡°We gave the cakes to the other patients too. Perhaps someone made a mistake and delivered the cake to your room. There¡¯s no need to¡­ make a big fuss out of it.¡± Ariel had a slightly mocking look in her eyes. So, she was the one who was at fault now? Her mouth twisted into a smirk. ¡°So, it was all an ident? Should I also ¡®identally¡® reveal to other people about Ms. Stanton¡¯s actual rtionship with Jayson, then?¡± Sarah¡¯s expression changed almost instantly. A look of venom shed in her eyes. Nancy¡¯s face darkened. It was her first time seeing Ariel going all out and making these spiteful threats. She didn¡¯t seem to care about being courteous and respectful anymore. Nancy couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ariel found it shameful to be making a scene like this. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about it outside.¡± At longst, Jayson opened his mouth and said something. His eyes were unreadable. It was impossible to tell Jayson¡¯s stance and thoughts from his t tone. He strode toward the door, looking as though he didn¡¯t want to disturb Sarah¡¯s rest. It also seemed like Ariel¡¯s earlier remarks had aggravated him. Ariel didn¡¯t spare Sarah and Nancy another nce. In the corridor, Jayson leaned against one side of the wall. He stared at Ariel with those dark eyes. Ariel¡¯s expression remained impassive. ¡°You can think anything you want. I only want one thing. Sarah needs to transfer to another hospital today, and she and Nancy are to stay away from my family. Otherwise, I don¡¯t mind making things ugly for everyone.¡± Ariel could bear with everything else that was happening. However, anything rted to her family was off limits. Moreover, Sarah had clearly done it on purpose. She knew how much Katie and Leonard hated her, yet she went and pulled that cheap trick. Ariel would not tolerate these actions from her. Jayson looked at her for a while and said slowly, ¡°I¡¯ve never seen you lose your temper like this before.¡± Even when Nancy started appearing around Jayson, Ariel had not once gotten this upset and agitated. Jayson did not sound like he was angry or that he was trying to question Ariel when he said that. Instead, it almost sounded like he was casually teasing her. Those who didn¡¯t know better might think the two of them were just chatting when Ariel had actually asked Jayson to get his woman out of the hospital just moments ago. Ariel lifted her gaze. A cold light was reflected in her eyes. Please give me an answer now.¡± She had no intention of responding to anything irrelevant to the matter. As for the way she had reacted, Ariel was never one to show such an aggressive side, not even to her enemies. Since she was still a child, Ariel had been taught the ways and manners of a properdy. Aside from being polite and proper, she was also gentle yet resilient. Ariel would getpetitive when it came to her work and studies. Otherwise, she rarely gave off such impressions. However, Ariel did not mind showing others her tougher side, especially when those people did something that crossed the line. Jayson fixed his gaze on Ariel. The air around them seemed to have grown a bit tense. He could see that Ariel¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. Suddenly, Jayson said, ¡°Sure, but make sure you keep to what we¡¯ve agreed.¡± As soon as she got an answer from him, Ariel turned around and walked away without the slightest hint of hesitation. She was quite surprised that Jayson said nothing about her saying those harsh words to Nancy and Sarah earlier. Anyway, what mattered more was that Ariel achieved what she came here for. Ariel returned to Leonard¡¯s ward. The expression on her face was so calm and natural that it was as if nothing much had happened earlier. Leonard looked up from the book he was reading. ¡°Have you thanked the person?¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°I did.¡± Leonard lowered his gaze and continued reading. He did not ask any other questions. Ariel stayed around for a bit longer to keep Leonardpany and make sure no one would show up to do something simr to what just happened. She decided to nip the issue in the bud. Sarah had ill intentions when she had someone deliver the cake to them. The only thing Ariel could do was to get Sarah transferred to another hospital. Otherwise, it would only mean more trouble for them. The next day, Ariel had justpleted some of her tasks when she received a call. Her brows furrowed. She recognized the number. It was Colton¡¯s phone number. Even though Ariel had changed her number, Colton seemed to have found a way to obtain her new number. Ariel paused for a split second before picking up the phone Colton spoke in his usual brisk, business¨Clike tone. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mr. Larkin instructed me to inform you that what you requested had been taken care of.¡± Ariel had no idea why Colton was still addressing her that way. However, she could not be bothered to correct him. She merely replied, ¡°Alright.¡± Colton paused for a moment and asked, ¡°Is there anything you need me to ry to Mr. Larkin?¡± ¡°No.¡± Without waiting for his reply, Ariel hung up. She could tell from this incident that it was not particrly difficult for Jayson to obtain her personal information. Yet, he still would not make the call personally. Also, Ariel would not be so naive to think that Jayson had found out about her new number because he wanted to have her contact details. Instead, he was using this method to warn and inform Ariel that he had taken care of the issue just as she asked. He hoped that she would keep her promise and not reveal the secrets about the divorce and Nancy being his mistress. Ariel knew very well that Jayson was a man of his word. Sarah had most likely been transferred to another hospital. Jayson had not tried to bargain or negotiate about the issue during this process. He was simply trying to avoid further agitating Ariel since she might really go ahead and expose Nancy¡¯s lies about being Jayson¡¯s girlfriend. Jayson was probably worried that Ariel might try to harass Sarah as well. Jayson was a smart man. He didn¡¯t like wasting his time doing pointless things. Therefore, he was usually very quick and decisive whenever he had to resolve an issue. Having dealt with the source of her frustration, Ariel saw no reason to spend her time or energy on people who held no significance in her life. As for the fact that Jayson had learned about her new number¡­ Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about it. She hadn¡¯t changed her number because she was upset or trying to gain anyone¡¯s attention; she simply wanted to move on from her past and embrace her new life. It did not matter to Ariel whether Jayson had her new number or not. Besides, even if he did, Jayson wouldn¡¯t contact Ariel personally or try to bother her. As for the fact that Jayson had learned about her new number¡­ Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about it. She hadn¡¯t changed her number because she was upset or trying to gain anyone¡¯s attention; she simply wanted to move on from her past and embrace her new life. It did not matter to Ariel whether Jayson had her new number or not. Besides, even if he did, Jayson wouldn¡¯t contact Ariel personally or try to bother her. Inside 331 While waiting for the exam results to be announced, Ariel made sure to stay productive. Ever since they found out that Veyo Solutions would also be working on a project involving renewable energy, Ariel knew that they would inevitablypete with the Vey Solutions team for certain resources. Naturally, they needed to try to gain the upper hand by seizing as many opportunities as they could. Ariel needed to research and learn about various enhanced materials. She also met and spoke with representatives from variouspanies. She had visited almost all thepanies that could be suitable partners for them near the World Trade Center. It was some time past 9:00 am when Ariel left their office and headed for apany located near Yeager Group¡¯s building. It was her first time in that area. As she stood outside Yeager Group¡¯s building, Ariel raised her head and looked at the structure. They had assessed the situation and taken everything into consideration after Samson paid a visit to Faye Technologies¡® office the other day. They concluded that they would likely achieve the best results by coborating with Yeager Group and assigning their top personnel to work on the renewable energy project. During that brief moment she was standing there, Ariel saw a car stopping nearby. As soon as Nancy got out of the car, she met Ariel¡¯s gaze. She had a stony look in her eyes. There was barely veiled contempt and arrogance in those orbs as she gazed at Ariel. Yet, Ariel remained unruffled. It was because she knew that Nancy and Sarah must find it humiliating that Sarah had to transfer to another hospital. Naturally, they would feel displeased. For someone who had a strong sense of pride like Nancy, she probably could not stand suffering such humiliation even more. Despite Jayson¡¯s decision to move Sarah to another hospital for their mutual well¨Cbeing, the emotional aftermath remained. Ariel¡¯s actions during the incident had left the mother and daughter feeling humiliated, and their lingering bitterness was unmistakable. ¡°Call Mr. Pryce¡¯s secretary and tell them we¡¯re here.¡± With a haughty look on her face, Nancy averted her gaze and instructed her secretary. She treated Ariel as if thetter weren¡¯t there. Her heels cked on the floor as Nancy headed into the Yeager Group¡¯s building. Ariel was not surprised. It was only natural that Veyo Solutions would try to approach and seek the opportunity to work with arge enterprise like Yeager Group. That was why Nancy hade to meet Samson. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on the matter for too long. She decided to settle some urgent matters at hand first. Ariel needed to speak to a senior executive about the carbon fiberposite material used in making a drone¡¯s exterior. Fortunately, the senior executive was an easy¨Cgoing, decisive person. They managed to finish their discussion within half an hour. After leaving the ce, Ariel passed by Yeager Group¡¯s building again. She directed her gaze to the lounge area in the lobby. Ariel happened to witness an interesting moment Samson entered the lobby from a side entrance located not too far away. After someone beside him said something to him, Samson turned his gaze toward the lounge area. Nancy was sitting and waiting in the lounge. After hearing his secretary¡¯s exnation, Samson began moving toward the lounge. While he was doing that, Samson spotted Ariel, who was waiting for her cab outside. Without the slightest hint of hesitation, Samson curled his lips and greeted Ariel with a smile. Ariel paused for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected Samson to notice her, let alone greet her, when she wasn¡¯t even inside the building. Samson had left her with a pretty good impression. He was a rare genius. Moreover, he had expressed his keen interest in coborating with Faye Technologies. Ariel worked in the PR department for several years. She knew what she should do to maintain good rtions. Ariel smiled slightly and nodded in response. Nancy noticed Samson¡¯s unusual movements and looked out of the window as well. She furrowed her brows the instant she saw the warm, friendly look Ariel had on her face when thetter was looking at Samson. ¡°Do you know her personally, Mr. Pryce?¡± Nancy asked while trying to sound natural. Samson finally looked away after watching Ariel get into the cab. He gestured for Nancy to take a seat. ¡°Please, have a seat. Have you been waiting for a long time?¡± Samson did not offer any exnation. He tactfully changed the topic. As she sat down, Nancy could see Ariel¡¯s cab driving away. She found Ariel¡¯s earlier smile rather amusing. There was something about it that felt just a bit too eager, as if she were trying hard to win Samson¡¯s approval. Perhaps Ariel had misunderstood something after the time Samson had invited her for a dance during Lucas¡® engagement party. A mocking smile yed across Nancy¡¯s lips as she retrieved a document from her secretary. She found Ariel¡¯s attempts to win Samson over utterly over¨Cthe¨Ctop¨Cnothing more than a string of petty tricks. Inside 332 Nancy did not let her inner thoughts show. She appeared elegant as she ced her hands on her knees and said, It¡¯s alright. I¡¯vee here to discuss a project that Veyo Solutions has been working ontely, Mr. Pryce. ¡°You can take a look at it first. If you think it¡¯s something worth your time, perhaps we can discuss more about the project.¡± Samson did not refuse to look at the document that was passed to him. He went through the document and nodded. ¡°The project looks quite interesting. I¡¯ve heard a lot about Veyo Solutions recently. You have very innovative ideas for the project, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy smiled faintly. ¡°I was thinking it would be great if we could coborate with a partner that shared simr ideologies with us. Do you think there¡¯s a chance for us to work together on the project, Mr. Pryce?¡± Samson closed the folder containing the document and pushed it back toward Nancy. His expression was calm and neutral. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Ourpany has made other ns at the moment.¡± Nancy was a bit thrown off by the fact that Samson had rejected her proposal. Samson looked at her and continued at a steady speed, ¡°Yeager Group takes various factors into consideration when assessing and choosing the partners we coborate with. It doesn¡¯t rely solely on my personal opinion. ¡°Recently, ourpany has just finalized some ns and made the relevant arrangements. I could only express my gratitude that you came all the way to our office, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy was unsure what kind of ns they were when Samson said theirpany had other ns in ce. However, she wouldn¡¯t press him with more questions since Samson had made their stance pretty clear. Moreover, Nancy felt like she could understand Samson¡¯s position once the initial shock had passed. It hadn¡¯t been too long since Yeager Group hired Samson to work for them. He probably didn¡¯t have the power or authority to make decisions involving such arge¨Cscale project. Even if he had an interest in working with Veyo Solutions, Samson still had to follow and execute the ns agreed upon by thepany¡¯s higher¨Cups ordingly. Samson wasn¡¯t trying to reject her with some half¨Chearted excuse. Instead, he had sincerely exined his reasons to her. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Nancy nodded, seemingly unaffected. While maintaining herposure, she decided not to appear overly eager or desperate. She looked at Samson. ¡°I hope we¡¯ll get a chance to work together next time.¡± Samson stood up and nced at his watch. ¡°I¡¯ll see you around then, Ms. Stanton.¡± He instructed his secretary to show Nancy out. Samson mentioned nothing about how he had actually chosen to partner with Faye Technologies. Samson was a really busy man. He promptly excused himself and went upstairs to his office. Nancy watched his receding figure. Then, she nced at Samson¡¯s secretary, who was beside her. A thought urred to her. Samson did not reply to her message when Nancy invited him to the art exhibition the other day. Yet, he instructed his secretary to show her out today. Could someone as thoughtful and meticulous as him possibly miss and forget to reply to someone¡¯s WhatsApp message? Nancy snapped out of her reverie. Then, she turned around and left the building They would be getting their exam results that day. Nancy had made a reservation at a restaurant since she nned on treating her friends to a meal. She also made sure to remind Jayson in advance to keep his schedule free for that evening. Jayson promised to meet up with them as well. Nancy felt quite confident about her exam results. She was certain it was enough to put her in first ce. In the evening, Nancy arrived at the private room and found that Matt and the others were already there. Even Renee hade to join them. As soon as she spotted Nancy, Renee dashed over and clung to her arm. ¡°Hurry ande in! Can we check the results already?¡± Jayson directed his gaze to Nancy. Nancy¡¯s gaze fell on him. She walked over to where he was and sat beside him. ¡°We¡¯re all here to celebrate you. Yet, you only have eyes for Jayson, huh?¡± Matt shook his head and said teasingly. Nancy simply beamed and gazed at Jayson¡¯s side profile with a gentle look in her eyes. Jayson turned his eyes to her. ¡°Have you checked your results?¡± Nancy curled her lips and said calmly, ¡°Uh¨Chuh. 432 points. It should be enough for me to secure the spot.¡± ¡°You got such high marks!¡± Renee was the first person to exim in awe. She was looking at Nancy with a greater sense of admiration. This was the kind of sister¨Cinw she wanted! Nancy was both smart and beautiful! Perry had a pensive look on his face. He couldn¡¯t help wondering how the situation was on Ariel¡¯s side. Matt was deeply impressed. ¡°Nancy, you¡¯re being overly humble. You really are a genius. You managed to score such high marks despite not having much time to prepare. You can easily get first ce with that score, right?¡± Then, he smiled enigmatically. ¡°I¡¯m curious about how much Ariel scored then¡­¡± Inside 333 Nancy had indeed obtained a very high score. Faced with limited time, she opted to proceed with the examination, aiming to secure her position as a postgraduate student under Carlos¡® supervision. Still, Nancy managed to obtain such excellent results. Someone of her caliber would usually be deemed one of the gifted, top¨Ctier students. Matt and the others had expected this much from the beginning. Nancy wouldn¡¯t have any issue passing the exam with flying colors. As for her ¡°rival¡°, there was still no news from her. Somehow, they felt like they could pretty much foresee how things would unfold. Renee paused momentarily. ¡°Ariel? She took the exam too Nancy recalled how Ariel had handed in her paper well before the exam ended. She nodded with an indifferent expression. Renee furrowed her brows. She¡¯d always believed in the value of self¨Cimprovement and lifelong learning. But Ariel¨Ctaking the postgraduate admissions exam? That caught her off guard. From what she remembered, Ariel¡¯s world had revolved entirely around Jayson, her time mostly spent in the kitchen cooking for him. Renee just couldn¡¯t picture her stepping into an exam hall, let alone chasing an academic goal. ¡°The core modules and math paper? You don¡¯t pass those unless you¡¯ve actually studied. And now she¡¯s suddenly sitting for the postgraduate admissions exam after being out of school for ages? I honestly can¡¯t tell if she¡¯s misjudging Ashford University¡¯s standards or just has too much confidence in herself.¡± Matt shook his head. She had gone so far as to make that bold statement before an audience. If the oue turned against her, Faye Technologies¡® reputation might suffer right alongside hers. Nancy lifted her ss and remarked pointedly, ¡°Everyone has ambitions they wish to achieve.¡± ¡°A smart person would try to keep a low profile first if they were not a hundred percent sure things would go their way. There was no need to garner all the attention and make the situation more embarrassing for themselves.¡± Matt shrugged and made another guess. ¡°I checked Mr. Chad¡¯s social media ount just now. There were no new updates. If Ariel had achieved good results, they would be showing them off by now. There¡¯s no way they¡¯d be keeping quiet like what they¡¯re doing now.¡± Matt reckoned Ariel would probably feel so embarrassed that she might not want to see anyone for the time being. Perhaps she was trying to act as if none of this had ever happened, and she was hoping everyone would slowly forget about it: Jayson put down his cup and gave him a sideways nce. ¡°You sound really concerned about her.¡± He spoke without inflection, as if going through the motions. It was obvious he neither cared for the subject hor wanted to hear more about Ariel. Nancy curled her lips as she noticed Jayson¡¯s attitude toward the matter. She knew Jayson¡¯s resentment toward Ariel had deepened after the way she¡¯d disrespected both her and Sarah the other day. Now, he refused to even speak of her. +25 BONUS Matt had picked up on it too¨CJayson seemedpletely disinterested in anything concerning Ariel. He tactfully changed the topic. ¡°Have you checked your ranking? Will the university put up a notice? Have you heard from Mr. Carlos already?¡± Renee ced her hands on Nancy¡¯s arm. ¡°For that major, she¡¯s definitely in first ce with that score! ¡°I¡¯ve checked the minimum scores one must achieve to pass the final exam and the highest scores students have achieved during the previous years. Her score falls within the range of the highest scores ever achieved.¡± Renee was also interested in the study of aerospace engineering. She had been paying attention to this sort of information for thest two years. With Jayson¡¯s discerning nature, he had introduced Renee to a sister¨Cinw whose warmth and academic support proved invaluable. She couldn¡¯t have been more thrilled. No news hade from the university, not even a website update on rankings or course transfer information. Nancy hadn¡¯t seen her official results yet, but she was fairly certain she¡¯d topped the list. Still, a part of her knew she should call and confirm, just to be sure. Nancy nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll call the admissions office and ask the staff about it.¡± Besides, she also wanted to know roughly when she would receive the official letter confirming her eptance as Carlos¡® postgraduate student. Perry frowned slightly. With Nancy obtaining such a high score, he couldn¡¯t help but worry for Ariel. Nancy went ahead and called the Ashford University admissions office right away. The smile on her face froze as the voice on the other end spoke. Her expression twisted in confusion. Nancy hesitated for only a second before asking again, needing to be sure she¡¯d heard correctly. ¡°I¡¯m¡­ in second ce?¡± Nancy felt bewildered. Matt was shocked upon hearing what she said. Nancy was in second ce? Even with that score? Jayson directed his gaze to Nancy. After she ended the call, Nancy¡¯s expression turned grim. Inside 334 Matt finally managed to say something after some time. ¡°What¡¯s going on? What did the staff say? Are you sure they didn¡¯t make a mistake?¡± Nancy had achieved an incredibly high score for such a challenging course. Yet, someone managed to score higher than her. ¡°Uh¨Chuh. I only managed to confirm the ranking, though. Nancy had a conflicted look on her face. The cheery mood she was in earlier while thinking that she had secured the number one spot was nowpletely ruined. Nancy was clearly in disbelief, her face darkening. Perry seemed to have thought of something. He turned his eyes to Nancy. ¡°Did they tell you what the highest score achieved during the final exam and¡­ who got the score?¡± Jayson lifted his gaze slightly. He said tly, ¡°They probably won¡¯t tell her about that.¡± They would have to wait for the announcement from the corresponding faculty after they hadpleted their assessments. Nancy pursed her lips. ¡°They didn¡¯t share any information on that.¡± She heaved a deep breath and said in a rather gloomy voice, ¡°They also said that Mr. Carlos had decided on the candidate who would be his postgraduate student. However, it wasn¡¯t me.¡± The lecturers would take into consideration each student¡¯s performance during their written tests and interview sessions when conducting their assessments. Nancy was certain she had what it took to stand out among the other candidates. Even if there was someone who had scored higher than her in the exam, that person might not be able to beat her when it came to her achievements and real¨Clife experiences. Nancy had worked at one of the world¡¯s top 500panies and had previously participated in several major projects. Currently, she was working for Veyo Solutions, one of the top techpanies in their country. Furthermore, she had studied abroad and graduated from one of the world¡¯s most renowned universities. Nancy couldn¡¯t fathom why the spot to be Carlos¡® postgraduate student wasn¡¯t given to her. Perry dropped his gaze. He fell silent while appearing to be lost in thought. Jayson cast his gaze in Perry¡¯s direction since he noticed thetter was being unusually quiet. He asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Perry recalled how Colin, the Houston Group¡¯s chief engineer, had heaped praises on Ariel. He also thought about how Ariel was the project lead for a lot of Faye Technologies¡® projects. When he linked all that to what was happening now¡­ For a split second, he had a look of bewilderment on his face. However, Perry quickly controlled his expression. He tightened his grip on the cup he was holding. He could feel his heartbeat quickening. As a shocking thought came to his mind, Perry felt as though all the blood in his body was rushing toward his head. When he raised his head, Perry met Jayson¡¯s dark eyes. There was an inquiring look in those eyes. Matt and Nancy were looking at him too. Perry suppressed the curiosity that arose within him and said slowly, ¡°I just found it quite surprising. Only a small group of the best students who had made it through the fiercepetition could sit for Ashford University¡¯s postgraduate admissions exam¡¯s final exam. They mostly earned scores above 400,¡± How well did the person in first ce perform in the final exam if they managed to top Nancy¡¯s high score as well? The frown on Nancy¡¯s forehead deepened when she heard those words. With a pensive expression, Jayson traced his finger along the edge of his phone and remained silent. Mattmented after giving it some thought, ¡°There¡¯s probably another student who performed really well during the exam? It¡¯s very likely Mr. Carlos has picked the person in first ce to be his student. They¡¯ll probably put up the list on the faculty¡¯s official website soon.¡± Nancy tried her best to calm herself down and said, ¡°I want to give it another shot.¡± Jayson turned his gaze toward her. Nancy came up with an idea during that short period of time. ¡°We¡¯ll be having an opening ceremony for Veyo Solutions in another two days. I¡¯m thinking of inviting Mr. Carlos to the opening ceremony. I¡¯ll talk to him and ask him if he¡¯ll consider taking one more student.¡± She refused to give up on the opportunity just yet. Otherwise, all of her efforts so far would have been for naught. Nancy also wanted to find out more about the person who ced first in the final exam and how much they scored. If their score had been just slightly higher than Nancy¡¯s, Nancy was certain that person¡¯s achievements would definitely pale inparison to hers. In that case, why did Carlos not pick her instead? Perhaps he could even consider opening one more spot for her? However, it would not be an easy task for her to arrange for a meeting with someone who had a rather special background and status like Carlos. Jayson set his cup down. He had a calm look in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll help you arrange for a meeting with him.¡± Inside 335 It had not been a month since Faye Technologiesunched theirtest product, and they still had a lot of follow- up work to do. Faye Technologies would be holding a productunch event that Friday. After that, they would work on adjusting the marketing strategy and conduct promotional activities. They needed to prepare for a lot of things. Ariel was wholly absorbed in work. It was only when Chad and Janice reminded her in the evening that Ariel remembered she needed to check her results. Frankly, Ariel wasn¡¯t nervous at all. After taking the written tests and going for the interview, she had a rough estimate of her score. Ariel reckoned the actual score would either be slightly higher or lower than the estimated score. When she finally saw the actual score, Ariel smiled, looking like she had expected that much.. On the other hand, Janice covered her mouth and eximed excitedly, ¡°469 points! Ari, you¡¯re a smart little devil! How could she perform so well even though it had been more than three years since she decided to quit her studies? Moreover, this was Ashford University¡¯s postgraduate admissions exam. The exam¡¯s level of difficulty was extremely high and advanced. Ariel was alsopeting against a group of exceptional geniuses during the exam. Yet, she managed to top everyone with a much higher score. Chad breathed a sigh of relief. He was both happy for Ariel and deeply impressed by her. ¡°You could probably earn a much higher score if you had more time to prepare for the exams, right? Some geniuses inspire envy in others. If it¡¯s someone like you who¡¯s on an entirely different level, people will only want to avoid you. They won¡¯t even think ofpeting against you. ¡°Back then, I received offers from the university to do my master¡¯s and PhD programs. If I were to take the exams too, given how difficult the papers in our course were, I would never be able to score higher than 455 points even if I had given it my best shot.¡± Chad could already imagine how happy Carlos would be when thetter learned about Ariel¡¯s exam results. At the same time, Carlos would most likely be giving him an earful about how he should do better. Each point signified a huge difference in their abilities. Chad reckoned anyone would feel defeated going up against a rare genius like Ariel. Anyway, he and Janice had pretty much expected Ariel to obtain a high score on the exam. After Ariel spoke to Carlos on the phone, she was also informed that she had secured the spot to be his postgraduate student. Janice grinned and lightly bumped against Chad¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Nancy lost the spot. She¡¯s probably dying to find out who snatched the spot from her.¡± Chad snickered. He was struck by an idea. ¡°Let¡¯s invite my father to our productunch on Friday.¡± Ariel could tell almost instantly what Chad was trying to do. She chuckled and shook her head, but she did not oppose the idea. Their marketing department had been preparing for a few days. Soon enough, everything was set to go. When Ariel arrived at the venue, quite a number of guests who also worked in the same industry were already there. The reporters from several media agencies that Faye Technologies had worked with previously could be seen present as well. Chad received some interesting news. ¡°Veyo Solutions is having its opening ceremony today. Things are looking quite fun and lively there.¡± The atmosphere was more than just lively. It was quite a high¨Cprofile event with the representatives from several government departments participating in the ribbon¨Ccutting ceremony. Numerouspanies would send their representatives to Veyo Solutions¡® opening ceremony to celebrate the asion since most of them wished to form connections with Jayson. Ariel was going through the itinerary for their productunch. She didn¡¯t even look up as she said, ¡°Now that things are going pretty smooth and stable for theirpany, it¡¯s about time they hold an event like that to increase exposure and customer loyalty.¡± Nevertheless, it was quite interesting that the twopanies¡® events happened to fall on the same day. Chad chuckled as the thought hit him as well. ¡°It¡¯s like we¡¯re destined to be each other¡¯s nemesis. Bothpanies are having a prettyrge¨Cscale event held on the same day. In a way¡­ we¡¯re sort ofpeting to see whichpany has made more connections.¡± This was a prettymon phenomenon happening between different businesses andpanies. As for the otherpanies, they would be taking various factors into consideration when choosing sides. In a nutshell, they would make their decision based on how much profit they could gain out of it. Most of the time, these people would remain on the fence and pick the side that would work the best for them. ¡°Mr. Hockney. Ms. Walker.¡± Someone approached them just then. Chad and Ariel looked in the direction of the voice. It was someone they hadn¡¯t expected to see there that day. Perry had stopped before them. His gaze fell on Ariel¡¯s face as he tried to observe her condition. ¡°Mr. Houston?¡± Ariel fixed her gaze on him. ¡°You¡¯re not going to Veyo Solutions¡® opening ceremony today?¡± Even Chad was surprised that Perry hade here instead. Perry and Jayson were close friends. They considered him to be on Nancy¡¯s side all along. With Veyo Solutions celebrating their opening ceremony today, Perry came to support Faye Technologies¡® productunch event instead? ¡°I mentioned back when we ran into each other at the Spencer residence that I¡¯m interested in Faye Tech¡¯s projects and ventures. I also wish to have the opportunity to coborate with your team someday. ¡°In a way, I¡¯vee here today to find out more about the Faye Tech team and your projects. Sorry for showing up here uninvited, though.¡± Perry knew that the choice he made today could bring about crucial changes in the future. Ariel raised her brows. Chad responded swiftly, with the mindset of a smart and sessful business owner. He knew exactly what to say during situations like this. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it. The fact that you¡¯re here gives us a lot of support. The Faye Tech team wees you here, Inside 336 Chapter 336 Perry was clearly choosing Faye Technologies over Veyo Solutions by dropping by today. Moreover, he was someone close to Nancy¡¯s group. Chad was more than willing to see Perry stab them in the back this way. Just then, they heard amotioning from somewhere in the distance. Carlos had arrived. The reporters were visibly taken aback. None of them had anticipated the appearance of the renowned and widely respected researcher Carlos Hockney. They quickly pointed their cameras at Carlos. It was not yet time for the interview session. While Faye Technologies¡® staff members carried out the necessary protocols to keep the situation under control, the guests were courteous enough not to rush up to Carlos and surround him. With his assistant by his side, Carlos made his way toward Ariel. Perry¡¯s expression turned a lot more serious the instant he spotted Carlos. The thoughts that he had before came to his mind yet again. ¡°Mr. Carlos.¡± Perry greeted him respectfully. He grew more certain of his thoughts. Perry said in a soothing voice, ¡°You came to Faye Tech¡¯s productunch today despite your busy schedule.¡± Carlos recognized Perry. He nodded. They were surrounded by reporters and people from the same industry. Still, Carlos replied calmly, ¡°I¡¯m here to see my student.¡± Perry¡¯s eyes widened. He swiftly turned his gaze toward Ariel, who remained cool and collected this whole time. It was really her. Several representatives from the government had attended Veyo Solutions¡® opening ceremony. Nancy couldn¡¯t even afford to take a break. Jayson was still having a meeting at Bluum Corp. He could onlye over after the meeting was over. Meanwhile, Matt hade over to lend a hand since he was free. He checked the time. ¡°Did Jayson say what time he¡¯d reach here?¡± Nancy looked at the message once more and said, ¡°He says it¡¯ll take another 20 minutes.¡± Then, she asked, ¡°What about Perry? Why isn¡¯t he here yet? Matt was puzzled about that too. ¡°I¡¯ll ask him in a bit.¡± He reckoned Perry was probably held back because of work ¡°Did Jayson tell you what time you¡¯d be meeting Mr. Carlos?¡± Nancy frowned slightly. ¡°Around 3:00 pm. Jayson said there was no need to invite Mr. Carlos to the opening. ceremony, so he didn¡¯t mention it to him. He simply arranged for a meeting at a separate time.¡± Nancy wasn¡¯t exactly sure what Jayson¡¯s ns were. However, she reckoned Jayson probably didn¡¯t invite Carlos to the opening ceremony because thetter probably didn¡¯t enjoy making such public appearances. On the other hand, Matt believed it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to persuade Carlos to open an additional spot for Nancy, especially since he had already agreed to meet with them. ¡°Faye Tech is holding a productunch today. It just so happens that they¡¯ve picked to do it on the same day as Veyo Solutions¡® opening ceremony. I don¡¯t understand the point of them doing something like this.¡± Matt had just found out about this not too long ago. He found it amusing. Nancy¡¯s brows arched. She did not think much of it. ¡°I¡¯ve invited a lot of important and influential figures in the industry to our event. We even have representatives from the government here to show their support for Veyo Solutions. ¡°Their presence here today sets the bar for us. Faye Tech¡¯s event couldn¡¯t possibly be more impressive than ours in terms of the scale and the guests that have shown up.¡± Moreover, Jayson would being here to show his support for Veyo Solutions too. Matt agreed with her. He shrugged and smirked. Then, he took out his phone since he was nning to send Perry a message to ask where he was. ¡°Sorry, I was a bitte.¡± When Zach came up to them, he instructed his secretary to pass his gifts to Nancy. Nancy decided to end the conversation they had been having earlier. She smiled at Zach. ¡°Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to be here.¡± Zach received the invitation a few days ago. He was unable to attend the art exhibition the other day. So, he decided he muste here today to show his support. Additionally, Veyo Solutions had demonstrated considerable potential. Zach was hoping they could coborate with the Veyo Solutions team in the near future and generate better results for their future projects. He looked at Matt, who was staring at his phone, and was about to say something. But Matt¡¯s expression changed all of a sudden. He looked away from his phone screen and nced at Nancy. He had a slightly flustered look on his face. ¡°Mr. Carlos¡­ went to Faye Tech.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression hardened the second she heard that Carlos was at Faye Technologies¡® event. ¡°Also¡­¡± Matt showed her his phone screen. Zach was standing closer to him, so he saw the post clearly. His eyes hardened. They could see that someone had posted an update on Faye Tech¡¯s event through Matt¡¯s Instagram ount. A photo of Carlos and Ariel standing together was captured during Faye Technologies¡® productunch event. When Nancy read the caption of that post, her expression turned grim and awkward. Her face grew pale. ¡°Mr. Carlos is finally taking a new student after four years, and that person is Faye Tech¡¯s Ms. Walker! It¡¯s such an honor to be able to witness this moment!¡± Inside 337 For a moment, Nancy said nothing. The carefully applied makeup on her pretty face couldn¡¯t hide the way her features contorted into a grimace. She stared at the Instagram post and slowly read each word to ensure she was seeing it correctly. ¡°Ariel Walker¡­ she¡¯s Mr. Carlos¡® new student?¡± She pondered. What she¡¯d just read was so surreal, Nancy could hardly process it¨Cher mind reeled, suspended in a fog of disbelief. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Zach was the first to speak. He knitted his brows. There was a look of bewilderment in his eyes. ¡°Since when did she be Mr. Carlos¡® student?¡± Carlos and Gary were quite close. Since he was still a child, Zach knew how influential and highly respected Carlos was in the field of scientific research within their country. The students he had taken in were mostly individuals who had made a significant name for themselves through their extraordinary achievements. Zach couldn¡¯t help but wonder how Ariel had managed to beat all thepetition and snatch the spot. ¡°They must have made a mistake, right?¡± Matt came to his senses. He stopped joking around as he usually would. He sounded bewildered. ¡°Arielpletely crushed all those students and Nancy?¡± Her mind was a swirl of confusion, but even through the haze, Matt¡¯s words grated on her. His im that they¡¯d beenpletely crushed by Ariel didn¡¯t sit right with her. Her lips were pressed into a thin line. Nancy remained silent. She wondered if there had been a mistake or if someone had made an error. ¡°It¡¯s pretty understandable that Mr. Carlos has attended Faye Tech¡¯s productunch event. After all, Mr. Chad is Mr. Carlos¡® only son. It¡¯s not that strange for him to make an appearance at the event as a special guest. ¡°However, these ims of Ariel being Mr. Carlos¡® new student¡­ They might not be true. Perhaps these people made a mistake and shared the wrong information?¡± Matt made a usible guess. After all, the university had yet to release the list of rankings to the public. They all knew where Ariel came from¨Ca former housewife whose days had once revolved around cooking for Jayson. Even after joining Bluum Corp, she hadn¡¯t made waves, and at Faye Technologies, she was merely shadowing Chad. So, how could she have topped the admissions exam in just a few short months? It didn¡¯t add up. Zach had calmed down gradually. ¡°Let¡¯s observe the situation a little longer. Don¡¯t get ahead of ourselves.¡± He tried to offer Nancy words offort. When he arrived here just now, Zach heard Veyo Solutions¡® staff members discussing how Nancy¡¯s score of 432 points on the final exam was considered a remarkably high score in their major, Moreover, they said Nancy would probably be thest student Carlos would be taking under his wing. If they were to look at the highest scores achieved throughout the years, Nancy should have no problem securing the number one spot in their major. Yet, there were rumors saying that Ariel had been chosen as Carlos¡® student instead? Zach reckoned there must have been a mistake. Meanwhile, Nancy had reorganized her thoughts. She calmly nodded. ¡°Thank you. I know. I¡¯ll be meeting Mr. Carlos this afternoon, and I¡¯ll verify things with him in person. There¡¯s no need for us to be affected by these baseless tumors.¡± Nancy had no intention of losing herposure, especially when there was still no confirmation that the Instagram post was even real. Carlos¡® new student could be anyone else, but it could never be Ariel. Zach nced at Nancy, then lowered his eyes, lost in thought. There was something unusual about it all. Where had those whispers evene from? Matt had also gotten over his initial shock. He quickly sent message to their group chat. ¡°Something really bizarre just happened. Someone ims that Ariel is Mr. Carlos¡® new postgraduate student. Fortunately, Nancy isn¡¯t affected by these rumors. We still need to verify this news, though. ¡°@Jayson, what are your thoughts on this? ¡®@Perry, what¡¯s keeping you so busy today? Why aren¡¯t you here yet?¡± Perry did not reply to his message. It took Jayson quite some time to send his response. ¡°I know. Tell Nancy toe and meet me at the coffee shop near Faye Tech¡¯s building once the event¡¯s over.¡± He didn¡¯t respond to Matt¡¯s question. Matt was left a bit confused after reading his message. He sent another message. ¡°Are you busy right now? Will you being overter?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t reply to his text message. Nancy frowned slightly after reading Jayson¡¯s message. She could only assume something serious hade up, prompting the abrupt shift in their ns. With Jayson¡¯s status and influence, they managed to invite numerous prominent figures in their industry to attend Veyo Solutions¡® opening ceremony. Nancy also understood that Carlos¡® presence at the Faye Technologies event today was likely because of Chad. Inside 338 Chapter 338 Still, Nancy wanted to find out who Carlos¡® new student really was as soon as possible. Just then, Seth came up to her and said, ¡°Ms. Stanton, there are two representatives from the government who have to leave first because they need to take care of some tent matters. The other three government representatives will be staying until the event is over.¡± Nancy knitted her brows. She was aware of how busy government staff were. These days, the government had put in a lot of effort to support the tech industry¡¯s growth and development. They would send their representatives to attend these corporate events as per their protocol. It was already a good thing for Veyo Solutions that these government representatives had attended their event today. Nancy couldn¡¯t possiblyin about it if some of them had to leave early for work.. ¡°Okay. Just ensure that our staff assist the remaining representatives with whatever they need. Also, speak to the reporters and make sure they release articles about the government representatives showing up for our event.¡± Numerous guests had attended Faye Technologies¡® productunch event. The project they hadunched at the start of the year was aimed at their local customers. Companies based in different states and cities had sent their representatives to Haye Technologies¡® event. Carlos had attended today¡¯s event to show his support for Faye Technologies. Word got out very quickly when Carlos, who rarely made such public appearances, showed up there. It even caused quite a buzz. Carlos also did not hesitate to answer questions. Whenever asked why he¡¯d chosen to attend the event, Carlos would offer the same response¨Chis tone even, his expression unreadable. ¡°I¡¯m here to have a look at my student¡¯s work.¡± Most people knew that Ashford University¡¯s postgraduate admissions exam had just ended not too long ago. Carlos¡® words stunned those around him. And just like that, the spotlight turned to Ariel. He was also personally introducing Ariel as his student. She was probably the first person to receive this treatment from him! Perry had witnessed all of that happening. It wasn¡¯t lost on him¨Cthe quiet spark in Colin¡¯s gaze when he spoke about Ariel, a clear trace of respect and admiration. And Perry knew the praise wasn¡¯t unfounded; Ariel had immersed herself in every stage of the work at Faye Technologies. What Perry hadn¡¯t anticipated was Ariel going head¨Cto¨Chead with Nancy and winning. She¡¯d secured her ce as Carlos¡® student and was now being treated with a level of distinction that spoke volumes. As the day unfolded, Perry found himself swept by one revtion after another. He¡¯d been shocked, but also deeply impressed. Ariel wasn¡¯t justpetent; she was brilliant enough to win Carlos¡® approval. While Perry watched in silence, his thoughts churning, Ariel stayed blissfully unaware. At that moment, staff from Yeager Group stepped forward, delivering a congrattory gift to mark Faye Technologies¡® big day. Inside the package were several high¨Cend disy models of their newest products, sculpted from carbon fiber and When Ariel lifted one in her hands, she immediately sensed the weight of innovation. The rare materials and precision¨Cengineered finish spoke of the most advanced technologies in existence. ¡°Mr. Pryce had these custom¨Cmade for today¡¯s asion. He wished to congratte Faye Tech on the sess of yourtest project. ¡°Unfortunately, he left for Sorenta two days ago on a business trip. He can¡¯t be here in person, but he wishes to pass on his gifts.¡± One of the Yeager Group¡¯s staff members exined politely. The Faye Technologies team hadn¡¯t anticipated receiving any gifts at theirunch event. But Ariel understood perfectly¨Cthis was Samson¡¯s way of expressing Yeager Group¡¯s sincerity. The disy models, miniature versions of Faye Technologies¡® newest drone designs, had been crafted not frommon materials but from specialized military¨Cgradeposites. Every detail reflected intention. The gift was more than a gesture¨Cit was a subtle exhibition of Yeager Group¡¯s technological capabilities and precision. ¡°Please convey our thanks to Mr. Pryce.¡± Ariel instructed someone to put away the disy models. She invited Yeager Group¡¯s staff members to stay and look around like the other guests. Just then, Chad came over. ¡°Several government representatives who deal with affairs rting to the tech sector are speaking to my father now. You should go and get acquainted with themter. You also need to take a photo with them.¡± Ariel had no objections. She knew that these government officials had actuallye to meet Carlos. This was precisely why connections and resources were highly crucial to a business, as they would help promote and expand the business. The venue for their productunch was quiterge, and they had several programs nned for the event. The entire event wouldst approximately two hours. With Carlos making an appearance, the reporters had requested a ten¨Cminute interview session with him. They nned to ask him a few questions regarding the tech industry. While Carlos continued with the interview, Ariel quietly slipped upstairs to take her medication. A few minutester, she returned to the event floor,posed and ready to rejoin Carlos when her secretary hurried toward her and whispered, ¡°Ms. Walker, Bluum Corp¡¯s Mr. Larkin is here¡­¡± Inside 339 Chapter 339 Ariel halted. ¡°Where is he?¡± She wondered if Veyo Solutions¡® event had already ended. Her secretary replied, ¡°He¡¯s seeing Mr. Carlos now. He said that he had made an appointment to meet Mr. Carlos today.¡± Some of their guests had not left the building yet. As the person in charge of today¡¯s event, Janice was overseeing things in and around the venue. She had already seen off a few groups of their friends who made time to attend their event. Ariel nodded and said, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go and take a look.¡± Ariel had no idea why Jayson had shown up at their productunch. Whatever the reason, she highly doubted it was to offer his support. Given that Veyo Solutions was also hosting a major event today, Ariel found it odd that Jayson would show up at Faye Technologies¡® productunch instead. How was he to show his support for Veyo Solutions if he was here? Feeling wary, Ariel waited quietly for the elevator. When the doors slid open, she noticed that both Carlos and Jayson were inside. Jayson met her eyes with a calm, unreadable look. ¡°Congrattions,¡± he said. Ariel wasn¡¯t sure what he was congratting her for¨CFaye Technologies¡® productunch or something else entirely. She offered no response and turned instead to Carlos. Carlos, hands sped behind his back, gave her a measured nce. He was quite pleased with how indifferent she was to her ex¨Chusband. He felt that Ariel was growing more grounded and less easily shaken by emotional distractions. Then, he said, ¡°I need to speak with Mr. Larkin about a few thingster. You and Chad shoulde along and wait for me.¡± Ariel was a bit surprised. Did Carlos really intend to discuss something with Jayson, and wanted her to be present? Honestly, she had no desire to know what they needed to talk about. Lowering her voice, she asked, ¡°Are you sure we won¡¯t be a bother?¡± Jayson had an impassive look on his face. Upon hearing her words, he curled his lips. ¡°You won¡¯t be a bother. Juste along with us.¡± He did not seem to mind Ariel tagging along. Ariel gave him a look. And suddenly, it clicked¨CJayson hadn¡¯te for the productunch. He was here for Carlos. Given recent developments, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess what this was about. He likely already knew that Carlos had selected her as his student. That must¡¯ve prompted this visit. As the trio exited the building, several senior executives¨Cvisitors from other cities¨Chad yet to leave. They greeted Carlos respectfully, then turned curious eyes toward Jayson and Ariel beside him. The two of them looked like strangers since they weren¡¯t sharing any eye contact. Yet, at the same time, there was an odd ease about them as they walked silently on either side of Carlos. They didn¡¯t appearpletely like strangers. The senior executives looked surprised. One elderly gentleman leaned in, curiosity piqued. ¡°Are M Larkin and Ms. Walker seeing each other?¡± Ariel¡¯s brow twitched, just barely. The question irked her, but she understood¨Cthe visitors weren¡¯t locals. They likely weren¡¯t up to speed with Eldoria¡¯s social circles. Worse still, another added, ¡°The two of you look quite lovely together.¡± Carlos¡® brow creased in annoyance. ¡°What part of them being together looks lovely? These people should each get a new pair of sses!¡± he scoffed inwardly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid there¡¯s been some misunderstanding. Mr. Larkin and I aren¡¯t that close.¡± Ariel lifted her head and calmly rified things to prevent those men from getting the wrong idea. The senior executives were surprised yet again. Jayson cast a nce at Ariel and remarked unhurriedly, ¡°It¡¯s true that we¡¯re not seeing each other.¡± The senior executives looked at them apologetically. They noticed how Jayson was considerate enough to open the door for Ariel as they wereing out just now. Meanwhile, Ariel stepped through the door without even looking at Jayson or thanking him. That sort of unspoken ease had seemed intimate. In hindsight, they¡¯d clearly misread the situation. They dropped the topic quickly. With their flight approaching, the executives took their leave, and Ariel made arrangements for them to be driven to the airport. As she watched the senior executives get into the vehicles, Ariel felt eyes on her. She looked up and spotted Nancy in the distance, her expression tight. She had likely overheard the earlier exchange. However, her expression seemed to have softened a little when she heard Jayson deny being in a rtionship with Ariel. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered with what Nancy was thinking. Nancy began walking toward them. ¡°Mr. Carlos, should we go somewhere a bit quieter to talk? Jayson asked. Carlos nced at Nancy. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You can say whatever you need to say right here.¡± There was a sh of bewilderment in Nancy¡¯s eyes. Carlos wanted to talk here? Shouldn¡¯t a serious conversation be held in private? Frankly, Nancy was feeling quite displeased. Inside 340 As soon as Veyo Solutions¡® opening ceremony concluded, Nancy hurried over to meet Carlos. She wanted to speak with him about the possibility of opening up an additional pot for her to be his student. Moreover, she had taken the initiative toe to Faye Technologies¡® building. Faye Technologies was also hosting a grand event that day. With people constantly flowing in and out, Nancy anticipated being greeted by several acquaintances, and to her dismay, Ariel was present as well. Nancy felt deeply annoyed at being forced toe. Still, sh masked her emotions behind a calm demeanor. ncing around, she addressed him politely. ¡°Hello, Mr. Carlos. I¡¯m sorry for taking up some of your time like this today. I have a few questions I hope you can help me with.¡± Carlos fixed her with a piercing gaze. ¡°You want to ask about the student I selected, don¡¯t you?¡± Nancy straightened her posture and nodded. ¡°I heard you¡¯ve chosen a candidate. May I ask who it is?¡± ¡°It¡¯s Ariel,¡± he replied curtly. Yet despite his brevity, his authoritative tone made the words echo in her mind. Carlos could already tell what was going through Nancy¡¯s head, and he saw no reason to drag things out. Nancy was stunned. What she had assumed to be a rumor had just been confirmed. She nearly lost herposure. If Carlos had said he picked the top scorer in the final exam, she wouldn¡¯t have been this shocked. But Ariel? Nancy believed that Ariel had secured the spot purely through her connections and influence. She hadn¡¯t even cared enough to check Ariel¡¯s exam results¨Cbecause if they were worth bragging about, Ariel would have unted them by now. Jayson nced at Ariel¡¯s expressionless face. She looked like a bystander, neither speaking nor reacting to Carlos and Nancy¡¯s exchange. She simply lowered her gaze, checked her watch, and seemed disinterested in wasting time. Nancy noticed, and her gaze hardened. It appeared to her that Ariel was putting on airs because Carlos was around. Nancy quickly gathered her thoughts. ¡°Mr. Carlos, I¡¯ve been working toward bing your student ever since returning from abroad. I believe my score ces me among the top candidates in the final exam. May I ask¡­ why didn¡¯t you choose me? Why Ariel?¡± If she were being honest, Nancy wanted to demand to know how someone like Ariel could possibly deserve the opportunity to be his student. Was it because Chad liked her? Carlos¡® gaze locked on Nancy, studying her in silence. ¡°Ms. Stanton,¡± he said bluntly, ¡°did youe here today because you¡¯re dissatisfied with my decision?¡± His straightforwardness was disarming. Nancy pursed her lips. She could feel her throat constricting slightly. Carlos then nced at Jayson, who had remained silent throughout. A flicker of annoyance passed through his eyes. He knew this meeting had been arranged to give Nancy a chance to plead her case. Eventually, Carlos responded tly, ¡°You want a reason? Fine. I chose the cream of the crop. Perhaps you should approach this with a little more humility.¡± Nancy froze. The implication hit her hard. She couldn¡¯t believe that she was beingpared to Ariel like that. The cream of the crop¡­ He meant Ariel? For a moment, Nancy questioned whether she had misunderstood the meaning of that phrase her whole life. She knew lecturers often considered more than just grades Exam results weren¡¯t always the deciding factor. But Ariel¨Cthe cream of the crop? ¡°I¡¯m not trying to change your mind. Of course, you have every right to make your own decisions,¡± Nancy replied, trying to regain herposure. ¡°It¡¯s my life¡¯s ambition to contribute to our nation¡¯s tech sector. That¡¯s why I was hoping you¡¯d consider taking on one additional student this time. If you do, I promise not to let you down. No one will question your decision to make an exception for me.¡± In truth, Nancy believed there would be public scrutiny if Carlos only chose Ariel, someone who knew next to nothing about aerospace engineering. Even though she had plenty of suspicions about how Ariel had gotten the spot, Nancy knew better than to voice them outright. If Ariel had been selected simply due to Chad¡¯s influence, it would be unwise to provoke Carlos now, especially when she was trying to earn a second chance. Once she secured her ce, Nancy was determined to prove that her capabilities and intellect far outshone Ariel¡¯s. Ariel understood what Nancy truly meant behind her words. It was clear¨CNancy had no intention of acknowledging her, let alone speaking to her. Carlos sped his hands behind his back and met Nancy¡¯s eyes with a steely intensity. He refused to waste a second longer and responded straightforwardly. ¡°I¡¯ll be clear. That spot was always meant for Ariel. I never considered anyone else.¡± Inside 341 Ariel had not expected to hear such a firm answer from Carbs. She lifted her gaze and looked at Carlos, who stood beside her with a solemn expression on his face. Somehow, Ariel suddenly felt like she was being safely protected. It was something she rarely experienced in the past. Nancy¡¯s eyes bulged in shock. Carlos¡® response was such a huge blow to her that it jumbled up her thoughts and everything she had prepared in advance to say to him. Also, an indescribable feeling of shame and embarrassment rose within her as Ariel happened to witness how Carlos had rejected her. Jayson nced at Ariel. A fleeting expression shed through his eyes. Then, he said in a calm and steady voice, ¡°Since you already have a candidate that you prefer and you have no ns to take another student at the moment, we won¡¯t try to pressure you with our proposition any further.¡± Nancy was visibly distressed. Her lips grew pale. Various emotions were reflected in her eyes as she directed her gaze at Ariel. There was a sh of scorn and contempt in those orbs. Still, Nancy was perceptive enough to tell that she should not speak rashly under these circumstances. Carlos met Jayson¡¯s eyes. The young man was clever andposed. He had been very polite and respectful when trying to arrange for a meeting with Carlos. After learning that Carlos was at Faye Technologies¡® event, Jayson came here and spoke to him personally to ask for some of his time. He was sensible and not overly conceited. However, Jayson¡¯s taste in women was extremely bad! ¡°I think you should leave now, Mr. Larkin.¡± After saying that, Carlos turned around and left. Ariel did not spare those two another nce as she quickly followed behind Carlos. It was pointless trying to argue with these people who were prejudiced against her. Ariel would rather focus on doing more important things. She nned to discuss the flight control system and flight control chip with Carlos, which she and the research team she had been leading had been working on since the beginning of the year. Ariel had an idea that could help elevate and take their country¡¯s drone technology to the next level. She wanted to discuss it with Carlos as soon as possible. Jayson stared at Ariel¡¯s receding figure for quite some time before slowly averting his gaze. Nancy was clearly disgruntled. Things had always been smooth sailing for her since she was still a kid. People alwaysmented about how lucky she was to be blessed with both brains and good looks Yet, she had lost to someone like Ariel, who only had the looks and hardly knew much about their field of study. ¡°How did it go? Have you guys sorted the matter out with Mr. Carlos?¡± Matt hurried over and asked. Jayson dropped his gaze and said tly, ¡°Mr. Carlos rejected the request.¡± Matt was shocked. ¡°Why, though? Who did he pick as his student, then?¡± ¡°Ariel Walker.¡± Nancy tried her best to sound calm as she said that name. Matt was momentarily stunned. He felt as though his brain had stopped working for a moment. After a while, he asked with a bewildered look on his face, ¡°He really chose Her?¡± Matt could not wrap his head around it. With his hands on is waist, he paced back and forth. ¡°There¡¯s clearly something strange going on! Could it be that Mr. Chad had persuaded Mr. Carlos to make an exception for Ariel and take her as his student? Even if he didn¡¯t choose you, shouldn¡¯t the student who got first ce in the final exam be chosen to be his new student instead?¡± Logically speaking, there was no way Carlos would pick someone of Ariel¡¯s caliber to be his student. Nancy let out a deep sigh. She massaged her throbbing temples and replied expressionlessly, ¡°Hmm¡­ I¡¯m not sure about the details yet, but Ariel has most likely hit the minimum score required to pass the final exam. Otherwise, Mr. Chad wouldn¡¯t be able to persuade Mr. Carlos to take her as his student even if he wanted to.¡± Nancy reckoned Ariel had probably barely passed the minimum required score. Despite Ariel being in thest few ces among those who passed the final exam, Carlos would still be able to make an exception for her and take Ariel as his student under these conditions. With all things considered, it seemed the most usible to her that Ariel had scored just slightly above the minimum required score to pass the final exam. If that were the case, there should be quite a huge difference between her and Ariel¡¯s scores. Nancy¡¯s knowledge and expertise would be way above Ariel¡¯s. Ariel couldn¡¯t possiblypare to her. ¡°Is this how Mr. Carlos does things normally? Is he not worried others may say that he¡¯s being unfair?¡± Matt found this situation uneptable. Nancy had fully regained herposure. ¡°People can say anything they want. However, Mr. Carlos might risk damaging his rtionship with Mr. Chad if he refused to help with his son¡¯s request.¡± Inside 342 Nancy felt she had gotten over the shame and embarrassment of being rejected by Carlos right in front of Ariel at that point. Even if Ariel had learned a few things about aerospace engineering, they were most likely basic, fundamental knowledge of the subject. While working alongside Chad, Ariel had received special treatment and learned a lot from him. However, Ariel had not done anything noteworthy so far other than how she was the project lead for the project. Faye Technologies hadunched at the start of the year. Ariel might have met the minimum score required to pass the final exam of Ashford University¡¯s postgraduate admissions test, and people would say that those who could make it into Ashford University were considered geniuses. Still, there could be some differences in terms of their ability and intelligence even amongst geniuses. If Ariel¡¯s score were just slightly above the minimum score required Nancy reckoned her score was probably higher than Ariel¡¯s by at least 40 points. Each point signified a huge difference in their knowledge and ability. Even if Ariel were to study for another ten years, she still would not be able to catch up with Nancy. Ariel might have been chosen as Carlos¡® new student, yet it would not change the fact that she knew nothing much about aerospace engineering. Nancy saw no need to have any proper regard for Ariel. ¡°It¡¯s truly an unfortunate situation for you and the student who scored the highest on the final exam. You¡¯ve obtained the best results in the exam, but you have to consider changing courses or choosing another lecturer now. ¡°Matt shook his head. Nancy felt a bit better when she thought about the person who ced first in the final exam. They still had no idea how much that person, who lost the spot to be Carlos¡® postgraduate student to Ariel, had scored in the exam. However, Nancy reckoned their score should be pretty close to hers. The highest scores recorded from previous years¡® exams all fell within the same range. So, Nancy figured her score was probably lower than that of the student who got first ce by around two to three points at most. She decided to check the list of rankingster on when Ashford University released it to the public. Matt sighed and looked at Jayson. ¡°I think this will be thest time Mr. Carlos takes and supervises a postgraduate student. It was probably because of Mr. Chad that he suddenly decided to ept another student, despite having initially announced that he wouldn¡¯t be taking any. ¡°Mr. Carlos might not spend much effort on teaching and guiding Ariel. After all, she¡¯s not like his previous students, who were exceptional geniuses who showed a lot of promise. If Ariel couldn¡¯t even understand his teachings, she¡¯d only bear the title of being Mr. Carlos¡® student, but she wouldn¡¯t amount to much.¡± Jayson lowered his gaze. He seemed uninterested in these matters. Then, he stared calmly at Nancy. ¡°Do you have another lecturer that you¡¯d like to have as your supervisor? Nancy pursed her lips as she ruminated over the issue. Ariel was almost at her limit by the time she was done with the postgraduate admissions exam and the productunch event. She did not stubbornly push herself to continue working. Instead, Ariel took two days off to rest and recharge. After checking her schedule, she made an appointment to go for her second chemotherapy session a few dayster. For now, Ariel needed to focus on getting into better shape otherwise, her body might not be able to cope with the after¨Ceffects of chemotherapy. Things had been quite hectic at their office for the past two days. The Faye Technologies team received numerous calls from those in the same line of work. The news of Ariel being epted as Carlos¡® new postgraduate student caused quite a buzz in the industry. So, people were calling to congratte Ariel on the good news Since Chad did not want to disturb Ariel¡¯s rest, he decided to handle answering those calls. In the end, all those calls were transferred to Chad, who took those calls and spoke to everyone one by one. Ariel tried asking when the university would be releasing the list of rankings for the final exam results, but they had not decided on a specific time yet. She put the matter aside after that. Ever since she joined Faye Technologies, while working on the different projects, Ariel had also worked with Chad on updating and developing the flight control system and flight control chip. Two days ago, she and Carlos had a discussion that almoststed until midnight. It helped her gain a wider perspective and solved some of the questions that were bothering her. Upon returning to work, Ariel gathered all the members of the tech department and had a meeting with them. The flight control system and flight control chip were essentially the foundation for almost every project they had worked on. Yet, there had not been any new changes or updates made to those two criticalponents of drone technology in. recent years. Everyone was still using thoseponents with simr technologies nationwide. Ariel nned to eliminate the olderponents and invent new, much¨Cenhanced technologies. It would be Faye Technologies¡® very own patented technology. At the same time, Chad brought them some news. ¡°Nancy found herself a supervisor. He¡¯s one of my old man¡¯s first batch of postgraduate students, Andre Jones.¡± 212 Inside 343 Ariel knew who Andre was. He was one of the first batch of students who did their PhD program under Carlos. He and several other students were among the first to work on various research topics under Carlos¡® supervision. Currently, Andre worked at the research institute as well. He was also considered one of the top¨Ctier experts in their country. Andre was the second¨Cbest option Nancy could find after she was forced to give up on asking Carlos to be her supervisor. Chad made a sharp remark. ¡°She¡¯s pretty smart to have thought about approaching Mr. Jones instead. She¡¯d still be able to form connections with someone working at the research institute this way. I¡¯m guessing Jayson¡¯s probably contributed quite a lot to making this happen.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes were glued to theputer screen. Complex codes were reflected in those orbs. Her fingers were typing quickly on the keyboard. ¡°With Jayson backing her up and looking out for her, she would hardly face any hurdles or difficulties.¡± Ariel reckoned she would not be able to avoid running into Nancy when conducting her research work at the instituteter on. Chad snickered and shrugged. ¡°Your final exam score is higher than hers by 37 points. The postgraduate admissions exam would be the only time Nancy gets the chance topete with you in a fair, unbiased environment. ¡°At the moment, she¡¯s trying so hard to find her way into this circle. Eventually, she¡¯lle to realize she won¡¯t ever be able to reach the level you¡¯re at no matter how hard she tries.¡± Nancy should not even entertain the thought ofpeting with Ariel. Ariel had obtained the highest score a student had ever achieved in the final exam for that particr major throughout the years. Even if Ariel had made some bizarre requests to the Ashford University¡¯s director, the director would probably dly ept and fulfill all her requests. Chad sincerely hoped that Nancy would be able to cope with the shock and disappointment once the university released the students¡® final exam results to the public. Ariel stared silently at theputer screen for quite a while. She had also stopped typing on the keyboard. Her expression grew serious. Chad thought something bad had happened. He was about to check what was on the screen when Ariel shot to her feet. ¡°Gather the members of the tech department. I just tested the new flight control system. We can go for a test run now.¡± Chad had a look of bewilderment on his face. He swiftly gathered all of the tech department¡¯s engineers. Since she joined Faye Technologies, whenever she wasn¡¯t working on other projects, Ariel would certainly be working on developing the new flight control system. After spending months refining the system, they finally settled on the final version. The Faye Technologies team was fully ready for the next step. Ariel and her team tested the new flight control system repeatedly over the next couple of days. In the end, the new system demonstrated a stability rate of 99.99%. It could be applied to all high¨Cend drone products found on the market right away. Faye Technologies could also upgrade theirtest drone product¡¯s system to this new flight control systern and improve their product¡¯s quality by leaps and bounds. This was a one¨Cin¨Ca¨Cmillion, cutting¨Cedge technology! Their team had just made a significant, revolutionary breakthrough in drone technology. They managed to find the solution to the stagnation in the development of that particr drone technology in their country. At the same time, they would be revolutionizing the industry¡¯s existing scale and structure. Chad immediately proceeded with the patent application. He also met and spoke to the staff at the patent office. As the inventor, Ariel had to sign her name as the first inventor on the documents for the patent application. This major breakthrough would bring about a huge change and drive the rapid development of drone technology in their country. ¡°Let¡¯s do an upgrade on the flight control system for all the products that weunched recently. Also, we¡¯ll need to have some publicity for this.¡± Ariel discussed with Chad regarding upgrading their high¨Cend drones¡® systems. Chad had zero objections. Sometimes, he felt like he was in a daze. Ariel had single¨Chandedly contributed to massive progress in their industry. He had been grinning so much these days that his cheek muscles were growing sore. ¡°We¡¯re ahead of more than 90 percent of the techpanies by at least five years in regard to how quickly we¡¯ve developed this technology and had it patented now. Faye Tech is now in a position where we have absolute say in this matter.¡± Ariel finally managed to aplish one of the many things she wanted to do. Meanwhile, Janice was put in charge of the publicity for the new flight control system Faye Technologies had developed, focusing on the highlight changes and novelty of theirtest invention. Just as they had expected, the news caused quite a buzz within the hour when the Faye Technologies team announced the new flight control system to the public. The phones in their office were constantly ringing as they received phone calls almost every other minute. Chad was feeling both ted and troubled at the same time. They were receiving numerous calls from individuals who wished to coborate with Faye Technologies or obtain a patent license for the new flight control system. Ariel had expected this. If otherpanies wished to survive the harshpetition, these people would have to change their stance and make a decision in the shortest time possible. Whether it was securing a coboration with Faye Technologies or obtaining a patent license, thesepanies would only be able to remainpetitive in the market by relying on Faye Technologies¡®test, cutting¨Cedge inventions. Otherwise, they would be left behind and eventually be eliminated due to the market¡¯s fiercepetition. Within a short span of a few days, Faye Technologies hade under the spotlight twice. The first time was when Ariel was chosen as Carlos¡® only postgraduate student this year. The second time happened when the Faye Technologies team made this important breakthrough in drone technology. Inside 344 Gary had received the news too. He was quite surprised that the Faye Technologies team had suddenly dropped such a major announcement. On second thought, Gary figured it was quite understandable for Faye Technologies to make that decision since they had someone like Ariel on their team. He called Zach. ¡°You¡¯ve heard thetest news about Faye Tech, right? If you¡¯re thinking of running part of the production chain overseas starting this year, you need to grab onto this opportunity. You should meet and talk to Ms. Walker.¡± Zach had learned about Faye Technologies¡® revolutionary patented technology, naturally. ¡°Why should I be talking to Ariel, though?¡± Zach was confused. Chad was the owner and the person who could make the calls in Faye Technologies. Yet, why did Gary suggest he meet with Ariel instead? Since the non¨Cdisclosure agreement Ariel had signed was still effective, Gary had to obey the instructions from his higher¨Cups and keep Ariel¡¯s identity as the U.N2 developer a secret. Even if Zach was his son, Gary could not make an exception for him. He could only give Zach a hint in a roundabout way. Just do as I say. It¡¯ll only do you good if you can establish a friendly rtionship with Ms. Walker.¡± Zach snapped out of it. Then, he said a little hesitantly, ¡°I¡¯ll see what I can do, Dad.¡± ¡°What do you mean you¡¯ll see what you can do? You can consider quitting your job now if you can¡¯t secure the patent license this time. We don¡¯t have the edge in terms of our skills or technology. ¡°With our current level of technology, it¡¯ll take at least five years for any of our localpanies to develop and create something simr to the new flight control system that Faye Tech has introduced and patented. By the time anyone does that, Faye Tech will probably have already gotten to the point where they¡¯re simply unrivaled! You don¡¯t have any other choice.¡± Zach had a conflicted look on his face. He had been feeling troubled ever since he learned about Faye Technologies ¡®new patented technology. ¡°I had some conflict with the Faye Tech team, though. They even turned down my request to coborate previously.¡± That was the reason why Zach was feeling extremely frustrated now. He knew very well that theirpany would lose itspetitiveness if they failed to seize this opportunity. For the past few months, Faye Technologies had shown astounding growth and development. Gary was bewildered. ¡°You had conflicts with them?¡± That was his first time hearing about it. Zach could not bring himself to tell Gary what exactly happened. He felt that he would probably receive corporal punishment if Gary were to find out that he had gotten into several arguments with ady. ¡°It¡¯s nothing. I¡¯ll try my best to secure the license first.¡± Zach ended the call. With one hand on the desk, he had a rather troubled expression on his face. They would be seeing a huge change in the industry soon. This time, Zach had no choice but to secure the opportunity to coborate with Faye Technologies no matter what. The Veyo Solutions team had also received the news. Nancy was informed about it right after she had finished having a meeting. She stood rooted to the spot. It took her quite a while to try toe to terms with the fact that Faye Technologies had just created a new flight control system with various amazing upgrades. For a moment, Nancy looked dazed. What Faye Technologies just achieved went way beyond her expectations. They could literally decide apany¡¯s fate now. The other techpanies would have to create a flight control systemparable to the one Faye Technologies had just introduced in the shortest time possible. Otherwise, they would eventually lose out in the market. Nancy was also well aware of the fact that Faye Technologies had gone way ahead of all theirpetitors by at least five years simply by owning the patent to the new flight control system. The Veyo Solutions team had suddenly found themselves driven into a corner. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened. In just several days, Nancy lost the opportunity to be Carlos¡® student to Ariel, and Faye Technologies had beaten Veyo Solutions by creating a revolutionary patented technology. Veyo Solutions ultimately became one of the manypanies that had to pay Faye Technologies a substantial sum of money to secure the patent license or risk falling behind itspetitors. Suddenly, Veyo Solutions was no longer apany that those in Faye Technologies would see as their rival. Instead, they were in a vulnerable position, whereby they would have to beg the Faye Technologies team for the patent license just to secure their position in the industry. This was not something Nancy had hoped to see. She took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and entered her office. After a few moments¡® consideration, she decided to call Jayson. When the line got through, Nancy pursed her lips. ¡°Jayson, you¡¯ve heard the news regarding Faye Tech, right?¡± ¡°I have.¡± ¡°Can you give me some suggestions on what to do? I¡¯m feeling a bit lost right now.¡± Nancy¡¯s tone softened. She found it really hard to make a decision considering their current circumstances. Jayson replied frankly and unhurriedly, ¡°The situation ispletely different this time aspared to when you¡¯repeting with them for the other projects previously. Faye Tech possessed a new, cutting¨Cedge technology that could shake up the industry. ¡°If no one cane up with a system simr to or on par with the one Faye Tech hasunched, you¡¯ll only have one option. You¡¯ll need to swallow your pride and pay the Faye Tech team a visit.¡± Nancy tightened her fist. In other words, she would have to visit Faye Technologies¡® office and beg them for their help. Inside 345 Ariel didn¡¯t even bother looking up when she heard that Zach had arrived at their lobby. They had more or less heard about Vireon Technologies¡® recent ns. Zach was currently working on expanding their business. If Zach nned to venture into the drone production chain, he would require Faye Technologies¡® new flight control system, regardless. Chad instructed Laura right away, ¡°Tell Mr. Quinton I¡¯m not in and that he can leave now.¡± He still remembered how Zach had made those baseless, biased remarks about Ariel. They had no intention of making things convenient for someone who clearly had nothing but ill feelings for them. Ariel had no objections. When she found Zach, who had been waiting downstairs for quite some time, Laura smiled and said, ¡°Mr. Quinton, Mr. Hockney happened to be out at the moment. I¡¯m afraid you won¡¯t be able to see him today.¡± Zach knitted his brows. ¡°Around what time will he be back? Laura maintained a neutral expression. ¡°I¡¯m afraid that¡¯s not something I can say for sure. Sorry, Mr. Quinton.¡± Zach understood instantly what was going on. If Faye Technologies were being objective about it, their staff would have told him toe by some other time instead of saying what she just said. They didn¡¯t even bother putting up an act even though the excuse they just gave was not convincing at all. Zach¡¯s expression hardened. Just as he was about to say something, Nancy¡¯s voice came from behind him. ¡°Mr. Quinton?¡± Zach nced over his shoulder and saw Nancy. His expression softened slightly. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you came here to ask about the patent license for the flight control system too?¡± Nancy appeared cool and collected. ¡°Yes, Faye Tech has contributed to a major development in our industry. We¡¯ll have to use their new flight control system even if we don¡¯t want to.¡± She turned her gaze toward Laura, who was still there. ¡°Can you let Mr. Hockney know that I need to speak to him? 11 Upon seeing Nancy, Laura suggested helpfully, ¡°Mr. Hockney isn¡¯t around at the moment. Ms. Walker is here, though. Would you like to try and make an appointment to meet with her instead, Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy¡¯s brows drew together in a deep frown when she heard that. She had a scowl on her face. She had to beg Ariel to meet her just because Chad was not around? Nancy was amazed by Ariel¡¯s slyness and wickedness. It seemed like she had been waiting for this moment to mock and humiliate Nancy. Nancy reckoned Ariel had only gotten her current position at Faye Technologies because thetter had invested some money in thepany. There was no way Ariel really had any authority in their decision¨Cmaking process. She surmised that Ariel had instructed her assistant to do this just to bruise her pride. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I prefer talking to Mr. Hockney directly since it involves some important matters.¡± Nancy¡¯s face darkened. She was certain that Ariel was doing this deliberately today. Ariel probably wanted to see Nancy make a desperate attempt to meet with her. Even if she did agree to meet, Ariel might make some absurd and unreasonable demands of Nancy afterward. Laura smiled faintly. ¡°You won¡¯t have to wait around then, Ms. Stanton, Mr. Hockney won¡¯t be seeing you.¡± Nancy was caught off guard. Zach was taken aback as well by how blunt and direct Laura¡¯s response was. Laura gave a nod politely while facing Zach and Nancy. Then, she turned around and headed upstairs. It was at that point that Zach understood clearly that the Faye Technologies team had no intention of meeting them. Chad was definitely in the building. Yet, they were trying to make Nancy beg to meet with Ariel instead. Zach could not help but wonder what their intentions were for doing something like that. They were trying to embarrass Nancy without showing any respect or consideration for her. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you should probably just head back today. I think the Faye Tech team won¡¯t agree to meet you for the time being.¡± Zach felt like he had seen these people¡¯s true selves today. Unfortunately, Faye Technologies had risen to apletely different level now as they possessed something that could potentially decide the fates of numerous businesses. They were in a position where they clearly had the upper hand. Nancy pursed her lips. She dropped her gaze and pondered for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s alright. Being in this line of work, I don¡¯t like mixing personal grudges with my work affairs. Even if Faye Tech is being uncooperative now, I still need to find a way to resolve this.¡± Zach was deeply frustrated with the current situation as well. Still, he praised Nancy. ¡°You¡¯re such a generous person, Ms. Stanton.¡± He could see it clearly now that Ariel was doing all these things to get back at Nancy. She was venting her anger and frustration on Nancy after being rejected by Jayson. Inside 346 Zach could not believe how petty Ariel was and how Chad was just letting her do all these things. ¡°I¡¯ll see you around, Mr. Quinton.¡± Nancy decided to give up meeting Faye Technologies¡® representative that day. She gave Zach a nod and walked away elegantly. Her pride wouldn¡¯t allow her to yield to Ariel¡¯s devious n to humiliate her. Zach stared at Nancy¡¯s receding figure for a while. Then, he looked up at Faye Technologies¡® building. He was not even invited to the higher floors today. Zach wanted to just leave and keep Faye Technologies out of his sight for good. However, he couldn¡¯t possibly do that. If Zach failed to secure the patent license, It would be equivalent to him choosing to withdraw from the market instead. Zach had a grim look on his face at the thought of that. Nancy did not stay at Faye Technologies¡® building for too long. She knew very well that Chad must have refused to meet her because Ariel had made him do that. It would be pointless for her to waste her time waiting there, However, Veyo Solutions might fall behind itspetitors and risk being eliminated for good if Nancy failed to obtain the rights to use Faye Technologies¡® new flight control system. Frankly, Nancy was curious about how many seasoned, professional experts Faye Technologies had working for them. Other than the extremely capable Chad, did they also have some secret, anonymous experts on their team? After all, regr engineers wouldn¡¯t be capable of developing and making something like their new flight control system. After she got into the car, Nancy cast a nce at Faye Technologies¡® building. She had an icy look in her eyes. Eventually, she called Jayson. It took a while before he picked up the phone. Nancy ced her palm against her forehead as she said wearily, ¡°Jayson, Mr. Hockney refused to meet me. Their staff told me to make an appointment with Ariel, but I figured she probably wouldn¡¯t meet me anyway. She¡¯d probably just make me wait around for her.¡± She couldn¡¯t stand how petty the Faye Technologies team was. Jayson replied tly, ¡°I see. You should head back first, then.¡± Nancy pursed her lips. ¡°About the flight control system¡­ I seriously don¡¯t think I can do anything about it.¡± The Faye Technologies team was clearly prejudiced against her. As long as Ariel was with them, Nancy could not see any chance of them resolving this situation. Jayson did not seem too surprised to hear that. After listening to Nancy¡¯s concerns, he said in a deep voice, ¡°We¡¯ll try and think of something else.¡± Ariel and Chad learned about what happened in the lobby after Laura returned and reported it to them. Ariel looked at Laura with widened eyes. Meanwhile, Chad chuckled. ¡°Ms. Dickens, you¡¯re so quick¨Cwitted! I must make sure you receive your bonus for this year.¡± They could imagine how irked and exasperated Nancy was having been asked to make an appointment with Ariel instead. Ariel shook her head and chuckled softly. Truthfully, she was not deliberately trying to shun Zach or Nancy. However, Faye Technologies had received many visitors so far. While they had absolute say about who they could give the patent license to, Ariel had no intention of keeping the technology all to themselves or just to a few people. Technological advancement could help empower their country¡¯s defense sector. It would bring about numerous benefits if they could use or apply the new flight control system that Ariel made for various purposes. By supporting and encouraging technological advancement in their country, they would also be able to improve their country¡¯s economy and tech industry. Ariel nned on selling their patent technology to the otherpanies. She knew she had more to offer besides this new flight control system. Perhaps the system could help generate a major development in their industry. However, Ariel knew very well that she would be working on developing more advanced tools or technology. It would not affect theirpany in the slightest, even if they started selling the patent license. On the contrary, they would benefit a lot from doing that. Faye Technologies might be well recognized locally or even internationally. Moreover, they would be helping their country¡¯s tech sector grow. Furthermore, Faye Technologies could receive as much as a billion dors annually just by selling the patent license. Except for a handful of techpanies that couldpete against Faye Technologies, most businesses andpanies specializing in drone technology and the aviation industry would be using Faye Technologies¡® new flight control system. Nevertheless, Faye Technologies would still keep its trump card or trade secrets to itself. By doing that, they would be able to remain a trailzer in this field for a long, long time. Around noon, Ariel received Colton¡¯s phone call yet again. Inside 347 Ariel furrowed her brows as she stared at the number disyed on the screen. There was no point in her changing her phone number or blocking Colton¡¯s number. Whenever Jayson needed to speak to her about something, he would find a way to reach her. The phone rang for quite a while before Ariel took the call. What is it?¡± Colton responded calmly as if he had not noticed Ariel¡¯s cold, indifferent tone. ¡°Would you be free tonight, Mrs. Larkin? Mr. Larkin instructed me to inform you that we needed to submit another copy of the equity transfer contract to the relevant department doing the assessments. We¡¯ll need your signature on it. Could you drop by tonight to do that?¡°. Ariel was looking at the data from Faye Technologies¡® recent drone trials. She replied, ¡°You can have the contract mailed to me via courier. I¡¯ll sign it and have it delivered back to you.¡± Colton said, ¡°Mr. Larkin said that this is an important matter. If you¡¯re not free, he can meet and ask your grandmother, who¡¯s the nominee equity holder, to sign it instead.¡± Ariel paused momentarily. A cold light gleamed in her eyes. ¡°Please tell him there¡¯s no need to disturb my grandmother. I¡¯ll drop by the office before noon.¡± Colton answered, ¡°Understood. I¡¯ll pass on the message to him.¡± Ariel hung up. She wouldn¡¯t allow Jayson the chance to disturb or harass her family members. Now that they were divorced, Ariel hoped Jayson would stay out of Katie¡¯s and Leonard¡¯s sight for good. Regarding the 20% equity, the approval process would likely be quiteplicated and time¨Cconsuming, as Nexura Solutions was considered arge¨Cscale business. Ariel would be required toplete certain procedures during this process. After shepleted the tasks at hand, Ariel headed over to Bluum Corp. The receptionist had probably received the relevant instructions beforehand. Ariel was allowed to head upstairs right away by using the elevator. Soon enough, she arrived at the conference room near the CEO¡¯s office. Jayson was already waiting inside. He lifted his gaze when he noticed Ariel was there. ¡°Have a seat.¡± He looked down again at the document in his hands. Simultaneously, he instructed Colton in a monotonous voice via the inte. ¡°Prepare a cup of tea.¡± Ariel did not sit down beside Jayson. Instead, she sat in the seat opposite him. ¡°I don¡¯t need any drinks. Just pass me the contract.¡± Jayson could see that she wanted to get this over with quickly. He closed the folder containing the contract, put it on the table, and slid it toward Ariel. ¡°Some departments require a copy of this document. Once it¡¯s been submitted, it¡¯ll take at most two weeks for it to be approved¡± Ariel scanned the document and confirmed it was a copy of the equity transfer contract. Since there was no problem with the document, Ariel signed her name on it. She put the pen cap back on and stood up. ¡°Do you want to grab lunch together?¡± Jayson nced at his watch and looked at Ariel. Ariel cast him a sideways nce. ¡°If you¡¯re thinking of helping Veyo Solutions secure the patent license for our new flight control system, don¡¯t bother trying.¡± Ariel did not even try to beat around the bush as she made her stance clear before Jayson could even ask. He suddenly invited her to lunch right after Nancy had failed to meet Chad at their office today. Ariel did not think the two of them were friendly enough to grab a meal together. Jayson stared at her for a moment. He could sense Ariel¡¯s wariness. He slowly curled his lips. ¡°I won¡¯t try to meddle with Faye Tech¡¯s decision regarding the matter, nor am I going to help the Veyo Solutions team persuade you guys to sell them your patented technology. You don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯ve done anything to be able to ask that favor from me anyway, Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel reminded him. She was being quite blunt by saying that. This time, Jayson fixed his gaze on her for a bit longer. However, he did not really mind her giving that response.. He said straightforwardly this time, ¡°Faye Tech is performing extremely well these days. It seems like you have some exceptional experts working secretly for you guys.¡± Jayson did not wait for Ariel¡¯s reply as he smiled slightly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t thinking of persuading you to agree to selling the patent license to Veyo Solutions. Instead, I was hoping to discuss with you the possibility of Nexura Solutions securing the patent license for the new flight control system. You can take your time and consider it.¡± Ariel was not exactly surprised to hear Jayson suggesting this. Nexura Solutions, which Jayson owned, was considered one of the top¨Ctierpanies in their industry. With what was happening in the industry at the moment, they would naturally want to secure the patent license too. Ariel was an equity holder of Nexura Solutions. In other words, while they could make a fortune by charging Jayson for the patent license, Ariel would also receive more dividends from Nexura Solutions. Still, Ariel took her bag and headed for the door. She gave onest remark. ¡°Please make an appointment with our team like everyone else if you¡¯d like to discuss the patent license, Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel had no ns to make things easier for Jayson, especially when they weren¡¯t even having an official meeting for work. Moreover, they no longer had any rtions that would warrant granting special favors to the other person. If her guess was right, Jayson had asked to see her today because of Faye Technologies¡® new flight control system. However, Jayson must be feeling quite certain that things would work out for him to have gotten Ariel to stop by Bluum Corp. Ariel had not nned on not selling the patent license to Nexura Solutions. Firstly, she would benefit from this arrangement as well. Secondly, Nexura Solutions had been coborating with government agencies for quite a long time. They were deemed a reliable, trustworthy partner by the government. Still, many people had been visiting their office recently to discuss purchasing the patent license. Judging by the look of things, it would take quite a while before it was Jayson¡¯s turn to meet and talk to their team. Jayson would have no choice but to wait patiently. Ariel was not going to help by allowing him the chance to cut in line. Inside 348 Chapter 348 Colton had just entered the conference room with a cup of tea in his hand when he noticed Arieling his way. She simply ignored Colton and walked past him as she left the room without sparing him or Jayson another nce. Colton was left slightly bewildered. He nced at Jayson and turned his eyes to the cup of tea he was holding. ¡°Mr. Larkin, the tea¡­¡± Jayson remained seated on the couch. He rubbed his thumb against one of the joints of his index finger and said monotonously, ¡°You can just pour it away.¡± Faye Technologies eventually selected severalpanies to which it would sell the patent license. They were charging thesepanies quite a high fee for the license. Additionally, thepanies were required to pay the fees annually. Ariel received a call from Carlos the next day. ¡°I¡¯ve taken a look at the new flight control system. Hmm, you¡¯ve done a pretty decent job. However, you still need to work hard on improving yourself. ¡°You mustn¡¯t feel overly pleased or satisfied with your current achievements. Technological advancement happens rapidly these days. You must constantly push yourself to grow and improve.¡± Ariel subconsciously straightened herself slightly. Ever since she became Carlos¡® postgraduate student, Ariel could sense that Carlos had begun monitoring her progress as her supervisor. ¡°Yes, I understand.¡± Carlos asked, ¡°Are you free tomorrow? Come and have dinner at my ce. We¡¯ll talk more about the details then.¡± Ariel responded meekly, ¡°Sure.¡± The next day, Chad drove Ariel to his ce. When Ariel and Chad entered the house, they quickly noticed that Carlos was not the only one there. Gary and Zach were visiting the Hockney residence as well. Ariel¡¯s expression remained unchanged. She greeted Carlos right away. Then, Ariel greeted Gary. ¡°Hello.¡± Zach¡¯s gaze fell on Ariel¡¯s face. He saw Ariel walking past him without sparing him a single nce. She treated Zach as if he weren¡¯t there. Ariel was tantly ignoring him. Zach furrowed his brows. Even with Gary around, Ariel didn¡¯t bother to act friendly with him. Carlos waved his hand at Ariel. ¡°The food¡¯s ready. Come and have a seat.¡± Chad sent Ariel a meaningful nce since he found the current situation amusing. Ariel had an inkling of what this was about. However, she didn¡¯t let her emotions show. After he sat down, Chad grinned broadly and greeted Zach. ¡°Mr. Zach, you¡¯re here as well.¡± It sounded to Zach that Chad was teasing him by saying that. Chad obviously knew why he hade to the Hockney residence today. Carlos poured himself some liquor and had a sip. ¡°You can tell them about the request from the Department of Dohmer Gary nodded and turned the eyes to Artel. ¡°Ariel, the government has taken notice of the highly advanced flight control system Fae Tech se dovrdoped and introduced ¡°We¡¯ll be needing the patented technology from Faye Teul for some of the drones used by the Department of Defense I¡¯vee here today to talk to you abohat it Ariel gave a slight nod and answered swiftly, ¡°Sure. Faye Tech will do its best to cooperate with the Department of Defense on that ¡± Since they had settled on the important matters, Gary hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°The flight control system has a wide application. A lot ofpanies would need to rely on this new system to remainpetitive in the market. Can I know why your team has refused to sell the patent license to Vireon Tech?¡± Gary was not nning on pressuring Ariel of Chad to sell them the patent license. If Faye Technologies had its own considerations, Gary would dly ept it and tell Zach to figure out a way himself. If this was about the conflict Zach had mentioned previously, Gary wanted to try and resolve the issue today. Chad kept silent and directed his gaze to Ariel. Ariel knew that Gary was a rather down¨Cto¨Cearth person, despite holding a high position in the Department of Defense. He was being very sincere bying here to meet Ariel personally. Still, Ariel said in a steady tone, ¡°It seems like Mr. Zach hasn¡¯t told you about it?¡± Gary frowned. He looked confused. ¡°I¡¯d be grateful if you could fill me in about it.¡± Zach¡¯s face turned a bit pale. It was at this moment that he realized how he was being humiliated by Ariel. He had looked down on this woman all this while. Yet, Zach had to rack his brain now to beg Ariel for the favor. He would be giving Faye Technologies a lot of money by purchasing the patent license. Yet, the decision still remained with Faye Technologies whether they wanted to take Zach¡¯s money or not. This situation filled Zach with deep, bitter frustration. Chad was the actual owner of Faye Technologies. Yet, he seemed to dote on Ariel so much that he had given her the authority to make these important decisions. Ariel still wasn¡¯t looking at Zach. She exined slowly, ¡°We could consider selling the patent license to Mr. Zach, of course. You don¡¯t have to feel bad for asking, Mr. Gary. However, before that¡­¡± She nced at Zach, who was visibly displeased at that point. Ariel said in a firm voice, ¡°Mr. Zach has to offer a proper apology to me first.¡± Inside 349 Ariel said that in a calm manner. Even if Zach had strong backing and Gary was a top government official, Ariel didn¡¯t give in and try to butter them up. Since the day Zach had visited Faye Technologies¡® office, Ariel had known that Gary would eventually get involved in this. After all, their new flight control system had be essential in this industry. Ariel and Zach did not bear any deep grudges against each other. However, Zach clearly held some kind of irrational prejudice against her. Ariel was not going to cover things up for him, even if Zach had dragged Gary into this. Zach could not possibly hope that she would smooth things over for him if he just stayed silent. Ariel had a certain way of doing things. They could only move on to talk about other things once they had settled this issue first. She made her stance very clear. Gary was caught slightly off guard. He could roughly tell what kind of person Ariel was. She might appear gentle on the surface. However, she was no pushover. For her to make it so painfully clear that she would not back down on her stance¡­ Gary turned his eyes to Zach. Zach was thrown off bnce as well. His lips turned pale as he pressed them together tightly. He seemed a bit irked, staring at Ariel¡¯s face. Zach didn¡¯t expect Ariel to bring this up right in front of Gary. ¡°What happened?¡± Carlos had a stony look in his eyes. Gary furrowed his brows and stared at Zach. He would p Zach on the back of his head right now if he could. Of all people, a grown man like him had gotten into arguments with ady? Ariel didn¡¯t bother to help Zach save face. She put down her cup and said, ¡°Would you mind enlightening me about why you often scorned and ridiculed me, Mr. Zach? You also used me of having behaved inappropriately and being involved with several men at the same time. Do you have any proof of that, though? ¡°I don¡¯t recall having met you that many times, nor do we know each other so well for you to be making those remarks about me.¡± Zach¡¯s face was drained of color. Gary¡¯s face darkened upon hearing those words. He mmed his hand on the table and rose to his feet in anger. Zach Quinton! What on earth have you done?¡± Gary felt that Ariel must have chosen her words carefully before saying what she just said. Zach had most likely said some really harsh things to her previously. 11 Even Carlos¡® expression had hardened. He cast Gary a sidelong nce. ¡°Your son is such a ¡®gentleman.¡® He¡¯s even bullying a frail, youngdy now.¡± Carlos put his ss on the table. He didn¡¯t bother showing the Quintons any more patience or courtesy. With a frigid expression, he stood up and walked off. Gary felt a sense of helplessness when he noticed how angry Carlos was. With Carlos¡® stubbornness, Gary would have to spend quite some time trying to appease his anger With a deep frown on his forehead, Zach red at Ariel. He was seething with anger and exasperation. He couldn¡¯t believe Ariel had just asked him those questions. Was she not aware of what she had done? While she was being overly chuminy with Chad, Ariel was also trying to catch Jayson¡¯s attention. Chad was single, so it was fine. However, Jayson had a girlfriend. As a woman herself, could Ariel not understand how Nancy would feel about it? Yet, Ariel still tried to get in between the couple? However, Zach couldn¡¯t possibly say these things now, especially not when Gary was around. Gary was livid. He shot a re at Zach. ¡°Ariel was married until a while ago. You can¡¯t make these baseless usations about her that could damage her reputation! Apologize to Ariel now!¡± Zach paused for a split second when he heard Gary say that Ariel was married until a while ago. He could not help but wonder how Gary had found out about Ariel¡¯s husband. Moreover, who exactly was this man? Chad instinctively nced at Ariel when he heard Gary bringing that up. Then, he smiled wryly at Gary. ¡°It¡¯s all in the past now, so there¡¯s really no need for us to dwell on it too much.¡± Gary looked at Ariel, who remained silent, and understood what Chad was trying to imply. He pped Zach on the arm. ¡°Say something. Have you gone mute?¡± Zach¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. Eventually, he heaved a deep breath, lifted his ss, and stood up. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Walker. I should¡¯ve been careful with what was saying, and I showed ack of judgment in the past. As a way of apologizing for my past mistakes, I¡¯ll finish this drink in one gulp.¡± He threw his head back and downed his drink. His neck flushed red as he gulped down the drink with fairly high alcohol content. It was impossible to tell whether it was the alcohol or the embarrassment that made him turn red. Ariel knew it was not easy for someone like Zach to apologize to her. For a man with a strong sense of pride like Zach, he would feel awfully defeated having been forced to apologize to Ariel, even if he was not really sincere about it. Ariel could tell that Zach would not think he had done anything wrong. She didn¡¯t care whether he was being sincere with his apology or not, either. She had simply done this to remind Zach that he shouldn¡¯t be too full of himself. Ariel looked away from Zach¡¯s face and turned her gaze toward Gary. She said politely, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to have bothered you with these issues today, and thank you so much for being so impartial about it. ¡°Faye Tech is more than willing to do business with you, Mr. Gary. We can also sell the patent license to Vireon.¡± 2/2 Inside 350 Ariel didn¡¯t spare Zach another nce, and she didn¡¯t say anything about forgiving him just because he had already apologized to her. Zach felt a heavy feeling in his chest. As he stared at Ariel¡¯s side profile, Zach experienced for the first time ever the desperation of being the person who needed a favor from someone else. Gary breathed a sigh of relief. He felt grateful to Ariel. ¡°I¡¯m sorry you had to go through those things, Ariel. If this young man does anything rude to you again, I¡¯ll make sure to punish him for you. ¡°Also, allow me to apologize on his behalf once more. If you ever run into any issue or situation again, you can always let me know.¡± Chad¡¯s brows lifted. After giving it some thought, he raised his ss and made a toast. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to say all that, Uncle Gary. It is Faye Tech¡¯s honor to be able to do business with you. We had to bring up those issues earlier since it involved Ari¡¯s reputation. We didn¡¯t mean to turn the mood sour. I hope you¡¯ll understand.¡± Gary could tell what Chad was trying to do by saying that. He pointed at Chad and grinned. ¡°You¡¯re a smart one, aren¡¯t you?¡± In this situation, Faye Technologies would be gaining a lot more by doing this favor for Gary. As they clinked sses, the issue was considered resolved then. Ariel appeared less hostile as she returned to her usual quiet, mild¨Cmannered self. She hadn¡¯t nned on making too much of a fuss over the issue earlier. With Gary¡¯s background and status, it would be reckless and stupid of her to make things too difficult for the Quintons. Instead, Ariel simply shared about the issue and was willing to do Gary a favor by overlooking what happened. Yet, that was enough to make the Quintons feel grateful for her forbearance. Carlos was probably sincerely upset about what happened. He did not even join them for dinner. Furthermore, he didn¡¯t evene out to see Gary and Zach off when it was time for them to leave. Gary realized once again that he had definitely gotten on Carlos¡® wrong side. However, he had no choice but to try to make it up to Carlos some other time. The Quintons came out of the Hockney residence¡¯s front door. Zach was still in a daze when Gary kicked him on his calf. ¡°Don¡¯t tell anyone you¡¯re my son if you still can¡¯t watch what you say after this!¡± Zach had been feeling indignant this whole time. Gary did not hold back with his kick. It made Zach feel extremely annoyed and frustrated. ¡°It¡¯s not like you¡¯re still at the age where you can try for another son.¡± Gary¡¯s eyes bulged. Zach quickly changed the topic. ¡°I¡¯ve been meaning to ask since earlier. Dad, how did you know that Ariel was married? Do you happen to know who her husband is as well?¡± Also, Zach noticed how polite Gary was to Ariel. Gary even chatted with her pretty frequently during the meal. Zach found it strange since he knew his father pretty well. Perhaps Gary acted that way partly because Carlos had chosen Ariel to be his new postgraduate student. Still, Ariel would just be one of Carlos¡® many students. Zach couldn¡¯t figure out what made Ariel so special that even Gary was being friendly to her. Zach felt like he was missing something, but he couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly what it was. With a frigid expression, Gary headed toward the car. He replied curtly, ¡°You know him.¡± Zach froze after hearing this shocking piece of information He knew that person? Moreover, it was someone Gary knew as well. That implied the person most likely had a rather special or unusual background. Zach racked his brain trying to find the most usible candidate. Just as he was about to ask another question, Gary got into the car, mmed the door shut, and instructed the driver to depart right away. The driver stepped on the gas pedal and sped off, leaving Zach standing there while breathing in the exhaust fumes. Zach was rendered speechless. His father did not bother taking him along and just left him there. The next day, Zach came to Faye Technologies¡® building again. This time, he faced no issues while trying to meet with their representatives. Ariel did not meet him. She let Chad and Janice handle meeting Zach and signing the contract with him. In the afternoon, Ariel was informed that Perry was here. Frankly, Ariel didn¡¯t like anyone from Jayson¡¯s circle of friends. However, Perry had helped Ariel when she was looking for doctors to treat Leonard. He was also the one who introduced Liam to her. Ariel owed him for all the things he had done for her back then. Now, she could finally repay his favors. If it weren¡¯t because of Perry¡¯s help with Liam, Ariel probably would not even consider doing business with the Houston Group. Once they were done signing the agreement, Ariel lifted her gaze and looked at Perry. She said calmly, ¡°This patent license is my way of repaying you, Mr. Houston. From now on, it¡¯ll be strictly business between us.¡± Inside 351 Perry understood almost instantly the underlying meaning behind Ariel¡¯s words. The Houston Group had managed to secure the patent license without much difficulty. Yet, it was not because Faye Technologies had any interest in doing business with them. Instead, it was because Perry had helped Ariel before. Also, Ariel would not owe him any favors anymore since she had done this for him this time. While staring at her impassive face, Perry understood clearly that Ariel had been courteous and polite to him not because she saw him as a friend. After a while, he nodded. ¡°I understand.¡± Truthfully, Perry knew from the beginning that Ariel wouldn¡¯t see him as anything more than a business acquaintance. Moreover, he was Jayson¡¯s friend. His and Ariel¡¯s rtionship just couldn¡¯t possibly develop into something more. Frankly, even if they did, Perry was not sure he would be able to handle the situation well. He and Jayson had known each other for more than ten years. Perry couldn¡¯t possibly sever ties with Jayson, nor would he risk making an enemy out of Bluum Corp. Still, there was this part of human nature that would make one hope they could somehow have everything they wanted, even though they knew it was just realistically impossible. People in their circle received an elite education and were taught to value profit above all else from a young age. There were very few of them who would date someone simply out of love. Simrly, it would be even harder for people like them to risk losing or giving up on the elite status they had just because they were crazy about some woman. Perry admireddies with exceptional talent and capability. Still, Ariel was his friend¡¯s wife. This was as far as their rtionship could progress. Also, Perry was well aware that Ariel had never once considered him a potential love interest. He got up. With his gaze fixed on Ariel, Perry held out his hand. ¡°Ms. Walker, thank you for letting the Houston Group have the patent license this time.¡± Ariel was oblivious to these thoughts Perry was having. She held Perry¡¯s hand lightly and shook hands with him.¡± You¡¯re wee. I¡¯m simply repaying you for the favors.¡± Perry could feel Ariel¡¯s soft hand against his palm. He tightened his grip around Ariel¡¯s hand slightly. Then, he let go of her. ¡°Can we contact you again if Freya has more questions for you?¡± Ariel liked Freya quite a lot actually. She nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Perry said nothing else. He did not take up more of Ariel¡¯s time as he left Faye Technologies¡® building and went back to doing what he was supposed to do. After Perry left, Ariel¡¯s phone¡¯s notification ringtone sounded. Chapter $91 She lowered her head and nced at the screen. It was a WhatsApp message from Samson. This was the first time he had sent Ariel a message since they added each other¡¯s numbers to their friends¡® list. ¡°Hello, Ms. Walker. It¡¯s Samson Pryce. Congrattions on Faye Tech¡¯stest sess! Can I know when you¡¯ll be free? I¡¯m nning to treat you to a meal on behalf of the Yeager Group. We¡¯d like to find out more about Faye Tech¡¯s new patented flight control system and your subsequent ns for it. Would you be free to meet, Ms. Walker?¡± The Yeager Group was a major enterprise that specialized in producing military tech for their country. Ariel replied right away. ¡°Sure. You can pick the day and time, Mr. Pryce.¡± Chad dropped by Ariel¡¯s office some timeter and brought her some news. ¡°The Sanderson Group and Jadeon Tech have made an appointment to meet with us today. Morgan and Lucas aren¡¯t really doing any business that¡¯s rted to our industry. However, they¡¯ve probably observed the investment trends in recent years and wanted to gain some profit out of Faye Tech¡¯s new patented technology as well.¡± Ariel continued reading her work documents. ¡°Turn them down.¡± Chad lifted his brows. ¡°I already did. I¡¯m just letting you know about it now.¡± The Sandersons had been nothing but cruel to Ariel, after all. Ariel was struck speechless. Chad continued, ¡°Nancy called me twice today, but I ignored her calls. The Veyo Solutions team is clearly getting more and more anxious with time.¡± Ariel stood up and poured herself some water. ¡°After all, it¡¯ll be hard for them to recover and get back once they¡¯ve missed the opportunity and fallen to a weaker position. If she calls again, just reject her outright.¡± She would not be giving any hopes or chances to Veyo Solutions. Chad chuckled as he thought about how frustrated Nancy would be at the moment. ¡°I can¡¯t wait to see if Veyo Solutions will be able to make somethingparable to our flight control system since they definitely won¡¯t be getting to use ours. ¡°By the way, did Jayson try to help Nancy talk to you about the flight control system?¡± Inside 352 Ariel shook her head. ¡°He already knows the answer, so he won¡¯t.¡± Chad agreed. ¡°You have a point. Well, he¡¯d be a real scumbi if he tried to make an unreasonable demand of you for Nancy.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about what the Veyo Solutions tear would do in their current situation. Leonard would be having the operation the next day. She was not in the mood to think about other matters. It took quite some time for them to schedule a date and time for Leonard¡¯s operation. They now had Liam sharing his professional opinion regarding Leonard¡¯s treatment. After confirming that Leonard¡¯s vitals were in the suitable range, they quickly decided on the time to perform the operation. Ariel had applied for a day off. Chad couldn¡¯t make it to the hospital with Ariel. He wanted to have Janice keep Arielpany at the hospital instead. However, Ariel turned down his suggestion since she didn¡¯t want to trouble them and have them wait around with her. Besides, things had been quite hectic at Faye Technologies ever since they introduced the new flight control system. They couldn¡¯t possibly let one person shoulder three people¡¯s worth of workload for that long. The night before, Katie wasn¡¯t able to get much sleep. Ariel knew Katie probably could not help it since she was worried. So, she simply stayed by her side quietly. The operation would begin at 11:00 am. Isaac exined to Ariel about some details of the procedure and roughly how long the operation would take. Organ transnt operations involved moreplicated procedures. So, it would probably take around eight to ten hours for them toplete the operation. Inwardly, Ariel was feeling quite anxious. However, she tried her best to appear calm as she signed several consent forms for the operation, since Katie was with her. It only struck Ariel at that moment. Who should she ask to help sign these consent forms when she had to undergo her operation? It would take a long while before the operation was over. Katie looked pale and exhausted, having slept little the night before. Ariel was worried about her. ¡°Grandma, you should rest in Uncle Leo¡¯s ward for a while. It¡¯ll take a long time until the operation is done. I¡¯ll wait here. You cane overter when it¡¯s almost time.¡± Katie did not stubbornly insist on staying there. She didn¡¯t want to risk falling sick and making Ariel worry about her as well. ¡°Alright. I¡¯lle byter.¡± Katie could sense some symptoms of her blood pressure rising. It was time she took her medication. After Katie left, Ariel turned her eyes to the operating room again. She felt a heavy weight over her heart. Her heartbeat sounded exceptionally slow and sluggish that day. She could feel a chill run down het spine. Ariel was filled with an overwhelming sense of anxiety and insecurity that it fell like she would fall into a bottomless pit at any moment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry.¡± Not long after Katie left, someone with a tall form came up to Ariel. That person gave off the faint smell of disinfectant. Ariel lifted her head and saw Liam, who was looking at her He gave her a bottle of fruit milk that could help replenish Ariel¡¯s blood sugar. ¡°I can¡¯t give you a hundred percent guarantee that the operation is a sure sess. However, Isaac is widely acknowledged for his surgical skills. The operation will take quite a while. If you don¡¯t have an appetite, you should drink this to replenish your blood sugar.¡± Ariel hesitated for a moment. Eventually, she epted the bottle of milk. ¡°Thank you.¡± Liam checked the time. ¡°You¡¯re wee. I¡¯ll drop by again once the operation is over.¡± Liam could only stop by briefly to check how things were going since he still had work. Since he had promised Ariel he would help, Liam would make time to check and watch over Leonard after this. He would make sure to fulfill his responsibilities since he had given his word. Moreover, Ariel had saved him previously. Liam wouldn¡¯t be able to repay Ariel for what she did for him simply by doing her these favors now. Ariel nodded and thanked him again. Liam noticed the zed look in her eyes. After pausing for a few seconds, he turned around and walked away. Ariel nced at her watch and noticed it was only 2:00 pm. She massaged the center of her brows. Every minute felt like an hour to her now. She closed her eyes to try and relieve the soreness in her eyes. Just then, Ariel picked up on the sound of footsteps yet again. Someone stopped before her. Then, she could sense the person sitting down beside her. She caught a whiff of the faint scent of men¡¯s perfume the next instant. Ariel stiffened. She opened her eyes and turned her head. Jayson was sitting beside her. When he noticed she was looking at him, Jayson turned his face and met Ariel¡¯s gaze. ¡°Why are you looking at me like that?¡± Inside 353 Ariel couldn¡¯t quite understand what was happening. Her mind was already a mess since she was feeling worried. She had a confused, dubious look in her eyes the moment she saw Jayson. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Jayson slowly directed his gaze to the bright red light above the operating room door. ¡°Why can¡¯t I be here?¡± Jayson replied nonchntly. He sounded as if he did not really understand what Ariel was asking. Ariel furrowed her brows. Jayson¡¯s sudden appearance had interrupted her train of thought. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you know what I mean.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t want to waste time beating around the bush. Jayson fixed his gaze on Ariel¡¯s face. After staring at it for quite some time, he seemed to have noticed that her face looked a lot smaller. Ariel was so thin that her chin and jawline looked excessively defined. Jayson took another nce at her and said, ¡°I¡¯m here to keep youpany. Ariel frowned. ¡°How did you know my uncle¡¯s having the operation today?¡± Jayson responded unhurriedly, ¡°Grandma said you posted a photo of the hospital¡¯s entrance on Instagram, and she wasn¡¯t able to reach you. So, she told me toe and check on you.¡± The frown on Ariel¡¯s forehead deepened. That exined why Jayson was here. Also, she had not expected a simple Instagram post would lead to this. ¡°Tell Grandma I¡¯m fine and she doesn¡¯t have to worry about me. I couldn¡¯t possibly take up any more of your time, Mr. Larkin.¡± She had phrased her words politely, yet her tone was frigid. Jayson turned his head slightly and stared at Ariel for a moment with those clear eyes. His voice was t and steady. ¡°Ariel, when will you learn to not be so stubborn?¡± Jayson sounded so calm that it was as if he was just making a casual remark. He did not sound too concerned. Instead, it was like Jayson was just sharing an honest opinion about how he found the way Ariel had reacted a bit excessive. Ariel was not in the mood to quarrel with him that day. With a crease on her forehead, she said nothing and moved to the empty seat next to her. The two of them were now separated by an empty seat. Jayson did not seem to mind her doing that. Meanwhile, the air felt still as theypsed into a long silence. Jayson remained in his seat. His phone rang from time to time. However, Jayson pressed the reject button each time. Ariel cast him a sideways nce. She had a knowing look in her eyes. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to use Grandma as an excuse. Even if someone were to hold a knife to your neck, they still wouldn¡¯t be able to make you do something you don¡¯t want to. ¡°You could have made up an excuse and told Grandma you won¡¯t be free to drop by. You¡¯re only using the excuse to keep mepany toe here today. Stop beating around the bush and just tell me why you¡¯re here.¡± Jayson took in the guarded, skeptical look on her face. After a while, it seemed as though he decided toe clean. ¡°Hmm. So, when does the Faye Tech team n to meet the Nexura Solutions team and talk about the patent license?¡± As expected, Ariel had an inkling this would be the case. She knew Jayson could not possibly have been concerned about her or her family. It was just that Ariel had the key to what he wanted. The Faye Technologies team had yet to agree to meet with Nexura Solutions¡® representatives. Everything was still uncertain, so Jayson just wanted confirmation from her. ¡°The market¡¯s constantly changing. People are alwayspeting to be the quickest to lead the change or trend. Faye Tech wants Nexura Solutions to wait for our turn, but you haven¡¯t specified how long we¡¯ll have to wait.¡± Jayson noticed Ariel¡¯s expression seemed less tense at that point. She appeared to have forgotten about Leonard¡¯s operation and her anxieties because of Jayson. Instead, Ariel was beginning to scowl at him. Jayson looked at her and said nonchntly, ¡°Ariel, you can throw all the tantrums you want. However, you have 20 % equity in Nexura Solutions. That¡¯s enough to make you a major equity holder in thepany. ¡°The sooner we secure the patent license, the higher the dividends you¡¯ll be able to receive from Nexura Solutions. This is how we do our businesses, right?¡± Ariel understood what he was trying to say. Earlier, she almost thought that Jayson hade here today for Veyo Solutions instead. As for Nexura Solutions, Ariel would not be so foolish as to refuse to make more money. Moreover, there was no need for her to go out of her way to resist or pick a fight with Jayson, especially since they had gotten divorced. With Nexura Solutions¡® manpower and capacity, even if Ariel did not sell them their patented technology, Jayson could always recruit experts from all over the world to make a new flight control system within two years or an even shorter time. The only downside was that they would require a lot of manpower and resources to do that. Also, they would fall slightly behind otherpetitors. Still, it was something doable for Jayson. Nexura Solutions could afford to do something like that, but that would not be the case for other small to medium -sized businesses that just started operating not too long ago. Veyo Solutions would be a perfect example of those types of businesses. Instead of waiting for Nexura Solutions to develop a new system, Ariel would rather take the money from Jayson straight away. Her expression remained unchanged. ¡°Alright. I get it now, so you can leave already.¡± Jayson finally leaned back in his seat. His posture was restrained yet elegant. Inside 354 Jayson did not move from his seal. Ariel frowned and stared at him. ¡°Is there something else you need to talk to me about?¡± In other words, she was telling Jayson he should probably get going now, Jayson looked at her before ncing at his watch. ¡°Since I¡¯m already here, I might as well stay around until the operation¡¯s over.¡± Ariel said in a slightly mocking tone, ¡°You¡¯re just worried that I¡¯ll change my mind and go back on my words, aren¡¯t you?¡± Jayson was probably worried that Ariel was simply lying to him by agreeing to his request first only to go back on her promise afterward. Jayson¡¯s lips moved slightly as he kept his gaze on her. Then, he responded monotonously, ¡°Mhm. That¡¯s why I can¡¯t just leave you be.¡± Ariel could not be bothered by the fact that Jayson did not trust her. She knew that this was the kind of person Jayson had always been. You could hardly change his decision or opinion once he had made up his mind about something. Ariel simply averted her gaze. She didn¡¯t bother sparing Jayson another nce. Jayson didn¡¯t seem to care much about Ariel¡¯s reaction and attitude toward his decision either. He also didn¡¯t seem to find the awfully quiet atmosphere surrounding them strange or awkward. Once they were done talking about the urgent matters, none of them tried to bring up another topic. They were like two strangers who had been put in the same room. In the past, they would often end up like this as well whenever they were around each other. When Liam came down to that floor, he caught sight of the pair from afar. He slowed down and eventually came to a halt. There was a sh of confusion in his eyes as he stared at Jayson and Ariel, who sat pretty close to each other. He knew Jayson, naturally. The man was the famed CEO of Bluum Corp. The elders of the Larkin family and the Spencer family were close friends too. Liam and Jayson were not close. Still, he could not help but wonder what Jayson was doing here. Leonard¡¯s liver transnt operation was the only operation being conducted in the operating room that day. He pondered, ¡°So¡­ Jayson is waiting with Ariel for Leonard?¡± Liam had a slightly surprised look in his eyes. Were Jayson and Ariel that close?. Liam had a pensive look on his face. However, he didn¡¯t approach the pair. Ariel would shift slightly in her seat from time to time since she had been sitting there for hours. Sometimes, she would notice Jayson was looking down and replying to certain messages on his phone. His face showed no expression. However, the faint sounds of him typing on his phone had somehow managed to get rid of the anxious, restless feelings that filled Ariel during the long wait. The faint noisesing from the side asionally disrupted any worrying thoughts she had. Fortunately, the operation ended earlier than expected. Isaac was clearly a bit exhausted when he came out of the operating foom. Ariel hurried toward him. ¡°How did it go Isaac beamed. ¡°The operation went pretty smoothly. Don¡¯t worry, Ms. Walker. Now, we¡¯ll just have to wait for Mr. Walker to wake up after the anaesthetic wears off. He should be up within the next 24 hours.¡± Ariel felt the heavy weight over her heart was finally lifted she bent forward slightly and supported herself by leaning against the wall, as she was feeling so drained. ¡°Thank you so much for your hard work.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Before leaving, Isaac cast a nce in Jayson¡¯s direction. He kept getting the feeling that Jayson looked strangely familiar. However, he just could not recall where he had seen him before. Eventually, Isaac fixed his gaze on Jayson and asked, ¡°Sir, have we met each other before?¡± Jayson turned his gaze toward Isaac. His eyes betrayed nothing. ¡°I¡¯ve been to this hospital several times.¡± Upon hearing his reply, Isaac reckoned he had probably seen Jayson at the hospital before. He did not think much of it. After giving a slight nod, Isaac walked away. Ariel was not paying any attention to Jayson. The nurses soon moved Leonard out of the operating room and transferred him to the ICU to keep him under close observation. Jayson took a nce at Ariel and followed her to the ICU. With one hand in his pocket, Jayson stood there for a moment. Then, he left quietly. He did not stay there for too long. By the time Ariel hadpleted the necessary procedures, Jayson was already gone. Ariel had no idea when he left since Jayson hadn¡¯t said anything before leaving. As always, he did whatever he wanted, however he liked. Some timeter, Liam dropped by to check on Leonard after he was done with his work. He did not see Jayson this time. After checking Leonard¡¯s vitals, he turned his gaze toward Ariel. ¡°He¡¯s fine now. Mr. Walker just needs to focus on recuperating during theing days. As long as he doesn¡¯t experience any symptoms of transnt rejection, he¡¯s pretty much the same as a normal person now.¡± Ariel felt much more relieved after hearing that. ¡°Thank you.¡± She had lost count of how many times she had thanked the medical staff that day. Liam took off his mask. His eyes were unreadable as he asked suddenly, ¡°Has Mr. Larkin already left?¡± Chapter +25 BONUS Inside 355 Chapter 355 Ariel¡¯s heart missed a beat. She lifted her gaze and met Liam¡¯s eyes. He hadn¡¯t shown any excessive interest or eagerness in trying to dig up more information. It seemed like he was just asking about Jayson because he saw him earlier. Ariel gave a slight nod. ¡°He left.¡± She gave a short, precise answer. Ariel didn¡¯t try to exin her rtionship with Jayson, nor did she remind Liam that he shouldn¡¯t make any strange assumptions about them. It would seem like she was trying really hard to hide something instead. There was no use exining too much since Liam had seen them together. It would be better if they just put an end to the conversation. Liam wasn¡¯t exactly that surprised. He could tell that Ariel didn¡¯t want to talk about Jayson. He found itpletely understandable. Ariel was not obligated to tell him anything, especially when it involved her private matters. ¡°As the patient¡¯s family member, you¡¯ll be quite busy during the next 24 hours. Fortunately, with the medical n Mr. Walker has opted for at our hospital, there will be caretakers to help with watching over him.¡± Liam¡¯s calm and soothing voice was somewhat helpful in relieving the patient¡¯s family¡¯s anxiety and restlessness. Ariel nodded. After waiting so long for the operation to be over, she finally felt like she could rx a little. ¡°I see. Alright.¡± After checking the time, Liam lowered his gaze. It was probably because her nerves were on edge or that her blood sugar was low since she had not eaten. Liam noticed Ariel¡¯s neck was beaded with sweat. He stared at that area for a brief moment and looked away. Then, Liam pointed at the bottle of fruit milk, which was still sealed and clutched in Ariel¡¯s hands. He reminded her. ¡°Ms. Walker, before you can take care of a patient, you need to take care of yourself first.¡± Truthfully, Ariel did not have much strength left in her limbs. She understood what Liam was trying to tell her. Ariel thanked him politely. Liam nodded. Then, he turned around and left. However, just as he was turning a corner at the end of a corridor, Liam¡¯s pace slowed down. He had a puzzled look in his eyes. Someone like Jayson, who was usually busy managing his businesses, seemed to have spent quite a long time at the hospital today. Leonard¡¯s operation was the only operation that was scheduled to be conducted in that operating room that day. ¡°So¡­ Jayson Larkin was really keeping Arielpany while she waited for her family? Why and what kind of rtionship do they share for him to do this for her?¡± Liam wondered. During the birthday party hosted by the Spencer family, the partner Jayson had brought with him that day was Nancy. The guests were all praising how Jayson and Nancy seemed like a great match. Ariel witnessed everything back then. Yet, she appeared as though she hardly knew the couple. However, Jayson happened to have rescued Ariel during ater incident. Looking back at it now, Liam felt like what happened then might not have been just a mere coincidence. Ariel gave Katie a call. After that, Katie came over to take a look at Leonard, who was still out because of the anaesthetic. She felt much relieved. Leonard was still in the ICU, and they weren¡¯t allowed to enter the area. Ariel and Katie had no choice but to return to Leonard¡¯s ward first. They decided to drop by the ICU from time to time. Leonard focused a lot on his studies during his younger years. He had a girlfriend at one point. For some reason, they broke upter on. Since then, Leonard hadn¡¯t met anyone he had considered tying the knot with. Leonard was already in his 40s, and he had no children. As the few family members he had left, Ariel felt like she should look after Leonard. It was just past 7:00 pm when someone knocked on the door. It was a food delivery from one of the most famous restaurants in Eldoria. Ariel said a little hesitantly, ¡°Sorry, but I didn¡¯t order the food.¡± The delivery person checked the name. ¡°You¡¯re Ariel Walker. Ms. Walker, right?¡± Ariel was feeling puzzled. ¡°That¡¯s me¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s correct, then. Please enjoy your meal.¡± The person ced the nicely packed meal boxes on the table and left the room. Katie came over. ¡°Who sent these?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not sure.¡± She went over to check. The food packaging was secure. She could feel through the container that the food was still warm. ¡°Howe they were sent to us, then?¡± Katie asked. Ariel pondered for a moment. ¡°Perhaps it was Chad or Janice.¡± Katie thought that made a lot more sense. The next day, Ariel stopped by the ICU before 7:00 am. Everything seemed alright so far. By the time she got back to the ward, breakfast had been brought to their room. Katie was already eating her breakfast. Ariel walked over to the table and had a look at the food. She could tell it was a carefully prepared, well¨Cbnced meal that would help boost the elderly¡¯s health. ¡°Did the hospital prepare these for us?¡± Ariel knew that this private hospital provided top¨Cnotch services, offeringprehensive care for both the patient and their family. Inside 356 Chapter 356 Well, of course it was also because this was the hospital¡¯s most high¨Cend ward. Katie slid Ariel¡¯s tray of food over to her. ¡°I think so. The nurse brought them up.¡± Ariel nodded, taking the food. Sometimes, she had to admit that pricey stuff really was beter. For the next couple of days, meals arrived like clockwork. Not once was the menu repeated. Leonard had been moved out of intensive care and was awake, though still unable to move. The moment Janice heard, she insisted oning over with Chad. Ariel couldn¡¯t even stop them. They dropped by when they had a bit of free time. Seeing how exhausted Ariel looked after two days, Janice walked over and gently pinched her cheek. ¡°There are caretakers and nurses around. Let yourself rx a little, okay?¡± Chad quietly set the gift basket of supplements on the side. Leonard had just fallen asleep. Ariel led them into the living room outside the bedroom. Once they had confirmed Leonard¡¯s condition was stable, the two shared a bit of news they had picked up recently. ¡°We heard something interesting yesterday. Veyo just partnered with Vireon. They¡¯reunching a joint R&D project for a new product.¡± Janice crossed her arms and let out a sneer. ¡°So basically, the two of them will coborate while using our flight control system. Nancy is such a snake.¡± Vireon Technologies specialized in new materials and had recently expanded into drone manufacturing. In the partnership, Veyo Solutions would provide technical support in all areas except the flight control system,plementing Vireon Technologies to deliver a moreplete solution. However, Veyo Solutions was never meant to take the lead in this partnership. Ariel raised an eyebrow. Nancy had moved quickly. Fast enough to grab a seat at the table. But¡­ ¡°Shouldn¡¯t Veyo be working with Nexura?¡± While she had been at the hospital, Tom had alreadye by and secured a patent licensing deal with her. Veyo Solutions choosing Vireon Technologies came as a bit of a surprise. After all, Jayson had always been willing to cover for Nancy. Chad gave a knowing half¨Csmile. ¡°Did you really think Nexura wasn¡¯t involved? They¡¯ve already assigned foreign- recruited engineers to Veyo. It¡¯s obvious they¡¯re backing Veyo¡¯s push for in¨Chouse development.¡® It clicked for Ariel. Jayson was backing Nancy again. He wanted to support Veyo Solutions in developing a new flight control system to help them break free from Faye Technologies¡® grip. In that case, Nancy wouldn¡¯t end up being controlled or pushed around by Faye Technologies. Ariel let out a silent, bitterugh. Jayson¡¯s intentions were crystal clear. He just couldn¡¯t stand seeing Nancy held down by Faye Technologies. Ariel knew Nancy inside and out now. With her current skill level and Veyo Solutions¡® existing tech base, even if they worked day and night, it would take them three years to develop a flight control system. But if Jayson pumped in fresh talent, then maybe they coul shave off some time. That was the luxury big corporations had. Ariel didn¡¯t give the partnership between Veyo Solutions and Vireon Technologies much thought. It could¡¯ve been anypany, really. Even if she didn¡¯t hand over the patent to Nexura Solutions, Jayson would have found a way to connect Veyo Solutions with anotherpany. She couldn¡¯t care less. But from Nancy¡¯s perspective, having to rely on others because her ownpany couldn¡¯t take the lead had to sting. On Monday, Ariel was back at Faye Technologies. Leonard¡¯s condition had stabilized. From here on out, two caretakers would take shifts looking after him. Faye Technologies¡® newly released flight control system was still riding high on industry buzz. Following the patent licensing, they would also offer technical support to the partneringpanies. As Ariel stepped out of the World Trade Center, she ran into Nancy and Seth, who were apparently there for a meeting. The moment Seth saw Ariel, he couldn¡¯t help but think of Faye Technologies¡® groundbreaking patent that had shaken up the entire field. His expression twitched. Even his steps faltered a little. Ariel didn¡¯t spare him a second nce. She did, however, brush right past Nancy. Nancy didn¡¯t stop walking. She just cast Ariel an indifferent nce with the faintest trace of a sneer tugging at her lips. Inside 357 Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to gauge Nancy¡¯s reaction. She dn¡¯t spare her a nce. Veyo Solutions reacted quickly by reaching out to Vireon Technologies. However, having a partnership waspletely different from having full control over the technology. Things might look stable on the surface, but in truth, they wouldn¡¯t gain much from it. It was just barely enough for them to stay afloat in the tide of innovation. It would all depend on whether the people Jayson brought in could actuallye up with something new. Ariel wasn¡¯t worried. She knew the caliber of her flight control system. Even if Jayson injected Veyo Solutions with fresh talent, trying to develop a brand¨Cnew system that could rival hers in two years was impossible. All he had really done was speed up the timeline. That morning, Ariel spoke to Lesley and decided to dy her next round of chemotherapy. She had been physically and mentally drained these past few days. Pushing through the side effects right now would only wreck her. Lesley agreed that she should take some time to recover and suggested that Ariel try a different set of targeted drugs. With that sorted, Ariel checked the time. A few days ago, Samson had asked her out for a meeting over lunch. They had scheduled it for today. Yeager Group wanted to get a deeper understanding of Faye Technologies. Since Chad had a scheduling conflict, Ariel decided to bring Janice along instead. After all, Janice was also part of Faye Technologies¡® leadership. It wouldn¡¯t hurt for her to hear Samson¡¯s pitch firsthand. Samson had booked a high¨Cend restaurant. When Ariel and Janice arrived at the private room, Samson was already on his feet to greet them. But they weren¡¯t the only ones there. A striking woman with sharp features and an intimidating presence sat inside. Ariel turned to Samson with a calm smile. ¡°Mr. Pryce, this is Ms. Janice Swanson from Faye Tech. She¡¯ll be joining us today. I hope that¡¯s alright.¡± Samson shrugged casually. ¡°Of course.¡± Ariel looked toward the woman. ¡°That is¡­¡± Kristen stood and extended her hand to Ariel. Her sharp yet elegant gaze carried theposure of someone seasoned by experience. ¡°You must be Ms. Walker from Faye Tech. I¡¯m Kristen Ulmer from Yeager Group.¡± A flicker of surprise crossed Ariel¡¯s eyes. Kristen Ulmer? That was the legendary figure behind Yeager Group. She was nearly 50 now, but time hadn¡¯t left a single mark on her face. It was no small feat to get face time with Kristen. Even Janice was stunned. She immediately stepped forward to greet her. ¡°Ms. Ulmer, it¡¯s an honor. I¡¯ve heard so much about you.¡± Kristen smiled and motioned for them to sit. ¡°No need to be so formal. I¡¯ve been truly impressed by yourpany¡¯s recent work. I wanted to hear your thoughts in person.¡± Samson gave the order to bring out the food. When he turned to Ariel, his tone softened. ¡°Ms. Ulmer¡¯s really taken an interest in your new flight control system. She¡¯s hoping to hear directly from you, Ms. Walker Ariel nodded. She admired Kristen as well, so she began to speak calmly and steadily. Samson stayed quiet. While they waited for the food, he quietly poured Ariel a ss of water and set it by her hand, careful not to break her focus. Naturally, he took care of Janice, too. There were only three women in the room. Whether out of courtesy or subtle intention, he couldn¡¯t afford to be too obvious and risk making anyone ufortable. Ariel spoke with rity and poise. Kristen¡¯s lips slowly curled into a smile. A glint of appreciation shed through her eyes. Eventually, Kristen asked, ¡°Was this system developed by your full team at Faye Tech, or was it more of a personal project? Or do you have some hidden genius on your staff we¡¯ve never heard of?¡± Inside 358 Chapter 358 Ariel just gave a faint smile, offering neither a yes nor a no Kristen let out a chuckle. ¡°Sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have asked that. I know in our industry, it¡¯s standard to keep key engineers¡® identities under wraps. But I¡¯m not trying to pryor poach. I¡¯m just curious.¡± She was honest. Ariel smiled politely. ¡°No worries. We understand.¡± Kristen genuinely liked Atiel. She was impressed by how someone so young could remain soposed and clear- headed, especially in how she analyzed the situation. ¡°So? What do you think, Ms. Ulmer?¡± Samson finally asked while raising an eyebrow at Kristen. Kristen nced at him. ¡°If Faye Tech and Yeager Group get the chance to work together, I believe we¡¯ll make great partners. After all, our philosophies seemed to align well.¡± Ariel caught the implication. Pleasantries were exchanged, and the lunch went by smoothly and pleasantly. By the end of lunch, Kristen, ever the busy woman, had to slip out early. She had other things to take care of. Samson paused as they walked out and turned back to Ariel. He held out his hand. ¡°Ms. Walker, I hope this is just the beginning. I look forward to working with you.¡± Ariel nodded and shook his hand lightly. ¡°Likewise.¡± Only then did Samson look over at Janice. He gave her a polite nod before heading off. As Janice watched him leave, she let out a low whistle. ¡°Younger men really do have their charm.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t know what to say. Janice was clearly riding a wave of admiration. ¡°Did you notice? Mr. Pryce is pretty considerate. He knows how to carry himself. And he even went out of his way to bring someone like Ms. Ulmer along.¡± Ariel agreed with that. ¡°Getting Ms. Ulmer to show up in person is not easy.¡± Janice drew in a sharp breath. ¡°Mr. Pryce must have some serious pull. Ms. Ulmer has seen it all. Even with Faye Tech being in the spotlight now, it shouldn¡¯t be enough to impress her. Unless¡­¡± She waggled her brows at Ariel. ¡°Do you think maybe Mr. Pryce is her sugar baby?¡± No one had ever heard of Kristen being married or in a rtionship, after all. Ariel was rendered speechless. She lightly smacked Janice¡¯s forehead. ¡°Cut the gossip. Let¡¯s go back to the office.¡± Janice was really just joking. She didn¡¯t really believe it. Back at Faye Technologies, Ariel took some time to review Yeager Group¡¯s development history. As a major military techpany, Yeager Group was well¨Cversed in the field. However, there was a clear distinction between military systems and civilian applications, which naturally created a gap between them and other majorpanies. Having a good rtionship with them was definitely a win Frequent coboration down the road could push both sides forward. Later in the afternoon, just before the end of the day, Ariel received a call from Carlos. ¡°Tomorrow¡¯s Aerospace Day. The research institute will be open to visitors. Come by with Chad and the others to check out the current research direction.¡± Ariel lit up at that. Opportunities like this were rare. She hadn¡¯t set foot in that dreand for researchers in a long time. She agreed immediately, then dropped a message to Chad and Janice in the group chat. Every year, the aerospace research institute would open its doors for just one day on Aerospace Day. Experts from all over woulde to visit, exchange ideas, and explore. Of course, most of the facilities remained off¨Climits. Only selected areas were open to the public. Janice didn¡¯t have much of a tech background, so she decided to hold down the fort at the office. When Ariel and Chad arrived at the institute, they immediately spotted a familiar figure not far away. Inside 359 The aerospace research institute had opened up 200 visitor slots. Companies had to submit group applications in advance. The front entrance was packed with people. A group had just stepped out of their vehicle. When Ariel turned around, she happened to see Jayson getting out and holding the door to shield Nancy from the edge. Nancy was clearly in a good mood. She tilted her head up and smiled sweetly at him as they chatted. Jayson responded now and then. Meanwhile, Matt and Frederick stepped out of another car, chatting as they walked toward Jayson and Nancy. Soon after, they all turned to look toward Ariel and Chad. Ariel had already turned away and walked into the entrance with Chad. She didn¡¯t bother with greetings or small talk. Jayson gave her retreating figure a nce, then turned his focus to a board member from anotherpany who hade over to chat. Once everyone made it inside, the coordinator came out to sort the groups, which naturally brought them all into closer proximity. Nancy stood beside Jayson. She didn¡¯t even spare Ariel, who stood ten feet away, a look. Every so often, she would cover her mouth and whisper something to Jayson. Frederick had always admired Chad, so he walked over to say hi. ¡°Mr. Hockney, didn¡¯t Jane?¡± He was exasperated by his sister, who had no ambition and just wanted to coast through life. Why couldn¡¯t she be a little more like Chad? Or be motivated by someone as outstanding as Nancy? Instead, she clung to Ariel all day. ¡°She¡¯s not a fan of this kind of event. I didn¡¯t want to force her,¡± Chad replied with a smile. ¡°Fair. She wouldn¡¯t exactly sit still if she dide.¡± Frederick nodded, then nced at Ariel. Janice, as an executive at Faye Technologies, had every reason to be here. But Ariel? Her sudden rise over just a few months hadnded her in a circle she never used to belong to. In Frederick¡¯s mind, she should have been thankful to Chad and Janice. Without their support, Ariel would have never reached the level needed to step foot in the aerospace research institute. Matt joined them. ¡°Faye Tech has been getting a lot of buzztely. Congrattions, Mr. Hockney.¡± Then he turned to Ariel. ¡°Oh, Ms. Walker. You¡¯re here too.¡± The tone was deliberate. Ariel didn¡¯t even look at him. She could tell that Matt didn¡¯t take her seriously at all. There was a trace of sarcasm in his tone, as if he were surprised she could even be here. Even when praising Faye Technologies, the congrattions were aimed solely at Chad. ¡°Mr. Crosby, I thought yourpany wasn¡¯t involved in this field. How¡¯d yound a spot at the institute?¡± Chad¡¯s smile didn¡¯t reach his eyes, but it was impably polite. Matt hesitated for a beat, then forced a chuckle. ¡°Oh, Jayson had an entry pass, so I tagged along to film sorne content for my brother.¡± Jayson had said that things at the research institute would be interesting today, so he invited them to join. ¡°So Ms. Stanton tagged along too?¡± Chad was surprised. Matt nced in Nancy¡¯s direction and shrugged. ¡°Yeah, we came together.¡± Only then did Chad raise an eyebrow in sudden realization. Oh¡­ I thought Ms. Stanton had been invited by Professor Jones. I guess that¡¯s not the case. Ari got in through her supervisor¡¯s invitation. Guess they¡¯re not quite the same, huh?¡± Matt¡¯s face stiffened. He turned around to look at Nancy and Jayson. Jayson met his eyes for a moment but said nothing. Nancy had caught the subtext loud and clear, but she didn¡¯t care. Her cool gaze swept over to Ariel. The patent standoff between Veyo Solutions and Faye Technologies had reached a dead end and was going to stay that way. In Nancy¡¯s eyes, Ariel had resorted to cheap tricks to shut Veyo Solutions out. How could she resort to pettiness to handle things in a circle like this? Inside 360 Chapter 360 Nancy couldn¡¯t agree with that. Now that Veyo Solutions had teamed up with Vireon Technologies, she felt even more certain that Ariel¡¯s actions toward her were petty and immature. Some students from Ashford University¡¯s aerospace program and people from otherpanies also showed up for the institute¡¯s open day. A few executives who had previously attended Sarah¡¯s art exhibition out of respect for Jayson made a point toe over and greet Jayson and Nancy. There were scheduled programs scattered throughout the day. Before long, Carlos arrived, walking alongside a man in his 40s with amanding presence. The moment they entered, the event grew noticeably livelier. Ariel recognized the man walking beside Carlos. It was Andre, one of the earliest students Carlos mentored. He wore sses and carried himself with a schrly grace. Nancy noticed Andre and greeted him politely, ¡°Professor Jones.¡± Andre gave her a brief nod, then his eyes caught Ariel. He paused, then offered her a warm smile and a small nod of acknowledgment. Nancy frowned subtly at the sight. Frederick noticed the shift in her mood and leaned in to reassure her. ¡°Don¡¯t take it personally. Ariel is Mr. Hockney¡¯s student now. Of course Professor Jones would greet her. Without Mr. Hockney, no one would even know who she is.¡± Nancy agreed with that. Unconcerned, she smiled. ¡°I know. I¡¯m not bothered.¡± Noticing that she wasn¡¯t too shaken, Frederick rxed a little. Nancy looked at Jayson and moved in so close she nearly touched him, then said softly, ¡°Jayson, I¡¯m a bit nervous about meeting Professor Jones today.¡± Jayson nced down at her. ¡°Don¡¯t be. It¡¯ll be fine.¡± That brought a small smile to Nancy¡¯s lips as she nodded. Meanwhile, Carlos brought Andre over to the coordinator nearby and gave some instructions about which areas would be open. While they were talking, someone overheard Nancy greeting Andre. They were surprised that she had chosen Andre as her supervisor. ¡°I don¡¯t get why Ms. Stanton didn¡¯t choose Mr. Hockney. I heard her exam results were phenomenal.¡± It wasmon knowledge at the time that Nancy had been aiming for Carlos¡® mentorship. And yet, somehow, it was Ariel who ended up as the chosen student. They couldn¡¯t help sneaking nces at Ariel now. Had she really outpaced Nancy? Jayson nced sideways with a detached expression, casting a faint look in Ariel¡¯s direction. As his gaze lowered, the corner of his brow lifted ever so slightly. Nancy stayedposed and responded evenly, ¡°It¡¯s a bitplicated, but everything worked out as it was meant to. Thank you for your concern.¡± But these were veterans in the business world. They were the best at reading between the lines. It didn¡¯t take long for them to wonder if there was more to Nancy¡¯s seemingly casual remark. Their eyes drifted toward Ariel again, then to Chad, who was leaning in to whisper something in her ear. Was there more to the story? Frederick felt a pang of sympathy for Nancy. He looked at her with concern. Despite having the upper hand, she was forced to ept this situation and keep herposure to face everyone as if nothing were wrong. Matt tilted his head with a grin. As if suddenly remembering something important, he pped his hands. ¡± Speaking of the postgraduate admissions exam, it just hit me! Isn¡¯t today the day Ashford University releases the admissions results?¡± Inside 361 That onement was enough to stir up curiosity. Ariel caught the nce Matt tossed her way. It was still carrying thatzy, yful air. He was smiling without a trace of malice. She gave a faint smirk. Her eyes glinted with quiet mockery She knew exactly what he was doing. Nancy knew the admissions results were being released today, and she also knew why Matt would bring it up in front of everyone. He was just trying to win back some ground for her and publicly embarrass Ariel. She cast a faint nce at Ariel. Of course she knew Ariel¡¯s results were likely nothing impressive. Without much expression, she simply said, ¡°Well, we¡¯re here at the research institute to learn. Pulling up admissions results here might steal the spotlight. I think it¡¯s a little inappropriate.¡± Frederick chuckled. ¡°How is it inappropriate? If someone from this field gets a top score, it¡¯s good news for the institute. It means more top¨Ctier talent for the country. Ms. Stanton, you¡¯re just being modest.¡± ¡°Exactly. Everyone¡¯s curious.¡± Matt nced back at a few familiar executives nearby and gave a slight smile. ¡°And you and Ariel are kind of academic rivals. Now that everyone¡¯s curious, how could we just leave it at that? No harm in checking.¡± He tilted his head toward Ariel. There were so many people here today. If her score didn¡¯t hold up, it would only fuel the rumors that she had gotten in through connections. With Matt fanning the mes, interest picked up fast. His intentions were obvious. Ariel looked at him like one might look at a bad joke. Chad nced at Ariel¡¯s calm expression, then turned toward Nancy with a smile. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you¡¯ve already been epted, and your supervisor¡¯s been assigned. Does the result really matter?¡± Frederick shot over a cold look at those words. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Mr. Hockney? Do you have something to hide?¡± He cast a scornful nce at Ariel, clearly thinking Chad was trying to shield her from embarrassment. ¡°It¡¯s really no big deal, Mr. Hockney. So many people take the postgraduate admissions exam every year. A few dozen points more or less don¡¯t mean much. ¡°As long as Ms. Walker continues to study diligently under Mr. Carlos and hones her skills, I truly believe she has the potential to shine one day,¡± Matt reassured kindly, though the smirk on his lips never faded. Nancy finally smiled. She turned to Jayson and asked quietly, ¡°Jayson, should I check?¡± She wasn¡¯t interested in Ariel¡¯s score anymore. After all, she already had a good idea. What she was interested in, and what Matt and the others wanted to know, was who ced first in the final exam. She didn¡¯t mind being a few points behind. What she wanted was a name and to know if that person had epted a cement yet. Jayson lifted his gaze slightly, then looked toward Ariel with an air of detachment. ¡°Since Ms. Walker¡¯s results are part of the list, shouldn¡¯t we ask for her consent before looking them up publicly?¡± He left the decision to Ariel. She hadn¡¯t expected that. Her eyes met his. His expression was calm. It seemed like just a courteous question, but Ariel understood what he was after. hiding something. If she said yes, she would be If she said no, everyone would assume she was ashamed a publicly admitting she fell short of Nancy, and she would have no one to me. This wasn¡¯t a concern. Nancy realized it too. The furrow in her brow rxed.. As she looked at Jayson¡¯s indifferent profile, a warm smile tugged at her lips. ¡°Feel free to check. There¡¯s nothing I¡¯m hiding,¡± Ariel replied coldly. Her eyes glinted with a quiet, mocking edge. Nancy was genuinely surprised. Inside 362 Chapter 362 Nancy frowned as she shot Ariel a cold nce. She had given Ariel a chance to save her dignity. It was Ariel who chose to throw it away. ¡°Ms. Walker, you really have nerves of steel.¡± Frederick clearly wasn¡¯t buying Ariel¡¯sposed act. Then he turned back to Nancy and said gently, ¡°Ms. Stanton you should check the official site.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t bother with Ariel. She pulled out her phone and entered the Ashford University website. Matt also pulled up the official website to look for the admissions results. But the moment he found it, his smile froze, and his eyes widened. Jayson¡¯s gaze lowered as he nced at the loading page on Nancy¡¯s phone screen. Then the names and scores appeared in sharp, undeniable rity. He raised his eyes, casting a nce in Ariel¡¯s direction. Nancy¡¯s face also showed a sh of surprise. Her fingers tightened around the phone. Even her breathing fell out of rhythm. Did she see it wrong? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Frederick hadn¡¯t looked yet, but Nancy¡¯s sudden pallor made him ask in concern. As Ariel watched them, her lips curled in cold amusement. Chad, wearing a look of curiosity, asked with feigned concern, ¡°Did you get a good look? What¡¯s Ms. Stanton¡¯s score? Is it around the same as Ari¡¯s?¡± As soon as he said that, Nancy pressed her lips into a tighter line. She shut off the screen and lowered her phone. Her mind was ringing, leaving her thoughts scattered and impossible to piece together. 469¡­ How could Ariel score 469 out of 500? ¡°There must be a mistake.¡± Matt snapped out of his daze and asked in disbelief, ¡°You¡¯re the top scorer? You got 469?¡± Frederick was stunned. Then his whole expression twisted. Everyone around turned to look at Ariel in shock, who had never once shown off. Didn¡¯t Nancy suggest that there might be something going on behind the scenes with Ariel bing Carlos¡® student? ¡°Is this some kind of registration error?¡± Frederick¡¯s face darkened instantly. He refused to believe Ariel had earned such a high score. ¡°Did the university even verify the results properly?¡± Could there have been a data entry error? ¡°There¡¯s no mistake.¡± As Jayson looked at Ariel, his gaze was deep and unreadable. He knew the university wouldn¡¯t mess up something like this. After all, this wasn¡¯t a game. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s no mistake.¡± At some point, Carlos and Andre had returned. With his hands behind his back, Carlos swept his gaze over the crowd. ¡°Ariel¡¯s results were released some time ago. If anyone has doubts, feel free to speak with me directly.¡± Nancy¡¯s lips had gone pale. She couldn¡¯t process it, nor could she believe it was real. It was precisely because she was already among the top in the field that she understood just how terrifying a score of 469 really was. She had thought the top scorer in the final exam was only slightly ahead of her. But that person was actually Ariel. And the difference between their scores was massive. This was impossible. Matt waspletely speechless now. His expression was a mix of shock and disbelief. He just couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. Where did things go wrong? He had known Ariel for years. She had never once shown any ambition. Back at Bluum Corp, her job had nothing to do with aerospace. Her life had revolved around clocking in and out and hovering around Jayson. How could a low¨Cprofile housewife score the top mark? ¡°Mr. Hockney, you might not know Ariel. She¡¯s never even been involved in this field.¡± Frederick felt bad for Nancy. How could she possibly lose to Ariel? Andre frowned at those words. What gave these people the right to act like they know Ariel so well? Carlos gave them a cold stare. A rare trace of displeasure flickered across his face. ¡°First, you questioned her before the results came out, and now you question her after? Do you think this is some kind of joke?¡± Inside 363 Chapter 363 Carlos wasn¡¯t angry because of how these people treated Ariel. What really bothered him was the way they treated the university¡¯s fairness and Ariel¡¯s hard work as if they were meaningless. How could they invalidate everything with one thoughtlessment? Nancy¡¯s face had gonepletely pale. She knew what had just happened had rubbed Carlos the wrong way. But¡­ ¡°Mr. Hockney, you already knew her score that day? Why¡­ Nancy forced herself to stay calm and asked steadily. Carlos turned to look at her. He could tell that she was looking for an answer. ¡°You want to know why I didn¡¯t tell you Ariel¡¯s score?¡± Nancy pressed her lips together. Now that things had reached this point, she needed an answer. She wasn¡¯t someone who couldn¡¯t handle losing. She knew there would always be someone better out there. But Carlos could have just told her Ariel¡¯s score back then. Why did he have to make her wait until today? If Nancy had known earlier, she wouldn¡¯t have ended up so humiliated today. Ariel nced sideways at her, instantly catching on to what Nancy was thinking. She probably thought Carlos withheld the score intentionally to mess with her. Carlos had no interest in dragging the conversation further. As he turned to leave, he seriously said, ¡°Because you were never her rival. I didn¡¯t think I owed you an exnation.¡± Jayson shifted slightly to nce at Ariel. She stood therepletely unfazed, calm andposed. Carlos¡® words seemed to carry more than one meaning. Itnded like a stone, shaking the entire group. Even Nancy looked stunned. Was he saying Ariel never meant topete with her in the first ce? Or¡­ Matt and Frederick stood there, dazed. Their brains were too scrambled to process the situation. Before leaving, Andre looked at Nancy and said, ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. Mr. Hockney treats everyone the same. He wasn¡¯t protecting Ariel. He just wants people to respect the integrity and fairness of the university.¡± Matt finally snapped out of it. Suppressing the shock in his chest, he pressed his lips into a line before saying, ¡± I¡¯m sorry. I just got a little too worked up.¡± Andre gave a small nod and followed Carlos out. Now, all eyes turned back to Ariel, including Nancy¡¯s and Jayson¡¯s. A chill flickered in Nancy¡¯s gaze. Ariel hadn¡¯t breathed a word since the results were released. Had she been waiting for this moment all along? Ariel sensed her gaze and looked over calmly. It wasn¡¯t until now that she finally let a trace of mockery show. ¡°Ms. Walker, that¡¯s an impressive achievement!¡± Someone quickly reacted and came over to shake Ariel¡¯s hand. Right after that, a few otherpany executives chimed in ¡°No wonder you caught Mr. Hockney¡¯s eye. This score is more than deserved!¡± ¡°Ms. Stanton is just as impressive! The two of you swept first and second. What a close match!¡± Someone nced at Nancy, then at Jayson beside her, making sure Ariel wasn¡¯t the only one who receivedpliments. After all, the man beside Nancy was Jayson. They had to show him some respect. Even so, everyone knew that the gap between first and second was anything but small. Now this was interesting. Ariel, who topped the list, had revealed nothing. Yet, they had almost misunderstood Nancy¡¯s remarks, thinking she was hinting at some kind of backdoor deal. It turned out that the truth was just an unbelievably high score. Nancy¡¯s ears were buzzing. Her lips twitched into a strained smile. Even though the praise made her ufortable, she still gave a polite nod in return. Ariel knew they were just being diplomatic, so she simply smiled back. Meanwhile, Chad chuckled and waved his hand. ¡°No need to be so formal, everyone. Ms. Walker keeps a low profile. She¡¯s not the type to chase after recognition. Keep ttering her like this, and she¡¯s really going to get really shy.¡± He had already said there was no need to check the results, but no one had listened. Almost every pair of eyes in the room had shifted to Ariel. Nancy stared hard at Ariel. Her jaw was tight, and the shock in her eyes still hadn¡¯t faded. Matt picked up on the subtext in Chad¡¯s words. His heart skipped a beat. He instinctively stepped closer to Jayson and gave him a pat on the shoulder. How did things get to this point? Jayson¡¯s unreadable gaze locked onto Ariel¡¯s face. After a long silence, he finally said, ¡°Really impressive, Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel had no idea what he meant by that. There was no emotion in his voice at all. He might have just been making an objective statement, or maybe there was a hint of sardonicity beneath it. Inside 364 Nancy pressed her lips together tightly. For some reason, her expression looked even worse than before. Ariel met Jayson¡¯s eyes and said coldly, ¡°I guess I¡¯m not badpared to your girlfriend.¡± Jayson froze at those words. Meanwhile, Nancy¡¯s expression instantly went cold. Was Ariel showing off while taking a jab at her? Ariel didn¡¯t bother with their reactions. She turned and walked off toward the next section. As Ariel and Chad gradually disappeared into the distance, Nancy felt a frustrating weight settle in her chest. But years of self¨Ccontrol kept her from showing the slightest hint of emotion. She forced it all down. ¡°Has Ariel been hiding her abilities all this time? Or maybe she didn¡¯t even expect herself to do this well?¡± Aplicated look crossed Matt¡¯s face. He still couldn¡¯t reconcile the Ariel in his memory with the person she had be. When he first heard she had made it into the postgraduate program under Carlos, he thought it was dumb luck. But there was no way to fake that score. Was Ariel ying them this whole time? ¡°Ms. Stanton, you¡¯ve spent most of your life studying abroad. You¡¯ve only been back a short while and barely had time to prepare. It doesn¡¯t mean you¡¯re any less capable,¡± Frederick said with a frown. He didn¡¯t want Nancy to feel disheartened. But Nancy¡¯s expression had already turnedpletely frosty. The warmth she usually wore was now entirely gone. She needed time to process everything that had happened today ande to terms with the fact that Ariel had taken first ce. Most importantly, she needed to figure out a reason for it. She looked at Jayson beside her. ¡°Jayson, I think I caught a cold. Can you take me home?¡± Upon hearing that, Frederick looked toward Jayson, lips pressed together. He noticed Jayson was ncing in the direction Ariel had left, like he was lost in thought. Frederick couldn¡¯t help but frown. Could Jayson be drawn to Ariel? A trace of displeasure shed in his gaze. Jayson didn¡¯t notice his reaction. He looked down at Nancy. After a pause, he gave a quiet hum. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Frederick noticed how deeply Nancy relied on Jayson. Watching their backs as they walked away, he couldn¡¯t help but feel conflicted. As soon as they left, Matt texted Perry. ¡°Dude! Dude! Dude! ¡°Did you know Ariel came out first in the final exam? Ariel She¡¯s number one! I seriously thought my eyes were broken when I saw it! If I got a score like that, my great¨Cgrandpa would crawl out of his grave and give me a hug. Nancy was so pissed she left early!¡± Perry had just wrapped up a meeting when he saw the messages. He stood frozen for a few seconds, then finally replied, ¡°How did Jayson react?¡± Matt stared at the reply and suddenly hesitated. He wasn¡¯t sure about Jayson¡¯s reaction. But he should be feeling bad for Nancy, right? Ariel wasn¡¯t paying attention to what any of them were doing. After what had happened earlier, several Ashford University students who earned a spot to visit the institute flocked to her for advice. Their admiration was in to see She rarely opened up, but this time she actually chatted with them for a while. Eventually, she heard that Jayson and the others had already left. After sending Nancy home, Jayson returned to Larkin Manorter that night. As soon as he walked in, he saw Renee sprawled on the couch ying video games. He walked over with his zer in hand and looked at her with a stern look. ¡°If you want to get into Ashford University, stop wasting time. If your grades can¡¯t cut it, you¡¯re better off going abroad.¡± Jayson had always been someone Renee didn¡¯t dare mess with. The moment he got serious, she backed off fast. She sat up straight. ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll study. I don¡¯t want to go abroad. That¡¯d be like exile¡­¡± Jayson put down his zer. ¡°That depends on your grades.¡± A chill ran down Renee¡¯s spine. She didn¡¯t want to talk about that anymore, so she tried changing the subject. ¡°By the way, didn¡¯t Ashford University release the admissions results today? What¡¯s Nancy¡¯s rank?¡± She had texted Nancy earlier but hadn¡¯t heard back. She assumed Nancy was busy and didn¡¯t see her message. Jayson paused. He shot her a cold nce, then lowered his head to unbutton his cuffs, ignoring her. ¡°Jay? Hello? How¡¯d Nancy do?¡± Renee trailed after him, persistently pressing him for an answer. ¡°She came in second.¡± Renee¡¯s expression froze. Surprised, she shouted, ¡°No way! Then who got first?¡± ¡°Your sister¨Cinw,¡± Jayson replied. Inside 365 Chapter 365 Renee was confused. She blurted out, ¡°Didn¡¯t you say Nancy came in second? Why are you¡­¡± She cut herself off immediately when she met Jayson¡¯s deep eyes. He was staring at her without a hint of emotion on his face yet it sent a chill down Renee¡¯s spine. She shuddered and quickly mimed zipping her lips shut with her fingers. Jayson was warning her not to run her mouth, especially not about Nancy in front of Betty. But¡­ Something suddenly clicked in Renee¡¯s mind. ¡°Jay, did you mean Ariel ranked first?¡± Renee couldn¡¯t help but find the question ridiculous. Maybe Jayson had simply misspoken earlier. ¡°Well, isn¡¯t she your sister¨Cinw?¡± Jayson loosened his tie and looked at her. Renee stiffened, shrinking back a bit. ¡°Yeah¡­¡± No sooner had the words left her mouth than Betty¡¯s voice rang out behind them. ¡°Are you two talking about Ari?¡± Renee turned and saw Bettying downstairs. Instantly, she understood that Jayson had just saved her. If Betty had caught her badmouthing Ariel, she would definitely get scolded. Jayson cast a calm nce at Betty. Before he could say anything, Renee quickly got up and hooked her arm through Betty¡¯s. ¡°Jay just said his wife got first ce in the postgraduate admissions exam for aerospace engineering. Can you believe it?¡± She couldn¡¯t tell whether Betty had caught what she said about Nancy. Betty¡¯s expression gave nothing away as she simply looked at Jayson and asked, ¡°Ari joined the postgraduate admissions exam?¡± Jayson replied calmly, ¡°Yeah. Ashford University just released the admissions results today. She ced first in the program.¡± The moment Jayson confirmed it, a flicker of disbelief crossed Renee¡¯s face. So it was true? But Nancy got a 432. How could she have lost to Ariel? Betty¡¯s face lit up with joy. ¡°Ari¡¯s that smart? Why didn¡¯t she tell me?¡± Jayson nced at Betty¡¯s glowing cheeks. Her face looked healthier than it had in days. ¡°You know now,¡± he said simply. ¡°This is wonderful!¡± Betty pped her hands, beaming with pride. ¡°This is a huge deal! We can¡¯t just let it pass like it¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s throw a celebration! We¡¯ll invite people from the industry. We¡¯ll just say it¡¯s for some happy family news, but really, it¡¯s to celebrate Ari¡¯s big academic win.¡± Shocked, Renee¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Grandma, Jay and Ariel¡¯s marriage is a secret. Wouldn¡¯t something this public draw too much attention?¡± Subconsciously, she was still considering Nancy. As for Ariel? There was no way she was that brilliant. Renee just couldn¡¯t believe it. Tapping her cane, Betty scoffed. ¡°So what if it¡¯s a little high profile? It¡¯s not like I¡¯m asking them to go public with their marriage.¡± She turned to Jayson. ¡°Make it a grand event. This is a major milestone in Ari¡¯s life. Don¡¯t downy it. The more guests, the better. Let her know.¡± Jayson looked at Betty. It was obvious she had already made up her mind. She was practically nning the party in her head, There was no way to change her mind. After a brief pause, he simply said, ¡°Okay.¡°¨C Ariel was surprised when she got the message from Betty. ¡°Ari, I already got everything set up. I booked out the Saphrelle Hotel¡¯s banquet hall. No matter how many guestse, we¡¯ll host them all. Don¡¯t feel pressured. If you don¡¯t want to go public, I won¡¯t force you. ¡°I just want to throw you a celebration and let the world know the Larkin family has something to be proud of. After all, not everyone gets to call someone like you their granddaughter¨Cinw.¡± +25 BON Inside 366 Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Betty to be in the loop already. Puzzled, she asked, ¡°Did Jayson agree to this?¡± ¡°Of course he did. I suggested it. He wouldn¡¯t dare say no, Betty replied. Ariel frowned and stayed quiet for a moment. She hadn¡¯t expected such a high¨Cprofile event. And what was even more surprising was that Jayson actually agreed to it. Wasn¡¯t he worried this might blow up and expose their past? ¡°Grandma, you really don¡¯t have to do this. It¡¯s not that big a deal.¡± Ariel rubbed her temples, already trying toe up with a polite way to decline. ¡°Oh, I¡¯m more than happy to do this. I already paid 100 thousand dors for the deposit. I booked the weekend too, so it won¡¯t mess with your schedule. I¡¯ll let you know the details when the timees.¡± Betty knew Ariel well. Without giving her time to refuse, she ended the call swiftly. Ariel was rendered speechless. She put down her phone, still struggling to process it all. How did this even reach Betty¡¯s ears? And why the grand celebration? What Ariel really wanted to know was, why hadn¡¯t Jayson done anything to stop Betty? Then again, judging by Betty¡¯s excitement, she probably wouldn¡¯t listen to anyone right now. After thinking it through, Ariel knew there wasn¡¯t much she could do. If Jayson hadn¡¯t raised any objections, it meant he was confident the party wouldn¡¯t cause any issues. News that Ariel had outscored Nancy by nearly 40 points had already made its way to Sarah. Word spread almost immediately after the results were released. Ariel from Faye Technologies had set a new record for the highest score ever in the aerospace engineering program. Nancy hadn¡¯t shared the details with Sarah. Thetter grew too restless to wait. She took a leave from the hospital and showed up at Veyo Solutions. Everyone knew she was Nancy¡¯s mother, so they respectfully brought her upstairs. Nancy saw her and instantly knew why she hade. Her head had been pounding for two days straight, and she still looked pale. ¡°Mom, you¡¯re not in good health. You shouldn¡¯t be running around like this.¡± Sarah frowned, clearly in no mood for sympathy. ¡°What¡¯s going on with Ariel? How the hell did she score higher than you? Did she sleep with Chad and get the questions before the exam?¡± Sarah asked, her breath uneven with anger. Nancy frowned and responded calmly. ¡°No way. That would be a serious vition. Even if Chad wanted to help her, his father would never allow it.¡± Sarah scoffed. ¡°You¡¯re too naive.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t respond. She had gone through dozens of possibilities in her head, trying to figure out how Ariel could have scored so high. But none of them really held up ¡°Mom, please don¡¯t make ims unless you¡¯re certain. Saying Mr. Hockney favored mest time has already put me in an awkward position.¡± Nancy wasn¡¯t in a good mood. ¡°And as for what you just said, save it for behind closed doors. I don¡¯t want anyone else hearing it.¡± Sarah huffed, still bitter. ¡°Who knew Ariel was hiding a trick up her sleeve? She¡¯s so scheming!¡± In her eyes, Ariel was far too cunning for her age. Nancy took a deep breath. Just as she was about to say something, her assistant, Robin Reynolds, knocked gently on the door. ¡°Ms. Stanton, someone just dropped off an invitation for you.¡± ¡°Bring it here,¡± Nancy said. ¡°What kind of invitation?¡± Sarah asked. She was no stranger to the social scene. As Robin handed over the invitation, his expression was somewhat odd. Puzzled, he said, ¡°They said it¡¯s from Mrs. Larkin Senior. She¡¯s inviting you to attend a celebration party for her granddaughter¨Cinw.¡± Inside 367 Chapter 367 Robin¡¯s words made Nancy¡¯s face darken almost instantly. Her eyes fell on the envelope he handed her. ¡°Ms. Stanton, what is that supposed to mean?¡± Robin looked genuinely puzzled as he set the invitation down on her desk. Betty¡¯s granddaughter¨Cinw? Wasn¡¯t Jayson her only grandson? ¡°It¡¯s nothing. You can go now.¡± Sarah was the first to react. She kept her expression unreadable, still radiating her signature elegance. Robin gave a polite nod and stepped out. As soon as the door closed, Nancy frowned but didn¡¯t seem too shaken. ¡°Is Mrs. Larkin Senior trying to warn me?¡± It was surprising. Betty was holding a celebration party for her ¡°granddaughter¨Cinw¡°. Clearly, she had already heard about Ariel¡¯s exam results, and now she was going all out with this over¨Cthe¨Ctop event. The invitation wasn¡¯t even really an invitation. It was more of a statement. Betty was telling her that Ariel was Jayson¡¯s wife, her granddaughter¨Cinw. Sarah¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°She¡¯s telling you that Ariel matters to her. She won¡¯t allow you to be there. I think it¡¯s because you hold weight with Jayson. She couldn¡¯t talk him out of it, so now she¡¯s trying to ¡®threaten¡® you instead.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t show much emotion. Sarah stepped closer and patted Nancy on the shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Stay calm. This doesn¡¯t mean she dislikes you. She¡¯s just holding on because Jayson and Ariel have been married for years. ¡°Older people tend to think the original spouse is always better, even if the marriage is aplete mess. But really, she¡¯s just wasting her time.¡± She narrowed her eyes, considering. ¡°Once Mrs. Larkin Senior meets you in person, she¡¯ll know how much better you are than Ariel, and then she¡¯ll change her mind. ¡°Besides, their marriage was kept secret all this time. Even if she¡¯s throwing a grand party, Jayson¡¯s not the type to let it get out of hand or put you in an awkward position.¡± Sarah seemed sure of that. Nancy nced at the gold¨Cembossed invitation and tossed it aside. ¡°I know. Jayson¡¯s only going along with this because of Mrs. Larkin Senior. Otherwise, he¡¯d never let Ariel take the spotlight like this.¡± Even so, she was not happy about this. Being ttered like that by Betty is bound to give Ariel the illusion that she was untouchable. Sarah gave a nod. ¡°This whole move from Mrs. Larkin Senior is just her way to get to you since she can¡¯t sway Jayson. But as long as he stands by you, none of it really matters. The olddy doesn¡¯t have many years left anyway. Besides¡­¡± She let out a cold, dismissiveugh. ¡°Jayson and Ariel never had feelings for each other. You¡¯re the only one at his side. So what if Ariel pulled off a great exam score with Mr. Hockney coaching her? ¡°She might¡¯ve impressed someone like Mrs. Larkin Senior who doesn¡¯t know any better. But at the end of the day, she¡¯s just good at exams. Real research is a different story. She¡¯s not worth worrying about.¡± Nancy understood that perfectly well. Still, Ariel¡¯s score had clearly caught the Larkin family¡¯s attention. She picked up the invitation again and gave it another look She knew that Betty had no ns to let her attend, but she didn¡¯t botherpeting with Ariel over something so trivial. The truth was, they all knew exactly how much influence she held over Jayson. ¡°Mom, Jayson¡¯s not like other men. He has his own mind. He won¡¯t be swayed by anyone.¡± Sarah narrowed her eyes in thought. ¡°Should we talk to him about this? Or should we find a way to handle it?¡± Frowning, Nancy stayed silent, lost in thought. By the weekend, Ariel still hadn¡¯t followed up with Colton or checked with Jayson about the celebration party. Betty had said she wouldn¡¯t reveal what they were celebrating, so Ariel figured whether she showed up or not didn¡¯t really matter. She just pushed the whole thing out of her mind. But around 6:00 pm, Betty called again. ¡°Ari, should I send a car to pick you up?¡± Ariel finally epted it. The whole thing was already set in motion. There was no backing out. She rubbed her brow lightly. ¡°No need, Grandma.¡± Betty had thought this through. She said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. There won¡¯t be any pressure on you. I know you and Jayson are keeping things quiet, and I won¡¯t make things hard for you. The party¡¯s just being announced as a family celebration. Nothing about you is being made public¡± Inside 368 Ariel wasn¡¯t too worried about that. Even if things went sideways, it wasn¡¯t on her. It wasn¡¯t her idea to publicize anything. Betty continued, ¡°I¡¯ll have someone go invite Katieter.¡± That made Ariel frown. She hadpletely forgotten about that. ¡°No need, Grandma. She¡¯s been exhausted dealing with my uncle¡¯s situation. Best not to trouble them right now. But she¡¯d definitely thank you.¡± Betty didn¡¯t know about the divorce. If she really invited Katie over, the whole thing could blow up. It was best to steer her away now. ¡°Well, fair enough. She has had a hard timetely. Then I¡¯ll have Jayson pick you up. I¡¯ll let him know.¡± Betty was in a good mood today. She soon shifted her focus back to nning. She ended the call almost immediately, like she was afraid Ariel might refuse. The escape routes had all been sealed tight. Ariel stared at her phone for a moment, then nced at the time. Jayson wasing to pick her up? Showing up together would absolutely turn heads. Didn¡¯t Betty or Jayson consider that? Betty was set on having here over. In her eyes, Ariel was still her granddaughter¨Cinw. There was no exining that away. Ariel sat there in thought for a while before finally starting to pack up her bag. When Jayson¡¯s car pulled up outside, he was in the back seat, eyes on his tablet. Without raising his head, he said, ¡°Call Ariel.¡± After Colton parked the car, he nodded. With Betty insisting, Jayson was left with no choice but toe over. Colton dialed Ariel¡¯s number. It rang for a while before she finally picked up. Her voice was cool and detached. ¡°I¡¯m already on my way. No need to pick me up.¡± Jayson paused, then nced at Colton in the driver¡¯s seat. Frowning, Colton asked, ¡°But¡­ weren¡¯t you informed that Mr. Larkin would being?¡± She knew he wasing and still left early without a word? ¡°Are you working for him, or am I? Just because I was informed, I¡¯m supposed to sit around and wait?¡± Ariel replied. Her tone was mild, but the words stung. Colton was stunned. He instinctively checked the rearview mirror to look at Jayson. Was she¡­ snapping at them now? Before either of them could respond, the line went dead. Jayson didn¡¯t seem upset, though. He nced at Colton¡¯s phone for a second, then lowered his gaze again. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± By the time Ariel arrived at the hotel, she finally realized just how extravagant the whole party really was. Betty had practically booked the entire hotel. Hotel staff were stationed outside, guiding the arriving vehicles into ce one by one. Even without a clear event title, the turnout was huge. This moment showcased the full extent of the Larkin family¡¯s pull. She only found out after arriving that the Larkin family hadn¡¯t sent out any invitations for today. Everyone had shown up of their own ord. As long as they were business partners, they were warmly received. With this kind of turnout, theworking opportunities and potential deals were endless. Who would say no to that? While moving through the crowd, Ariel caught bits of conversation. ¡°The Larkins must be celebrating something big. Look at this setup. Whoever it¡¯s for clearly holds a special ce with them.¡± Ariel walked past them without reacting. She didn¡¯t think much about it, and she definitely didn¡¯t tter herself. As she made her way upstairs, she ran right into Evelyn and Renee. Evelyn¡¯s eyes briefly widened when she saw her. After all, she had never thought much of Ariel before. But now¡­ ¡°Why didn¡¯t you ever mention you had this kind of talent?¡± Evelyn couldn¡¯t shake a strange feeling. In her eyes, Ariel had always been rather mediocre. Her only standout trait was that undeniably stunning face. Ariel instantly understood the subtext. Evelyn was both surprised and a little resentful. Renee, on the other hand, frowned deeply. She still felt like the whole thing was unfair to Nancy, and her anger red. ¡°Don¡¯t get cocky. It¡¯s just one exam. Don¡¯t think that gives you the right to pick on Nancy!¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze finally turned cold. As she was about to retort, a deep voice behind her cut in first. ¡°Renee, if you still haven¡¯t learned how to behave, then go home and reflect on it.¡± Inside 369 Jayson came up the stairs, stopping just behind Ariel. His gaze swept over Renee, quiet butced with warning. Renee shrank back and instinctively hid behind Evelyn. Evelyn understood why Jayson had said that. Renee¡¯s words had been out of line, especially in a public setting. With so many people around, if anyone overheard, their love triangle would be exposed. That would ruin everyone¡¯s reputation. ¡°Go find your grandma,¡± Evelyn told Renee with a pointed look. Renee bit her lip and red at Ariel before storming off. Ariel noticed Jayson behind her and instinctively shifted slightly to the side to put space between them. Evelyn gave her aplicated look. ¡°Even though Betty arranged today¡¯s event for you, to the public, this is just a normal party. No one here knows your identity. If you¡¯re grateful for what Betty¡¯s done, then be careful what you say. Don¡¯t expose yourself and drag us into unnecessary trouble.¡± The rumors swirling about Jayson and Nancy were still hot. If Ariel revealed herself as Jayson¡¯s wife now, it might not damage the family outright, but it would be instant tabloid fodder. Not to mention, the Stanton family¡¯s tech business was still in its infancy and not yet qualified to be tied to the Larkins by marriage. It was best to keep things under wraps for now. ¡°Wasn¡¯t it your family who threw this party? Why are you lecturing me?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. She knew exactly what Evelyn was plotting. Evelyn frowned instantly at those words. Jayson looked over at Ariel, then turned to Evelyn before saying tly, ¡°When has Ari ever put us in a difficult position? If you want to talk about ¡®unnecessary trouble,¡® that¡¯s a conversation you should be having with me.¡± Evelyn¡¯s face tightened at that. She was rendered speechless. She nced at Ariel again but said nothing. Without another word, she turned and walked off to mingle with the guests. When people asked what the party was for, they all got the same vague answer¨Cthe younger ones reached a milestone. No one probed further. Ariel didn¡¯t even nce at Jayson. She just walked past him toward Betty. She wanted to let her know she had. arrived to put her at ease. She didn¡¯t want Betty fussing unnecessarily. Jayson¡¯s reprimand of Renee wasn¡¯t about standing up for her. He was merely trying to prevent her from blurting out the truth about Nancy. What he feared most was someone overhearing and realizing Nancy had been involved as the third party. Deep down, he was still protecting her. Jayson didn¡¯t mind Ariel¡¯s cold attitude. There was always a distance between them. They never stood too close, careful not to give anyone a reason to suspect anything. When Matt and Perry showed up, Matt pped Jayson on the shoulder and said quietly, ¡°Ariel¡¯s really something, huh? Your grandma¡¯s treating her like royalty. How are you going to exin this to Nancy?¡± Surely Jayson wouldn¡¯t let Nancy be upset, right? Jayson lifted his ss and took a sniff of the wine. He didn¡¯t answer. Perry watched Ariel¡¯s figure as she walked away. He felt somewhat shaken. Her excellence always caught him off guard. From where Betty stood, she could see Jayson and Ariel walking one behind the other, keeping a good 20 feet apart like strangers. She let out a quiet sigh. The truth was, she did have her own agenda. She didn¡¯t mean what she had said to Ariel earlier. Deep down, she had hoped today would be the perfect chance to make their marriage public. That was why she had deliberately sent Jayson to pick Ariel up. It would serve as a warning to certain people. But apparently, neither of them was willing to y along. They had even arrived separately. The event itself was rxed in tone. Betty had intentionally avoided anything too formal to create a space where guests could mingle freely, catch up, or even talk business. She looked in Betty¡¯s direction and saw a constant flow of guests. After a moment of thought, she decided not to go over. It was enough that Betty saw she had shown up. She was genuinely grateful that Betty had gone out of her way to organize such an event for her. But she could only ept that gesture quietly. After all, she and Jayson were no longer married. This was simply her way of not letting Betty¡¯s efforts go unacknowledged. Inside 370 Aside from that, Ariel actually ran into a few promising potential business partners. They chatted for a bit, and she took the opportunity to learn more about theirpanies¡® strengths. She was already mentallyying out possibilities for the future. Before long, she noticed Rachel Hewitt, Betty¡¯s maid, making her way over. Rachel whispered, ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin Senior would like you and Mr. Larkin to join the main table with the VIPster.¡± Frowning, Ariel refused right away. ¡°That¡¯s not necessary. It¡¯s not appropriate, and Jayson wouldn¡¯t agree to it either.¡± Rachel hesitated. ¡°Maybe you could talk it over with Mr. Larkin?¡± Ariel instinctively scanned the crowd but didn¡¯t see Jayson anywhere, so she said, ¡°There¡¯s no need. Just let Grandma know that we¡¯re not making it public. Thanks.¡± Before Rachel could respond, Ariel turned and walked off in another direction. She had only taken a few steps when she ran right into Liam, who had just arrived. He blinked in mild surprise when he saw her. Ariel greeted him, ¡°Dr. Spencer, I didn¡¯t expect to see you here.¡± Liam nodded. ¡°My grandpa¡¯s an old friend of Mrs. Larkin Senior. I just came along with him to offer our congrattions.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Ariel said. She didn¡¯t ask anything further. They were barely acquaintances to begin with. She made a small motion to excuse herself, and Liam stepped aside. However, he frowned as he turned to nce at Ariel¡¯s retreating figure. This party wasn¡¯t exactly business¨Coriented. And as far as he knew, Faye Technologies didn¡¯t have deep ties with the Larkins. So why was Ariel here? He recalled the incident at the hospital as well. Liam slowly pulled his gaze back. Meanwhile, Ariel had to take a work call. Noah was having trouble with data testing, and he needed her to walk him through it. To avoid the crowd, she stepped out to the corridor outside the hotel. ¡°Adjust the algorithm. There¡¯s something wrong with the data.¡± As Noah exined the issue over the phone, Ariel immediately pinpointed the source of the problem. While the recalctions ran on Noah¡¯s end, she nced up and looked toward the parking lot. Suddenly, her gaze stilled. Under the warm glow of the streemp, two figures cast long shadows on the ground. Nancy had likely just driven over and was now looking up at Jayson. Ariel wasn¡¯t standing too close, so she couldn¡¯t make out their expressions. But she vaguely saw Nancy take a small step closer to Jayson and gently tug at his sleeve. It was a subtle gesture. The two of them were talking, but Ariel couldn¡¯t hear what they were saying. So Nancy came too. Yet, for some reason, she hadn¡¯t entered the banquet hall. That exined why Jayson had been missing earlier. He had been out here meeting her. This evening was supposed to be a celebration party for Ariel. And somehow, Nancy still made an appearance. Clearly, they were in the middle of their honeymoon phase. They couldn¡¯t even go one evening without seeing each other. Ariel calmly looked away and turned to head in another direction while continuing her call with Noah. She didn¡¯t spare Jayson and Nancy another nce. Once they had the data sorted and the call wrapped, she made her way back into the banquet hall. The moment she stepped inside, her eyesnded on Jayson. He was talking to a group of guests, but Nancy wasn¡¯t with him. Ariel didn¡¯t quite understand why Nancy would pass up such a rare opportunity to appear in front of the Larkin family. Had she left already? As if sensing her stare, Jayson suddenly nced up and locked his gaze on hers. Their eyes met. Ariel frowned instinctively, and she quickly looked away. Just then, Rachel appeared again. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin Senior asked me to let you know there are plenty of people at the main table. No one¡¯s going to notice you, so you don¡¯t have to worry.¡± Ariel nced over. The main table was enough to seat 30 people. She spotted Liam and Jackson already seated among the other guests. Jayson was heading that way too. His gaze swept across Ariel¡¯s face before he bent down to greet Jackson. Thetter rarely made public appearances, so he had drawn a steady crowd of people eager to say hello. He waved and chatted briefly with them. Then, in the middle of the bustle, he suddenly turned to Jayson and asked, ¡°Jayson, where¡¯s your wife?¡± Inside 371 Jackson was in his 80s, but his voice still carried loud and clear. The second he asked the question, the air around them seemed to go still for just a second. People from all around turned to look in their direction. Their eyes eventuallynded on Jayson with growing suspicion. The looks he received were filled with shock. Jayson, however, didn¡¯t seem the least bit caught off guard. He casually tapped the back of Jackson¡¯s chair. ¡°My wife?¡± Even Ariel was taken aback by the sudden question. Why would Jackson bring that up out of nowhere? Even if she hadn¡¯t signed that confidentiality use in their divorce agreement, she had no intention of exposing their past marriage. She frowned, and a shadow of irritation crossed her eyes. As she nced up, she met Jayson¡¯s gaze across the room. He looked at her, almost like it was idental. But something about that look made her fingers curl instinctively into a fist. She hated this. Hated being dragged into the spotlight without warning. But Jayson didn¡¯t hold the stare. He looked away just as quickly and turned his attention back to Jackson with a smile, waiting calmly for what came next. Jackson narrowed his eyes. ¡°Didn¡¯t you get married recently?¡± Even Liam raised his head at that. He looked at Jayson, clearly not expecting a bombshell like that. The surrounding guests were all stunned. ¡°Mr. Larkin is married?¡± ¡°Since when?¡± ¡°Is his wife here tonight? Is it someone we know?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t flinch. He nced back at Jackson and chuckled. ¡°Well, I¡¯d be happy if you could tell me where exactly this wife of mine is.¡± Thatment was clearly a joke. Or perhaps a denial. Jackson¡¯s expression stiffened. He instinctively looked over at Betty. She did not look pleased. She gave Jayson a disappointed stare, then abruptly turned around and walked off. What a waste of a perfectly set stage. Before heading over to check on Betty, Renee raised an eyebrow with a small smile, then nced at Ariel. She simply gave a ¡°told you so¡± shrug. Ariel thought Jayson¡¯s answer was perfectly reasonable. Thankfully, he hadn¡¯t spelled it out.. If he had, every conversation about her from now on would have revolved around Jayson, and that was thest thing she wanted. Jayson¡¯s attitude made it clear he had no intention of letting anyone dig deeper into the subject. Any further and it would lead straight to someone else¡¯s scandal, so he shut it down. Matt and Perry had both been caught off guard by Jackson¡¯s sudden question. Matt recovered the quickest. He slung an arm around Jayson¡¯s shoulders and gave a quick nce toward Betty as she left the room. Smiling, he addressed the guests, ¡°Everyone, just take it as a lighthearted joke. Mr. Larkin would love nothing more than a loving wife and kids, but he¡¯s in a different phase of life right now¡­¡± He knew exactly how to work a crowd. He said just enough and left just enough unsaid. And what he left out let everyone fill in the nks however they liked. That kind of vague answer could apply to just about anything. But to those listening in, itnded differently. Sure enough, the ones who had been listening just moments ago all chuckled in sudden understanding. ¡°We get it. ¡°Sounds like Mr. Larkin¡¯s next phase is just around the corner.¡± Perry looked at Jayson, then nced at Ariel, who was clearly keeping her distance. This wasn¡¯t the oue he had hoped for. Since Jayson didn¡¯t admit it, would Ariel see that as humiliating? This time, Jayson didn¡¯t respond to anyone¡¯s questions. Ariel let out a cold, unsurprisedugh, like an outsider with nothing to do with it all. How considerate of them to go to such lengths just to save Nancy¡¯s pride. Liam happened to catch that fleeting expression on her face, and it made him think. He leaned over and whispered in Jackson¡¯s ear, ¡°Grandpa, this is Mr. Larkin¡¯s personal business. We should stay out of it.¡± Jackson frowned slightly, aplicated look flickering in his eyes. He nced at Jayson but didn¡¯t say anything more. After all, Jayson had denied it himself. Jayson didn¡¯t seem bothered in the slightest. He continued chatting politely with the guestsing up to greet him. Ariel didn¡¯t look his way again. She definitely didn¡¯t head to the main table to sit with him. Even Rachel couldn¡¯t stop her. By the time she turned around, Ariel was already seated somewhere else. 212 Inside 372 Rachel couldn¡¯t help but sigh. So much for Betty¡¯s n. By now, Ariel had a pretty good guess at what Betty had been aiming for. She likely intended for Ariel to show up so she could take the opportunity to formally introduce her to the guests and celebrate her admission to Ashford University. That way, the party would have a legitimate guest of honor. But Ariel had no intention of ying along. She showed up, sure, but that was all she was willing to give. And Jayson had t¨Cout denied being married in front of everyone. With both of them refusing to cooperate, Betty had no move left to make. When people asked what the party was for, she could only dodge the question andugh it off. By the end of the night, when Liam was escorting Jackson out, thetter looked unusually serious. Liam looked at him. ¡°Grandpa, what¡¯s on your mind?¡± Jackson turned and looked back at the banquet hall. ¡°Why do you think I brought that up today? Betty specifically asked me to mention it. She told me that Jayson is actually married but just never made it public. ¡°Remember, on my birthday, he brought a date with him? ording to what I heard from Betty, that woman wasn¡¯t his wife!¡± Jayson was a decent man. Why did he have to be so fickle? If Nancy knew he was married and still agreed to be his date, the Spencer family would never tolerate that. They would never work with her in the future. Liam froze in his tracks. Suddenly, everything made sense. Taking all the recent events into ount, even if Jackson had never said a word about who his wife was, the answer had already be clear. As he looked to the side, he happened to spot Ariel stepping out of the hall. So, Ariel was Jayson¡¯s wife? Then Nancy must be¡­ Liam frowned at that thought. Jackson happened to turn around. ¡°What are you standing there for? Are you not getting in the car?¡± Snapping out of it, Liam let his gaze linger on Ariel for two more seconds before swallowing the surprise and turning away. ¡°Coming. 11 Ariel only came out tonight out of courtesy, so she had avoided any chance of being alone with Jayson or interacting too much with him. She didn¡¯t want to give anyone anything to specte about Near the end of the party, she texted Betty, saying she had something to take care of and was leaving. Feeling helpless, Betty replied, ¡°Where are you? I¡¯ll have Jayson drive you. He should be with you.¡± Ariel was about to reply when she heard footsteps behind her. Jayson was already there. Thankfully, they were near the side entrance. There weren many people here. ¡°Are you leaving? I¡¯ll take you back.¡± Jayson looked down at her. Ariel didn¡¯t even look up. Her tone was cool as she replied, No need, Mr. Larkin.¡± 11 She didn¡¯t give him a chance to say anything else. Before thest word left her lips, she was already walking down the stairs. Jayson stood there, silently watching her retreating figure. He didn¡¯t go after her or try to stop her. Only when she disappeared into the night on her way to the parking lot did he finally turn and slowly walk back to Betty. Betty wasn¡¯t in a great mood. When she saw Jayson, she frowned and snapped, ¡°Go take Ari home. She¡¯s leaving.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t respond. Instead, he sat across from her and said, ¡°Grandma, let¡¯s talk.¡± Betty understood exactly what that meant. ¡°Grandma, this is between me and her. I hope you can stop interfering.¡± Jayson got straight to the point. The fact that Jackson mentioned that so suddenly meant he already had a good idea. Betty frowned hard. She hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to give such a vague, nomittal denial today. Her original n was to have Jackson expose Jayson¡¯s marriage publicly and send a message to that shameless woman outside. But no. Jayson denied it, and Ariel didn¡¯t say a word either. ¡°What? You¡¯re actually defending Nancy now?¡± Betty¡¯s eyes were sharp. To her, this was absurd. Jayson simply gave a faint smile and didn¡¯t bother denying Betty¡¯s words. Instead, he shifted the topic. ¡°Have you asked Ari if this is what she wants?¡± Inside 373 Betty was suddenly at a loss for words, She red at Jayson for a long moment, but no words came out. Jayson didn¡¯t speak harshily. After making himself clear, he smiled lightly, and his tone grew gentle once again.¡± Alright, Grandma. Let me take you home. That¡¯s enough for tonight. I¡¯ll handle my own business.¡± It was a clear signal that he wouldn¡¯t let Betty interfere any further. Betty parted her lips. ¡°You¡­¡± But no words followed. She pped his hand away. ¡°I don¡¯t need you here! Go be with Ari!¡± Jayson nced at the fuming Betty. With one hand casually tucked in his pocket, he gave a helpless shake of his head and chuckled. Matt and Perry approached, one after the other. They hadn¡¯t overheard the conversation, so they looked puzzled. ¡°Why would Mr. Spencer ask that out of the blue? If the truth really came out, Nancy would get torn apart by the gossip.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t answer. It was hard to tell what he was thinking. Perry looked at Matt, then slowly turned to Jayson. After a pause, he said, ¡°Nancy was never officially anything. If she really got herself into that situation, she chose it.¡± Matt looked stunned. Even Jayson looked up at Perry. The flight control system remained a significant talking point over the past few days. After resolving the data issues from eachpany involved in the patent purchase, Ariel made sure everything ran smoothly. Once she got back to the office, Janice came over with a teasing smirk. ¡°I thought that big party the Larkin family threw was for you. Why are people saying it¡¯s because Jayson has some big happy news?¡± Ariel kept typing. ¡°Is that so?¡± Janice shoved her phone at her. ¡°I¡¯m in all kinds of group chats, from work to different social circles. There¡¯s been all sorts of gossiptely. ¡°People are saying someone saw Nancy outside the hotel that day, meeting with Jayson. Now the rumor is that the Larkin family was celebrating because he¡¯s about to get married.¡± There were only so many power yers at the top of Eldoria. Naturally, gossip flew around like wildfire. Everyone loved a good scandal. Ariel didn¡¯t care much. She was divorced. Whoever Jayson wanted to marry now was none of her business. But he was probably still trying to prepare Betty for the news of their divorce. ¡°We¡¯ve got a problem.¡± The door to Ariel¡¯s office swung open suddenly. Chad walked in with a grim expression. Ariel rarely saw him this serious. Even Janice instantly straightened up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariel asked. Chad set his phone down on Ariel¡¯s desk. ¡°You need to see this. Someone in the industry is usings of giarism. They¡¯re saying our flight control system includes parts of the base code and technical proposal written by an engineer from Veyo two years ago.¡± Janice¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What kind of sick joke is this? Are they out of their minds?¡± Ariel was shocked too, so much so that she almostughed. She nced at the article on Chad¡¯s phone. It was from a tech news ount. The article alleged that the sess of her new flight control system was due to stolen code pulled from an old proposal by an unnamed engineer from Veyo Solutions. For now, the article was just casting doubt. ¡°Rumors are already flying all over the industry, and the gossip is gaining momentum. This is seriously damaging for Faye Tech.¡± Chad couldn¡¯t help but think it was absurd. How could such an outrageous situation arise? Janice looked ready to explode. ¡°Which idiot engineer made that up? I dare them toe say it to our faces! They couldn¡¯t understand Ari¡¯s proposal after years of work, and how they im we copied them?¡± Inside 374 Inside 374 This usation was just outright ridiculous. Ariel frowned and scrolled down through thements. Not all of them were friendly. Faye Technologies was definitely under a wave of negative bacsh. She was surprised at how sudden it all was. ¡°What did Veyo say? Have they contacted us yet?¡± Ariel asked calmly after a moment of thought. Chad tapped the table, thinking. ¡°Not yet. But they can¡¯t possibly be clueless about this. Something¡¯s got to be done. Faye Tech isn¡¯t taking the fall for a setup like this.¡± Ariel agreed. Her flight control system carried serious weight in the domestic market. Any scandal now could shake Faye Technologies¡® reputation badly. She made a swift decision. Her expression hardened as she said, ¡°Chad, get on the phone with Veyo. Arrange to meet with that engineer.¡± This was a tant attempt to frame them. Chad nodded. He had Nancy¡¯s number, so he dialed her directly. She didn¡¯t deliberately avoid the call or cause any trouble. Instead, she picked up promptly. ¡°Mr. Hockney, I¡¯m aware of the situation. What are your thoughts?¡± Chad nced at Ariel. ¡°This isn¡¯t something to take lightly, Ms. Stanton. We talk about this face¨Cto¨Cface. I imagine you¡¯re as surprised as I am. After all, this engineer works for yourpany. If there¡¯s foul y, you¡¯d share some responsibility, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Nancy stayed calm. ¡°Naturally. We understand the stakes. Let¡¯s meet at 3:00 pmter.¡± ¡°No problem.¡± Chad quickly organized a statement and assigned Janice to handle its release. The only thing they could do now was stabilize the situation. At 3:00 pm, Chad and Ariel arrived at the meeting spot. Nancy was there, seated beside a foreign man. When Nancy saw Chad, she nodded coolly. The incident at the research institute and the final exam rankings from not long ago appeared to have beenpletely forgotten, as if they never happened. She didn¡¯t even nce at Ariel, who came along with Chad, and spoke only to thetter. ¡°Mr. Hockney, this is Terrance Harper, an engineer from Veyo and the victim in this matter.¡± Ariel¡¯s lips curled with icy sarcasm at the word victim. Chad eyed Terrance as well. Once seated, he gave a half¨Csmile. ¡°Ms. Stanton, judging by your choice of words, you seem to have already drawn your conclusion.¡± Smiling, Nancy crossed her legs. ¡°Apologies, Mr. Hockney. I¡¯m as surprised as you are. Nobody wants this to happen. But Terrance ims he can provide evidence. ¡°He wrote a rted technical proposal two years ago and still has it saved in his email,plete with timestamps. He says part of his code oveps with some key features of Faye Tech¡¯s new flight control system. ¡°Using reverse engineering and technical analysis, we found that a small portion of Faye Tech¡¯s code matches the functions and logic in Terrance¡¯s proposal. So naturally, he¡¯s raising concerns.¡± ¡°Cut to the chase. What do you want?¡± Ariel leaned back in her chair. Her gaze was calm, but her lips dripped with scorn. Nancy finally looked over at her. ¡°If the giarism im is true, then of course Faye Tech would have to¡­ have its patent revoked.¡± Inside 375 Chad couldn¡¯t help but let out a chuckle at that. So that was what Nancy was after. Nancy looked at him and said, ¡°Mr. Hockney, in our line of work, others may not understand, but you do. We put in endlesste nights and countless hours, pouring ourselves into data and technical proposals. That¡¯s why we should all be protecting intellectual property, shouldn¡¯t we?¡± ¡°Have you done your investigation properly?¡± Chad didn¡¯t bother to answer her. He went straight to the point. ¡°As of now, the usations areing solely from Veyo. ¡°We won¡¯t ept beingbeled based on a one¨Csided im. Ms. Stanton, please send me your detailed evidence. We¡¯ll conduct a thorough investigation and respond ordingly.¡± Terrance, being a foreigner, only understood bits of the conversation as they were talking in Crausian, but everyone at the table was fluent in Merinian. Smiling, he said, ¡°I can provide the contents of my email as proof. Mr. Hockney, Ms. Walker, if you need it, I can send it to you.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ariel showed no reaction on her face. She stood up briskly. ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing left to discuss. You can take whatever legal route you want.¡± She wasn¡¯t going to waste time arguing with Nancy or this so¨Ccalled engineer. She had a clear answer and the rted evidence of the alleged giarism. There was no reason for her to stay here anymore. Terrance had told them that the code and proposal were stored in his email. That confirmed the intellectual property sh between Veyo Solutions and Faye Technologies. Ariel needed to head back and sort everything out. Chad didn¡¯t bother maintaining any friendly facade either. He stood and followed Ariel out with a cold expression. He left without uttering a single word more than necessary. Nancy didn¡¯t seem fazed. If she were working for Faye Technologies, she would be in a panic right now. This was no small matter. One slip¨Cup could destroy thepany. Nancy nced at Terrance and said coolly, ¡°Get your evidence in order. giarism is serious business. Protect your rights carefully. Make sure there¡¯s no mistake.¡± Terrance took a sip of coffee. ¡°I know.¡± Nancy nodded, then turned her gaze to Ariel¡¯s and Chad¡¯s figures visible through the ss. A trace of sarcasm shed in her eyes. She was curious to see how they would handle this mess. Terrance was a tech genius Veyo Solutions had recruited back and had only just joined two weeks ago. Faye Technologies had made things difficult for Nancy on patent issues, which was why Terrance and a few others had been brought in for independent development. Now, this unexpected trouble had surfaced. Nancy gave a light, mockingugh. Chad waspletely focused on Ariel at his side. His oversight had led thepany into serious trouble. Back at thepany, Ariel and Chad held an emergency meeting. They went over the entire situation from start to finish. Yet, they still couldn¡¯t pinpoint exactly where the problemy. Chad had received the evidence from Veyo Solutions, which included emails from Terrance¡¯s personal ount. The records were detailed, dating back two years, down to the exact month, day, hour, and minute. Ariel reviewed Terrance¡¯s code. To be honest, a very small part of it did match her base code. Besides that, Terrance also had a rough technical proposal that ovepped with some key points that Faye Technologies had publicly released. The simrity between the two raised serious concerns. ¡°Emails can be faked. Timestamps and data can be manipted, but there¡¯s no way they¡¯d know the details of the base code and the proposal. How could they¡­¡± Chad tapped his fingers on the table, falling into deep thought. Inside 376 Ariel understood what Chad meant. The flight control system was incrediblyplex. The base code had gone throughyer uponyer of iteration and development. Even if the ovepping section with Veyo Solutions wasn¡¯t part of the system¡¯s core function, any duplication could still be used to use them of giarism. ¡°Ari, Chad, Veyo just released a statement.¡± Janice pushed the door open and slid a tablet across the table. Ariel nced at it and nearly let out a cold snort. The so¨Ccalled giarism scandal between Faye Technologies and the Veyo Solutions engineer had already gone viral. The official statement from Veyo Solutions read, ¡°Veyo Solutions ismitted to uncovering the truth. We will not allow the hard work of our engineers and technicians to be giarized. ¡°We will apply to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board to invalidate Faye Technologies¡® patent for the flight control system. If evidence confirms our ims, we will pursue full legal responsibility.¡± This statement had practically nailed Faye Technologies to the wall of shame. It made it seem as if the case were already closed, and it was more than enough to sway the public¡¯s opinion. Janice exploded. ¡°They¡¯re acting like we stole some revolutionary, game¨Cchanging tech! That code isn¡¯t even theirs! That was Ari¡¯s! Do they seriously believe their own lies? What a joke!¡± However, the truth was that partial ovep was still ovep, and that alone could jeopardize the patent rights. ¡°They sure wasted no time, didn¡¯t they?¡± Chad sneered. ¡°I guess Nancy has been holding a grudge ever since we refused to sell them the patent. Now she¡¯s trying to get it revoked to get back at us.¡± After some thought, Ariel said in confusion, ¡°We do need to find evidence, but what puzzles me more is how they got hold of my base code.¡± Because she was certain that the version in Terrance¡¯s inbox was something she had written. But now, emails had an earlier timestamp than hers. That was almost impossible to refute. those ¡°We never said we wouldn¡¯t handle this issue, but Nancy went and posted a statement like that. Isn¡¯t she controlling the narrative? She couldn¡¯t wait to put abel on us!¡± Janice was fuming. ¡°We¡¯ve already gotten calls from partners, hinting that they¡¯re worried continued coboration might affect their projects.¡± ¡°It¡¯s not unreasonable for them to be cautious. We need to buy some time. I¡¯ll figure something out,¡± Ariel said thoughtfully. What she needed was solid, irrefutable proof that would render the so¨Ccalled email evidencepletely invalid. Later that afternoon, Chad brought more news. ¡°Veyo justunched a new system. They¡¯re already in talks with multiplepanies for follow¨Cup coborations.¡± Ariel looked up, clearly surprised. Veyo Solutions was moving this quickly? ¡°Jayson helped recruit a bunch of top engineers from overseas to support Nancy¡¯s team a while ago. They¡¯ve finally produced something. Of course, it¡¯s not as good as your system. But now that we¡¯re under fire, even a subpar product is enough to get them attention.¡± Chad didn¡¯t think it was anything remarkable that they managed to build a system. What did get under his skin was that Jayson was the one backing and helping them. He might as well have handed her a loaded gun and pointed it straight at Faye Technologies. Inside 377 Ariel didn¡¯t know the details of Veyo Solutions¡® new system yet. But with engineers from multiple countries assisting Nancy, it was no surprise they had results to show. That much, she didn¡¯t find suspicious. Chad scoffed. ¡°Jayson really did clear the path for Nancy. Just as we hit a bump, Veyo gets to bask in the spotlight.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond. She didn¡¯t care what Jayson did. Right now, what mattered was finding solid proof and calming down their business partners. These were no small tasks. After wrapping up a meeting with one of their partnerpanies, Ariel felt a dull ache forming behind her eyes. ¡®It wasn¡¯t that she was overwhelmed, just drained. All the unexpected chaos had forced her to burn through more energy than usual. Now, even standing upright felt like a challenge. Chad noticed. ¡°It¡¯s lunchtime. Let¡¯s go eat first.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t argue. They chose a restaurant nearby in the World Trade Center. It was a members¨Conly establishment. Chad, being a ck¨Ccard member, had ess to the upper¨Clevel dining area. When they reached the floor, they passed by a private table behind a decorative screen. Just then, a voice called out, ¡°Ari? What a coincidence! Do you want to join us?¡± Ariel turned to her side and saw Morgan and Lori, along with Jayson and Nancy. Jayson looked over too. His gaze paused on Ariel¡¯s face for a moment. He didn¡¯t say a word, nor did he show any intention of asking about the recent patent dispute between Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions. Nancy sat poised and graceful. She looked at Chad and suggested, ¡°Mr. Hockney, if you don¡¯t mind, why not sit with us?¡± Chad almostughed at how shameless she was. Anyone watching this would never guess the twopanies were currently in a heated dispute. Morgan smiled as well. ¡°We all know each other. And it¡¯s been a while since I¡¯ve seen you, Ari. We were just finishing a chat with Ms. Stanton about our partnership. You should join us. We can catch up a little.¡± Ariel looked at him coldly. ¡°Catch up on what? If you can eatfortably sitting across from the woman who ruined your daughter¡¯s marriage, good for you. But I¡¯m not that forgiving.¡± Morgan¡¯s face instantly darkened. He was obviously furious Lori immediately stood up. ¡°Ariel, is that how you talk to your father? Have you no conscience?¡± Even Nancy¡¯s expression stiffened. She gave Ariel a look of disbelief. ¡°Am I a Sanderson? Stop acting like we¡¯re family.¡± Ariel was done acting polite. To her, the Sanderson family was a den of wolves. She had been chewed down to bone dust over the years. In the end, Morgan had delivered her to Jayson¡¯s bed in exchange for a marriage she had fought so hard to hold on to. ¡°You¡­¡± Lori was livid. ¡°No wonder your love life¡¯s a mess! With a personality like yours, who could stand you?¡± Jayson lifted his gaze and looked at Lori. Morgan noticed that look. He assumed Jayson agreed with Lori. Otherwise, Nancy wouldn¡¯t be here. Nancy caught every word. A faint smile tugged at her lips, though her expression remainedposed. Chad sneered. ¡°Impressive parenting, Mr. Sanderson. I¡¯ve learned something today.¡± Morgan¡¯s and Lori¡¯s faces soured instantly. Nancy cut in before it escted. Looking at Chad, she said,¡± Mr. Hockney, we¡¯re willing to give Faye Tech some time. But you know how this works. If this issue blows up, everyone will want answers. I have a responsibility to my team. So¡­! ant for After a pause, she continued, ¡°If Faye Tech fails to produce evidence, we will move forward with legal action.¡± That would mean revoking Faye Technologies¡® patent permanently. Ariel¡¯s gaze turned cold. Her voice was calm as she retorted, ¡°We¡¯re also giving Veyo time to control the rumors and put a stop to this kind of behavior. Don¡¯t let it spiral out of control. If it blows up, you won¡¯t be able to contain it.¡± Nancy frowned. But Ariel had already turned and walked off. Chad gave Jayson onest look, then turned to Nancy. ¡°Ms. Stanton, be wise.¡± Nancy couldn¡¯t understand why they were still acting so arrogant. They were clearly neck¨Cdeep in trouble. But she paid them no mind. She figured it must be an act. Ariel didn¡¯t let the drama ruin her appetite. Health came first. She needed energy to fight. After lunch, she and Chad stopped by the Hockney residence because she suddenly remembered something. The flight control system hadn¡¯t been entirely built from scratch in recent months. She had already started working on the concept years ago. She used to have a few rted files stored on her oldptop but that device had long been discarded. But around five years ago, while staying at the Hockney residence and pulling all¨Cnighters with Chad to finish her thesis, she had used Carlos¡®ptop to draft parts of the technical proposal and base code. The core technology had gradually been refined step by step from there. Inside 378 Ariel was sure there had to be a record somewhere. She just had to look. +25 BONUS Carlos was surprised when he heard the whole giarism allegation, but he didn¡¯t take it too seriously. He believed it could be handled. Ariel wasn¡¯t someone a crisis like this could bring down. Sidence study. They searched through twoptops, digging She and Chad spent most of the day in the Hockney residence study. The into the storage folders and database files. Janice called a few times during that stretch. Somepanies had already begun switching sides. They wanted to terminate contracts with Faye Technologies and partner with Veyo Solutions instead. They imed it was because Faye Technologies was at fault Ariel didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°Fine. Terminate. But cklist them from our future coboration list.¡± Chad agreed. That was how most businesses were¨Cself¨Cserving to the core. But choosing sides too early could be suicide in disguise. By the next morning, Chad suddenly stood up. ¡°Found it!¡± Ariel, dizzy with fatigue, waved for him to push theptop over. She looked at the screen. There it was. In a folder created five years ago was her draft which was more refined and far more advanced. Ariel said calmly, ¡°Looks like it¡¯s our turn to strike back.¡± News of Faye Technologies¡® terminated contracts reached Nancy too. She paid it no mind and continued flipping through the data files. It had been three days, and Faye Technologies still hadn¡¯t released any formal statement to defend itself. Nancy was certain that they were not going toe out of this clean. ¡°Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin and Mr. Crosby have arrived,¡± Robin reported as he stepped in. Only then did Nancy smile and stand up. As Jayson entered, she walked over. ¡°Matt asked us out for lunch, but I got caught up in some of the management issues. Hope you don¡¯t mind me asking for help again.¡± She was often swamped with work and had plenty of questions that needed Jayson¡¯s help. Yet he never showed the slightest impatience. He was always supportive and attentive. It was no wonder Betty hade looking for her. She had seen how much Jayson truly cared about Nancy. Jayson nced at her. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You¡¯re still in the early stages. Everything takes time to learn.¡± Nancy handed him herptop. Behind them, Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°The moment Jayson walks in, you don¡¯t see anyone else, huh? I¡¯ve been standing here forever.¡± Nancy gave him an amused look. ¡°What can I say? He¡¯s special.¡± Matt drew in a sharp breath. ¡°Great. I guess I shouldn¡¯t be Here.¡± Jayson kept his head down, paying no attention to their exchange. Nancy sat down beside him. After some thought, she said, ayson, the Faye Tech situation was unexpected. I don¡¯t want to make enemies with Mr. Hockney, but Terrance is determined to pursue it, and I have to protect my employees. ¡°Technically, we could go after Faye Tech¡¯s core team. But I¡¯m hoping to cut Mr. Hockney some ck.¡± Jayson understood exactly what she meant. ¡°Okay, you contact him.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t hesitate. She called Chad right away. When he picked up, she spoke with ease, ¡°Mr. Hockney, I know this has been a rough few days, for Faye Tech. I can imagine how much time and effort your team must¡¯ve poured into the flight control system. ¡°I¡¯ve talked to Terrance, and we¡¯re willing to make some concessions. We can narrow down the investigation to one individual. If you can offer up a scapegoat, the rest of thepany can walk away untouched. It¡¯s worth considering, don¡¯t you think?¡± Chad let out a mocking chuckle. ¡°At Faye Tech, we take responsibility the right way. Keep that offer for your own team, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy blinked in surprise. But the line had already gone dead. Chad hung up right after saying that. When Jayson looked over, he didn¡¯t seem surprised. Matt, however, was stunned. ¡°They¡¯re still holding their ground? Even now?¡± This scandal had been blowing up for the past two days. Was Faye Technologies still trying to go down the ¡°we rise and fall together¡± route? Were they out of their minds? ¡°Faye Tech must have a n.¡± Jayson nced at his watch before turning to Nancy. ¡°Are you sure Terrance¡¯s material is legit?¡± Nancy nodded. Terrance¡¯s technical proposal and code did show significant ovep with Faye Technologies¡®. And all of it predates their development timeline. That was already enough to make the case airtight. Suddenly, the door swung open. Robin stepped in, looking unsettled. ¡°Ms. Stanton, Faye Tech just released a statement.¡± Jayson looked up at him. Nancy didn¡¯t flinch. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll check it out.¡± Matt was curious enough to check it out himself, so he pulled out his phone. But the moment he opened the article, he frowned and looked up in shock. ¡°Faye Tech is saying¡­ the entire flight control system was independently developed by Ariel?¡± Inside 379 Jayson¡¯s gaze shifted from theptop screen to Matt. Frowning, Nancy asked, ¡°Matt, what did you just say?¡± She thought she had misheard. Likewise, Matt thought he hadn¡¯t slept wellst night and was seeing things. He held his phone out toward Jayson and Nancy. ¡°Faye Tech¡¯s statement didn¡¯t address the giarism usation at all. It simply states that Ariel developed the flight control system independently, and that it wasn¡¯t a product of the Faye Tech team.¡± 1 Nancy nced down at the screen. Her expression quickly darkened. She found this statement absurd. ¡°You were just telling Mr. Hockney he could offer up a scapegoat, and he didn¡¯t seem to like that idea. Then he turns around and throws Ariel under the bus?¡± Matt said, incredulous. At this point in the scandal, anyone pushed to the front would be forced to take the fall. Nancy forced herself to calm down and quickly tried to figure out what Chad was getting at. Chad and Ariel were so close. He gave her everything to help her rise. So why would he pull something like this? Matt had alreadye to a conclusion. ¡°Faye Tech and Chad have both abandoned Ariel.¡± To him, it was obvious. They were handing Ariel over as the scapegoat so Veyo Solutions could direct their fire at her. Nancy didn¡¯t disagree. At least for now, it was clear that Chad had abandoned Ariel to protect Faye Technologies. So in the face of bigger interests, he could be just as ruthless as anyone. It turned out that Ariel was just a fleeting novelty in his eyes. Jayson only skimmed the statement before turning back to his screen. His tone was unhurried as he said, ¡°Faye Tech didn¡¯t mention anything about the giarism usation. They simply announced Ariel as the developer. That doesn¡¯t necessarily mean what you¡¯re assuming.¡± Matt shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s like asking whether you believe Chad really abandoned Ariel, or if she somehow built that entire flight control system all on her own. Isn¡¯t the answer obvious?¡± Nancy didn¡¯t disagree with Matt. She had been in the industry long enough to know exactly how hard it was to develop aplete system. Ariel might be smart, but she wasn¡¯t good enough to pull off something that usually took a whole top¨Ctier team to build. She nced over at Jayson, hesitated, then said, ¡°Jayson, Mr. Hockney¡¯s intentions are clear. He¡¯s throwing Ariel under the bus. Now that she¡¯s been dragged out into the spotlight, if we want toe after someone, it¡¯ll be her. If you¡¯ve got any concerns¡­ I¡¯lle up with apromise.¡± As much as Nancy hated to admit it, Jayson and Ariel were once married. If this thing blew up, Ariel could end up in serious trouble. Of course she knew Jayson didn¡¯t give a damn about her. But if the Larkin family¡¯s name got dragged into it, it wouldn¡¯t end well. Who knew what Ariel might say if she got cornered? Matt raised an eyebrow and smirked. ¡°How noble of you.¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze dropped slightly, his expression never shifting. He tapped Enter, then said with quiet detachment, ¡± Handle it however you want.¡± Nancy finally gave a faint smile. His answer was just as she expected. Once Janice sent out the official statement, it caused an immediate stir in the industry. People had questions. First, the idea that Ariel had developed the whole flight control system on her own seemed far¨Cfetched. Second, there was spection about whether Faye Technologies was trying to hold its ground or just offering up a scapegoat. Ariel didn¡¯t care what anyone thought. She had talked it through with Chad. The moment Nancy called him and suggested sacrificing one person to protect thepany, Ariel had already made up her mind. She chose to step forward to give Nancy a stage to perform. As long as they kept stirring things up, Faye Technologies would have the chance to spot a weakness and strike back. If everything went ording to n, Veyo Solutions would definitely make another move. She just needed to gather more evidence on them. Chapter 380 Inside 380 Chapter 380 Ariel also needed to investigate how her base code and parts of the technical proposal got leaked. The scandal between Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions had turned into a major incident. Ariel¡¯s name was now known across the entire industry. Zach was stunned when he found out. He had just returned from a business trip when he learned that Ariel had be the chief engineer behind Faye Technologies¡® flight control system. During a meetup with Liam, he scratched his head. ¡°Liam, how can Faye Tech be this heartless? Something goes wrong, and instead of fixing it, they throw a woman under the bus?¡± Liam had heard bits and pieces about the scandal. He nced sideways at Zach. ¡°I thought you weren¡¯t a fan of Ms. Walker.¡± Zach smirked. ¡°I¡¯m still not. But that doesn¡¯t mean I¡¯m okay with Faye Tech¡¯sck of ountability. It¡¯s downright shameless. When everything was going well, Ariel got no credit, but now that something¡¯s gone wrong, she¡¯s the one taking the fall? I didn¡¯t expect Chad to be this spineless.¡± Liam put down his ss and suddenly remembered theplicated tangle between Ariel, Jayson, and Nancy. ¡°Zach, don¡¯t hang around Ms. Stanton too much,¡± he said. There were some things he would rather not say out loud. After all, none of it was public. But still, when it came to Zach, he felt the need to give a heads¨Cup. ¡°Vireon¡¯s working with Veyo now. Why are you suddenly saying that?¡± Zach asked, confused. Liam almost nevermented on other people¡¯s affairs. This was rare. ¡°Mr. Quinton.¡± A voice interrupted them from behind. Liam and Zach turned around. Nancy hade to see Zach today. The moment she saw Liam, she paused briefly, then gave a polite nod as a greeting. Liam nced at her and returned the gesture. ¡°Ms. Stanton, how¡¯s the situation going?¡± Zach asked. He had been following the news. After all, they had bought the patent from Faye Technologies for a steep price. Nancy stayedposed. ¡°Mypany¡¯s engineer has decided to file awsuit, I¡¯m helping him through the process.¡± Then she looked at Zach and continued calmly, ¡°Mr. Quinton, the giarism scandal has serious consequences. I wanted to ask if you¡¯ve considered ending your contract with Faye Tech. ¡°Veyo recently developed a new system. At the very least, it won¡¯t put yourpany at risk due to potential infringement.¡± As for Nexura Solutions, Jayson hadn¡¯t said anything yet. Nancy figured he was holding back because of Betty. That way, if thetter ever asked, it wouldn¡¯t be so hard for him to exin. Zach frowned. He was well aware of the value Faye Technologies brought to the table. Even if Veyo Solutions had something new, it still wasn¡¯t on the same level. But with all the controversy surrounding Faye Technologies, if things blew up, the fallout could spread far and wide. He hadn¡¯t expected Nancy toe talk to him about this directly. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I¡¯ll need to think it over,¡± he said. Zach was a smart businessman. He never made rash decisions. But he was willing to show Nancy some courtesy and keep things cordial. Nancy gave a pleasant smile. ¡°Of course. I understand.¡± She believed Zach would think this through. And when he did, Faye Technologies would be even more overwhelmed than they already were. After saying that, she turned her attention to Liam, who had been quiet the entire time. ¡°Mr. Spencer, nice to see you again.¡± Now that business was done, she shifted into polite small talk. Liam finally set his ss down and said, ¡°Apologies. I¡¯ve got to go.¡± Clearly, he had no interest in chatting with her. He turned to Zach. ¡°Stop by the Spencer residence. Your grandpa wants to see you.¡± Zach didn¡¯t get why Liam was in such a rush all of a sudden The moment he heard Liam mention Jackson, he put down his ss and addressed Nancy, ¡°Ms. Stanton, let¡¯s talk another time.¡± Nancy watched the two walk away. Something felt off. Her brows knitted, a flicker of confusion passing through her. Liam didn¡¯t seem very warm toward her. Inside 381 Chapter 381 When Ariel received the officialwsuit notice from Veyo Solutions, she wasn¡¯t surprised at all. She had revealed herself as the developer of the flight control system for this. The patent office had already reached out. They were reopening the case and starting a full investigation from scratch. If anything suspicious came up, the patent could be revoked. None of that fazed Ariel. She was in the middle of organizing her supporting documents when her phone suddenly rang. She nced at the screen and noticed it was a call from Samson. She answered quickly, ¡°Mr. Pryce?¡± Samson was probably rushing to catch a flight. Ariel could hear boarding announcements in the background. He said, ¡°I¡¯ve heard a bit about what¡¯s going on with Faye Tech. How are you holding up?¡± Samson had known Chad was Carlos¡® son. He didn¡¯t think Chad was the kind of guy who would throw someone under the bus to save himself. So, for thepany to suddenly dere Ariel as the sole developer of the system¡­ Could it be true? Ariel was surprised. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thanks for checking in.¡± The possibility alone was enough to shake Samson. Even though it hadn¡¯t been officially confirmed, the possibility alone left him reeling. After some thought, he said, ¡°I heard Veyo has already filed thewsuit. Ms. Walker, do you need help? Yeager Group¡¯s legal team is one of the best in the country. If you want, I can arrange for someone to assist.¡± Regarding the giarism usations flooding the headlines, he was more inclined to trust his instincts. Someone capable of developing such aplex system wouldn¡¯t need to steal some base code. Ariel found it odd. Negative press had been swirling around Faye Technologiestely. Threepanies had already canceled their partnership contracts. Most were holding off, waiting to see what would happen next. And yet Samson was offering to help? She thought it over for a moment, puzzled. ¡°Thank you, Mr Pryce. But I¡¯m good for now.¡± Samson paused briefly on the other end. He figured that Ariel probably had her own ns. He gave a smile, not treating the whole scandal as anything particrly serious. ¡°Alright. If anythinges up, you can call me.¡± ¡°Will do.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t quite figure it out. Since when was Samson so helpful? But she didn¡¯t dwell on it too much. Over the past two days, she hadpiled her base code, optimized version, and technical proposals, presenting them in a clear chronological order. Chad knocked and came in. ¡°I¡¯ve collected everything from Veyo¡¯s statements, every publicment from their team, and the full recordings of our calls with Nancy. They re all backed up.¡± Ariel was already mapping out her next steps. Chad had been working around the clock. Now, all that was left was the final move. The one that would cost Veyo Solutions dearly. Still organizing thest few files, she nced up at Chad. ¡°Perfect. I¡¯m almost done on my end. Have Jan prepare the next official statement. Schedule it for release.¡± Chad nodded, then looked at her with a hint of a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s see if they¡¯re still smiling after this.¡± Then he turned and headed out to start the car. Ariel quickly finished packing everything up and followed him downstairs. But just as she reached the bottom, she saw a familiar car parked right outside. Lucas stepped out of the car, clearly in a bad mood. He walked straight over and blocked her path. ¡°We need to talk. 11 Ariel frowned, not nning to respond. She moved to step around him. But Lucas moved too. His expression was tight at first, then softened a little. ¡°Now¡¯s not the time for emotions, Ariel. Leave Faye Tech ande to Jadeon Tech. If you work under me, I can protect you.¡± Faye Technologies was already trying to make her the scapegoat. If the giarism charge stuck, it would be apletely different level of trouble. Inside 382 If this scandal didn¡¯t get handled properly, Ariel wouldn¡¯t be able to bear the consequences. She finally looked up at Lucas, but her gaze was cold. ¡°Do you think Faye Tech did it, or do you think I did it?¡± Frowning, Lucas stepped in closer and reached out to grabber shoulders with quiet intensity. ¡°Does it matter? I don¡¯t care what the truth is. Just cut ties with Faye Tech now. You can have any position you want at Jadeon Tech.¡± Ariel stepped back, her bodynguage making it clear she wasn¡¯t interested in his so¨Ccalled protection. After over a decade as siblings, Lucas still knew nothing about her at all. She didn¡¯t bother wasting her breath. She just brushed past him and walked off. Lucas didn¡¯t get why Ariel was being so stubborn. His face clouded over as he turned to watch her walk away. That stubbornness of hers hadn¡¯t changed since they were kids. Once she made up her mind, she would rather bleed than back down. He had wanted her to get a reality check, but this wasn¡¯t the time. He pressed his lips into a hard line. Finally, he pulled out his phone and found Jayson¡¯s number. He stared at it for a second before hitting the call button. Nancy had just been notified that thewsuit notice had been delivered to Ariel. She couldn¡¯t help but find the whole thing ridiculous. Faye Technologies was a massivepany, yet they pushed/ Ariel out as the scapegoat. Nancy hadn¡¯t nned on causing trouble for Ariel, but she basically handed herself over. And Terrence was demanding results. Since Faye Technologies had singled Ariel out, it wasn¡¯t a conflict between twopanies anymore. It was a personal battle between Veyo Solutions and Ariel. Nancy was more than happy with that. After all, she had no intention of going head¨Cto¨Chead with Chad, If she could turn this into a favor, all the better. ¡°Do you have all the evidence ready?¡± Sarah asked from her hospital bed, looking oddly cheerful. She had beaten Elena once before. Now, Nancy was about to crush Ariel. Watching others fall was a feeling she clearly enjoyed. Nancy kept her eyes on the data on her screen. She never cked when it came to work. Without even looking up, she replied, ¡°Yeah, everything¡¯s in order.¡± ¡°So Ariel¡¯s basically done in the industry, huh?¡± Sarah flipped a few pages of her book and couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. ¡°She just got epted as Mr. Hockney¡¯s student, and now this happens. I bet he¡¯s seriously reconsidering whether he still wants her.¡± If things went this way, Ariel might not even have a future in the aerospace field anymore. She wouldn¡¯t even be worthy of working for Nancy. ¡°No idea,¡± Nancy replied coolly. ¡°But Chad definitely dropped her. And I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if Mr. Hockney follows suit.¡± This was what happened when Ariel tried to climb thedder by clinging to men. In the end, she just dug her own grave. ¡°If that¡¯s the case, I doubt the Larkin family would let her hold onto the Mrs. Larkin title either. No way they¡¯d let her tarnish their name.¡± Sarah sneered. ¡°She¡¯s probably one step away from being abandonedpletely.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t answer. If it weren¡¯t for Betty, Jayson would have cut Ariel loose long ago. Nancy knew that better than anyone. That was why she never once saw Ariel as a real threat. Just as she was about to stand up, her phone rang. She nced at the screen. It was andline number. Without thinking much of it, she answered, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± A clipped voice came through. ¡°Is this Ms. Nancy Stanton? This is the Eastgate Police Department. We¡¯re currently investigating a case involving the leak of Faye Technologies trade secret. You¡¯ve been listed as a person of interest. Please report to our office for questioning at 3:00 pm today.¡± Nancy¡¯s face went pale. Ariel had filed a criminal report? Inside 383 Chapter 383 Nancy sat frozen for a few seconds before she snapped back to reality. Frowning, she replied, ¡°Alright.¡± With that, she ended the call. Her face had gone pale. The whole thing had happened so suddenly. Faye Technologies and Ariel actually went to the police? Why? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Sarah asked, noticing how pale Nancy looked. Nancy pressed her lips together and stood. ¡°The police called. They said I¡¯m implicated in a case involving the leak of Faye Tech¡¯s trade secret. I have to go in for questioning. Sarah¡¯s expression shifted. ¡°You mean Terrance¡¯s case? How did it suddenly be a trade secret leak? Wasn¡¯t this supposed to be Veyo suing Ariel?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know. I really don¡¯t.¡± Nancy ran a hand through her hair, trying to steady herself. ¡°Something¡¯s off. I think there could be a twist.¡± Since Veyo Solutions began engaging Faye Technologies regarding the giarism issue, thetter hadn¡¯t done any public rtions work at all. They let the situation spiral unchecked. Everyone in the industry had started assuming the silence meant guilt¨Cthat they were trying to quietly ride out the scandal. Nancy suddenly thought of something. She checked Faye Technologies¡® official page on her phone. Sure enough, they had just posted a confirmation of the police report, along with a hard¨Cline statement vowing to pursue the matter to the very end. The statement directly used Veyo Solutions of likely obtaining Faye Technologies¡® code and parts of its technical proposal through illegal means, channels, or personnel. Nancy¡¯s face darkened. So they had been secretly preparing all along. ¡°Will the police report affect you? Wasn¡¯t it Faye Tech that giarized? How did it suddenly turn into a trade secret leak?¡± Sarah was clearly unsettled. With a cold expression, she continued, ¡°I swear, Ariel is doing this just to drag your name through the mud.¡± Nancy¡¯s mind was a mess. Frowning, she said, ¡°I¡¯ll go handle this first.¡± She hurried out the door. On the way, she called Jayson. He answered, calm and steady as always, ¡°I saw Faye Tech¡¯s statement.¡± Nancy rubbed at her forehead. ¡°Jayson, I think I just got blindsided. The police are calling me in for questioning.¡® Jayson was probably in the middle of something. There was a pause on the other end before he replied, ¡°Go hear them out first. You¡¯ll be fine.¡± Hearing him say that brought her somefort. As long as Jayson said it was fine, then it had to be fine. Besides, Faye Technologies was the one who giarized. What did that have to do with her? +25 BONUS The process at the police department wasplicated. But in the middle of it all, Nancy was hit with unexpected news. Terrance had disappeared. The police officers told her he was unreachable. Nancy¡¯s stomach dropped. Her fingers curled into a tight fist. A wave of dread washed over her. Something was very wrong. Why would Terrance disappear right now of all times? ¡°Faye Technologies has submitted evidence disproving your im that the base code and partial technical proposal came from your engineer. ¡°If the subsequent investigation finds that Veyo Solutions leaked trade secrets,mitted defamation and infringement, and caused significant financial damage to Faye Technologies¡­¡± After a pause, the officer continued, ¡°As the lead executive, if you participated or issued directives without full verification of the facts, you may be held legally ountable and face criminal charges. ¡°So Ms. Stanton, we¡¯ll need you to stay avable for further questioning and be prepared to appear if summoned.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression copsed. Her lips turned pale. Inside 384 Criminal charges? That possibility had never even crossed Nancy¡¯s mind. She ad assumed this was just routine questioning. Even after getting back in the car, her hands and feet were still ice¨Ccold. This wasn¡¯t how things were supposed to go. They had already filed awsuit against Faye Technologies. And now she was suddenly implicated and might even be facing jail time? Terrance¡¯s disappearance sounded more like running away now. The police had made it clear to Nancy. If they couldn¡¯t find Terrance, then as the lead executive of thepany and his partner, she would still be held jointly responsible, even if she hadn¡¯t personally used Faye Technologies of giarism. And worse, Faye Technologies now imed that the source code and parts of the technical proposal used in Veyo Solutions¡® new system were taken directly from the stolen data. That was infringement. One bombshell after another crashed down on her. Nancy couldn¡¯t even hold her expression steady. Her chest rose and fell rapidly, and her thoughts were all over the ce. After all, this was the first time in her life she had faced something this serious. If everything had gone ording to n, Ariel would have taken the fall for the giarism scandal and been publicly disgraced. It took Nancy a while to pull herself together. When she finally did, she immediately sent out an order to locate Terrance as soon as possible. Once everything was in ce, she started the car. She was heading to Bluum Corp to consult Jayson. Because criminal charges were something she couldn¡¯t handle alone. The moment Faye Technologies made its statement, the industry was in turmoil. Thepany¡¯s phones were ringing off the hook again. All the people who had rushed to side with Veyo Solutions before were now scrambling to flip back. Chad had Janice filter out those calls. He only took those from partners who had stayed calm and waited for the facts. Janice walked into the office looking like she was in a great mood. ¡°Latest update! Nancy just showed up at the police station. She should understand how serious this is by now!¡± Ariel gave a small nod. ¡°The rest of Veyo¡¯s staff will probably be questioned one by one. This could do a lot of damage to their reputation.¡± If this had stayed at the civilwsuit level, it would have been manageable. But now that it was¡¯criminal. Ariel wanted them to understand that making false ims wouldn¡¯te without a cost. Chad thought it was kind of amusing. ¡°Isn¡¯t this what they call ¡®shoot yourself in the foot¡®? I already confirmed with the police. Terrance is probably on the run.¡± Which meant the whole mess was now Nancy¡¯s to clean up. ¡°Honestly, do you guys think Nancy just got yed by Terrance?¡± Janice didn¡¯t even try to hide her glee at Nancy¡¯s misfortune Ariel thought it was possible, but she said, ¡°Whatever the reason, this was the only shot she had at dragging Faye Tech and me into the mud. Only she knows what she¡¯s up to ¡± Nancy probably never expected that Ariel could produce proof predating everything Terrance had. After all, Faye Technologies¡® flight control system had only been officiallyunched less than a month ago, and thepany itself had only been around for four years. So Terrance¡¯s so¨Ccalled evidence, which stretched back two years, looked like a sure win. However, the priority at the moment was figuring out how her base code and parts of her technical proposal had been leaked. Just then, Ariel¡¯s phone buzzed. She nced down and saw an unfamiliar number. She didn¡¯t think much of it and answered. ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± There was a pause, then a familiar voice spoke, ¡°It¡¯s me.¡± Ariel frowned and hung up immediately before Jayson could say anything else. Inside 385 Ariel actually found it funny. Now that Nancy was neck¨Cdeep in trouble, Jayson finally picked up the phone to call her. Normally, he would have Colton reach out, like he was afraid she would get hold of his number. But suddenly, he didn¡¯t seem to mind anymore. It was obvious Jayson was just trying to smooth things over for Nancy, hoping Ariel would drop the charges. Ariel couldn¡¯t even be bothered to entertain that kind of call ¡°Who was that?¡± Janice asked, puzzled. Chad nced over too. Ariel replied, casual as ever. ¡°Jayson.¡± At that name, Janice shot to her feet in outrage. ¡°Oh, now he wants to call? When Faye Tech was under fire, and you were being dragged into the spotlight and sued by Veyo, he couldn¡¯t even be bothered to check in!¡± He didn¡¯t even show his face. But the moment Nancy was involved, he came running. The double standard was too obvious. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Ariel said, not bothering with details like that. She nced at the time. ¡°Has everyone at Veyo been questioned?¡± Chad flipped through some files and nodded. ¡°It¡¯s underway. Our team¡¯s cooperating fully. We¡¯ve submitted records dating back five years, including both the original and optimized versions. That alone is enough topletely disprove the giarism usation. ¡°The next step is to pursue Veyo for illegally obtaining trade secrets andmitting defamation and infringement.¡± All of this was no small matter. Otherwise, Jayson wouldn¡¯t have made that call himself. With criminal charges involved, even the slightest misstep couldnd Nancy in prison. Naturally, they couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing. Ariel had never nned to let this slide. By using herself as bait, she pushed Veyo Solutions into moving faster. They rushed to press charges against her and release multiple statements across different tforms. The surge in views and shares could all be used as evidence of their attempt to damage Faye Technologies¡® reputation and harm its interests. Given the seriousness of the offense, the sentence could easily be around two years. Over the next two days, Faye Technologies continued working closely with the police. During that time, Nancy tried calling, but Chad ignored it. Sheter called Chad and Faye Technologies¡® front desk and secretarial department using Veyo Solutions¡®pany line. However, Ariel had made her stance clear. Every call went unanswered. If Nancy had something to say, she could bring it to court. As for Jayson, he clearly got the message. He never called again. Ariel also didn¡¯t care what he was nning now. Meanwhile, a few of thepanies that had previously canceled their contracts came crawling back, begging to resume their partnerships. They even offered to double the patent fees. Ariel didn¡¯t bother responding. Chad handled them and firmly stated that there would be no further coboration. By the next afternoon, Ariel got a call from the police. They informed her that there had been progress and needed her toe in. Chad stayed back to hold things down at Faye Technologies. Janice went with Ariel. It wasn¡¯t until Ariel saw Seth in the interrogation room that it all clicked for her. He was the source of the problem. If she hadn¡¯t seen him again today, she might havepletely forgotten he even existed. Now the whole sequence made sense. Janice was on the verge of losing her temper, but Ariel stopped her. They would proceed strictly ording to procedure. ¡°He¡¯s the leak? How the hell did he even know?¡± Janice looked puzzled. But Seth¡¯s motive was obvious. Faye Technologies hadunched such a breakthrough system not long after he jumped ship to Veyo Solutions. For someone with a self¨Cserving mindset, it was something he couldn¡¯t ept. Ariel frowned slightly as the memory came back. ¡°Latest year, I walked our tech department through the practical use of this code. I used the base version as an example during the session, so that¡¯s how he ended up knowing part of it.¡± 2/2 Inside 386 Chapter 386 Ariel had not suspected Seth at first since he knew only a small part of the code instead of the most significant parts. The problem was that Terrance had managed to provide them with a rough draft of a certain part of the technical proposal. It became a serious issue when those two things came together. Ariel learned more details of what happened after the police conducted further investigation. ording to Seth¡¯s spection, Terrance probably deduced the logic and theory behind a very small part of the technical proposal by looking at the code Seth had provided and from what he had observed through Veyo Solutions¡® liaison with Vireon. By using backward deduction, Terrance managed to generate and produce approximately 3% of Ariel¡¯s technical proposal. Then, he made up a lie and tried to pull that act before. Ariel could tell that Terrance was someone brilliant and capable. Unfortunately, he had impure intentions. Other engineers might not have been able to achieve what he was capable of doing. Still, Terrance had only managed to generate and recreate the rtively inconsequential parts of the technical proposal instead of the core ideas and design. Terrence probably knew he would not be able to figure that out even if he wanted to. Anyway, all he needed was to deduce and generate just a minor part of the technical proposal. With just that, Terrance would be able to ckmail Ariel for money. ording to the police¡¯s investigation, Terrance had done something simr two years ago and received about seven million dors inpensation. What he did was considered extremely hical andpletely uneptable in the academic circle. It seemed like he had tried to pull the same move again with Faye Technologies. Yet, Terrence had clearly been a bit reckless this time. He had no idea that Ariel hadpleted the technical proposal five years ago. Since she was focused on developing the U.N2 at the time and she married Jaysonter on, Ariel had put matters regarding the proposal aside all this while. Terrance probably thought there was no way they had only executed this n now if the technical proposal was ready a long time ago. His n failed most likely because he assumed Faye Technologies had onlye up with the proposal within thest 12 months. When Faye Technologies reported the case to the authorities, Terrance immediately went into hiding since he could tell he was in trouble. It appeared Nancy was oblivious to the things Terrance had done and was fooled by him as well. At the moment, they had concluded the investigation on Veyo Solutions¡® team and confirmed that the problemy with them. Veyo Solutions would be held ountable for what happened. The officer whomunicated the results of the investigation to them asked, ¡°How would you like to proceed regarding Ms. Nancy Stanton, Ms. Walker?¡± Seth was the main perpetrator who divulged confidential information. The police would also look into whether Vireon hadmitted any wrongdoing during this incident As for how they would proceed regarding Nancy, Ariel calmly expressed her opinion. ¡°As their superior, Nancy Stanton should be held ountable for what happened as well. She failed to notice and prevent her subordinates¡® dishonest and illegal actions. ¡°Veyo Solutions used us of giarism when they had incorporated part of my code and proposal into the new system that they justunched. Without conducting any proper investigations, they began spreading false rumors about Faye Tech on various tforms. ¡°They¡¯ve damaged Faye Tech¡¯s reputation and credibility. We also faced some financial losses, and some of our projects had to be terminated. The consequences were dire ¡°I stand by what I¡¯ve said previously. We¡¯ll press charges. Those whomitted crimes or wrongdoings should be punished ordingly.¡± At the very least, they should have these people know the severity of their actions. After leaving the police department, they got into the car. Janice asked, ¡°What do we do about Vireon, then?¡± Ariel dropped her gaze and considered for a moment. ¡°The police will investigate and find out if they¡¯ve done anything questionable during the incident. We¡¯ll wait for more news from them. Still, there¡¯s no denying that Zach and Nancy shared a friendly rtionship.¡± No one could say for sure yet that Vireon was definitely uninvolved in the incident. They got back to Faye Technologies¡® building shortly afterward. As soon as Ariel got out of the car, she heard a voiceing from a distance. ¡°Ariel, let¡¯s talk for a bit.¡± Ariel turned around and spotted Nancy. She had no idea when Nancy had gotten here. With a slightly tense look on her face, Nancy stood there and stared at Ariel. This time, she did not smugly ignore Ariel like she normally would. Ariel appeared unfazed. She managed to crush Nancy¡¯s strong, dignified front as she spoke in a calm, gentle tone. ¡°Have youe to plead for my understanding, Ms. Stanton?¡± Inside 387 Chapter 387 Even though Ariel¡¯s question soundedpletely harmless Nancy still found her tone rather patronizing. Her expression hardened. Nancy tightened her grip on the handle of her bag. She reorganized her thoughts and exhaled slowly. ¡°I think you¡¯re already aware that I had no clue about what they did.¡± Nancy felt there was no point in Ariel ming her. Their top priority should be apprehending the main culprit behind this incident. Ariel should not be picking a fight with her now just because she was bitter and jealous. At the thought of that, Nancy pursed her lips and looked at Ariel. ¡°We can sort this out through talks and negotiations. Veyo Solutions will provide you and Faye Tech with appropriatepensation. I hope we can reach an agreement through negotiation and you¡¯ll withdraw the case.¡± Since this was a case of private prosecution, Nancy could still do something to salvage the situation. Ariel turned around and nced over her shoulder at Nancy ¡°Instead of epting dirty money from you, I¡¯d rather see you get thrown into prison and spend some time in there.¡± Nancy stared at Ariel in utter disbelief. She clearly had not expected Ariel to say something so harsh and mean. Ariel averted her gaze and gave onest remark. ¡°Please make sure that you follow the proper procedure. You¡¯ll have all the time to speak to me in court.¡± She paid no mind to the dark expression on Nancy¡¯s face as she headed into their office building the next instant. Janice walked slowly behind Ariel. Then, she halted and turned her gaze toward Nancy. Janice tilted her head and smiled sweetly. ¡°Ms. Stanton, we¡¯re simply doing the exact thing you¡¯ve been saying you¡¯d do.¡± She remembered vividly how Nancy had smugly talked about pursuing legal actions time and time again at the beginning of this incident. It was time Nancy got a taste of her own medicine. Nancy¡¯s chest heaved as she realized what Janice was doing. She suppressed the agitation in her and strode toward her car. She could see it clearly now that the Faye Technologies team had no intention of speaking or negotiating with her. They were not after money or anything else. These people simply wanted to bring her down. However, Nancy would really be in big trouble once the case entered the prosecution stage. With the evidence of Nancy havingmitted defamation and her being involved in a leak of confidential information, Faye Technologies had enough reason to send her to prison. Since she did not make it to enter Faye Technologies¡® building, Nancy went back to her car. Sarah was sitting in the back seat. Her expression grew tense when she saw Nancy getting into the car with a frown on her face. ¡°Did it not work out?¡± Nancy shook her head. Ariel had refused outright to speak to her. Sarah was sincerely worried this time. She subconsciously raised her voice. ¡°Ariel is doing this to you on purpose! She¡¯s just like her mother. They seem kind on the outside, but deep down they¡¯re sly and vicious! She¡¯s trying to have you sentenced to prison just because she wants to? Is she not worried Chapter 367. about receiving divine punishment?¡± Nancy lowered her head and massaged her throbbing temples. ¡°Mom, don¡¯t worry. Jayson will help me.¡± Sarah calmed down slightly upon hearing those words. Nancy was right. Jayson had a certain amount of influence and a lot of connections. He would take care of the issue since he cared deeply about Nancy. After a moment¡¯s consideration, Nancy called Jayson. It took a while before he answered the phone. ¡°How did it go?¡± Nancy clenched her fist. She sounded quite helpless and weary. ¡°It didn¡¯t go well. She has deep prejudice against me.¡± Jayson replied unhurriedly, ¡°Hmm. You should use your connections at times like this. Don¡¯t forget who your supervisor is.¡± Nancy paused briefly as it dawned on her what Jayson meant by those words. The news of what happened between Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions had been circting in their industry. For thest couple of days, the police had been visiting Vireon¡¯s office to conduct their investigation. They questioned Zach and his employees to find out if anyone had vited any rules or regtions. The police also investigated whether there were any loopholes in Vireon¡¯s method of granting its staff permission to view Faye Technologies¡® patent, which might have led to the leak of information. The Vireon team might have been following regtions and did not participate in any of Terrance¡¯s ns. It was Terrance who had probably stolen the information from them, as he had ulterior motives. Unfortunately, the Vireon team had been dragged into this mess. They would have to bear part of the responsibility for what happened if Faye Technologies were to insist they were at fault. Now, it all came down to whether Faye Technologies would hold them ountable for having allowed a mistake like this to happen. Inside 388 Chapter 388 Zach had been feeling extremely troubled and frustrated since the incident could negatively affect their business. If Faye Technologies insisted they were at fault, Vireon might bebeled as a high¨Crisk business partner to work or coborate with. Frankly, Zach had not expected that an issue like this would happen within the Veyo Solutions team and Nancy had actually been tricked by Terrance. He tried calling Faye Technologies¡® office several times. However, their lines were likely jammed with people calling to speak with their team. Zach was unable to get through in the end. After thinking about it deeply, Zach decided to call Liam and ask if he had any suggestions on what he could do. Technically speaking, Zach was dragged into this mess because of Nancy. Liam had just finished handling some research¨Crted work. After listening to Zach¡¯s concerns, he asked, ¡°Did the Faye Tech team already say that they¡¯d press charges on Vireon too?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure. Me and¡­ Ariel Walker, you know how it is between us. She might use this opportunity to take action against Vireon. She might even think that Ms. Stanton and I have colluded and plotted this together.¡± Zach thought he must have rotten luck to have been dragged into an incident like this. Liam paused for a brief moment. ¡°If she were someone so vengeful and narrow¨Cminded, you might not have been able to secure the patent license in the first ce.¡± Zach was rendered speechless. After a while, he let out a deep sigh. ¡°Liam, I need your help with this.¡± Liam took his time finishing up the rest of his work. ¡°I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll be of any help, but I¡¯ll give it a go.¡± Zach was quite surprised to hear that Liam really seemed to have an idea which could help him resolve the current issue. Ariel had just finished having a meeting when she received Liam¡¯s WhatsApp messages. He had sent her a voice recording and a message. ¡°I¡¯m sorry to bother you, Ms. Walker. I¡¯ve heard about what happened to Faye Tech recently and how my cousin, Zach, seems to be involved in it as well. Perhaps you can listen to this voice recording and take it into consideration. Zach hasn¡¯t colluded with Veyo Solutions or done anything uwful. I hope you¡¯ll find it helpful.¡± Ariel yed the voice recording. The background music was a bit loud. Still, she could hear Nancy and Zach¡¯s conversation clearly. Nancy was persuading Zach to terminate Vireon¡¯s contract with Faye Technologies. In a way, she was ndering Faye Technologies by saying what she had said to Zach. Ariel could even submit this voice recording as evidence and request that Nancy receive heavier punishment for her defamation charges. On the other hand, Zach did not agree to Nancy¡¯s suggestion. Ariel could see what Liam was trying to do. She pondered for a moment. Honestly, she knew that Vireon was also just a victim in this incident. The police had confirmed that the Vireon team had not done anything uwful or questionable. In other words, Vireon had not intended for something like this to happen. While Faye Technologies could still press charges on Vireon if they wanted to, being too rigid and unforgiving to the point of being abrasive was not a good thing in their industry. Ariel would rather do them a favor under these circumstances. She replied to Liam¡¯s message. ¡°I understand. You have nothing to worry about, Mr. Spencer.¡± Ariel would rather make more friends than have more foes. Liam was not surprised when he saw Ariel¡¯s reply. As for why he had recorded the conversation¡­ At the time, it was obvious that the conflict between Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions was bound to escte to the point that they would be filingwsuits against each other. Yet, Nancy had met up with Zach in private and brought up those sensitive topics. As one of thepanies coborating with Faye Technologies, Vireon would risk having its reputation marred if Zach had made any brash and reckless decision in that situation. After what happened this time, Liam hoped that Zach would be more alert and careful when dealing with either his private or work¨Crted matters. Moreover, Liam owed Ariel another one now since she was doing him a favor by giving him a clear response. Although he had sent the voice recording to Ariel, she was not the only one who benefited from him doing that. Instead, Ariel had chosen not to take any action against Vireon, despite Zach having offended her several times previously, and Vireon being partly responsible for the leak of information. Therefore, Liam would not think they were even now, especially considering what Ariel did for them. Ariel took the time to stop by Ashford University. Carlos had to settle some work here today. Ariel came here to update him about the Faye Technologies team¡¯stest progress resolving the issue with Veyo Solutions. While she was waiting for Carlos to be done with his work, Ariel spotted a familiar face. However, Nancy had not noticed her. She went over to another corner. Still, Ariel could hear Nancy¡¯s voice. ¡°Professor Jones, can I have some of your time?¡± 212 Inside 389 Ariel could hear Nancy¡¯s voice pretty clearly from her side. Nancy had been extremely busy for the past few days trying to look for a way to save herself from the mess she was in. Still, Ariel did not move from her spot. She sat there quietly and continued to text Noah and other tech department members on her phone to discuss some technical issues. Meanwhile, Nancy had dropped by the university to see Andre. She felt that Jayson had given her a pretty decent suggestion. Nancy had tried various ways, but none of them had worked so far. Andre was her supervisor. Moreover, he was cultured, gentle, and mild¨Cmannered. Nancy felt that she could probably make use of that part about him to her advantage. She had no choice but to give this a shot now since she had run out of options. When he spotted Nancy, Andre closed the book he was holding. ¡°Is something the matter?¡± Nancy pursed her lips and said in a calm voice, ¡°Professor Jones, have you heard about the recent news¡­¡± Andre nodded. ¡°It¡¯s what everyone¡¯s been talking about. I¡¯ve roughly heard about what happened.¡± Nancy looked at him. ¡°Veyo Solutions has failed to notice and prevent our employees¡® dishonest actions. I was even deceived by the main culprit. It triggered and led to many other serious problems afterward. ¡°Currently, Ariel insists on holding me ountable for what happened. I don¡¯t think she¡¯s making a sensible decision. I¡¯d like to ask you¡­ Could you perhaps speak to Mr. Carlos so that he could persuade Ariel to drop the case?¡± While Nancy was in no position to ask for this favor from Carlos, Andre should be able to since he was Carlos¡® student. Andre remained silent. Nancy steeled herself and continued, ¡°After all, you¡¯re my supervisor. Meanwhile, Ariel is Mr. Carlos¡® student. For the dispute between us to escte into awsuit, I¡¯m worried about what others may say about you and Mr. Carlos if that happens.¡± If things were to escte even further, Carlos might end up gaining a lot of unwanted attention. It might even affect his reputation. Andre¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°If Ariel hadn¡¯t managed to present the evidence to prove her innocence, what would you have done in that situation then? Did you consider how things would look for me and Mr. Carlos?¡± Nancy was rendered speechless. She furrowed her brows. ¡°For researchers like us, the one thing we do not want to see is our work being disparaged or discredited. Even the university has learned about the incident. giarism, vition of patent rights, defamation, and now a civilwsuit! All of those are very severe crimes!¡± Andre was livid. He had a frigid expression on his face. ¡°You should leave. I won¡¯t be able to help you, and I¡¯m afraid I can¡¯t be your supervisor anymore either!¡± Nancy¡¯s face turned slightly pale. ¡°Professor Jones, what do you mean by that?¡± Andre cast her a stony gaze. ¡°This incident involves several serious criminal offences. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be criticized harshly for epting someone like you as my student. You should look for another supervisor to guide you!¡± Without saying another word, Andre walked away expressionlessly. Nancy had the audacity to ask him to talk to Carlos about persuading Ariel to drop the case. Andre could not possibly bring himself to do that, especially when Ariel had been falsely used from the start. Nancy was left absolutely bbergasted as she stood riveted to the spot. She had not expected things to turn out like this. Andre had decided not to be her supervisor anymore! That meant she would also lose the opportunity to enter and study at the research institute. Nancy was in a daze. Her face darkened. She thought Andre would not forsake a student of her talent and caliber for someone like Ariel, who was unrted to him. Andre should have tried to help her since he wouldn¡¯t want to lose someone talented like Nancy. Yet, she ended up irking Andre instead. Nancy had imagined the worst thing that could happen was Andre refusing to help mediate between her and Ariel. She never thought Andre would suddenly decide not to be her supervisor anymore. Nancy was caughtpletely off guard. It took her quite a while as she waited for the ringing in her ears to die down. When she took a few steps forward, Nancy finally spotted Ariel, who sat somewhere not too far away. A cold light gleamed in her eyes. Nancy fixed Ariel with a malevolent gaze. Meanwhile, Ariel stood up with an impassive look on her face. Without sparing Nancy a single nce, she turned around and headed for where Carlos was. Once Ariel had moved out of sight, Nancy¡¯s face twisted into a grimace. Ariel overheard the entire process of how she had tried to persuade Andre to help her, only to be told that he would not be Nancy¡¯s supervisor anymore. She must have seemed like a joke to Ariel! Nancy took a deep breath. She had lost her final option as well. Nancy had been driven into a corner. As she curled her fingers into fists, Nancy tried to consider if there were some other ways for her to resolve the situation. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to find out what Nancy would do to get out of her current predicament. Once the police had prepared everything and submitted the case for the prosecution stage, it would be over for Nancy. As Veyo Solutions¡® leader, she yed a part in spreading false usations against Faye Technologies and caused them to lose quite a number of clients and business opportunities. That was enough for Faye Technologies to Jaunch a civilwsuit against her. After Ariel had shared thetest progress on the incident, Carlos did not seem overly worried. He and Ariel discussed a certain research topic for about an hour. Then, he let Ariel get back to work. Inside 390 As soon as he came in through the door, Chad shoved a box of fruit candies into Ariel¡¯s hands. His brows arched. ¡± Guess what happened?¡± Ariel opened the box and took one candy. ¡°What happened ¡°Professor Jones announced on a public tform that he would no longer be Nancy¡¯s supervisor due to the recent disputes she had gotten involved in. A lot of people from our industry have heard the news. Nancy¡¯s seriously lost face and credibility this time with her being gued by all this negative news.¡± Andre was pretty much Ariel¡¯s senior since they were both Carlos¡® students. He had witnessed Ariel¡¯s growth over the past few years. Naturally, Andre was infuriated upon learning how Nancy had almost seeded in damaging Ariel¡¯s reputation. Moreover, Nancy was facing charges that could result in her being sent to prison. Neither the university nor Andre would ept a student bearing such a negative image and risk having their own reputations ruined. Ariel was quite surprised to hear that. Andre had informed Nancy personally that he would not be her supervisor anymore. Ariel thought he would just take care of the issue quietly. She didn¡¯t expect Andre to decide to make a public announcement about his decision instead. In a way, he was showing everyone that he trusted Ariel and Faye Technologies. The confirmation that the Veyo Solutions team had vited patent rights was nothing short of scandalous. It was obvious what the public would think of Nancy, who was involved in this incident. ¡°The university would probably also reconsider whether they should be epting Nancy as their student. After everything that had happened, not only would Nancy face imprisonment, but she had also lost so many precious opportunities.¡± Chad snickered. He felt that Nancy had gotten what she deserved. ¡°I heard this other thing from Mr. White today. With Veyo Solutions being surrounded by various scandals and how their new system is actually an imitation of our flight control system, thepanies that have recently agreed to coborate with them have decided to terminate their contracts with Veyo Solutions. ¡°Veyo Solutions would have topensate the losses of these partneringpanies since they had vited the agreement and affected thosepanies¡® businesses.¡± In other words, Veyo Solutions would be losing a lot of money this time. They had incurred a huge loss. Ariel noticed from the start that Nancy had been too eager to bring her down with thewsuit ever since she came forward and stepped into the spotlight. Otherwise, Nancy wouldn¡¯t have left so many of her own weaknesses exposed. Frankly, Nancy had iting. Chad was in a cheery mood. ¡°Jan made a reservation for us at this restaurant. We¡¯ll have lunch there to celebrate this!¡± After hearing all that wonderful news, Chad wished he could hire some people to light some fireworks right in front of Veyo Solutions¡® building to celebrate the asion. Ariel nodded. The two of them headed to the ground floor. Just as they reached the entrance, Chad and Ariel spotted a stern- faced Frederick. He wasing toward them in big strides. Ariel slowed down and directed her gaze at him. Frederick stopped in front of them and blocked their way. He red at Ariel. ¡°Was it you? Did you somehow manage to talk Mr. Carlos into making Professor Jones change his mind about taking Ms. Stanton as his student?¡± Ariel smirked. It seemed like Frederick hade here today to question her about her involvement in the incident. ¡°What¡¯s your rtionship to her? Also, do you honestly think you¡¯re in any ce to say that to me?¡± All along, Ariel had simply ignored Frederick since she was trying to be mindful of Janice¡¯s feelings. However, she saw no need to show him any respect now since Frederick was clearly here to avenge Nancy by ming Ariel for what had happened without caring about the facts. Chad frowned and said mockingly, ¡°Mr. Swanson, others who didn¡¯t know better might think that you¡¯re Nancy¡¯s boyfriend. You seem to care about her much more than her real boyfriend does.¡± Frederick stiffened. A momentter, his expression hardened. With his gaze fixed on Ariel, he spoke in an even harsher tone. ¡°Did I say anything wrong? Ariel Walker, do you know how unsightly it is for you to be making things so difficult for another youngdy? ¡°You¡¯re trying to have her sentenced to prison, and you¡¯ve damaged her reputation. You even used some sort of dirty tricks to convince Professor Jones not to be Nancy¡¯s supervisor anymore. You¡¯re absolutely vicious!¡± Frederick could not even imagine how sad and helpless Nancy must be feeling right now. Ariel¡¯s expression turned frigid. For the first time in her life, she lost her temper. She did not hold back as she retorted sharply, ¡°You think this situation is unfair for her? Why haven¡¯t you stepped up when Veyo Solutions were making those baseless usations against Faye Tech, then? ¡°Your younger sister has invested and helped establish Faye Tech. Yet, you¡¯re always siding with an outsider instead of your own family. Does that make any sense to you? You should probably just consider bing Nancy¡¯s servant instead if you like her so much!¡± Frederick¡¯s eyes bulged in exasperation. He was visibly agitated and caught off guard when Ariel pointed out clearly that Frederick had not cared much about Janice and how he was too eager to please Nancy. He instinctively raised his hand and reached for Ariel¡¯s arm. ¡°Ariel, watch your mouth! You should go and talk to Professor Jones¡­¡± Before he couldy his hand on Ariel, someone gripped him from behind by the shoulder. With the person applying more pressure gradually, Frederick felt as though his bones were about to get crushed. Then, he heard a man¡¯s monotonous voice. ¡°Mr. Swanson, are you trying to hit a woman now?¡± 212 Inside 391 riel lifted her head and spotted Jayson, who stood behind Frederick. He had a neutral expression on his face. With one simple action, he managed to keep Frederick under control. Frederick could feel a sharp pain in his shoulder de. He reflexively took a step backward. He pursed his lips when he saw Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin? No, you probably had some misunderstanding. I was just talking to Ariel Walker. Jayson finally let go of him. At the same time, he nced at Ariel out of the corners of his eyes. Chad had already stuck his hand out in front of Ariel to protect her when he saw Frederick raising his hand. He lowered his guard a little now. Still, Chad¡¯s expression seemed a bit cold. Frederick subconsciously raised his hand to massage the area of his shoulder where it still hurt. He looked slightly puzzled as he gazed at Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you¡¯vee here to speak up for Ms. Stanton, right?¡± Jayson was Nancy¡¯s boyfriend, after all. He must be here to make Ariel¡¯s side exin and pay for having made Nancy suffer all the unfair treatment. Frederick had alsoe here today because he was so worried after hearing about all the unpleasant things that had happened to Nancy. ¡°Mr. Swanson, Ms. Stanton¡¯s real boyfriend is here. So, you can stop minding other people¡¯s business now.¡± Chad was really getting quite upset this time. Although Frederick was Janice¡¯s brother, he was not exactly someone who deserved Chad¡¯s patience or respect. Frederick widened his eyes. ¡°Mr. Hockney, why are you being just like Ariel? The way you¡¯re saying these things¡­¡± Frederick reckoned Chad was bing more and more vulgar and unsophisticated because he had spent too much time around Ariel. ¡°You might find my words disagreeable, Mr. Swanson. However, shouldn¡¯t you pause and take a moment to reflect on how I might have said those things because your actions and behavior were too annoying and obnoxious? ¡°Those who didn¡¯t know better would surely assume you¡¯re Ms. Stanton¡¯s boyfriend with how invested you are to help her right now,¡± Chad snickered with a stony look on his face. Frederick¡¯s face paled a little. He quickly turned his eyes to Jayson. His expression hardened. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I hope you won¡¯t have any misunderstanding about that.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to exin anything to me, Mr. Swanson. Instead, you should probably offer Ms. Walker an apology.¡± Jayson¡¯s tone was calm. He did not seem to care about the purpose of Fredericking to Faye Technologies¡® office today. Frederick was struck speechless. He hadn¡¯t really done anything to Ariel. Frederick had simply requested Ariel to fix the mess she had made and set things right once and for all. Ariel couldn¡¯t even be bothered to argue with Frederick. She directed her gaze to Jayson. ¡°Aren¡¯t you here for the same purpose as him?¡± She couldn¡¯t understand why Jayson was trying to act like he was the good guy now. Jayson didn¡¯t try to offer an exnation. He appeared unruffled by the icy look Ariel was giving him. He asked, ¡± Do you mind sparing some of your time so we can talk?¡± Ariel frowned. Nancy had lost face and credibility after having been through the series of recent events and how Andre had officially announced he would no longer be her supervisor. ¡°Mr. Larkin, it seems like you people won¡¯t stoping to our office until this is all over, huh?¡± Chad could roughly tell the purpose of Jayson¡¯s visit today. He also realized how certain situations were simply inevitable for them. Jayson turned his gaze toward him and replied calmly, ¡°If you¡¯re worried about issues like that, perhaps we can settle the problem right away and get it over with once and for all?¡± Chad knitted his brows. Jayson made it fairly clear now that they would only be getting more of these unwanted visits at Faye Technologies if they refused to speak to him today. Ariel understood what Jayson was implying too. She had a cold look in her eyes. She knew Jayson well enough to know that he would do whatever it took to achieve his goals and purpose. He might even try to sabotage Faye Technologies¡® ns or business because of what happened to Nancy. Jayson was bound to interfere with this incident involving Nancy. There was no use in their refusing to meet or talk to him. ¡°Chad, I¡¯ll talk to him. You take care of that guy.¡± Ariel cast Frederick a sidelong nce. Then, she turned around and headed into their building. Jayson followed behind her and strode off. Behind him, Colton quickly tried to catch up with them. Since they couldn¡¯t risk letting others overhear certain parts of their conversation, Ariel led Jayson to her office. It was Jayson¡¯s first time being in Ariel¡¯s office. The room was built with a modern, minimalistic design. However, there was a warm, cozy vibe in the room since Ariel had decorated the space with some items and ornaments. Jayson detected a nice scent as soon as he stepped in through the door. He spotted the gardenia that Ariel had nted in a pot and ced near the window. He looked away shortly afterward. Ariel did not bother being polite by asking Jayson to sit or if he wanted any drinks. Inside 392 Ariel asked straightforwardly, ¡°Are you here to me us for what happened? Or are you thinking of having me let Nancy off by making threats?¡± Jayson looked at her. There was no hint of anger or displeasure on his face. He merely curled his lips. ¡°Does it seem to you I¡¯m going to do something like that?¡± Ariel smirked. ¡°Mr. Larkin, stop beating around the bush and just cut to the chase.¡± She would like to hear what kind of excuse Jayson would use to threaten her. Considering Jayson¡¯s status and influence, Ariel would rather hear about his ns and thoughts first. Otherwise, they might not even realize what was happening once Jayson¡¯s side started attacking Faye Technologies. Unlike most people, Jayson wasn¡¯t someone Ariel could get rid of simply by refusing to meet or talk to him. Colton frowned slightly. He found Ariel¡¯s attitude toward Jayson extremely rude. Jayson had only overlooked that since he didn¡¯t care about her. Jayson could tell that Ariel was being wary. He walked over to the couch and sat down. Then, he stated the purpose of his visit. ¡°Alright. I hope you¡¯ll consider dropping the charges.¡± ¡°What¡¯s in it for me?¡± A contemptuous smile yed on Ariel¡¯s lips. Jayson did not seem to mind her attitude. He made his offer right away. ¡°If you drop the charges, I¡¯ll transfer Nexura Solutions¡® ownership to you. You¡¯ll be Nexura Solutions¡® owner.¡± The smile on her face froze since Ariel was caughtpletely off guard. She hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to be there to threaten her. Instead, he was offering Nexura Solutions to her? Jayson held one hand out. With a conflicted expression, Colton took several documents out of his briefcase and handed them to Jayson. Jayson ced the documents on the table. ¡°For Faye Tech, your strength lies in the quality of your skills and manpower. However, yourpany stillcks in certain areas, including resources, finances, research and development budget, and even facilities and infrastructure. ¡°Nexura Solutions will be able to make up for all those things that Faye Tech needs.¡± Jayson directed his gaze to Ariel. His tone was calm and steady. ¡°I know that Faye Tech doesn¡¯t n on focusing solely on developing new products or technologies. You¡¯ll also want to expand your business and secure your position in the local industry. ¡°At the moment, Faye Tech has a disadvantage with regard to your facilities and infrastructure. Your production capacity is imperative to thepany¡¯s growth and development. Once you have ownership of Nexura Solutions, you can use them to aid and assist in Faye Tech¡¯s operations and production for as long as ten years. It¡¯s a gain for both you and Faye Tech.¡± Ariel still found it quite hard to believe that Jayson had made that suggestion. Almost everyone in the industry knew the value Nexura Solutions held. Although Nexura Solutions was just one of the techpanies Jayson owned, it had nevertheless seeded in bing one of the leadingpanies in this industry. They had an excellent production capacity and a strong brand influence. Last year alone, Nexura Solutions generated a revenue of at least 30 billion dors. Jayson was willing to give away such a valuable asset just to help Nancy avoid being sent to prison for one to two years. Nexura Solutions might be a subsidiarypany. Still, it was undeniably a major, important business that Jayson owned. ¡°You¡¯re being incredibly generous, Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel could not quite describe what she was feeling right now. A deep frown creased her forehead. On the contrary, Jayson remained unfazed. He didn¡¯t seem sad at all about losing thepany. ¡°You can give my offer some thought. Whether you want to get rid of someone who won¡¯t affect your future ns at all or to help Faye Tech rise to greater heights. I¡¯m sure this is a very nice deal for you, regardless.¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze fell on his face. She could not help but find the situation ironic. ¡°Should I apud your love and affection for Ms. Stanton then, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson met her eyes. He didn¡¯t seem to mind Ariel¡¯s scornful remark. He said unhurriedly, ¡°Even if the Faye Tech team might not agree, Nancy was only partly responsible for what happened during this incident. ¡°If we had Bluum Corp¡¯s legal team defend Nancy during the trials, they should be able to make sure she came out of it with the least amount of sentence received. They¡¯ll just have to spend a bit of time on that. We¡¯re both well aware that you¡¯re just waiting for an offer that¡¯s good enough for you now.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t refute those words. Jayson stood up slowly. His gaze was trained on Ariel. ¡°Besides, even if you insist on throwing Nancy into prison, she¡¯s still not the main culprit in the incident. At most, people willment about how she¡¯s been dragged into this mess or that she hasn¡¯t done her duties well enough as a superior. ¡°Nancy had not exactly done anything to acquire Faye Tech¡¯s technical proposal illegally. So, people won¡¯t me or call her out for that. ¡°Ari, the best scenario is for you to own Nexura Solutions and have it at your disposal.¡± Inside 393 Jayson wasn¡¯t in any hurry. He lowered his gaze and studied Ariel¡¯s expression. ¡°You can take your time to consider my suggestion.¡± He didn¡¯t try too hard to persuade Ariel either. After leaving the documents on the table, Jayson tapped his finger lightly on the tabletop. He gazed at Ariel with those dark eyes. ¡°You can contact me anytime.¡± He did not linger around, waiting for Ariel¡¯s reply. Instead, Jayson turned around and left the room. Ariel sat in the chair with a pensive look on her face. Then, she took the documents and headed downstairs. Perhaps it was because Jayson had shown up that Frederick didn¡¯t stay around for too long, as he took off shortly afterward. Chad noticed the grim look on Ariel¡¯s face. When they reached the restaurant and met up with Janice, neither he nor Ariel brought up how Frederick had stopped by their office and med them for what happened to Nancy. They were worried the quick¨Ctempered Janice might want to track Frederick down right away and beat him up for what he did. Ariel told them about Jayson¡¯s offer and showed them the documents Jayson had given her. They were documents about the transfer of Nexura Solutions¡® equity and various important information regarding thepany. Jayson had prepared everything ordingly. He had even signed the documents. Nexura Solutions was one of the techpanies Jayson had invested in. Jayson¡¯s side would handle the procedures, including transferring the assets and separating Nexura Solutions from Bluum Corp. Ariel would gain ownership of pretty much everything, from thepany¡¯s equipment to the trademark. Chad went through the documents. Jayson¡¯s offer just seemed too good to be true. Both Chad and Janice were totally bewildered. ¡°Nexura Solutions? He¡¯s giving it to you?¡± Janice¡¯s expression shifted from one of shock to one of excitement as she considered the potential earnings from it. ¡°He¡¯s giving you thepany just like that? Didn¡¯t we just hit the jackpot with this?¡± Nexura Solutions was considered one of the leading drone manufacturers in their country. Moreover, they had adopted the supplier diversity program. They had also established themselves really well as an original brand manufacturer. It would take years for Faye Technologies to reach its level of growth and development. Chad was honestly quite surprised. He thought Jayson would resort to more extreme methods when he came to meet Ariel today. After all, he was fully capable of doing something like that. ¡°What is he really up to this time?¡± Chad felt so confused. Jayson had provided all the details on Nexura Solutions¡® financial status in recent years. Any relevant information and materials were also prepared along with those reports. They hadn¡¯t found any major issues after looking through the documents. Nexura Solutions was still demonstrating a positive, continuous growth. Ariel wiped her cutlery pensively. She finally said something after a long while. ¡°What do you guys think about it?¡± After all, Faye Technologies belonged to Chad and Janice as well. It was only right that Ariel discussed these matters with them. Chad analyzed the situation objectively. ¡°He¡¯s right about certain things. Bluum Corp¡¯s legal team has hardly lost a singlewsuit. They might be able to get Nancy out of trouble if they were to represent her in court.¡± Ariel furrowed her brows. Before this, she hadn¡¯t taken into consideration that Bluum Corp¡¯s legal team might get involved in thewsuit. ¡°Also, if Nancy were sentenced to prison, who would most likely take over and manage Veyo Solutions? It¡¯d be Jayson, right? He¡¯s different from Nancy. ¡°With him managing the business, I reckon it¡¯ll take less than two years for Veyo Solutions to be known by everyone in our country. By the time Nancy¡¯s released, she¡¯ll get to enjoy the fruit of someone else¡¯s hard work again.¡± Just the thought of that was enough to make them feel even more annoyed. After all, Nancy¡¯s crimes weren¡¯t severe enough that the court would mete out punishments like confiscating her assets and properties or deeming that Nancy should lose the rights to the Veyo Solutions¡® equity that she owned. Ariel knew that much as well. Janice gave a low hiss and said, ¡°Who wouldn¡¯t want a flourishing business like Nexura Solutions? Moreover, it¡¯d be such a waste for us to give up on such a great opportunity because of Nancy. ¡°Jayson is willing to give up Nexura Solutions to help Nancy because he wants to get this over with as soon as possible. We should just seize the opportunity and make the most out of it.¡± They shouldn¡¯t lose sight of what mattered more just because they were eager to bring Nancy down. Nexura Solutions was the real deal. If Ariel could gain ownership of the business, coupled with Faye Technologies¡¯s skills and manpower, they should be able to achieve greater heights in technological advancement. In no time, Faye Technologies would progress so much that it would be impossible for Veyo Solutions to catch up with them. Besides, Jayson was fully capable of making it happen. Even if Faye Technologies insisted on pressing charges on Nancy, Jayson would probably still be able to get her out of prison as soon as possible with the help of Bluum Corp¡¯s legal team and his connections. Ariel¡¯s side had decided to press charges since they were trying to protect their own rights. However, they never imagined Jayson would offer Nexura Solutions in exchange for themplying with his request. ¡°When you two were getting divorced, Jayson had given you some of Nexura Solutions¡® equity. Since you¡¯re an equity holder, the transfer procedures would be much simpler. You¡¯d be skipping a lot ofplicated steps since they wouldn¡¯t need to do any additional procedures.¡± Chad was quite surprised as he realized that. In a way, this was a total win for Ariel. Furthermore, it would mark a major turning point for Faye Technologies, having ovee the recent crisis and moving forward to achieve greater things. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected that just because Jayson had given her some of Nexura Solutions¡® equity and made her a shareholder, it would make it easier for her to gain full ownership of thepany now. As for Nancy, the loss and damage she was facing were tremendous. Her reputation was ruined. Andre had refused to be her supervisor. Furthermore, Ashford University had revoked her admission offer. Veyo Solutions¡® business would be quite bad for the time being. As the highest leader in thepany, the issues that Nancy had to handle following this incident might be even more troublesome than her serving time in prison. Inside 394 A lot of their partners had terminated their contracts with Veyo Solutions and pulled back their funds. Nancy would also have to deal with the aftermath of the incident. An idealist and perfectionist like her would be in great despair facing her current situation. The whole incident must have given Nancy quite a blow. ¡°Still, we can proceed with filing thewsuit against her if you can¡¯t forgive her for what she did.¡± Chad looked at Ariel. He was being considerate of her feelings and opinion. Ariel shook her head. She understood his concerns. ¡°Chad, why should I bother wasting my time on someone like her, who means nothing to me? If I chose to give up on such a great offer for someone like Nancy, wouldn¡¯t it make Jayson think that I¡¯m so keen on punishing Nancy because I¡¯m still not over him yet?¡± Besides, the worst thing Nancy did was releasing those statements, which were basically defamation against Faye Technologies. For the part where Terrance and Seth had vited Faye Technologies¡¯s patent rights, Nancy would only be considered to be partly responsible for allowing something like that to happen since she had been kept in the dark as well. Even if Jayson had not intervened, Nancy would still have had a good chance to get away with it by hiring an excellentwyer to defend her in court. Her reputation would suffer as a result of the incident. However, one must learn when to give and take in order to survive in the real world. Even the fact that Ashford University had decided to revoke Nancy¡¯s admission and that Andre announced he would no longer be her supervisor were decisions that were made in the best interests of those parties. Additionally, Ariel did not initiate all this just to bring Nancy down. She had only decided to press charges since the incident had affected theirpany. Faye Technologies business and reputation were at stake at the time. As for Nancy, Ariel had not once considered her a threat. They were no longer naive, impulsive kids. Even if they managed to get Nancy to spend one to two years in prison, what would that do other than bruise her pride a little? What would most likely happen afterward? Once Nancy was released, she would be getting the thriving much more evolved Veyo Solutions that Jayson had built for her. They could even see how much Jayson cared about Nancy, judging by how he was even willing to transfer Nexura Solutions¡® ownership to Ariel for Nancy¡¯s sake. ¡°It¡¯s decided, then.¡± Without much hesitation, Ariel settled on the decision right away. She saw no point in sacrificing her health, time, or energy in getting Nancy sentenced to prison for one to two years. With Bluum Corp¡¯s legal team¡¯spetence, they might even be able to persuade the court that Nancy was not guilty by the end of the trial. Ariel didn¡¯t have to take on a battle she didn¡¯t ask for, and had so many uncertainties. With Nexura Solutions already being a drone manufacturer Faye Technologies could skip the long, time- consuming process of growing and expanding their business to have both their manpower and infrastructure ready. With Faye Technologies having an edge in manufacturing as well, they would no longer see Veyo Solutions as a potential threat or fellowpetitor. Moreover, it was a rare opportunity whereby they could make Jayson lose a lot of money. From being just an equity holder, Ariel would be a business owner. Chad poured thedies some water and pushed the sses toward them. Then, he shared some thoughts after seeing how Ariel had suddenly be rich in just one day. ¡°Don¡¯t you think it¡¯s funny? When we were coborating with Nexura Solutions, their employees treated Nancy respectfully since they assumed she was Jayson¡¯s future wife. Yet, now¡­ You¡¯re about to be their boss.¡± It would not be the same since Nancy had only been treated with respect because of her rtionship with Jayson. Janice grinned broadly as she understood what Chad was implying. ¡°She¡¯s probably going to explode with anger when she finds out, huh?¡± There was no way Veyo Solutions, which cost around several hundred million dors for its establishment, could everpare to Nexura Solutions, which could generate tens of billions of dors in revenue annually. ¡°Still, Jayson could have just chosen to have Bluum Corp¡¯s legal team defend Nancy during the trials. Why give away Nexura Solutions¡® ownership instead? He¡¯s supposed to think of this from a businessman¡¯s perspective.¡± Chad couldn¡¯t help finding it strange. Ariel furrowed her brows. She looked confused as well. ¡°Maybe he just wants to quickly put an end to this debacle? After all, it¡¯ll only make things worse for Nancy the longer this incident drags on.¡± ¡°There are countless ways he can use to bribe or threaten you. Yet, he ended up choosing one so absurd that we weren¡¯t even sure how to feel about it.¡± Chad just could not figure Jayson out no matter how hard he tried. Was Jayson being generous to his ex¨Cwife? Or was he being generous since his girlfriend was involved? Ariel lowered her gaze and pondered for a bit. This incident served as a great opportunity since there was something else Ariel needed to talk to Jayson about. In the evening, Ariel spent some time looking through the call history. She called the number Jayson had used to contact her the other day. He picked up the phone pretty quickly. ¡°Have you made up your mind?¡± Jayson was being uncharacteristically patient. Ariel replied straightforwardly, ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯d stand in you and your lover¡¯s way when you¡¯re offering us such a great deal, Mr. Larkin.¡± Nexura Solutions generated a profit of at least seven billion dors yearly. Ariel would be a fool to decline Jayson¡¯s offer. However, Jayson had offered Nexura Solutions to them just to get Nancy out of trouble. Ariel could not help but wonder how Jayson would feel once he learned that his decision would only make Nancy feel worse than her having been sent to prison. ¡°You have some other requests as well, right?¡± Jayson asked the question instead of replying to her earlier remarks. Then, he waited silently for her response. He sounded pretty sure of it. Ariel put down her pen and said, ¡°I want Sarah¡¯s painting, the one you bought during Mr. Spencer Senior¡¯s art exhibition.¡± Inside 395 Chapter 395 It was obvious Jayson had expected to get that request from Ariel. He waited silently to let Ariel finish. Then, Jayson said slowly, ¡°You can request anything else except for that.¡± A mocking smile tugged at the corners of Ariel¡¯s lips. ¡°That¡¯s the only thing I want.¡± Theypsed into an ufortable silence. Even though they were speaking on the phone, Ariel could still sense tension in the air. ¡°I don¡¯t have the painting in my possession. I can tell you pretty frankly that the Stantons don¡¯t have the painting either. The painting doesn¡¯t belong to me. It¡¯s not up to me to decide whether you can have it or not,¡± Jayson said in a monotonous voice. He made it very clear he couldn¡¯t help Ariel with that. Ariel furrowed her brows. When Nancy was trying to beat her to secure the painting, she clearly mentioned that she wanted to purchase the painting and give it to Sarah as a gift. Howe the painting was not in their possession? Did they already sell it to someone else? Ariel knew Jayson very well. While he could be a bit cold¨Chearted at times, Jayson was not someone who would lie about these things. If he or the Stantons had the painting, Jayson would just decline Ariel¡¯s request with a firm refusal. Upon hearing an unexpected answer from him, Ariel did not hold back as she made a sharp retort. ¡°Even if you guys had the painting, you¡¯d do everything in your power to defend the Stantons.¡± Jayson said nothing in response. Ariel was not expecting to get a response from him either. Jayson said nonchntly, ¡°I can¡¯t help you with that right now. At the same time, you know very well what it means for you and Faye Tech if you can own Nexura Solutions. You can¡¯t possibly decline an offer like that. ¡°If you want to help Faye Tech grow and expand, you¡¯ll have to improve your facilities and infrastructure as quickly as possible. A wise person would utilise the avable options and resources to maximise their own value. In that case, you should be choosing what¡¯s best for your interest.¡± Ariel really had no idea what was going through Jayson¡¯s head sometimes. Frowning, she fell silent. Ariel was considering how she should proceed with this. It was true she didn¡¯t have that much time. Ariel needed to seize any opportunity she could get. Nexura Solutions was an excellent opportunity. As for the painting, Ariel had an inkling that something like this might happen, Even if she had managed to secure it, Jayson would prevent Ariel from doing anything with the painting by any means necessary if he was determined to protect Sarah. Jayson would not allow Ariel to tarnish Nancy¡¯s clean, perfect image. Since the painting wasn¡¯t with Sarah, Ariel decided she could start searching for it now and figure out how to get her hands on itter on. In a way, she felt that it was a good thing that neither Sarah nor Jayson had the painting. It would probably be easier for Ariel to acquire the painting without these people getting in her way. *15 BONUS Ariel and ren deelt on the man the long sheet won¡¯t cething she could resolve right away. She stated hee other request i have her request. Veroturkons seeds to legal apology and admit its mistakes with regard to the series of recent mente. Narey also has to prepare a fall titten apology ¡°Sure,¡± Jason replied without much hesitation this time Just as when bargaining with a customer, Artel knee she had to raise the price significantly so that they would eventually agree to the amount she was expecting to receive As for the painting, Ariel knew that Jayson would not help her with it, even if he had it with him. Additionally, there was no reason for Jayson to refuse to let Nancy make an official apology now. For a moment, Ariel was lost in thought. Jayson hadn¡¯t said anything either. He seemed to be waiting silently for Ariel to continue Ariel was about to hang up since she could not be bothered to bring their conversation to a close. Right before she pressed the button to end their call, Ariel Heard him saying ¡°Come to Bluum Tower next Tuesday. You need to attend the shareholders¡® meeting.¡± Ariel paused for a split second. She heard the disconnect tone the next instant since Jayson had hung up. Ariel frowned and stared at the screen. She could not help wondering if Jayson was actually able to see her through the phone screen. They were probably having the shareholders¡® meeting to settle the matter regarding the transfer of Nexura Solutions¡® ownership. It was a necessary procedure. As for why Jayson had decided to give Ariel Nexura Solutions¡® full ownership without demanding anything in return, it was probably to appease her and Faye Tech. Frankly, Jayson could resort to more forceful methods to get Nancy out of trouble. However, he was probably worried that it might agitate Ariel further to the point where she might go all out to bring Nancy down. If that were to happen, it would only make things worse, especially with how Nancy¡¯s reputation was in tatters recently. Ariel made detailed ns rting to the transfer of Nexura Solutions¡® ownership. Also, she would decide regarding dropping charges once they had confirmed the details of the relevant procedures. She saw the official apology the next day. What the Veyo Solutions team and Nancy had done wrong during the incident was described clearly in their official statement. Ariel had no idea how Jayson had managed to coax Nancy into doing this. Anyhow, she had gotten what she wanted. She was not going to waste more time and energy on the matter. Ariel had been extremely busy. Additionally, her doctor had also been urging her to go for her second chemotherapy session as soon as possible. Ariel knew she shouldn¡¯t put it off any longer. If it weren¡¯t for what happened with Veyo Solutions recently, she would have been able to get enough rest and go for the chemotherapy session a long time ago. Inside 396 Ariel made an appointment for her next chemotherapy session. On Tuesday, she freed up some time for her visit to Bluum Tower. In the afternoon, Matt apanied Nancy to Bluum Tower since he was free. Nancy had been extremely busy these days. It was almost midnight by the time she and the representatives of a formerly partneringpany had finished discussing their contract termination. When Veyo Solutions had justunched their system, Faye Technologies was embroiled in the giarism scandal. That had somewhat helped bring Veyo Solutions a lot of coboration opportunities. Since the system created by the team led by Terrance contained giarized code, Veyo Solutions had been ordered to discontinue the use of their system. Consequently, the coborations fell through. Not only did Veyo Solutions have topensate for the contract termination, but they also had to cover the losses incurred by the partneringpanies. Nancy could only do her best to convince and reassure their remaining partners. They could not afford to have more of these situations happen. Otherwise, Veyo Solutions might face problems with its funding soon. ¡°I called Jayson, and he said he would be busy this afternoon. Would you be okay with waiting for a bit?¡± Matt knew about the issues Nancy was facing at the moment and how she would have to clean up after everything. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I came here today to ask him some questions regarding the contracts.¡± Nancy massaged the area between her brows. Matt pondered for a brief moment. ¡°Why don¡¯t you ask Jayson to take care of everything for you? It¡¯ll save you from all the trouble.¡± Nancy was supposed to contribute to thepany by using her knowledge and expertise in aerospace engineering. She was not actually trained to handle apany¡¯s management. With everything that had happened recently, all of it was actually pretty overwhelming for her. Nancy shook her head. A small frown creased her forehead. I¡¯m partly responsible for what happened. It would be better for me to handle the issues. I¡¯ve learned a lot from this incident. Besides, I can¡¯t keep asking him to do so much for me.¡± They had spent most of Veyo Solutions¡® funds during thest couple of days. If any urgent situations were to arise, Nancy might even have to get some money from Sarah first to help with things at thepany. ¡°How did it go with Ariel¡¯s side?¡± Matt was left absolutely bbergasted. He was caught off guard by the sudden turn of events. Matt reckoned Chad had put Ariel under the spotlight since he was using her as a scapegoat and a distraction while he tried to look for evidence. He thought it was quite cunning of Chad to have done something like that. ¡°She refused to speak to me.¡± Nancy pursed her lips. There was a scornful look in her eyes. Jayson had asked her to issue an official apology two days ago. He said the statement would help resolve certain issues they were facing, but he did not go into the details. Despite her unwillingness, Nancy had no choice but to do it They would only face bacsh if Nancy still insisted they had not done anything wrong at this point. The public and even their partners would shun them. This was something Nancy simply could not overlook. As for Ariel, that was probably the only way she could get back at Nancy. Due to her ipetence, Ariel would not dare challenge Nancy when it came to things rted to her knowledge and expertise. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jayson will figure out a way.¡± Matt tried to cheer her up. The staff in the secretarial department looked rather busy today. Matt asked one of the staff members and found out Jayson was not in his office. Meanwhile, the administration department¡¯s staff members could also be seen hurrying toward thergest conference room on that floor. ¡°Ms. Stanton and Mr. Crosby, Mr. Larkin is about to attend a meeting. The two of you can take a break first while you wait for him.¡± Colton greeted Matt and Nancy respectfully when he passed by them. He also instructed a staff member to serve two cups of Nancy¡¯s favorite coffee. When Nancy noticed it was her favorite coffee, the worry and frustration that filled her dissipated slightly. Her mouth turned up in a soft smile. Jayson had paid a lot of attention to her matters. He had even learned about her likes and dislikes. ¡°This isn¡¯t just a regr meeting, right?¡± Nancy spotted a few Bluum Corp¡¯s shareholders and some of Nexura Solutions¡® shareholders whom she had met beforeing out of the elevator. Colton¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Inwardly, he was in disbelief. ¡°You¡¯re right. We¡¯re having a shareholders¡® meeting today.¡± ¡°A shareholders¡® meeting?¡± Nancy felt a bit puzzled. Just then, she spotted Ariel out of the corners of her eyes. The smile on her face froze. Matt was surprised as well. ¡°Ariel? You¡¯re still allowed to enter Bluum Tower?¡± Nancy stared at Ariel with a frigid expression on her face. Ariel heard Matt, of course. However, she kept her gaze straight and acted as if those two people were not there as she headed into the conference room where the shareholders¡® meeting was held. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened. She could not help but wonder how Ariel was allowed to join Bluum Corp¡¯s shareholders¡® meeting. As soon as she entered the room, Ariel noticed Jayson had taken his seat. He happened to look up at that moment. Jayson met Ariel¡¯s gaze briefly. Then, he looked away expressionlessly. Ariel was not sure about the relevant procedures required by Bluum Corp and Nexura Solutions. However, there should not be any issues with those procedures since Jayson had promised to transfer Nexura Solutions¡® ownership to her. Chapter zon It was just as Ariel had expected. Jayson owned thergest amount of equity in Nexura Solutions. He¡¯d transferred 80% of the equity under his name to her, making her the biggest shareholder in Nexura Solutions. 3/3 Inside 397 Ariel figured that Jayson had probably already taken care of matters involving the other shareholders. The entire process went smoothly. The only thing was that Jayson had given Ariel sole ownership and control over thepany. Nexura Solutions was also separated from Bum Corp. Ariel could decide whether she wanted to keep or rece the directors or certain employees Jayson had personally appointed. They also discussed some relevant procedures. Jayson retained 10% of Nexura Solutions¡® equity. However, he entrusted his voting rights to Ariel. Jayson would not participate in any of thepany¡¯s decision¨Cmaking processes. Instead, he would just receive the corresponding dividends. Jayson had given up all the decision¨Cmaking power and control over thepany. By the time the meeting was over, Ariel was feeling a bit dazed. It was hard to believe how smoothly everything went. When she stood up and got to the door, Jayson had walked over to that area as well. He lowered his gaze and looked at Ariel. ¡°You can keep any existing staff who you think can help you with Nexura Solutions¡® operations. I suppose you don¡¯t need my reminder regarding other things.¡± Ariel understood what he was trying to say. Without a word, she turned around and headed out. Meanwhile, Nancy and Matt were still waiting outside the conference room. Some of the people who attended the meeting were acquainted with Nancy. Nancy greeted those people as they walked past her. One of those people noticed she was staring in the direction of the conference room. He mused, ¡°Something big happened today.¡± Matt asked curiously, ¡°What do you mean by that, sir?¡± At that very moment, Ariel and Jayson came out of the conference room. Nancy¡¯s eyes hardened with a cold light as she watched them together. The man who was speaking to them turned his eyes to Ariel and exined to Matt and Nancy, ¡°Starting today, Ms. Walker is the owner of Nexura Solutions.¡± Matt was momentarily stunned while Nancy¡¯s expression turned grim. Ariel had be the owner of Nexura Solutions? Ariel heard the man saying that as she was getting closer. She nced at him and gave a slight nod. Without sparing others a single nce, Ariel walked away. She did not even bother saying anything to Jayson before leaving. Jayson stared at her receding figure for a moment before calmly averting his gaze. ¡°Jayson?¡± Nancy had no interest in Ariel¡¯s affairs. However, the fact that Ariel had be the owner of Nexura Solutions was so absurd that Nancy felt her heart miss a beat. She pursed her lips. ¡°What on earth is going on?¡± Even Matt was wondering if he had heard it wrong. Chouler 307 With a look of bewilderment on his face, he asked, ¡°What does she have to do with Nexura Solutions?¡± Jayson had an impassive look on his face. ¡°You¡¯ve heard it just now.¡± Colton exined upon seeing the pair¡¯s reaction, ¡°Mr. Larkin had personally dealt with the issue by giving away Nexura Solutions¡® ownership. It should be able to help resolve Ms. Stanton¡¯s current situation.¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes bulged as she stared in the direction Ariel had walked off to earlier. Ariel had obtained Nexura Solutions¡® ownership! ¡°You offered them Nexura Solutions in exchange for letting Nancy off?¡± Matt had a grasp of the situation immediately. Still, he was shocked. They were talking about Nexura Solutions. Almost everyone knew how valuable thepany was as an asset. Despite feeling extremely agitated at first, Nancy felt her heart was full when she heard Matt¡¯s words. She was so overwhelmed that her eyes grew hot. Nancy tried to calm herself down as quickly as possible. She could not quite put her current feelings into words. Nancy was both shocked and moved. Other than the sweet feelings that filled her, she could also sense a subtle hint of displeasure rising within her. Just like Matt, Nancy was well aware of the position Nexura Solutions had in their industry. Since Ariel knew how much she mattered to Jayson, Nancy reckoned Ariel had made use of the fact and managed to acquire Nexura Solutions¡® ownership through unscrupulous methods. ¡°Did it never ur to her that she was making an absurd request? How could she even think of asking for something like that?¡± Nancy thought. ¡°Doesn¡¯t that mean Ariel holds a position much higher than Nancy now¡­¡± Matt identally blurted out. That was the reality of her situation. Nancy had to ept it, whether she liked it or not. Nancy let out a deep sigh. She felt slightly relieved now that her biggest crisis was somewhat resolved. At the same time, she could not believe Jayson had decided to resolve the issue this way. She just found it outright bizarre and uneptable. Still, Jayson had done it to protect her. So, Nancy suppressed those feelings. She appeared absolutely touched as she looked up at Jayson. ¡°Jayson, thank you so much. I don¡¯t even know what I can possibly do to thank you.¡± Jayson turned his gaze toward her. ¡°What matters is that the issue¡¯s been resolved.¡± Matt felt so sorry for Jayson. He had given away a Chapter 398 Inside 398 Chapter 398 So what if Ariel had obtained Nexura Solutions¡® ownership? The amount of care and affection Nancy had received from Jayson would remain something unattainable to Ariel for the rest of her life. Ariel would never be able to have it regardless of what methods she would resort to or how hard she prayed for it. Several procedures needed to be taken care of regarding the transfer of Nexura Solutions¡® ownership. After spending two days working on those things, Ariel had a rough idea of what she wanted to do about the. employees and their subsequent ns. In the meantime, Ariel had also kept her word and dropped the charges. However, almost everyone had learned about what Veyo Solutions did at that point. Faye Technologies had also issued a statement regarding the incident. Nexura Solutions¡® employees were shocked when they received the news. Ariel had discussed with Chad about appointing some of their most trusted employees to certain positions in Nexura Solutions. At the same time, they would also keep some of the existing employees. Since Jayson had separated Nexura Solutions from Bluum Corp, Ariel had sole ownership and control of thepany. She had the authority to dismiss any employee on the grounds of professional misconduct. On the other hand, Tom received the relevant instructions regarding his continued responsibility for managing certain aspects of Nexura Solutions. After learning Nexura Solutions had a new boss and that person was Ariel, Tom was absolutely shocked. He was in aplete daze for a moment. He could not help but wonder how things had turned out like this. Tom even felt goosebumps breaking out all over his skin. He had only recently discovered that Ariel had be a shareholder of Nexura Solutions some time ago. They had finally announced this information to everyone, and Jayson had transferred Nexura Solutions¡® full ownership to Ariel. Tom was drenched in cold sweat as he tried to recall if he had ever identally done anything to offend Ariel previously. This arrangement was bound to bring about some changes in their industry. Ariel and her assistant, Cassidy Freeman, came to Nexura Tower today. There were a lot of things she needed to do. Ariel was also nning to properly introduce herself and greet her employees who worked at Nexura Solutions. Once everything was set, Nexura Solutions would have to follow the relevant protocols and release a public statement, sharing the news about the transfer of theirpany¡¯s ownership to their shareholders, partneringpanies, clients, and so on. Sweat beaded Tom¡¯s forehead as he met up with Ariel and went into the elevator with her. ¡°Ms. Walker, you can ask me if there¡¯s anything you want to know.¡± Ariel had always been quite mild¨Ctempered. She nodded. ¡°Alright. Thank you.¡± Tom secretly observed Ariel through the reflection of the mirror installed on the elevator wall. He found this whole situation strange and bizarre. When did Ariel be one of Nexura Solutions¡® shareholders? Tom had not had the slightest idea about it. Now, Ariel was suddenly his boss. He could not help but wonder if Jayson and Ariel actually shared a much closer rtionship, unlike how they had usually appeared in front of others. Some of their employees had heard rumors about how Jaysen had probably made this decision to help resolve Nancy¡¯s crisis. Putting that reason aside, it was because Ariel was already one of their shareholders that made the process of transferring thepany¡¯s ownership to her much quicker and simpler. In other words, Jayson and Ariel probably knew each other all along. What kind of rtionship did they share that had made Jayson decide to give away Nexura Solutions just like that? Ariel was oblivious to the thoughts Tom was having. As soon as she stepped out of the elevator, someone came to inform Tom. ¡°Mr. Chapman, Ms. Stanton is here. She said she needed to settle a few things about the projects Veyo Solutions and Nexura Solutions are working on together. She wants to talk to you in private.¡± Tom turned his gaze toward Ariel immediately. Ariel had entered her office. She was looking down. ¡°Let her wait.¡± Tom found this situation rather odd. His current boss was ignoring his ex¨Cboss¡® girlfriend¡­ Tom would not dare bring up any objections. Yet, even Ariel had not expected that Nancy would actually decide toe up to their floor right away. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened when she saw that Ariel was there too. She had an icy look in her eyes. She was surprised to see Ariel showing up at Nexura Solutions¡® office so soon to unt and demonstrate her authority. Meanwhile, Ariel knew very well that Nancy was allowed toe and go from this ce freely because Jayson had given her permission. Since Nexura Solutions¡® employees had not received any new instructions, they would naturally let Nancy in as usual. Cassidy stepped forward and smiled politely. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you should probably learn the basic rules and etiquette when visiting anotherpany¡¯s office again. ¡°Nexura Solutions isn¡¯t your private garden, where you cane and go as you please. Normally, someone on your level won¡¯t be allowed to meet and speak to Ms. Walker. Please make sure to bear that in mind.¡± 2/2 Inside 399 Nancy stared at Cassidy, who was clearly younger, with widened eyes. Then, she cast Ariel a stony gaze. She reckoned it was Ariel¡¯s idea that a young assistant like Cassidy would dare speak to her in that tone. Nancy found the situation rather amusing. Ariel could barely hide the fact that she actually felt threatened by her. Ariel had only obtained Nexura Solutions¡® ownership because of her. Yet, she was acting so smug and haughty about it now. ¡°Is this the kind of person you have working under you, Ms. Walker? She couldn¡¯t even treat a guest with the most basic level of respect.¡± Nancy curled her lips. There was no hint of displeasure in her tone. She saw no need to get upset over what a mere assistant said. Ariel did not look up as she continued to arrange and organize the reports that she needed to go through. Cassidy had the same smile stered across her face. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you should probably try to make an appointment first instead of asking Ms. Walker for an exnation. If Ms. Walker agrees to meet you, you¡¯ll appear less rude even though you¡¯ve practically barged into the room earlier.¡± Nancy¡¯s face darkened. She saw no point in speaking to Ariel or Cassidy anymore. She directed her gaze to Tom. ¡± Are you free to talk, Mr. Chapman?¡± Tom¡¯s heart missed a beat. He did not expect that he would get dragged into this as well. He instinctively nced in Ariel¡¯s direction. Since Nancy was Jayson¡¯s girlfriend, Tom decided to be courteous by smiling apologetically at her. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I can¡¯t possibly go ahead and make these decisions when my boss is here.¡± Nancy knitted her brows. Ariel finally finished what she was doing and looked at Nancy. ¡°What is it? You can go ahead and say it now.¡± Nancy turned her eyes to Ariel. She could tell Ariel was trying to unt her power and position now. Still, Nancy had to make sure to get her things done today. Veyo Solutions and Nexura Solutions were coborating to work on a few projects. After Nexura Solutions¡® ownership was transferred to Ariel, she would also be receiving the funds, connections, resources, and work opportunities that came along with thepany. Nancy still needed to get Nexura Solutions¡® representative to sign the contracts regarding their coboration. Even though she did not want to, Nancy had no choice but to , Veyo Solutions still owed Nexura Solutions an outstanding bnce of 30 million dors. Ariel gave Nancy a critical blow as soon as they started talking. Tom nced alternately between Ariel and Nancy. He kept sensing this strange, inexplicable tension between those two. His instincts were telling him that the tension was not caused by the recent conflicts that had happened between Faye Technologies and Veyo Solutions. Moreover, it was pretty obvious Nancy was being quite hostile to Ariel. ¡°Ariel, is this how you treat all your work partners?¡± Nancy was seething. She asked the question with a frigid, slightly mocking expression. The issues she needed to take care of recently were endless. The partners that came to them for their new system had mostly decided to terminate their contract with Veyo Solutions. After adding everything up, Veyo Solutions would have to pay as much as 26 million dors to thesepanies forpensation. Nancy had a thorough understanding now of how difficult things could get for a business owner. She was hoping to depend on Nexura Solutions for their backing. At the very least, Nancy would not feel too overwhelmed by her current situation. Inside 400 Yet, Nexura Solutions¡® ownership had been transferred and given to Ariel. Ariel had once again destroyed Nancy¡¯s hope! Ariel¡¯s eyes betrayed nothing as she tapped her finger on the document regarding the termination of the contract. She didn¡¯t answer Nancy¡¯s question. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two options, Ms. Stanton. The first option is that you sign this contract. The second option is tounch a civilwsuit against Veyo Solutions for viting patent rights, even though Faye Tech has decided to drop the charges. ¡°When that happens, you won¡¯t just face situations like being forced to terminate the contracts. What do you think, Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy¡¯s fingers curled into fists. She fixed Ariel¡¯s face with an icy gaze. She was feeling rather frustrated and exasperated. Nancy was well aware that Veyo Solutions could not afford to face anotherwsuit. As for Ariel, she was simply taking it out on Nancy through work since things had not worked out with Jayson and she was jealous of Nancy. Nancy could not be bothered to try and negotiate any further. With a grim look on her face, she stepped forward and signed the document. Nancy also knew there was nothing she could do to change Ariel¡¯s mind. If she tried to persuade Ariel regardless, it would only give Ariel the chance to mock and ridicule her endlessly. Ariel did not pay much attention to Nancy. Once Nancy had picked up a pen and signed the documents, Ariel stood up and headed out of the office. Tom could handle the rest of it. Truthfully, Ariel was not going to waste time filing awsuit against Nancy. Going through the trials would be too time¨Cconsuming. It would be a long, arduous battle. It would be much easier if she could get Nancy to terminate the contracts by reminding Nancy she had vited the terms of their agreement. Ariel did not want to waste her time or energy on someone like Nancy. There was no way she would want to coborate with Nancy or Veyo Solutions either. Ariel came downstairs since she wanted to check how things were in Nexura Solutions¡® factory. Nancy settled things fairly quickly as well. She arrived on the ground floor shortly after Ariel did. Before leaving the building, Nancy nced over her shoulder at Ariel and fixed her with a piercing gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve learned a lot from watching the way you do things, Ms. Walker. I hope you really have what it takes to manage this business and keep it going.¡± Ariel looked at her indifferently. ¡°You should be thanking the man you picked up after I had discarded him for helping you avoid a huge crisis instead of mocking and taunting me here.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression hardened. Ariel ignored her and turned around. Just then, she spotted Jayson, who had gotten out of a car parked by the known. At the moment, almost everyone either in the tech industry or the research sector had heard of Ariel¡¯s name. She had managed to solidify her status and influence with this incident. With Lucas standing in her way, Ariel had no choice but to raise her head and look at him. ¡°So?¡± Inside 401 Lucas wasn¡¯t exactly sure what he was expecting to hear from Ariel bying here today. Perhaps he just came to check on Ariel after learning that her and Faye Technologies¡® problems had beenpletely resolved. Or he might havee to¡­ ¡°It seems I¡¯ve underestimated your problem¨Csolving skills and abilities.¡± Lucas gave her a hard look. He flicked the ashes off his cigarette and continued, ¡°I actually called Jayson when the incident had just urred, and Nancy dered she would pursue legal actions against you. I figured a simple word from him should be enough to calm Nancy down and make her give up on suing you since she was Jayson¡¯s woman after all.¡± From his perspective, Jayson was actually fully capable of preventing the situation from escting further. However¡­ ¡°Did you know how he responded to me?¡± Lucas snickered. He gazed at Ariel intently as if he was trying to discern the raw emotions hidden underneath her seemingly cold, impassive appearance. A slight frown creased Ariel¡¯s forehead. She showed no interest in knowing the answer. Yet, Lucas didn¡¯t allow her the chance to stop him. He sneered. ¡°He said that¡¯s your problem. You can handle it on your own. There¡¯s no need for him to interfere with this issue.¡± In other words, Jayson was practically saying Ariel¡¯s problems were none of his business. He did not seem to bother showing how cold and indifferent he was. Ariel was not surprised at all. She knew very well why Lucas was saying these things to her. She didn¡¯t need someone else to remind her how callous and unkind Jayson was to her. With a frigid look on her face, Ariel ignored Lucas and walked past him. Lucas stubbed out the cigarette. His eyes hardened as he stared at Ariel¡¯s back. ¡°If you divorce him now, I¡¯ll call off the wedding and pretend that none of this has ever happened. Ariel, we can still start over again.¡± As long as Ariel promised to divorce Jayson ande back to him, Lucas could forget about everything that had happened in the past. However, Ariel walked away without sparing him another nce. She acted as if what Lucas just said had nothing to do with her. Lucas¡® chest heaved as he stared hard at Ariel¡¯s receding figure. He felt as though a knife was driven into his heart. Lucas decided he would slowly talk some sense into Ariel. Ariel went up to her floor. She sat in her chair and rested for a brief moment. It did not concern her whether Lucas had left or not. Instead, she reviewed the documents that Cassidy had brought back to their office regarding Nexura Solutions¡® termination of their contracts with Veyo Solutions. Veyo Solutions¡® new system tantly vited Faye Technologies¡® patent because Nancy didn¡¯t notice her subordinates¡® misconduct. Naturally, Nancy should bear the consequences for not being careful enough. Nancy was most likely under a lot of pressure since she had to pay each of her former partners an indemnity for a breach of contract. She was probably nning to use the payment she would be getting from Nexura Solutions to cover those expenses first. Unfortunately, due to the forced contract termination with Nexura Solutions, Nancy not only missed out on the money but also lost the valuable opportunity for future partnership. With most of their projects with otherpanies terminated, Veyo Solutions¡® business and revenue would be greatly affected. Their business would gradually move into deficit. Nexura Solutions was Ariel¡¯s now. There was no way she would let Nancy continue to enjoy the special treatment that was made avable to her in the past. As for Jayson, he had only asked Ariel to drop the charges. He never said Ariel was not allowed to terminate the contract between Nexura Solutions and Veyo Solutions after she became Nexura Solutions¡® owner. Sarah had also found out about what happened with Nexura Solutions. They were hit by numerous crises, one after another. In the end, Ariel had not met her downfall. She even managed to acquire Nexura Solutions, a flourishing and sessful business. On the other hand, while Jayson had managed to prevent Nancy from being sent to prison, she had to deal with the numerous repercussions that followed afterward. Just the thought of that was enough to make Sarah feel agitated. ¡°Yourpany¡¯s funds are running low at the moment, right? What right does Ariel have to refuse to transfer Nexura Solutions¡® payment to us?¡± Sarah was so exasperated that her face turned pale. Nancy hadn¡¯t been in her best form for thest couple of days. She had to take care of so many things. Before she could take a moment to catch her breath, Nexura Solutions decision to terminate its contract gave her another critical blow. Veyo Solutions was facing a financial crisis. Since the Stantons had invested their money in thispany, they had to settle the issues and ovee this crisis no matter what. Despite knowing that, Sarah felt extremely irked and frustrated. Her heart ached terribly. ¡°I still have enough money to help cover certain expenditures. You shouldn¡¯t trouble Jayson with this issue anymore. He might not think it¡¯s a big deal. However, the Larkins might think you did a poor job managing thepany and find youcking if they were to learn about this.¡± Sarah knew that taking a hit sometimes was fine if it served the bigger picture. Nancy understood what Sarah was trying to tell her. ¡°It¡¯s alright. We¡¯ll be executing some projects soon. The money wille in around the time we¡¯re receiving the dividends.¡± Inside 402 Sarah was still filled with bitter resentment. ¡°Ariel must be feeling very pleased with herself! Anyway, she¡¯d be a fool to think that someone of her caliber could do a decent job managing a bigpany like Nexura Solutions. It might not even take her that long to make thepany go bankrupt!¡± Nancy furrowed her brows. Yet, she seemed to agree with what Sarah just said. Judging by how Ariel had decided to terminate the contract with Veyo Solutions as soon as she assumed her position in Nexura Solutions, Ariel seemed incapable of making rational decisions. Someone like her would never be able to achieve great things. ¡°I¡¯ll be having another art exhibition in a few months. I¡¯m going to make it big and drive the Walkers up the wall!¡± Nancy wasn¡¯t paying much attention to what Sarah was saying about the art exhibition. She pondered for a moment. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jayson is going to help me. I¡¯m meeting someone in another two days.¡± For the past few days, Faye Technologies had received visits from their clients almost nonstop. Their staff were so busy that they could hardly take any breaks in between. Ariel had only managed to keep herself going by taking an extra tablet of her painkillers instead of the usual dosage. By a twist of fate, almost everyone in their country had heard of Faye Technologies and Ariel¡¯s name after the incident. They even managed to secure several work and coboration opportunities. They were making profits several times more than the loss that they had incurred during the recent giarism incident. Ariel felt that their employees had done an excellent job all this time. Most of them began working overtime frequently since the beginning of the giarism incident. Ariel discussed with Chad and Janice. Eventually, they decided to organize a team¨Cbuilding trip to Sorenta, a shopper¡¯s paradise, and give everyone two days off. They would also give their employees gift cards to do their shopping. This was their way of rewarding the employees for their hard work. In the meantime, Ariel and Chad would attend and survey thetest tech exhibitions held in Sorenta. They could only grow and improve by constantly learning and having a curious mind. After they had checked in at the hotel, Faye Technologies¡® employees were free to decide what they wanted to do during their stay in Sorenta. Janice was a fun¨Cloving, free¨Cspirited person. Ariel and Chad didn¡¯t force her toe with them. While Janice went shopping, the two of them visited an exhibition. It was almost 6:00 pm by the time the exhibition was over. Coincidentally, Janice called them. ¡°I managed to reserve a table for us at the most famous restaurant in Sorenta. It¡¯s located near Winslow Harbour. We can enjoy an amazing nightview from the restaurant. I¡¯ll send you guys the location. Hurry and get over here.¡± Ariel agreed to meet her at the restaurant. It would take about half an hour for her and Chad to get there by car. Soon enough, they arrived at the restaurant and were guided to their table by a waiter. However, they ran into Janice just as she was heading out in quick strides. She looked grumpy and agitated. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariel held her wrist and asked softly. Janice pouted when she saw them. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go to some other ce?¡± ¡°I thought you liked this ce a lot?¡± Chad tried to nce in the direction from which she came. Janice fumed, ¡°I must have really bad luck today! I saw a few people just now, and they made me lose my appetite. n Ariel could discern a group of people through the gray¨Ctinted ss, positioned right by therge, floor¨Cto¨Cceiling window. They were mostly people she knew. Jayson and Nancy sat on one side of the table. Evelyn, who was dressed elegantly, sat on the other side. All of them seemed to be focusing their attention on a gray¨Chaired elderly man who looked sprightly for his age. Chad spotted the four of them too. He furrowed his brows. ¡°Who¡¯s that?¡± Ariel pursed her lips. ¡°He¡¯s Mrs. Larkin¡¯s grandfather, Mr. Emerich Cavell.¡± Janice was briefly stunned. ¡°What? Did Jayson bring Nancy here to introduce her to his mom and his maternal great¨Cgrandfather? Are they nning to get married soon? Ariel remained silent. The Cavell family was an affluent, prominent family based in Sorenta. Evelyn owned many properties in Sorenta as she was from the area. While Nancy was still under a lot of scrutiny because of the recent events, Jayson took her to Sorenta to meet Evelyn and Emerich. Ariel couldn¡¯t think of a reason why Jayson was doing this. It started to seem to her that Janice had offered the closest, most usible guess. Chad¡¯s face darkened. ¡°How off¨Cputting! Let¡¯s head to another restaurant.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t object. She was about to leave when she felt Jayson¡¯s eyes on her. However, before she could confirm if Jayson had noticed her, Ariel caught sight of someone striding toward his group. Both Ariel and Chad looked slightly surprised the instant they got a good look at the person¡¯s face. Inside 403 Ariel¡¯s eyes widened as she stared at the man who had taken a seat at the table. Cedric Warbrooke was widely recognized as someone on par with Carlos in terms of his knowledge and expertise. Cedric hadpleted his studies and done some research in Merinia during his younger years. He returned from abroad about 20 years ago. Since then, he and Carlos had been working to contribute to the development of their country¡¯s aerospace and military tech. All these years, Cedric and Carlos had often been referred to as the two greatest scientists of the century. Both of them had a high standing in this industry. However, Cedric had retired a few years back. Most of his students were currently working for the Department of Defense, conducting in¨Cdepth research on anything and everything rted to military tech. Even the project about the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet that Gary had spoken to Ariel about, which was scheduled to happen in thetter half of the year, was part of their research. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke? Jayson managed to convince someone like him toe out of retirement?¡± Chad was honestly surprised. Since he grew up in that kind of family background, Chad had a moreprehensive understanding of certain things. Cedric was well¨Cknown for his entricity and foul temper Nevertheless, he was acknowledged as a one¨Cin¨Ca- million, top¨Cnotch expert. ¡°Is he someone that impressive?¡± Janice was clueless about these things. She blinked, looking slightly puzzled. Ariel slowly nodded. ¡°He¡¯s someoneparable to Mr. Carlos. The two of them had often shed and debated due to differing opinions on certain research topics. They don¡¯t really share an amicable rtionship.¡± People like them usually had a firm stance or opinion regarding certain issues. Naturally, Carlos and Cedric would asionally have differing opinions. Chad frowned. He had a look of disbelief on his face. ¡°Jayson managed to find a way to persuade Mr. Warbrooke toe out of his retirement. Is he nning on asking Mr. Warbrooke to be Nancy¡¯s supervisor?¡± Janice understood instantly what Chad was implying. ¡°ording to you guys, Mr. Warbrooke is an amazing, exceptional expert. If he were to agree to take Nancy as his student, wouldn¡¯t they be able to distract the public from all the unsavory news about her by releasing this big news involving Mr. Warbrooke?¡± Jayson¡¯s side didn¡¯t even have to spend any effort on salvaging and improving Nancy¡¯s image first. Cedric¡¯s name and reputation were enough to help cover up all the recent disputes Nancy was involved in. Ariel was taken by surprise. Cedric had stepped back from the spotlight for years. She wondered what Jayson had to offer in exchange for Cedric toe out of retirement. ¡°Didn¡¯t Mr. Warbrooke ask you a few years ago if you¡¯d like to be his student? He wanted you to join him in conducting their research for the Department of Defense.¡± Chad still felt rather bewildered as he recalled what happened at the time. ¡°You rejected Mr. Warbrooke back then. Carlos had managed to persuade Ariel to be his student at that point. Cedric was just one step behind him. The two of them had even fought over this. In a way¡­. ¡°In a way, you¡¯ve offended Mr. Warbrooke before?¡± Chad found it quite amusing. Ariel was very young at the time. She had declined Cedric¡¯s offer straightforwardly without beating around the bush. In other words, she hadn¡¯t thought about the importance of being a bit more courteous and polite. For an old man with an erratic temper like Cedric, he probably hadn¡¯t taken it well. Ariel pondered for a moment. She didn¡¯t think she had offended Cedric when she turned down his offer back then. Still, they didn¡¯t really have to stay at that restaurant. The thought of greeting Cedric if they bumped into each other, and the high probability of the Cavells being with him, made her decide. ¡°Never mind,¡± she said, ¡°Let¡¯s eat at another restaurant.¡± Meanwhile, Jayson¡¯s gaze drifted toward Ariel¡¯s group. A whileter, he slowly averted his gaze. Halfway through the meal, he went out to the open¨Cair corridor to take a phone call. When the call ended, Evelyn walked up to him. She had a grim expression on her face. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Jayson turned around and looked at her. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Although she was feeling annoyed and confused, Evelyn didn¡¯t let those emotions show too much. ¡°I¡¯ve heard about what happened in Eldoria recently. Ms. Stanton has gotten herself in deep water. Ashford University has even revoked her admission. Yet, you¡¯re letting her meet your great¨Cgrandfather at a time like this? Shouldn¡¯t you wait until those issues are resolved first? ¡°Mr. Warbrooke has only agreed to today¡¯s meeting because of his rtionship with your great¨Cgrandfather. However, there¡¯s no telling what his decision will be.¡± Inside 404 Evelyn was being frank. Also, she had no idea how Jayson had managed to persuade Emerich to invite Cedric to today¡¯s meeting. This was no easy task. ¡°We¡¯ll leave it up to fate, then.¡± Jayson sounded calm. He seemed to have an inkling of how things would turn out. Evelyn fixed her gaze on him. ¡°What exactly are you nning? You could¡¯ve requested to meet Mr. Warbrooke privately. Yet, you¡¯ve arranged for Nancy to meet with me and your great¨Cgrandfather as well. Have you started considering being in a serious rtionship with her?¡± Nancy¡¯s reputation had suffered due to the recent incidents. Evelyn was hoping Jayson would be a little more cautious at times like this. Jayson slid his phone into his pocket. He cast Evelyn a sideways nce and curled his lips. ¡°I thought you liked her. Evelyn frowned slightly. However, Jayson simply walked past her and entered their room without saying anything else. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected to see Cedric during theirpany¡¯s trip to Sorenta. She was rather shocked. Janice was still pouting even after they got back to the hotel. ¡°Jayson must be using all the connections he could get from his mom¡¯s family to help Nancy because he thinks you¡¯vepletely crushed her recently.¡± Janice got a massive shock after learning about the kind of status and influence Cedric had in the industry on their way back to the hotel. She also had a better idea of Jayson¡¯s intentions. Chad walked over to her and flicked her on the forehead. ¡°His ns might not necessarily work out. Mr. Warbrooke is a peculiar man. It¡¯s hard to say whether he¡¯ll ept Nancy as his student. After all, he¡¯s met someone much better than before.¡± He directed his gaze to Ariel. Chad found it rather fascinating that things had turned out this way after Ariel had turned down Cedric¡¯s offer a few years ago. ¡°That is, unless Jayson manages to make an offer that Mr. Warbrooke is satisfied with.¡± Ariel felt that anything could happen, especially since Jayson had managed to invite Cedric to a meal today. Chad furrowed his brows. Ariel had made a fair point. Still, the fact that Ariel could calmly analyze and talk about how her ex¨Chusband was doing all kinds of things to help his mistress and how those two were meeting with Jayson¡¯s elders¡­ Even as an outsider, Chad still felt an inexplicable sense of bitterness in him. Ariel didn¡¯t think much of it. After all, one would normally want the best of everything for someone they truly Hoved. Shortly afterward, each of them returned to their own rooms to rest. Ariel spent some time working on her third research paper She just needed to edit some parts since she had reached the final stage of her writing. Ever since she got back into the work and research rting to aerospace engineering, Ariel felt that her views had broadened, and she had a moreprehensive understanding of certain issues. As such, she felt that the quality of the paper she had written this time was much higher than that of the two papers she had published a few years ago. When she was editing her paper, Janice sent a screenshot to their group chat. It was something Nancy had posted on Instagram that night. She had taken a photo of a quaint, beautiful mansion and paired it with a caption. ¡°Still a little nervous.¡± Janice sent a message. ¡°Has she lost her mind? The Cavell family¡¯s mansion has appeared in the news before. It¡¯s one of the most iconic buildings in Sorenta. Does she think people won¡¯t be able to recognize it? ¡°Isn¡¯t this her way of letting others know that she¡¯s here to meet Jayson¡¯s family? She¡¯s trying to tell everyone that she hasn¡¯t been affected by those incidents and that Jayson is nning to marry her!¡± Ariel took a nce at the photo. She recognized the building, of course. Ariel had traveled to Sorenta two years ago to meet the Cavells. Although Emerich seemed a bit cold and reserved, he had been very caring toward Ariel nheless. However, Jayson was already bringing someone else to meet him this time around. Ariel replied to Janice¡¯s messages with a cute emoji of someone patting another¡¯s head. Then, she continued working on her paper. Ariel decided to submit her third research paper as soon as possible. Inside 405 Ariel had spent quite some time on editing and perfecting lier paper. She was quite the perfectionist. Once she had made up her mind to do something, Ariel wanted to give it her best shot. As for the fact that Jayson had arranged for Nancy to meet the Cavells and Cedric, Ariel couldn¡¯t care less about it. She wouldn¡¯t let someone else¡¯s personal affairs affect her work or progress. Meanwhile, Ariel found out from Janice that Nancy¡¯s Instagram post had gotten many people specting. It was easy for Janice to gather thetest news circting in Eldoria since she had established numerous connections. People had begun making various spections about Jayson and Nancy. Some people spected that Jayson had probably taken Nancy to meet the Cavells at a time like this since it served as a form of reminder to everyone that Nancy would eventually be his wife. Despite the recent incidents with Faye Technologies, no one should try to treat Nancy with scorn or disrespect. People made up various rumors and stories. Yet, the gist of what they were saying was pretty much the same. Jayson and Nancy¡¯s rtionship was still going strong. Ariel read those stories and treated them as harmless gossip. They stayed in Sorenta for two days. Ariel had to visit the hospital as soon as she returned to Eldoria. The appointment she had made with her doctor was around that time. Before that, Tom contacted Ariel on the phone. ¡°Ms. Walker, we¡¯ve pretty muchpleted the necessary procedures for terminating the contract with Veyo Solutions. However, the Veyo Solutions team has expressed their dissatisfaction during the process.¡± Tom wasn¡¯t sure about the exact reason, but everything had happened so quickly and abruptly for those in Nexura Solutions. Since Nancy was their ex¨Cboss¡® girlfriend, Tom wanted to confirm with Ariel again on how they should proceed with things rted to Veyo Solutions after this. ¡°Just ignore them. We won¡¯t be coborating with Veyo Solutions for any projects after this.¡± Ariel could tell what Tom was concerned about. She decided to give a clear instruction on that. Tom said hesitantly, ¡°If Mr. Larkin tries to find fault with us or thinks you¡¯re being too harsh on Ms. Stanton¡­¡± For the past few days, people had been talking about how Nancy had met with some of Jayson¡¯s family. Moreover, Jayson was still one of Nexura Solutions¡® shareholders. Even though he was no longer their boss, Jayson was still someone with elite status and significant influence. If they happened to get on his wrong side¡­ Ariel stared at herptop as she logged into the SCI Aerospace Journals¡® official website to submit her paper. ¡°If he tries to question you about those things, you can tell him to speak to me instead.¡± Ariel gave a cold, decisive response. Yet, Tom was extremely impressed by her answer. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to do these favors for Jayson. In a way, it gave Tom a clear idea of what boundaries he should be drawing while carrying out his duties. It also meant he could now forget about certain concerns while doing his work. He couldn¡¯t help but admire Ariel even more for her grit and courage. By the time their call had ended, Ariel had finished submitting her third research paper. She was unsure how long the entire review process would take. Judging from her experience, it would help speed up the process if the submitted paper demonstrated excellent quality in its content and various other aspects. Ariel went to the hospital during her free time. Frankly, undergoing the chemotherapy session was an awful and painful experience. Ariel wouldn¡¯t want to do it if she had a choice. She had to mentally prepare herself each time before attending the session. She arrived at the oncology department and sat quietly outside the infusion area to wait for her turn. While she was waiting, Ariel received a call from Janice. ¡°You¡¯re not in your office. Where are you?¡± Ariel nced at the people moving about busily in this area. Then, she said, ¡°Something came up just now. What¡¯s the matter?¡± ¡°Where are you? Are you at Nexura Tower? I could¡¯ve gone with you.¡± Ariel pondered for a moment and swiftly changed the topic. ¡°Judging from your tone, what you want to tell me isn¡¯t something rted to work, right?¡± Janice got distracted almost instantly. ¡°Didn¡¯t you just submit your paper recently? I just got some news from some friends. Nancy had also finished writing her paper. ording to my sources, she had also submitted her paper for the SCI Aerospace Section One Journals. Isn¡¯t it such a wild coincidence?¡± Ariel knew that Nancy had been trying to get Carlos to check and review her paper. It seemed like she had finished writing the paper and submitted it for the same category, just like Ariel. ¡°I asked Chad about it. He said that Nancy had picked the perfect time to do something like this. The recent incidents have damaged her reputation quite a bit. It would work wonders to fix her situation if she manages to unlock a new achievement in her academic studies.¡± Ariel fell into deep thought. Nancypleted her research paper just a few days after meeting Cedric. It seemed like she might have gotten Cedric¡¯s advice for her writing. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Jayson had really managed to persuade someone with a vtile temper like Cedric to help them. Jayson had been very smart about it. The timing was just right. Firstly, there were rumors that they were nning to get married soon. After that, there was news of Nancy havingpleted her research paper. In a way, Jayson had paved the way for Nancy¡¯s sess yet again. The only thing Ariel was unsure about was whether Jayson had only asked Cedric to help advise Nancy regarding her paper or if he had some other ns as well. ¡°Tsk tsk. She¡¯s the one who¡¯s brought this upon herself. She¡¯ll realize how great your differences are once both of your papers are published and released.¡± Janice knew for a fact that there would hardly be any issues with Ariel¡¯s paper, considering her level of knowledge and expertise. However, Nancy clearly felt quite confident about her work as well. Ariel was not really that conceited. If Nancy had really received Cedric¡¯s guidance, her paper should be quite well- written as well. ¡°Jan, I need to settle some stuff first. I¡¯ll talk to youter,¡± Ariel said; she figured it was about time for her treatment. Before Janice could say anything, Ariel had hung up. Regarding her illness, Ariel honestly didn¡¯t want any of her family or friends to see her in a weakened, pathetic state, especially when she had to go for chemotherapy. Perhaps she was trying not to worry them, or perhaps it was about maintaining her pride and dignity, something that seemed trivial given her proximity to death. Ariel was just a normal human being. Sometimes, overwhelming worry gripped her; other times, she simply felt cowardly, or perhaps it was that ridiculous sense of pride. Even Ariel hadn¡¯te to terms with the fact that she had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and her condition might be incurable. It would only be even more devastating for those close to her when they learned about it. For now, Ariel still couldn¡¯t bring herself to bravely and calmly talk about her condition. She took a deep breath. When she heard the nurse calling her name, Ariel headed toward the infusion area. The same thing happened again. Due to her weak constitution, the potent drugs made the entire process a torture for Ariel. Having eaten nothing, she expelled some gastric juice. As soon as she left the infusion area, Ariel ced one hand against the wall and slowly crouched down. Sweat beaded her forehead. As Liam exited the elevator, he immediately saw a hunched figure outside the oncology department. He halted and fixed his gaze on the person. Liam soon noticed it was Ariel. His eyes narrowed. With a frown on his forehead, Liam turned around and headed toward Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker? Are you not feeling well?¡± He crouched a little and lightly patted Ariel¡¯s shoulder. At the same time, Liam felt a sense of disbelief as he directed his gaze to the sign disyed on the wall of the oncology department. 23/3 Inside 406 Ariel froze for a split second when she saw Liam. Liam didn¡¯t wait for her response; Ariel¡¯s condition was evident. ¡°You should sit and rest for a bit.¡± Liam furrowed his brows. With one hand, he supported Ariel and helped her to her feet. Noticing Ariel¡¯s diminishing strength and slight sway, Liam braced himself, providing a firmer support for her to lean against. At the same time, Liam was mindful enough to keep just the right amount of distance from Ariel so as not to make her feel ufortable. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m alright.¡± Ariel thanked Liam once she had stood up straight. Perhaps it was because she was in a weakened state, her voice was barely audible. Liam responded, ¡°Sit here and rest for a moment.¡± His gaze drifted toward the oncology department again. Liam had done cancer research for many years and seen countless cancer patients. He knew very well what a patient would look like after undergoing chemotherapy. He took in Ariel¡¯s pale face. Liam sounded quite surprised. ¡°You¡¯re here by yourself? You didn¡¯t have anypany with you?¡± Ariel noticed the look of disapproval on his face. She could tell Liam probably had an inkling of what she was doing here. She nodded. ¡°I came here alone.¡± However, Ariel didn¡¯t exin why she was there alone. Liam sat next to her. ¡°It¡¯s best to have someone with you if you¡¯re here for your chemotherapy session.¡± He was unsure why Jayson was not with Ariel that day. If they really shared the kind of rtionship Liam suspected them to have, shouldn¡¯t Jayson apany Ariel right now even if he was also seeing Nancy? Ariel nodded, keeping to herself the fact that Jayson knew nothing about her illness. ¡°Do you mind telling me about your condition?¡± Liam asked. Ariel saw no point in hiding it from him at this point. After all, Liam was a doctor. He wouldn¡¯t recklessly disclose a patient¡¯s personal information to others. ¡°It¡¯s endometrial cancer.¡± Liam¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line. No wonder he¡¯d been sensing something wasn¡¯t quite right with Ariel. His mind went to Jayson and Nancy, and it hit him that Ariel was facing this by herself, with no one but herself to rely on. Liam frowned subconsciously. ¡°Did you bring your medical records or any relevant reports today?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°I just came for my second chemotherapy session.¡± ¡°It¡¯s alright. I can ess your records through the hospital¡¯s system and review them. When was thest time you got a checkup?¡± Liam softened his tone, as he didn¡¯t want to put any pressure on Ariel. Ariel was feeling a bit puzzled. ¡°That was about two months ago.¡± After a moment¡¯s consideration, Liam asked, ¡°If you don¡¯t mind putting your faith in me, perhaps I could help take a look at your condition. However, I would suggest that you undergo a more thorough and specialized medical examination. That way, I¡¯d be able to gather more detailed information.¡± Ariel was quite surprised. She knew how busy Liam was with his research work and day¨Cto¨Cday duties. It was almost impossible for him to make time for other things. Still, Liam was undeniably a top¨Ctier, extremely talented doctor. Someone like him had offered to help check Ariel¡¯s condition. Ariel didn¡¯t hesitate for long. Her eyes twinkled with anticipation. ¡°Sure. Thank you.¡± Liam looked at her. ¡°You¡¯re in no condition to do the examination today. You should rest for about a week. Orice you¡¯ve recovered your strength, you cane by and meet me again.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected things to turn out like this today. Liam noticed she was looking a bit better now. ¡°Do you need me to head downstairs with you?¡± Ariel checked the time and shook her head. ¡°I shouldn¡¯t trouble you anymore, Dr. Spencer. I¡¯m feeling a lot better now.¡± Liam gave a slight nod. He tactfully kept his mouth shut. Still¡­ Just as Ariel turned around, Liam couldn¡¯t help thinking about some of the circumstances she had kept from everyone else. He stared at her back. ¡°For a patient, it¡¯s imperative that they maintain a happy, positive mood. Perhaps you could consider letting go of certain things and people that would make you unhappy.¡± Those words halted Ariel in her tracks. She nced over her shoulder, feeling a bit confused. But Liam had already walked off in another direction. Inside 407 It sounded like Liam was just giving her a casual reminder, Ariel thought about what he just said. From a doctor¡¯s perspective, having a cheerful mood would undoubtedly help a patient¡¯s recovery. That was probably why he had said those things earlier. Anyhow, Ariel felt thankful toward Liam. She knew he wasn¡¯t obligated to look at her medical reports; she figured he was likely returning the favor for the incident involving Zach. Ariel decided to take the rest of the day off. She examined her body and appearance carefully. Ariel had asked Lesley if she would suffer hair loss once she started receiving chemotherapy treatment. Lesley told her the situation varied between different patients. After going for the second chemotherapy session, Ariel noticed she hadn¡¯t suffered any severe hair loss. She felt slightly relieved knowing that. The next day, Ariel went back to her usual routine. Even though she was pushing herself a little most of the time, Ariel found it bearable once she had gotten used to it. Faye Technologies received an invitation from the Yeager Group to attend their annual tech summit. Samson¡¯s secretary had even delivered the invitation card to Faye Technologies¡® office personally. Chad was surprised by how keen the Yeager Group was to establish a friendly rtionship with theirpany. Yeager Group specialized in producing military tech for their country. Attending their tech summit would surely be an extremely valuable experience for their guests. Ariel felt that they should attend the summit. It would be best if they could form a good, long¨Cterm partnership with the Yeager Group. After they arrived at the venue, Ariel and Chad met representatives from severalpanies with which they could potentially coborate in the future. Ever since the incidents with the Veyo Solutions team became known throughout the industry, Ariel found herself in the spotlight. As soon as she arrived, many people approached her to greet her. With her previous experience working in public rtions, Ariel had no trouble socializing with the other guests. She ran into a group of people as soon as she entered the hall. Zach had a conflicted look on his face as he stared at Ariel. He wanted to say something, but he was unsure how to phrase his words. It was with Liam¡¯s help that Vireon had managed to avoid getting dragged into the mess. Ultimately, Ariel had been generous enough not to pursue any legal actions against them. While he was still thinking about how to initiate the conversation, Ariel walked past Zach without sparing him a single nce. It was as though she hadn¡¯t noticed him at all Zach was rendered speechless. He turned his head and red at Ariel, looking a little irked He couldn¡¯t understand what was wrong with her. Zach was standing right there, yet Ariel acted as if he were invisible. Ariel waspletely oblivious to the thoughts Zach had. She and Chad went around greeting some people. Then, they spotted Jayson and Nancy, who had just gotten to the venue. Nancy seemed to be in high spirits, radiating confidence and elegance as she greeted everyone around her. She carried herself as if she hadn¡¯t been involved in any recent disputes or unsavory incidents. Chad clicked his tongue. ¡°See? The easiest way to navigate through life is to be as thick¨Cskinned as possible.¡± While he was saying that, Jayson and Nancy walked up to them. As if she had put what happened recently behind her, Nancy cast Ariel a sidelong nce. There was a hint of scorn in her eyes. Jayson appeared calm and collected. His gaze stopped briefly on Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker. Mr. Hockney.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond to his greeting. Chad had an impassive expression on his face. ¡°Mr. Larkin, with so many eyes on us, bringing Ms. Stanton over to say hello makes it seem like we¡¯ve settled our differences to those who don¡¯t know the full story.¡± Chad was making a rather caustic remark. Nancy pursed her lips. ¡°Mr. Hockney, I was deceived by those people. I really hope you won¡¯t have any misunderstanding about it.¡± ¡°Whether it¡¯s a misunderstanding or not, the police have already concluded on that. There¡¯s no point in you bringing that up now, Ms. Stanton.¡± Chad had made his stance pretty clear with how cold and distant he sounded. Nancy sensed it as well and found it a real shame. Chad had consistently proven his exceptionalpetence in the industry, and his background and expertise were beyond reproach. She considered it a waste not to befriend someone like him. Yet, she knew that odd personality traits often apanied genius, so she resolved to be patient. Just then, a smallmotion broke out in the distance. Ariel looked in the direction of the noise. To everyone¡¯s surprise, Cedric had made an appearance at the event. For someone like him, who had retired for quite some time to show up here today, people in the hall quickly got excited. Inside 408 Even with many people trying to approach him, Cedric simply ignored them and kept walking. He remained as cold and taciturn as ever, not even bothering with courtesy or politeness. He approached Ariel¡¯s group. Nancy¡¯s smile now felt a lot more sincere. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke. Jayson gave a slight nod. Cedric returned the nod before directing his gaze toward Chad and Ariel. Chad¡¯s work and ability had Cedric¡¯s full approval. Not only was he Carlos¡® son, but hispetence was also globally acknowledged. Cedric¡¯s gaze shifted from Ariel to Chad. ¡°Are you two together now?¡± Given how much time they spent on their research together anyone who encountered them would have expected them to be a couple eventually. Cedric¡¯s question caught thempletely off guard. Even Jayson had taken a nce at Ariel and Chad. Without waiting for their answer, Cedric put his hands behind his back and let out a snicker. ¡°Apparently, Mr. Larkin¡¯s got a finer eye for a partner than you, Chad.¡± It was obvious Cedric was targeting Ariel when making that scathingment. Jayson¡¯s gaze drifted toward Ariel¡¯s face. Clearly, Cedric¡¯s words and actions were just extremely unpredictable. Meanwhile, Ariel seemedpletely unruffled. She could tell that Cedric was still somewhat dissatisfied with the decision she had made back then, even after all these years. Nancy was quite surprised to see Cedric tantly mock Ariel like that. While her expression remained unchanged, her eyes held a subtle hint of derision. Even Cedric felt that Ariel couldn¡¯tpare to her. He was probably even implying that Ariel wasn¡¯t a good match for Chad and that Nancy and Jayson made a lovely pair. ¡°You¡¯re making jokes about that again, Mr. Warbrooke. By the way, Ms. Stanton isn¡¯t Mr. Larkin¡¯s wife yet.¡± Chad was aware of Cedric¡¯s quirks and temperament. Still, he figured he should point out certain things. Nancy furrowed her brows. She felt it was unnecessary for Chad to say something like that. Cedric seemed unfazed by Chad¡¯s words. Having said his piece, he simply turned and proceeded to where he was supposed to be. Not far off, Zach and Frederick caught their exchange. Zach¡¯s gaze followed Cedric as he left, pondering if the man knew Ariel and the reason for his biting remark. Frederick came over. He cast Ariel a stony gaze. Then, he looked at Nancy and Jayson. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke has a great sense. You were greeting him earlier, Ms. Stanton. Did you two know each other? Mr. Warbrooke was quite friendly to you. Nancy beamed. ¡°We know each other.¡± She didn¡¯t exin that they had just met each other for the first time in Sorenta recently. Jayson kept silent as well, acting as if he wasn¡¯t involved in the matter. Frederick was quite surprised. ¡°Does that mean Mr. Warbrooke is here at the summit because of you, Ms. Stanton? 12 People started looking their way after Frederick¡¯s remarks caught their attention. Almost everyone there was aware of how highly regarded Cedric was in the industry. Yet, he went ahead and decided to retire a few years back. Cedric was both a genius and a madman, who did whatever he wanted most of the time. For the past few years, he¡¯d skipped all such events. Interestingly, a significant number of his students were now employed by various government departments or agencies, all of whom were remarkably skilled and capable. Cedric had never before gone out of his way for his students, regardless of their impressive feats. But now, it seemed he¡¯d emerged from retirement, seemingly due to Nancy. ¡°That can¡¯t possibly be.¡± Nancy smiled slightly and said nothing else. From other people¡¯s perspective, her response was no different from acknowledging that their suspicions were correct. ¡°Does that mean Mr. Warbrooke has decided to take you as his student, Ms. Stanton?¡± Chad raised his brows and asked straightforwardly. Ariel directed her gaze to Nancy as well. She already had a good idea of Nancy¡¯s level of knowledge and education. Given Cedric¡¯s extreme pickiness and particrity, he wouldn¡¯t choose Nancy as his student. Nancy met Chad¡¯s gaze, knowing she couldn¡¯t dodge that question. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke is a free¨Cspirited individual. To take on a student would entail bearing considerable responsibilities. ¡°I suppose we¡¯ll see what happens. In any case, I can always just reach out to Mr. Warbrooke if I have questions about his areas of expertise. I¡¯m content with that arrangement.¡± Chad chuckled. ¡°I see. You still need to work hard to make it happen, Ms. Stanton.¡± Chad¡¯s words didn¡¯t bother Nancy. She was truthful about knowing Cedric, and it was also a fact that he¡¯de out of retirement. He likely just assumed she had, yet again taken the limelight from Ariel. Chad honestly couldn¡¯t care less what Nancy was thinking. After saying that, he decided to leave the spot with Ariel. Inside 409 While Frederick grasped what Chad was implying, he disapproved of his tendency to jump to conclusions. His gaze fell contemptuously on Ariel, whom Cedric had so obviously brushed off. ¡°Ms. Stanton has just submitted a research paper for the category of the SCI Aerospace Section One Journals recently. It ought to be someone else who should be putting in some hard work.¡± Although he didn¡¯t specify who that person was, it was clear to everyone whom Frederick was referring to. Zach leaned against the wall, a slight frown on his face as he watched Frederick. Frederick¡¯s extreme protectiveness of Nancy made him wonder if they¡¯d always been that close. Frederick¡¯s subtle hint wasn¡¯t lost on Nancy either. Within moments, Cedric and Frederick had both, in their own ways, highlighted Ariel¡¯s lesser standingpared to her. And Ariel, for her part, couldn¡¯t say a word against it, given it was the undeniable truth. Ariel, on the other hand, saw no point in arguing with petty narrow¨Cminded individuals. She remained expressionless as she turned and walked away, not bothering to respond to any of Frederick¡¯s taunts. Chad shook his head. ¡°You published two research papers in that category within a short span five years ago. You wouldn¡¯t be submitting your third paper only recently if you hadn¡¯t had to drop your studies and research work for the past few years. Yet, those people are boasting about submitting just one paper for review.¡± Coincidentally, Ariel had also just submitted her third research paper for review. Chad figured this was Nancy¡¯s chance to realize she stood no chance against Ariel¡¯s significant lead. Furthermore, Nancy likely received help with her paper from Cedric, while Ariel, who wrote hers independently, was on apletely different level. It was probable that Nancy couldn¡¯t fullyprehend Ariel¡¯s papers from five years ago. She likely wouldn¡¯t even fully understand Ariel¡¯s newest paper, especially with how much Ariel had evolved since then. Ariel wasn¡¯t particrly angry or upset. Everyone was bound to make some wrong decisions in life, and she had no regrets about the past few years, nor did she feel the need to dwell on or punish herself for what had urred. Giving her all to what she genuinely loved was good, but continuing to do so when it was clearly a waste of effort would be wrong. Ariel was simply d she was now doing what she was truly passionate about. Ariel noticed that even government officials were present at the summit. The Yeager Group¡¯s events, unlike those of regrpanies, were always on a much grander scale Still, she couldn¡¯t quite figure out why Cedric was there. Jayson¡¯s presence drew a steady stream of people, eaching to greet him and engage in business discussions. Seeing people cluster around Jayson, Nancy, finding herself with a moment, walked over to Zach when she noticed him. ¡°Mr. Quinton,¡± she began, ¡°I truly apologize for what urred. My failure to realize my subordinates ¡®misconduct sooner was entirely my fault, and it almost jeopardized Vireon.¡± Her apology for the past incident was conveyed with a seemingly earnest expression. Zach fixed his gaze on her. To im he was entirely unaffected by the incident would be a lie; apany faced enormous losses once deemed a high¨Crisk partner. He understood Nancy was merely a victim in the whole affair. Yet¡­ ¡°What matters is that the issue¡¯s been resolved now. Regardless, we have no choice but to terminate our partnership this time.¡± With the pressure from Faye Technologies, there was no way Zach would insist on proceeding with their partnership with Veyo Solutions. He would be crazy to do something like that. Additionally, Zach had been pondering why Liam had warned him to keep some distance from Nancy and herpany. Liam had rarely meddled in these matters, except for when he felt it was absolutely necessary. Nancy could understand Zach¡¯s decision to terminate their partnership. After all, he didn¡¯t have much of a choice since Vireon had purchased the patent license from Faye Technologies. She nodded and calmly responded, ¡°Okay. Hopefully, we¡¯ll get another opportunity to work together again without the interference from a third party.¡± Nancy figured that should be enough to make her point. Turning, Nancy spotted Samson entering the hall. He began scanning his surroundings the moment he stepped inside, seemingly looking for someone. After a moment of thought, Nancy felt this was the opportune time to pose some questions to Samson, so she walked over to him. Samson, meanwhile, smirked as his gazended on something. He was about to move when Nancy intercepted him. ¡°Mr. Pryce.¡± Samson had no choice but to pause and look at Nancy. A cheery mood settled over Nancy as she saw Samson lower his head at the sound of her voice, causing her eyes to crinkle with mirth. Inside 410 ¡°Ms. Stanton.¡± Upon seeing who it was, Samson struggled to maintain hisposure, his eyes involuntarily flickering toward a certain direction from time to time. Nancy could sense that Samson was in a pretty good mood. Her lips lifted in a smile. ¡°Mr. Pryce, are you free to speak for a moment?¡± She had an inkling that Samson wouldn¡¯t turn her down. Samson was forced to stay there for a bit longer. He gave a little shrug. ¡°Sure. What is it that you need to talk to me about, Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy had an earnest look on her face. ¡°Yeager Group has always been my first choice when considering whom to do a partnership with, Mr. Pryce. Therefore, I¡¯d like to hear your opinion. ¡°I won¡¯t deny that there¡¯s been much unfavorable news regarding Veyo Solutionstely. Still, I hope you¡¯ll consider overlooking certain aspects and discovering more about Veyo Solutions¡® true potential. Veyo Solutions and I won¡¯t let you down, Mr. Pryce.¡± Every day, Samson would receive numerous requests from people seeking an opportunity to coborate with theirpany. He had already gotten used to handling these situations. However¡­ ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Perhaps I¡¯ve done something to make you have some sort of misunderstanding, Ms. Stanton.¡± Samson stared at Nancy. He pondered for a moment and added, ¡°I thought I had made myself pretty clearst time.¡± When Nancy dropped by theirpany¡¯s building to see him previously, Samson had rejected her proposal in a polite, roundabout way. In his opinion, anyone who had spent long enough in the business circle would get the hint from his response. Samson had clearly turned down her request at the time. Yeager Group had its own considerations. Putting aside Samson¡¯s personal agenda, Yeager Group still leaned toward coborating with Faye Technologies after considering all factors. Faye Technologies had Chad, an internationally renowned engineer, and Ariel on their team. They had an edge in terms of their manpower¡¯s skills and quality. Samson couldn¡¯t think of any specific reasons he should pick the Veyo Solutions team instead. Nancy¡¯s smile faltered slightly. ¡°I misunderstood something?¡± Did she misunderstand something? Nancy thought that Samson was interested. Samson noticed the grim expression on Nancy¡¯s face. With one hand in his pocket, Samson lifted his brows and replied, ¡°We normally do a thorough assessment and evaluation before we proceed to form a partnership with anotherpany. Hence, apany¡¯s performance and reputation are key factors that are usually taken into consideration. ¡°The incident whereby Veyo Solutions has vited Faye Technologies¡® patent rights¡­ I¡¯m afraid my higher¨Cups at the Yeager Group won¡¯t be able to overlook that part. I suggest you focus on resolving those issues and building a good, credible reputation first before pursuing greater ambitions, Ms. Stanton.¡± To put it another way, Yeager Group had no reason to consider a partnership with Veyo Solutions, especially considering their recent poor reputation. Samson wasn¡¯t even that well¨Cacquainted with Nancy. Honestly, he couldn¡¯t understand why she¡¯d brought this 172 up now and acted as though he¡¯d definitely consider her proposition. Having said his piece, Samson, without a moment¡¯s hesitation, moved off in a particr direction. Nancy, on the other hand, wore an awkward expression. It was clear to her in that moment that Samson had rejected her request. She watched Samson¡¯s receding figure. It dawned on her that those in high positions, whether at work or in society, wouldn¡¯t make reckless decisions based solely on intuition and personal feelings. Samson was a rational person who kept his work and personal life separate. Ariel took in the cutting¨Cedge products showcased by variouspanies at the summit. It was clear these were products of the finest and highest quality. Eachpany and product had its strong suit, and Ariel felt she learned a lot from today¡¯s event. Just as she stopped next to one of the exhibits, Ariel overheard some people behind her talking. ¡°Did you see that just now? Mr. Warbrooke hase out of retirement for Ms. Stanton. The recent disputes were just minor issues to them. Mr. Larkin and Ms. Stanton¡¯s rtionship is still going strong. ¡°My husband reminded me to maintain a friendly rtionship with Ms. Stanton since she might marry into the Larkin family soon.¡± ¡°I agree. She¡¯s met the Cavells too. They might just tie the knot whenever the time feels right.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t do. With how much Mr. Larkin cherishes Ms. Stanton, he¡¯ll definitely make sure to have a grand wedding ceremony.¡± ¡°Faye Technologies has done a lot of impressive thingstely. The young and sessful Ms. Walker is enjoying a lot of attention. However¡­¡± Inside 411 ¡°She¡¯s definitely crossed the future Mrs. Larkin. Does Ms. Walker think Ms. Stanton will let Faye Tech off once she marries into the Larkin family?¡± Ariel silently read the product¡¯s description and informationbel, all while overhearing the spectivements. Done with the product, she was about to turn away. At that moment, Ariel spotted Nancy putting down abel. Nancy then turned and walked past her, a smirk ying on her lips. Clearly, Nancy had heard those people talking as well. Ariel was about to step away, but Frederick approached, a frown and a contemptuous look instantly appearing on his face when he saw her. ¡°As expected of someone from PR,¡± he sneered. ¡°You stepped up during the chaos, appearing to sacrifice yourself by shouldering full responsibility. Yet, the tables turned, and you quickly benefited, misleading people into thinking you¡¯re the developer of yourpany¡¯s new system. You caused such a huge fuss and emerged as the biggest winner. Aren¡¯t you a clever one, Ms. Walker?¡± While Ariel gained various benefits from the incident, Nancy alone bore the consequences for things she hadn¡¯t even done. Ariel looked at him. ¡°Nancy hasn¡¯t given you a leash yet?¡± Frederick paused briefly, contemting what she meant by that. Chad came up to them and snickered, ¡°Ms. Stanton probably hasn¡¯t made up her mind to adopt him yet. She probably doesn¡¯t even see Mr. Swanson as a bit on the side. There¡¯s no way she¡¯s getting him a leash and a tag any time soon.¡± Frederick finally understood what the two of them were implying. His face darkened. ¡°Mr. Hockney, that¡¯s a really crude way of speaking to another guest.¡± Chad grinned. ¡°That¡¯s because I sincerely hope your dreams wille true soon, Mr. Swanson.¡± Frederick stiffened. Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with someone like him. She patted Chad¡¯s shoulder and headed elsewhere. She had just moved to another spot when Samson caught up with her. ¡°Ms. Walker.¡± Samson was stopped by another person a while ago. He was gradually losing his patience as he spoke to them. Eventually, he managed to slip away with an excuse and went looking for Ariel. Ariel lifted her head. She smiled faintly when she noticed it was Samson. ¡°I¡¯ve seen quite a few excellent products from Yeager Group. Yourpany must have a lot of brilliant, capable people working for you.¡± Samson¡¯s eyes crinkled as he stared at Ariel¡¯s face. ¡°I can take you to the Yeager Group¡¯s exhibition zone some other day if you¡¯re interested in seeing more.¡± Ariel asked curiously, ¡°Is it really fine for me to visit a ce like that?¡± ¡°Of course. You¡¯ve been granted exclusive ess to the ce.¡± Samson tilted his head and smiled brightly at her. All the while, he gazed at Ariel intently. Ariel appreciated having these opportunities to learn more and exchange ideas. She felt rather thankful to Samson. Ariel¡¯s gaze shifted to thetest drone model, noticing its cool design on the nearby table. She reached for the drone, not expecting it to be so heavy. She¡¯d barely lifted it when it slipped from her grip. Seeing what was happening, Samson quickly acted. He moved one hand under Ariel¡¯s, supporting both her grip and the drone, and then took the drone from her with his other hand. A dry, unfamiliar warmth spread across the back of her hand. Ariel, without much thought, calmly withdrew it.¡± Thank you.¡± Samson lowered his hand and curled his fingers, eventually balling his hand into a fist, hoping the warmth would linger on his skin a bit longer. As Zach approached, he caught sight of the interaction. From his vantage point, it appeared Samson had seized Ariel¡¯s hand. He stopped in his tracks, staring at them, utterly bewildered. He watched Ariel walk off, then moved quickly toward Samson. Zach¡¯s brow furrowed as he looked at the seemingly pensive Samson. ¡°What was that just now? Why were you holding Ariel¡¯s hand?¡± Samson turned to meet Zach as he rubbed the tip of his thumb and index finger slightly. ¡°I wasn¡¯t trying to hold her hand. It was an ident.¡± That made a lot more sense to Zach. He was about to speak when Samson shrugged, stating frankly, ¡°I am interested in her, though.¡± With a hardened expression, Zach stared at Samson in disbelief, eximing, ¡°Ariel is married! Did you not know?¡± 2 Inside 412 Chapter 412 Zach¡¯s eyes bulged as he fought to keep his voice down. It never urred to him that Samson would so openly dere his interest in Ariel. He had no clue when Samson and Ariel had even started getting acquainted, or how their rtionship could have possibly progressed this far. Samson stared at Zach for a while. A dark light gleamed in his eyes. He furrowed his brows. ¡°What did you say?¡± Zach took a deep breath. He and Samson had known each other for many years, and their fathers shared a friendly rtionship. Although they weren¡¯t particrly close themselves, Zach still felt obliged to inform Samson of the truth. ¡°Ariel is really married! She has a husband. Why did you even fall for her? Did she just lead you on without telling you anything about it?¡± Zach grew increasingly exasperated as he spoke. He thought that it was extremely wrong of Ariel to do something like this. Samson¡¯s expression hardened. He contemted briefly before giving his response. ¡°She didn¡¯t lead me on. She doesn¡¯t even know that I like her. So, stop making those baseless usations about her.¡± Still, the fact that Ariel was married made Samson fall into deep thought. ¡°You¡¯re quite protective of her.¡± Zach had a conflicted expression on his face. Samson was quite surprised that Zach had decided to share this with him. After thinking about it for a moment, he asked, ¡°How did you find out about it? Who¡¯s her husband? Zach was left speechless yet again. He would have told Samson if he¡¯d known; even Zach was dying to find out who that person was. Yet, Gary refused to share more about the man, only saying it was someone Zach knew. Given the sheer number of people Zach knew, asking them all if they were Ariel¡¯s husband was simply unthinkable. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯m telling you the truth. You should forget her and move on before it¡¯s toote. Ariel isn¡¯t right for you. Given your background and status, you could have any woman you desire.¡± Zach found the situation extremely absurd. Samson fell silent. With his gaze lowered, it was hard to tell what was going through his head. After a while, he said, ¡°I hope this isn¡¯t just some rumor you¡¯ve heard from someone else. I¡¯ll find out for myself if what you said is true.¡± Even more bewildered, Zach realized Samson was being stubborn. He had decided to hold onto his affection for Ariel. ¡°What is it that you like about her? As far as I¡¯m aware, she has quite a few ws.¡± When it came to certain values and principles rting to love and rtionships, Ariel and Samson would probably share contradicting opinions. Samson cast him a sideways nce. ¡°If you already hold some sort of prejudice against her, you won¡¯t agree with me regardless of how hard I try to convince you that she¡¯s a nice and amazing person. ¡°You¡¯d just feel confused and think that I¡¯m trying to force my opinions on you. You should probably let go of those biased opinions of yours and try to observe her yourself.¡± Zach froze, frowning as he considered those words. Ariel had no idea about the exchange those two men had. She managed to gather a great deal of new information through the Yeager Group¡¯s event. Turning around, Ariel spotted Jayson, who was chatting with some guests in the distance. She acted as if Jayson were just another stranger and continued on her way. She fixed her gaze on Chad, who stood not too far away, and walked toward him. Ariel had only taken a few steps when she heard one of the senior executives standing before Jayson ask, ¡°Mr. Larkin, has Nexura Solutions gone through some major changes recently? We¡¯ve heard some rumors about it.¡± Jayson made no attempt to conceal the news. He turned slightly and looked at Ariel, who was passing by at that moment. ¡°I¡¯d like to introduce you. This is Ariel Walker, the current owner of Nexura Solutions.¡± Completely caught off guard, Ariel could feel the stares of the senior executives, all of whom hade from beyond Eldoria, directed at her. ¡°Ms. Walker?¡± Forced to stop, she turned around to face the group. Ariel looked at Jayson, whose eyes held a calm and peaceful look. Ariel responded tactfully as she nodded at those men. ¡°Hello, pleased to meet you.¡± With Ariel beside him, Jayson turned slightly and looked down at her. He unhurriedly said, ¡°This is Bernard Finnigan of Freyberg Technologies, and that¡¯s Garrett Hines, who owns Acton Enterprise, based in Halread. Theirpanies have been Nexura Solutions¡® long¨Ctime, trusted partners for many years.¡± Ariel recognized those names from Nexura Solutions¡® partner list. They were famous, sessful entrepreneurs in their country. However, she didn¡¯t recognize them, as she hadn¡¯t met them before. For the sake of their coborations, Nexura Solutions had to foster good rtionships with thesepanies. Ariel saw this as a valuable chance to meet them. With humility, she offered her hand and shook hands with the two men, stating, ¡°I¡¯ve heard much about you. I¡¯m delighted to make your acquaintance.¡± Ariel might not have had the chance to meet and speak with Bernard and Garrett anytime soon if they hadn¡¯t attended this major event hosted by the Yeager Group. After all, the transfer of Nexura Solutions¡® ownership was a pretty big deal. Somepanies had partnered with Nexura Solutions because of Jayson. With theirplete faith in him, they might choose to withdraw from their coboration with Nexura Solutions and partner with Jayson¡¯s otherpanies instead. Although Jayson had offered her all the connections and resources rted to Nexura Solutions, Ariel still saw the need to maintain friendly rtionships. Inside 413 Garrett nced at Jayson. He grew a bit curious about Ariel after seeing the way Jayson had introduced her. ¡°I¡¯ve heard quite a bit about youtely, Ms. Walker. You¡¯re truly an amazing youngdy.¡± Bernard chimed in, ¡°Ms. Walker is the chief engineer who¡¯s developed Faye Tech¡¯s new flight control system. She¡¯s also gained Mr. Larkin¡¯s trust. Naturally, we¡¯re looking forward to the surprises we¡¯ll be getting from our partnership with Nexura Solutions, which is currently under her leadership.¡± Jayson remained silent, letting Ariel lead the conversation. Ariel spoke about hertest ns in earnest. Nexura Solutions had already established a sound, efficient system. While Ariel shared some details about her ns, Jayson would asionally add information rting to Nexura Solutions. Bernard, Garrett, and the other senior executives had looks of approval on their faces. As Nancy approached the group, she spotted Ariel and Jayson standing side by side. Unperturbed, Nancy ignored Ariel and continued walking toward them. ¡°Jayson.¡± She stopped right beside him, her arm brushing the sleeve of his suit. Jayson dropped his gaze and looked at Nancy. Garrett and Bernard instantly realized who Nancy was. For a moment, Garrettpletely forgot about Nancy and thought that Jayson and Ariel were quite apatible pair. Now that Nancy was here, Garrett subconsciously looked at Ariel and asked, ¡°Do you have a boyfriend, Ms. Walker?¡± Samson happened to hear that when he got there. He halted and stared at Ariel with those dark eyes. Jayson turned his eyes to her as well. Ariel had no trouble answering these questions naturally. She shook her head. ¡°No.¡± Samson curled his lips when he heard that. He went up to them. ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll have to interrupt for a bit. Do you mind letting me make an appointment with Ms. Walker?¡± Samson was quite outgoing. He gave off a bright, youthful vibe whenever he spoke. He also looked extremely charming whenever he smiled. The senior executives, old enough to be Samson¡¯s father, chuckled. ¡°Sure, go ahead.¡± Samson directed his gaze to Ariel. He didn¡¯t address her as Ms. Walker this time. ¡°Ariel, when will you be free? I promised to show you the Yeager Group¡¯s exhibition zone. Let¡¯s pick a time for us to visit the ce together.¡± Nancy was surprised to see how friendly Samson was to Ariel. A small frown creased her forehead. Ariel gave it some thought. ¡°I can¡¯t give you a specific time yet. If it¡¯s alright with you, do you mind if I tell you once I¡¯ve sorted out my schedule?¡± Samson didn¡¯t mind waiting. He beamed. ¡°Sure. You can contact me anytime. I¡¯m alright with meeting anytime.¡± Samson wasn¡¯t even trying to hide his feelings or intentions. The senior executives had knowing looks on their faces. Nancy found what had just happened strange. She wondered what method Ariel had used to make Samsone and invite her to another meeting. Samson was very courteous and polite. After he was done speaking to Ariel, Samson looked at Jayson and the others. ¡°Please go ahead and continue with your conversation. Let me know if you have any questions for me.¡± Anyone could see he was in a cheery mood. Jayson simply nodded without saying anything. After her talks with the senior executives, Ariel soon got confirmation that theirpanies would maintain their partnership with Nexura Solutions. Without saying a word to Jayson, Ariel turned and walked off. She roughly told Chad what happened and excused herself for the restroom. As she did, she happened to notice Jayson by the window, smoking. He was staring down at the rising smoke from his cigarette, seemingly lost in thought. Ariel simply averted her gaze and went into the restroom to wash her hands. When she came out, Jayson was still there, but he had stubbed out his cigarette. The cigarette smoke had also dissipated and vanished. Jayson gazed at Ariel. Just as she was about to walk away, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve been getting a lot of attentiontely. You should be more wary of the people and incidents happening around you.¡± Ariel halted and nced over her shoulder at him. Jayson met Ariel¡¯s gaze and said nonchntly, ¡°Samson Pryce.¡± Inside 414 Ariel was quite surprised that Jayson would actually be kind enough to warn her about these things. After all, they normally stayed out of each other¡¯s business, with clear boundaries between them. So, what exactly made Jayson think he had the right to say these things to her now? Ariel furrowed her brows. She felt that Jayson had overstepped his boundaries. ¡°Mr. Larkin, why should I even listen to you?¡± Ariel was clearly mocking him, and Jayson could tell. However, he wasn¡¯t going to answer that question. He turned slightly and gazed at her. He sounded calm as he said, ¡°Ariel, I won¡¯t harm you.¡± She mused that Jayson ought to reacquaint himself with the definition of ¡°harm¡°. Ariel didn¡¯t even care to debate him. She disregarded hisment and departed. Ariel had always been very careful, whether it was about work or making friends. She might not know much about Samson. However, there was nothing much she could criticize about him so far. Given that Samson represented a significant partnerpany, Ariel simply couldn¡¯tprehend Jayson¡¯s remark. With so many people andpanies she might coborate with, Jayson couldn¡¯t realistically warn her about every new partnership. When the summit concluded, Ariel and Chad weren¡¯t interested in any post¨Cevent parties or gatherings, so they decided to leave. i At the entrance, they saw Cedric, engulfed by a crowd, preparing to depart with Nancy and Jayson beside him. Noticing Ariel exit the building, Cedric slowly looked her way. However, he snorted the moment his eyesnded on her, then turned and entered his car. His intense dislike for Ariel was unconcealed, a fact Nancy also observed. Perhaps Cedric, having experienced much in life, had a good eye for people and could discern those with wicked intentions. Someone like him wouldn¡¯t bother hiding his likes and dislikes. On the other hand, Carlos was a poorer judge of character than Cedric in that regard. Jayson¡¯s car pulled up shortly afterward. Jayson looked at Chad and nodded. ¡°Mr. Hockney, let¡¯s have a chat again some other time.¡± He didn¡¯t say anything to Ariel before leaving with Nancy. Chad opened the car door for Ariel. He shook his head. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke still has that nasty temper. You shouldn¡¯t mind about what happened.¡± Most geniuses were quirky, entric characters. Some of them could be quite demanding and unreasonable sometimes. As someone who was younger, they needed to show people like Cedric proper respect. Ariel hadn¡¯t taken any offense. She wasn¡¯t going to live her life being overly concerned about what others thought of her. Finding Sarah¡¯s painting was Ariel¡¯s next goal, and she nned to start working on it in the following days. She had to give it a shot, regardless of the oue. Ariel had more issues to worry about ever since she took over Nexura Solutions. Fortunately, she had kept Tom and some of the original staff around to help her manage and handle a lot of things. When she and Janice came to Nexura Tower to sign some contracts and agreements, Ariel found out about another thing¨CCedric would act as Veyo Solutions¡® technical advisor. The news about it had been circting. Janice snickered in exasperation. ¡°Jayson¡¯s really smart. He managed to get someone with an impressive background and r¨¦sum¨¦ like Mr. Warbrooke to be Veyo Solutions¡® advisor. ¡°It¡¯ll create a buzz for Veyo Solutions¡® subsequent project. At the very least, the project¡¯s quality is guaranteed, and they¡¯ll be gaining a lot of attention for it.¡± Ariel flipped through thetest contracts Tom had passed to her. She remarked objectively, ¡°With Mr. Warbrooke on their team, Veyo Solutions wouldn¡¯t have to stay on the sidelines anymore. Even if he hadn¡¯t agreed to be Nancy¡¯s supervisor, they¡¯d still be able to improve Nancy¡¯s reputation and increase her exposure by doing this.¡± That was exactly what Jayson was trying to achieve. It was to help Nancy turn the tables after the incident. If it weren¡¯t for Jayson, Nancy wouldn¡¯t be able to turn things around so easily. ¡°I think Jayson probably has to repay with a huge favor in exchange for Mr. Warbrookeing out of retirement. He¡¯s doing all sorts of things, getting in your way just to support Nancy.¡± Janice scoffed, adding, ¡°Without him, Nancy wouldn¡¯t even get the chance to meet you at her level of knowledge and expertise.¡± With Ariel being a rare, one¨Cin¨Ca¨Cmillion genius, most of the other geniuses paled inparison to her. Ariel tried to cheer Janice up. Inside 415 After signing the contracts, Ariel and Janice went back to Faye Technologies¡® office. Chad had also heard the news regarding Veyo Solutions. It had created quite a buzz among those in their industry. Cedric hadn¡¯t made any official statement about it. However, the Veyo Solutions team knew what they needed to do to promote themselves. At the moment, they had gotten the news involving Cedric circting. Soon enough, Faye Technologies would probably have to face a rather formidable opponent. While Chad was impressed by certain abilities Jayson had, this was the kind of rivalry that existed between differentpanies. Frankly, what Veyo Solutions did was still considered a valid, eptable strategy. ¡°Let¡¯s put those matters aside for now.¡± Chad showed Ariel an email. ¡°An international academic conference will be held in Merinia next week. We¡¯ve received an invitation to the event. ¡°The flight control system that you¡¯ve developed has brought a huge change to the tech industry overseas as well. You and I are both on the list of guests invited to the conference. So, we¡¯ll go on a business trip next week?¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel had no objections. Following the incident involving Veyo Solutions, Ariel had also gained widespread recognition overseas as the individual who independently developed the new flight control system. She had finally managed to make a name for herself. After creating the U.N2, Ariel had signed the non¨Cdisclosure agreement and even gotten married. No one outside of their country had heard of her name or knew what she did. Not only was she benefiting from her newly gained fame this time, but Ariel would also be helping Faye Technologies expand their business abroad. During their trip to Merinia, they would be able to learn more about the global market and thetest technological advancements achieved in different regions. When she returned home, Ariel watered the gardenias that were ced next to the window. She was about to shower and get some rest when she noticed Liam¡¯s WhatsApp message. ¡°Ms. Walker, you shoulde for the medical examination when you¡¯re free.¡± Ariel could sense that Liam was a very responsible person in this regard. She did some mental calctions and realized it was about time she dropped by the hospital. She replied to Liam¡¯s message and told him she would be going there tomorrow. Liam sent another response. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll set up an appointment for you. So, juste over around that time.¡± The next day, Ariel arrived at the hospital fairly early. There were quite a few people already waiting there to see Liam too. Liam was a young medical expert who¡¯d gained a lot of experience from his time overseas. He was very different from the regr, on¨Cduty doctors. It wasn¡¯t a surprise that the hospital had decided to hire him to work for them. Liam had arranged for Ariel to go for several medical tests and examinations. He had instructed his assistant to show Ariel the way around. Ariel had been properly taken care of. The entire process was pretty quick and smooth. This was the good thing about getting treatment at a top¨Cnotch, private hospital. When he came back with the results, Liam read the content on each paper carefully. He kept his face expressionless, maintaining a neutral look that wouldn¡¯t make Ariel feel anxious or worried.- Still, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit nervous. Liam lifted his head. He noticed Ariel had pressed her lips together tightly. He softly said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve seen cases that are much trickier than this.¡± Ariel loosened her grip a little. ¡°A full hysterectomy would be the safest option for me to go with, right?¡± Liam nodded. ¡°That is the case for most endometrial cancer patients. Fortunately, there are no signs of the cancer cells in your body having metastasized.¡± Nevertheless, Ariel¡¯s case was quite severe considering her current physical condition. Liam didn¡¯t point that out directly. He put down the X¨Cray scans and said, ¡°I suppose you¡¯ve already decided to do a full hysterectomy. Considering the current state of our country¡¯s medical advancement, that is the safest approach. However¡­¡± Liam could see from Ariel¡¯s face that she had epted the possibility that she might need to get a full hysterectomy. His tone softened. ¡°If you trust me, perhaps I can help you with your subsequent treatment. While I was providing medical assistance overseas, I had also worked on developing cancer medication and refining various surgical techniques to remove tumors. ¡°There will be new treatment methods. These methods may seem more radical than the ones we already know. You can perhaps give it some thought.¡± Liam had a bolder approach when it came to choosing and deciding treatment methods. Some patients would have concerns about that. After all, most people wouldn¡¯t want to take the risk when a safer, more stable option was avable. Ariel understood what Liam was implying. A radical method meant there was a higher risk. However¡­ ¡°Are you saying I can keep my uterus?¡± ¡°It¡¯s possible.¡± Inside 416 Chapter 416 Ariel was stunned for a moment. After all, she had been convincing herself to ept the reality of needing a full hysterectomy. Liam could tell she was shaken. He knew that a patient who had suffered both physically and mentally neededfort, but he still had toy out all the risks and consequences clearly. Softening his voice, he said, ¡°But it¡¯ll take coordination on several fronts, and the risks are rtively high. I¡¯m currently developing a new medication with a team overseas. ¡°It¡¯s still in the trial stage, and the earliest it could be ready for clinical use is in about two months. But if you trust me, I can start treating you first. The main goal is to avoid removal unless it¡¯s absolutely necessary.¡± Ariel¡¯s mind raced. This was her body. She¡¯d be the one bearing the risks. She needed to think it through. While Ariel stayed silent, Liam looked at her and asked, ¡°Can you give me some time?¡± Once the medication was ready for clinical use, he could do his best to preserve Ariel¡¯s ability to have children. Ariel had never been one to hesitate. After a deep breath, she answered, ¡°Okay, I¡¯m in.¡± Her decisiveness caught Liam off guard. She was cing her faith entirely in him, after all. ¡°Do you want to talk it over with your family or partner first?¡± Liam asked, fulfilling his duty as a doctor. Ariel gave a faint smile. ¡°No need. I can make my own decisions.¡± Liam nodded and didn¡¯t push further. At this point, he had a fairly clear picture of Ariel¡¯s physical and emotional condition. After they wrapped up, Ariel thanked him politely. Now Liam would begin building a tailored treatment n for her. Liam prescribed her some new medication, all of which came with a hefty price tag. Despite that, Ariel felt a flicker of hope and maybe even a bit of wishful thinking. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Liam would have even offered to treat her if she hadn¡¯t been so forgiving about Vireon Technologies. On Sunday, Ariel packed her things with minimal fuss. She and Chad were flying out for an international academic conference. The event itself wouldst around three days, but with the round trip, they¡¯d be gone for five or six. Janice would be holding things down at Faye Technologies. On Monday, she and Chad boarded their flight to Nacsall. Over ten hourster, they arrived at the luxury hotel where all attendees were staying. Ariel didn¡¯t travel often, so the whole experience felt fresh. Still, the long¨Chaul flight left herpletely drained. After checking in, she skipped dinner and copsed into bed for several hours. By the time she woke, it was nearly 12:00 pm. Since the conference¡¯s opening ceremony was scheduled for the next day, today¡¯s itinerary was fairly open. Ariel quickly got herself ready, then sent Chad a text to ask if he wanted to grab a bite. She had noticed a cozy Fiorvellian restaurant downstairs when they checked in. Chad replied, telling her to go ahead and order first. Ariel headed down, picked a table on the patio, and ced her order. It had been a long time since she felt this rxed. She even snapped a quick picture of the restaurant and posted it to her social feed with the location tagged. She had barely been seated for a few minutes when she saw two familiar figures exiting the hotel lobby. Nancy walked ahead. Smiling, she turned back and pointed toward the same restaurant while the man behind her continued his phone call. As Jayson ended his call and looked up, his eyesnded on Ariel, who was sitting under a patio umbre. He didn¡¯t look surprised. If anything, it seemed like he had been expecting it. Nancy saw her too but barely spared Ariel a nce before turning back to Jayson. ¡°The foie gras here is really good. I used toe by whenever I had the time. You should try itter.¡± Jayson nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± And just like that, the two of them walked right past Ariel. Jayson didn¡¯t say a word to her, and Nancy acted as if she didn¡¯t exist, happily chatting with him as they walked by. Ariel didn¡¯t care. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they were here for a date or a little getaway. Just then, Chad arrived and caught sight of the pair too. ¡°Nancy signed up for the conference. Jayson¡¯s probably one of the attendees. Guess he¡¯s just tagging along to keep herpany.¡± He must have looked into the attendee list and had a rough idea of who wasing. Ariel nodded. She had been narrow¨Cminded to assume they were here just for a vacation. This particr academic conference had strict invitations. The only attendees were leading professionals in the field, schrs, high¨Clevelpany execs, and a handful of independent standouts who applied and got epted. Nancy clearly fell into thatst group. Chapter 417 Inside 417 Chapter 417 ¡°They¡¯re staying at the same hotel,¡± Chad said. ¡°It¡¯s the official hotel for the conference. If it makes you ufortable, I can ask the organizers to move us somewhere else.¡± He really was being considerate. They had flown in for work, but it was also supposed to be a bit of a breather. Ariel shook her head. ¡°No need. It¡¯s not like they have anything to do with me. We¡¯ll be behind closed doors anyway. Let them do whatever they want.¡± Just as she finished speaking, Jayson and Nancy sat down a few tables away. The line between them couldn¡¯t have been clearer. They had only just sat down when a little girl with braided hair walked over to Jayson. She was holding a bouquet of neatly trimmed roses and looked a little shy as she offered him one. ¡°Sir, would you like to give this flower to your girlfriend?¡± Jayson looked down at her. Nancy instinctively nced at Jayson and couldn¡¯t help butugh a little before asking the girl, ¡°Why?¡± The little girl had slightly tanned skin. At Nancy¡¯s question, she turned to Jayson and asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you boyfriend and girlfriend? A gentleman should always give pretty flowers to his girlfriend.¡°. Nancy found the sweet¨Ctalking little girl rather charming. She took the flower the girl handed out, then looked across the table at theposed and refined Jayson. ¡°Jayson, do you like it?¡± Seeing the little girl looking at him with such eager eyes, Jayson sat up slightly straighter. He took out arge bill from his wallet and gently ced it in her palm. ¡°I¡¯ll buy the whole bundle you¡¯re holding, but we won¡¯t be taking them. You can give the rest to anyone you like.¡± The little girl was overjoyed and thanked him again and again. Beaming, she turned and ran from table to table around the restaurant. As expected, she was met with plenty of surprised and grateful smiles. A few minutester, she ced one next to Ariel and whispered, ¡°This one¡¯s from that gentleman.¡± Ariel froze mid¨Csip of her coffee. She nced over instinctively. As if sensing something, Jayson happened to look up at the same time, and their eyes met. Ariel frowned and looked away. Her gaze fell to the flower on the table. She didn¡¯t touch it. Nancy noticed the little girl had given a flower to Ariel too, but she didn¡¯t mind. After all, Jayson had bought them for her. Ariel just happened to benefit from it. She was no different from any of the other random diners who got a flower. Ariel ignored the flower. Chad couldn¡¯t help but chuckle. Just as the little girl was about to leave, he handed her two more bills. ¡°Got any flowers left? I want your prettiest bouquet for thisdy right here.¡± The little girl hadn¡¯t expected business to boom like this today. She nodded eagerly and ran off to grab the flowers. Chad ced the entire bouquet onto the empty chair next te Ariel, ¡°All yours. What¡¯s she showing off for with just one stalk?¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. Chad was acting childish for someone his age. When their food arrived, Ariel¡¯s phone buzzed with a WhatsApp call. It was Samson. It was well past midnight in Eldoria, so she figured it must be something urgent and picked up the call. ¡°Yes, Mr. Pryce?¡± Samson had just wrapped up work and gotten home. Upon hearing her voice, he immediately smiled. ¡°Are you in Nacsall? I saw your post.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Yeah, I¡¯m here for an academic conference.¡± ¡°The one organized by BBR? I was invited too, but something came up at thest minute and I couldn¡¯t make it. I actually know Nacsall pretty well. If you¡¯re nning to stick around a few more days, I can rmend some great spots. One of my friends is there too. He could even be your guide.¡± Samson spoke with surprising patience, but his straightforward personality could be a bit overwhelming. Ariel was confused. ¡°You called me just to tell me that?¡± ¡°Yeah. If you don¡¯t mind, I could also be your personal long¨Cdistance tour guide.¡± Chad immediately sensed something was off. He looked up, clearly surprised. Ariel frowned slightly. ¡°Mr. Pryce, what are you¡­¡± 11 Samson picked up on the hint of suspicion in her tone, though she hadn¡¯t asked directly. He rubbed his thumb over his phone, almost able to picture the look on her face. ¡°Sorry, I¡¯m trying to pursue you.¡± Inside 418 Ariel was momentarily speechless. It took her a couple of seconds to process what Samson had just said. To her, it came out of nowhere. She barely knew Samson, and they hadn¡¯t even met that many times. And now, he was suddenly expressing interest? Samson said, ¡°I just meant that if you need anything, you can just call me. After all, being in a foreign country can be a hassle. Don¡¯t feel pressured by my words. Don¡¯t let it affect your judgment, and don¡¯t feel uneasy. ¡°Just interact with me in whatever way feels mostfortable to you. Alright then, Ariel. Let¡¯s talk next time.¡± Samson spoke at an even pace, but there was a quiet intensity in his words. He made no effort to hide how he felt. Before Ariel could rack her brain for a polite way to turn him down without making things awkward, he hung up on his own. It felt like he simply wanted to let her know how he felt without expecting any response from her right now. Ariel stared at the screen, still a little stunned. Samson had feelings for her? Since when? Across the table, Chad was stunned, his ss of water still hovering near his lips. ¡°So he did have an agenda! I knew it. He was way too friendly from the start.¡± Now that he thought about it, something had felt off from the very first time they met. Ariel didn¡¯t exactly find Samson¡¯s feelings for her hard to understand. She was just a little surprised by how open he was about it. Growing up, even back in school, she had nevercked admirers. She had always known her looks drew attention. After that, Lucasid down thew of no talking to guys and no dating. Even in college, she still had plenty of admirers from other departments. But after stepping into marriage andter settling into her role at Bluum Corp¡¯s PR department, things changed. She interacted with all kinds of people, but no one ever pursued her again. And now, out of nowhere, Samson expressed his interest. It caught her off guard. ¡°So? What do you think?¡± Chad asked. ¡°You¡¯re divorced now. A second chance of such high quality doesn¡¯te often. Might be worth a shot.¡± He was almost pleased. From his male perspective, he figured Samson was exactly the type young woman who would go crazy for. On the surface, he seemed clean¨Ccut and straightforward, but underneath, there was a sharp edge to him, especially in how boldly he expressed himself. When he liked someone, he just said it without beating around the bush. Honestly, with that kind of sincerity, who wouldn¡¯t be drawn to someone unafraid to show love openly? Ariel didn¡¯t feel particrly bothered. She shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m not thinking about that now. I¡¯ll talk to him when we get back.¡± Chopter 418 Besides, she hardly had the time for romance right now. Her work and health were already more than enough to worry about. Chad chuckled. ¡°I¡¯ve got to say, Mr. Pryce is pretty impressive. He¡¯s only 23, young and aplished. And he¡¯s a rare kind of genius. The moment he came back to the country, he immediatelynded a management role at Yeager Group. That¡¯s no small feat. And let¡¯s not forget, he¡¯s easy on the eyes and in great shape.¡± Ariel shot him a look. ¡°Don¡¯t you worry about me. Maybe start thinking about your own love life.¡± Chad wasn¡¯tcking in admirers either, but he never seemed interested. No one knew what exactly he was holding out for. He hissed. ¡°Damn, you really know how to hit where it hurts.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it. Romance between adults came with all kinds of extrayers. It wasn¡¯t like being a teenager, where liking someone had to be loud and dramatic ande with abel. Grown¨Cups made decisions more practically. She would have a proper talk with Samson once she got back, just so things didn¡¯t get dragged out unnecessarily. Besides, she had a feeling a guy like Samson, at his age, probably just got curious and acted on impulse. They kept lunch simple. When they were done, Ariel stood up. Chad grabbed the huge bouquet he had just bought for her. Only the single flower that the little girl had handed over earlier remained on the table. Ariel didn¡¯t touch it, nor did she spare it a nce. Inside 419 Chapter 419 The flower sat quietly on the table. Chad and Nancy didn¡¯t look over at Jayson and Nancy at the nearby table either. On their end, Jayson wrapped up an overseas work call, left a tip, and got to his feet. Nancy had to head back to organize some of the academic conference materials, so she walked out with him, holding that flower.¡± When they passed by the table Ariel and Chad had just vacated, Jayson caught sight of the flower still sitting exactly where it had been left. He nced at it briefly, then looked away and kept walking Nancy noticed it too and barely reacted. To her, Ariel¡¯s gesture felt more like ast¨Cditch effort to hang on to some shred of pride. It was pointless. Back in the hotel room, Ariel and Chad joined a video call with Janice back in their home country. It was the middle of the night there, but Janice was a night owl and didn¡¯t seem to mind. In fact, she was in high spirits and asked Ariel to bring back some handbags and clothes for her. Ariel hadn¡¯t fully adjusted to the time zone yet. When she woke up the next morning, she had a mild headache. The conference would start at 10:00 am. She wore a safe and elegant choice¨Ca fitted off¨Cwhite trench coat. The designated hotel wasn¡¯t far from the venue, and with a private shuttle, it only took about 15 minutes to get there. On the way, Chad filled her in on the nature of this international academic conference. It was a gathering of top academic minds from around the world, leading figures in the field, representatives from industry¨Cdrivingpanies, and standout talents from prestigious global universities. The former were invited directly by the organizers, while even the brightest students from top schools had to apply on their own. There was a lot to gain from this trip. Being able to exchange ideas with the best of the best was an opportunity in itself. Chad and Ariel entered the venue with their official invitations. The conference hall was massive, big enough to hold over a thousand people. Seating had already been arranged by the organizers. As soon as they stepped in, Chad got recognized. A number of people came over to say hello. Chad¡¯s international reputation was beyond question, but people were far more intrigued by Ariel, the woman by his side who had never appeared publicly before. Chad introduced her with a smile. ¡°This is Ariel Walker, Faye Tech¡¯s chief engineer. She¡¯s the one behind the flight control system you¡¯ve all heard about.¡± Upon hearing that, the technical crowd from around the world looked at her in shock. She was so young. Ariel held her own with ease in situations like this, speaking confidently and engaging with them with poise. Not long after, someone from the organizers went out to greet a new arrival. Ariel turned around just in time to see Jayson and Nancy walk in through the side door. Jayson spotted Ariel and Chad as well. He gave them a slight nod and kept moving with Nancy in tow. It looked like he was one of the specially invited attendees, as he had staff leading him personally. Even just standing next to him, Nancy¡¯s presence seemed elevated. She wore a polite smile the whole way through. It was clear that a lot of people were interested in who she was. Jayson led her up to a few industry heavyweights who were often seen on international news. Since he was the one making the introductions, they genuinely took the time to get to know Nancy. She gave Jayson a warm nce, then turned and introduced herself in fluent Merinian. Chad and Ariel moved toward the front rows and couldn¡¯t help catching everything going on with Jayson and Nancy. Chad leaned toward Ariel and muttered, ¡°Nancy really has been trained up. Without Jayson, she probably wouldn¡¯t have made it into this conference hall even ten years from now.¡± For someone like Nancy, getting to be here and rubbing shoulders with international leaders was nothing short of a leap in social ss. Ariel¡¯s and Chad¡¯s seats were in the second row. The front row was reserved for seasoned veterans who had made their mark in the field, along with representatives from majorpanies across the globe. Some of them were on the same level as Carlos. After Ariel took her seat, someone sat down beside her. She turned to look. It was Nancy. Inside 420 Chapter 420 Ariel nced to the side, then turned her attention back to the notebook she had prepared. Chad was surprised to see Nancy sitting there too. By the usual standards, Nancy was just considered a promising talent from a top university. Especially since she had applied on her own, there was no way she should have ended up in the second row. So¡­ His gazended on Jayson, who had just taken his seat in the front row. It didn¡¯t take much guessing. With someone like Jayson pulling strings, of course Nancy could be bumped closer to the front. Chad looked at Ariel. Luckily, she didn¡¯t seem affected by who was sitting next to her. She had her head down, focused on her notes. Nancy didn¡¯t exactly love sitting beside Ariel either, but she didn¡¯t feel awkward about it. If anyone should feel out of ce, it would be Ariel, who came into the field out of nowhere. Still, Nancy had to admit Ariel was undeniably sharp in certain areas. That whole ¡°giarism¡± scandal involving Veyo Solutions, for example. Ariel had stepped up, taken the heat with a righteous ir, and somehow turned it into an opportunity to be here. She was bold and clever. However, the entire conference was conducted in Merinian. Ariel had no experience abroad, and with all the technical jargon, there was a good chance she wouldn¡¯t be able to fully understand it. Ariel, unaware of Nancy¡¯s assumptions, leaned toward Chad. ¡°Jan wants to see what it looks like here. Should I snap a few pictures for her?¡± Chad knew Janice¡¯s temperament, so he nodded and handed his phone to Ariel. ¡°It doesn¡¯t start for a while. Just snap a couple.¡± Ariel took the phone and snapped a few shots of the conference hall, then sent them to Janice. Nancy sat with her legs crossed and noticed Ariel taking photos. She frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure shing in her eyes. What a show¨Coff. She assumed Ariel was treating the ce like some Instagrammable spot. She snapped a few photos just to unt she was here and boost her own status. Before long, the conference officially kicked off. It was a biennial event, and the topics had been set in advance. The first speaker was one of the most respected veterans in the field. Ariel listened carefully and jotted down key points as he spoke. Soon, the schrs and industry leaders began an open discussion on the central theme. Both Chad and Ariel found the conversation insightful. They would asionally lean over and exchange a quick word or two. On the other hand, there were parts Nancy found genuinely flense and hard to digest. She had to keep jotting things down to go over in depthter. As she paused mid¨Cnote, she nced over and saw Ariel looking perfectly at ease, even smiling and whispering something to Chad. Nancy¡¯s expression grew cold. As expected, only someone who didn¡¯t understand a word could be this rxed. Smiling in a setting this serious was unbelievable. During the intermission, Ariel rubbed her neck, but she was in good spirits. The whole experience had given her a fresh perspective. They had 15 minutes before the next session. The organizers were preparing new materials. Nancy frowned as she stared at the page of notes in front of her, deep in thought. Suddenly, her phone buzzed. She nced at it and noticed a WhatsApp video call from Renee. ¡°Renee?¡± she answered. Renee was wide awake and buzzing with excitement. ¡°Did it start yet? Is Steven Pord there too?¡± Nancy smiled and angled her screen to show the front of the room. ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s sitting with Jayson in the front row. I might get a chance to say hi after the session.¡± ¡°Nancy, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Renee gushed. ¡°Didn¡¯t you have to submit a research paper to even apply? And they only take the top¨Ctier ones. You¡¯re seriously my role model.¡± Inside 421 Upon hearing that, Nancy finally felt a bit of relief from the frustration she had been feeling earlier while struggling to grasp the dense content of the session. ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± she said lightly. ¡°I came mainly to learn.¡± Renee was about to say more when she caught a glimpse of Ariel on Nancy¡¯s screen as it turned. Surprised, she called out, ¡°Ariel?¡± Ariel heard her name. She looked over calmly but said nothing. When she didn¡¯t respond, Renee gave a small huff, then turned to ask Nancy, ¡°What¡¯s she doing there?¡± Nancy shut her notebook and replied coolly, ¡°No idea.¡± The words came out casual, but the tone carried a clear implication¨Cwho knew what she did to get in? Ariel was sitting right next to Nancy. Of course she heard every word. She also understood exactly what Nancy was trying to suggest. Clicking her pen shut, she said, ¡°How I got here doesn¡¯t matter. But I know how you got in.¡± Nancy¡¯s gaze suddenly sharpened. She frowned, and the smile that had just lingered on her face disappeared without a trace. Was Ariel mocking her? Did she really think she had the right to judge her? Chad curled his lips into a smile and gave an exaggerated nod. That was a brillianteback. Renee picked up on Ariel¡¯s jab. Annoyed, she immediately jumped in, ¡°You don¡¯t get to make wild assumptions like that. Nancy is way more qualified than you. She got in with her research paper. It had nothing to do with Jay. ¡°If you¡¯re that capable, why don¡¯t you write something that actually gets recognized in the field and gets you an invite?¡± Sure, everyone had to write research papers, but there was a huge gap in academic level. From Renee¡¯s perspective, Ariel had no business even opening her mouth. Nancy didn¡¯t respond, but what Renee said wasn¡¯t wrong. She couldn¡¯t help but think that some of the things ignorant people did reallycked ss. ¡°Renee?¡± At some point, Jayson had turned around. His cool gazended on Nancy¡¯s phone screen. ¡°If you like the Merinia time zone, why note early and start getting used to the study¨Cabroad life?¡± Renee looked like she had just been caught red¨Chanded. She quickly said to Nancy, ¡°Let¡¯s talkter. I¡¯m heading to bed.¡± Nancy knew Renee was terrified of Jayson. Curious as she was about the conference, she wouldn¡¯t dare ask him directly. Nancy gave Jayson a faint smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. She¡¯s ambitious. I¡¯ll help her learn slowly.¡± There was a hint of indulgent affection in her tone, almost like a doting sister¨Cinw. Ariel didn¡¯t even spare her a nce because she had just noticed the second half of the session was about to start. New material was already being loaded up on the big screen at the front. This academic conference not only focused on current tecliological trends but also offered in¨Cdepth discussions of works by leading schrs in the field, including renownie journal publications. As the first few research papers came up, Ariel instantly recognized one of them. It was something Carlos had published a few years ago. She had studied it countless times, so she knew it by heart. Sure enough, when the screen reached the end of the paper, the author¡¯s name appeared¨CCarlos Hockney. His paper was of exceptionally high value. Even for many in the field, it was a challenge to fully digest. Then, the screen shifted again. A new paper appeared. When Ariel looked over, her brows slowly lifted. Even Chad turned toward her in surprise, giving her a pointed look. The reason was simple. The research paper currently on the screen, selected as an example of top¨Ctier academic work for discussion and study, was one Ariel had published five years ago. Inside 422 Chapter 422 They were actually discussing Ariel¡¯s research paper from years ago. Chad leaned over and said in a low voice, ¡°That paper you wrote five years ago is still ahead of its time. A lot of people could really learn something from it.¡± That was what set Ariel apart. Otherwise, Carlos wouldn¡¯t have sworn off taking on students the moment Ariel walked away from academia to get married. And now here they were. Her paper was being used as a case study in a high¨Clevel international academic conference like this. Ariel looked up at the screen, listening as the schrs around her began exchanging thoughts on the paper. Up front, Jayson looked up at the paper being featured¨Cone recognized in the field as significant enough to be discussed. Next to him, Steven Pord was chatting with a few others. This one was published a few years ago, wasn¡¯t it? It¡¯s really ahead of its time. I¡¯d love to meet the author someday.¡± ¡°I read it back then too,¡± another added. ¡°I was really curious about who the author was, but I never heard anything about them after that. It¡¯s a shame, really.¡± Steven seemed genuinely surprised. ¡°Someone capable of writing at this level should be a well¨Cknown figure in the field by now. Hard to believe they¡¯re not active in academic circles.¡± It was like the author had published one masterpiece and then disappeared. Jayson nced at the screen for a while before turning to Steven. ¡°Do all of you think this is good work?¡± Steven smiled. ¡°Mr. Larkin, it¡¯s more than good. It¡¯s brilliant. It¡¯s top¨Ctier academic work.¡± Jayson nodded, quietly listening as those around him broke down the paper¡¯s strengths and possibilities. Meanwhile, Nancy wore a consistently serious expression. She, too, had to admit that the quality of this research paper, written entirely in Merinian, was remarkably high. It had just been mentioned that the research paper was from five years ago, yet it felt incredibly ahead of its time. The cutting¨Cedge topic and innovative perspective left people in awe even now. But at the same time, there wererge sections Nancy struggled to fully grasp. It was dense and difficult to digest. She would definitely need to revisit the books and literature more thoroughly once she was back home to study them in depth. A full half hour of discussion went into breaking it down, and Nancy understood only parts of it. Then, at the very end, the name of the author appeared¨CA. Walker. Jayson saw it too. His gaze rested lightly on that name. His eyes revealed no clear emotion beneath the surface. However, Nancy¡¯s brows furrowed instantly. That name was unfamiliar in the academic world. Besides this one paper, no one had heard of this person publishing anything else. But that name matched Ariel¡¯s exactly¨Csame initial and sanest name. Frowning, Nancy turned to the side to nce at Ariel beside her. Ariel hadn¡¯t engaged at all with the discussion on the research paper. Throughout the entire segment, she sat there without offering a single thought, as if she didn¡¯t understand a word of it. She didn¡¯t even jot down a single note about the discussion Her attitude came off as passive, detached, and nk, like someone listening to a foreignnguage they couldn¡¯t begin to grasp. Nancy frowned. She felt that someone like Ariel being allowed into this ce was a waste of resources. She was bringing the whole level down. She scoffed inwardly and turned her attention back to the front. Ariel was just lucky to share the same initials as the author. As the conference wrapped up, Chad was in a great mood. A fast learner like him had absorbed a ton today. Ariel stood up and noticed Nancy already striding off toward the front, where Jayson was. Perfect. Saved her the trouble of asking Nancy to clear the aisle. As Chad watched Nancy¡¯s proud figure, he clicked his tongue. ¡°Before the conference, she was bragging about how her paper got her in. But in the end, she¡¯s just here to study your paper from five years ago.¡± Nancy¡¯s research paper was just a stepping stone to enter and study Ariel¡¯s paper. Whether she could even understand it was another matter entirely. Inside 423 Chapter 423 Setting this aside, the fact that Jayson brought Nancy to a conference of this caliber and let her appear alongside top international schrs meant he had ced her at a level she couldn¡¯t have reached on her own. He really did know how to shape his future wife. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected her old research paper to be used a used as a case study either. But what she really cared about was the third research paper she lid submitted recently. She was still waiting to hear back on that one. Chad nced toward the front. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll introduce you to Steven.¡± Ariel nodded. After all, she had kept a low profile ever since developing U.N2 and was still considered a neer just beginning to make a name for herself in the field. It was only natural that many people didn¡¯t know who she was. Meanwhile, Nancy had walked over to Jayson. He was still seated, eyes on the screen where thest paper remained disyed. ¡°Jayson?¡± She sat beside him and caught a glimpse of the author¡¯s name¨CA. Walker. ¡°That name¡¯s kind of simr to Ariel¡¯s.¡± Though she couldn¡¯t tell exactly what the ¡°A¡± stood for. Jayson gave a quiet nod. ¡°It does.¡± But Nancy didn¡¯t think it had anything to do with Ariel. After all, she was still young five years ago. There was no way she could have written something at that level. Besides, if Ariel really were the author, she wouldn¡¯t be some nobody, let alone a housewife for all those years. It just didn¡¯t add up. Satisfied that Ariel had nothing to do with the paper, Nancy smiled. ¡°I couldn¡¯t follow a lot of it today. I think I¡¯ll ask one of my professors to help me download a full copy once I¡¯m back home. I¡¯d really like to study it properly.¡± She didn¡¯t have ess to the paper right now. It would either need to be purchased or pulled through her professors. And truthfully, she was curious about the mysterious author behind it. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s got solid academic value. You should take a closer look, Jayson said as he withdrew his gaze and stood up. Steven Pord was a professor of applied sciences at Hillford University, with a broad range of research spanning into bioengineering. He was one of the most renowned figures in the field internationally. He knew who Chad was, of course. The son of the legendary Carlos. They had met a couple of times before. The moment Steven spotted Chad, his arms opened wide in wee. ¡°Chad, it¡¯s been too long!¡± Steven had always liked Chad. The former wasn¡¯t rigid like some older professors. Despite being nearly 60, his energy was still infectious. ¡°Professor Pord, it¡¯s good to see you again,¡± Chad greeted him warmly, then gestured to Ariel at his side. ¡°This is Ariel Walker, Faye Tech¡¯s chief engineer. She¡¯s the one behind the flight control system you¡¯ve heard about.¡± Now that Ariel had made her return, Chad was naturally doing everything he could to bring her back into the spotlight. Steven looked stunned. ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯re so young and pretty.¡± Ariel smiled,posed and confident, and shook his hand. ¡°A pleasure to meet you, Professor Pord.¡± Steven was genuinely intrigued by Ariel¡¯s system. After discussing some technical questions with her, the look in his eyes grew even more surprised. She was leaps ahead of his own grad students. As they wrapped up, Steven extended an invitation. ¡°Any ns tonight? Should we have dinner together?¡± He wanted to catch up with Chad and hoped to continue the conversation with Ariel as well. Chad offered an apologetic smile. ¡°Sorry, we¡¯ve got an urgent meeting to attend tonight. Maybe next time.¡± Steven didn¡¯t mind at all. He waved his hand and said, ¡°No worries. Actually, I¡¯m having my wedding here tomorrow. My wife¡¯s Nascallian. Why don¡¯t you bothe?¡± Chad blinked, surprised. If he remembered correctly, this was Steven¡¯s fourth wedding. And every time, it was a big, loud celebration. At nearly 60, Steven was devoted to science but apparently just as devoted to love. ¡°Of course, we¡¯d love to,¡± Chad agreed without hesitation. Right then, Jayson and Nancy walked up. Spotting Jayson, Steven smiled. ¡°Mr. Larkin, if you¡¯re free tomorrow, you¡¯re wee at the wedding too.¡± Jayson nced briefly at Chad, then at Ariel, before giving a polite nod. ¡°It would be my honor.¡± Inside 424 Chad had already agreed to attend Steven¡¯s wedding, and now Jayson and Nancy would be there too. Ariel didn¡¯t bother with them. She simply bid Steven farewell, then left with Chad ahead of the others. Sure, it was Steven¡¯s fourth wedding, but etiquette was still etiquette. Ariel and Chad decided to pick out a wedding gift for him. The next day, Ariel and Chad arrived by cab at the wedding venue. It was an outdoor ceremony, styled more like a casual garden party. Despite his age, Steven was open¨Cminded. His new bride was actually a former student of his. When he saw Ariel and Chad arrive, he greeted them warmly, with none of the arrogance people might expect from someone of his academic stature. Ariel handed over the gift. ¡°Congrattions, Professor Pord.¡± Steven looked touched. ¡°Thank you. Are you and Chad¡­¡® Ariel gave a faint smile. ¡°He¡¯s my senior. We went to the same university. We¡¯re business partners now. Nothing more than that.¡± ¡°She¡¯s also my father¡¯s student. His only one at the moment. You can think of us more like siblings,¡± Chad added, understanding Steven¡¯s curiosity. Quite a few people had mistaken his rtionship with Ariel. ¡°Carlos¡® student?¡± Steven was clearly surprised. He knew all too well how picky Carlos was and how impossibly high his standards could be. For Ariel to have earned his recognition, she clearly had far more going on beneath the surface than she let on. ¡°Well, Ms. Walker. That¡¯s seriously impressive.¡± Ariel gave a modest smile. ¡°You¡¯re too kind, Professor Pord.¡± A short whileter, Jayson and Nancy arrived. Nancy wore a sleek, fitted dress and entered with her arm looped through Jayson¡¯s. As they passed through the crowd, several guests recognized Jayson¨Cthe well¨Cknown figure from Nacsall¡¯s finance and venture capital circles. Naturally, their eyes drifted toward Nancy, filled with curiosity and a bit of envy. ¡°Professor Pord, this is a wedding gift from both Jayson and me.¡± Nancy smiled gracefully as she handed over the gift. Chad immediately caught the meaning behind that word. That deliberate use of ¡°both¡± was her way of announcing them as a couple. It was as if she were afraid people might not realize just how close they were. Ariel heard it too but didn¡¯t react. It had nothing to do with her anymore. Upon hearing Nancy¡¯s words, Steven couldn¡¯t help but specte about their rtionship and gave her a more thoughtful look. He only knew Nancy as a neer in the field. When they yesterday, he had learned she held a PhD from Arcadia Tech. In fact, he even knew her former professor. Now, with Jayson in the picture and the two of them looking every bit the perfect pair, Steven¡¯s impression of Nancy had certainly deepened. ¡°Thank you,¡± Steven said with a nod, then added half¨Cjokingly, ¡°So how long have you two been together? Any ns for a wedding yourselves? The mood today might just inspire something. Want to do a practice run and join us for a mock ceremony?¡± If Ariel hadn¡¯t rified that she and Chad weren¡¯t a couple, Steven honestly wouldn¡¯t have minded turning his wedding into a fun group wedding with the younger couples. It would be so much fun. Nancy gave a small smile and instinctively looked at Jayson. Jayson¡¯s expression stayedposed as he replied with practiced politeness, ¡°You¡¯re the star tonight. I wouldn¡¯t want to steal the spotlight.¡± Nancy understood that he had his life carefully nned out. He wasn¡¯t one for spontaneous gestures like this. He preferred things to be done properly. Chad gave a crooked smile. ¡°No need to be shy, Mr. Larkin. You¡¯ve cleared the deck anyway. Shouldn¡¯t you be thinking about making her official soon?¡± Nancy frowned slightly. Thement rubbed her the wrong way. Jayson looked at Chad and inevitably caught sight of Ariel, who stood a step away. Her expression was indifferent andpletely detached. ¡°As I mentioned, today belongs to Professor Pord. I¡¯d prefer not to be the subject of such teasing, Mr. Hockney!¡± ¡°Fair enough,¡± Chad replied, amused. Jayson really knew when to keep a low profile. Then he gave Ariel a pat on the shoulder. ¡°Should we go sit for a bit?¡± As soon as he said that, Steven suggested, ¡°Why don¡¯t you all sit together at the VIP table?¡± Inside 425 Chapter 425 Steven had someone escort Ariel and Chad to their table. Jayson and Nancy stayed back a bit longer to chat with the groom. Chad handed Ariel a ss of juice. ¡°You two never had a wedding, did you?¡± Ariel wrapped her hands around the cold ss. ¡°No.¡± She and Jayson had married under pressure. He had dealt with the press swiftly and ruthlessly, keeping her identity out of the spotlight. Their marriage had never seen the light of day. For three whole years, she had been Mrs. Larkin in name only. She was practically invisible. It was only under Betty¡¯s insistence that they had quietly registered the marriage. Jayson never brought up a formal ceremony. Of course, she understood how Jayson must have felt at the time. Given how everything began, not wanting to celebrate it with a wedding was perfectly reasonable. But in Chad¡¯s eyes, the one who had suffered the most through it all was Ariel. In the end, she bore everything alone¡ªthe me, the hurt¨Cand it was only her strength that carried her through. ¡°He really believes you didn¡¯t set him up?¡± Chad asked. He knew bits and pieces about what had happened with Ariel. Janice wasn¡¯t great at keeping things from him and had mentioned it once in passing. Ariel shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t think so.¡± Words meant nothing after what happened, especially with Morgan being behind it all. Whether she was innocent or not, she still had to take responsibility. Chad couldn¡¯t help but feel frustrated on Ariel¡¯s behalf. She had gone through too much. Just then, Jayson and Nancy joined their table. Guests were starting to arrive in droves. That ended the conversation. Whatever Nancy and Jayson had just been talking about, she now wore a sweet, unmistakable smile. Chad couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Jayson had just promised her something significant. The outdoor garden wedding had a great atmosphere, filled withughter and joy. It felt more open and rxedpared to weddings back in Eldoria. Even Ariel found herself swept up in the mood. Watching the bride¡¯s beaming smile, she felt as if she could share in that happiness too. Then came the bouquet toss. Not wanting to spoil the fun, Ariel joined the others in the open space. As she was being pulled along by the excited crowd, her phone buzzed. It was Noah calling. She knew Noah. He only ever called for urgent technical issues, so Ariel answered. Sure enough, there was a tricky problem he needed help with. Ariel was quietly thinking things through as she tried to slip out of the crowd. Suddenly, someone tugged her back, pulling her right into the middle of the group again. As she listened to Noah¡¯s question, she quickly focused and gave him a calm response. Then, all of a sudden, cheers erupted ahead of her. She felt something flying toward her. Reflexively, while still on the phone, she reached up with her left hand to catch it. At that exact moment, another hand reached out and collided with hers. When Ariel caught the bouquet, a broad palm brushed against hers, then instinctively closed around it. Ariel finally snapped out of her daze. She turned and saw Jayson right beside her. His expression hadn¡¯t changed much, but in the next moment, he lowered his eyes and looked at her. Their hands ended up sped together. Both of them had caught the bouquet. Cheers erupted all around them. The guests, unaware of the undercurrents, started chanting yfully, ¡°That¡¯s fate! Are you two a couple? Come on, show us a hug!¡± ¡°Hug!¡± ¡°Hug!¡± Ariel, still on the phone and momentarily lost in thought, snapped back to awareness. Frowning, she tried to pull her hand away the very next second. Just then, a particrly enthusiastic guest decided to ¡°create a little romance¡± and gave her a yful shove from behind. Ariel stumbled and fell straight into Jayson¡¯s arms. Jayson¡¯s eyes sharpened. As he looked up to see who had pushed her, his arm had already moved, catching her firmly. This scene made Nancy¡¯s cheerful expression vanish in an instant. Her gaze toward Ariel turned cold. How could a woman be so shameless? Was Ariel that desperate to throw herself into Jayson¡¯s arms? Inside 426 Chapter 426 Jayson frowned as he nced in the direction behind Ariel, then slowly looked down at her. ¡°Are you okay?¡± His arm still circled her waist. The heat of his skin seeped right through the fabric, sinking into her like a pulse. His cologne wrapped around her, thick and inescapable. For a split second, Ariel felt suffocated, as if she had been thrown right back into those three years they were married. She could hear the guests cheering around them. Someone even started chanting, ¡°Get married! Get married!¡± Ariel pressed her lips into a tight line.. At that moment, she straightened up quickly and nted her hand against Jayson¡¯s chest with more force than necessary. They broke apart in an instant. Her expression stayedposed. Even if irritation brewed deep inside her, she wasn¡¯t about to ruin Steven¡¯s beautiful wedding by making a scene. The bouquet was in her hand. Still on the phone, Ariel looked straight at Jayson, then tossed the bouquet into his chest. ¡°If you want it, you can have it.¡± She didn¡¯t bother looking at his face. She just raised the phone back to her ear and walked off thewn to continue her conversation with Noah. After all, he was still burning the midnight oil working on the data. Ariel wanted him to wrap up soon and get some rest. The callsted nearly ten minutes. By the time Ariel returned, that part of the ceremony was already over. Guests were now milling around, chatting, drinking, and posing for pictures with the bride and Steven. When Ariel returned to her table, Chad asked, ¡°All sorted?¡± She nodded. ¡°They ran into an issue during testing earlier. It¡¯s been fixed after adjusting a few data points.¡± Someone came by to remind them it was time to take a photo with the bride. Ariel and Chad got up and walked over. Jayson was standing not far off with one hand in his pocket casually chatting with Steven. Meanwhile, Nancy had just finished taking her photo with the bride. As Ariel walked over, she happened to see Nancy rising from the seat beside the bride. And in her hand was the same bouquet Ariel had tossed to Jayson just moments earlier. The moment Nancy saw Ariel walking up, her polite smile vanished. With a cold, aloof gaze, she walked away without so much as a nce at Ariel. Ariel didn¡¯t care. She wasn¡¯t surprised that the bouquet ended up in Nancy¡¯s hands. After all, the bouquet symbolized the passing of happiness. It was only natural for Jayson to give it to Nancy. Ariel took a photo with the bride. As she turned around, she suddenly noticed some media photographers snapping pictures nearby, Steven¡¯s status was unique. He stood at the top of the pyramid in the field. While his academic work drew admiration, his personal life was just as much a topic of interest. As Nancy walked over to Jayson, her gaze lingered thoughtfully on the media photographers nearby. After Jayson finished his conversation with Steven, she finally stepped forward. ¡°Jayson, there are media outlets here. They¡¯ve probably taken a bunch of photos.¡± Jayson looked in that direction. ¡°Probably,¡± Nancy studied his face. ¡°That scene from earlier might¡¯ve been caught. Jayson, maybe you should talk to them and ask them to delete it if they did.¡± She was referring to the moment Ariel fell into his arms. It had clearly misled a lot of people into thinking Ariel was his girlfriend. Some even started chanting about marriage. She figured that if any photos of that absurd moment had been taken, it was best to address them sooner rather thanter. Besides, she didn¡¯t like it. Jayson finally nced over at the group of photographers. Ariel had a more in¨Cdepth conversation with Steven, who mentioned he would being to Eldoria soon. They would have a chance to meet again there. Having the chance to stay in touch with someone of Steven¡¯s caliber genuinely made Ariel happy. 2/2 Inside 427 Chapter 427 After the wedding dinner, Ariel and Chad booked their return flight. This trip had truly broadened Ariel¡¯s perspective. She was already eager to return and discuss the feasibility of her ideas with Carlos. She also got a clearer picture of where different countries stood when it came to tech innovation. They didn¡¯t run into Jayson and Nancy on the flight back. The moment Arielnded in Eldoria, she headed straight to the Hockney residence. Even the exhaustion from the long¨Chaul flight didn¡¯t seem to matter anymore. People in research had a switch in their brains that flipped when inspiration hit. It was like being powered by pure adrenaline. Carlos, however, didn¡¯t miss the fatigue in her face. Frowning, he waved her off. ¡°Go look in a mirror. See what kind of zombie you¡¯ve turned into. Sleep first. Then we talk. Ariel was mercilessly kicked upstairs to her previous room to nap. Chad even gave Carlos a big thumbs¨Cup. However, she didn¡¯t sleep long. As soon as she got up, she dove straight into sharing her series of ideas with Carlos. Carlos was the kind of mentor who knew exactly where to nudge her when she hit a wall. Ariel was the kind of student who caught on instantly. There was rarely any need for lengthy exnations. By the time their discussion wound down, Carlos added, ¡°I heard a bit about the whole Cedric mess. Don¡¯t bother with him. Ignore him, and he¡¯ll eventually go away.¡± Running off to Veyo Solutions to y technical advisor? He really had too much free time. Ariel didn¡¯t bother mentioning that it was Jayson who brought him in to help Nancy. She just nodded obediently. She didn¡¯t stay too long at the Hockney residence before heading back to her own home. Her nts still needed watering. Just as she got through the door, her phone lit up with a call from Betty. This was rare. Ariel answered, ¡°Yes, Grandma?¡± Betty broke into a cheerful smile as soon as she heard Ariel¡¯s voice. ¡°Ari, you just got off work?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t bother exining that she had been out of town. ¡°Yeah. What¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Oh, nothing major. I just have a question. Are you and Jaysoning home to celebrate his birthday the day after tomorrow? Should I have someone start prepping, or are you nning to go out on your own?¡± Upon hearing that, Ariel frowned and nced at her calendar. Sure enough, Jayson¡¯s birthday was just around the corner. She hadpletely forgotten. There was no way she wanted to go back and y happy couple. So she just brushed it off politely. ¡°No need to prepare, Grandma. We¡¯ll probably celebrate on our own.¡± Chopter 427 ¡°That¡¯s fine too,¡± Betty said. ¡°Just stop by when you¡¯re free Ari. I¡¯ll have someone send over more supplements. You¡¯ve probably gone through the ones I gave Jayson to pass to you, right?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t even blink. ¡°Yeah.¡± She had no idea Betty had asked Jayson to bring her anything. But knowing him, he would handle it his own way. Nothing would ever actually reach her. ¡°Alright, then. It¡¯ste. Get some rest.¡± ¡°Goodnight, Grandma.¡± The moment Betty hung up, Ariel shoved the whole birthday thing out of her mind. There was a time when she would go out of her way for it. She would buy him gifts, cook him a full homemade dinner, and even bake a cake herself. Since his taste waspletely different from hers¨Che didn¡¯t like anything too sweet¨Cand most bakeries leaned sugary, she started making reduced¨Csugar versions just for him. Jayson had only humored her once. That year, he had to fly out at thest minute for work. He blew out the candles because she looked so hopeful. After that, he was always tied up with work. He made it clear he wouldn¡¯t being back, told her not to prepare anything, and not to wait for him. It was the same for Ariel¡¯s birthday as well. 44 Now that she was out of that loop and focused on her own life, she actually felt good. If Betty hadn¡¯t brought it up, she wouldn¡¯t have remembered at all. That evening, Jayson stopped by Larkin Manor to visit Betty. Inside 428 Betty was in her study, sses perched on her nose as she practiced calligraphy. Jayson noticed she was in good spirits. ¡°Did you take your medication already?¡± Betty paused mid¨Cstroke when she spotted him. ¡°On time, as always. What brings you back?¡± With his zer in one hand, he leaned against the door and chuckled. ¡°So you¡¯re saying you don¡¯t need me toe visit anymore? Should I start asking for permission before Ie back, then?¡± Betty huffed. ¡°You¡¯re pretty witty, huh?¡± Then she added, ¡°Your birthday¡¯sing up. Have you and Ari figured out how you¡¯re spending it? It¡¯s once a year. Take the chance to rx.¡± Jayson replied, ¡°Not yet.¡± Betty set her brush down. ¡°You two are always busy. Why not take a little trip? Ari used to say she wanted to visit Nouburgh, but you never took her. It¡¯s a good time to visit now. Or as you young people say, kind of romantic.¡± Snow season was over, but springtime there had its own charm. Jayson didn¡¯t respond to the suggestion. He just calmly said, ¡°Things are a bit tight right now. I can¡¯t leave. And there¡¯s no need for you to call Ari. We¡¯ll sort things out ourselves.¡± Betty red at him. ¡°You¡¯re always busy! Is your work more important than your wife?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t argue. He simply looked at her with a faint smile. Noticing she couldn¡¯t get through to him, Betty gave up and muttered, ¡°At least show her you care, okay?¡± Jayson handed her a wet towel for the ink on her fingers. ¡°Okay.¡± The next day, Ariel received an email confirming that her research paper had officially been epted. It was pretty much what she had expected. With top¨Ctier quality, the review process moved quickly. But since it was a leading journal, the proofreading and editing phase would be a bit more demanding. She still needed to tweak some formatting. It would be published online first. After her internal meeting, Ariel shared the news with Janice and Chad. Chad hadn¡¯t expected it to move this fast and couldn¡¯t help but exim, ¡°This paper of yours is bound to stir things up in the field. With quality like this, the citation count is going to blow up for sure.¡± A high citation count was one of the best markers of academic weight. ¡°I think they¡¯ll push the print schedule forward too,¡± Ariel guessed. The review turnaround had already been quicker than she had expected. Janice crossed her arms. ¡°Didn¡¯t Nancy start spreading the word after she submitted a paper? She never misses a chance to show off. I¡¯d love to see what she¡¯s really capable of. Publishing it at the same time as Ari is just asking to get overshadowed.¡± If the papers covered the same field and research focus,parisons in quality and depth would be unavoidable. Chad nodded in agreement. Nancy might be brilliant, but there could still be another 140,000 just like her in the country. Ariel, on the other hand, was the kind of person who could make a genius feel small. Otherwise, Carlos wouldn¡¯t have had his eyes on her even after all these years. ¡°Your non¨Cdisclosure agreement should be expiring soon, right?¡± Chad suddenly remembered. Ariel thought for a second. ¡°Just under two months left.¡± Chad finally looked relieved. Once that expired, Ariel could truly return to the position she belonged in, and there would be no more restrictions. In the afternoon, Ariel had to head out for a visit to the indoor test site for industrial drones. Products from variouspanies were scheduled for live testing. The testing ground was massive, and Faye Technologies had been trendingtely, so they were given prime space. When Ariel arrived, Noah and the team were already midparison. Events like this weren¡¯t rare, but she didn¡¯t usually show up in person. This time, though, after her trip to Nacsall, she had new ideas. She wanted to see the drone in action to refine her direction further. Inside 429 ¡°Ms. Walker, take a look at this flight data.¡± Noah stepped aside to make room for Ariel. She walked over and scanned the numbers. Not long after, a voice from the side caught her attention. She turned to the side and saw a group approaching from the far end. Leading the way was Samson, who stood tall and sharp. He was effortlessly eye¨Ccatching even in a crowd of neatly suited executives, most of whom were clearly older. They were briefing him on the current progress. Samson lookedpletely serious. The usual easygoing air he carried was reced with a quiet sharpness as he offered crisp responses asionally. It was the first time Ariel had seen him in full work mode, and she was genuinely surprised. Just as she was about to look away, Samson seemed to sense her gaze. His eyes found her instantly. The moment he recognized her, a faint smile broke across his face. He turned to the group beside him and said, ¡°You guys continue first.¡± With that, he strode over without hesitation. ¡°Ariel? When did you get back?¡± Her hand paused on the drone controller. She thought for a second before replying, ¡°Yesterday.¡± ¡°How was the conference?¡± Samson stopped beside her and looked down with interest. ¡°Pretty great, actually. I learned a lot.¡± Ariel gave him an honest answer. Realization dawned on Samson, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. ¡°Then you must be on a whole other level. At a conference like that, even I wouldn¡¯te away saying I learned a lot right away. It¡¯d take time to really process everything.¡± He had already gotten a sense of her capabilities during thest government¨Cled seminar. The way she took notes alone had said plenty. She might keep a low profile, but her level of expertise was unexpectedly impressive. To Ariel, though, Samson¡¯sment sounded more like self¨Cdeprecation. Considering he had alreadypleted his PhD at Glenbridge at his age, if anyone was hiding their true skill, it was him. ¡°Are you testing drones?¡± he asked, noticing the controller in her hands. Ariel nodded. ¡°I¡¯m checking responsiveness.¡± ¡°Mind if I try?¡± Samson asked. ¡°Go ahead.¡± Ariel handed him the controller without hesitation. As he took it, Samson nced at her and smiled. ¡°I¡¯ve yed around with all kinds of drones and even got certified as an operator to really understand them. What aspects do you need to test? I can help you run through them.¡± Ariel knew there were some people like him who could pick up just about anything with ease. ¡°You¡¯ve got talent,¡± she said honestly. Samson shrugged. ¡°Maybe. I¡¯ve always had too much energy. I liked trying everything. The truth is, I¡¯ve just had more opportunities and ess than most. My family gave me a head start.¡± He was even more honest than Ariel had expected. Most people wouldn¡¯t be so willing to admit something like that. It turned out that Samson really did know his stuff. They worked through the full testing sequence with seamless coordination. Ariel jotted down a few improvement points. Feeling tired from standing, she decided to find a seat to keep writing. Samson noticed that, then nced at the stone steps nearby. They were cool under the indoor air conditioning. He walked over with long strides, swiftly took off his jacket, andid it over the stone steps. ¡°Sit here.¡± Ariel paused, lifting her gaze to meet the clear, earnest eyes of the man in front of her. She could tell that he wasn¡¯t trying to impress her. It was the natural grace of someone well¨Ceducated, paired with what felt like genuine concern. Ariel capped her pen and didn¡¯t beat around the bush. Looking up at him, she said clearly, ¡°I¡¯m sorry. About what you said the other day, I think I should be clear. I¡¯m not looking to start a rtionship.¡± Inside 430 Ariel had no intention of giving Samson any room for misinterpretion. She spoke inly, cutting straight to the point. But Samson wasn¡¯t surprised. After spending time around her, he had gotten a sense of the kind of person Ariel was. Still, he wasn¡¯t the type to quietly pine from the sidelines. And getting turned down didn¡¯t rattle him. Liking someone meant also respecting their choice, whether it led somewhere or not.. So¡­ Samson¡¯s eyes softened with a quiet smile. ¡°I know. A confession doesn¡¯t guarantee an oue. That¡¯s not how rtionships work. If I can¡¯t show enough sincerity, why should you ept me? Ariel gave it some thought. ¡°Mr. Pryce, I¡¯m not testing you. I just genuinely have no interest in dating anyone right now.¡± Samson could tell that Ariel genuinely didn¡¯t want to waste his time. Even her rejection left no room for misunderstanding. But that, in itself, was part of what made her so precious. He didn¡¯t feel discouraged at all. Instead, he gave her a knowing smile. ¡°Alright. Then can you just forget I said anything about pursuing you? Let¡¯s just be friends for now. If you start avoiding me over this, I think I¡¯d be a little hurt.¡± Ariel had never met someone quite like Samson before. He was passionate, direct, and self¨Cassured. Having grown up abroad, he was never one to hold back when it came to expressing himself. Ariel felt she had said all she needed to. As for Samson¡­ ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that.¡± Samson tilted his head slightly, watching her as he gave a carefree shrug. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about me. Just be yourself. If we ever end up working together, don¡¯t feel guilty for rejecting me or let it make things awkward. Honestly, I¡¯m fine.¡± Since he had put it that way, Ariel didn¡¯t overthink it. She nodded. ¡°Alright.¡± She had always been straightforward, never the type to get flustered over things like this. Samson watched as Ariel went back to studying the data. He wasn¡¯t upset at all. After a moment of staring at her fair profile, he raised an eyebrow. He was starting to think that maybe taking it slow wasn¡¯t such a bad idea after all. Work at the site continued. Samson didn¡¯t interrupt Ariel again. Instead, he headed back to finish what he came for. By the time everything wrapped up, Ariel was heading toward her car when she spotted Samson standing nearby. When he saw her approaching, he asked calmly, ¡°Ariel, do you mind giving me a ride? My car broke down. It just got towed.¡± Ariel looked around suspiciously. Samson¡¯s assistant, driver, and even the higher¨Cups from Yeager Group were nowhere to be seen. But Samson remainedpletelyposed. Not wanting to be rude, she just nodded. ¡°Sure. Where to?¡± Samson opened the door and got in smoothly. ¡°Wherever you¡¯re going.¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. She didn¡¯t bother asking more. On the drive back toward World Trade Center, Samson didn¡¯t try to create any awkward tension. He didn¡¯t bring up anything personal; instead, he steered the conversation toward work and topics he knew Ariel would be interested in. She responded with genuine focus. As she spoke, Samson nced over at her, watching her with a faint, almost imperceptible smile. Ariel had already made ns with Janice to try out a new restaurant that had been getting buzztely, so she headed straight there. When they arrived, Samson didn¡¯t linger. He opened the door and stepped out. He leaned down slightly, one hand resting on the car window as he said, ¡°I meant what I said about taking you to Yeager Group¡¯s exhibition zone. The offer still stands. You can reach out anytime. Well, let¡¯s just call it a pause between us.¡± Although Ariel had no real intention of going again, she showed no sign of it. With a calm expression, she stepped out of the car and gave him a polite nod. Samson could guess what she was thinking but didn¡¯t expose her. He tapped the window lightly. ¡°Then I¡¯ll see you next time. Strictly for business.¡± Without waiting for her to respond, he turned and walked away. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it either. After all, she had said what needed to be said. Inside 431 Samson seemed to have given up. Ariel turned to head for the restaurant, only to catch sight of Nancy getting out of a car nearby. She must have seen Ariel already. Her face gave nothing away as her eyes briefly swept past Ariel before she walked straight into the restaurant. Nancy frowned slightly as she climbed the stairs. Samson had just gotten out of Ariel¡¯s car. When did those two get so close? It made her reassess Ariel a little. Meeting Samson in private? Her intentions couldn¡¯t be more obvious. Ariel really did know how to y the game in some ways. However, Samson wasn¡¯t someone who could be swayed that easily. Nancy made her way to a table. Sarah had finally been discharged from the hospital, and she was doing well enough today toe out for a proper meal. Once Nancy sat down, Sarah asked, ¡°How are you nning to spend Jayson¡¯s birthday with him? You don¡¯t think Ariel¡¯s going to try something to keep him away, do you?¡± ¡°She won¡¯t,¡± Nancy replied calmly. ¡°She doesn¡¯t have that kind of sway with him.¡± Sarah chuckled. ¡°Fair enough. This is your first birthday together. Why not throw him a party? Invite a bunch of friends. Make it feel special.¡± Nancy smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll talk to him about itter.¡± Ariel proofread her research paper during her break and submitted it right after without wasting a single moment. Then she headed to Nexura Solutions to deal with the shareholding matters with Tom. She ran into Jayson there, who had dropped by to sign some documents. The three of them ended up in the same elevator. Jayson¡¯s gazended on Ariel. She didn¡¯t even nce his way as she stepped inside. ¡°Mr. Larkin,¡± Tom quickly greeted. Jayson gave a small nod. With that, silence fell once more. Tom was feeling the pressure. Caught between his former boss and the current one, he felt like the filling in a sandwich. The mood in the elevator was really awkward. Trying to break the silence, Tom suddenly thought of something. ¡°Mr. Larkin, your birthday¡¯s tomorrow, isn¡¯t it? Ms. Walker, maybe we should get him a gift.¡± He thought it was basic courtesy. Jayson didn¡¯t say anything. He clearly didn¡¯t care much about it. Ariel didn¡¯t even raise her head from her phone. ¡°Do as you see fit she said coolly. Tom got the message loud and clear. She meant that this wasn¡¯t her problem, and she didn¡¯t intend to get involved. Jayson heard it too. His gaze lingered on Ariel¡¯s back, calm and unreadable. When they reached the ground floor, Ariel rattled off some instructions to Tom about the next steps of the project. Then she walked off without ncing backward. From beginning to end, she hadn¡¯t acknowledged Jayson¡¯s presence at all. He watched her walk away before turning to Tom. ¡± Forget the gift. Just focus on your work.¡± Tom didn¡¯t think too much of it. He still held Jayson in high regar The next day was the weekend. After taking her medicine, Ariel dropped by Katie¡¯s ce. Leonard had been sent home to recover, and he was slowly getting better. .7 Ariel spent the day with them, keeping thempany. In the afternoon, she got a call from Betty, inviting her to dinner at Rose Luxe Hotel at 6:00 pm. It was meant to be a small birthday dinner for Jayson. Ariel made up an excuse about a work emergency and turned it down. Betty seemed like she wanted to say more, but in the end, she didn¡¯t push it. But then, around 7:00 pm, Ariel¡¯s phone rang again. Betty was calling. ¡°Yes, Grandma?¡± ¡°Ari, are you free right now?¡± Betty asked. Ariel nced at the time. It was already past 7:00 pm. ¡°What¡¯s wrong, Grandma?¡± Technically, Betty should have been at Rose Luxe Hotel by now, celebrating Jayson¡¯s birthday with the rest of the family. Betty sighed. ¡°Jayson said he couldn¡¯t make it tonight. He told us to go ahead without him. I didn¡¯t mention to him that I¡¯d already gotten to the hotel early. Evelyn and the others aren¡¯t here yet, and now I¡¯m not feeling too well. Can youe pick me up?¡± Ariel frowned at once. Seriously? Jayson couldn¡¯t even be bothered to send a car? Inside 432 ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll be there,¡± Artel replied. Betty had called, saying she wasn¡¯t feeling well. There was no way Ariel could hear that and not do something. She headed straight for Rose Luxe Hotel. Because of Jayson¡¯s status, Sarah had specifically reminded Nancy to make sure everything was arranged properly. So, Nancy had booked out the entire second floor of the hotel for dinner and reserved the rooftop for entertainment. By the time Nancy arrived, Matt and the others were already there Matt loved a good party. Since Nancy had booked out the ce for the day, he invited a mix of top¨Ctier celebrities and popr influencers who were born and raised in the elite social circle. Sitting nearby were Perry and Frederick. Frederick¡¯s eyes lit up the second he saw Nancy. She was wearing a champagne¨Ccolored silk dress. As she walked in, she looked just as stunning as the celebrities around her. ¡°Whoa, going all out tonight? You look incredible,¡± Matt teased with a grin. Nancy smiled graciously. ¡°Thank you for thepliment.¡± As they chatted, Zach walked in from the front doors. Matt had invited him. Events like these were more than just parties. They were great opportunities towork and make connections. Business, after all, was all about rtionships and social finesse. Zach showed up mostly for Jayson¡¯s sake. ¡°Mr. Quinton,¡± Nancy greeted politely. Zach nced at her, then said honestly, ¡°Ms. Stanton, you really went all out for Mr. Larkin tonight.¡± Nancy was in a good mood. Smiling, she replied, ¡°It¡¯s not a big deal. It¡¯s totally worth it.¡± Given who Jayson was, if she was going to throw him a party, it had to be done right. ¡°Ms. Stanton, your flowers have arrived. Where would you like us to ce them?¡± A hotel staffer pushed in a massive bouquet of champagne¨Ccolored roses. Even Perry turned to look. He hadn¡¯t expected something that grand. Nancy pointed to the most prominent spot in the room. ¡°Right there.¡± Matt paused for a moment, and his smile faltered just a little. He joked tentatively, ¡°Nancy, you¡¯re dressed like that and ordering flowers like these¡­ Are you nning to propose?¡± That keyword lit up the room. People immediately turned toward Nancy, their expressions ranging from surprise to curiosity. Even the influencers livestreaming the event turned to look at her. Frederick¡¯s expression grew serious at once, and he stood up almost instinctively. Zach also looked her over from head to toe. ¡°So that¡¯s what this whole event is about?¡± If that were true, then Ariel waspletely out of the picture. Noticing all the surprised looks aimed her way, Nancy finally gave faint smile. ¡°Are you all that eager for some drama? Well, I¡¯m nning to perform a piano piece for Jayson myself. As for the gift¡­ you¡¯ll find out soon enough.¡± She didn¡¯t confirin or deny anything. And that made people feel like it probably was true. Matt exchanged a look with Perry before asking, ¡°Does Jayson knew about this?¡± The grand finale tonight was going to be interesting. No wonder Nancy went all out and booked the whole ce. Perry frowned and shook his head. Something about the whole thing felt strange. ¡°Are we seriously about to witness a birthday proposal?¡± Frederick hade tonight for Nancy, but now everyone was saying she might propose. He couldn¡¯t help the twist of difort in his gut. ¡°Could be. Maybe their rtionship¡¯s already at that point. But I doubt Jayson knows about this,¡± Matt said with a shrug. Jayson and Ariel had already broken things off anyway. Marrying Nancy wouldn¡¯t be that surprising. ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson?¡± Nancy asked after making sure the flowers were properly ced. Perry checked his watch. ¡°He took a call. He probably went upstairs.¡± This hotel was one of Jayson¡¯s properties, and the top floor even had a private lounge just for him. Additionally, the top floor featured an entertainment spacerge enough for a mid¨Csized party. Nancy thought for a moment, then took on the air of a true hostess as she said, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s all head upstairs for drinks first. We¡¯ll start the party a littleter.¡± When Ariel arrived, she was told to avoid the second floor when heading straight, as the entire second floor had been booked out. Before stepping into the elevator, she nced sideways and happened to spot Zach. She didn¡¯t think much of it and looked away calmly. Rose Luxe Hotel was part of the Larkin family¡¯s properties. Betty was resting upstairs, trying to ease her difort. Once Ariel got there, she walked straight to one of the private lounges. Betty had already given her the door code. Ariel entered it and pushed the door open. ¡°Grandma?¡± Inside 433 Chapter 433 As soon as Ariel stepped inside, she didn¡¯t see Betty anywhere. Just as she was about to head further inside, she turned and spotted Jayson on the balcony, talking on the phone. He turned around right then and looked directly at her. His eyes reflected a subtle gleam under the night sky. He didn¡¯t seem particrly surprised to see her and simply ended the call. Ariel, on the other hand, was visibly caught off guard. She nced around the lounge. After confirming that Betty was definitely not here, she frowned. Jayson noticed her expression and started walking over. He seemed to have already understood the situation. ¡°Grandma asked you toe?¡± Ariel took a step back. ¡°Has she left?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t answer. He just watched her guarded posture and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She¡¯s fine.¡± After hearing that, Ariel didn¡¯t bother pressing further about what was going on. She had no intention of saying anything more to Jayson. She simply turned and walked toward the door without the slightest hesitation. Jayson didn¡¯t try to stop her. He just stood there, watching her walk away. Even though it was his birthday, he didn¡¯t say a single word to make her stay. But just as Ariel opened the door, she was met with a wave of noise¨Cfootsteps, chatter, ¨C, what the hell is wrong with you? Mr. Larkin is Ms. Stanton¡¯s boyfriend. ¡°She went out of her way to n this entire night to propose to him. How could you bring yourself to do something so disgraceful?¡± From his perspective¨Cand everyone else¡¯s¨CAriel had been alone in the room with Jayson because she had thrown herself at him. Ariel¡¯s brows drew together. Propose? Perry and Matt came up from behind just then. When they saw what was happening, a mix of shock andplicated emotions shed across their faces. Jayson¡¯s eyes swept over the growing crowd outside the door. His face didn¡¯t show a flicker of emotion as he finally stepped forward toward the door. Zach shared Frederick¡¯s opinion. He had recently been trying to let go of his old bias against Ariel, like Liam had suggested. But now, he walked in on her seducing a man who was about to be proposed to. ¡°Ms. Walker, care to exin yourself?¡± Zach demanded sternly. ¡°Wait, isn¡¯t that Ms. Walker from Faye Tech? Doesn¡¯t she know M Stanton is Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend?¡± ¡°Wow, never thought she¡¯d be this bold. She actually followed Mr Larkin into his private lounge? Was she trying to make people think there was something going on between them?¡± ¡°Wasn¡¯t there supposed to be a proposal? I feel sorry for Ms. Stanton¡­¡± Dozens of eyes zeroed in on Ariel. The whispers and judgment spread like wildfire. Someone even swung their live stream cam¨¦ra toward Ariel and Nancy. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected to end up the target of everyone¡¯s judgment. Her expression turned cold as ice. She turned to Nancy. Her voice was sharp with mockery as she asked, ¡°Did I ruin your rtionship?¡± Nancy kept a cold expression and didn¡¯t respond, which felt like a silent confirmation. She didn¡¯t lose herposure by demanding to know why Ariel had done it. To the others, she appeared gracious. But Ariel knew Nancy had no way to answer that sharp question. Watching Nancy, Frederick suddenly felt a stab of sympathy for her. All that emotion quickly turned to anger, and heshed out again at Ariel. ¡°Ariel, you owe Ms. Stanton an apology for ruining her proposal!¡± How could a woman trying toe between them still have the nerve to challenge Nancy with a question like that? That line practically made Ariel a public disgrace. Just as she was about to retort with sarcasm, a powerful voice rang out from the back of the crowd. ¡°Since when does the real wife owe the mistress an apology?¡± Inside 434 Chapter 434 That voice cut through the tension like a de. All the judgmental, hostile, and condescending eyes that had been locked on Ariel suddenly shifted to the back of the crowd. Even Nancy turned to look. When she saw Betty standing there, tall andposed, her face went pale. Perry suddenly understood exactly how this was going to y out. Lips pressed together, he turned his gaze to Ariel. Matt¡¯s smirk disappeared instantly. His whole turned serious. A chill ran straight up his spine. ¡°Mrs. Larkin Senior?¡± Frederick had met Betty a few years ago. The moment he saw her, he straightened up with respect. His grandfather had told him before that Betty used to be a force to be reckoned with. As the eldest daughter of a powerful family, she was sharp¨Cminded and shrewd. After marrying Jeffrey, she had helped build the Larkins into what they were today. But now¡­ What had she just said? Everyone had been thrown off by the new information, leaving them visibly confused. Most of them thought they had just heard it wrong. The moment Ariel heard Betty¡¯s voice, her heart skipped a beat. She instinctively clenched her fingers. At that moment, she knew that some things were bound to change today. Betty walked through the crowd without any expression, radiating authority. Jayson¡¯s eyes narrowed slightly. He spoke first. ¡°Grandma, you haven¡¯t left yet?¡± Betty stepped forward and stopped directly in front of Ariel. Her frame was slim, but her presence wasmanding. ¡°If I had left, I would¡¯ve missed this show.¡± Her sharp gaze cut toward Nancy, scanning her from head to toe with cool indifference. This was the first time Betty had seen her in person. Nancy¡¯s palms were slick with sweat. Under Betty¡¯s gaze and with everyone still watching, she pressed her lips together, then greeted Betty with practiced grace, ¡°Mrs. Larkin Senior.¡± Frederick, seeing Nancy¡¯s unsettled look, assumed she was still heartbroken from finding Ariel alone with Jayson. He quickly stepped in. ¡°Mrs. Larkin Senior, what happened tonight isn¡¯t Mr. Larkin¡¯s fault. We all know what kind of person Ariel is. She probably came here on purpose to mislead everyone. There¡¯s nothing going on between them, really. Please don¡¯t be upset over this.¡± The moment Frederick said that, Nancy¡¯s face darkened even more Zach frowned deeply. With that ¡°wife and mistress¡± , things weren¡¯t adding up. Weren¡¯t they not married yet? Matt, standing nearby, tugged on Frederick¡¯s sleeve with aplicated look. ¡°Mr. Swanson, maybe don¡¯t say anything right now.¡± He was just making things worse. Ariel looked at Betty. Sure enough, her expression had grown ever more intimidating. She turned a cold gaze on Frederick. ¡°You know what kind of person Ari is? And who are you to know her that well?¡± Frederick froze. Zach and everyone else looked stunned as well. Ari? Why was Betty referring to Ariel so intimately? Then Betty turned to Nancy, whose face had gonepletely pale Ms. Stanton, I¡¯m standing here now. Why don¡¯t you go ahead and tell everyone what exactly you were nning tonight? Aproposal? To whom? And under what title?¡± Nancy pressed her lips tightly. Her chest rose and fell rapidly. ¡°1-1 sorry, Mrs. Larkin Senior. There¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Tonight wasn¡¯t¡± ¡°Misunderstanding? Oh, it¡¯s definitely a misunderstanding.¡± Betty¡¯s gaze turned sharp. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you¡¯ve got a steel¨Cted ego. You actually had the nerve to propose to my granddaughter¨Cinw¡¯s husband right in front of her. What is this, Ms. Stanton? Are you trying to get Jayson charged with bigamy?¡± Nancy¡¯s face went sheet¨Cwhite. She never imagined Betty would be so blunt. The entire room sucked in a breath at those words. Zach and Frederick both turned to Jayson in shock as he stood by Ariel¡¯s side. Jayson was married? And to¡­ Every single gaze swung to Ariel, whose expression had remained cold from the beginning. Not one person could believe it. Matt, too, looked at Ariel with a troubled look on his face. This was going downhill. Jayson looked down at Ariel¡¯s emotionless face. The situation was already out of control, and Betty was clearly furious. He slowly raised his head and looked at the crowd calmly. ¡°Allow me to introduce her. This is my wife, Ariel Walker.¡± Inside 435 Jayson¡¯s voice wasn¡¯t loud, but itnded like a hammer, crashing to everyone¡¯s ears with undeniable weight, The corridor fell into sudden silence. Every single person wore some form of shock on their face. When Nancy heard those words, her chest heaved. She clenched her fingers tightly, barely holding herself together as herposure threatened to crack. She was stunned. Her gaze settled on Jayson¡¯s calm face. He actually admitted that Ariel was his wife. Even Ariel was caught off guard. Her head snapped up, and her eye locked onto the man beside her. As if sensing her stare, Jayson nced down at her and said, ¡°I¡¯m truly sorry, everyone. We never made our rtionship public for various reasons, but we¡¯ve been married for four years now.¡± Betty¡¯s expression immediately softened. She gave a slight nod, clearly satisfied. But for everyone else, it was like a calmke struck by a boulder, sending shockwaves in every direction. Matt raised a hand to his forehead. It was really over. The whole situation hadpletely unraveled. Perry felt like something had yanked at his chest. So, in the end, they were never going to get divorced. The first to speak up was Frederick, whose face had gonepletely stiff. His voice was thick with disbelief. ¡°Mr. Larkin, then is Ms. Stanton¡­¡± Wouldn¡¯t she be¡­ Zach felt a ringing in his ears that wouldn¡¯t fade, like he had just been struck over the head. He stared at Ariel, who had remained calm from the beginning. Ariel was Jayson¡¯s wife? Suddenly, the sarcastic words she had once thrown at him came flooding back. His cheeks burned with embarrassment. It was hard to even breathe. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you be asking Ms. Stanton that question instead?¡± Betty didn¡¯t like Frederick, and it showed in her cutting tone and expression. Her words ripped straight through thest thread of grace Nancy had been trying to hold onto. All eyes turned to Nancy. The scene was far beyond anything she had expected. Nancy¡¯s lips had gone pale. She opened her mouth to speak, but her voice came out hoarse. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. There¡¯s been a misunderstanding. Tonight is just Jayson¡¯s birthday party. It¡¯s not¡­¡± She didn¡¯t say the word ¡°proposal¡°. She knew she had no other option at this point. The only move left was to retreat. Pushing forward would only destroy her further. Even if Jayson wanted to defend her, there was nothing he could do now with Betty standing right there. Luckily, she had never outright said it was a proposal. That gave her room to backpedal. After all, they were the ones who had jumped to conclusions. But the facts were out now. ster Betty had spoken, and Jayson had confirmed that Nancy wasn¡¯t his girlfriend. He was married, and his wife turned out to be none other than Ariel, the very woman who had been making heat inestely, Two people who had never once appeared connected in public were suddenly revealed to be husband and wife, The shock was seismic. Everyone¡¯s minds were blown by the revtion. ¡°Ms. Walker¡¯s been Mr. Larkin¡¯s wife all along? You¡¯d never guess from how they acted.¡± ¡°Gosh, we really misunderstood. Thirns out Ms. Stanton¡¯s just Mr. Larkin¡¯s¡­ close friend.¡± Several people looked over at Nancy again. Their gazes were now Hinged with subtle mockery. Everyone here was part of the same circle. They knew exactly the truth behind all this. And the fact that Jayson hadn¡¯t said a word to defend Nancy meant slie didn¡¯t even qualify as a close friend, To people in their circle, she was just someone who had been tagging along. They had all thought Nancy was a cultured, elite returnee from overseas, born into an artistic, well¨Ceducated family. At the very least, she had a polished, morous image. But it turned out that beneath the surface, she was a mess. Nancy caught those veiled barbs. No matter how calm she was under normal circumstances, even she couldn¡¯t keep her color from draining. Frederick watched as Nancy backed down without a fight. It hit him that she had always known Jayson and Ariel were married. He felt a sense of dissonance. After all, Nancy had always been the picture of purity and elegance in his mind. Inside 436 Ariel couldn¡¯t quite exin how she fell. It wasplicated. She had never nned to make her past rtionship with Jayson oblic because thest thing she wanted was more entanglement. But now, Betty didn¡¯t know they were divorced, and the terms of the divorce prevented Ariel from saying anything about it. Now that the truth was out, she and Jayson would likely be the center of attention. That divorce agreement Jayson had drawn up was too clever. Every use tied her hands. She couldn¡¯t even rify that they weren¡¯t together anymore. ¡°Everyone, please turn off your phones.¡± Matt was the first to recover. He nced at the celebrities and influencers he had invited and quickly said, ¡°I hope no one reads too much into what happened today. It was all just a misunderstanding.¡± He rushed to handle the mess. This involved Jayson, after all. He didn¡¯t want things to spiral out of control. But one of the heiresses who did livestreaming for fun looked a little guilty as she said, ¡°I forgot to turn off my stream just now. I think it went live.¡± Matt frowned at those words. If it had already been livestreamed, the clip might already be circting online. Nancy realized the same thing, and her expression turned even uglier. Betty¡¯s gaze swept the crowd with calm authority. ¡°In that case, to avoid any further misunderstandings, we won¡¯t be keeping you here any longer, Ms. Stanton. Please see yourself out.¡± Those words were no different from an outright dismissal. Everyone could tell that Betty was protective of Ariel. Of course, even though Betty had called it a ¡°misunderstanding¡°, everyone knew the truth. The word ¡°mistress¡± she used earlier had already branded Nancy. It was clear to everyone now that she was the one who had no rightful ce in this. With the way things had unfolded, there was no need to spell everything out too bluntly. After all, both sides still had some dignity to preserve. But one thing was crystal clear now- -the Larkins didn¡¯t favor Nancy. ¡°Matt, take Nancy home,¡± Jayson finally spoke. His expression was still ¨¤s unreadable as ever. Matt knew that if they didn¡¯t clear the scene now, this mess could get worse. Nancy said nothing. Her hands were clenched tight. As she turned to leave, she cast Jayson a deep look. She still believed he would take care of things. But¡­ As her gazended on Ariel, it turned cold,ced with bitterness and a mocking edge. Ariel must have done this on purpose. She had set the stage to ruin her ns and publicly humiliate her. Now Jayson had been forced to confirm their rtionship in front of everyone. Ariel¡¯s moves were nastier than she thought. Absolutely low¨Css Ariel didn¡¯t even nce at her. She didn¡¯t care what Nancy thought ¡°Now that everything¡¯s been cleared up, you can get back to the party. The Larkin family is covering everything tonight. Don¡¯t Het a little interruption spoil the fun,¡± Betty said, switching back to a gracious tone. The crowd quickly echoed their agreement. But Ariel didn¡¯t feel like staying another minute. She looked at Betty ¡°Grandma, I think I¡¯ll head out first,¡± Betty took her hand. ¡°Come home with me, Ariel figured she wanted to talk. After all, the truth was out now. There was no going back to pretending nothing had happened. Then Betty looked over at Jayson, who had remained calm through the entire scene. ¡°You too.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t argue. He turned to Perry, who was still by the side. ¡°Matt will be back in bit. You guys enjoy the party first.¡± Perry¡¯s gaze flicked briefly toward Ariel. ¡°Okay.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Ariel walked past Zach and Frederick without sparing them a nce. She treated them like they didn¡¯t exist. The two of them looked extremely pale. It was obvious that they were still struggling to process the reality of it all. Inside 437 Matt left to take Nancy home, while Perry stayed behind to help smooth things over at the scene. As for the live stream, they would have to wait and see how things unfolded before taking any action. Ariel wasn¡¯t concerned about how they would clean up the mess. Betty hadn¡¯t let go of her hand since the moment they left, so Ariel couldn¡¯t very well pull away. She just silently followed her into the car. When they arrived at Larkin Manor, Jayson got out first and walked around to open the car door for Ariel. He looked at her, calm andposed. Sometimes, Ariel had to admire this about him. Even in moments like these, he could still keep a straight face and put on an act. She got out and followed Betty into the house. Betty didn¡¯t seem angry at all. In fact, she looked rather satisfied with how Jayson had handled things earlier. ¡°It was a mess back at the hotel. We didn¡¯t even get to eat. Dinner¡¯s ready here. Let¡¯s sit down and eat first before we talk.¡± Ariel nced toward the dining room. Sure enough, everything was already set up like they had been expected. ¡°Okay.¡± Jayson went to sit down first. Ariel knew Betty had something to say, so she quietly took a seat and waited. Betty looked at the two of them, sitting at separate ends of the table, and couldn¡¯t help but sigh. ¡°Jayson, make it clear to Ari. Some people and some things have nothing to do with you. Or if they do, you¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Jayson looked up at her. But before he could respond, Ariel cut in, ¡°Grandma, it doesn¡¯t matter.¡± She knew Jayson would try to smooth things over with Betty by pretending topromise. She didn¡¯t feel like watching him put on a show, so she shut the whole thing down before it even started The faster they moved past this, the better. Ariel was also sending a message. She hoped Betty would understand that there was no point tying together two people who felt nothing for each other. Jayson finally turned to look at her. Her expression was nk. She was telling Betty that she didn¡¯t care and this didn¡¯t need to be turned into a big deal. He leaned back slowly in his chair and tapped his fingers against the table. ¡°Grandma, I agree with whatever Ari says.¡± Betty couldn¡¯t make sense of these two. Ariel didn¡¯t seem to care that the public was trying to tie Jayson to Nancy. Was it because she trusted that nothing was going on? Or did she just not care anymore? And Jayson¡¯s demeanor seemed to be saying that if Ariel wanted him to fix it, he would. And if she said it didn¡¯t matter, then he would just shield Nancy. Watching the way both of them sat there like spectators in their own story, Betty felt an ache in her chest. Feeling she owed Ariel, she gently took her hand and said, ¡°I only recognize you as my granddaughter¨Cinw. No matter what happens, you¡¯ll always be thedy of the Larkin family. I won¡¯t let Jayson or anyone treat you unfairly.¡± She meant every word. As for Nancy, she was never going to get into the Larkin family, and she would have no chance to stir up trouble. Ariel understood how deeply the older generation clung to the idea of marriage. It was practically written into their bones. Since she couldn¡¯t tell her about the divorce, she didn¡¯t bother arging. She just nodded. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it, Grandma. I¡¯m fine. I¡¯m going to wash my hands.¡± She didn¡¯t even want to stay in this conversation. She was cold, indifferent, and unbothered. Betty could see it clearly. And that only made, her feel worse. There was something very wrong between those two. As soon as Ariel left the room, Betty¡¯s face turned cold as she looked at Jayson. ¡°Ari¡¯s always been calm and well¨Cmannered. She may say she doesn¡¯t care, but I¡¯m warning you, Nancy needs to back off. Don¡¯t make me step in to get rid of her.¡± Jayson poured Betty a ss of water, then poured another and set it in front of Ariel¡¯s seat. Only then did he ask, ¡°Didn¡¯t you set up the whole trap today? What¡¯s left for you to handle?¡± Of course, Betty knew that Jayson had everything crystal clear in his mind. ¡°Nancy had the nerve to book out a hotel under the Larkin family name to throw you a birthday party. You think I wouldn¡¯t hear about it? ¡°You told me that you wouldn¡¯t being home. Did you really think I wouldn¡¯t figure out you were going to her event? If she dares to pull something like this at our venue, why on earth should I give her any respect?¡± Inside 438 Nancy even dared to take it all the way to a proposal. She truly had o shame at all. Jayson didn¡¯t argue. He simply asked, ¡°So, are you satisfied with how things turned out today?¡± Betty let out a cold snort. ¡°From now on, your marriage to Ari is a publicly acknowledged fact. No matter what¡¯s going on between you and Nancy, she¡¯s done. She¡¯s a public disgrace now. Se¡¯s been coasting on the title of future Mrs. Larkin long enough. She brought all of this on herself.¡± After tonight, Nancy¡¯s reputation in their circle would bepletely ruined. Jayson was well aware of that. He didn¡¯t say a word, showing no intention of going against Betty. His posture was even rxed. By the time Ariel returned, the grandmother and grandson had already talked things through. She wasn¡¯t curious about how the rest would be handled either. Truth was, everyone in the Larkin family knew about Nancy. Tonight was just the first time it had turned into a direct confrontation. Ariel knew Betty hadn¡¯t needed to expose the truth like this. After all, old¨Cmoney families cared deeply about appearances. It must have been rage that pushed her over the edge. Even though the one at fault was Jayson, Betty, as his grandmother, had chosen to abandon propriety to protect Ariel. And thetter had no choice but to ept the favor. Some things were better left unsaid even when understood clearly. Eventually, the maid brought out a cake. Betty wanted to give them some space, hoping they would use this as a chance to thaw the ice between them. So she made her exit first. Ariel didn¡¯t move. The flickering candlelight danced across Jayson¡¯s face from across the table. In the end, it turned out she was the one spending his birthday with him. She found itughable. If she had refused toe here tonight, it would have made Betty think she was angry with Jayson. That would lead to even more headaches. Ariel didn¡¯t have the patience for that. It was best to deal with it all now and get it over with. Jayson, on the other hand, didn¡¯t seem rattled by the chaos earlier Ariel knew him well enough. Even if the sky came crashing down, he could still find a way to handle it. Very few things could ever shake hisposure. It wasn¡¯t that he didn¡¯t care about Nancy. It was more like he already had a n. Jayson stared at the flickering candlelight for a long moment before leaning in and softly blowing it out. He was just going through the motions. Just as the me died, Ariel looked at him. ¡°Tell Grandma I¡¯ve got something to do. I¡¯m heading out.¡± She didn¡¯t n on staying a second longer and had no intention of sharing the cake. The candle was out. That was enough. The only reason she hade was because Betty had insisted. There was no way she was going to stay overnight. Jayson didn¡¯t argue. He stood and said evenly, ¡°I¡¯lle with you if you leave on your own, Grandma won¡¯t let it go.¡± That was true. Ariel didn¡¯t respond. Jayson asked the maid to let Betty know they were leaving, then followed Ariel outside. The moon was pale and cold. Ariel walked ahead, her pace brisk. Jayson trailed behind her, keeping a steady six¨Cfoot distance. Neither of them said a word, let alone talked about how to handle the fallout now that their rtionship had been exposed. Since Ariel hade in Betty¡¯s car, she needed to leave the area in jayson¡¯s. ¡°Just drop me off somewhere I can catch a cab. Thanks.¡± Ariel wouldn¡¯t make things hard for herself. She climbed into the front passenger seat efficiently. She had no intention of sitting in the back with Jayson. He didn¡¯t call the driver. Under Ariel¡¯s confused gaze, he got in on the driver¡¯s side. ¡°I¡¯ll take you home. What¡¯s your address?¡± Inside 439 Ariel didn¡¯t quite understand what Jayson was thinking. Why go tough the motions when Betty wasn¡¯t even around to see it? Besides, shouldn¡¯t he be in a rush to find Nancy right now and clean up the fallout from tonight¡¯s scandal? This might be the first time Nancy had suffered such a major blow No doubt she needed Jayson tofort her. ¡°Your address?¡± Jayson turned toward Ariel. ¡°It¡¯ste. It¡¯s not safe to be out thiste alone.¡± Clearly, he wasn¡¯t giving her a choice. Ariel didn¡¯t feel like arguing, so she typed her home address into the GPS. The ride was silent. Neither of them spoke. Just before they arrived, Jayson¡¯s phone, which was resting on the center console, suddenly rang. The sharp sound cut through the silence. Ariel instinctively nced at the screen. It was a call from someone saved as ¡°Babe¡°. She quickly looked away. Jayson didn¡¯t bother hiding it. He just answered the call. Nancy¡¯s voice came through, sounding tired. ¡°Jayson, are you done over there?¡± Jayson replied with a hum of acknowledgment. E Nancy was clearly shaken by everything that had happened, but she still tried to soundposed. ¡°Did I make things hard for you? You were forced to acknowledge Ariel. That must¡¯ve caused trouble for you, right?¡± Forced to? Ariel heard the wording and thought Nancy wasn¡¯t wrong. Jayson¡¯s voice stayed steady. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure how to exin things to everyone now. Jayson, what do you think?¡± Nancy sounded serious. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of something. Let¡¯s talkter.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t borate. Nancy understood that he probably had just as many headaches to deal with as she did right now. After all, he had worked so hard to avoid being seen as connected to Ariel, And now, Ariel had set him up. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll wait for your call.¡± With that, the call ended.¡® Ariel sat there, having listened to every word, and couldn¡¯t help but feel like she was the third wheel. After all, Nancy had nned to propose tonight. In the end, things took an unexpected turn. Her perfect n fell apart, and she had to be talked about behind her back. If Betty hadn¡¯t shown up, Ariel was pretty sure Jayson wouldn¡¯t have said no to Nancy¡¯s proposal. She turned toward the window. The phone call didn¡¯t faze her at all Jayson, naturally, didn¡¯t offer any exnation. About half an hourter, they pulled up in front of her neighborhood. This was Jayson¡¯s first time seeing where she lived after she had moved out of their marital home. It was a high¨Cend neighborhood with tight security and a clean environment. When Ariel got out, Jayson followed. He stood next to the car, looking at her. Ariel spoke first. ¡°You should know that none of what happened today was something I nned. I¡¯ve never intended to bring up our rtionship to anyone. It¡¯s already in the past, after all. So if you publicly acknowledged it, that¡¯s on you. It doesn¡¯t count as me breaching the agreement.¡± That was the main point she needed to make. If Nancy hadn¡¯t chosen tonight to propose, none of this would have escted. Jayson looked at her under the moonlight and replied calmly as usual, ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s not your responsibility. It¡¯s on me.¡± That answer was enough to ease Ariel¡¯s concern. ¡°Since our marriage is exposed, the use is void. But you still need to keep the divorce under wraps,¡± Jayson reminded her. Ariel understood that perfectly well. If she didn¡¯t, she wouldn¡¯t have gone along with the whole act at Larkin Manor. ¡°Sure.¡± As long as Jayson didn¡¯t pin the exposure on her, she didn care about the rest. She didn¡¯t bother to invite him in for tea. She simply turned and walked inside. Jayson didn¡¯t leave right away. He leaned against the car, looking around the neighborhood, deep in thought. Nancy hadn¡¯t told Sarah what happened yet. She was afraid thetter would blow up. She barely slept that night. The next morning, when she showed up at Veyo Solutions, she looked visibly worn down. The moment she walked into the office, she felt all the staresing at her from every direction. Inside 440 Chapter 440 Even though everyone at the office was doing their best to stay professional, those curious, spective nces were impossible to ignore. Nancy pressed her lips into a tight line, refusing to let even a flicker of difort show. Head held high and shoulders squared, she walked into the elevator. Inside her office, Robin hurried to mask the shock and mixed emotions in his eyes as he stepped forward to say, ¡°Ms. Stanton, you have a technology development nning meeting at the government office at 10:00 am today.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Nancy massaged her temples. Things might have gone off¨Cscript yesterday, but work still had to go on. She gathered her things and headed over early. But the moment she arrived and saw Ariel and Chad already there, her expression faltered. It wasn¡¯t unusual for majorpanies to gather at events like this in response to new policy initiatives. But of all days, it came right after the dramatic shift in her public identity. Nancy immediately sensed people looking at her openly. The looks she received were no longer filled with the intrigue. Clearly, what happened yesterday hadn¡¯t been contained. In fact, it had already spread like wildfire. That change in the way people looked at her made Nancy feel like she was being pricked by invisible needles all over. Still, she kept herposure. She walked toward the steps, heels clicking with each stride. Chad had only found out what happened this morning thanks to Janice. He was actually shocked. He leaned toward Ariel and murmured, ¡°I must say, Nancy¡¯s got nerves of steel. I really underestimated her. Her reputation¡¯s just tanked, but she still shows up like nothing¡¯s wrong.¡± Of course, he felt a certain satisfaction about this whole situation. After all, Nancy used to strut around with the ¡°Mrs. Larkin¡±bel, owning every room she entered. That wouldn¡¯t be the case now. Ariel, though, didn¡¯t find any joy in the situation. If anything, she was more annoyed. From the moment she arrived, people had started gathering around her, greeting her warmly and calling her ¡°Mrs. Larkin¡°. Everyone loved jumping ship the second the tide turned. Inside the hall, seating was still being arranged. Ariel followed the agenda and located the seats assigned to her and Chad. Nancy spotted her own namete as well. Next to it was Jayson¡¯s. The seating had been arranged beforehand and hadn¡¯t been changed today. It was clear that whoever handled the seating hd ced them together based on her previous rtionship with Jayson. When Nancy saw that her seat was right beside Jayson¡¯s, she exhaled silently. After a long night of tension, that one small thing brought her a flicker of joy. Just as she was about to sit down, a staff member hurried over and picked up her namete. ¡°Apologies, Ms. Stanton, you¡¯re not seated here. Your seat is a bit further back.¡± Chapter 440 +25 BONUS Before Nancy could say anything, she saw the staff member ce other namete right beside Jayson¡¯s. It read, ¡°Faye Technologies, Ariel Walker.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression froze. Heat surged through her chest like wildere, smoldering and relentless. When Ariel and Chad arrived, they were just as surprised to see what was going on. Everyone around them was already watching. This scene was incredibly dramatic. Nancy had always been the exception back then. But Ariel was the low¨Cprofile Mrs. Larkin all along. Chad didn¡¯t say a word, but he raised an eyebrow and smirked. Nancy had just been publicly humiliated. That was undeniably a silent p that shattered her carefully constructed image. The tension in the air was sharp. Suddenly, a voice came from the back. ¡°Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel turned around and saw Jayson approaching with his usual calm. His face gave nothing away. He simply looked at the scene in front of him before his gaze settled on the nametes. Nancy immediately turned to him. Keeping herposure, she said, ¡°Jayson, you¡¯re here.¡± The scene was so strange that someone couldn¡¯t help but whisper, ¡®Who do you think Mr. Larkin is here to support?¡± Inside 441 Chapter 441 The birthday party incident had blown up far beyond control. By now, nearly everyone in Eldoria¡¯s upper crust had heard about it. And given Jayson¡¯s unique status, the fact that his personal life was now tabloid¨Cworthy was almost surreal In this circle, it wasn¡¯t rare for married men to keep mistresses. A so¨Ccalled close female friend waiting in each city was practically an unspoken norm. But what made Nancy different was that from the moment she entered the public eye, she had always stood beside Jayson as his official girlfriend. She had the polished looks, the right family background, and a prestigious degree admired even by high society. The moment she returned home, she was seen as the wothan Jayson cherished the most. Layer uponyer of filters had been ced over her image in people¡¯s minds. And now, it had all shattered overnight. Nancy was exposed as the woman who had interfered in someone else¡¯s marriage. Her carefully curated image of ss, intellect, and perfection had crumbledpletely. That was the real reason people couldn¡¯t stop talking. After all, it wasn¡¯t umon for powerful men to keep mistresses. So once the storm had passed, and all three people at the center of the scandal appeared at the same event,parisons were bound to be made. Ariel knew exactly what everyone was thinking. That was just how people were. But she had no intention of being caught up in any of this drama. She didn¡¯t care how Jayson would respond. Without hesitation, she picked up the namete the staff member had just ced down for her. ¡°No need to change anything. I¡¯ll sit where I was originally assigned.¡± With that, Ariel turned and walked toward her original seat. She had no interest in beingbeled as a woman fighting over a man. And she especially wasn¡¯t going to sit around waiting to see which woman Jayson chose. The choice had always been hers to make. Ariel¡¯s response left many in the room visibly stunned. Then came the quiet admiration. No wonder she was thedy of the Larkins. That kind of mindset andposure wasn¡¯t something most people possessed. Even Nancy frowned slightly. She didn¡¯t expect Ariel to pull something like this. She assumed Ariel was putting on a show because she felt guilty and insecure. Ariel was just afraid she couldn¡¯t outshine her. Nancy nced at Jayson again, only to find him watching Ariel¡¯s retreating figure. She pressed her lips into a line before saying, ¡°Jayson, let¡¯s sit down first.¡± Jayson looked at her, his expression unreadable. ¡°No need for special treatment. Just stick to the original arrangement. The seating doesn¡¯t need to be changed.¡± Nancy instantly understood what he meant. The staff member asked in surprise, ¡°Should we move Ms. Stanton to a different seat then?¡± Jayson had already sat down.
  1. 15.
Before Jayson could respond, Nancy straightened her back and gave the staff member a calm nce. ¡°I appreciate the concern, but rules are rules. I¡¯ll take my assigned seat.¡± The staff member looked uncertain. But with both Jayson and Nancy having spoken, It was only natural to move her seat back to where it had originally been. And just like that, the three of them ended up sitting in separate spots. To the rest of the room, the scene was bizarre and impossible to read. They couldn¡¯t stop sneaking nces at Ariel, who had remainedposed through it all. Regardless of opinions, one fact was undeniable¨CAriel was Jayson¡¯s wife. Plenty of people nearby made an effort to strike up a friendly conversation with Ariel. She wasn¡¯t the least bit aloof; she answered every question professionally. The more they spoke with her, the more impressed they became. Lately, Ariel had been all over the news because of her skills. The system she independently developed had made national headlines. She had topped the list in the postgraduate admissions exam, earning the spot as Carlos¡® final student. And even the sh with Veyo Solutions had ultimately be a stepping stone to Ariel¡¯s sess and rising reputation. So, although people were surprised to learn she was Jayson¡¯s wife, that wasn¡¯t the only reason they respected her. Most of all, they genuinely admired what she was capable of. Inside 442 Chapter 442 With that shift in perception, when people nced at Nancy, thzes held something less ttering. Nancy felt it immediately. Her face remained calm, but her grip on the pen tightened slightly.. The sudden drop from grace was a little too fast for her to process, Ariel, meanwhile, stayedpletely unaffected. After all, she had always kept herself removed from gossip and drama. Every time someone looked like they wanted to pry or ask more, Chad would smoothly step in, redirecting them with a few easy words. Once the meeting wrapped up,Ariel and Chad stood and left right away. She didn¡¯t even nce in Jayson¡¯s She had no intention of lingering in the spotlight or giving Jayson and Nancy any opportunity to twist the narrative. Whatever people wanted to assume about their rtionship was none of her business. The rumors were still running wild. As someone who had been at the party, Zach still hadn¡¯t been able to fully recover from it all. He couldn¡¯t quite put his feelings into words. He was just so frustrated that he wished he could hit a reset button. That evening, he asked to meet Liam. Liam had just returned from a nearby city, and with no work scheduled for the next day, he decided to check in on Zach. By the time he got to the table, Zach was already halfway into a solo drinking session. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did you get dumped?¡± Liam asked as he sat down beside him. After setting down his bag, he ordered a signature drink. Zach looked at him and frowned. ¡°Dumped? I didn¡¯t even date anyone.¡± ¡°Then why are you drinking like it¡¯s the end of the world?¡± Zach opened his mouth, but a wave of frustration caught in his chest. The whole thing had hit him hard. Eventually, he told Liam everything that happened at the birthday party. Liam swirled his ss lightly, not even bothering to look up. ¡°Okay. And?¡± Zach froze for a second. ¡°Liam, don¡¯t you think it¡¯s insane? The real girlfriend turns out to be the mistress, and the mistress is actually the wife! I feel like a damn clown!¡± Liam gave him a long look. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you? Why were you always going after Ms. Walker anyway? I don¡¯t see you obsessing over other people¡¯s rtionships.¡± Zach fell silent. ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°Find a chance to apologize to Ms. Walker sincerely. Whether she epts it is up to her, but if you mess up, you have to own it.¡± Liam didn¡¯t bother saying much more. A real man should own his mistakes, and he knew Zach woulde around eventually. As for Ariel¡­ Liam nced down at the ice shifting in his drink. Even though her rtionship with Jayson was now out in the open, the situation between Jayson and Nancy wasn¡¯t something she would simply swallow without protest. He didn¡¯t think Ariel was the type to suffer in silence. This marriage might notst. He checked his watch. It wasn¡¯t even 9:00 pm yet. Something clicked in his mind. After some thought, Liam pulled out his phone, found Ariel¡¯s contact on WhatsApp, and typed out a quick message. ¡°Ms. Walker, don¡¯t forget your checkup at the hospital next week. I update your treatment n and adjust the meds.¡± Once the reminder was sent, he set the phone down. Still stewing in frustration, Zach pulled out his phone, only to realize something btedly. ¡°I don¡¯t even have her number. How am I supposed to talk to her about this?¡± Liam didn¡¯t answer. He wasn¡¯t about to hand over Ariel¡¯s number. That was Zach¡¯s problem to solve. Zach¡¯s headache only got worse. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw Ariel standing there, staring at him coldly while saying, ¡°Stop writing yourself into the story. That¡¯s not righteousness. That¡¯s just stupidity.¡± The memory made him wince. He wished the floor would swallow him whole. Just as he sat there, gripping his phone in frustration, a news notification popped up on the screen. Zach saw the keywords and instinctively unlocked his phone. The headline read, ¡°Reputable Overseas Schr Caught in Affair Scandal?¡± Inside 443 Chapter 443 The second Zach saw the headline, he tapped in immediately. It was a screen recording from a live stream. The footage showed Nancy¡¯s face just as Jayson¡¯s voice came through loud and clear. ¡°This is my wife, Ariel Walker.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t appear on camera, but Nancy did, and her expression was unmistakable. The color drained from her face in an instant. The clip had been reposted so many times that the video quality had noticeably degraded. Zach scrolled through thements. There were already thousands of them. What stood out about the video was how Jayson calmly and openly took the initiative to acknowledge his wife, while showing no connection to Nancy at all. Most of thements were questioning whether Nancy had tried to pull something but failed. Even people who didn¡¯t know who Nancy was could recognize Jayson in a heartbeat. As the heir of a top¨Ctier family, everypany and investment Jayson touched thrived. He was already a well¨Cknown figure in the financial world. On top of that, he had once appeared in an interview that went viral due to his looks and overall presence, which easily rivaled that of a celebrity. Even now, random photos of him could easily rake in hundreds of thousands of likes across tforms, all thanks to that killer face and body. So when this video blew up, it was no surprise that public interest exploded with it. But the only thing captured in the clip was Jayson¡¯s calm statement about his wife. There was nothing inappropriate about it. In the end, all the bacsh ended up directed at Nancy. Zach checked the trending list, confused. ¡°Why hasn¡¯t the Larkin family shut this down yet?¡± Nancy had seen it too. Even with the strongest resolve, she couldn¡¯t help but feel breathless with frustration when she saw some of thements. Yesterday¡¯s stream hadn¡¯t made any waves. But tonight, it suddenly went viral, and her face had even been exposed. She took a deep breath. This wasn¡¯t going to be easy to clean up. She immediately called Jayson, but he didn¡¯t pick up, so she tried Colton. He answered, ¡°Yes, Ms. Stanton?¡± ¡°Where¡¯s Jayson? I need to speak to him.¡± Colton seemed to be in the middle of work as he replied, ¡°Mr. Larkin is in the middle of an international video not avable at the moment. You might need to wait until it wraps up.¡± Frowning, Nancy tightened her grip on the phone. ¡°How long is that going to take?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not sure yet,¡± Colton replied honestly. Her temples throbbed, but she knew better than to expect an international meeting to end onmand. ¡°Please let me know the moment he¡¯s free.¡± ¡°Of course, Ms. Stanton.¡± rence. He¡¯s Shi Nancy stared at her screen for a long while. Jayson was buried in work and probably hadn¡¯t even seen what was happening online. The clip was blowing up at the worst possible moment. Every passing second felt suffocating to her. However, she couldn¡¯t contain this on her own. She would have to wait for Jayson to step in and clean it up. Meanwhile, Sarah had gotten the cold shoulder too. Today was supposed to be a casual get¨Ctogether with a few society wives. But when she showed up, she was told at thest minute that the gathering was canceled. Yet, she had clearly seen one of their cars still parked outside. That lit a fire in her gut. Sarah had fought her way up and knew exactly what was going on In high society, the men had their roles, but the wives¡®work was its own battlefield. They usually bonded over tea and spa days, keeping up friendly appearances. But during those moments, they were constantly exchanging information about each other¡¯s families and quietly handling matters the men couldn¡¯t address directly. Everyone had their own agenda. One thing that united them was their unanimous stance against homewreckers, mistresses, gold diggers, and the like. Nothing stayed secret forever. Word must have reached the wives¡® circle. Inside 444 The bacsh was inevitable. By the time Sarah got home, she wasuming. ¡°These women are so short¨Csighted! They don¡¯t even know who Jayson¡¯s protecting, and they¡¯re already picking sides!¡± she snapped. Nancy closed her eyes, trying to stay calm. Her voice was cool when she replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll talk to Jayson. Once he knows what¡¯s going on, he¡¯ll handle it right away.¡± Sarah didn¡¯t doubt that. Still, the whole thing left a bitter taste in her mouth. ¡°Ariel really takes after her mother. She pretends she doesn¡¯t care about anything, but underneath, she¡¯s always scheming and always trying to win. If she hadn¡¯t pulled that stunt and brought Mrs. Larkin Senior into it, maybe you and Jayson would¡¯ve¨C¡± ¡°Mom.¡± Nancy cut her off. She wasn¡¯t in the mood for this. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter anymore. Jayson had no choice. Mrs. Larkin Senior was right there, and he had to think about Bluum Corp¡¯s reputation. He had to acknowledge Ariel.¡± With so many people around, it was impossible to keep things under wraps. Jayson had too much to juggle, and Nancy understood the pressure he was under. Sarah fell silent for a moment, thinking it over. ¡°Things like this aren¡¯t exactly a big deal in this circle. It¡¯s just a temporary gossip. It¡¯ll pass soon enough. What really needs to be handled is the live stream clip. Clean that up, end the spection, and it¡¯ll settle. We shouldy low for a while.¡± Frowning, Nancy nced at her phone. ¡°Yeah, I know.¡± Jayson was still tied up in a meeting, but Nancy got another call. It was from Frederick. She remembered the look on his face during the party and decided to answer. Frederick asked to meet. A distraction didn¡¯t sound so bad to Nancy at this moment, so she agreed. They met near the vi. ¡°Mr. Swanson, is there something important you need to see me about?¡± Nancy¡¯s expression wasposed, showing no trace of being shaken. There was still a quiet pride in her demeanor. Frederick was relieved to see she hadn¡¯t fallen apart. He had seen the news too and had been worried she might not be doing well. ¡°I just wanted to check in on you. The public doesn¡¯t know the full story. I hope you¡¯re not letting thements get to you.¡± Frederick was worried, but deep down, he still believed in her. Nancy was strong and independent at her core. She could handle it. Nancy could tell he was genuinely worried, but she didn¡¯t show any vulnerability. She stayed as graceful as ever. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Swanson.¡± Frederick looked at her, hesitating for a beat, then finally spoke up. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I just want to say that you¡¯re a good woman. You¡¯re smart, capable, and beautiful. You deserve better. If you stay with Mr. Larkin, you¡¯ll only be wasting your time.¡± After all, Jayson was married. Frederick still couldn¡¯t wrap his head around it. Why would someone like Jayson marry a woman like Ariel? She seemed suited only for housework,pletely dependent on Jayson, and needed heavy PR just to get a sliver of attention If Chad hadn¡¯t pushed Ariel into the spotlight as a shield, would she have been able to take credit for the other engineers¡® work at Faye Technologies and im she was the sole developer of the flight control system? 20 BONUS Nancy, on the other hand, was wless. She was clearly the ideal wife in every way. She didn¡¯t deserve the criticism being thrown her way. Of course Nancy knew Frederick cared about her. Not just him. She knew others did too. But¡­ ¡°Thank you. But Jayson and I have our own arrangement.¡± Frederick clenched his fists. He paused, then looked her straight in the eyes. ¡°But he has a wife. Maybe you should give up on him. 1-1 can give you a future, and you wouldn¡¯t have to hide.¡± Inside 445 Frederick had already made up his mind. Nancy didn¡¯t deserve thete she was getting. If she said yes, he would dly be her safe harbor. He had liked her from the beginning. But out of respect for her rtionship with Jayson, he had never crossed the line. Now that he knew they weren¡¯t officially together, why shouldn¡¯t he try? Nancy didn¡¯t look the least bit surprised, as if she was used to this kind of situation. She looked at him calmly. ¡°Mr. Swanson, thank you for liking me, but I think we¡¯re better off as friends.¡± Besides, Jayson never even liked Ariel. There wasn¡¯t a trace of feeling there. So how did anyone think she could actually hold onto that position? Still, Nancy hadn¡¯tpletely shut the door on Frederick. After all they were all part of the same circle, bound to cross paths again. They might even work together in the future. Frederick picked up on that. He knew Nancy had high standards. But when it came to love, he was no less than Jayson. At least he could give Nancy a proper title. Nancy didn¡¯t borate. ¡°Mr. Swanson, thank you foring. It¡¯s rare to have someone stand by you when things are rough. But Jayson and I aren¡¯t what you think. There¡¯s nothing improper between us.¡± With that, she turned and left, not caring how he interpreted her words. Frederick frowned. So¡­ was it Ariel who was refusing to divorce? Ariel had already arranged her next checkup with Liam the night before. She didn¡¯t hear about the news until the following day. She had been working on the proposal since she returned home the previous night. When she arrived at the office, the first thing she saw was Janice practically skipping toward her, her face beaming. ¡°Karma¡¯s real! I scrolled through posts bashing her until like 1:00 amst night. Some of her personal info even got leaked. Everyone¡¯s specting she tried to break you two up.¡± Then Janice pursed her lips. ¡°But because the clip showed Jayson publicly introducing you as his wife, people assumed your rtionship must be solid. So now Nancy¡¯s getting the heat.¡± Ariel set her bag on the table and asked in confusion, ¡°When did this break?¡± ¡°Last night. When my friend forwarded it to me, it was already close to 11:00 pm.¡± Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°Has it been taken down?¡± Janice nodded, then added angrily, ¡°I was still scrolling past midnight yesterday. It must¡¯ve been taken downter. Jayson¡¯s really protective of Nancy. There¡¯s not a whisper about it now. Some other big entertainment scandal has already taken over the trending spots.¡± So it had trended for a few hours. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to let it run that long before shutting it down. For someone like him, it should have been resolved with a single call. Bluum Corp¡¯s PR department wasn¡¯t known for being slow. But Ariel wasn¡¯t bothered by the fact that Jayson had cleaned up the scandal. Online hate was one thing. In their circle, even if the posts were gone, the damage was done. Everyone in that world already knew what was up. +25 BONUS ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. Anyone who matters already knows what kind of person she is,¡± Ariel said as she gave Janice a pat on the head. ¡°Whether it¡¯s taken down or not doesn¡¯t change mucli. She¡¯s not celebrity. People online will forget about it soon enough either way. But it¡¯s a different story for those who work closely with Nancy of interact with her regrly. It was, in a way, a kind of social death. Janice found that made sense and immediately felt a lot better. ¡°Te. It was up for a few hours yesterday anyway, and she definitely got her fair share of bacsh.¡± Some people had even started calling her an intellectual femme fatale. This kind of situation was enough to make someone like Nancy, who had been carefully maintaining her image, suffer a real blow. That crushing sense of contrast could eat a person alive. ¡°Alright, back to work. I need to edit my proposal,¡± Ariel said. She had no time for petty gossip. Affairs among the upper ss happened all the time. What made Nancy¡¯s case different was how high¨Cprofile she had been and the wrong impression she left on the public. So when the truth came out, her fall from grace was all the more humiliating. Now that the deadline was closing in, Ariel had to focus on the military fighter jet project. Her WhatsApp was already flooded. Her ex and current business partners were all sending shocked messages, trying to confirm Ariel¡¯s identity. No one had ever guessed she was married to Jayson. Gossip was human nature, after all. Ariel chose not to respond. Just after 3:00 pm, Cassidy walked in. ¡°Ms. Walker, someone¡¯s here to see you.¡± Ariel looked up. ¡°Who is it?¡± Cassidy was still stunned. She swallowed hard and said, ¡°A Ms. Cavell. She said she¡¯s your mother¨Cinw.¡± Surprise flickered in Ariel¡¯s eyes. Once Evelyn was brought in, Ariel stayedposed. She turned to Cassidy and said, ¡°Bring in a cup of tea, please,¡± It was Evelyn¡¯s first time visiting Faye Technologies and her first real look at Ariel¡¯s work environment. Lately, Ariel had been a hot topic, and nearly all the attention was positive. This Ariel was nothing like the woman she had once known. Ariel sat across from Evelyn, calm and graceful. ¡°What can I do for you?¡± Evelyn studied her. She still looked mostly the same, but something had changed. Ariel now carried less softness and reserve. Instead, there was a calm confidence in her eyes that took people by surprise. It seemed like this had always been who she really was. This was the first time Evelyn had taken a proper look at Ariel. ¡°You seem to be doing pretty well,¡± Evelyn said, her gaze drifting across the room. Ariel¡¯s desk was covered in her handwritten drafts. Ariel looked at her quietly, unmoved by what seemed to be apliment. At this point, whether she was doing well or not had nothing to do with anyone else. Evelyn got straight to the point. Her poised features were tinged with coolness. ¡°You probably know why I¡¯m here. What happened these past two days caused quite a stir.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t start it. You know that. Coming to me won¡¯t change anything,¡± Ariel replied bluntly. Evelyn held her gaze for a moment before saying, ¡°Betty spoke up for you, and that¡¯s what triggered all this. This whole situation will likely be gossip for a while, and it affects the Larkin family¡¯s image, especially Jayson¡¯s. I want all the rumors and negative talk to stop. So¡­¡± After a pause, she continued, ¡°Ariel, I want you to publicly rify that Nancy isn¡¯t that kind of woman. It¡¯ll be convincinging from you.¡± Inside 446 Chapter 446 Ariel was shocked. For a brief moment, her eyes reflected her amusement. Evelyn wanted her to help clear Nancy¡¯s name so that they could put an end to people¡¯s discussion and spection regarding the incident. Evelyn could roughly tell how Ariel felt about her request. Still, she said calmly, ¡°I¡¯m not saying that because I want you to help Nancy. Instead, it¡¯s for Jayson¡¯s sake. He¡¯s your husband, after all. ¡°While most people would think Nancy was the one trying to approach Jayson, some might make other spections. You¡¯ve worked in public rtions before. You know very well how to resolve the issue in the most cost¨Ceffective way, don¡¯t you?¡± Even rumors or spections circted among a small group of people could potentially damage Jayson¡¯s reputation. Evelyn did not want him to be affected by this incident in the slightest. 1 Besides, Ariel was Jayson¡¯s wife. She was obligated to consider the matter by taking into ount what was best for Jayson. Wouldn¡¯t it be better for them to think about the bigger picture when solving the current issue? Ariel looked at Evelyn calmly. She could see how much Evelyn ced her personal and family interests above everything else. Unfortunately, they needed Ariel to make some sacrifices this time for the sake of their interests. Evelyn had made that request of Ariel despite knowing she was being cruel and unreasonable. Ariel let out a long sigh. Then, she directed her gaze to Evelyn and said monotonously, ¡°I¡¯m not the reason why Jayson¡¯s and the Larkin family¡¯s reputations are suffering at the moment. ¡°You should be talking to the person who¡¯s caused all this. Or you should advise those people who actually needed the advice not to do things like that instead of making me step forward and cover up for them.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t try to gloss over her words. She rejected Evelyn¡¯s request straightforwardly and even pointed out the actual source of the problem. If it were before, Ariel might have chosen to hold back and tolerate Evelyn¡¯s actions, since thetter was her mother¨Cinw. But what did she have to do with any of this? Shouldn¡¯t the Larkins reflect on what happened instead? Evelyn was caught slightly off guard. A frown creased her forehead as she stared at Ariel¡¯s impassive face. Evelyn could clearly see the changes in Ariel¡¯s manner and attitude. She was so different from the mild¨Cmannered Ariel that Evelyn could recall in her memories. Ariel did not bother trying to act friendly. She stood up and said politely, ¡°You can take your time and enjoy the tea before you leave.¡± She paid no mind to Evelyn¡¯s reaction and went to her desk. Ariel had no intention of continuing the conversation. Evelyn could see it as well. She wasn¡¯t nning on forcing Ariel to ept her request. She rose from her seat and gave Ariel a long, good look. Then, Evelyn turned around and left. As soon as Evelyn exited the room, Ariel¡¯s eyes hardened. She looked down at the phone lying next to her hand. After a while, she picked it up and scrolled through the contact list. Then, Ariel called a number that wasn¡¯t saved with a name. When the line got through, Ariel could hear a deep, low voice through her phone. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± That was the first thing the person said during the call. He knew very well Ariel wouldn¡¯t call him unless it was absolutely necessary. Ariel pressed her lips together. Her voice was devoid of warmth and emotion. ¡°You can handle the news involving you and Nancy however you want. Just don¡¯t pester me about it. Your mother came to see me just now and asked me toe forward and help resolve the issue. You should do something about it.¡± Ariel was certain Jayson knew what he needed to do regarding the situation. Jayson paused for a few seconds. ¡°Sure. You needn¡¯t concern yourself with it.¡± Ariel hung up right away since she had gotten a clear response from him. She quickly put the matter behind her. She had no time to spare as she needed to focus on solving some technical issues. After leaving Faye Technologies¡® building, Evelyn received a call from Jayson, asking her to stop by Larkin Manor today. Evelyn had a pensive look in her eyes. However, she didn¡¯t refuse Jayson¡¯s request. Renee had also returned to the manor. She had just found out about the incident involving Nancy. Renee was extremely shocked and upset. She couldn¡¯t understand why Jayson did what he did when he had so many different ways to handle and resolve the situation. Inside 447 Chapter 447 Jayson could have juste up with an exnation and glossed over the details. Neither Renee nor Evelyn had gone near Betty¡¯s room. They waited in the living room as they wanted to avoid having Betty overhear them discussing matters that would most likely involve Ariel. At 7:00 pm, Jayson came in through the front door. Evelyn was sitting on the couch and looking at the quarterly financial reports of her businesses in Sorenta. She raised her head and nced at Jayson. ¡°Have you eaten? Should we ask the maids to prepare some food for you?¡± Renee had run out of patience. She hurried toward Jayson and grabbed the sleeve of his shirt. ¡°Jay, how on earth did things turn out like this? Doesn¡¯t it look really bad for Nancy now? You must have some sort of way to help clear Nancy¡¯s name, right? I know that ourpany¡¯s PR department is verypetent at handling these tasks.¡± Jayson cast her a sideways nce and pulled his hand free. ¡°You should go and sit on the couch as well.¡± Renee couldn¡¯t understand what Jayson was thinking. She grumbled, ¡°I think you should announce to the public that you and Ariel are nning to get a divorce, or you¡¯re already divorced. Ariel wouldn¡¯t mind it anyway. On top of that, we can put a stop to all the criticisms aimed at Nancy. Isn¡¯t it a brilliant idea¡­¡± With how much Ariel loved Jayson, she wouldn¡¯t mind him doing that. After all, she had endured and put up with these things all along. ¡°Renee, enough with thements.¡± Evelyn furrowed her brows. A youngdy like her shouldn¡¯t be meddling in these matters Renee shut her mouth. 1 Still, she was feeling agitated. Renee would be sitting for the college entrance exams soon, and she was nning on asking Nancy to give her some private tutor lessons. With so many things happening at the moment, Nancy couldn¡¯t possibly have the time to help her with that. Jayson loosened his tie and lifted his gaze. ¡°You went to see Ari today?¡± Evelyn looked at him. ¡°Did Arielin to you about it?¡± ¡°You know very well the kind of person she is.¡± Jayson¡¯s tone was calm and steady. Yet, his eyes were unreadable. Evelyn could tell that he disapproved of what she did. Regarding what he¡¯d just said, Ariel had indeed been very meek and docile all along. Although Evelyn still found Arielcking, there was nothing for her to nitpick about when it came to how thetter had handled different matters or her interpersonal rtionships. Jayson didn¡¯t try to beat around the bush. ¡°I hope you won¡¯t bother her or make any unreasonable demands of her moving forward. She¡¯s under no obligation to follow your everymand.¡± Renee was absolutely bewildered. She couldn¡¯t help but find Jayson a little intimidating. Evelyn frowned slightly. ¡°She¡¯s your wife. Is it a problem for us to ask her to do what¡¯s best for the Larkin family?¡± ¡°She has her own free will, and you have no right to interfere with her decisions.¡± Jayson fixed his gaze on Evelyn. His expression remained unchanged, yet his tone was clear and authoritative. ¡°You should know very well who¡¯s the cause of this incident. Instead of meeting Ari, you should have spoken to me instead.¡± Evelyn was left bbergasted by his words. ¡°You¡­¡± ¡°Jay?¡± Renee was still in a daze. ¡°What about Nancy-¡± ¡°Renee ¡°Jayson cast her a stony gaze. ¡°You¡¯re not a child anymore You¡¯ll be considered a full¨Cfledged adult by the end of this year. Just because someone won¡¯t criticize you for it doesn¡¯t mean you can just go ahead and act ignorant. If that were the case, you should probably start learning basic manners again.¡°. He continued unhurriedly, ¡°Regardless of the time and ce, be careful with how you speak of Nancy if you don¡¯t want others to bad¨Cmouth her anymore.¡± Renee stiffened. The realization of what she had done dawned on her face. ¡°I haven¡¯t thought of that¡­¡± A deep frown drew Evelyn¡¯s brows together. ¡°What do you n to do about the incident, then?¡± Jayson stood up. With his gaze lowered, he said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, Let¡¯s put it this way. Ariel hasn¡¯t done anything wrong to the Larkin family. When ites to how our family has treated her, you¡¯re well aware of the situation too. I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll have to remind you what to do regarding the matter after this.¡± Upon hearing those words, Evelyn paused as she lifted the cup to her mouth. Yet, Jayson said nothing else. He turned around and walked away! Inside 448 Chapter 448 For three days, Nancy handled her work for Veyo Solutions from home as she waited for the controversy to die down a little. With so many things happening every day, people would soon forget about this incident once some time had passed. This time, Jayson had helped her resolve a major crisis. Most of the online posts about her had been removed from the inte. It made Nancy feel much relieved. While those posts were mostly attacks aimed at her, Nancy knew very well that Jayson was troubled by the situation too. No matter how tough the situation might be, Jayson had always found a way to help solve the problem and made sure that Nancy wouldn¡¯t be harmed in the slightest. Gradually, people would realize that Ariel meant absolutely nothing to Jayson and that they should choose to side with whom they should. On Thursday, Nancy dropped by her office. She had made an appointment a while back to meet with a client on that day. Around 3:00 pm, Nancy arrived at the client¡¯spany building. However, the client¡¯s secretary smiled and informed her. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Stanton. Mr. Ingram said that the proposal you¡¯ve given us has several issues that need correction, Time is precious for both of ourpanies, Ms. Stanton. We hope your team will put in a bit more effort in their work.¡± Nancy knitted her brows. She was quite surprised to get this response from the client. All along, they never encountered any issues while liaising with the client¡¯s team. ¡°Didn¡¯t your team already approve of the proposal thest time we spoke?¡± Nancy was rather displeased. Yet, she did not let those emotions show on her face. The client¡¯s secretary replied calmly, ¡°That was then. We would like to inform you about the issues that we have only recently be aware of. If you refuse to make the necessary changes, we may have to reconsider our partnership.¡± Nancy pressed her lips together. She could tell that her client was doing this on purpose. However, she couldn¡¯t possibly start yelling at her client¡¯s secretary and risk having this partnership fall apart. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll let my team know and have them fix those issues first.¡± ¡°Thanks for stopping by today, Ms. Stanton. You cane by again once those issues are fixed, then.¡± Nancy had a frigid expression on her face as she came out of the building. She could clearly observe the change in her client¡¯s attitude. They had been very amodating and respectful to Nancy from the start. The negotiations had progressed smoothly. Yet, they were nitpicking about the tiniest ws in their proposal now. Since returning from abroad, this was likely the most difficult hurdle Nancy had ever faced. She could sense the difference in the way she was being treated even though her client¡¯s secretary had spoken to her fairly politely just now. Nancy¡¯s mood soured. She knew very well what brought about these subtle changes. Previously, these people treated her with respect since they assumed she would soon be Jayson¡¯s wife. Yet, with Arieling into the picture, a lot of things would proceed ording to standard protocols from now on. Matt had organized a gathering that evening. After a few moments consideration, Nancy decided to attend the gathering. The gathering was held at a club. Some people were already there by the time she got there. The other guests didn¡¯t act any differently when they saw Nancy. In their circle, these incidents weren¡¯t that big of a deal. In the end, it all came down to whether Jayson actually cared that much about Nancy. 173 ¡°You¡¯re here?¡± Matt nced over his shoulder at Nancy. ¡°Jayson will be here in a bit. Do you want a drink?¡± Nancy nodded. Wendy came up to her just as she had taken a seat. Nancy?¡± Nancy smiled when she saw Wendy. ¡°Where¡¯s Mr. Sanderson? Is here with you today?¡± Wendy beamed warmly. ¡°He¡¯s talking about some funds with a few people over there. I have no interest in the topic, though.¡± Nancy directed her gaze to Wendy¡¯s tummy. She could hardly tell that Wendy was pregnant with how slim thetter was. ¡°Regarding you and Mr. Larkin¡­¡± Wendy didn¡¯t bring up the topic directly. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t concern yourself with what others have to say. After all, people can see how clever and capable you are. Ariel couldn¡¯t possiblypare to you. Even her academic qualifications are lower than yours.¡± Nancy met Wendy¡¯s gaze. She hadn¡¯t expected Wendy to offer her these words offort. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jayson and I are quite alright.¡± She didn¡¯t borate too much. Wendy handed her a drink. ¡°I thought so. Mr. Larkin couldn¡¯t possibly have any special feelings for Ariel. After all, who would like an unfaithful woman? I believe things will work out for you and Mr. Larkin eventually.¡± Inside 449 Nancy¡¯s mood lifted slightly after she heard those words. She bearged. ¡°Thank you,¡± Wendy gave her a wink. ¡°You could also try iny approach? Perhaps you can get Mr. Larkin to consider marriage by conceiving his child first.¡± Nancy paused momentarily. Her gaze fell on Wendy¡¯s lower abdomen, which still appeared t at the moment. Wendy caressed her lower abdomen. With a pensive look in her eyes, she smiled. ¡°Lucas and I have dated for a long time. If it weren¡¯t for the baby, he probably wouldn¡¯t have decided to settle down so soon. Having a child is actually a pretty good way to help a couple¡¯s rtionship grow stronger.¡± If it weren¡¯t for the baby, Lucas probably would not have agreed to marry Wendy so soon. At the same time, Wendy felt much more relieved now that the fact that Ariel and jaysun were married had been revealed to the public. At the very least¡­ A fleeting expression shed through Wendy¡¯s eyes. She kept sile Nancy subconsciously cast a nce in Lucas¡® direction. Anyone could tell a man like him was rather obstinate and self¨Cwilled. Yet, Wendy managed to convince him to settle down. Conceiving a child seemed like a pretty decent n to Nancy now. ¡°What are you two chatting about?¡± Matt came over and noticed Nancy was staring at her ss, seemingly lost in thought. Wendy chuckled. ¡°We were having a girl talk.¡± Nancy lifted her head. ¡°Did Jayson say what time he¡¯d reach here? Matt shrugged. ¡°You know how busy he is. I checked how things were. The situation¡¯s been pretty much taken care of. You don¡¯t have to worry about it too much.¡± Nancy fell silent. The situation on the inte might have been taken care of. Still, Nancy would face certain issues when dealing with some of Veyo Solutions¡® partners, for instance, like what had happened earlier that day. Yet, she didn¡¯tin about it. Nancy saw no point in doing something like that. She would much prefer to think about how she could resolve these issues in the most efficient way. There was also no point in rushing to change the public¡¯s opinion of her right now. With time, people would gradually realize how much Jayson cared about her. ¡°Your research paper will be published soon, right? Moreover, you have Mr. Warbrooke agreeing to be Veyo Solutions¡® technical advisor. By the time youunch your next project, I¡¯m sure the problems you¡¯re facing now will all be solved then.¡± Matt was a yboy himself. He didn¡¯t really think Jayson and Nancy¡¯s rtionship was such an awful thing. Sitting with her legs crossed, Nancy nodded. ¡°I¡¯ll do my best to get back all the things I¡¯ve lost during this incident.¡± Nancy wouldn¡¯t be like Ariel, who made use of the edge she had after Jayson acknowledged that she was his wife. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Jayson will support you unconditionally.¡± Mattforted her. Even Jayson¡¯s close friend had reassured her that there was nothing for her to o worry about. Nancy curled her lips. ¡°Yeah, I know. 11 When Jayson got there, he ran into Lucas who was heading out for smoke. The two of them bumped into each other by the door. Lucas had one hand in his pocket as he raised his brows. ¡°Mr. Larkin, have youe to see Ms. Stanton? She¡¯s talking to Wendy right now.¡± Lucas stood next to the door and clicked his tongue. ¡°I heard about what happened a few troubled, huh? It must be hard trying not to upset either one of them.¡± Jayson smiled faintly. ¡°That isn¡¯t exactly what I¡¯m concerned about.¡± days ago. You must be feeling quite Lucas lit a cigarette. ¡°Might I ask when you n to divorce Ari, then? Or have these thoughts ever urred to you before?¡± Jayson lifted his gaze and replied calmly, ¡°Are you suggesting I should consider that, Mr. Sanderson?¡± ¡°Not really. I was just thinking how you two don¡¯t actually share a happy rtionship. The sooner you end this rtionship, the quicker you¡¯ll be able to put an end to each other¡¯s misery.¡± Lucasted his head. He sounded pretty earnest. Jayson responded nonchntly, ¡°She¡¯s your sister. Isn¡¯t it a bit inappropriate for you to be saying things like that to me?¡± Lucas froze for a split second. Then, he smiled. ¡°I just think it¡¯s probably better if the two of you go your separate ways and be with the person who truly makes you happy.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t respond to Lucas¡® remarks this time. Instead, he looked behind Lucas and said tly, ¡°Ms. Johnistone.¡± Lucas turned around. Wendy tried to control her facial expression. Still, she couldn¡¯t quite hide the dark look on her face. Inside 450 Jayson didn¡¯t carry on with what he and Lucas were discussing earlier. After spotting Wendy, Jayson went his way and entered the private room. Lucas directed his gaze to Wendy. ¡°What are you doing out here?¡± Wendy moved toward Lucas and circled her arms around his waist What were you guys talking about?¡± Lacas dropped his gaze and looked at her. ¡°Are you sure you want to know?¡± To Wendy¡¯s surprise, Lucas couldn¡¯t even be bothered to keep it from her. The smile on her face froze. Lucas wasn¡¯t going to waste time exining himself. He lightly patted Wendy¡¯s back. ¡°I¡¯m going out for a smoke.¡± Wendy watched as Lucas pulled away from her embrace and walked off. In the end, she managed to suppress the urge to ask him the question that had been bothering her for a long time. Nancy noticed Jayson the instant he entered the room. She raised her hand and waved at him. ¡°Jayson, over here.¡± Jayson turned his gaze toward her and walked over to where she was. Matt was there chatting with Nancy. He spotted Jayson too. ¡°We finally managed to get you to join us today. Have you discussed the situation with Ariel? I think you should perhaps remind her to avoid making any unfavorablements about Nancy for the time being.¡± After all, people would surely try to ask and find out more details from Ariel following the incident. Jayson sat down and cast a nce at him. ¡°She wouldn¡¯t.¡± Nancy seemed really grateful as she gazed at him. ¡°Jayson, sorry for all the trouble.¡± Frankly, the situation might not have gotten so out of hand if she hadn¡¯t said anything about proposing to him that day. ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Jayson replied calmly, ¡°Was everything alright during the past few days? Did you encounter any issues?¡± Nancy hesitated briefly before shaking her head. ¡°They were just minor issues. You don¡¯t have to worry about it.¡± She would most likely face simr situations again, like what had happened earlier that day. However, Nancy was determined to prove herself to those people by showing them her true potential. ¡°Okay.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t try to pressure her for more details. It was quite rowdy in the room. Nancy scooted closer toward Jayson and leaned forward slightly. ¡°Our team has been busy handling various issues during the past few days. I¡¯m considering taking a vacation and taking a break once things have settled down for a bit. Can youe with me? We could visit a local spot or somewhere abroad.¡± Nancy just realized that she and Jayson had never gone on a trip together without others tagging along. Matt grinned upon hearing her words. ¡°Even a major incident like this isn¡¯t going to stop you guys from executing your date ns, huh?¡± Jayson put down his ss. ¡°Okay, sure.¡± The corners of Nancy¡¯s eyes crinkled as she looked at Jayson and smiled softly. When Ariel arrived at the office the next morning, she spotted Zach, who was discussing a few matters with Chad. She only nced at Zach briefly while she informed Chad regarding hertest progress. Then, Ariel turned around and went into her office. She didn¡¯t bother greeting Zach. Ariel made it painfully obvious that she was ignoring him. When he saw Ariel, Zach stood up and was about to call out her name. Yet, Ariel didn¡¯t pay him any attention. Zach could feel his cheeks burning. He was finally facing the bitter consequences of his past actions. ¡°Mr. Quinton, do you perhaps have something you wish to say to Ms. Walker?¡± Chad said unhurriedly. He could roughly tell how Zach probably felt at the moment. Zach picked up on the slightly mocking tone in Chad¡¯s voice. He came to inquire about some technical issues rted to Paye Technologies¡® patented flight control system that day. Also, Zach thought he could perhaps speak to Ariel in person. Yet, that clearly wasn¡¯t going to happen. ¡°Mr. Hockney, if you don¡¯t mind me asking¡­ Have you always known about Ms. Walker¡¯s marital status?¡°, Chad could see how curious and frustrated Zach was. His brows arched. ¡°Did you think I was someone who was lusting for Ari so much that I chose to disregard everything else just to be with her?¡± For a moment, Zach¡¯s face flushed scarlet. Then, he grew pale. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I had some misunderstanding previously. I didn¡¯t mean to say those things to Ms. Walker. It¡¯s just that¡­¡± ¡°It¡¯s just that Mr. Larkin seems so willing to do anything for Nancy Anyone could tell that the two of them had a loving rtionship, whereas Ari just seemed like someonepletely uninvolved. Am I right?¡± Chad had an icy look in his eyes as he said that. Inside 451 Chapter 451 Zach was at a loss for what to say. What Chad just said was true. Chad ced the documents on the table and smiled enigmatically. In that case, you should start working on getting rid of those strange impressions you have of us. It¡¯s Mr. Larkin who¡¯s abandoned his moral principles. Ari doesn¡¯t really care about what he does. ¡°You also don¡¯t have to do anything to express your sympathy for Ari, Mr. Quinton. If you really do feel apologetic, just stick to discussing work with us. That¡¯s enough to show you truly respect her.¡± Zach made no retorts. He could also see how determined Chad was to defend Ariel. Zach heaved a deep breath. ¡°I understand. There¡¯s another reason why I¡¯vee here today. Vireon will be working with the Department of Defense on a project involving new, enhanced materials. ¡°The Department of Defense will recruit several teams to provide technical support for a certain project. My father has asked me to ry this information to your team. Perhaps Faye Tech can consider trying for it.¡± Chad could see what Zach was trying to do. This was probably his way of appeasing them. ¡°Thanks. We¡¯ll decide once we¡¯ve discussed it among our team members,¡± Chad answered curtly. Before leaving, Zach cast a nce in the direction of Ariel¡¯s office. He felt extremely perplexed. Ariel probably wouldn¡¯t bother acting courteous or friendly around him anymore. After Zach left, Chad informed Ariel about the Department of Defense¡¯s need for technical support. Ariel was all for it. With the Department of Defense recruiting people to obtain technical support, Faye Technologies would only benefit from a project like that if they managed to join in. They had pretty much received first¨Chand information from Zach. After they checked the location, Ariel decided to visit the ce during the weekend. She nned to find out more in advance about thetest progress the Department of Defense had achieved. This experience would also help the research on the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet, which was scheduled to happen in thetter half of the year, progress more smoothly. During the next few days, things were quite peaceful for Ariel. She had not heard anything from Evelyn after that. Jayson had most likely taken care of the issue. Even if he hadn¡¯t, Ariel would not mind making her stance clear to Evelyn once and for all. All Ariel wanted was to prevent herself from being needlessly harassed by these people. The Department of Defense had a space that was not part of the restricted area and was open to the public. Since the Department of Defense was looking to recruit technical personnel, Ariel, Chad, and several of Faye Technologies¡® most brilliant engineers went there together. Once they got there, everyone needed to go through the strict security checks. After the security team had made sure there weren¡¯t any major issues, Ariel¡¯s group was allowed to scan their ID to register their information and enter the ce. Ariel felt humbled to be in this ce. She could not help but think about how she would have been able to contribute significantly to their country¡¯s development by now if everything had gone as nned back then. ¡°There¡¯s no need for you to be so down and gloomy. I¡¯m sure it won¡¯t take long for you to secure a position here. With your experience of having developed the U.N2, they¡¯ll give you the green light no matter where it is you wish to do your research.¡± Chad could tell what Ariel was thinking almost instantly. He smiles and patted Ariel on the head, trying to cheer her up. When Zach got there, he saw how gentle and affectionate Chad was to Ariel. Walker,¡± He pursed his lips and walked up to the pair. Zach fixed his gaze on Ariel. ¡°Ms. V Ariel simply looked at him and said nothing. Zach had hardly ever faced any major obstacles in his life. He felt extremely defeated now that he had finally encountered one. Moreover, it was because of a woman. At the same time, Zach felt a little dejected. He had some misunderstandings about their rtionship. Zach didn¡¯t mean to treat Ariel the way he did. The Faye Technologies team wasn¡¯t the only one that had received news Ariel was about to take a look around the ce when two cars pulled the Department of Defense¡¯s ns. entrance. Nancy got out of the car. She had around seven or eight engineers from Veyo Solutions following behind her. Nancy had a contemptuous look in her eyes when she spotted Ariel She looked down on Ariel even more now after realizing how sly and cunning thetter was. Ariel knew the Veyo Solutions team wouldn¡¯t miss this chance to redeem themselves. Still¡­ Zach¡¯s expression hardened the instant he saw Nancy. He swiftly turned his gaze toward Ariel. ¡°You need to believe me. I swear I¡¯m not the one who told her toe. I¡¯ve only shared the information with your team. ¡± Inside 452 Chapter 452 Zach wanted to ensure that Ariel wouldn¡¯t misunderstand is intentions. He studied Ariel¡¯s expression but saw no noticeable changes in her emotions. Zach breathed a small sigh of relief. It didn¡¯t matter to Ariel whether Zach had shared the information with Nancy or not. They were merely business acquaintances. Zach had the freedom to do whatever he wanted. Therefore, Ariel didn¡¯t respond to Zach after hearing his exnation. She turned her eyes to Chad instead. ¡°Chad, let¡¯s head inside now.¡± Chad nodded and cast a nce at Zach, who had a glum look on his face. Zach¡¯s apology didn¡¯t mean Ariel had to forgive the pain and trouble his ignorance had caused her. Ariel and Zach barely knew each other, yet he had repeatedly mocked and chastised her. Even if Zach had already offered her an apology, Ariel didn¡¯t necessarily have to forgive him. Anyone had the right to be upset if they had been subjected to unfair treatment. Ariel had shown Zach a lot of patience and forbearance by holding back from yelling at him. Zach could feel a headacheing. He wished to work with the Faye Technologies team on more projects in theing days. Whether it was for their partnership or out of guilt, Zach still hoped to resolve the awkward situation between him and Ariel. They had been invited to attend a short meeting today. The Department of Defense¡¯s representatives would exin their demands and requirements to give the different teams a general idea of what they were looking for. The actual work wouldmenceter on. Nancy spotted Ariel as well. She had an inkling the Faye Technologies team wouldn¡¯t miss out on an opportunity like this. Five groups of people had shown up for today¡¯s meeting. Amongst them; Chad and Zach were both somewhat rted to some people currently working for the Department of Defense. Chad was speaking to the person in charge of handling the project. Meanwhile, Zach was seated next to Ariel. After a moment¡¯s consideration, Nancy decided to greet him. ¡°Mr. Quinton, is Vireon the supplier of the materials for this project?¡± She didn¡¯t think Zach would make a big deal of it after having witnessed what happened during the birthday party. They would remain objective when it came to doing business. People would only care about her skills and abilities, rather than her personal rtionships. Zach couldn¡¯t help but find the situation absurd. He lifted his head to look at Nancy, baffled that he had believed her to be the victim this entire time. Looking back at everything that had happened, Zach couldn¡¯t believe how brazen and thick¨Cskinned Nancy was all this time. Nancy was clearly taunting Ariel by acting chummy with Jayson time and time again right in front of thetter¡¯s eyes. Zach¡¯s expression remained unchanged. He twirled his pen. ¡°Ms. Stanton, did you not see that Ms. Walker is here too? Why are you only speaking to me?¡± Nancy stiffened. A hint of displeasure shed through her eyes. +15 BONUS She wondered if Zach had said that deliberately. He was well aware of the discord between her and Ariel. Ariel was rather amused by Zach¡¯s reaction and thought process. However, she wasn¡¯t interested in what those two were talking about. Ariel didn¡¯t even spare Nancy a single nce. Nancy didn¡¯t answer those questions, naturally. She replied tly, ¡°The meeting¡¯s about to start soon. I¡¯ll head back to my seat first, Mr. Quinton.¡± She turned around and walked away. Anyone could tell Nandy had nothing but scorn and disdain for Ariel. The Department of Defense¡¯s representatives provided the teams with basic information and technical support they would require. Ariel nodded slowly as she listened to the list of demands. Based on those demands, she hade up with a rough idea and wrote it down in her notebook. Zach happened to catch a glimpse of what she had written. He was shocked when he saw the n and sets of data jotted down in Ariel¡¯s notebook. Ariel already had some idea of what she wanted to do. She didn¡¯t even have to discuss with her team first to brainstorm for more ideas. This was Zach¡¯s first time observing Ariel without some form of bias or prejudice. He realized how Ariel was paying her full attention to the briefing. Additionally, she consistently grasped the key points of the discussion. Ariel was extremely knowledgeable and professional. She was definitely not just a wallflower. The five teams representing differentpanies would take turns giving speeches in front of everyone. They would exin theirpany¡¯s strengths, their understanding of the Department of Defense¡¯s requirements, and the solutions they hade up with. The Veyo Solutions team¡¯s representative was none other than Nancy. Using the slides she had prepared in advance, she gave an articte presentation of her ns. Chad was quite impressed with Nancy¡¯s attitude as he observed how calm andposed she stood in front of everyone. Inside 453 Others might not be able to hold out like Nancy when faced with what she had been through recently. Nancy had also demonstratedpetence, whether it was the knowledge she had or her calm, steady speech during the presentation. ¡°Veyo Solutions¡® n is quiteplete and well¨Cthought¨Cout. They have an edge in the navigation system.¡± Chad turned his head and whispered to Ariel. Ariel nodded. Veyo Solutions had recruited and hired top experts from all over the world to work for them. They couldn¡¯t possibly havee up with a mediocre n. Otherwise, they wouldn¡¯t have gotten the chance to be here that day. At the same time, they had likely received help from Jayson as well. Quite a few people looked at N ancy approvingly by the time she had finished giving her presentation. Setting aside certain things, she had an edge in terms of her skills and expertise. It was Faye Technologies¡® turn next. Chad patted Ariel¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You should do it.¡± Ariel did not shy away from the task. Instead of sharing the n they had prepared in advance, Ariel open. notebook and gave a detailed exnation of the n she¡¯d juste up with. Zach subconsciously turned his gaze toward Ariel. The data seemed toe alive with the way Ariel had described them. Almost everyone was impressed and enlightened by her every word. Zach started bombarding Liam with messages on WhatsApp. ¡°I¡¯m with Ariel right now. She¡¯s so much more amazing than I imagined!¡± ¡°Gosh! She knows so much about materials science, even more than I do!¡± ¡°Compared to her status as Jayson Larkin¡¯s wife, I think Ariel¡¯s knowledge and expertise make her shine even more. I can somewhat observe a certain characteristic that you two have inmon.¡± Liam didn¡¯t reply to any of his messages. However, Zach wasn¡¯t bothered by it. He simply wanted to express his shock and bewilderment. Since Ariel already had a fair understanding of the Department of Defense¡¯s demands, she was very critical and on point when sharing her ideas. Even Hector Cresswell, the project¡¯s lead, seemed surprised ¡°Your ideas are very insightful and progressive, Ms. Walker¡± Hector sounded quite impressed. Nancy looked at Ariel expressionlessly. ¡°It¡¯s a decent n, yet the execution won¡¯t be easy. If the subsequent experiments were unsessful, we would have to allocate more manpower and resources to those areas. ¡°The idea regarding the dynamical system is obviously not that feasible either. It¡¯ll only be a source for more problems.¡± Nancy hadn¡¯t mentioned any names. Yet, she managed to dismiss Ariel¡¯s ideas with just a fewments. Nancy wasn¡¯t doing this to her on purpose. She was simply stating the facts. She couldn¡¯t understand why Ariel would bother sharing such bizarre ideas thatcked factual evidence. All Ariel had talked about were just grand, idealistic ns. Some of the people there agreed with Nancy¡¯s opinion. Based on their past experience, Ariel¡¯s n came with certain risks¨Cunless they could find ways to ovee issues rted to the data and calctions. Some people nodded in agreement after hearing Nancy¡¯sments. They hadpared Nancy¡¯s presentation and what Ariel had shared. Ultimately, these individuals still believed that Nancy¡¯s n was superior to Ariel¡¯s, as it was more pragmatic and well¨Cnned. Ariel looked at Nancy calmly and said bluntly, ¡°For someone like you, this n will surely be too risky and difficult to execute. You should definitely work on improving yourself, Ms. Stanton.¡± Her words sent a shock through the group of people in the room. Nancy cast Ariel a stony gaze. ¡°I¡¯m just stating the issues from a realistic point of view. Most of the people here can already tell whether your n is actually feasible. I hope you¡¯ll stop making these personal attacks at me Ms. Walker.¡± Chad smirked. It was okay for Nancy to question Ariel¡¯s n¡¯s feasibility. Yet, Ariel was not allowed to ma rebuttal? Ariel couldn¡¯t possibly not notice some of Nancy¡¯s hidden intentions. With all the unfavorable news about her circting recently, Nancy seized the opportunity to outshine Ariel by showcasing her knowledge and expertise during this meeting. That was why she had pointed out the ws in Ariel¡¯s n. Nancy was trying to show the others the differences in their capabilities by mocking and discrediting Ariel. Despite that, Ariel had an indifferent look in her eyes. ¡°Whether or not my n is feasible, have I not proven a point by earning a total score of 469 points during the test? 2/2 Inside 454 Ariel¡¯s voice was calm. It even sounded quite pleasant and soothing to the ear. At the same time, her words were so powerful that they felt like they could easily pierce through one¡¯s heart. Hence, that simple remark from her packed quite a punch. Most people were aware that Ariel had be Carlos¡® postgraduate student. Still, they weren¡¯t aware of the exact details, such as the score she had obtained during the postgraduate admissions exam. A lot of them gasped upon hearing what Ariel just said. Most of the people there were engineers. They knew very well how impressive it was that someone had managed to get that score during the postgraduate admissions exam. They all looked at Ariel with awe and bewilderment. Nancy averted her gaze. Her hands, which were ced on her thighs, balled into fists. Nancy hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to bring this up suddenly. Moreover, she couldn¡¯t say anything to refute those words. ¡°What¡¯s the point of her bringing that up now? Ariel is just showing off to everyone by telling them her score Nancy grumbled internally. ¡°Really?¡± Zach was briefly stunned. He only knew so much since he hadn¡¯t tried to find out more about th details. He had a look of bewilderment on his face. ¡°Isn¡¯t that the highest score one has ever achieved for Ashford University¡¯s postgraduate admissions exam?¡± He couldn¡¯t help but wonder if there were other things he was unaware of. Chad cast him a nce and praised him. ¡°You¡¯re quite smart today, Mr. Quinton.¡± Zach was rendered speechless. Ariel stared at Nancy expressionlessly. ¡°From your point of view, I¡¯m attacking you when I was simply being frank and stating the facts? ¡°Ms. Stanton, perhaps you¡¯ve gotten so used to being admired and buttered up that you can¡¯t ept the fact that someone might be better or have more progressive ideas than you do when it involves your expertise? Are you going to dismiss every idea or suggestion that doesn¡¯t align with your stance? ¡°I¡¯ll offer you a piece of advice then, Ms. Stanton. If your heart is so fragile that you can¡¯t even take any constructive criticism, you may consider going to the club and hiring a few hosts, who¡¯ll agree with whatever you say and constantly shower you with praise.¡± Nancy had suddenly criticized Ariel by implying that she was notpetent enough and that there were ws in her n. So, Ariel decided to bring up what Nancy cared about the most, a person¡¯s actual achievements, to prove her point. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened after she heard Ariel¡¯s caustic reply. ¡°Aren¡¯t you overreacting a bit, Ms. Walker?¡± Nancy had a frigid look on her face. Ariel remained cool and collected. ¡°Hmm¡­ You can just think of this as me showing off. You don¡¯t really have to pay any mind to what I¡¯ve said.¡± Nancy felt as though she had just been forced to swallow a mouthful of sand. Chad nearly burst intoughter. +15 BONUS Most of the time, Ariel had stayed silent unless she felt the need to say something. If someone happened to tick her off, she had no troubleing up with sharp, clever retorts to drive that person up the wall. After all, Ariel had experience working in public rtions. Ariel had honed her skills in dealing with people and various matters over the three years of her public rtions work. She had also be exceptionally skilled at articting her thoughts and ideas. In a way, she had made use of the opportunity earlier to vent her frustration. Zach stared at Ariel¡¯s face for quite some time, looking absolutely bbergasted. Suddenly, he realized how much Ariel had held back when she criticized him previously. Nancy took a deep breath and looked at Hector. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with Ariel anymore. ¡°Sorry for taking up so much of everyone¡¯s time. As for whether the n will work, we¡¯ll find out once more experiments are conducted afterward. Let¡¯s continue with the meeting first.¡± Ariel had no interest in having this debate with Nancy either. She would dly leave Nancy alone as long as thetter stopped trying to pick fights with her. Ariel acknowledged that Nancy hadn¡¯t gained her current sess simply by chance. Nancy was quick¨Cwitte Moreover, she hadn¡¯t lost control of her emotions even when she ran into some difficulties. Nancy still m to keep herposure in these situations. 1 Hector didn¡¯t mind these exchanges. It was fairlymon for people to have differing opinions and discuss them during these meetings. However, there was something strange about the tense atmosphere surrounding Ariel and Nancy. Hector wasn¡¯t exactly sure what it was about. The meeting to learn about and discuss the Department of Defense¡¯s demands and requestssted approximately two hours. After that, eachpany would work on preparing their proposal before submitting it for a thorough assessment. The vehicles were all parked outside. Zach stayed behind since he needed to discuss the materials with Hector. When Ariel and Chad came outside, they saw a Bentley stopping somewhere opposite their car. Inside 455 When Nancy came out of the building, she cast a sidelong nce at Ariel. Then, she strutted toward the Bentley and got into the car. Ariel recognized the car. It was one of the vehicles Jayson owned. Nancy clearly wasn¡¯t leaving with Veyo Solutions¡® staff since Jayson had instructed someone to pick her up. Chad furrowed his brows. ¡°Did Jayson ask someone to pick Nancy up because they¡¯re nning to meet after this? He¡¯s still doing all these things for her even after his rtionship with Ariel has been exposed to the public?¡± However, Chad kept those thoughts to himself. Ariel didn¡¯t think much of what had just happened. After entering the car, she started thinking about what kind of proposal would appeal more to the Department of Defense. A whileter, she noticed she had received a missed call from Samson. He had tried calling her two hours co. Ariel hadn¡¯t noticed the call since she had her phone on mute. Also, Samson didn¡¯t call Ariel again after H Ariel figured Samson would reach out to Chad or Janice if he needed to discuss work¨Crted matters v urgently. If he had called her for personal reasons¡­ Ariel wasn¡¯t going to return the call. Sometimes, one must maintain some distance to avoid giving the other person the wrong impression. When Ariel got back to the office, Janice brought her some news. ¡°Kristen Ulmer. Ms. Ulmer. Do you remember her?¡± Ariel seemed a bit puzzled. ¡°Of course. She¡¯s Mr. Pryce¡¯s boss.¡± Janice showed Ariel a digital invitation card. The Ulmer family would be holding an open exhibition soon. Someone in their family was probably involved in the art industry. ¡°Are we going to the exhibition? It¡¯s happening this weekend. Let¡¯s go and have a look,¡± Janice clung to Ariel¡¯s arm and said in a pleading tone. Ariel gave it some thought. Since Elena was an artist, Ariel had always been quite interested in things rted to art. Moreover, they had received the invite to the event. Ariel nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± That weekend, Ariel and Janice arrived at their destination. Janice exined, ¡°This art museum was established by the Ulmer family. Normally, they have artworks made by renowned artists on exhibit in the museum. ¡°The artworks created by local and international artists are categorized by their styles and disyed in the respective spaces. It seems like a member of the Ulmer family has organized today¡¯s art exhibition.¡± The Ulmer family was a wealthy, prominent family. ording to rumors, the Ulmers had spent a fortune building this art museum. Sometimes, they would rent out the spaces for people who wished to hold their art exhibitions there. Ariel was quite impressed when she saw the artworks that were on disy. She walked around the exhibition area 21/2 +15 BONUS to view the various works. They were mostly realism oil paintings, which created a strong visual impact for the visitors at first nce. Ariel admired those artworks and the artist¡¯s style. She felt as though part of the emotions in these paintings could seep out of the canvases and prate the viewer¡¯s mind. She took a nce at the artist¡¯s signature. Someone named Aurelia signed it. The artist had a really distinctive style in her works. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit curious and wanted to get to know the artist better. ¡°Ms. Walker?¡± A woman¡¯s gentle voice came from behind her. Ariel turned around and spotted Kristen standing nearby. Kristen studied Ariel¡¯s expression and smiled faintly.¡± We meet again. I¡¯ve heard quite a lot about you recently.¡± Whether it was regarding Ariel¡¯s work or personal rtionship, Kristen had heard about the relevant incidents. Ariel had a lot of respect for Kristen. She gave a slight nod. ¡°Ms. Ulmer.¡± Kristen¡¯s first impression of Ariel was favorable. She said, ¡°No wonder you wouldn¡¯t tell me who develor flight control system when I asked you about itst time. Ms. Walker, you¡¯ve given me quite a surprise Ariel responded humbly, ¡°You tter me, Ms. Ulmer.¡± he ¡°I¡¯ve also heard about how you and Bluum Corp¡¯s Mr. Larkin are actually married.¡± Kristen narrowed her eyes. Ariel was calm and rxed. ¡°That may be so. However, I¡¯m just me.¡± Kristen understood the meaning behind those words. She smiled. ¡°You know very well what you want in life. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll go on to achieve greater things in the future, Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel wouldn¡¯t let herself be defined by her status as Jayson¡¯s wife. She was Ariel Walker. People were already deeply impressed by her current achievements. Yet, Ariel probably had a lot more to offer. There were other guests around them, and most of them knew Kristen. They also saw how Kristen had expressed her approval and acknowledgment of Ariel. Just then, Kristen looked in a certain direction. Her brows arched. ¡°Ms. Walker, your husband is here.¡± Inside 456 Those who heard what Kristen said looked in the direction she was staring at. Jayson had indeed arrived at the art museum. However, Nancy was beside him. Nancy¡¯s rtionship with Jayson didn¡¯t appear to be affected. She was still seen attending these events with him. It was obvious she was still receiving special treatment from Jayson. Some of the guests, who were also part of the elite circle, could not help but feel sorry for Ariel. At the same time, they were wondering which of those two Jayson had ced at a higher priority in his heart. Anyhow, it was clear what Kristen was hinting at by addressing Jayson as Ariel¡¯s husband in front of all these people. Most of her guests were very sharp and perceptive. They could tell that was Kristen¡¯s way of showing her disdain for Nancy. Jayson noticed Ariel when he came in. He stared at her for a brief moment. There was no need for him to avoid being seen with Ariel anymore. He turned slightly and headed in Ariel¡¯s direction. Nancy frowned. Still, she followed behind Jayson. Behind them, Matt was bewildered as he watched t events. Ariel did not expect Jayson toe over. A small frown creased her forehead. Meanwhile, Jayson had walked up to them. He looked at Kristen. ¡°Ms. Ulmer, long time no see.¡± Iding Nancy knew about Kristen¡¯s background and social status as well. She elegantly gave a nod. ¡°Pleased to meet you, Ms. Ulmer. I¡¯m Nancy Stanton.¡± Kristen¡¯s gaze fell on Jayson. ¡°Long time no see. Thank you for taking the time to visit our exhibition, Mr. Larkin. Please bear with us if you happen to find anythingcking with our hospitality.¡± Then, she turned her eyes to Nancy and gave a slight nod. After that, Kristen directed her gaze to Ariel. ¡°You guys should go ahead and look around. Let me know if there¡¯s anything you need.¡± Kristen could tell the kind of motive a woman like Nancy would normally have. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to be courteous to Nancy. Nancy could sense the difference in the way Kristen had treated her, especially after having witnessed thetter and Ariel chatting happily earlier. A slight frown appeared, but Nancy quicklyposed herself. After Kristen left, Ariel was going to walk away as well. Yet, Jayson turned his gaze toward Ariel and asked calmly, ¡°Who invited you here today?¡± His question was rather abrupt. Ariel gave him a sidelong nce. ¡°Is that something you should concern yourself with, Mr. Larkin?¡± Did Jayson perhaps think that her presence made things awkward for Nancy? Jayson could sense Ariel¡¯s indifference. She couldn¡¯t even be bothered to give him a proper response. Janice had just returned after looking around the art museum. Upon seeing what was happening, she went up to Ariel and grabbed her arm. Then, Janice smirked and cast a nce at Nancy. ¡°She¡¯s probably be so thick¨Cskinned because she¡¯s injected too much chemical into her face.¡± Nancy was brazen enough to attend these public events with Jayson even after the recent incident. None of them had any interest in watching her act all dignified and elegant. Nancy¡¯s gaze hardened since she could tell Janice was mocking her. Matt heard what Janice said just as he approached the group. He chuckled. You¡¯re alldies. There¡¯s no need to be so mean.¡± our jokes are so funny, Ms. Swanson. Janice snickered. ¡°We¡¯re all women here. Why do some women try to steal other women¡¯s husbands, though?¡± Matt was rendered speechless. He subconsciously nced at Jayson, yet thetter just seemed absolutely cold and detached. Ariel wasn¡¯t nning on having these talks during someone else¡¯s event. She dragged Janice along and he led elsewhere. Jayson stared at her receding figure. Then, he slowly averted his gaze. Matt quickly said, ¡°Don¡¯t pay any mind to what they just said, Nancy. In a few days, you and Jayson will go on a vacation and enjoy some alone time. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ll feel much better after taking a break.¡± The corners of Nancy¡¯s mouth lifted in a smile. Matt had a point. Jayson had agreed to go on a trip with her. Ariel heard what they were saying, but she continued walking. Jayson was free to go on a trip with just himself and Nancy if that was what he wanted. Samson hade over from the Yeager Group¡¯s building and arrived at the art museum. He happened to see Ariel walking away from Jayson¡¯s group. He came to a halt. Samson¡¯s eyes were unreadable as he gazed at Jayson and Nancy, who stood next to each other. Nancy was looking at a painting and speaking to Jayson with a smile on her face. Only a few days ago, Samson had caught wind of thetest gossip that was being fervently discussed throughout Eldoria. The incident involving Jayson and Ariel had created quite a buzz. With Jayson still bringing Nancy to these public events, Samson could imagine how awkward and ufortable Ariel must feel. Samson had a slightly tense look on his face as he continued to stare at the pair, A hint of scorn was reflected in his eyes. Matt spotted Samson and greeted him. ¡°Mr. Pryce.¡± Nancy thought of Frederick the moment she saw Samson. She reckoned perhaps both men shared simr thoughts. Samson paused briefly. Then, he turned his gaze toward them. ¡°I¡¯m a bit upied at the moment. Let¡¯s talkter.¡± He didn¡¯t try to strike up a conversation with them. Matt didn¡¯t think much of it. Since Samson worked for the Yeager Group, he likely came to assist with the Ulmer family¡¯s event. Ariel became increasingly absorbed as she admired one painting after another. Janice liked taking photos. While Ariel was enjoying the immersive experience, Janice was snapping pictures of her from the side. Janice was quite surprised when Samson showed up nearby With a purposeful stride, he walked toward Ariel. ¡°You¡¯re absolutely focused on admiring the paintings. Do they pique your interest?¡± With his hands on his back, Samson tilted his head and looked at Ariel. Ariel snapped out of her reverie. ¡°I suppose so.¡± After all, she grew up in an environment where she was exposed to art and the relevant knowledge. Samson looked at her. He didn¡¯t ask Ariel about matters rted to Jayson right away. Instead, he asked, ¡°There are works of different styles exhibited on the floor above. Do you want to look at them?¡± Ariel was nning to head upstairs anyway. She nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Janice was tactful enough to decide not to tag along. However, she secretly took a photo of Ariel and S behind and sent it to Chad. from Ariel went to the floor above and realized abstract paintings were exhibited on that floor. They were very from the previous works she saw. different Aurelia was still the creator of these artworks. Ariel grew more and more curious about this person. Samson could see how focused Ariel was. He didn¡¯t disturb her while she was looking at the paintings. After guiding her around several exhibition areas, Samson began pensively, ¡°Can we talk for a moment?¡± Ariel turned her gaze toward Samson. ¡°Sure. Go ahead.¡± Samson stood there and looked Ariel in the eye. His tone softened. ¡°Did you refuse to ept my feelings because of the situation you¡¯re in? The fact that you¡¯re married to Mr. Larkin?¡± Ariel gave his questions some thought. Then, she answered straightforwardly, ¡°Whether Jayson¡¯s in the picture or not, I¡¯m in no mood to date anyone at the moment.¡± Ariel was destroying all hopes for Samson by giving that response. Yet, Samson¡¯s gaze remained fixed on Ariel. He didn¡¯t seem bothered by how adamant Ariel sounded. Samson said with a grim look on his face, ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter to me whether you¡¯re married or divorced. I like you. So, I hope you¡¯ll meet the right person whether you¡¯re looking for a boyfriend or you¡¯re nning to tie the knot. However, Mr. Larkin is clearly not the right person for you. Ariel was rather surprised by Samson¡¯s attitude. Just as she was about to say something, Ariel spotted Jayson out of the corners of her eyes. She had no idea how long he had been standing there in the distance. Jayson was on the phone, but his emotionless eyes were fixed on her. Inside 457 With one hand in his pocket, Jayson stood next to the railing and leaned against it. It almost seemed like he had merely stumbled upon two strangers talking as he directed his gaze to Ariel and Samson. Samson noticed Jayson as well. He turned around and asked straightforwardly, ¡°Have you heard what we were talking about, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson ended the phone call just then. He put away his phone and gazed at the two people standing side by side. His eyes were devoid of emotion. It was hard to tell what Jayson was thinking with how he always managed to suppress his emotions. Samson felt that he hadn¡¯t said anything wrong. Even though he was married, Jayson didn¡¯t try to hide his rtionship with Nancy. Even when people were all gossiping about them, Jayson acted as if nothing had happened and attended this event with her. Moreover, Ariel was here too. Jayson was obviously a heartless man. He didn¡¯t bother to treat the matter seriously. It was either the love Ariel or that he didn¡¯t care if Ariel would suffer because of this. in¡¯t Samson curled his lips. He looked straight into Jayson¡¯s eyes. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I think it¡¯s pretty fair that I¡¯ve confessed my feelings to Ariel. After all, you have a close friend like Ms. Stanton.¡± Ariel was surprised to hear those sharp, caustic remarks Samson had made. Jayson stared at Samson and said tly, ¡°You should go on with what you were talking about. I need to take another call.¡± He showed no interest in asking for more details. Jayson didn¡¯t even bother reacting to Samson¡¯s words. It was as if Ariel werepletely unrted to him. Jayson calmly averted his gaze. He turned around and took another call. Then, Jayson headed downstairs. Ariel knew how Jayson probably thought this had nothing to do with him. Naturally, he wouldn¡¯t meddle in these affairs or try to express his stance. Samson frowned as he watched Jayson move out of his sight. He turned his eyes to Ariel. ¡°Sorry. Did I cause you more trouble with what I just said?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. By the way, I still have the same stance. It has nothing to do with whether I¡¯m married or not.¡± She gave a slight nod. Then, Ariel turned around and went looking for Janice. Samson slowly sighed as he watched Ariel¡¯s receding figure. He seemed to have acted a bit too rashly. It was just that he couldn¡¯t help but feel irked whenever he saw Jayson and Nancy together. When she saw Arieling over, Janice hurried toward her and asked, ¡°What happened? What did you two talk about upstairs? ¡°I saw Jaysoning down from upstairs. Did you guys run into each other just now? When I was watching you and Mr. Pryce from behind, the way he looked at you was so intense¡­¡± Ariel decided not to hide it from her. ¡°He confessed his feelings for me.¡± After a pause, she added, ¡°Jayson saw what happened.¡± Janice¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Things got that exciting?¡± +15 BONUS Samson confessed his feelings for Ariel even though it had been revealed to everyone that she was Jayson¡¯s wife. Ariel pondered for a moment. ¡°He¡¯s probably a little upset after seeing how Jayson has taken Nancy here. He didn¡¯t know that I had already gotten divorced. So, he probably feels bad for me?¡± Ariel reckoned that was probably the case. ¡°That means he must really like you! Don¡¯t people say that you¡¯ll care a lot about a person¡¯s feelings if you like them a lot? He probably thinks you¡¯re facing a really awful situation.¡± Janice had little to no experience in dating. Yet, she had learned a lot about love and romance through watching all sorts of romance dramas. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on the matter for too long. Janice swiftly organized her thoughts and asked Ariel the question she was the most curious about. ¡°How Jayson react, then? He realizes how popr you are now, right?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°He didn¡¯t react or say much.¡± For a moment, Janice could feel a lump in her throat. She was at a loss for what to say. Just imagining what happened was enough to make Janice feel extremely frustrated. Jayson was clearly showing how he didn¡¯t care about Ariel at all. It probably wasn¡¯t the same for Ariel since she was the person involved. If others were to witness that moment, they would probably realize how sad and miserable Ariel¡¯s situation had been for the past few years. Nevertheless, Janice pushed back her anger. She kept her thoughts to herself, not wanting to upset Ariel. However, Ariel didn¡¯t care what was happening. She continued to quietly admire the artworks. 212 Inside 458 Ariel went around the exhibition hall. Eventually, she spotted the familiar faces in the distance once again. Nancy was standing next to Jayson and smiling faintly. ¡°Jayson, this art museum was built and designed with the finest and highest standards. I was wondering if my mom could hold her art exhibition here. I¡¯m thinking of renting their space.¡± Renowned for its fame and significance, this art museum was arguably among the best exhibition halls in Eldoria. Those who had held their art exhibitions here previously were all celebrated, distinguished artists. Holding Sarah¡¯s art exhibition here would help improve their family¡¯s image and reputation. Jayson directed his gaze to Nancy. ¡°The Ulmer family owns this ce. We¡¯ll need to discuss this with Ms. Ulmer first.¡± Nancy beamed. ¡°Alright. Let¡¯s try asking first.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll ask her for you.¡± Jayson nodded. He didn¡¯t see any trouble getting that done. Matt had just snapped a photo of a painting nearby. He nced over his shoulder at the two of them See how much Jayson cares about you!¡± Nancy smiled sweetly as she felt it too. When she turned around, Nancy spotted Ariel and Janice, who stood not too far away. Nancy lifted her brows and cast them a contemptuous gaze. Hed ¡± Janice¡¯s face darkened since she could tell what Nancy was doing. She subconsciously stepped forward, but Ariel caught hold of her wrist. They shouldn¡¯t cause any trouble while attending an event hosted by the Ulmer family. Ariel wanted to treat Nancy as if she were aplete stranger. She would pretend as though Nancy wasn¡¯t even there as long as thetter stayed out of their way. When they passed by each other, Jayson happened to meet Ariel¡¯s eyes. Coincidentally, Kristen appeared and was heading their way. Nancy thought about what she should say. Kristen had been quite cold to her earlier. Nancy wondered how she should persuade Kristen to agree to letting her rent the space here. ¡°Ms. Ulmer,¡± Jayson called out to Kristen. Nancy hadn¡¯t reminded him about it, yet Jayson was already trying to help her resolve the issue. ¡°We heard that you would also rent the space here to outsiders. Ms. Stanton also wishes to rent this space. Can you let us know if there are any free slots avable for rent?¡± Jayson had stepped up to help her with this matter. Nancy raised her head and looked at him. Her eyes twinkled with joy and contentment. Kristen nced at Nancy. ¡°Ms. Stanton wishes to rent our space? Are you asking for the favor on behalf of her, Mr. Larkin?¡± +15 BONUS Kristen could see what Jayson was trying to do. She pointed it out clearly as well. Jayson probably knew that the Ulmer family wouldn¡¯t want to let Nancy rent the art museum. So, he decided to use his influence and resources to appeal to them. Jayson remained calm andposed. ¡°I owe you a huge favor if you¡¯re willing to let her rent this ce.¡± Kristen¡¯s eyes narrowed as she studied Jayson¡¯s expression. ¡°You¡¯re willing to do so much for Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin.¡± Almost everyone knew how precious and valuable Jayson¡¯s favors were. Nancy stood beside him. While Jayson was speaking to Kristen, Nancy couldn¡¯t help but nce at his profile. She was touched. At the same time, Nancy decided not to concern herself with other people¡¯s opinions and criticisms. After all, Jayson had been extremely and unconditionally kind to her. Nancy¡¯s gaze drifted toward Ariel. Her mouth twisted into a smirk. So what if everyone had found out about Ariel¡¯s status as Jayson¡¯s wife? It only made her look even more pathetic now. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, but the art museum is my personal asset. So, you can discuss those matters with me in A woman¡¯s voice came from a certain direction. Nancy looked in the direction of the voice. A slim, tall figure was approaching them. She walked ste high heels. in her When she stopped before them, everyone saw a woman so beautiful she outshone actresses and female celebrities. Kristen turned her eyes to Cecilia Pryce and smiled. ¡°You¡¯re here.¡± 1 Cecilia nodded. Then, she directed her gaze at Nancy. ¡°You want to rent this space?¡± Nancy had no idea who thedy was. Still, she nodded politely. ¡°Yes. Might I know who you are, miss?¡± ¡°She¡¯s my daughter.¡± Kristen exined, ¡°The paintings that are on exhibit today are all her work. Cecilia gave a slight nod. She looked at Jayson and Nancy. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Cecilia Pryce. I¡¯ve heard many good things about you, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson nodded. Cecilia nced at Nancy next. ¡°You¡¯re Mr. Larkin¡¯s girlfriend?¡± C Inside 459 hapter 459 It seemed like Cecilia was just asking the question in passing. However, she clearly had a bold, free¨Cspirited side to her. Her confidence had most likely stemmed from her family¡¯s background and immense wealth. Nancy hesitated for a moment. During that short time, Cecilia narrowed her eyes. ¡°Oh. 1 just came back from abroad, but I already heard some gossip. I¡¯ve heard of how you¡¯ve recently nned to get Mr. Larkin to marry you.¡± Nancy stiffened. Then, her expression hardened. She couldn¡¯t understand why Cecilia was suddenly being so blunt and indelicate. Jayson was looking at Cecilia as well. A small frown creased his forehead. Cecilia tilted her head and smiled. ¡°You shoulde up with a price I¡¯ll be satisfied with if you wish to discuss the rental. Take your time to think it through, Ms. Stanton.¡± Then, she turned around and walked over to where Ariel was. By the time Ariel had snapped out of her reverie, Cecilia had stopped before her. She looked at Ariel and extended her hand. ¡°Mrs. Larkin¡­ Oh no. Hello, Ms. Walker. Pleased to make your acquaintance. I¡¯m Cecilia Pryce, Sams older sister.¡± Cecilia made no attempt to be discreet. Nancy could see what was happening over on that side. e¡¯s The way Cecilia had treated her and Ariel waspletely different. What Cecilia said to her just now was clearly the former¡¯s way to humiliate her. Matt was shocked after witnessing what happened. Cecilia could be a bit tricky to deal with. She couldn¡¯t even be bothered to hide the scorn and disdain she had for Nancy. They couldn¡¯t possibly expect her to be courteous to Nancy Jayson lowered his gaze and nced at Nancy. ¡°There¡¯s still room for negotiation. Don¡¯t worry.¡± (1 Nancy had a grim look on her face as she nodded. She reckoned Cecilia had acted this way because she sympathized with Ariel, whom Jayson didn¡¯t love. What Cecilia was doing was absolutely meaningless. Meanwhile, it was Ariel¡¯s first time meeting Cecilia. She shook hands with her. ¡°Hello, Ms. Pryce.¡± Cecilia was an easy¨Cgoing person. She replied calmly, ¡°I heard about a lot of interesting things upon returning from abroad, including your skills and expertise. I¡¯m really impressed with what I¡¯ve heard. Is it okay with you if we exchange contact details?¡± Ariel had no reason to turn down her request. ¡°Sure.¡± Cecilia lifted her brows and cast Ariel a meaningful nce. Thanks. I heard a lot about you from Samson. He had used all kinds of nice, beautiful words to describe you.¡± Ariel was at a loss for what to say. Cecilia didn¡¯t wait for Ariel¡¯s response. After they had added each other on WhatsApp, Cecilia raised her brows again. +15 BONUS ¡°I like you a lot. Hopefully, we¡¯ll get the chance to hang out soon. I hope you¡¯ll enjoy today¡¯s exhibition too. These are all my artworks. Once you¡¯re done looking, please let me know if there¡¯s something that catches your attention. I¡¯ll give you a painting as a gift.¡± Then, Cecilia turned around and walked away. She came and went like the wind. Coming to the exhibition today was full of unexpected surprises for Ariel, who also noticed some simrities between Samson and Cecilia. She got to know Cecilia Pryce, who was also Aurelia. Ariel also learned that Samson was actually Kristen¡¯s son. That exined how Samson had managed tond a high position in the Yeager Group as soon as he returned to the country. Samson had a really solid backing. Since Ariel was needed back at the office to attend to a few issues, she and Janice soon left the art museum. Once they were in the car, Janice was filled in on Nancy¡¯s n to rent the art museum for Sarah¡¯s art exhibition. ¡°If the exhibition is a sess, Sarah will be able to solidify her position in the local art industry. Previo managed to gain more fame by organizing a charity event.¡± Ariel was thinking about it too. Regrettably, she still hadn¡¯t received any news regarding the painting that she was looking for. The search would be quite difficult, especially since Jayson refused to share any information with her. Ariel frowned, pondering for a long time how to ovee the situation. For several days, Ariel tried to avoid handling any work that required her to meet with Faye Technologies¡® clients or partners. She wanted to wait until the talk of her being Jayson¡¯s wife had died down a little. On Friday, Ariel needed to visit the military base, where public ess was allowed, for the second time to test out her ns. 1 This time, Ariel brought Noah and several other engineers to the military base. Inside 460 Upon arriving at the base, everyone had to undergo strict security checks. After their information was verified, Ariel and the others were finally allowed into a specific area Ariel spotted Gary from afar. Gary, who usually had a solemn look on his face, smiled broadly the moment he saw Ariel. ¡°Ariel, you¡¯re here. I happened to have some business here today, and I decided to drop by and see how you¡¯re doing.¡± Gary still harbored a flicker of hope in him. Perhaps Ariel might change her mind about Zach if the two of them were to interact with each other more. Nancy happened to overhear what Gary said as she entered the area. She furrowed her brows and nced at Gary while looking confused. Nancy couldn¡¯t understand why someone of Gary¡¯s status was being so friendly and polite to Ariel. He even seemed quite eager to win her favor. Gary¡¯s eyes would light up whenever he saw Ariel. Nancy had some suspicions. At the same time, she felt rather displeased. Nancy reckoned others probably think Ariel deserved more respect ever since they found out that she wife. Yet, she couldn¡¯t understand why someone like Gary would have to do something like that as well. ¡°Commander Quinton.¡± Nancy went up to Gary and greeted him. won¡¯s Gary nced at Nancy, aware that the Vireon team had once been suspected of leaking confidential information because of the Veyo Solutions incident. He couldn¡¯tment much about what happened since the situation was extremelyplicated back then. Still, he gave a slight nod. ¡°Let¡¯s get started now that everyone¡¯s here.¡± As they were moving to another spot, Ariel and Noah discussed some of the details for their n today. They also needed to brief about certain instructions rting to the technical parts. They had been allowed special ess to this small area within the military base. Other areas were strictly off- limits. Even this specific area they were in was being closely monitored as well. Hence, Ariel reminded her team members to be extra careful when handling their work here today. Since they were required to provide technical support, they needed to conduct specific tests on the equipment. Ariel spotted several aircraft that were parked in the hangar She recognized their models. Those were models released three years ago. That was why they were getting a chance to see them up close today. ¡°Uncle Gary,¡± a voice called out near the door. Ariel looked quite surprised as she nced in the direction of the voice. Cecilia had put on a flight suit. She strode toward Gary. Gary said the instant he saw Cecilia, ¡°How did you get in here?¡± Cecilia whispered in his ear, ¡°My application was approved. Coincidentally, my dad has work in Area 3 today.¡± Gary understood what Cecilia meant by that. She had received approval to be here. Nancy knitted her brows when she saw Cecilia. +15 BONUS She didn¡¯t really like women like Cecilia, who enjoyed standing out from others too much. Moreover, Cec¨ªlia had not even bothered showing her some respectst time. Cecilia hadpletely ignored Nancy and walked over to Ariel right away. She asked curiously, ¡°Hi, Ms. Walker. We¡¯ve met again. Are you going to board and check the aircraft now?¡± Ariel replied, ¡°That¡¯s right. After running the tests, we¡¯ll share the data with the team on the ground.¡± Cecilia narrowed her eyes. ¡°Do all the teams here get a chance to board the aircraft?¡± ¡°I think so.¡± Within this small area, where they had been granted ess, those who had signed the non¨Cdisclosure agreement and were issued security clearance would be given the opportunity to board and test the aircraft. Actually, Ariel had seen some of these aircraft five years ago when she was developing the U.N2. Meanwhile, Cecilia turned her head and stared pensively in a certain direction. Inwardly, Nancy was feeling quite excited. Opportunities like this were hard toe by. Without the Department of Defense¡¯s special project with corporations, Nancy would have gone through a long, arduous process just for a chance to be on these air.dft. Today¡¯s experience was bound to help enhance and elevate Nancy¡¯s r¨¦sum¨¦. Nancy was preparing to board the aircraft when she heard a skeptical voiceing from behind her. ¡°As far as I¡¯m aware, the military will do thorough background checks before allowing someone to test or operate these aircraft. I hope you won¡¯t mind me asking this. Is Ms. Stanton actually qualified, though?¡± Nancy froze. With a look of disbelief on her face, she turned around and directed her gaze at Cecilia, who stood beside Ariel. 43 Inside 461 Even Ariel was a bit surprised when she heard what Cecilia said. Cecilia was still standing next to Ariel. She slowly directed her gaze to Nancy, who had a bewildered look on her face. ¡°These aircraft represent our country¡¯s pride and honor. It¡¯s only right for us to be strict with granting anyone permission to use them. I¡¯ve heard a great deal about you and your aplishments, Ms. Stanton. I don¡¯t think you¡¯re qualified for this.¡± Due to her background and upbringing, Cecilia was never one to hold back when expressing her opinions. It was precisely because of the differences in their backgrounds and status that Nancy felt she wouldn¡¯t be able to win this argument against Cecilia, especially when Jayson was not present. Her expression hardened almost instantly. Nancy tried to suppress the anger rising within her. ¡°Ms. Pryce, do you have some sort of prejudice against me?¡± ¡°Allow me to correct that. It¡¯s not prejudice.¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t try to skirt the issue. With her arms crossed, she scanned Nancy from head to toe. There was¡¯a cold, scornful expression on her face. ¡°Please get one thing clear, Ms. Stanton. You can¡¯t possibly expect everyone to find you likable. Just because someone refuses to go along with your wishes doesn¡¯t mean they¡¯re prejudiced against you. I would suggest shake off those assumptions first before having this conversation with me.¡± The look on Nancy¡¯s face grew far more tense at that point. Cecilia turned her eyes to Gary. ¡°Uncle Gary, a person¡¯s skills and capabilities are important. However, their integrity and moral standards are equally important too. I think we should exclude those with low moral standards.¡± Nancy stiffened. She swiftly directed her gaze toward Gary. Gary didn¡¯t let his real thoughts and opinions show like these young people. He would still follow the rules and protocols when carrying out his duties. He replied, ¡°Of course, we¡¯ve made sure to carry out the assessments and evaluation in a fair and transparent way. 11 Cecilia tilted her head and beamed. ¡°I thought so.¡± Then, she turned her head and winked at Ariel. ¡°I¡¯m going to keep an eye on her. I¡¯ll stop her at once if she tries to board the aircraft.¡± Nancy had noticed Cecilia¡¯s attitude toward her as well. While she had managed to stop herself from flying into a temper, Nancy could still feel her cheeks burning. She couldn¡¯t figure out why Cecilia had taken a liking to Ariel. Cecilia had done this specifically to help Ariel, and Nancy wondered if she had even thought about how Samson would feel about it. 1 Nancy took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She knew that shing with Cecilia would only lead to trouble. Even if Jayson could take care of the aftermath, she didn¡¯t want to agitate Cecilia and make Jayson deal with the mess. In the end, Nancy was unable to board the aircraft. She had no choice but to give up on adding that achievement to her r¨¦sum¨¦. Instead, she sent another engineer from theirpany to record the data on the aircraft. Ariel could see how Cecilia had Nancypletely under her thumb. Nancy was a smart person who knew when to yield. Naturally, she would not recklessly pick a fight with Cecilia. Ariel wasn¡¯t exactly that excited since she had seen or worked with these aircraft a few years ago. Besides, she would be working on developing one soon. Therefore, she remained rtively calm. When their work there was over, Cecilia¡® and Ariel headed out together. After being mocked and humiliated by Cecilia today, Nancy had a stony expression on her face as she exited the building. As Ariel and Cecilia reached the entrance, they saw a Bentley parked in the distance. Jayson was leaning against one of the car doors. He opened the door for Nancy when thetter got there. Nancy¡¯s face brightened a little. Before getting into the car, she cast Ariel a mocking nce. So what if Ariel had Cecilia siding with her? Jayson still wouldn¡¯t pay Ariel any attention anyway. Jayson spotted Ariel and Cecilia as well. However, he merely gave a slight nod. Then, he got into the car and drove off. He didn¡¯t even bother trying to act like he and Ariel shared a harmonious marital rtionship. 1 Cecilia furrowed her brows. ¡°Why did he just leave you here?¡± Ariel checked the time. She didn¡¯t reply to that question. ¡°Ms. Pryce, did you drive here? Do you need me to give you a lift?¡± Cecilia turned down the offer. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. I need to head to my studio to sort out and organize my paintings in a bit. There are many things I need to attend to since I¡¯ve just returned from abroad. Maybe we could grab a meal together when you¡¯re free?¡± ¡°Sure. See you around then, Ms. Pryce.¡± Ariel finally got to see for herself how ady like Cecilia, from an affluent and prominent family, typically carried and conducted herself. Inside 462 It was no surprise Nancy could only swallow her pride and keep quiet around Cecilia. Ariel went back to her office. She was responsible for overseeing the primary aspects of several major projects that theirpany was currently working on. The rest of the work would be handled jointly by the other departments. Ariel had deci not to overwork herself. That afternoon, she received some good news. Her research paper had been published online. The review process this time was significantly quicker than in previous instances. Ariel was close to aplishing one of her long¨Ctime dreams. After this, they would work on preparing for the offline publication of her paper, which many would definitely want to get their hands on due to its high¨Cquality content and writing. The next day, Ariel received a call from Carlos. ¡°Yourtest research paper has been published. Ashford University has purchased the title from the database, so their students can already download and read the paper. ¡°The university is celebrating its anniversary the day after tomorrow, and they would like to invite you to give a speech to the students as the author of the research paper. Will you be free that day?¡± Ariel was well aware of what an honor this would be. Ashford University was one of the best in the country, and she knew that opportunities like this didn¡¯te around often. ¡°Of course.¡± Carlos was obviously in a good mood. He even praised Ariel. ¡°You did well this time. At the very least, you didn¡¯t let me down. A lot of distinguished guests from the academic circle and various industries will be attending the celebration of Ashford University¡¯s anniversary. It¡¯ll be a good opportunity for you to showcase your knowledge and expertise. You should make the necessary preparations for it. 11 ¡°I understand.¡± When the call ended, Ariel could sense a warm feeling in her chest. After working relentlessly for so long, she finally managed to piece her broken self back together. Ariel spent her free time preparing her speech, reviewing her notes repeatedly to ensure she got everything right. Ariel had just taken her medication and was about to work on her speech again when a notification sounded on her phone. She looked at the screen and saw new messages in the group chat she shared with Chad and Janice. Janice had sent a message and a oto. ¡°What the heck! Jayson and Nancy went on a vacation together?¡± Ariel looked at the photo. Janice, who had somehow gotten Nancy¡¯s WhatsApp number, had saved it with a truly eye¨Ccatching name¡ª¡°Nancy, the foxy mistress.¡± The screenshot showed an update from Nancy. She had pinned her location at a famous hot spring resort in Nouburgh and posted a coge of nine photos. The photos were mainlyndscapes, with thest two being a selfie of Nancy and the shadow of a man on the ground, cast by the bright sunlight. ¡°Some people can always take away my fatigue. Life is still good to me.¡± Ariel thought about how she had wanted to visit Nouburgh previously. However, Jayson was never free to go w her. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected to see photos of Jayson and Nancy visiting Nouburgh instead. Janice sent another message. ¡°What on earth is Jayson doing? Is he trying to show the whole world how much he cherishes Nancy? ¡°And Nancy is utterly andpletely wicked! She¡¯s been exposed as a mistress, yet she¡¯s still acting so brazenly! What? Is she trying to prove to everyone that the person who was cast aside is the loser?¡± Ariel could see what Nancy was trying to do. With all the recent criticism she faced, Jayson still treated Nancy well. It was only natural that she¡¯d take every opportunity to let the world know how much he adored her. Before Ariel could send a reply, Chad, in the middle of a client meeting, concluded with a message. ¡°He¡¯s the kind of guy who orders takeout and then tes it like a gourmet meal.¡± Ariel was struck speechless. A momentter, when it finally clicked, she shook her head and let out augh. She put her phone down and went to shower. There was a one¨Chour time difference between Nouburgh and their country. After a dip in the natural hot spring in her yellow bikini, Nancy wrapped a bathrobe loosely around herself and headed upstairs. She was deep in thought as she walked to her floor, where she finally arrived at a door and knocked. Jayson opened the door a momentter. Dressed in a white shirt and ck suit pants, he had earphones in, listening to reports from his subordinates back in Eldoria. Wearing a pair of rimless anti¨Cblue light sses, he lowered his gaze to look at Nancy. Nancy looked up at him and smiled. ¡°Jayson, are you done with your work?¡± Inside 463 While preparing for her speech at Ashford University, Ariel came across several of Cecilia¡¯s social media posts. Cecilia was far more spontaneous and uninhibited than Ariel had imagined. She had shared glimpses of herself working on her artwork, and the posts made her reflect on How people with artistic inclinations often share simr personality traits¨Cemotional, highly sensitive, and asionally a bit neurotic. Such traits were even more pronounced in individuals like Cecilia, who came from a wealthy and distinguished family. Despite having just returned from abroad, Cecilia¡¯s strong personality had already managed to shake Nancy¡¯s pride and confidence. Whenever Ariel saw a new post from Cecilia, she would tap the like button as a friendly gesture. She finished preparing her speech shortly afterward. Chad would also be attending the event as an honorary alumnus. On the day of Ashford University¡¯s anniversary, the campus was bustling with activity. Many visitors¨Cneither staff nor students¨Chad applied for permission to attend the celebration. Upon arriving, Chad reminded Ariel, ¡°A lot of prominent figures from our industry will be speaking today- renowned academics, journal editors, and experts. Ashford University¡¯s invitation for you to speak at such a prestigious event is a big deal. It¡¯ll definitely boost your standing in the academicmunity. Are you feeling nervous?¡± It was a rare and valuable opportunity. Delivering a speech at the university¡¯s anniversary would ce Ariel in the spotlight, marking her as a rising star in academia. Truthfully, Ariel was a little nervous. It was her first time making such a public appearance, and she would be speaking in front of many people she admired and respected. The pressure felt very real. ¡°Well, a bit. But I¡¯m okay. I¡¯ll feel better soon,¡± she said with a cheerful tone, her voice lifting slightly at the end. Chad chuckled. ¡°So, little Ari gets nervous too, huh? Don¡¯t worry. My old man will be here. We¡¯ll all be cheering you on. Just keep your head up and charge forward.¡± Ariel nodded. With an hour left before the ceremony began, she took the opportunity to walk around the campus. She saw many young students whose eyes sparkled with excitement and hope for the future. Surrounded by that energy, Ariel felt a surge of vitality. Her heart felt lighter, and even her steps seemed more buoyant. After a while, she and Chad made their way to the main hall As they entered, they saw the spacious venue packed with attendees. University staff were busy helping guests find their seats and answering questions. Chad, known for his ster academic record and as Carlos¡® son, was quickly recognized. A small crowd gathered around him as he walked in. Soon, people began to notice Ariel as well. 13 Although news of Ariel and Jayson¡¯s marriage had stirred public interest, Ariel¡¯s photos and personal details hadn¡¯t been leaked. Most people only realized who she was after being introduced to her. Whenever someone approached, Chad would promptly say, ¡°This is Ariel Walker, the developer of the new flight control system everyone¡¯s been talking about.¡± After the initial surprise, faces lit up with recognition. Chad made a point to introduce two individuals in particr. ¡°This is James Mueller, editor of IJAE, and Robert Addams, editor of Astrodynamics.¡± Ariel was taken aback but quickly extended her hand. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Ariel Walker.¡± Both men looked at her with interest and admiration. ¡°We¡¯ve heard a lot about you. Mr. Carlos¡® new student is quite the talent!¡± Ariel had recently found herself in several unusual situations, but she had handled each one with skill andposure. Her expertise had left a strong impression. She smiled politely. ¡°Thank you.¡± They chatted briefly about relevant journal titles before Ariel and Chad moved toward the front rows to find their seats. To their surprise, they spotted Jayson and Nancy seated nearby. The two had just returned from their trip. Ariel felt a strange unease. Ever since their marriage had been made public, Jayson had been paying noticeably more attention to Nancy¨Cespecially in recent weeks. It wasn¡¯t surprising to see Jayson at the event. But Nancy¡¯s presence¡­ Inside 464 ¡°Jayson seriously brings Nancy everywhere,¡± Chad scoffed, As they headed toward their seats, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but notice how radiant Nancy looked. She was smiling covering her mouth as she spoke to Jayson. Ariel simply wanted to find her seat, but to her dismay, it was right next to Jayson¡¯s. She furrowed her brows. Chad noticed and leaned in. ¡°Should we ask someone if we can switch seats?¡± Ariel pressed her lips together, then shook her head. ¡°The seats were pre¨Carranged. With so many distinguished guests attending, the university likely assigned seats based on background and status. Changing them now would beplicated. Worst case, they¡¯d have to redo the entire seating n.¡± At a formal event like this, organizers typically followed strict protocols. Ariel couldn¡¯t justify troubling the staff just because she felt ufortable. Chad understood and didn¡¯t press further. Ariel walked over to her seat. Jayson happened to look up, and their eyes met. He noticed the dark green silk shirt Ariel was wearing. The fitted waistline and thin fabric emphasized her slender figure, making her look effortlessly elegant in the warm weather. Although she wore a loosely tied scarf of the same color around her neck, her corbone was still visible. Ariel ignored Jayson¡¯s gaze and sat down, pulling out her phone to review her speech notes. Nancy¡¯s expression stiffened slightly when she saw Ariel. Ariel, meanwhile, had no intention of engaging with either of them. But then Jayson spoke from beside her. ¡°You¡¯re sitting directly under an air¨Cconditioning vent. Would you like to switch seats with me?¡± Without looking up, Ariel replied coolly, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Thank you.¡± Jayson turned away. He had asked politely, like a gentleman, and didn¡¯t say anything further. Nancy acted as if Ariel didn¡¯t exist. She continued chatting with Jayson. ¡°I had such a wonderful time. I didn¡¯t expect Nouburgh to be so fun. The restaurant we went to had amazing food. We should go again sometime.¡± She beamed as she recalled something. ¡°The hot spring resort was really unique too. We don¡¯t have anything like that in Eldoria,¡± Jayson responded, ¡°Indeed.¡± Ariel could hear every word. Nancy was recounting all the fun and interesting parts of their trip to Nouburgh. Still, she kept her eyes on her phone, reading through her notes. A short whileter, Russell Han, the president of Ashford University, arrived at the hall. He waved at Jayson from across the room. Jayson stood and walked over to greet him. As soon as he left, Nancy crossed her legs and leaned back in her seat, her expression turning cold. Ariel acted as though Nancy wasn¡¯t there. The silence lingered until Frederick arrived and took a seat in the row behind them. He greeted Nancy almost immediately. ¡°Ms. Stanton, have you and Mr. Larkin been waiting long? Sorry, I got stuck in traffic.¡± Nancy nced over her shoulder. ¡°It¡¯s alright.¡± Frederick smiled at her gentle response. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll introduce you to the editor shortly. I know him well. You want to promote your research paper, right? If we can get his help, we should be able to publish it on a relevant tform.¡± Nancy¡¯s research paper had already been published, and it was of high quality. Frederick was eager to help her gain more visibility in their field. Nancy smiled faintly. ¡°Sure. Thank you, Mr. Swanson.¡± Frederick looked at her warmly. ¡°No problem. I¡¯m happy to help. Besides, I owe Mr. Larkin for securing my invitation to this event.¡± This wasn¡¯t just an ordinary anniversary celebration¨Cattendance was highly exclusive. Frederick happened to know an editor who could assist with promoting Nancy¡¯s paper, which was why Jayson had invited him. Nancy raised her brows and grinned. They both knew that today¡¯s event would be attended by top experts in academia and prominent figures from various sectors. Jayson had made sure Nancy had the opportunity to be here to promote her work and gain exposure. Inside 465 Ariel had just finished reviewing her speech notes and turned off her phone. Frederick finally noticed her, his expression conflicted. Ever since learning that Ariel was Jayson¡¯s wife, he¡¯d fe awkward about their past interactions. At the same time, he sympathized with Nancy. It exined why Ariel always shed with her and made things difficult. ¡°Ms. Stanton¡¯s research paper was of exceptional quality and has already been published. Ariel, you should try to learn from her,¡± Frederick said pointedly, clearly trying to Help Nancy get back at Ariel. Nancy recalled how lost Ariel had seemed when reviewing the paper back in Nacsall. Still, she maintained her graceful posture and remained silent. Ariel gave Frederick a sidelong nce. But before she could say anything, Chad had returned after mingling with a few acquaintances. Upon hearing Frederick¡¯s remark, Chad quipped, ¡°No wonder Jan mentioned wanting a DNA test with you. You¡¯ve worked so hard, but I¡¯ve rarely heard Ms. Stanton praise you, Mr. Swanson. I guess it takes both carrots and sticks to train someone properly, huh?¡± Nancy¡¯s brows knitted together. Frederick¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Mr. Chad, I was simply giving Ariel some advice. Is it wrong to encourage her to put more effort into her studies?¡± Nancy frowned deeply. ¡°Mr. Chad, please refrain from making baseless usations about my rtionship with Mr. Swanson.¡± Chad casually brushed off his sleeve and replied, as if the thought had just urred to him, ¡°Fair enough. After all, the person you¡¯re involved with is Ari¡¯s husband.¡± Nancy¡¯s face turned grim. Jayson returned to his seat just as Chad finished speaking. He sat down, appearing as though he hadn¡¯t heard a word. Ariel ignored the tension. Chad¡¯s remarks had effectively silenced Nancy and Frederick. As she turned her head, Ariel spotted Carlos entering the hall. She immediately stood to greet him. However, her heels were slightly too high, and she stumbled as she tried to rise. Instinctively, she reached for the top rail of her chair for support. Just then, someone reached out and caught her wrist, helping her steady herself. Ariel turned and saw Jayson, still looking at his phone. Then he nced at her She frowned slightly but held back from telling him to let go; there were too many people around. Instead, she quickly pulled her hand away. Several onlookers witnessed the moment and couldn¡¯t help but nce at Nancy with sympathetic expressions. Nancy¡¯s lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes shing coldly. It seemed Jayson had acted reflexively. He calmly withdrew his hand. Carlos had a frigid look until Ariel got there. After she politely greeted him with ¡°Mr. Carlos,¡± his expression softened noticeably. With his hands on his back, Carlos looked at the people around him. ¡°She is my student, Ariel Walker.¡± There were only a handful of students whom Carlos would bother to properly introduce. The people around him started greeting Ariel right away. Suddenly, a loud snort echoed from behind. Ariel looked up and saw Cedric striding toward them. He directed his gaze at Carlos and Ariel. ¡°Showing off your prized student again?¡± That was typical of Cedric¨Cblunt and unfiltered. He never gave anyone special treatment. He then nced at Ariel. ¡°You¡¯ve been in the spotlight a lottely. Seems like you¡¯re involved in every other incident. Are you even focusing on your research?¡± It sounded like a criticism. Ariel couldn¡¯t talk back to a respected expert like Cedric. But¡­ ¡°Why are you lecturing her when I haven¡¯t said a word?¡± Carlos shot Cedric a sidelong nce. The two had always been like oil and water. Neither held back when expressing their opinions. ¡°You should mind your own business.¡± It was clear Carlos was defending Ariel. Cedric didn¡¯t seem offended. He snorted and retorted, ¡°Looks like you¡¯ve abandoned your principles for her too.¡± Nancy arrived just in time to hear Cedric¡¯s sharp remarks. Her expression remainedposed, but inwardly, she was amused. She assumed Ariel had only earned Carlos¡® support because of her connection to Chad. To experts like Cedric, Ariel was clearly insignificant. His tone made that obvious. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke, you¡¯re here,¡± Nancy greeted Cedric warmly. He turned to her and gave a slight nod before heading inside. Nancy curled her lips and quickly followed him. The nearby guests began whispering and specting. Nancy seemed to have a friendly rapport with Cedric. They were both considered rising stars in the industry. Everyone knew Ariel was Carlos¡® student. But could Nancy be Cedric¡¯s? Inside 466 Ariel was unaware of the spections swirling around her. She and Carlos made their way toward the front row. As they walked, Carlos said sternly, ¡°Let me know if Cedric Warbrooke ever speaks to you like that again.¡± Ariel found it slightly amusing that Carlos took the earlier exchange so seriously, but she nodded obediently As they approached their seats, Ariel noticed Nancy speaking with several renowned experts and editors. Still, Ariel quietly returned to her seat without engaging. Meanwhile, Nancy had just been introduced to Adrian Harrington, an editor, through Frederick. Adrian greeted her politely. ¡°We can talk more after the event. Have you read any of the recently published research papers, Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy hesitated. She¡¯d been busytely¨Ceven her trip to Nouburgh had felt rushed. She had intended to study the example paper they¡¯d discussed in Nacsall after returning, but she¡¯d been putting it off. ¡°Not yet,¡± she admitted. Adrian smiled knowingly. ¡°You might want to take a look. Several exceptional papers have been published recently.¡± Hisment sparked her curiosity. Nancy began browsing academic journal websites and soon stumbled upon a paper published in one of the industry¡¯s top¨Ctier journals. She was surprised. She couldn¡¯t recall hearing about any experts recentlypleting such a high¨Clevel paper. The journal she was viewing was the most prestigious in their field¨Cvery few researchers ever managed to publish there. Now she understood Adrian¡¯s earlier remark. Still, she didn¡¯t dwell on it. Nancy was just beginning her career. She assumed only seasoned, celebrated experts could achieve that level of recognition. As a neer, she didn¡¯t need to concern herself with it yet. Her mood lifted as she returned to her seat. That day¡¯s event had allowed her to build valuable connections, opening doors to future opportunities and increased visibility. Excitement buzzed through the crowd at the sight of both Carlos and Cedric attending. After years of anticipation, people were thrilled to see the two greatest scientists of the century at the same event. Nancy was curious too. She leaned toward Jayson and asked in a hushed voice, ¡°Why did Mr. Warbrookee today?¡± Jayson looked toward the stage. ¡°I spoke to him two days ago. He cleared his schedule to attend.¡± Nancy¡¯s lips curved into a smile. She understood the gesture. Ever since word spread that Cedric was offering technical advice to the Veyo Solutions team, rumors had circted that he might take Nancy on as a student. Jayson¡¯s invitation to Cedric was clearly intended to enhance Nancy¡¯s image and promote her research paper. It was a strategic move- -one that Nancy deeply appreciated. She could sense his care and attentiveness toward her. Soon, the ceremony began. As the most distinguished guests from the academic world, both Carlos and Cedric were invited to speak. However, Cedric remained seated, uninterested in giving a speech. Carlos, given his longstanding rtionship with Ashford University, didn¡¯t refuse the request. After introducing the key guests, Russell took the stage and shared a brief history of Ashford University. He then highlighted several recently published research papers that had made significant contributions to academia. Frederick immediately turned to Nancy, his eyes lighting up. ¡°Your paper must be one of them, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy smiled modestly. Just then, Russell clicked on a document, which appeared on therge screen. ¡°Among these papers, one stands out for its insightful and innovative contributions. It offers fresh perspectives and is wless in its execution. I¡¯m sure some of you have already read it. To help our students better understand its content, we¡¯ve invited the author to today¡¯s event.¡± Nancy looked at the screen and recognized the paper¨Cit was the one she had just seen earlier. She instinctively scanned the hall, her gazending on Carlos, then drifting to the older experts nearby. She tried to guess who might have authored the paper. Given the university¡¯s praise, the person must have an impressive background. She whispered to Jayson again, ¡°Jayson, who do you think wrote it? Could it be Mr. Carlos?¡± Carlos was, after all, a lecturer at Ashford University. Jayson nced at the screen, reading the excerpt silently. His lips curled slightly, but he said nothing. Then Russell smiled and looked in their direction. Nancy stiffened. The author was sitting in their row? She couldn¡¯t think of anyone nearby who could have written such a paper. Still puzzled, she heard Russell announce, ¡°I¡¯d like to invite Ms. Ariel Walker to the stage!¡± 3 Inside 467 Chapter 467 As soon as Russell made the announcement, Nancy froze. Her expression shifted from curiosity to utter bewilderment. She turned toward Ariel, who was already rising from her seat. Gasps rippled through the hall as Ariel stood. Meanwhile, Ashford University students who had entered the hall a bitter- burst into enthusiastic apuse. They had been informed in advance about this special segment. Most had already read the research paper, as the university had purchased ess to it from the database. They were thoroughly impressed. Their admiration deepened when they learned the author was Carlos¡® new student. Ariel¡¯s depth of knowledge and expertise had earned their respect. Jayson turned his head, watching Ariel¡¯s profile with quiet intensity. Nancy, on the other hand, felt her heartbeat spike. Her mind seemed to stall, unable to process whether this was reality or some surreal illusion. Frederick noticed the change in Nancy¡¯s expression. He had just begun to grasp the significance of the research paper after Russell¡¯s exnation. Without thinking, he muttered, ¡°Did they make a mistake?¡± Nancy had told him a prominent figure in the field likely wrote the paper. And yet, the author had turned out to be Ariel? Frederick hadn¡¯t lowered his voice, prompting Chad to frown and shoot him a sideways nce. On stage, Russell smiled warmly at Ariel. ¡°Ms. Walker, we¡¯d love for you to share more about your research paper with our students.¡± Nancy finally snapped out of her daze. Russell had indeed invited Ariel to speak. Ariel made her way to the stage and stood at the podium, where she could see the whole hall. It was likely her first time giving a formal introduction before such arge crowd. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Ariel Walker,¡± she said. Jayson¡¯s dark eyes remained fixed on her. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened as she watched Ariel ascend the stage. Her lips lost their color. How could this be? How could Ariel possibly be connected to such an exceptional, well¨Cwritten paper? Ariel had prepared thoroughly for her speech. With one hand resting on the podium, she spoke with poise and rity. Her voice carried a quiet strength. She exined several key points from her research paper in detail. Her insights were undeniably impressive. Even students seated in the back rows could follow along, thanks to her clear and engaging delivery. A faint smile yed on Ariel¡¯s lips. She shone as she stood before thousands, including many seasoned experts she deeply admired. Yet she remainedposed and self¨Cassured. Nancy stared at Ariel intensely. As she listened, she felt as though her heart was being squeezed. She understood just how valuable and informative Ariel¡¯s presentation was. She turned to nce at Jayson beside her. He leaned back in his chair, eyes unreadable, yet clearly focused on Ariel. He seemed rxed, listening intently. Nancy¡¯s hands clenched into fists on herp. Cedric narrowed his eyes as he watched Ariel. He, too, listened closely. After a moment, he nced over at Carlos. Chapter 467 Ariel¡¯s voice was calm and soothing, drawing listeners into the top. Even after she finished speaking, the audience remained absorbed, processing her words. Then, apuse began¡ªsoft at first, then swelling into thunderous pping. Students in the back rows even stood, moved, and were inspired by what they had heard. Many of Ashford¡¯s students were top achievers from their hometowns or previous schools¨Cdiligent, driven, and ambitious. Today, Ariel¡¯s speech had left them in awe. In the front row, Jayson could feel the admiration radiating through the hall. Eventually, he joined in, slowly pping along with the others. Nancy stiffened at the sight. Ariel stepped down the stage. As she returned to her seat, Chad stood and gently patted her head ¡®Congrattions! From now on, people will know who you truly are.¡± Ariel¡¯s mood lifted. She smiled faintly at him. Jayson watched their exchange in silence. 6447 Inside 468 Even Carlos wore a soft smile¨Csomething rarely seen. He made no effort to hide how proud he was of Ariel. The other experts, who had initially seemed cold and distant, were now animated as they gathered around Ariel, eager to discuss the contents of her paper. The spotlight was firmly on Ariel. Surrounded by renowned figures everything else faded into the background. Nancy watched in stunned silence as something she had never imagined unfolded before her eyes. She sat frozen, unsure how to respond or how to appear unaffected. Her fingers slowly turned coll. Frederick, still reeling from shock, finally snapped out of it. The thunderous apuse and the students¡® enthusiastic discussions about Ariel¡¯s paper made it clear just how extraordinary she was. Yet Frederick¡¯s concern shifted to Nancy. When he looked at her, her face was expressionless. He clenched his fists, then stood and directed his gaze toward Ariel ¡°I have a question. When did you start writing that research paper, Ariel?¡± His voice was loud enough to draw attention. Ariel looked at him calmly, waiting for him to continue. Frederick¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°Everyone¡¯s saying this paper is wless. But Ariel¡¯s only been in this field for a short time. How is it possible that she¡¯s already one of the top researchers in less than six months? ¡°She¡¯s different from Ms. Stanton, who went through formal training and worked hard to get where she is. Yet Ariel, a neer, managed to publish in a journal far more prestigious than the one Ms. Stanton was published in?¡± Nancy pursed her lips but said nothing. Still, she found Frederick¡¯s doubts reasonable. Ariel had only recently entered the field. If she were truly that capable, why hadn¡¯t anyone heard of her before? Nancy quickly aligned herself with Frederick¡¯s opinion, and the tightness in her chest eased slightly. The lively atmosphere in the hall dimmed as Frederick¡¯s remarks hung in the air. People began turning their attention toward him. Jayson¡¯s brows twitched slightly. His gaze shifted toward Frederick. Carlos fixed Frederick with a piercing gaze. ¡°Tell us, then. What exactly do you find unreasonable about her publishing this paper?¡± Frederick¡¯s frown deepened. ¡°Mr. Carlos, I¡¯m not trying to ruin the mood. I¡¯m just struggling to understand. Ariel is only in her 20s. Is it really usible that she wrote a paper of such exceptional quality? ¡°You recently epted her as your student, and now she¡¯s published a top¨Ctier paper in record time. If she¡¯s truly that talented, why hasn¡¯t anyone heard of her before?¡± The tension in the room escted. It was clear what Frederick was implying¨Cthat Ariel might not have written the paper herself. Carlos chuckled in exasperation. ¡°Are you using me or Ariel of professional misconduct?¡± Frederick¡¯s tone grew serious. ¡°Mr. Carlos, I¡¯m not making usations. I¡¯m simply curious how someone so new to the field could produce a paper that¡¯s being hailed as groundbreaking.¡± Nancy, now calmer, considered the possibility. She had consulted cedric while writing her own paper. Perhaps Ariel had asked Carlos to write one for her, using his influence to boost her reputation. Chapter 468 Once it was proven that Ariel had done something like that, her ac experienced experts were at the event, and they wouldn¡¯t allow a Nancy¡¯s expression softened slightly at the thought. Those were the consequences Ariel would face for wanting to start her capabilities. The audience watched in suspense, unsure how the situation woul Ariel couldn¡¯t help but notice how Frederick seemed like Nancy¡¯s Chad saw through Frederick¡¯s intentions as well. He snickered, th acted as though none of this concerned her. With a cryptic expression, Chad asked, ¡°Ms. Stanton, do you reme the international academic conference in Nacsall?¡± +15 BONUS Once it was proven that Ariel had done something like that, her academic career would be over. Many renowned and experienced experts were at the event, and they wouldn¡¯t allow a wrongdoer to tarnish the reputation of the entire group. Nancy¡¯s expression softened slightly at the thought. Those were the consequences Ariel would face for wanting to stand out and iming aplishments that were clearly beyond her capabilities. The audience watched in suspense, unsure how the situation would unfold. More eyes turned toward Ariel. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but notice how Frederick seemed like Nancy¡¯s loyal mouthpiece. Chad saw through Frederick¡¯s intentions as well. He snickered, then cast a piercing nce at Nancy, who remained silent and acted as though none of this concerned her. With a cryptic expression, Chad asked, ¡°Ms. Stanton, do you remember the research paper that was used as an example during the international academic conference in Nacsall?¡± Inside 469 When Frederick voiced his doubts, some attendees began question ng Ariel as well. After all, what Ariel had shared during her speech was undeniably impressive. But Frederick had a point. Ariel was only 25. Most people her age were still pursuing their master¡¯s or PhD degrees. Even the most gifted students were typically inexperienced, learning step by step under the guidance of professors and supervisors. Yet Ariel had developed an innovative flight control system for Fave Technologies¨Cone that significantly advanced the country¡¯s aerospace capabilities. The results of that project had already earned widespread acim. And now, she had authored a top¨Ctier research paper that experts were praising. It was a level of achievement that even prodigies might take years to reach. What was more, Ariel hadn¡¯t indergone any formal academic training in the field. On second thought, it did seem almost unbelievable that she had aplished so much. So when someone voiced skepticism, others began to wonder. Was Ariel truly exceptional, or did she simply have ess to resources of tricks that made her appear like a one¨Cin- million genius? Among the thousands of guests at the event, some believed in Ariel¡¯s brilliance, and some others weren¡¯t so sure. What they didn¡¯t know was that Nancy, who had been trying to stayposed, felt her heart skip a beat at Chad¡¯s words. Her eyes widened in disbelief. She hoped Chad wasn¡¯t about to say what she feared. But Chad, hands in his pockets, smirked and said, ¡°Ariel v Nancy¡¯s face went pale. She quickly turned to Ariel, who? that paper.¡± stood quietly beside Chad. Ariel¡¯s gaze was calm and emotionless. Nancy could sense her indifference and the unmistakable message in her eyes¨Cshe had never seen Nancy as a worthy rival. Nancy felt humiliated. The realization hit her hard. Chad nced toward Russell. ¡°There are two more research papers written by Ariel that students can use for reference. They should be in Ashford University¡¯s database. Would you mind if we take a moment to show them?¡± ¡°Sure, no problem.¡± Frederick frowned. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Chad cast him a stony gaze. ¡°We¡¯ll convince you with solid proof, Mr. Swanson.¡± The staff members got what was needed fairly quickly. When the two papers appeared on the big screen, gasps echoed through the hall. Students in Ashford¡¯s aerospace engineering program immediately recognized them. Their professors had referenced these papers countless times. Many students knew them so well that they could recall entire sections from memory. Nancy¡¯s face turned ghostly white. The paper she had seen in Nacsall¨Cit really had been written by Ariel. And the two papers were dated five years ago. Ariel had been only 20 at the time¡­ Chad turned slowly toward Nancy, whose face was ashen. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind me asking¡­ Do you think Ariel is qualified to write and publish a paper that¡¯s more advanced than yours, Ms. Stanton? ¡°Also, Ariel wasn¡¯t Mr. Carlos¡® student five years ago. So would he have written those papers for her back then?¡± Chad was clearly responding to Frederick¡¯s earlier implication that Ariel couldn¡¯t have produced a paper superior to Nancy¡¯s. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened. She was furious¨Cboth at Chad¡¯s biting remarks and at Frederick¡¯s earlier , which had now backfired and left her in an awkward position. She said nothing. Nancy felt as though she had fallen into a cold, dark void. Goosebumps prickled her skin. The overwhelming sense of dread made it hard to breathe. Chad, however, wasn¡¯t interested in Nancy¡¯s response. His goal was to help the audience understand the stark difference between Ariel and Nancy in terms of knowledge and capability. While students cheered, the academic experts were stunned. As they turned their attention to Ariel, they began to understand why Carlos had chosen her as his student. They also recognized Carlos¡® keen eye for talent¨Che had discovered a true gem. And yet, Ariel had remained out of the public eye all this time. Frederick, watching the crowd¡¯s reaction, realized just how valuable those two papers were. Still¡­ ¡°Ariel was only 20 five years ago. There¡¯s no way¡­¡± His voice faltered, his mouth dry. He nced at Nancy, who sat stiffly, clearly struggling to hide her inner turmoil. Jayson remained silent throughout. He didn¡¯t react to Frederick¡¯s doubts, as if the person being questioned wasn¡¯t his wife at all. Until¡­ ¡°What does it matter whether you believe it or not?¡± Cedric, who had remained seated since the ceremony began, finally spoke. He cast Frederick a sidelong nce, clearly annoyed. ¡°I read those two papers five years ago. Ariel wrote andpleted them herself.¡± Inside 470 Cedric¡¯s words confirmed beyond doubt that Ariel was the author of the research papers. Everyone knew Ariel was Carlos¡® student, and that Carlos and Cedric rarely saw eye to eye. So if even Cedric had spoken up in Ariel¡¯s defense, it was undeniable that the papers were truly hers. Cedric wouldn¡¯t have vouched for Ariel just to save Carlos¡® reputation. His statement was the most credible in the room. Despite their frequent disagreements, Carlos and Cedric shared a deepmitment to fairness and integrity in the academic world. Frederick¡¯s face paled as Cedric dismissed his suspicions. He instinctively nced at Nancy. Nancy struggled to suppress the emotions surging through her. Bu the twitching of her lips betrayed her inner turmoil. She couldn¡¯t believe Cedric had spoken up for Ariel. Had he known Ariel all along? Why hadn¡¯t he mentioned her before? Nancy had beenpletely unaware of Ariel¡¯s true capabilities. The three research papers had shaken her. If Ariel continued to grow at this pace¡­ Nancy tried to slow her breathing, determined not to loseposure in front of the crowd. ¡°It¡¯s just the papers,¡± she told herself. ¡°When ites to real research work, Ariel¡¯s probably no match for me.¡± Jayson, seated nearby, tapped his watch with one hand and slowly stood. He looked at Ariel and finally said, ¡°Congrats.¡± It seemed Cedric¡¯s endorsement had convinced him. Still, it was unclear whether Jayson was congratting Ariel for her sess or for clearing her name. From this moment on, no one would question her authorship again. Ariel turned to him and noticed the calm look in his eyes. Perhaps to avoid stirring gossip, Jayson wore a gentle expression. His eyes crinkled slightly¨Cbarely noticeable. She chose not to ignore him and gave a small nod. She knew today¡¯s events would soon spread, and she didn¡¯t want rumors about her rtionship with Jayson to circte alongside the news of her sess. 1 Nancy, watching Jayson congratte Ariel, felt another pang of resentment. She could feel her indignation rising. All she could do was watch as Ariel basked in newfound fame and admiration. Ariel hadn¡¯t sought any of this. It had all started with Frederick¡¯s attempt to discredit her. Then Cedric had stepped in, validating Ariel¡¯s work. In the end, Ariel had proven herself and silenced all doubts. Momentster, several students from the back rows hurried toward Ariel, eager to speak with her and seek her advice. They found it difficult to approach the seasoned experts at the event. Ariel, being closer to their age, felt far more approachable. In no time, she was surrounded by students who looked at her with awe and admiration. Chad chuckled and stood beside her, gently keeping the crowd from pressing too close. Ariel was gracious and patient, offering clear and thoughtful answers to their questions. Eventually, the impromptu Q&A session ended, and Ariel was guided away from the crowd. Chad nced around the hall. His eyesnded on Carlos and several prominent figures chatting nearby. He leaned toward Ariel and said, ¡°Honestly, today¡¯s event was a rare and special asion.¡± Ariel looked at him. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Chad raised his brows. ¡°If Frederick hadn¡¯t voiced his doubts during such a major event and inadvertently confirmed that you wrote those papers five years ago, there would¡¯ve been endless spection once your authorship was revealed. anapter ¡°That¡¯s just human nature. Without an opportumlty like today, where you could publicly clear the air, people would¡¯ve kept questioning you. You¡¯d have faced nder and doubt for a long time.¡± That was the reality of their world. Not everyone in academia was ble. Many would tarnish others¡® reputations just to im the spotlight. It was rare to have so many experts, journal editors, Carlos, and even Cedric gathered in one ce. That was why Chad called it a rare asion. Thanks to Frederick¡¯s challenge, Ariel had emerged stronger, and the oue would positively shape her future. Inside 471 Chapter 271 After the whirlwind of events, Ariel had unexpectedly gained instant recognition in the academic world. She understood what Chad meant. In hindsight, the earlier incident had indeed be a stepping stone for her. Chad spoke thoughtfully. ¡°Itonestly, for those of us in research or cademia, the public rarely hears our names, no matter how great our achievements. Some may never experience a moment like this in their entire careers. ¡°Their work goes unnoticed. But you were fortunate to have a tform like today¡¯s event. Maybe we should thank Mr. Swanson for his ignorance.¡± It was true¡ªacademic aplishments often went unrecognized by the public. Most researchers led quiet, low¨Cprofile lives. Initially, Ariel had faced usations of misconduct. But Cedric¡¯s swift and unequivocal defense had turned the tide, confirming the papers were hers. The dramatic turn of events made the incident unforgettable. Now, Ariel¡¯s name would spread. Her position in the academic circle would be solidified. As people learned the truth behind the controversy and recognized her aplishments, their respect for her would only grow. With her expertise proven, any lingering doubts would vanish. It was, undeniably, good news for Ariel. Still, she felt a mix of emotions she couldn¡¯t quite put into words. While she was lost in thought, Russell and several other experts approached her. Russell spoke gently, ¡°Ms. Walker, thank you for being here today and for answering so many questions. We¡¯ll be holding a photo session shortly. Would you be able to join us?¡± Ariel would be d to join them. Russell, the president of Ashford University, had political influence. Gaining his recognition was no small feat. Being included in the group photo was an honor. ¡°Sure.¡± She nodded calmly and politely. There e wasn¡¯t a hint of arrogance in her tone or expression. Photos of all the distinguished guests would be takenter, but attendees were free to take individual photos in the meantime. Nancy, watching from a distance, noticed the crowd gathering around Ariel. Her fists clenched unconsciously as she slowly emerged from her daze. For a moment, she felt as though she didn¡¯t belong in that circle. But she wasn¡¯t about to sit idly by. Nancy hadn¡¯t forgotten her purpose for attending. She needed to ensure that the experts noticed her research paper. Just then, Frederick approached. ¡°Ms. Stanton, would you like to meet with the editors now?¡± Nancy had regained herposure. She wasn¡¯t going to reject Frederick¡¯s help, even if he had embarrassed her earlier. She could separate personal feelings from professional goals. ¡°Sure,¡± she replied. Frederick let out a quiet sigh of relief. He had worried Nancy might be angry with him for failing to support her earlier. He led her to Adrian, the editor they had met earlier. Nancy¡¯s expression was moreposed now. Focused on her goal, she said politely, ¡°Hello. Would you be avable to discuss promoting my research paper?¡± Adrian looked at Nancy, then at Frederick. He sighed. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I¡¯m sure you understand that our team follows strict protocols. Now that Ms. Walker¡¯s paper has been recognized as first¨Crate, we¡¯ll prioritize promoting her work using our tform and resources. ¡°Any papers published around the same time will be temporarily set aside. If you¡¯re not in a rush, would it be alright to revisit this discussion after Ms. Walker¡¯s promotional period ends?¡± Nancy¡¯s face darkened, She had to walt for Ariel? And Ariel hadn¡¯t even asked for help. Yet they were offering it anyway? Frederick looked frustrated. ¡°But I thought we had already agreed on this. Adrian met his gaze calmly. ¡°Mr. Swanson, we¡¯ve known each other for years. But the academic world and our tforms have limited resources. Even if you want to help Ms. Stanton, she would need to surpass Ms. Walker in terms of research quality, ¡°Ms. Stanton is undoubtedly sinart and capable. There¡¯s no question about that. Unfortunately, her opponent is someone like Ms. Walker an extraordinary genius.¡± ** N Inside 472 Adrian¡¯s words were blunt and unfiltered. Nancy felt her cheeks flush, as if she¡¯d just been pped. She had ever imagined a day when Ariel would surpass her. The situation felt surreal¨Calmost absurd¡ªand she struggled to epit. Even Frederick¡¯s expression had turned grim and awkward. Just then, someone called Adrian over. He turned and walked away without another word. Frederick frowned deeply, then nced at Nancy. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. Didness things up?¡°. If Frederick hadn¡¯t brought up the issue earlier out of sympathy for Nancy, perhaps things wouldn¡¯t have escted so badly. Nancy suppressed the frustration bubbling inside her and kept her expression neutral. ¡°I know you did it because you thought it was unfair to me, Mr. Swanson. So, it¡¯s alright.¡± Nancy was deeply frustrated. Frederick had unintentionally made things worse. People were nowparing her to Ariel¨Cusing her as a benchmark, no less. Still, she kept those thoughts to herself. After excusing herself, Nancy went to find Jayson, hoping to get his advice. As she approached, she saw Jayson speaking with several prominent figures. Just then, someone called out, ¡°Mr. Larkin, could you stand next to Ms. Walker? We¡¯re taking a group photo.¡± Those words halted Nancy in her tracks. Ariel heard the request too. She looked up and met Jayson¡¯s eyes. She didn¡¯t like the idea, but kept her expressionposed. Personally, Ariel disliked such arrangements. If the photo were released publicly, it might spark renewed spection about her and Jayson. That kind of attention would distract from the significance of today¡¯s event. Before Ariel could respond, ¨¤ deep voice declined the request. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll stay out of the frame today. The rest of you should go ahead.¡± Jayson had refused to join the photo. Ariel felt a wave of relief. As she turned, she noticed Nancy standing in the distance. Nancy¡¯s expression softened at Jayson¡¯s response, but her gaze toward Ariel was cold and hard. Even after Ariel had received so much attention and praise, Jayson hadn¡¯t spared her a nce. It was only then that Ariel realized Jayson¡¯s refusal might not have been about distancing himself from the academic circle but about protecting Nancy¡¯s feelings. By staying out of the photo, Jayson avoided appearing as a couple with Ariel, and no one would question it. Chad furrowed his brows when he noticed Nancy. Jayson seemed to care deeply about Nancy¡¯s emotions so much so that he was worried she might feel jealous iel Ariel weed his decision. She looked away and joined the other guests. After the group photo, several students approached Ariel, asking to take pictures with her. She didn¡¯t turn anyone down. Somehow, she felt like she had be a role model for these students. Their enthusiasm nearly overwhelmed her, Carlos had already left the venue. JO Cedric passed by Ariel as he exited the hall. He gave lier a cold look ¡°Don¡¯t get too full of yourself. It¡¯s still too early to tell how far you¡¯ll go.¡± His words were sharp and biting, as always. But Ariel didn¡¯t respond. Cedric had been fair today he had spoken the truth when it mattered. Before leaving, Cedric saw Jayson walking toward Nancy. The sight stopped him in his tracks. He turned to Ariel, disbelief in his eyes. ¡°If I were you, I wouldn¡¯t just sit back and let someone else steal my partner. You should fight for him instead of giving up just to preserve your marriage.¡± Ariel was left speechless. Inside 473 Cedric stared at Ariel for a moment with a frown etched on his forehead. Then, he strode off without another word. As always, he made no effort to hide his brusqueness or displeasure. ¡°What did Mr. Warbrooke say to you?¡± Chad asked as he walked over. Ariel shook her head. ¡°Nothing much. He says the same thing every time.¡± Cedric often scowled at her, always seeming irritated. Chad sighed. There wasn¡¯t much he could do. Years had passed, yet Cedric still hadn¡¯t let go of whatever grudge he held against Ariel. Ariel stayed at the university a bit longer. She joined the others for a meal, where several experts took the opportunity to speak with her, hoping to exchange ideas and insights. She epted the invitation, still feeling energized and honored to be among so many respected figures. Establishing these connections would help her navigate the academic world with fewer obstacles. Russell had also invited Jayson to join the meal, but he hadn¡¯t extended the invitation to Nancy. Jayson declined, citing urgent matters, and quietly left with Nancy. Nancy hadn¡¯t received any praise or recognition that day. The blow to her confidence was evident. During the meal, Chad showed Ariel a social media post. Cecilia had reposted photos from Ashford University¡¯s anniversary celebration, adding a pointed caption. ¡°Ms. Walker keeps a low profile and focuses on her research. She¡¯s a treasure to the academic world. Anyone who thought topare her with Ms. Stanton has only embarrassed themselves.¡± Ariel was surprised. 1 Cecilia had clearly learned about the incident and was openly supporting her. With arge following and the allure of a celebrity, Cecilia¡¯s post would spread the news even faster. And Nancy¨Calready humiliated¨Cwould likely feel even more attacked by Cecilia¡¯s mocking tone. In just one day, Ariel had be the hottest topic on Ashford University¡¯s online forum. Her reputation was soaring. ¡°Ms. Pryce seems to be a sharp and sensible person,¡± Chad said, amused and impressed by Cecilia¡¯s support for Ariel, Cecilia was unapologetically outspoken. With her background and upbringing, she didn¡¯t hesitate to call out faults, even going so far as to openly mock Nancy. Initially, only those present at the event knew what had happened. But Cecilia¡¯s post would reignite memories for anyone familiar with Nancy¡¯s name. In effect, Cecilia had publicly humiliated Nancy again. ¡°She¡¯s got quite the fiery temper,¡± Ariel said, unsure how else to describe it. She even found it a little funny. Cecilia often seemed more outraged than Ariel herself. ¡°That doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Chad replied cheerfully. ¡°What matters is Nancy got thoroughly roasted toda Nancy was smart and capable. Her research paper was well¨Cwritten and far above average. But her opponent was Ariel. Chad suspected Nancy¡¯s attitude would shift dramatically after today. Ariel was no longer someone she could dismiss or belittle. She could no longer im that Ariel was inferior to her. For someone as proud and ustomed to getting her way, this situation was pure torment. Meanwhile, Jayson had dropped Nancy off at her home. He nced at his watch. ¡°I¡¯ve got some urgent matters to handle. You should head in.¡± Nancy was in a foul mood but didn¡¯t want to show it. She nodded. ¡°Alright. You even turned down the invitation to bring me home. Thank you, Jayson.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Go get some rest,¡± he said gently. ¡°Don¡¯t dwell too much on what happened today.¡± Nancy¡¯s mood lifted slightly at his words. He was right. Herpetition with Ariel wasn¡¯t just about research papers; it was also about personal rtionships. At least Jayson hadn¡¯t been swayed by Ariel¡¯s sess. He remained distant toward her. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I won¡¯t let it bother me. Everyone has different strengths. Objectively speaking, I acknowledge her talent in writing research papers,¡± Nancy said calmly, hiding her true feelings. She didn¡¯t react like others might¨Cflustered or bitter. She kept herposure. ¡°Alright. You should head in,¡± Jayson said. Nancy stepped out of the car. ¡°Drive safe.¡°¨C As soon as Jayson¡¯s car disappeared down the road, Nancy¡¯s expression darkened. She entered the house with a cold, rigid demeanor. A whileter, she received a forwarded post from Robin. Her face turned pale the moment she saw Cecilia¡¯s post. It wasn¡¯t just that Cecilia had sided with Ariel¨Cthement section had revived old rumors about Nancy¡¯s failed proposal to Jayson. The criticism was harsh and relentless. Nancy gripped her phone tightly. She couldn¡¯t deny how furious she was. Sarah came downstairs and noticed Nancy¡¯s tense expression. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Did something happen today?¡± Nancy closed her eyes and gave Sarah a rough summary of the day¡¯s events. Sarah was stunned. It took her a moment to respond. ¡°Ariel Walker? Are you sure? Could they have made a mistake? Someone like her did all that?¡± Having lived abroad for years, Sarah understood the weight of Ariel¡¯s sudden rise. ¡°How did she suddenly be so¡­¡± Sarah trailed off, still in disbelief. ¡°It¡¯s bizarre.¡± Nancy tucked a few loose strands of hair behind her ear, her face grim. ¡°If this were her first paper, we could still question it. But she published two papers five years ago and never mentioned them.¡± Sarah¡¯s eyes widened with realization. ¡°She kept it hidden on purpose just to humiliate you in front of everyone! Ariel is a vile, maniptive woman!¡± Sarah was so angry she nearly cursed. She couldn¡¯t see any other reason for Ariel to hide her achievements, except to set a trap for Nancy, Nancy¡¯s thoughts raced. She couldn¡¯t just sit back and do nothing. That wasn¡¯t her style. Sarah calmed down and thought for a moment. ¡°We need a strategy to shift the public¡¯s attention. You can¡¯t lose to someone like her. Jayson may care about you, but your image and reputation matter too.¡± Suddenly, Sarah¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°How was your trip to Nouburgh with Jayson?¡± Nancy paused. ¡°It was fine. You don¡¯t need to worry about that.¡± Inside 474 Chapter 474 For a while, the events at Ashford University¡¯s anniversary became sensational news. Many students began idolizing Ariel after reading about her on the university¡¯s online forum. Evelyn was stunned when she heard the news. The more she learned, the more bewildered she became. It all sounded too surreal. Ariel had suddenly be the top figure among her peers in the academic world. ¡°Mom? Where¡¯s Jayson?¡± Renee asked urgently as she arrived home. ¡°He¡¯s probably in his study,¡± Evelyn replied, recalling that one of the maids had mentioned Jayson had returned briefly to retrieve his seal. After a moment¡¯s thought, Evelyn decided to check on him. But Renee was quicker. She had darted off toward the study. Jayson¡¯s study was his private space. Normally, no one entered without permission. He had just set down a book when the door opened and Renee appeared. He gave her a sidelong nce. ¡°Do you not know how to knock?¡± Renee shrank back a little. ¡°Sorry, Jay¡­¡± But her curiosity got the better of her. ¡°I heard from my ssmates that what happened at Ashford University today was rted to Ariel. Jay, is that true?¡± She was utterly confused. ording to her ssmates, Ariel had earned the admiration of many of Ashford¡¯s top students. Renee had even heard that Nancy had beenpletely crushed. It all sounded absurd. From her memories, Ariel had always been a quiet, gentle woman who managed the household. Aside from her beauty and cooking skills, there was nothing particrly remarkable about her. Evelyn, who had reached the door, overheard Renee¡¯s words and turned her gaze to Jayson. Jayson lowered his eyes and continued organizing his things. ¡°It¡¯s true.¡± Renee was stunned. ¡°What do you mean? Isn¡¯t Ariel just normal? Why didn¡¯t she ever tell me what she was capable of?¡± Her mind struggled to process the revtion. The woman she had looked down on had just outshone Nancy, the person she admired most. Jayson looked up. ¡°Maybe it has something to do with whether you ever showed her proper respect.¡± Renee was speechless. Her face turned pale. Evelyn furrowed her brows, staring at Jayson. ¡°Is that really what she¡¯s capable of?¡± She looked thoughtful. Jayson retrieved what he needed and headed for the door. ¡°Even one of the country¡¯s top researchers confirmed that Arielpleted her papers independently. Is there something you still doubt?¡± Evelyn lowered her gaze, then looked up again. ¡°You should avoid attending public events with Nancy for now. Go.. Ariel instead. It¡¯ll help build a positive image.¡± Those words halted Jayson in his tracks. He narrowed his eyes at Evelyn and smiled faintly. ¡°Mom, I don¡¯t think you should concern yourself with that.¡± 174 He paid no mind to Evelyn¡¯s reaction and just walked out of the room. Evelyn¡¯s expression hardened as she watched him leave. She understood what he meant¡ªhe had no intention of distancing himself from Nancy, despite everything. He was making that choice knowingly. She had rarely needed to worry about Jayson, even as a child. He was shrewd, opinionated, and brilliant in business. Yet now, he was making a reckless decision¨Cfor Nancy, an ordinary woman. Evelyn usually refrained from interfering in Jayson¡¯s personal life offering advice only when necessary. But it was clear he wouldn¡¯t listen this time. She frowned, beginning to consider the situation more seriously. Meanwhile, Renee¡¯s thoughts were elsewhere. Though shocked by the news, she was secretly pleased. Still, she felt annoyed that Ariel had kept this from her. After some thought, she decided to call Ariel and demand an exnation. But when she dialed the number, she was met with, ¡°Sorry, the number you¡¯ve dialed is no longer in service¡­¡± Renee froze, stunned. Did Ariel cancel her number? Or did she change to a new number? When did that happen? And why hadn¡¯t she been informed? Her eyes reddened with frustration. She couldn¡¯t understand why Ariel would do such a thing. Ariel had gained much from the anniversary event, but it had also drained her. She and the other experts had chatted for hours before calling it a day. By the time she got home, she was so exhausted she nearly copsed. She slept for 13 hours straight, waking up just after 8:00 am the next day. When she arrived at Faye Technologies, Chad had already finished meeting several clients. With a moment to spare, he stopped by Ariel¡¯s office to grab some water. ¡°A lot of people heard about yesterday¡¯s event. Since this morning, we¡¯ve been flooded with calls frompanies wanting to coborate. ¡°Jan¡¯s still meeting clients in the conference room. I don¡¯t think any otherpany has experienced something like this.¡± Luckily, Ariel hade inte. Otherwise, she¡¯d be swamped with meetings too. Even those who had doubted Ariel¡¯s ability to develop the new flight control system were now convinced after learning about the incident that had taken ce the previous day. ¡°Thanks, Chad,¡± Ariel said sincerely. She was grateful that Chad and Janice had handled most of the workload. Chad smiled. ¡°No need to thank me. Jan and I should be thanking you. Without you, we wouldn¡¯t have achieved so much so quickly.¡± Ariel chuckled. ¡°We made it happen together. Each of us ys a vital role.¡± Chad handled technical support, administration, and leadership. Janice managed operations. Ariel focused on research and development. Both Chad and Janice had always been considerate, doing their best to lighten Ariel¡¯s load so she could focus on her work. Ariel appreciated their support deeply. Just then, Cassidy knocked and entered. ¡°Ms. Walker, you have a guest.¡± Chad nced toward the door. Cecilia stood outside, holding a bouquet of flowers. Her brows arched when she saw Chad. ¡°Oh, Mr. Hockney, you¡¯re here too. Sorry, I only brought flowers for Ms. Walker today. I¡¯ll bring you a bouquet next time?¡± Chad shrugged. ¡°You do enjoy teasing people, Ms. Pryce.¡± Cecilia was indeed just joking. She turned her eyes to Ariel, gave her a yful smile, then walked over and handed her the bouquet with a wink. ¡°Congrattions on your amazing speech yesterday! These are from someone who¡¯s currently away on a business trip.¡± Ariel instantly knew who she meant. Chad watched the exchange. Was Cecilia trying to help Samson pursue Ariel? Was she ying matchmaker? Their expressions must have given them away, because Cecilia tilted her head and said bluntly, ¡°Yes, that¡¯s exactly what I¡¯m doing.¡± Then she looked at Ariel and added seriously, ¡°Ms. Walker, why don¡¯t you ditch Mr. Larkin and choose my brother instead?¡± 1) 192 Inside 475 Even Chad was slightly taken aback by Ceci¡¯s bluntness. It seemed as though she was determined to rescue Ariel from her miserable situation immediately. It was Ariel¡¯s first time encountering someone with Cecilia¡¯s temperament. And now, Cecilia had even dragged Samson into the conversation, despite his absence. Cecilia studied Ariel for a moment, narrowed her eyes thoughtfully then grinned. ¡°I think Mr. Larkin has terrible taste.¡± ¡°You¡¯re absolutely right, Ms. Pryce,¡± Chad chimed in, fully agreeing. 2411 Terrible was putting it mildly. In Chad¡¯s opinion, Jayson must have been blind to choose someone like Nancy over Ariel. Ariel appreciated Cecilia taking the time to visit and congratte her in person. Still, she had spoken to Samson recently and made her stance clear. ¡°I know¨Cyou need time to think it over. That¡¯s fine,¡± Cecilia said with a warm smile. ¡°Samson¡¯s very particr when ites to rtionships. He may seemid¨Cback and carefree, but he¡¯s actually quite stubborn. So take your time.¡± She patted Ariel¡¯s shoulder, her tone tactful and light, leaving Ariel no room to reject the idea outright. ¡°Ms. Pryce, you¡¯re putting Ari in a tough spot,¡± Chad said, raising an eyebrow. Cecilia crossed her arms and turned to him. ¡°Mr. Larkin already has another woman. Someone as wonderful as Ms. Walker deserves her own happiness. She should distance herself from Mr. Larkin¨Cor better yet, cut tiespletely. I¡¯m just trying to help her escape a miserable situation.¡± Chad was impressed by Cecilia¡¯s boldness and rity of thought. Unfortunately, Ariel and Jayson were still bound by the terms of their agreement. There were many things they couldn¡¯t reveal publicly. Jayson¡¯s behavior might be wrong, but for Ariel¡¯s sake, Chad believed it was best to wait until the divorce was finalized before encouraging her to pursue someone new. If Ariel were to start a rtionship now while the public still believed she was married, it could damage her reputation, making her seem no better than Jayson. Free¨Cspirited women like Cecilia probably wouldn¡¯t see that as a problem. They lived in the moment and followed their hearts. ¡°You seem to know very little about love, Mr. Hockney. Have you ever dated anyone?¡± Cecilia teased, studying Chad¡¯s face. Ariel let out a chuckle. Chad was a workaholic. And like many men, he approached life with logic and reason. Women, on the other hand, often leaned into emotion when faced with simr situations. He simply shrugged. Everyone was free to live by their own beliefs and principles. Cecilia turned to Ariel. ¡°I admire how strong and resilient you¡¯ve been, even in an unhappy marriage. You¡¯re smart, capable- and honestly, I think Samson made a great choice falling for you. ¡°I¡¯d love to be friends. If you ever need help, let me know. I¡¯m quite skilled at dealing with women like Nancy.¡± Ariel remembered how assertive and outspoken Cecilia had been when they met at the military base. It gave her a clear picture of Cecilia¡¯s approach to life. ¡°Thank you, Ms. Pryce,¡± she replied politely. Cecilia¡¯s eyes sparkled as she smiled. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you get back to work. Let¡¯s grab a meal sometime when you¡¯re.¡± She came and went like a gust of wind. Chad watched her leave. ¡°She really seems to like you. She¡¯s so warn and friendly toward you.¡± Chooter 475 +15 BONUS Not only did she treat Ariel like a long¨Ctime friend, but Ceci also offered to help her Ariel agreed, though she suspected Cecilia¡¯s kindness was partly because of Samson. As his older sister, Cecilia likely wanted to show care and consideration toward the woman her brother was arested in. Switching gears, Chad said, ¡°I heard Mr. Warbrooke visited Veyo Solutions. It looks like he¡¯s officially agreed to advise their team.¡± Chad couldn¡¯t understand why Cedric, who had been retired for years, would suddenly decide to help Nancy. Cedric was likely aware of the real situation between Ariel and Jayson. Even if Jayson had tried to persuade him, Chad couldn¡¯t think of a single good reason why Cedric would choose to get involved with Nancy. Inside 476 Chapter 476 Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke has always been unpredictable. But if he already agreed to help Jayson, I doubt he¡¯d go back on his word.¡± ¡°Doesn¡¯t matter,¡± Chad said. ¡°Personal growth is what reallyms. Veyo can¡¯t rely on Mr. Warbrooke forever. He¡¯s just a temporary gimmick for now.¡± He stood up and tapped Ariel¡¯s desk. ¡°Anyway, let¡¯s not think about that now. Time to work.¡± The next day, Nancy and Sarah made a decision to move up the date of the art exhibition. Nancy hadn¡¯t been in the best ce emotionally. Everylling with Ariel had left a lingering sting, like a wound that refused to heal. Sarah had thought long and hard before telling Nancy, ¡°Ariel¡¯s basking in the spotlight right now. You need to boost your image too to clean up the mess Ariel¡¯s dragged you into.¡± Nancy understood what Sarah meant. She could use some extra support at a time like this. ¡°Besides, an art exhibition can bring in a whole wave of people who don¡¯t know the full story but are happy to throw their support our way. If we wait too long, the momentum might shift.¡± Sarah frowned. Especially since they didn¡¯t know what underhanded tricks Ariel might pull next, it was better to seize the opportunity while they could. Nancy didn¡¯t object. ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll reach out to the Ulmer family about the art museum.¡± Using a regr venue just wouldn¡¯t have the same effect. Cecilia¡¯s museum was the best option on the table. So Nancy contacted the Ulmer family¡¯s art museum again. They gave her a quote for the rental. Later, she arranged to meet Jayson for lunch. Jayson didn¡¯t turn her down. He met her every need, and that put her at ease. Over the meal, Nancy brought up Sarah¡¯s idea to move the exhibition date forward. Jayson wasn¡¯t surprised. He nodded calmly. ¡°Sure. That works.¡± Nancy frowned as she recalled what the museum staff had told her. ¡°They said Ms. Pryce hadn¡¯t nned to rent out the venue anytime soon, so the price is steep. They quoted me 200 thousand dors a day. My mom wants to book it for three.¡± That was over five times more than a standard exhibition space. Then again, the prestige was also many times higher. Jayson looked up at her. ¡°Do you want me to cover it?¡± But Nancy immediately shook her head and shed a soft smile. ¡°I know you mean well, but this is just a small thing. I can¡¯t rely on you for everything. And it¡¯s not like I can¡¯t afford it. Even if I couldn¡¯t, I¡¯d find a way to earn it myself. Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± She knew he cared. It was only 600 thousand dors. Once the exhibition boosted her mame, the payoff would be long¨Cterm and worth much more. Nancy still wanted to hold onto her pride in front of Jayson. She wouldn¡¯t ask him for that little amount of money. Jayson thought for a second before asking, ¡°Yourpany¡¯s dividend payout should being up soon, rig Nancy¡¯s smile returned. ¡°Yeah, so I¡¯m not short of money.¡± Though truthfully, her finances were a little tight. After all, the giarism issue from earlier had drained her quite a bit. But she didn¡¯t want to show it. She could still handle it. Jayson seemed to get what she was thinking. He leaned against his chair. ¡°Alright. By the way, your mom hasn¡¯t partnered with any galleries yet since returning, right? With her skills, she could easily contract with one or two. The quarterly ie would be impressive.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right. We haven¡¯t explored that yet.¡± Nancy was surprised Jayson nodded. ¡°Leave it to me. I¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Nancy nced at his face and couldn¡¯t help but smile.. Inside 477 Chapter 477 After lunch, Jayson had to head back to the office. Nancy went straight to Veyo Solutions. There was a meeting scheduled that afternoon. Jayson sat behind his desk, listening as Colton ran through the updates. Once he had a handle on the schedule, Jayson closed the file and looked up. ¡°Is Westvale Gallery open for exhibition tomorrow?¡± cked Colton quickly checked his notes. ¡°Yes, Mr. Larkin. Anything you want me to do?¡± ¡°Set up a meeting with the person in charge. I want to see him tomorrow.¡± Colton hesitated. ¡°Are you attending exhibition?¡± Jayson¡¯s schedule was always packed. He already had other engagements lined up tomorrow. It¡¯ll be a tight fit to include this exhibition in the schedule. ¡°No, I¡¯m taking Mrs. Stanton to meet him to talk about a possible contract,¡± Jayson replied, rubbing his brow. Colton immediately understood what Jayson meant. ¡°I understand. I¡¯ll arrange it right away.¡± Westvale Gallery was one of Jayson¡¯s investments. It seemed like he truly had a vision for the future. With his prior investment, taking Sarah to negotiate a contract wouldn¡¯t be a problem. It was practically a guaranteed job for Sarah, and it also served as a safety for Nancy. Later that afternoon, Janice came rushing into Ariel¡¯s office, visibly excited. ¡°I got some good news!¡± Ariel looked up from herptop screen. ¡°What is it?¡± Janice took a deep breath and handed over her phone. ¡°A friend sent me this. Take a look. Is that the painting?¡± Ariel nced down. Janice¡¯s friend had sent her several photos, all taken at an art gallery. Her eyesnded almost instantly on one of them. There it was, the painting by Sarah she had been looking for. A flicker of surprise passed through Ariel¡¯s eyes. ¡°Where is this?¡± Janice slid into a chair beside her and replied excitedly, ¡°Westvale Gallery. It¡¯s amercial venue. I had some friends keep an eye out. This gallery is about tounch a themed exhibition, all about this particr art style. ¡°My friend knows someone who works there and managed to snap photos of what¡¯s going to be on disy. Can you believe it? The painting you were looking for is actually among them!¡± Ariel exhaled silently before asking, ¡°What time does the exhibition start?¡± Janice nced at the time. ¡°Tomorrow at 1:00 pm.¡± ¡°Is there any way to get in early?¡± The discovery was a windfall. Ariel looked visibly lighter. Janice shook her head. ¡°I already asked. No exceptions. We¡¯ll have to wait until tomorrow.¡± Ariel curled her fingers, pausing in thought before finally saying, ¡°Then I¡¯ll go early tomorrow and try to get the painting At least now there was a lead. All her digging hadn¡¯t been in vain. Just after 10:00 am the next day, Jayson¡¯s other assistant, Arthur Beck, was already on the road, driving Nancy and Sarah to the gallery. Sarah was in great spirits. She knew exactly how much Jayson¡¯s arrangement meant for her. Working with a gallery meant she would provide the art, and they would handle the funding. A one¨Cyear deal could easily her tens of millions of dors. Most importantly, her work would be featured across various exhibitions. She wouldn¡¯t have to worry about a thing. By the time they arrived, Jayson was already there. Nancy spotted him and walked over with a smile. ¡°Jayson, sorry to keep you waiting.¡± Jayson replied, ¡°It¡¯s fine. Anyway, this is Mr. Dn Hudson the gallery director.¡± Nancy gave Dn a polite nod. Meanwhile, Sarah stepped forward and shook his hand. ¡°Hi I¡¯m Sarah Moore. I¡¯m guessing you¡¯ve heard of me.¡± Dn smiled warmly. ¡°Of course. I¡¯ve seen your exhibitions overseas. Since Mr. Larkin personally made the introduction, how can I help?¡± Sarah nced at Jayson, then said, ¡°No need to treat me any differently just because of him. Let¡¯s go through the usual process. If everything lines up, I¡¯m in.¡± Nancy could tell Jayson had already had a word with Dn in advance. Dn treated them with respect, and everything went smoothly. There was no effort needed on her part at all. Inside 478 At that thought, Nancy nced over at Jayson, who was discussing something work¨Crted with Arthur. A content smile lingered in her eyes. When Jayson was done talking to Arthur, he noticed the wohen deep in conversation. Just then, his phone rang. He nced at the caller ID, then stepped outside to take the call. Today¡¯s theme was abstract oil paintings. The art gallery was spacious, but there weren¡¯t many visitors yet, so the ce felt empty and quiet. When Jayson came out, he had already finished the call and was walking along the gallery. Eventually, he stopped in front of one of the paintings. The painting before him was one he knew intimately. It was the one Ariel had once asked him for. Jayson stood there in silence, staring at it for a moment. Then, footsteps echoed behind him. He turned, ready to leave. But just as he turned, he caught sight of Cecilia a short distance away. She seemed just as surprised to see him. Jayson only gave her a brief nce, didn¡¯t bother to greet her, and simply walked away with long strides. Frowning, Cecilia looked at Jayson¡¯s retreating figure. It wasn¡¯t until she took a few more steps forward that she noticed the painting hanging there. She was momentarily stunned. The intery of color and structure was striking. She could tell at a nce that this was exactly to her liking. Without hesitation, Cecilia went to find a staff member. She wanted to buy it. The paintings here were up for sale, and she didn¡¯t care about the price. She just needed to speak with the staff about buying it. As she headed toward the spiral staircase, a man¡¯s voice reached her ears. ¡°Mr. Larkin, Mr. Hudson¡¯s still speaking with Ms. Stanton and Mrs. Stanton about the contract. Should we go ahead and secure that painting you were just looking at?¡± Jayson checked the time on his watch as he walked. ¡°Yes. Go talk to Dnter. Tell him I want it pulled from the exhibit.¡± Arthur hesitated. ¡°Mr. Larkin, aren¡¯t you aware that Mrs. Stanton¡¯s painting is suspected of giarizing Ms. Walker¡¯s work? Why would you-¡± Jayson stopped and shot him a t look. Arthur understood immediately. ¡°Right. You¡¯re protecting Ms. Stanton.¡± What did it matter what Sarah had done? Jayson didn¡¯t offer any exnation. He had only squeezed in time to drop by today, and now there was important work waiting for him. Turning to Arthur, he said, ¡°You stay here and handle the follow¨Cup. I¡¯m heading back to the office.¡± Arthur stood tall. ¡°Yes, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson left in a hurry, but Cecilia had heard enough. Just these few words were enough for her to piece things together. She quickly walked back to where Jayson had been standing and gazed at the painting, which she had to admit was stunning. Just then, Nancy and Sarah walked out and spotted Cecilia across the gallery. Nancy instinctively frowned but quickly realized Cecilia was focused on a painting. That was Sarah¡¯s painting. Of course, she recognized it. Nancy thought for a moment, then decided to approach with Sarah in tow. ¡°Ms. Pryce?¡± Cecilia turned around slowly. Nancy¡¯s demeanor was calm and poised, her expression giving nothing away. ¡°Do you like this painting?¡± While Nancy was speaking, Sarah had already figured out who the woman in front of her was¨Cthe heiress of Yeager Group. With her arms crossed, Cecilia looked at Nancy, then suddenly let out a snort. ¡°What a coincidence.¡± Nancy knew Cecilia had her biases, likely stemming from Ariel. However, Nancy had no interest in shing with someone like Cecilia, given her status. So¡­ ¡°Do you like this painting, Ms. Pryce?¡± Nancy asked again. Arthur watched the interaction quietly from the side. Cecilia smiled. ¡°I do. I was just about to buy it, actually.¡± Nancy, hoping to foster goodwill, made a quick decision. ¡°To be honest, that painting was done by my mother. If you like it, I¡¯d be happy to give it to you.¡± Just then, Arthur stepped up, looking slightly awkward. ¡°Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin asked to purchase that piece.¡± Cecilia let out a cold chuckle. ¡°Oh? The artist herself says she¡¯s giving it to me, and now you think you get to overrule that?¡± Inside 479 Arthur nced at Cecilia. His gaze flickered for a moment, hen he looked over at Nancy. ¡°Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin was nning to purchase that piece. Maybe you should reconsider.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t quite understand why Jayson suddenly wanted the painting, but now that they had run into Cecilia¡­ ¡°It¡¯s fine, Arthur.¡± Sarah stepped in. ¡°Just let Mr. Larkin know. I¡¯m making the call on this one. I¡¯m giving it to Ms. Pryce.¡± She understood who Cecilia was. And if one painting could epen a door with someone like her, it was more than worth it. Besides, she would be holding an exhibition in Cecilia¡¯s art museum soon. This painting was more like a gesture. One that could turn into something mutual down the road. Nancy knew what Sarah was thinking. She told Arthur, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll talk to Jayson.¡± Arthur stift looked like he wanted to object. With a cold expression, Cecilia nced at Nancy. ¡°Well then, thank you, Ms. Stanton. Saves me a pretty penny.¡± Nancy knew that someone like Cecilia wasn¡¯t exactly easy to deal with. Although she had wanted to give the painting to Jayson, she was sure he would understand her intention. ¡°It¡¯s nothing, Ms. Pryce. If this means we can be friends, then I¡¯m happy to give it,¡± Nancy said. Suddenly, Cecilia chuckled. ¡°Sure. I don¡¯t make friends with just anyone, you know.¡± With that, she turned to Dn. ¡°Wrap it up and have it sent to my car.¡± Dn nced briefly at Arthur before giving the order. Arthur looked at the painting but decided not to say anything. Once Cecilia had left with the painting, Sarah patted Nancy¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about upsetting Jayson. He cares too much about you to make a fuss. I¡¯ll send him a few more piecester. This one was worth it to earn favor with Ms. Pryce. Besides, she was well aware that Cecilia had serious clout in the art world. Born into wealth and luxury, she made a name for herself abroad at an early age. ¡°With Ms. Pryce¡¯s fierce loyalty toward those she deems worthy, if she¡¯s on your side, Ariel¡¯s bound to suffer.¡± Nancy hadn¡¯t thought about it that way. But she couldn¡¯t deny that it made sense. Ariel arrived at the gallery half an hour early. The exhibition was supposed to start at 1:00 pm, but she showed up shortly after noon. However, as she nced at the already¨Copened exhibition hall, she couldn¡¯t help but frown. It wasn¡¯t until she stepped inside that she realized that the exhibition had already begun. She casually asked a staff member, who informed her, ¡°We started three hours early today.¡± Ariel was surprised. She had no idea why the exhibition suddenly started earlier than nned, and she wasn¡¯t even informed. But she didn¡¯t press for answers. Instead, she headed straight for the section she had her eye on. ??? When she got there, she noticed that the spot where the patting was supposed to hang was empty, A sinking feeling gripped Ariel. She spun around and went ask someone. The staff member replied, ¡°The painting was sold about two hours ago.¡± Ariel inhaled sharply. She had made a point of arriving early, only to find out they had moved the schedule up by three hours. And now, the very piece she caine for was sold ¡°Can I ask who bought it?¡± The staff member nced at her. ¡°I don¡¯t know the exact details. All I know is it was a young gentleman with thest name Larkin.¡± A storm of emotion flickered across Ariel¡¯s eyes. Deep down, she had already suspected it. A young man with thest name Larkin? Who else could it be? When Ariel came out, her expression was nearly nk. She sat in the car for a long while, forcing herself to settle her thoughts. Only then did she take out her phone and dial Jayson¡¯s number again. When he picked up, he said nothing. He waited for her to start. A chill crept into her eyes. ¡°Jayson, did you buy the painting I¡¯ve been looking for? Inside 480 Chapter 480 Jayson was silent for a few seconds before finally saying, ¡°ldn¡¯t get it. Something unexpected happened.¡± He replied honestly, but to Ariel, it sounded ridiculous. The staff member had confirmed it was Jayson who bought the painting. Who else could have had it removed before she arrived? ¡°Then tell me where it is. Jayson, I don¡¯t want to hear any more carefully worded nonsense.¡± Ariel was angry now. From the moment she got there, nothing had felt right. The gallery had quietly moved up its opening hours without any public notice, and the painting was gone. It all felt too deliberate, like it was designed to make her miss it. Jayson could hear the restrained fury in Ariel¡¯s voice. He listened for a while, then finally said, ¡°Maybe you should focus your energy on the work you love for now. This isn¡¯t worth your time or effort.¡± He didn¡¯t respond with a clear ¡°I don¡¯t know¡± this time. That answer alone was enough for Ariel to realize that Jayson probably knew everything. He just chose not to tell her. She knew him all too well. Without wasting another second she hung up right away. She knew that once Jayson had made up his mind, there was no changing it. And at this point, he had no weakness left for her to use against him. Especially now that Nancy¡¯s role as the mistress was out in the open, Jayson would feel even less need to tread carefully. He wasn¡¯t worried about Ariel doing anything that could tarnish Nancy¡¯s innocent image. Instead, his main concern was that Ariel might use the painting to damage Nancy¡¯s and Sarah¡¯s reputations. The wasted trip and pointless excitement drained Ariel. She rested her head on the steering wheel, deep in thought for a long while before finally deciding to head back to Faye Technologies. She needed to figure out how to turn the tide. As soon as she stepped into the office, Chad approached her ¡°Veyo has just announced a new project, and they moved fast this time. They¡¯ve released a small part of the concept, and the quality looks exceptional.¡± He scoffed under his breath. Jayson sure introduced Cedric to Nancy at the perfect time. Nancy¡¯s reputation had taken some recent hits. But with the project that Cedric led going live, plenty of people were drawn by his name alone. No one cared much about Nancy¡¯s scandals anymore. Chad couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Jayson had nned this all along. The timing was always just right. Ariel lowered her gaze and replied rationally, ¡°Because they all know that with Mr. Warbrooke involved, there¡¯s little risk. And this happens to be the first project he¡¯s taken on since his return, which makes it especially significant.¡± +15 BONUS This project would be a safe bet and bring in major profits for Veyo Solutions. When it wrapped up in a few months, Nancy would be riding that wave. At that point, the public would only see her as a capable woman who could get Jayson to back her and even bring Cedric on board. Any blemishes on her record would be conveniently forgotten. It was no wonder Jayson didn¡¯t want Ariel anywhere near that painting. He was always protecting Nancy. Chad frowned slightly. He knew it wasn¡¯t realistic to think Mancy would fall from grace just because of a scandal or two. The matter of her research paper and identity was nothing more than gossip over tea. After all, the man standing behind Nancy was Jayson. That alone gave her all the chances she would ever need to stay on top. Inside 481 Chapter 481 Veyo Solutions was suddenly flooded with attention again. Ariel knew they had already signed several new coborations, but she didn¡¯t care. Veyo Solutions had the talent and money. Its growth was inevitable. What lingered in her mind was the painting. The next day, Ariel finally received the official announcement for Sarah¡¯s uing art exhibition. The organizers had released a confirmed time and location It was set for exactly one week from now. That was bold. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected them to move it up by so much. She nced at the venue address and immediately recognized it as Cecilia¡¯s art museum. So Nancy really did manage to book it. At the same time, Ariel received a call from Katie. Thetter rarely lost herposure, but now, her voice was trembling. ¡°Is Sarah Moore back?¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Grandma, how did you¡­¡± Katie¡¯s voice wavered as she replied, ¡°Someone came today to deliver an invitation. It was from Sarah. Said she¡¯s inviting me to her art exhibition.¡± And Sarah even had the delivery person tell Katie, ¡°Maybe when you see one of my paintings, it¡¯ll remind you of Elena. It¡¯s a way to feel connected to her.¡± Katie shook with rage. Sarah was Elena¡¯s best friend back then. Elena had sponsored her, opened doors for her, and even let her live with them to save on rent. But Sarah was nothing more than a wolf in sheep¡¯s clothing. Right before graduation, she had used Elena of giarism, which nearly cost her degree. And now she had the nerve toe back? Ariel¡¯s gaze turned to ice. This time, Sarah had quietly delivered the invitation straight into Katie¡¯s hands. Her intention was obvious. But Ariel couldn¡¯t let her anger show. She steadied her voice. ¡°Grandma, don¡¯t get worked up. She¡¯s not worth your health. I¡¯ll visit youter. I¡¯ll handle this, I promise.¡± Once she had calmed Katie down, Ariel¡¯s face hardenedpletely. Were Sarah and Nancy using this whole exhibition to settle a score and get revenge? Ariel quickly gathered her things and made a swift trip back to her family home. Thankfully, Katie had weathered worse and was stillposed. But this was Ariel¡¯s line in the sand. She took some time to look through the house for a few of Elena¡¯s remaining paintings. Many had already been sold. Only three fairlyplete pieces were left at home, along with one from a series that Jayson had previously helped her retrieve. She also organized most of the draft sketches. Every artist had a unique fingerprint in their work. Sarah had been in the industry for years, and with Elena gone, it was inevitable that Sarah would fully im Elena¡¯s style as her own. Sarah had giarized part of Elena¡¯s early pieces, which Elena had created while she was still a student at Halread. However, the painting that catapulted Sarah to fame was Elena¡¯s graduation project¨Ca two¨Cpiece series. Halread University still held one of them, though it was now locked away in their archives, off¨Climits to the public and never loaned out for exhibitions. No one knew where the other piece was. Artel had spent years trying to trace it but came up empty¨Chanded. At least Jayson had managed to help her retrieve another painting from a series that Elena had created based on her two¨Cpiece series. That was the very piece Sarah had once used Elena of giarizing. Now, that painting could finally be put to good use. That was why Ariel was determined to buy back the painting Sarah had giarized from the missing piece of Elena¡¯s graduation project. She nned to visit Halread University someday topare it with the archived piece and use the series piece as further proof to finally clear Elena¡¯s name. Back in those early years, everything about Sarah¡¯s work¨Cfrom the themes and style to the color palettes andpositions¨Cwas almost indistinguishable from Elena¡¯s Inside 482 However, Sarah wasn¡¯t stupid. She began adding her own ir after milking enough from her stolen sess. So her early works were key. If the missing half of Elena¡¯s graduation project were ever found and paired with the series piece, Sarah¡¯s career as an artist would go up in smoke. That afternoon, Ariel returned to the office after calming Katie. Janice had heard about the invitation Sarah sent to Ariel¡¯s family. She cursed under her breath before asking, ¡°So? Are you going?¡± Ariel had cooled down by then. ¡°Yeah. I skipped thest one. I guess I should show her some ¡® courtesy this time.¡± She had made up her mind to stop holding back. Coincidentally, her presentation of her research paper at Ashford University had earned her some recognition in academic circles. Students from Ashford University in the same field had started to keep a close eye on her. Ariel figured that she could just make a scene at the exhibition. With all the attention she was getting in academia, and students watching her every move, exposing Sarah¡¯s fake persona publicly might just catch the art world¡¯s attention. People would start asking questions and digging deeper. And once that happened, Sarah¡¯s carefully curated image might just fall apart. The only reason Sarah had gotten away with it for so long was because she had been overseas. Now that she was back, if the truth came out, the art world would start verifying the facts, given Halread University¡¯s involvement. But of course, things could get messy. After all, Ariel didn¡¯t have solid proof yet. She was gambling. But even if it was a gamble, she wasn¡¯t going to let sarah pull off a wless, high¨Cprofile exhibition. Not when it could cement her position as a major yer in the local art scene. Janice knew what Ariel was thinking. She nodded and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll go with you. Let me do the yelling. Don¡¯t ruin your image because of these people.¡± She couldn¡¯t stand the thought of Ariel being talked about behind her back. Ariel knew Janice was just looking out for her. She inched her cheek and said, ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I know what I¡¯m doing.¡± : That night, Ariel received a text from Samson. ¡°I heard Nancy¡¯s holding an art exhibition in Cecilia¡¯s art museum. If you don¡¯t like that, I can get her team kicked out right now. ¡°I don¡¯t know why Cecilia agreed to rent it out to them, but please don¡¯t get the wrong idea.¡± Ariel was stunned for a second. She hadn¡¯t expected Samson to exin himself. She simply replied, ¡°Thank you, but there¡¯s no need for that.¡± Ariel had been preparing for the past few days. She had to gather the kind of little details that might raise eyebrows, just in case she needed to act. She wasn¡¯t walking into this fight blind. During the day of the exhibition, Ariel and Janice arrived together. Chad had just returned from a nearby city and would join themter. Sarah¡¯s exhibition had drawn a decent crowd, thanks to the hype around her donating all prior sale proceeds to charity. That, paired with her international reputation, meant the turnout was impressive. Her exhibition today was way more upscale than thest one as well. ¡°If this show actually goes off without a hitch, she¡¯ll be rolling in cash,¡± Janice muttered in disgust. Sarah would be getting rich off the Walkers¡® suffering. Ariel understood now why Sarah had poured so much energy into this exhibition. ¡°Let¡¯s go in first,¡± Ariel said calmly. This issue had to be resolved, so she needed to stayposed. Just as she reached the entrance and handed over the invitation, a shadow suddenly loomed behind her. She instinctively frowned and turned around, only to see Jayson standing there. He lowered his gaze and met her eyes. Then came a voice from nearby, ¡°Jayson, you¡¯re finally here.¡± Nancy stepped out from the exhibition hall and headed straight for him,pletely ignoring Ariel. Then, she looped her arm around his like it was the most natural thing in the world. With a raised brow, she looked at Ariel, contempt briefly shing in her gaze. Inside 483 Even without a single word from Nancy, Ariel knew exactly what she was trying to say. Taking Jayson¡¯s arm like that right in front of her was a clear deration to the world that she was the one Jayson loved. It was also her way of emphasizing that Ariel failed to win her ¡°husband¡¯s¡± heart. Janice¡¯s face darkened instantly. That was a tant provocation. She was about to say something, but Ariel looked away and took Janice¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go in first.¡± After all, Nancy technically hadn¡¯t done anything. If they made a scene now, it would onlye off like Ariel was being petty and jealous. Besides, she hadn¡¯te here to throw punches. She had a general n in mind. She needed to y it by ear and wait for the right moment. At the very least, she should wait until everyone had arrived before deciding what to do. Otherwise, it would all be for nothing. Janice clenched her jaw and swallowed the rage. They were here for something big today. She couldn¡¯t be the one to mess it up. The exhibition was high¨Cend in every sense, with heavy promotion in the days leading up to it. Sarah had even hired a well¨Cknown local curator, and the whole event was put together with striking ir and fanfare. But all that glory was built on Elena¡¯s hard work. Back in the day, Elena had painted a new series based on her two¨Cpiece project, only for Sarah to turn around and use her of giarizing her graduation project. It led to Elena¡¯s series piece being condemned and branded as giarism, eventually ending up lost. Even though Jayson had bought it back at a high pricest year, it meant nothing if he refused to give her Sarah¡¯s painting, which could serve as evidence. ¡°They¡¯re certainly doing their best to pretend they belong in high society. I¡¯ll give them that. This exhibition does look impressive.¡± Janice had been wearing a frosty expression ever since she entered. Ariel nced around. The event hadn¡¯t officially started yet, and most of the people present were staff. ¡°There¡¯s been too much scandaltely. They¡¯re clearly betting everything on this toe out on top. They¡¯ll throw everything they¡¯ve got at it.¡± And sure enough, Jayson had shown up in person. He was a walking headline. Just his presence would pull in a crowd. Whether he meant to or not, he was lending his name to hype up his future mother¨Cinw. ¡°Ariel?¡± Sarah looked radiant today. The moment she spotted Ariel, she walked over with a beaming smile. ¡°It¡¯s just you? Where are your grandma and uncle? Didn¡¯t theye to show their support?¡± There was no emotion in Ariel¡¯s eyes. She wouldn¡¯t be rattled so easily anymore. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll be sure to ry just how ¡®glorious¡® today was for you, Mrs. Stanton.¡± A flicker of surprise shed in Sarah¡¯s eyes. Ariel was too calm. There was no sign of anger at all What was she nning? ¡°I mean, with your age and your condition, are you sure you can handle this kind of stress? It would be a shame if you pushed too hard and ended up wrecking yourself.¡± Janice¡¯s sarcasm was barely veiled. She was one step away from outright saying, ¡°Better watch your neck.¡± She was cursing Sarah to an early grave. Sarah¡¯s expression turned cold as she red at Janice. That was her sore spot. Back in her early years abroad, she drank heavily and socialized nonstop for fame and fortune. Over time, her liver cirrhosis had be severe. She valued her life. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have stayed in the hospital for over half a year. ¡°Ms. Swanson, you¡¯re nothing like your brother. He and Nancy are close. In fact, he¡¯s been seriously thinking about marrying her. You do realize you¡¯re practically pping him in the face for saying that, right?¡± After saying that, Sarah turned to greet other guests. Frederick wanted to marry Nancy? Had hepletely lost his mind? She hadn¡¯t had much interaction with Frederick. Since their values and personalities shed so badly, she usually went out of her way to avoid him But still, he was her brother. And now he was actually thinking about marrying Nancy? Inside 484 Was Frederick out of his mind? Ariel noticed how furious Janice was and gently squeezed her hand. ¡°You should talk to him about itter.¡± Janice was practically grinding her teeth. If Frederick really wanted to marry Nancy, she would wipe that menace out of the Swanson family herself When Matt and Perry arrived, they immediately spotted Ariel across the museum. Matt was surprised. ¡°What¡¯s she doing here? Doesnt she feel awkward being here? Nancy, did shee to piss you off?¡± After all, Nancy was the host of today¡¯s exhibition. It was quite rude for Ariel to show up like this. Standing beside Jayson, Nancy replied without emotion, ¡°It¡¯s fine. If she wants to be here, let her.¡± She didn¡¯t mention the fact that Sarah had sent the Walkers an invite. To those listening in, it sounded like Ariel had crashed the event uninvited. Perry, however, kept his eyes on Ariel a little longer A lot of people in the industry already knew about Ariel¡¯s presentation at Ashford University. Perry was surprised, but at the same time, it kind of made sense if it was Ariel. He had clearly underestimated her. He had no idea she was this capable. Jayson didn¡¯t say anything. He just kept his gaze on the team inside doing the final setup. He didn¡¯t even spare a nce in Ariel¡¯s direction. Nancy caught that clearly. She gave a faint smile and then said, ¡°Jayson, there¡¯s going to be a short interview segment during the second half of the event. Would you mind doing it with me? My mom will be holding a casual session to talk about her creative process.¡± Jayson nced down at her. His calm eyes carried a quiet indulgence that moved her. ¡°Sure.¡± Even though Nancy spent plenty of time with him, moments like this still made her heart skip a beat. He was even willing to appear with her in public interviews. No one couldpare to how well Jayson treated her. Anyone with eyes could see just how much he supported Nancy. Ariel, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t paying any attention to what was going on with them. While Janice stepped away to call Chad, Ariel checked the time and started calcting how long until she could start acting. She had a few paintings in her car. Once everyone important arrived, she could begin setting things in motion. The venue was massive. Outside the art museum was a wide openwn decorated with elegant setups. As she walked along the edge, her mind was busy figuring out the best approach. ¡°Ms. Walker?¡± a familiar voice called out from behind. Ariel turned and saw Perry approaching. Meeting Ariel¡¯s rather cold gaze, Perry pressed his lips together before finally saying, ¡°It¡¯s been a while. I¡¯ve heard about everything that¡¯s been going on. Are you holding up okay?¡± With Jayson and Nancy still appearing together, the public was bound to have some opinions about Ariel. Ariel didn¡¯t answer. She just looked at him calmly. ¡°Do you have something to say, Mr. Houston?¡± Perry clenched his hands. He did have something to say. Lately, he hade to realize that feelings couldn¡¯t be decided purely with reason. News about Ariel had been pouring in nonstop¨Csome surprising and some impressive. During this time, he found himself thinking about the same question over and over. He realized that he couldn¡¯t forget Ariel. And he wasn¡¯t sure he could get over her either. He wanted to ask her if she hadn¡¯t married Jayson, would she¡­ ¡°Mr. Houston, if there¡¯s nothing you want to say, I¡¯ll be going.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t care what was going on in his head. She had already repaid every favor she owed him, so she had no intention of keeping any ties. Just as she turned to leave, Perry¡¯s gaze sharpened. He stared at her retreating figure and blurted out, ¡°Are you thinking about getting a divorce?¡± 1 2/ Inside 485 Perry¡¯s words came off more like advice than anything else without clearly revealing his true intentions. But at this point, how could Ariel not sense what was really on his mind? He couldn¡¯t even bring himself to say it outright. She slowly turned to look at him. Even thest trace of distance in her eyes faded into cold indifference. ¡°Mr. Houston, you¡¯re more of a hypocrite than I expected.¡± Perry froze. Ariel didn¡¯t bother saying anything more. She turned and walked off toward Janice. Perry stood there for a long time, unmoving. She hadid bare something he hadn¡¯t even realized yet. From this moment on, she likely wouldn¡¯t have anything to do with him ever again. When Ariel found Janice again, thetter mentioned that Chad was still on the highway. Ariel just nodded. She didn¡¯t even bother to bring up the run¨Cin with Perry. There were still 20 minutes to go before the art exhibition was scheduled to begin. From a distance, Ariel nced over at the still¨Cclosed exhibit area. A swirl of emotions churned beneath her calm expression. As she turned, she noticed a wave of reporters arriving at the venue. Sarah, the center of attention today, was already giving a few light interviews. Someone asked her what led her into the art world. Sarah smiled warmly. ¡°My parents were always supportive. Back then, studying art was expensive, but I came from a decent family, and they gave me everything they had. I grew up surrounded by art. It all just fell into ce.¡± At that, Ariel couldn¡¯t help letting out a quiet, mockingugh. What a load of well¨Crehearsed nonsense. Sarah sure knew how to polish her image. The truth was, Sarah¡¯s background had always been modest. It was Elena who helped and supported her through university. And now she was dressing it up as her privileged upbringing. Still, Ariel had to admit that Sarah was smart. Once she got her permanent resident card, her tactics only leveled up. She connected with a number of influential people along the way, each ying a part at different stages. Step by step, she climbed her way up until she carved out a ce for herself in the art world. Her career arc was dramatic enough to turn into a movie. Ariel checked the time, then turned to tell Janice they should go get the paintings and draft sketches ready first. The moment they turned, they came face¨Cto¨Cface with Frederick, who arrivedte. His expression was tense, evenced with irritation, as he demanded, ¡°What are you two doing here?¡± Janice, already simmering with frustration, blew up the moment she saw him. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Frederick knew Janice had a temper and couldn¡¯t be bothered to argue with her. Instead, he turned a cold gaze toward Ariel and warned, ¡°This isn¡¯t the time or ce for your drama. ¡°Are you trying to stir up trouble at Ms. Stanton¡¯s big moment? Do you even know what boundaries are? If you don¡¯t want to embarrass yourself, you and Janice had better leave.¡± He couldn¡¯t see any good reason for Ariel to be here. She was probably here to stir up trouble for Nancy. Wasn¡¯t the research paper scandal enough? Ariel was now convinced that Frederick might really be nning to marry Nancy. She let out a coldugh. ¡°Do you even have the right to speak on her behalf? Mr. Swanson, I¡¯m really curious what¡¯s in your head.¡± Frederick¡¯s face darkened instantly. Janice immediately stepped between them and gave him a hard shove. ¡°Are you blind? Do you even have the guts to tell Dad you¡¯re into someone like Nancy? And you want to marry her? What kind of delusion is that? You really think she can leech off our family? ¡°Frederick, if you don¡¯t wake the hell up, I swear I¡¯ll go home and tell Dad everything. Let¡¯s see if he¡¯ll break your damn legs.¡± Everyone knew by now that Nancy was the woman who wrecked Jayson¡¯s marriage. The whole scandal had blown up, and Nancy¡¯s name was practically infamous. At least in Eldoria, no respectable family would ever ept a woman who tantly tore apart someone¡¯s marriage and threw a family into chaos. Basically, aside from the Larkin family, most of high society had pretty much cklisted Nancy. Her name was poison in those circles. The fact that she and Jayson were still unting their rtionship only made it worse. If Nancy didn¡¯t end up marrying Jayson, she would have no n B. Every other door was already mmed shut for her. That was the truth. Frederick¡¯s face was stormy now. Even his good looks couldn¡¯t mask the fury boiling beneath.¡± Janice, you¡¯repletely out of line!¡± Janice curled her lips into a sneer. ¡°You want to marry Nancy? Does Jayson know you¡¯re lusting after his woman? What are you gonna use topete with him? Are you dumb, or do you think Nancy is?¡± Ch Inside 486 apter 486 The moment the words left Janice¡¯s mouth, Ariel caught sight of someone approaching from the side. Nancy was still standing next to Jayson. She didn¡¯t look rattled by Janice¡¯s words. If anything, she shot Jayson a look of faint exasperation. Matt followed behind them and blinked in surprise ¡®Wait, what? Mr. Swanson¡¯s pursuing you? And he wants to marry you?¡± He nced at Jayson. ¡°Nancy sure has all eyes on her.¡± Jayson¡¯s rival had appeared and was aiming to put a ring on Nancy. If it were any other guy, he would probably be panicking by now and rushing to marry her before it was toote. Nancy stayed silent, and that silence said it all. Frederick stiffened the second he saw Jayson, but he didn¡¯t offer an exnation. Ariel instinctively pulled Janice behind her. Her gaze toward Jayson was cold and guarded. Janice hadn¡¯t exactly been subtle with her insults toward Nancy just now, and Ariel wasn¡¯t sure if Jayson had overheard. Besides, Jayson had secretly bought back Sarah¡¯s painting to hide it just to protect Sarah and Nancy. Ariel couldn¡¯t even pretend to look at him kindly after that. Jayson cast a brief nce at Ariel, not missing the subtle hint of guardedness in her movements. ¡°It¡¯s starting. Let¡¯s go,¡± he said calmly as he turned toward Nancy. He didn¡¯t seem fazed by Frederick¡¯s presence and clearly had no interest in exchanging words with him. Nancy looked at him. She figured Jayson knew her feelings for him hadn¡® changed. That was why he didn¡¯t react to Frederick¡¯s interest in her. In a way, letting Frederick¡¯s feelings slip in front of ayson might have actually been a good thing. Like Matt had said, men were possessive by nature. Jayson was likely well aware by now that plenty of people were interested in her, and that just might nudge him toward taking things further with her. Nancy felt that inviting Frederick over today had been a worthwhile move. The two walked past Frederick, who watched Nancy¡¯s fading figure before finally turning to Ariel. This wouldn¡¯t have happened if you hadn¡¯t shown up.¡± With that, he turned and walked away. Janice rolled her eyes so hard they nearly stuck. ¡°I¡¯m going home tonight. No way my parents will let him run wild like this.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t forgotten their n. She quickly calmed Janice before saying, ¡°Let¡¯s go grab the stuff. The exhibition¡¯s about to start.¡± Janice nodded. ¡°Wait here for me. I¡¯ll grab it.¡± Then, she left in a hurry. Only after she left did Ariel nce back toward Jayson¡¯s side with a frown. There was still one thing that nagged at her. How did that painting Jayson had bought for Nancy end up at Westvale Gallery? What had happened in between? The exhibition followed a fairly standard structure. By now, most of the guests had arrived, and Sarah was personally guiding them through the works on disy. Her storytelling was lively and engaging A few reporters hade to photograph the artworks for online promotion. Next up would be the talk session. Sarah would be interviewed about her journey and artistic evolution. As Ariel looked at those paintings, which carried traces of Elena¡¯s style, a wave of bitterness rose in her chest. Intellectual property was always tricky to handle. Without solid proof, and with Elena already gone, it was no easy task to bring Sarah down. Otherwise, it wouldn¡¯t have dragged on this long. Any aggressive move could easily backfire, giving Sarah the perfect opportunity to y the victim and elevate herself further. But if Ariel didn¡¯t show up today, she would be admitting defeat. So today, she didn¡¯t care if she burned the reputation she had only just started rebuilding. She looked over at Sarah, who had already been sealed for the interview. Basking in the spotlight, Sarah looked radiant and confident. In the audience sat Jayson, there to show support, and Nancy, glowing with pride as if sharing in the glory. Ariel¡¯s expression grew colder by the second. Just then, Janice returned, dragging a suitcase beside her. ¡°They¡¯re all in here,¡± she whispered to Ariel. Right at that moment, someone from the audience asked, ¡°Your early work had such a distinct style. But your recent pieces feel quite different. Any particr reason for the shift?¡± Sarah smiled serenely. ¡°Every stage of life brings new insight. I¡¯d say I¡¯ve matured. If people take the time to really feel my work, they¡¯ll notice a deeperplexitypared to my earlier pieces.¡± Ariel could tell that that was a dig at Elena. She pulled out one of the draft sketches and was just about to speak when a sharp, elegant voice rang out behind her. ¡°Am Ite?¡± Inside 487 Ariel froze mid¨Cmotion and turned toward the sound. Cecilia was striding in on high heels, poised as ever. Even Jayson nced her way, though he stayed seated. Sarah felt that Cecilia¡¯s arrival could be seen as a show of support. After all, this was her art museum. She stood up and said, ¡°Ms. Pryce, wee.¡± Cecilia nced at Sarah with a cold smirk. ¡°Hope I¡¯m not interrupting? Is this interview going to be included in your press coverage?¡± Sarah smiled. ¡°It¡¯s no problem. Ms. Pryce, please, have a seat.¡± But Cecilia didn¡¯t move. She narrowed her eyes slightly and nced over at Nancy and then at Jayson beside her. ¡°No need for that. I¡¯m just here to drop off a little gift.¡± Only then did Cecilia pull her gaze back and look at Sarah again. ¡°Would now be a good time to receive it?¡± Sarah, aware of Cecilia¡¯s reputation in the industry, figured this might even boost the exhibition¡¯s prestige. Smiling, she nodded politely. ¡°Of course.¡± Cecilia pped her hands. Ariel looked toward the entrance instinctively. A staff member brought in a painting under Cecilia¡¯s instruction. The moment Ariel got a good look at it, she frowned in surprise. That was ¡°Delusion¡°, the same painting she had tried to retrieve from the gallery a few days ago. Wasn¡¯t it said to have been purchased by Jayson? So how did it end up with Cecilia? Confused, she turned her gaze toward Jayson. As if on cue, he looked up, and their eyes met. His expression was as calm and cold as ever. Sarah and Nancy were just as baffled. They couldn¡¯t quite figure out what Cecilia was ying at. Sarah hesitated before asking, ¡°Ms. Pryce, this is¡­ Cecilia sat down and tapped the frame lightly. ¡°I think this piece deserves center stage. It¡¯s miles ahead of the rest in both technique and impact. Dont you agree?¡± A flicker of unease passed through Sarah¡¯s eyes, though her face remainedposed. ¡°If you like it that much, I¡¯ll give you another one after the exhibition.¡± ¡°Did I say I wanted any of your other work?¡± Cecilia gave her a slow once¨Cover and said tly,¡± Don¡¯t make decisions for me.¡± Sarah hadn¡¯t expected that response. Her brows tightened ever so slightly. Something about Cecilia¡¯s tone felt like she hadn¡¯te with good intentions. Nancy was getting the same impression. She frowned at Cecilia. Matt, meanwhile, was focused on the painting itself ¡°Honestly, this one really does stand out.¡± Several photographers had already shifted to capture it. ¡°Is it?¡± Jayson¡¯s gazended on the painting. Upon hearing that, Nancy finally spoke. ¡°Jayson¡¯s always been quite fond of this piece. But I met Ms. Prycest time, and she happened to like it too, so I gave it to her.¡± That wasn¡¯t the only time. At the Spencer family¡¯s calligraphy exhibition, Jayson had helped her snag it from Ariel. Later, he had told her a friend wanted it and asked if she minded giving it up. Of course, she had agreed. But she never expected the painting toe full circle, back to the gallery. Matt nodded in realization. ¡°Mrs. Stanton really was brilliant back in the day too, huh? What do you think, Perry?¡± Perry snapped out of his thoughts just as Jayson nced his way. He pressed his lips together.¡± Yeah. Definitely.¡± Ariel made a quick decision to wait and see. Cecilia¡¯s entrance caught everyone off guard. As Sarah nced at the painting, a flicker of something unreadable shed through her eyes. ¡°Ms. Pryce, since it was a gift, you didn¡¯t need to bring it all the way here. There are already plenty of works on disy today.¡± The truth was, she didn¡¯t like her older paintings resurfacing in the public eye back home. This painting had been sold to a buyer overseas. She had no idea when it had found its way back. That was exactly why she had wanted to buy it back during the Spencer family exhibition. ¡°Why not? Your work¡¯s excellent. Why wouldn¡¯t you show it off?¡± Cecilia narrowed her eyes. Sarah tore her gaze away from the painting. ¡°That¡¯s my old painting, I have better pieces now, and I¡¯m not someone who clings to the past. I believe in innovation.¡± Inside 488 Cecilia finally smiled. ¡°So, you¡¯re saying this is one of your early works?¡± ¡°Yes. What about it?¡± Sarah frowned, an odd feeling creeping into her chest. That was exactly the public admission Cecilia had been waiting for. She waved her hand, and another painting was brought out. ¡°Then what about this one? Did you paint this too?¡± The room had grown crowded by now. As Cecilia finished speaking, she signaled for the painting to be unveiled. Sarah¡¯s face went white the second she saw it. She took a staggering step back. Ariel stared in stunned silence as well. Because the piece Cecilia had just unveiled was none other than ¡°Into Stillness¡°, the long¨Clost bottom half of Elena¡¯s two¨Cpiece series. All this time, aside from the series piece Jayson had bought overseas for tens of millions of dors, there had been no trace whatsoever of ¡°Into Stillness¡°. So how did Cecilia get her hands on it? The missing half was the key to destroying Sarah once and for all. Elena had promised Halread University two paintings¨Cthe top half, ¡°Dawnstay¡°, and the bottom half, ¡°Into Stillness¡°. But only the top half was ever delivered. The other had mysteriously vanished. Left with no choice, Elena created a new painting in a simr style and was nning to submit it as her graduation project. But right at that moment, the giarism scandal erupted. Sarah used Elena of copying her piece ¡°Delusion¡± because Sarah had submitted hers earlier. And with that, Elena¡¯s reputation was ruined. She never got the chance to clear her name, even at the end. That nderous series piece haunted her all the way to her grave. Nancy shot to her feet, her expression shifting in an instant. She turned sharply toward Sarah. Sarah¡¯s mind wentpletely nk. She had only moved Elena¡¯s ¡°Into Stillness¡± recently. She had deemed it unthreatening and stored it away to gather dust in a small gallery she had purchased after returning to the country. She figured she would deal with it eventually, or maybe never. She could let it rot in the dark while her own work glittered in the front hall, praised and admired. It symbolized the stark contrast between how things ended for her and Elena. How did it end up with Cecilia? ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Did you paint this? Funny how heposition of this ¡®Into Stillness¡® is 143 identical to your ¡®Delusion.¡°¡± Cecilia looked at Sarah with a sneer. Sarah¡¯s expression nearly cracked, but she still forced a reply. ¡°Of course-¡± After all, Elena never got the chance to sign ¡°Into Stillness¡°. Elena was already gone. So who could stop her if she said it was hers? ¡°That¡¯s my mother¡¯s painting!¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t take it anymore. Sarah¡¯s shamelessness was beyond shocking. She stepped forward slowly. Her eyes were fixed on Sarah¡¯s paling face. Her expression was cold as she said, ¡°This is the work of my mother, Elena Walker. It was created during her time at Halread University. It¡¯s a part of a two¨Cpiece series. Mrs. Stanton, has it felt good, stealing all this time?¡± The whole room practically exploded. The crowd today wasn¡¯t just made up of random visitors. Many influential figures from the art industry were present as well. And they had just been served the juiciest scandal imaginable. Every face turned toward Sarah in disbelief. Sarah was actually a giarist? The reporters who had just been interviewing her instantly spun their cameras toward her pale face. A high¨Cprofile event like this had just exploded with a scandal this big. Even Jayson turned his gaze toward Ariel, who now stood at the very center of the unfolding chaos. Matt, Perry, and Frederick all looked like they had been hit by a truck. Nancy¡¯s heart dropped. She spun toward Ariel and said sharply, ¡°Ariel, if you¡¯re here to cause a scene, I¡¯ll have no choice but to have you escorted out!¡± She held back just enough not to use the word ¡°thrown¡°. Cecilia hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to be involved in this. But¡­ She turned toward Nancy and narrowed her eyes. ¡°This is my art museum. I don¡¯t allow filth in here. Who gave you the idea you could y queen in my house?¡± Inside 489 Cecilia cast a frosty nce at Nancy. Her tone was bling. ¡°You really think you¡¯re some kind of star?¡± Nancy¡¯s expression stiffened. She didn¡¯t get why Cilia was backing Ariel so fiercely. Sure, the venue belonged to Cecilia, but they had pad to rent it today. Sarah had finally calmed down. Facing the cameras how turned squarely on her, she took a deep breath and said, ¡°This is all a misunderstanding. M. Pryce, you probably don¡¯t know the history between Ariel and our family. I hope you won¡¯t let her pull your strings.¡± Cecilia gave a cold snort. ¡°Let me ask you again. Isto Stillness¡® your painting or not?¡± Sarah met Ariel¡¯s icy gaze, then turned to Cecilia¡¯s vaguely amused smirk. Something didn¡¯t feel right, but she had already imed ¡°Into Stillness¡± as hers. Backtracking now would only make things worse. ¡°What are you trying to say, Ms. Pryce?¡± she asked. A strange chill swept through Nancy. Her gaze darted instinctively toward Jayson, who remained calm andposed in his seat. That steadiness gave her just enough courage to sit tight. Frowning, Frederick spoke up. ¡°Yeah, Ms. Pryce. Surely there should be more solid evidence? This painting has no signature. Ariel can¡¯t just im it belongs to her mother and expect us to take her word for it.¡± But many of the artists in the room remained silent Because they could tell that the brushwork in ¡± Into Stillness¡± and ¡°Delusion¡± was nearly indistinguishable in strength and depth. Sarah¡­ really wasn¡¯t clean. The reporters in the room had already seized on the breaking drama, capturing every flicker of emotion on Sarah¡¯s face without missing a beat. Matt nced over at Jayson. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Did Nancy piss Cecilia off or something?¡± Jayson said nothing, his eyes fixed on the scene unraveling before him. Cecilia knew what everyone was thinking. She let out a lowugh. ¡°Evidence? Of course I have evidence.¡± Another painting was brought in from the back, this time with great care. Ariel was the first to see it clearly. Her eyes widened in surprise as she nced at Cecilia. Cecilia had actually managed to borrow the top half of Elena¡¯s two¨Cpiece series archived at Halread University, The moment Sarah saw it, all color drained from her face. She staggered back, clutching her chest. She knew that there was no talking her way out this time. 415 BONUS ¡°Dawnstay¡® and ¡®Into Stillness¡® were painted as a set. Viewed separately, they may seem like two distinct works. But the brilliance bes clear when you ce them together. ¡°The subtle textures,yered tones, and overallposition onlye together to reveal their full meaning when viewed together. Everyone here knows their craft. Surely you can all tell these were painted by the same hand, right?¡± Cecilia swept her gaze around the room. There were dozens gathered for this talk session. Beyond the invited guests, the room was packed with media and professionals from across the art world. They would have the answer at just one nce. Everyone surged forward. The moment ¡°Dawnstay¡± and ¡°Into Stillness¡± were ced together, the impact was explosive. That level of mastery was incredible.. Whenpared to ¡°Delusion¡± beside it, the difference was clear. It simply didn¡¯t measure up. All eyes turned toward Sarah, now filled with disbelief. ¡°Mrs. Stanton, how do you exin this? Did you really giarize?¡± ¡°You even imed Ms. Walker¡¯s work as your own? That¡¯s just shameless.¡± ¡°If we take a closer look, every single piece in this exhibition carries traces of these two paintings¡® style! Have you really been riding on Ms. Walker¡¯s work your entire career?¡± Each word stabbed like a knife. The room bristled with contempt, disgust, and outrage. Sarah looked like she might copse. Even Nancy, rarely one to lose herposure, couldn¡¯t keep her expression steady. What used to be minor critiques about skill now threatened to topple all the glory they had built. And now, they stood in disgrace. Sarah¡¯s eyes grew cold with rage as she nced toward Jayson seated below. Jayson tilted his head slightly as he looked at Ariel. Did youe here today with nothing prepared? Are you nning to use her without a shred of proof?¡± Ariel let out a sneer. That reminded her. She motioned for Janice to take out the series piece over as she said, Since we¡¯reying it all out¡­ The created after ¡®Dawnstay¡® and ¡®Into Stillness.¡® ayson had bought overseas. Her eyes frosted ece I have here is a series piece my mother ¡°Back then, Mrs. Stanton used her of giarizin ¡®Delusion.¡¯ However, after today, I believe it¡¯s clear to everyone that Mrs. Stanton not only zed, but also framed my mother to cover it up. She ndered an innocent name. A parasite like the has no ce in this industry,¡± 415 BONUS Inside 490 Sarah looked like she might crumble. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out. She didn¡¯t know that Ariel had actually recovered the series piece and used it to clear Elena¡¯s name from the ¡°giarism¡± scandal all those years ago. Nancy hadn¡¯t seen iting either. But just as she tried to gather her thoughts, Cecilia aised a brow. ¡°I¡¯ve already confirmed with Halread University. ¡®Into Stillness had been reported missing for years and has never been recovered. ¡°Yet I found it sitting in a small gallery registered under Mrs. Stanton¡¯s name. So tell me, how exactly did Ms. Walker¡¯s lost painting end up in your possession?¡± A roaring filled Sarah¡¯s ears. Her mind wentpletely nk. No one had ever known she had the painting. Her gallery, set up after she returned to the country was mainly used to store her own paintings. It wasn¡¯t veryrge and only opened asionally. Young visitors would sometimes drop by to take photos, and a few pieces were put up for sale. That was why there was always a staff member stationed there. She had only moved ¡°Into Stillness¡± there a few days ago. And somehow, Cecilia had managed to dig it up. Nancy¡¯s lips lost all color. She nced toward her slent mother. Ariel understood what Cecilia was implying. Even the way Sarah had acquired that painting seemed more than a little suspicious. Everyone present was stunned, struggling to process what had just happened. After all, Sarah had been a star abroad for years. She was a prominent figure in oil painting and a former professor at an art institute overseas. And now, one shocking revtion after another was being dragged into the light. How could she possibly survive in the industry after this? Especially when Sarah couldn¡¯t offer even a sliver of defense. That silence only confirmed for everyone that she couldn¡¯t possibly be innocent. Matt was totally shocked. Why were there so many skeletons in the closet? He looked over at a clearly rattled Nancy, then turn about to ask how he intended to handle it, he notice Matt felt a chill crawl up his spine. toward Jayson beside her. Just as he was Jayson looking at him with a chilling stare. Then, finally, Jayson stood. He stepped onto the stage. ¡°We¡¯ll need to look into this carefully. Everyone, no more photos for now.¡± He didn¡¯t say much, neither defending Sarah nor taking a clear stance. But since he had already spoken, the reporters could onlyply. Nancy instinctively reached out and grasped Jayson¡¯s sleeve, clinging to it like a lifeline. ¡°Jayson, this is all a huge misunderstanding¡­¡± Jayson lowered his eyes to her. ¡°I¡¯ll handle it.¡± The moment froze in everyone¡¯s minds. Was Jayson actuallyforting Nancy? Even Cecilia frowned. She noticed that Jayson seemed to care quite deeply for Nancy. She nced at Ariel again before suddenly asking, ¡°Does he know Sarah giarized your mother¡¯s work?¡± Ariel, though long past caring for Jayson, still felt the sting of that question. ¡°Yes, he does.¡± Everything clicked for Cecilia. Jayson had never truly cared for Ariel. But for Nancy, he was all in. Her expression went cold as she ordered, ¡°Take down every single painting by this woman, who¡¯s not only a giarist but possibly a thief! I won¡¯t have filth like that on my property!¡± It was a merciless, outright expulsion. It added yet another humiliating blow to Sarah¡¯s already disgraceful day. From this moment on, whenever her name was mentioned, it would be synonymous with disgrace. Frederick looked like he was about to say something, but Janice quickly stepped in and yanked him aside before he could. ¡°Don¡¯t be stupid! If you speak up now, you¡¯re dragging our entire family into this mess! It¡¯s not just your name on the line. If you really want to y the hero, cut ties with us first.¡± Frederick¡¯s chest heaved. The room was descending into chaos. Ariel watched calmly as Sarah, clearly shaken, was escorted out. She knew this wasn¡¯t the end. She would press forward. There was no walking away quietly for Sarah. At the very least, she needed to issue a public apology and own up to everything she had done. And when that moment came, the fallout would be even uglier. As long as Jayson didn¡¯t step in, today would be nothing more than the beginning. Since Cecilia had given the order, the staff naturally obeyed without hesitation. Piece by piece, the once¨Cpolished paintings were taken down. Once disyed like prized treasures, they were now stripped from their pedestals and brought down to the dust. Inside 491 The scene quickly descended into chaos. What had been grand and glorious just moments ago shattered into ruins in an instant. Cecilia, as headstrong as ever, had Sarah¡¯s painting taken down without a second thought. Ariel stood amidst it all. As she watched the scene before her, everything seemed to slowly blur away. Years of obsession suddenly began to lift, revealing fresh hope blossoming in that moment. With this major revtion on such a grand stage, everything else could finally move forward. At the very least, the stain on Elena¡¯s reputation from years ago could slowly start to be wiped clean. And the challenges Sarah was going to face ahead were far greater than the embarrassment of the moment. Ariel turned around in a daze. Her eyes unexpectedly locked with Jayson¡¯s. He stood tall andposed across the crowd. Ariel clenched her fists tightly, and a faint sneer curled at her lips. In the end, Jayson still failed to squash this issue. He would be dealing with a headache for a while. She spun away and headed toward Janice. Only then did Jayson pull his gaze back. Matt stood beside him, staring wide¨Ceyed at the unfolding drama. After a moment of hesitation, he finally spoke up. ¡°Jayson, wouldn¡¯t it be better if you stayed out of this? You could handle it quietly. Backing Nancy openly like this¡­¡± It would just give people more to talk about. What good would backing her up now do, other than calming Nancy down? Small quarrels in the past were one thing, but this was different. ¡°Let¡¯s head back for now. I¡¯ll take Nancy home.¡± Jayson patted Matt on the shoulder and didn¡¯t say anything further. Matt nced toward Perry behind him. ¡°Since when did Jayson get so¡­ sentimental?¡± Jayson could be called absolutely ruthless in some ways, with a brutal touch that had defined him since childhood. Yet now, he was considering Nancy¡¯s feelings. Perry fell silent too. But there was no denying that today¡¯s event would have a significant impact on Sarah and Nancy. 416 BOHUS When Cecilia learned that Elena was Ariel¡¯s mother she gave Ariel the ¡°Into Stillness¡± painting, which she had acquired from Saral¡¯s gallery, ¡°I¡¯sly right that it goes back to its rightful owner But I need to return Dawnstay to Halread Univery¡± Ariel wouldn¡¯t be pretentions enough to refuse, but he said, ¡°Tallding about money might seem tacky, but if there¡¯s anything you need or want, feel free to let me know.¡± She owed Cecilia one, and she understood the boartes clearly. Smiling, Cecilia looked at her. ¡°Alright, you know how I am. How about we grab a meal together?¡± ¡°Sure! We pulled off something big today! We shout celebrate!¡± Janice nodded excitedly. Ariel finally smiled. She closed the trunk and waved her hand decisively. ¡°Let¡¯s go. My treat.¡± Cecilia and Janice practically dashed forward. One abbed the driver¡¯s seat, the other the passenger¡¯s Ariel followed along She didn¡¯t know much about restaurants, but Janice was a pro at finding the best spots, so she picked a ce. While waiting for their food, Ariel nced at Cecili still curious. ¡°Ms. Pryce, how did you get involved in all this?¡± She thought that only she, Jayson, Nancy, and Saral herself were aware of the giarism. Cecilia mentioned her visit to the art gallery a few days back. She had overheard Jayson talking with Arthur and ally pieced together what had happened. But¡­ ¡°The gallery opened at 10:00 am?¡± Ariel frowned slightly. However, they were told that the event was scheduled to start at 1:00 pm. ¡°Yeah, I got invited by the gallery¡¯s director and was told it started at 10:00 am.¡± Cecilia looked puzzled. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± She loved going to oil painting exhibitions. Since the gallery hadunched an oil painting themed show, she definitely wouldn¡¯t miss it. Inside 492 Chapter 492 Ariel instinctively exchanged a nce with Janice. Janice¡¯s friend had insider info saying the art exhibition started at 1:00 pm, but Cecilia was told it was at 10:00 am. Yet neither of them said a word. Ariel thought for a moment and finally asked, ¡°How did you find out my mom has a painting in Halread University¡¯s collection?¡°. ¡°After hearing that big news, I had someone keep tabs on Jayson¡¯s moves.¡± Cecilia raised an eyebrow. ¡°I have the means to dig into Sarah¡¯s past, and I discovered that she studied at Halread University back then. And on the same day, I received word that Jayson¡¯s assistant had flown there specially. ¡°No clue what they talked about, but I found out your mom has a painting in their collection. I could tell right away that the painting Nancy gave me bore traces of the one at Halread University. So I reached out to the person in charge to borrow it. I¡¯ve got enough pull in this world. Others might not be able to borrow it.¡± After a pause, Cecilia continued, ¡°I knew Jayson wanted to keep things quiet to protect that mother and daughter. Since I¡¯m part of the art circle, and they even rented my venue for a grand exhibition, there was no way I could let this slide. So I went to verify everything.¡± Ariel nodded slowly. ¡°But what about Sarah¡¯s gallery?¡± Cecilia shrugged. ¡°Tracking her moves since she came back was easy. Jayson¡¯s shadow was all over it. I found out he bought her a gallery to keep her work. I was nning to look for more clues. When I went over, I happened to catch someone dusting off ¡®Into Stillness.¡® How could I not recognize it was the pair to the one from Halread University?¡± Thanks to Jayson¡¯s dedication to sending Arthur to negotiate at Halread University, she was able to make such a powerful move. The gallery¡¯s ¡°Into Stillness¡± piece was the undeniable smoking gun. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected things to go so smoothly. This was timing, luck, and teamwork all aligned. As for what exactly Arthur was doing at Halread University¡­ That part still didn¡¯t make sense. Logically, they would either be negotiating to buy ¡°Dawnstay¡± or to have it taken off public disy temporarily, but neither was true. ¡°That¡¯s what you call karma catching up with the wicked!¡± Janice summed up, clinking sses with Cecilia. ¡°Huge thanks to you for stepping up like that, Ms. Pryce.¡± After all, this was really someone else¡¯s issue. Cecilia had done them a huge favor. Chapter 102 $15 BONUS Ariel raised her cup of coffee. ¡°A toast to you, Ms. Pryce. If you ever need anything, just say the word.¡± Cecilia looked at Ariel for a moment and smiled. ¡°It¡¯s no big deal. I just can¡¯t stand traitors.¡± Then, she asked, ¡°So what¡¯s your next step?¡± Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°We¡¯ll sue Sarah. At the very least, I want her to admit to the false usations back then.¡± Even though intellectual propertywsuits could drag on forever, it didn¡¯t matter. What Ariel wanted was for the whole world to know Elena was clean. She finally exhaled slowly. ¡°If Sarah hadn¡¯t organized such a big show, this wouldn¡¯t have gained so much attention.¡± With Nancy¡¯s prior scandals, the timing was perfect. The controversy over Sarah¡¯s work only reinforced the public¡¯s subconscious eptance. Sarah probably never imagined that the fame from that charity exhibition she hosted woulde back to bite her like this. Sarah didn¡¯t care about the outside world anymore. She had been admitted to the hospital that afternoon. The whole thing had fallen apart so badly that she just couldn¡¯t handle it. Nancy was beside herself with worry because she knew how many problems were stilling. X Inside 493 Sarah wasn¡¯t doing well. Her face was pale, and her expression remained heavy and troubled. Nancy wasn¡¯t any better. Today¡¯s chaos had blown up so badly. She didn¡¯t know how to fix it. ¡°I just don¡¯t get it. How could it all happen so suddenly?¡± Sarah took a deep breath. Her eyes were red from anger. Years of carefully building her reputation and status had been shattered in one fell swoop. She couldn¡¯t ept it. Ariel had actually shown up to stir up trouble. Even the painting they had gifted Cecilia as a favor had turned into a dagger aimed straight at her. ¡°What¡¯s with that painting?¡± Nancy, unustomed to situations like this, sounded colder than usual, as if this might vent her frustration. Sarah squeezed her eyes shut. ¡°I¡¯ve kept ¡®Into Stillness¡® close all this time. Even you didn¡¯t know it was with me. A while back, I was organizing things and nned to tuck it away in the gallery¡¯s vault. Out of sight, out of mind. But somehow¡­ Abby took it out to clean.¡± ¡°Into Stillness¡± was kept locked in a private room. Sarah never let the gallery staff, Abby Pearson, open that door. So how did Cecilia manage to storm in at exactly the moment Abby took it out to clean? Why did the problem happen precisely at the moment Sarah let her guard down? Nancy pressed her lips tightly as she looked at Sarah. ¡°Then why did you keep that painting at all? If you¡¯ve just gotten rid of it-¡± Sarah¡¯s face darkened, and her gaze turned sharp. ¡°Because I wanted to prove I¡¯m better than Elena!¡± Back then, Elena had used ¡°Dawnstay¡± and ¡°Into Stillness¡± to outshine her. Sarah¡¯s schrship disappeared like a mirage. She could never catch up to Elena, the naturally gifted daughter of a wealthy family. If they had started on equal footing, she might have had a chance. Nancy stared at Sarah and suddenly realized that this painting was, to some extent, Sarah¡¯s inner demon. No matter how risky, she held onto it, constantly wrestling with the unfairness of her loss. ¡°Mom, get some rest. I¡¯ll figure out a way to handle this.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t want to touch that raw nerve any further. But how could Sarah rest easy now? +15 BONUS How would she face the storm ahead? She probably wouldn¡¯t be able to hold her head up again. She might even face a cklist in the industry. The thought tore her apart. She still couldn¡¯t understand it. She had clearly told Abby not to go near that room when she moved ¡°Into Stillness¡± recently. Nancy was about to get up and call Jayson when Sarah¡¯s phone on the table started ringing. She nced at the screen. It was Dn, the art gallery director. Sarah saw the iing call too and answered it with a frown. ¡°Yes, Mr. Hudson?¡± ¡°Hi, I hope I¡¯m not disturbing you.¡± Dn¡¯s tone was polite. Sarah looked at Nancy, then rubbed her temples, exhausted. ¡°It¡¯s fine, Mr. Hudson. Is there something you need?¡± Dn replied, ¡°I¡¯ve heard some rumors about your exhibition, Mrs. Stanton. I think you owe me an exnation.¡± Sarah froze. ¡°Mr. Hudson, there¡¯s been a misunderstanding. I hope you can wait for me to sort this out.¡± Dn chuckled. ¡°Sorry, I do have some connections. I¡¯ve already been informed about the situation. We have just signed the contract and paid a five¨Cmillion¨Cdor deposit to you. ¡°But with your current circumstances, no gallery would want to work with you. The risk is just high. So I¡¯m here to notify you to refund the deposit, and that you mustpensate us ording t the breach of contract terms.¡± Sarah was stunned. ¡°What do you mean? Nothing is final yet. Isn¡¯t this too hasty?¡± Dn was blunt. ¡°Mrs. Stanton, this is your problem, not ours. We won¡¯t share the consequences. We don¡¯t work with toxic people in this industry. I¡¯m giving you one week at most to pay the penalty. After that, you bear the consequences.¡± He cut the call without another word. This was just a simple notice. Nancy clenched her fists tightly, and her chest heaved. She even found the cruelty of human natureughable. When Jayson was around, Dn went along with everything. But now that trouble had arrived, he was the first to turn against her. Sarah¡¯s lips trembled. She barely held back her anger. ¡°How much does the contract say for the penalty?¡± Inside 494 Nancy¡¯s face darkened as she shut her eyes tight. ¡°so million dors.¡± Sarah felt like her heart was being torn apart. Her ount was already running low. Just a few days ago, she had paid the rent for Cecilia¡¯s art museum and hired the best curators in the country Every single thing cost a fortune. ¡°This is serious. It¡¯s not going to be easy to fix,¡± Sarah admitted, herplexion turning even paler. Nancy¡¯s mind was spinning, and a roaring buzz filled her ears. ¡°We can¡¯t tell Jayson about this. The gallery scandal is already bad enough. I don¡¯t want him dragged into it. It¡¯s too embarrassing¡± Even though she knew perfectly well that if she asked, Jayson wouldn¡¯t hesitate for a second to help. Just like with the media at the art exhibition, Jayson had shut it down immediately, preventing the story from spreading. He moved fast to protect her and Sarah. Nancy knew how much he cared and how hard he had always worked for her, but she needed time to sort out this situation. After all, this wasn¡¯t something she was proud of. She didn¡¯t want Jayson to see her fall apart. Besides, Jayson helped Sarah connect with a gallery by negotiating a high¨Cpriced deal with Dn. I this scandal hadn¡¯t arisen, Sarah could have even further boosted her status through her coboration with Westvale Gallery. She could have won both fame and fortune. But things went wrong, and the results were the exact opposite. The next day, Jayson visited the hospital. He told Sarah, ¡°The media won¡¯t make a big deal out of this. They won¡¯t spread it around. You can rest easy.¡± Sarah knew the art world might still try to strike at her. If she couldn¡¯t handle it right, she could be cklisted. ¡°Thank you, Jayson,¡± she said. The onlyfort she had was that Jayson was still firmly on Nancy¡¯s side. Even through all this, his loyalty to her never wavered. He had immediately shut down the media to protect them. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Jayson looked at her pale face. ¡°Just focus on resting.¡± As Nancy entered the ward and saw him there, a warmth spread through her heart. Matt and Frederick had messaged her the day before, so she didn¡¯t feelpletely alone. She hadn¡¯t said a word about Dn canceling the coboration. +15 BONUS She didn¡¯t want this shameful mess to change how Jayson saw her. Though she knew he wouldn¡¯t think loss of her, her pride was at stake. Jayson didn¡¯t stay long. Work called him away. After seeing him off downstairs, Nancy was about to head back when she got a message from Frederick. ¡°Why did Halread University make such a statement?¡± Nancy¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She clicked the link Frederick sent. The official Halread University ount had posted statement that read, ¡°Regarding the past incident involving our student, Elena Walker, in the year 19XX that has recently resurfaced, we will fully cooperate to defend rights and restore justice. We will not let those who truly dedicate and respect art be defamed!¡± The post included hashtags tagging the art museum. Insiders quickly caught on to the university¡¯s stance. This was a clear confirmation of Sarah¡¯s giarism. Halread University¡¯s influence was massive, even bigger than the media. This would make the whole artmunity aware of the controversy. Nancy understood that all too well, which made her face go pale in an instant. After Jayson got in his car, he soon received a call from Evelyn. She had obviously heard the news, and for once, sounded disapproving. ¡°What were you thinking, Jayson? I hope you don¡¯t get involved anymore. If you keep standing up for Nancy, what will people say?¡± Even if they managed to keep things perfectly secret outside their circle, they couldn¡¯t hide it within. Leaning back, Jayson scrolled through his tablet screen. ¡°What¡¯s the rush? I¡¯ll handle it.¡± Evelyn was annoyed by Jayson¡¯s casual tone and spoke more sharply, ¡°Since when have you gotten so soft over a woman? Especially knowing she¡¯s not someone who can be in the spotlight! Ariel is so much better than her.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t even lift his eyelids. Upon hearing her words, he chuckledzily. ¡°Oh, really?¡± Inside 495 Halread University¡¯s intervention came as a surprise to Ariel. After all, Jayson had already managed to keep the media in Eldoria under control, so for Hairead University to discover the issue so quickly and issue a public statement was surprising. Normally, there would be an investigation first. Any official stance needed to be carefully and precisely worded because even a single wrong word could damage their own reputation. ¡°Halread University is pretty quick on this.¡± Chad was impressed. Honestly, this was way more. effective than the media. The media¡¯s approach could be entertainment¨Cfocused, but a top national art academy speaking out was on a whole other level. Ariel nced at the university¡¯s Social media page and said slowly, ¡°Old cases like this usually take forever to get a verdict, but at least now everyone in the art circle understands what¡¯s going on. Still, a legal verdict holds more weight for us.¡± That was the only real way to clear Elena¡¯s name for the nder she suffered back then. Ariel had already done some research onwyers in Eldoria. Besides the elite legal teams from Bluum Corp and other top firms, Edward was the best¨Cknownwyer in the most renownedw firm in Eldoria. Chad knew Edward well too. Coming from a family ofwyers, Edward had deep roots in the leg world and was famous nationwide. His skills were beyond question. Ariel thought carefully. ¡°These intellectual property cases can get tricky. I¡¯m considering whether to hire him.¡± Chad understood her hesitation. ¡°Are you worried because Edward knows Jayson and has handled your divorce before?¡± Ariel admitted she was weighing that. ¡°No worries,¡± Chad said, walking over and tapping his phone on the table before continuing, ¡°The Grahams have worked in this field for generations. If he takes your case, he¡¯ll handle it with full focus. You can trust that.¡± It would be a disservice to the family legacy otherwise. Ariel smiled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re right. I was being narrow¨Cminded.¡± ¡°You were just being cautious. Go ahead. Reach out to him.¡± Chad didn¡¯t think Ariel was overthinking. After everything with Jayson, that was understandable. Butwyers were a different story. Edward wasn¡¯t Bluum Corp¡¯s personalwyer and wasn¡¯t under Jayson¡¯s control. Ariel agreed she should get to know Edward first But¡­ Looking at the time, she remembered she had an appointifient with Liam at the hospital Before leaving, she told Chad, ¡°If this case goes to Court, It could turn into a long battle. If it draga on or any unexpected issuese up, Chad, I¡¯ll need you to keep an eye on things for me.¡± Chad paused, looked at her, and frowned. ¡°What do you mean? You¡¯ve got other things going on?¡± Ariel smiled. ¡°I¡¯ll tell you when the time¡¯s right. I¡¯ve got to step out for a bit.¡± Chad was left puzzled. Ariel headed to the hospital. Appointments with Liam had to be booked two weeks in advance, but he had already instructed the staff to prioritize her. When Liam saw Ariel, his gaze paused briefly. ¡°You seem to be in a good mood, Ms. Walker.¡± ¡°How do you know?¡± Ariel raised an eyebrow. Liam nced down and disinfected his hands before replying slowly, ¡°That¡¯s a good sign. I hope you¡¯ll take my advice seriously.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll try.¡± Ariel was genuinely in decent spirits. After carrying this weight for years, she was finally seeing some light at the end of the tunnel. +15 Inside 496 ¡°Lie down over there. I¡¯ll do a quick check,¡± Liam sid, gesturing toward the examination bed behind him. Ariel nodded andy down. Liam stepped closer and looked into her eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t be nervous. You can lift your shirt up a bit.¡± Ariel knew this was routine for a doctor¡¯s exam and didn¡¯t hesitate. She loosened the fabric over her abdomen. Liam¡¯s expression was serious as he pressed carefully on her lower belly. He was feeling around to get a sense of her condition. When he nced at Ariel again, she had her eyes tightly shut, her lips pressed together without realizing it. It was almost as if she was trying to steel herself mentally. Liam suddenly remembered Zach¡¯s chatter about Ariel¨Chow capable, calm, and fearless she was. He could almost picture her back then through those snippets of conversation. But now¡­ Seeing her like this, forcing herself not to be anxious, he thought she looked just like a young woman her age. He smiled faintly, shook his head silently, then withdrew his hand. ¡°Alright. The shape looks okay. Ariel exhaled sharply in relief and lowered her shirt as she sat up. Because of frequent pain since falling ill, she had been afraid that the pressure would make her sweat from pain. Fortunately, she could tolerate it. ¡°I¡¯ve got good news,¡± Liam said after sitting down. The trial for the special medication is going well. If everything goes smoothly, it might be avable as early as next week. ¡°This medication targets cancer cells specifically and can effectively suppress their growth, helping you enter a stable phase. That means you¡¯ll have more freedom to schedule surgery when you want.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes brightened with genuine surprise. Just getting her condition stabilized meant buying her more time. This was nothing like before, when doctors told her she had to operate immediately or risk spreading. Liam tapped the table lightly with his fingers and then said suddenly, ¡°Don¡¯t be afraid. You have my word. I will save you.¡± This was the first time he had ever said something like that. From a doctor¡¯s perspective, when patients or families asked about the chances of sess, no matter how confident he was, his usual response was, ¡°I¡¯ll do my best.¡± ***+15 BOHUS the avoided promising certainty because medicine was full of unknown. This was their responsible attitude as doctors But with Ariel, he felt giving her strong hope might actually help. Ariel had long carried an unspoken fear of the unknown. No one could face death calmly. Hearing that firm reassurance from a doctor could give her strength. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ariel breathed out, smiling. The coldness in her eyes and brows faded, revealing a brightness she was meant to have. Liam nced at her and hummed softly, Ariel picked up her medication. Liam had been adjusting her prescription. She could tell he was genuinely attentive. Ariel had already reached out to Edward¡¯s firm about getting in touch with him and nned to discuss the details with Edwardter. She had already taken the first step to filing thewsuit. Nancy received the copy of the legalint five dayster. When they arrived at her office, her expression changed dramatically. The case was already officially filed? Now she was not only dealing with the gallery¡¯s bacsh and massive penalty fees, which had been giving her a headache, but also Ariel¡¯swsuit. Nancy took a deep breath, then looked at Jayson sitting behind her. X Inside 497 Nancy felt frustration churning inside her, but she didn¡¯t let much of it show. She simply looked at the man behind her, walked over, and ced the copy of the legalint on the table. Her voice was as even as ever as she said, ¡°Jayson, Ariel¡¯s filed awsuit.¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes dropped to the document. He stayed silent for a moment before replying, ¡°Just hire awyer. This kind of thing needs to be dealt with.¡± Nancy understood that much. However, this wasn¡¯t the kind of case that could be handled easily. Given how many years had passed, the so¨Ccalled evidence from people involved would already be fuzzy. That was why most people avoided intellectual propertywsuits. They wereplicated, and the boundaries were hard to define. Even if Ariel filed, the process ahead would be anything but smooth. Ariel¡¯s move was quite¡­ ridiculous. Nancy didn¡¯t believe Ariel was unaware of how tough this case would be. Otherwise, why go all out with the theatrics? That desperation to drag her down was almost pitiful. ¡°Do you have any suggestions for awyer?¡± Nancy asked. Jayson didn¡¯t react much. He seemed to think for a moment before saying, ¡°This case has wide- reaching implications. If you need awyer, I can help you find one overseas.¡± Nancy understood what he meant. Bluum Corp might have a top¨Ctier legal team, but they represented Bluum Corp. Publicly stepping in to help her fight awsuit against Ariel, the so¨Ccalled Mrs. Larkin, would be hard to justify. If Jayson found her awyer abroad, they would be just as good as Bluum Corp¡¯s. Only then did Nancy quietly breathe out. Her gaze softened as she looked at him. ¡°Thank you, Jayson.¡± She knew he would have a strategy. Still, Halread University¡¯s involvement was unexpected. No one had anticipated them releasing a statement after the media had been silenced. Either way, as long as thewyer Jayson found could win the case, it wouldn¡¯t matter whether Halread University got involved or not. The process could be long¨Cat least several months of drawn¨Cout back¨Cand¨Cforth¨Cbut no matter how long it took, if they found a way to win, Sarah would still have a chance to return to the art scene. Jayson didn¡¯t stay at Veyo Solutions for long. He was only passing through to handle some matters. After seeing him off, Nancy sat on the couch in deep thought. Thewsuit needed careful nning. However, the art gallery issue remained unresolved, which was what gave her the biggest headache. The contract they had signed had stated Sarah would deliver ten paintings to the gallery within a year, after which the bnce payment would be made. Nancy had noticed the use about paying 50 million dors in penalty for breach of contract, but no one had taken it seriously at the time. After all, no one was going to tie Sarah¡¯s hands and stop her from painting. How hard could it be to deliver ten paintings? But no one had expected the art exhibition to spiral into such chaos, leaving Sarah unable to paint anymore. If she couldn¡¯te up with the money, trouble would keep piling up. She might even face anotherwsuit. That would be salt in the wound. Nancy frowned. After a long pause, she considered mortgaging the house as her first option. It was the quickest way to get the problem under control. The only uncertainty was how long the process would take. Since taking over Veyo Solutions, her dividends had been issued annually or quarterly, and the next payout wasn¡¯t due until next month. She didn¡¯t have much cash on hand. Waiting for the dividends would take too long. Nancy decided not to bring it up to Sarah for now. After all, it was Jayson who had helped arrange the house when Sarah returned to Eldoria. Over on Ariel¡¯s side, she had been in contact with Edward¡¯sw firm over the past two days. Edward traveled abroad frequently and had been awaytely. Inside 498 After confirming the time with Edward, Ariel arranged to meet at Faye Technologies. When Edward arrived and saw Ariel, he gave her a quick once¨Cover. Thest time they had met had been at the courthouse. He could tell she had changed noticeably since then. By now, many outsiders had already heard about Ariel¡¯s work at Faye Technologies. This was her first real breakthrough in academia. Many people had heard about her one¨Cshot rise to fame after presenting her research paper at Ashford University. ¡°Ms. Walker, it¡¯s been a long time,¡± Edward said, stepping forward to shake her hand. Ariel stood to greet him and asked Cassidy to bring in some coffee. ¡°Good to see you again, Mr. Graham. I¡¯m sure you¡¯ve already heard about my case.¡± Edward nodded as he sat down, then spoke matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°I reviewed the files from the firm when I was in Lockewin a few days ago, so I¡¯ve got a general idea. ¡°As you know, Ms. Walker, intellectual property cases aren¡¯t something mostwyers want to be involved in. It¡¯s not that they¡¯re necessarily hard, but the lines are often blurry, and that makes themplicated.¡± ¡°I understand. I do have evidence, but I¡¯m not just after one or two of Sarah¡¯s pieces. I want to go after most of her early works.¡± Ariel made her stance clear. If it were just that one painting, it would have been simple. Edward nodded again, unbothered. ¡°Complex doesn¡¯t mean unmanageable. Since you came to me, I¡¯ll do everything I can to not disappoint you.¡± They discussed the necessary steps for the case in detail, and Ariel was willing to cooperate on all points. Edward said, ¡°If you trust me, you can leave this case to me.¡± Ariel gave a faint smile. ¡°I trust your professionalism, Mr. Graham.¡± After saying that, she looked at him and asked directly, ¡°But I need to ask, Mr. Graham, you do know who Nancy and Sarah are, don¡¯t you?¡± Edward met her gaze evenly. ¡°Are you asking whether I¡¯m willing to risk offending Mr. Larkin by taking this case?¡± Ariel pressed her lips together. It was a necessary consideration. Edward gathered the documents from the table before answering slowly, ¡°I¡¯m not worried. Mr. Larkin won¡¯t mind. This is simply a professional agreement between you and me.¡± He seemedpletely unfazed, and Ariel noted that he really didn¡¯t appear to care about Nancy¡¯s connection to Jayson. That gave her some relief. If Edward had shown even the slightest hesitation, she would have reconsidered entirely. When their meeting wrapped up, Edward stood and nodded. ¡°Ms. Walker, let¡¯s keep in close contact. If you get any new evidence, let me know right away.¡± ¡°Alright. Thank you, Mr. Graham.¡± Once she saw Edward out, Ariel finally let out a breath. With his abilities, things should go rtively smoothly. Still, she was prepared for a long fight. That afternoon, Ariel learned something new. Sarah¡¯s contract with Westvale Gallery had been terminated, and she now faced a massive penalty for breach of contract. It was an inside scoop brought to her by Cecilia. However, Ariel felt that such a penalty probably wasn¡¯t a big deal to Nancy and Sarah. Based on past experience, Jayson would take care of it for them. That wasn¡¯t what concerned her. All she cared about was winning thewsuit and making sure Sarah and Nancy paid the price. After all, Nancy had been enjoying the wealth Sarah provided, never once feeling guilty, even though she knew the truth. She was the biggest beneficiary, and that meant she was far from innocent. Inside 499 Nancy acted almost as soon as the thought crossed her mind. There was no time to waste. She nned to mortgage her house to the bank first At least after the review, she could get around 60 million dors upfront. She just wasn¡¯t sure how long the bank¡¯s process would take, so she wanted to ask Dn for a few more days. When she decided to return to Eldoria to develop her business, Sarah had nned toe back with her. Finding a ce to settle down hadn¡¯t been easy at the time, and it was Jayson who helped secure this house for her. Now, it had be her lifeline. At least it was enough to get her through the emergency. Once Veyo Solutions issued dividends, she could buy it back. Nancy had just gotten off the phone with the bank when Robin came into her office. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you have a visitor¡­¡± Nancy looked up and noticed Robin hesitating and looking a little uneasy. She frowned. ¡°If they don¡¯t have an appointment, I¡¯m not seeing them.¡± As soon as she said that, a striking figure appeared in the doorway. Nancy¡¯s grip on her pen suddenly tightened. On her way in, Evelyn had taken a good look at Veyo Solutions. The facilities wereplete and top -tier. With such a strong starting point, there was no way thepany could develop poorly. The moment Nancy saw Evelyn, her expression shifted. She immediately got up and walked over. ¡± Mrs. Larkin, what brings you here?¡± She still carried herself with quiet confidence. Evelyn finally looked at her. Her gaze swept from head to toe. ¡°What? Do I need to beg to see you?¡± Nancy¡¯s chest tightened under the unspoken pressure. ¡°Sorry, I didn¡¯t mean it that way.¡± ¡°Jayson set thispany up for you, didn¡¯t he?¡± Evelyn asked coldly, ignoring her exnation. That single question made Nancy¡¯s breath hitch. From the moment she had been by Jayson¡¯s side, she had never met Evelyn privately, and Evelyn had shown no interest in dealing with her. For her to show up now, of all times, Nancy could almost guess what was about to happen next. She pressed her lips together and told Robin to close the door on his way out. Then she made coffee for Evelyn. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, please have a seat.¡± Nancy regained herposure quickly. There was no trace of panic in her manner. It was obvious that she had been raised with a refined upbringing. Evelyn could see that. She didn¡¯t bother with small talk. Her cold eyes carried no emotion. ¡°Your family¡¯s situation has been quite the spectacletely. I always thought that even if you stepped into high society halfway through life, you¡¯d at least count as a well¨Cbred family. Now it seems I gave you too much credit.¡± Those words pinned Nancy under a harsh, scrutinizing spotlight. Her heart skipped, but she quickly replied, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Mrs. Larkin. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll handle it. Most of it¡¯s just misunderstandings.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Evelyn looked at her calmly. ¡°Jayson¡¯s helped you plenty, but you¡¯re still hopeless. The Larkin family doesn¡¯t run a charity case for lost causes. Jayson had bought a house for you and your mother, and he had given you plenty of resources. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two choices. One, you publicly rify that you and Jayson never had that kind of rtionship and keep your distance from him from now on. Two, I¡¯ll consider forcing you to return everything he¡¯s given you.¡± Nancy stood there, her expression darkening. She pressed her lips together tightly. Evelyn was, after all, the daughter of a prominent family and the matriarch of the Larkin family. Her presence alone was enough to intimidate. So she was here today to show her strength. For so long, Evelyn had left things in a tacit state of eptance. But now that the situation was spiraling out of control, she came down hard. This wasn¡¯t really a choice. It was open, deliberate pressure. Nancy could now see firsthand how decisively the Larkin matriarch acted. Her expression froze, but she didn¡¯t answer. And Evelyn clearly wasn¡¯t here to hear her reply. Instead, she cast a cool nce around the office. ¡± If you¡¯re smart, I can send you away with a good opportunity. Aeback isn¡¯t impossible.¡± Inside 500 ¡°Ms. Stanton, I expect to see results that satisfy me¡± Evelyn said. She didn¡¯t bother to stay a second longer. Lately, things had already spun out of control. Since Jayson hadn¡¯t agreed to deal with Nancy and was still intent on protecting her, Evelyn had decided to make the trip herself. If Nancy refused to fall in line, Evelyn had no problem using other methods. She didn¡¯t even bother to take a sip of coffee before turning to leave. Her gaze was cold and distant. Her manner might have seemed calm on the surface, but there was a sharp edge beneath it. Nancy would have to be a fool not to realize Evelyn had other ways of handling her. For all she knew, Evelyn might even meddle in thewsuit. In the past few weeks, Nancy had tasted a humiliation unlike any she had ever known before. She had been born into wealth and pampered since childhood. Surrounded by a refined artistic environment and gifted in talent, she was always at the top of her ss. She had made it into an elite university and was admired by everyone along the way. Yet now, she was being treated with such tant disregard? Wasn¡¯t Ariel the one in the wrong? She was the one who refused to let go of Jayson. If she had even the tiniest shred of self¨Crespect, she would have left the battlefield that was never hers and parted on good terms. Instead, she had resorted to petty tricks born out of being unloved, dragging things to this ridiculous state. Nancy drew in a long breath. The frustration boiling inside her made it hard to keep her expression neutral. She would probably have to put the house mortgage ns on hold for now. If Evelyn wanted to target her, actually going through with the mortgage could cause troubleter. Nancy felt like she had been forced to the edge of a cliff, with nothing but drop¨Coffs on both sides. As for Evelyn¡¯s request for her to cut ties with Jaysen, Nancy wasn¡¯t stupid. A man like Jayson was impossible for Evelyn to control. If he wanted to project Nancy, nothing would stop him. After a long pause, Nancy finally raised her head and looked toward the distance a new thought formed in her mind. When Ariel picked up a call from an unfamiliarndine, she heard Evelyn¡¯s voice. ¡°Do you have time? Can youe home today?¡± Ariel slowed the motion of sorting her files. Something unreadable flickered in her eyes. ¡°Is there something you need?¡± Evelyn¡¯s tone was neutral. ¡°I want to talk to you about Nancy.¡± This time, Ariel actually found it amusing. Before she could say anything, Evelyn went on, ¡°You¡¯ve always been pretty passive about these things. You¡¯re Jayson¡¯s legal wife. It¡¯s not hard for you to deal with outsiders like her, and it would be more naturaling from you. I¡¯ll help you win Jayson over.¡± For a moment, Ariel thought she must have misheard because it was too absurd. Evelyn had never interfered in matters like this before. If anything, she believed Ariel didn¡¯t measure up to the Larkin family¨Cthat her background, abilities, and family status weren¡¯t worthy of Jayson. In her eyes, Jayson had been ¡°forced into the marriage¡°, and she was convinced that Ariel had schemed her way into marrying up. And now, Evelyn was offering to help her win Jayson over? Ariel instantly understood that Evelyn¡¯s stance was shaped by her careful weighing of pros and cons. She set the file aside and said evenly, ¡°Maybe you¡¯ve forgotten, but you were the one who thought Nancy, with her top¨Cof¨Cthe¨Css record, impressive education, and polished artistic background, was the better candidate to carry on the Larkin family¡¯s good genes. I simply stepped aside for your n.¡± Evelyn froze. Ariel knew the recent chaos had probably pushed Evelyn to speak up, but there had to be other reasons she couldn¡¯t sit still anymore. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I need to get back to work,¡± Ariel said, unwilling to waste time with pleasantries. After hanging up, she couldn¡¯t help but shake her head with a sneer. If Evelyn ever found out that she and Jayson were already divorced and that he was infatuated with the scandal¨Cridden Nancy and might even want to marry her, she would probably be even more anxious. Inside 501 Ariel didn¡¯t take Evelyn¡¯s little stunt to heart. She never believed Evelyn was truly on her side anyway. The only reason Evelyn had turned up was that the Nancy she had once favored hadn¡¯t lived up to her expectations, and recent events had led Evelyn to reconsider. On Monday, Ariel went with Chad to a meeting near the World Trade Center. They had just wrapped up the deal and were heading to the car when they saw a car pull up across the street. Nancy stepped out in heels, clearly having business in the area. She looked put together again. The moment Nancy spotted Ariel, the warmth in her eyes iced over. Her gaze lingered on Ariel for a beat. The corner of her mouth curled into a sharp, mocking smirk. Without saying a word, she turned and walked into the building across the street. As Ariel noticed the ce Nancy disappeared into, a flicker of suspicion crossed her eyes. Nancy¡¯s reaction was different this time. In the past, whenever they crossed paths, Nancy¡¯s attitude had been nothing but disdainful indifference. Now, though, there was something sharper, deliberate, and confrontational. Ariel thought to herself that Nancy¡¯s mindset hadpletely shifted. People wouldn¡¯t show such clear attitudes without a sense of crisis. ¡°Looks like she¡¯s cleaned up her mess. I heard she¡¯s already covered the penalty with Westvale Gallery,¡± Chad said. He knew plenty of people in the industry and always caught wind of these things. Ariel wasn¡¯t surprised. When the issue first came u, she had already considered the possibility of Jayson stepping in. Veyo Solutions had already taken a huge hit from the previous leak and infringement. Nancy had probably already had to cover part of it herself. But the dispute with Westvale Gallery had nothing to do with Veyo Solutions. If Nancy really had to pay the full 50 million dors out of pocket, it wouldn¡¯t be easy. For Nancy to have resolved it so quickly in such a short time, Ariel couldn¡¯t think of any other possibility besides Jayson stepping in. ¡°She has a clear head handling all this. Even after such a huge scandal, she¡¯s kept Veyo Solutions running without missing a beat. That shows she¡¯s pretty strong inside,¡± Ariel said matter¨Cof- factly. Chad also understood that things might have gone differently with anyone else. ¡°But if she didn¡¯t have someone to bail her out, it¡¯d be a whole different story,¡± he said with a smirk, finding it rather ridiculous. Ariel knew exactly what he meant. She lowered her gaze and said nothing. After making sure all the necessary paperwork was in order, Nancy headed back to the hospital. Sarah had just learned Nancy had settled Dn¡¯s penalty. She was surprised. ¡°Did Jayson cover it?¡± If it wasn¡¯t him, it wouldn¡¯t have been handled so quickly. Nancy paused, then went back to peeling her apple. Don¡¯t worry. I handled it,¡± she said tly. She didn¡¯t borate. Sarah already knew about Evelyn¡¯s visit. After thinking it over, she said with a cold expression, ¡® You need to understand something. If Mrs. Larkin had the power to make decisions for Jayson, she wouldn¡¯t havee to you at all. ¡°I¡¯m guessing she and Jayson have already had a blowup and couldn¡¯te to an agreement. That means Jayson has probably defended you. If that¡¯s the case, then you¡¯re in a good position. There¡¯s no need to bring it up to him. When the time¡¯s right, just mention giving the house back. He¡¯ll understand, and he¡¯ll deal with Mrs. Larkin.¡± Nancy caught her meaning. She handed Sarah the apple and said, ¡°Jayson cares about me. I don¡¯t need to y games with that.¡± Sarah frowned. ¡°This is a critical moment. We can¡¯t afford even the smallest slip. We also need to settle thewsuit as cleanly as possible.¡± Dragging it into the open would only hurt Sarah. And she still wasn¡¯t sure how many charges Ariel was nning to throw at her. The uncertainty gnawed at her. Nancy frowned, irritation shing in her eyes. ¡°I know. Jayson¡¯s already got awyer on it. I¡¯ll sound Ariel out first.¡± The next day, Ariel got a call from Nancy¡¯swyer. Nancy wanted to meet in person to ¡°negotiate terms¡°. Ariel shut it down immediately. She only said one thing, ¡°I¡¯ll see her in court.¡± Thewyer didn¡¯t push it. They were probably offing up with another n. Still, Ariel found it strange. Ever since the incident the art museum, Jayson hadn¡¯te to talk to her, nor had he discussed any terms regarding Nancy and Sarah. She had thought he woulde for her first. But if he wasn¡¯t showing up, all the better. She didn¡¯t need to waste energy dealing with him. After all, he wasn¡¯t easy to handle. That afternoon, Ariel and Chad headed to Nexura Solutions. The twopanies had been working closely together, integrating operations. Everything was going smoothly so far. Nexura Solutions¡® affairs needed Ariel¡¯s regr oversight. Day¨Cto¨Cday management was handled jointly by Tom and the management team she had assigned. While Chad went to check on the 3D modeling work, Ariel went upstairs to review Nexura Solutions test business reports. Tom brought her the quarterly report summarizing Nexura Solutions¡® major affairs and finances from the past six months. ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯ll need to review these. They need your final approval.¡± Ariel¡¯s brows twitched at the sight of the pile of documents. Running apany this size was no small feat. Every detail needed her review. Since she had taken over Nexura Solutions only recently, she had to work through the backlog from scratch. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll get to it in a bit.¡± She had been so tied up with Faye Technologiestely that Nexura Solutions had taken a back seat. After all, she had sent trusted people over to manage alongside Tom, so there shouldn¡¯t be any issues. When Chad came back upstairs, Ariel was still frowning over the reports. He walked over. ¡°This is why Nexura is Nexura. Some of these project operations and reports are soplex. They can really give you a headache.¡± Taking over midstream always came with extra work. Ariel sighed. ¡°Looks like I¡¯ll be stuck here until the end of the day today.¡± Chad sat down at the table without hesitation, ready to help. ¡°Just tell me what you need. I¡¯ll stay Jate with you.¡± Ariel¡¯s lips curved into a small smile. ¡°I¡¯ll buy you dinner.¡± Chad was in his element with this sort of work. But after a while, Ariel suddenly froze. She flipped back to one of the documents and scanned it from start to finish. When she pieced it together, she couldn¡¯t hide the shock in her eyes. Inside 502 ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Chad noticed the sudden change in Ariel¡¯s expression. His gaze locked onto her. It took Ariel a moment to shake off her shock. She looked up at Chad and handed him the document. ¡°Is this for real?¡± Chad was genuinely curious. What could possibly shake Ariel, who was usually so calm and steady, to show this kind of expression? As he scanned the document Ariel pointed out, his expression instantly grew serious. He double¨Cchecked several times, hesitated for a moment, then looked back at Ariel again. ¡°What¡¯s Jayson ying at?¡± he asked, stunned. Ariel¡¯s face slowly clouded with aplicated mix of emotions. ¡°I don¡¯t know.¡± After a long pause, she frowned and tucked the document away. Back at Faye Technologies, Ariel sat deep in thought. The sudden discovery of such a huge problem at Nexura Solutions left her baffled. 1 Just as she was heading upstairs, her phone rang. It was Gary. Although they had each other¡¯s numbers, Ariel and Gary hardly ever spoke. She nced at Chad, then answered. Gary¡¯s voice was full of energy. ¡°Ariel, are you busy right now?¡± Once seated, Ariel replied, ¡°Not really. Is there something you need?¡± Gary smiled and put on a mysterious tone. ¡°I¡¯ve got some good news that should seriously help with your future ns.¡± Ariel¡¯s brow lifted a little. Gary didn¡¯t keep her waiting long. ¡°The higher¨Cups areunching a nationwide talent recruitment to promote some top¨Ctier talents. To support this, multiple departments have joined forces to organize an aerospace flight techpetition starting in two weeks ¡°This isn¡¯t an average contest. It¡¯s high¨Cstakes. In the end, they¡¯ll pick three people nationwide to join the national research engineering team. That means these three will earn further assessment opportunities. If they keep seeding, they might even get to participate in the development of the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet,¡± The national research engineering team? Ariel was genuinely surprised. This meant three people would have a chance to join the national research engineering team. That would no longer be just somemercial side project. But she already had a direct path into sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet development. Why would she need topete in this? Gary seemed to read her thoughts and said, ¡°Even though you¡¯re already qualified and an important part of the development team for the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet, thepetition is open to everyone nationwide. ¡°Your starting line is different from everyone else¡¯s. If you end up taking first ce, with your U.N2 experience, once the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet project wraps up, you¡¯ll have the option to directly join any department you want. For the next three years, you can choose whichever research projects you want to work on!¡± Ariel was no ordinarypetitor. Other top talents would earn a preliminary qualification for the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet development through thispetition. It was basically just the entry stage, and whether they got in wasn¡¯t guaranteed. But for Ariel, she could freely choose which department to join. The government ced great importance on this talent recruitment. After all, this was an important part of the future technology n. Gary admitted he had some personal interest in pushing Ariel onto a broader stage, where she could fully unleash her talents. Ariel was stunned. Free entry into any department or research role? The offer was enough to make anyone¡¯s skin crawl. This was basically having¡­ Gary beamed with pride. ¡°So, what do you think? This should be more than enough to repay your favor, right?¡± Back then, he had to personally approach Ariel because of Zach. Now that this opportunity was set, he was letting her know early so she could prepare. Inside 503 The nationwide talentpetition had actually been in the works for over a year. Back then, only a handful of people even knew about it. Ariel finally calmed down a little and smiled softly. ¡°You don¡¯t have to worry about that, really.¡± She held no grudge against Zach. He just held some bias against her. She wasn¡¯t petty enough to hold a grudge over a few words and make Gary worry about it. Gary sighed. ¡°That kid¡¯s one thing, but more importantly, I don¡¯t want someone like you to be overlooked. Honestly, I think you¡¯ve got a shot at seeding Carlos.¡°¡± Ariel exhaled quietly. ¡°Alright, thank you. I¡¯ll think about it.¡± After the call ended, her mind raced. Chad looked at her, already having a good guess from the keywords just now. He had actually heard some rumors about this before the new year. ¡°This is a golden opportunity,¡± Chad said, walking over. ¡°They¡¯re basically giving you a legit ticket into some of the departments. Not bad, little Ari. They¡¯ve made an exception for you.¡± Ariel felt a swell of gratitude. After Liam told her she might recover, and now hearing this news, she couldn¡¯t help but feel overwhelmingly hopeful. Because now she had the chance to keep shining in her own field. Before, she might have declined because her condition was unstable. But now¡­ ¡°I¡¯m going to sign up.¡± Ariel took a deep breath and made up her mind. Chad pped his hands. ¡°Good call. It¡¯ll give you a change to check out the best talents nationwide and see different approaches to research. You¡¯re great at connecting the dots.¡± He could join too if he wanted, but he didn¡¯t like being tied down by rules like Ariel could. Otherwise, given his background, he probably could have joined major projects before graduating. He figured Ariel¡¯s future achievements were limitless. Through the channel Gary provided, Ariel registered and locked in the dates. She also carved out time to prepare. During downtime, she kept in touch with Edward about the details of her case. Meanwhile, she had heard news about Veyo Solutions. Cedric¡¯s projects were booming, and visitors came in nonstop. Once those projects wrapped up in a few months, Veyo Solutions would be a much more significant Even though Nancy had been down after thewsuit and penalty issues, the sess of Veyo Solutions helped offset much of the negative impact for her. The next morning, Ariel received an invitation to a Veyo Solutions cocktail party. Chad got one too. He said, ¡°Their project is going great. They¡¯ve signed numerous significant deals, and the future profits could be substantial. This event is probably to celebrate their sess. They¡¯ve invited many industry people. Maybe they want to use this chance to polish their image.¡± Ariel thought it over quietly. It struck her how perfectly timed it was that Jayson had brought Cedric on board and that the project was. wrapping up right around the time of the art exhibition scandal. It worked in Nancy¡¯s favor. She wouldn¡¯t bepletely crushed by the exhibition drama. However, the exhibition was ruined because of their conflict. Yet, Nancy still invited her. Ariel knew exactly what Nancy was up to. ¡°Are you going?¡± Chad seemed to think of something and suddenly smiled at Ariel. At that moment, they both shared the same unspoken thought. Ariel narrowed her eyes and tapped the invitation lightly with her finger. Smiling, she replied, ¡°Yeah. I need to sign off on the military contract wrap¨Cup anyway, so it¡¯s a good chance to check things out.¡± Inside 504 Veyo Solutions¡® project was progressing exceptionally well, and the cocktail party drew a good crowd. Scandals aside, everyone knew the project¡¯s value. Who would turn their back on future prospects and money? If it weren¡¯t for Cedric, they might have had reason to worry. But this time was different. When Matt arrived at Veyo Solutions, he couldn¡¯t help butment, ¡°Jayson really set you up with a top- tier operation here. With both of you managing, you don¡¯t have to sweat the small stuff. He¡¯ll handle everything.¡± Nancy caught Matt¡¯s meaning. He was saying that they worked well together and Jayson had truly thought things through for her. ¡°Jayson has set up the management team. Even if he doesn¡¯te by often, I¡¯m not too worried.¡± Matt nced at her, his eyes flickering briefly before he smiled. ¡°I heard you settled that penalty. How¡¯d you manage it? Did you talk to Jayson about it?¡± Nancy¡¯s expression remained steady. ¡°No, I don¡¯t bother him with problems I can solve myself. Everything¡¯s fine now.¡± She didn¡¯t borate. In fact, Matt had heard some rumors. Gossip about the Westvale Gallery dispute had floated around. But it was only 50 million dors. He figured that wasn¡¯t too serious for Nancy. When Jayson came downstairs, he noticed that Frederick had already arrived. Quite a few people had shown up today. All permits and security for the cocktail party were well in ce. Frederick had been invited. He had assumed that after his confession, Nancy might distance herself from him, so seeing things stay normal was a relief. Not long after, Ariel and Chad arrived by car. After Nancy signed the papers today, things were basically wrapped up. Upon entering, they spotted a group of people nearby. Jayson was chatting with a few others. Nancy was the first to spot Ariel. The real reason she had sent the invitation was to use this chance to meet Ariel again. Herwyer had reached out before, but Ariel had t¨Cout refused every attempt to negotiate. But now that Ariel was here¡­ Nancy didn¡¯t overthink it and walked over to Ariel and had. ¡°Mr. Hockney.¡± Nancy nodded to Chad. The disaster at the art exhibition seemedrgely behind her now. Chad raised an eyebrow, admiring Nancy¡¯s mindset. People who achieved big things really thought differently. After a pause, Nancy turned to Ariel and called out slowly, ¡°Ms. Walker.¡± Ariel looked up at her. Nancy, wearing heels, still carried a quiet arrogance in her eyes. It was subtle yet unmistakable. ¡°Since you¡¯ve graced us with your presence, Ms. Walker I think we could use this chance for a proper talk,¡± Nancy said casually while looking at Ariel. Today¡¯s cocktail party was a grand affair. It was partly to promote the project and partly to overshadow the art exhibition scandal, redirecting everyone¡¯s attention to Veyo Solutions¡® highly valuable new venture. The effect was definitely noticeable. Ariel knew Nancy wanted to talk about thewsuit and that she was most likely attempting to negotiate with her But Nancy¡¯s attitude¡­ She didn¡¯t hide it. Looking at Ariel coolly, Nancy said, ¡°Problems need solving. You can propose whatever terms you want.¡± Ariel gave her a faint nce and a light chuckle. ¡°Ms. Stanton, what could you possibly offer me to talk terms? What do you have that I care about?¡± A sharp coldness shed in Nancy¡¯s eyes. Her expression darkened suddenly. Almost at the same moment, Ariel caught sight of Jayson approaching from behind Nancy. He just stared at her, his gaze steady and calm as it settled on her face. He had obviously caught her words. Ariel didn¡¯t flinch because she was implying Jayson as well since he belonged to Nancy. Frederick and Matt, who were nearby, also overheard her answer. Frederick instinctively opened his mouth to say something, but Matt grabbed his arm, smiling. ¡°Mr. Swanson, Ariel is Jayson¡¯s wife. Let¡¯s not get involved.¡± Frederick was confused. What did he mean? Frederick¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Mr. Crosby, can¡¯t you see Ariel shutting Ms. Stanton down? This is Ms. Stanton¡¯s turf, and Ariel just talked like she owned the ce.¡± Inside 505 Matt shrugged and tilted his chin, signaling Frederick to look over there. ¡°Her husband hasn¡¯t said a word yet. You might want to hold off.¡± Frederick froze and instinctively nced at Jayson. His expression flickered between pale and flushed, but he had noeback. Nancy still thought Ariel came today to pressure her. After all, the giarism incident happened so long ago. Was it really worth quarreling over it now? It was probably just that the terms hadn¡¯t met her expectations. Or maybe¡­ Ariel¡¯s real goal was to pull her away from Jayson. Nancy frowned, a trace of mockery flickering in her eyes She looked at Ariel and spoke deliberately, ¡°Ms. Walker, don¡¯t be so confident. I can keep raising my chips. If you¡¯re willing to negotiate, I have a top¨Csecret offer to trade. ¡°It¡¯s about national talent recruitment. You¡¯ll get the chance to join a key research project. I imagine that¡¯s something you¡¯d be very interested in.¡± Nancy felt that if Carlos brought this up to Ariel, it wouldn¡¯t be fair, so she probably didn¡¯t know about it yet. If she could bring it up before Carlos, it would make a pretty good bargaining chip. Ariel nced at Nancy. Though Nancy didn¡¯t say it outright, Ariel instantly understood what she meant. She nced behind Nancy toward Jayson, who met her gaze calmly. Between them, some unspoken understanding seemed to pass. Ariel immediately realized that Nancy definitely knew about the national talent recruitment and the chance to participate in the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet project Jayson sure received the news quickly. If Nancy entered thepetition and seeded, that would be a realeback. Especially now that thewsuit was still in its early stages and Sarah¡¯s guilt hadn¡¯t been determined, Nancy hadn¡¯t yet faced any major legal trouble. Participating in thepetition before the trial would basically clear her name. That was why Nancy was trying to trade this opportunity for thewsuit¡¯s settlement. Noticing Ariel¡¯s silence, Nancy sized her up and quietly grew confident. Ariel had been ambitious all this time, writing papers and stepping in as a lead for the project¡¯s system development. There was no way she wouldn¡¯t be tempted by the bait she was offered. Nancy herself had just learned about this yesterday. Jayson had rmended her to apply. The spots were limited and needed filtering. Since Nancy was born domestically and held local citizenship, she couldpte. However, Jayson still helped her clear this uncertainty. As the main sponsor, he invested 500 million dors to expand thepetition. So things would be smoother for Nancy. Jayson always cared deeply about her. Nancy understood his intentions clearly this time. As long as she won thepetition and advanced to the final stage, she would secure pre¨Cselection for the research team. She was confident she could get in if she stood out enough. By then, all recent troubles would be behind her. The Larkin family wouldn¡¯t find faults with her anymore, and they would¡­ As Nancy had said before, no matter how many research papers Ariel wrote, she might not be a match on the real battlefield. So Nancy figured that giving Ariel this information was a harmless act of charity. Ariel found Nancy¡¯s haughty tone extremely amusing. Even Chad clicked his tongue in disbelief. That was some serious confidence. If Nancy ever found out Ariel had not only the direct entry to thepetition but also direct ess to the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet project and future department selection, would she still be so cocky? ¡°Ms. Walker, this is a fair deal. Opportunities like this don¡¯te often.¡± Nancy looked at Ariel coldly. She thought Ariel probably didn¡¯t understand how valuable this opportunity was, which was almostughable. Ariel wanted to climb up with her skill level? Ridiculous. Just as Ariel was about to respond, a suddenmotion came from upstairs. One of Veyo Solutions¡® executives rushed down with a troubled expression. Seeing Jayson, he scanned the room nervously before saying, ¡°Ms. Stanton is in trouble.¡± Inside 506 Jayson finally turned and looked at the executive. ¡°What happened?¡± Frowning, Nancy looked over as well. What kind of trouble could she be in? The executive¡¯s expression wasplicated. After some hesitation, he finally addressed Nancy. ¡°Ms. Stanton, have you recently misappropriated your dividends?¡± The moment those words dropped, Nancy¡¯s expression paled. Ariel and Chad both heard it clearly and exchanged a quick nce. Something clicked instantly between them. Chad suddenly smirked. ¡°Ms. Stanton, are you running low on cashtely? Didn¡¯t Mr. Larkin give you any allowance?¡± Nancy¡¯s face darkened even more as she clenched her fists. Even Frederick and Matt were stunned. What was going on? Frederick understood the gravity and quickly said, ¡°That can¡¯t be right. Why not sort this out internally first? Why bring it up here?¡± Jayson was the first to react. He nced at Nancy and then asked the executive, ¡°Are you sure about this?¡± The executive nodded. ¡°We found the problem during a sudden audit.¡± Nancy tried to stayposed but couldn¡¯t hide the change in her face. She had already dealt with this. Yes, she had temporarily used part of her personal dividends early on, but she had replenished them as fast as possible. How was this suddenly being gged now? ¡°Jayson¡­¡± Nancy took a deep breath and stepped forward. ¡°I admit it, but I made it right by the third day. There were no tax vitions involved.¡± Jayson lowered his gaze and said slowly, ¡°Okay, we¡¯ll discuss thister.¡± Then he looked toward Ariel. ¡°We¡¯ve got some internal matters to settle here. Have you driven here? Do you need a ride back?¡± Ariel understood that Jayson was clearing the room. He wanted to handle this quietly within thepany. Ariel thought for a moment. She gave Jayson a cold, mocking nce, then tugged Chad¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Chad, let¡¯s head back first.¡± At least now they knew Nancy¡¯s problem. Next¡­ Ariel quickly adjusted her ns. She decided to change her original n for today. Chad and Ariel were on the same page and didn¡¯t linger any longer. Jayson quickly had the area cleaned up to keep the issue under wraps. Many outsiders remained confused about what had happened. Still, the staff maintained order as usual, making everything appear calm and orderly. Jayson took Nancy upstairs. Matt and Frederick stayed out of it. As they walked upstairs, Nancy¡¯s heart pounded heavily. She said quietly to Jayson, ¡°Jayson, the next dividend payout from Veyo is due next week. I didn¡¯t use the funds illegally. ¡°I just made temporary reallocations with proper records. Westvale Gallery has been pressuring me hard. Cash was tight, and I didn¡¯t want to trouble you, so¡­¡± She had nned it carefully. She made sure to repay quickly, so if the issue came upter, she could avoid serious responsibility. But why was it suddenly exposed today? And having Ariel catch it stirred an unspeakable shame and frustration inside her. Jayson finally nced at her. He showed no anger. Instead, he reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s okay. The major shareholders are just us and your mother. Thepany just needs to go through the usual procedures to wrap this up.¡± Nancy felt more at ease with Jayson¡¯s words. She understood the loopholes she could work with. She had picked a critical moment, made a quick fix, and intended to mortgage her house. However, Evelyn¡¯s threats had cut off that option, leaving her no way out. Plus, Dn¡¯s pressure was relentless. She had no choice but to resort to this. Inside 507 Nancy¡¯s options were running out. She sold a small portion of her personal shares and signed an agreement allowing her to buy them backter. The process took some time, and the funds took about a week to clear. She had already gathered 20 million dors herself, so she temporarily redirected a part of her uing dividends and used that to pay Dn some of what she owed. Dn only granted her a three¨Cday grace period for the rest. Once the funds from the share sale arrived, she immediately replenished her dividend amount and settled the remainder with Dn. Nancy had repaid in time and didn¡¯t cause major damage to thepany. Besides, thepany¡¯s financials clearly showed those dividends were hers. The payout was only a week away. Fundamentally, it was very different from outright theft. It was a temporary fund use at worst. Nancy knew that even if this became public, as long as the internal shareholders¡® meeting agreed, there wouldn¡¯t be any consequences. She would still be the CEO of Veyo Solutions. Moreover, the shareholders were only her, Sarah and Jayson. If the three of them agreed, it was settled. Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have taken this risky route. She just knew how to handle this perfectly, so there would be no real trouble. Back at Faye Technologies, Ariel and Chad were still surprised about the whole thing. ¡°She must have taken her dividends early because of that penalty.¡± Ariel quickly connected the dots but frowned in confusion. ¡°Didn¡¯t Jayson help her cover it?¡± She had always assumed that, but now this had happened. Nancy¡¯s recent urgent need for money and tight situation could only be because of the penalty. Chad couldn¡¯t help but shake his head. ¡°She¡¯s boll for sure. But in the end, Jayson¡¯s backing gave her confidence. Still, she¡¯s smart. If she really made the repayment that quickly as she imed¡­¡± Then it could be quietly resolved internally without any punishment. After all, everyone inside was either Jayson¡¯s or Nancy¡¯s people. Ariel pondered for a moment. ¡°Jayson¡¯s stance has been clear. He¡¯ll clean this up, and Nancy won¡¯t suffer any major fallout.¡± Nancy¡¯s trouble came on too suddenly. Ariel hadn¡¯t even given her the documents that required her signature yet. ¡°What about you? Any thoughts?¡± Chad asked, narrowing his eyes. Ariel caught his meaning. She lowered her gaze, deep in thought. That afternoon, Ariel got a call from Tom. Some tasks at Nexura Solutions required Ariel¡¯s attention. After discussing work, Tom couldn¡¯t help but mention, ¡°Ms. Walker, have you heard? Ms. Stanton ran into some trouble.¡± Ariel paused. ¡°You knew already?¡± Tom chuckled. ¡°Of course. When Mr. Larkin set up thepany for Ms. Stanton, he specifically transferred some management staff from Nexura to support her. We¡¯re all old friends. Some news still filters back to me. ¡°Apparently, there¡¯s an internal shareholders meeting at Veyo tomorrow. They¡¯ll probably decide not to punish Ms. Stanton since she made the repayment quickly. As long as they don¡¯t raise major objections, this matter will slide.¡± Repayment within three months was eptable. Besides, Nancy basically paid it back right away, and with Jayson¡¯s protection, she was untouchable. ¡°Alright, got it,¡± Ariel replied without much reaction. Flipping through files, she told Tom, Put the work on hold tomorrow. I need you toe with me.¡± Tom tried guessing her intent. ¡°Where to?¡± Ariel snapped the pen cap shut. ¡°Veyo Solutions. Spy hunting.¡± Inside 508 The next day, Veyo Solutions was abuzz with activity. Nancy wasn¡¯t really worried about the issue. So what if it came to light? She had carefully calcted the situation. Since it involved her personal dividends that were about to be paid, it was basically a temporary fund use. Once repaid, the shareholders¡® vote could easily approve a resolution to avoid penalties. There were only three major shareholders anyway. What was there to stress over? Nancy arrived at the office early. The meeting was scheduled to start at 10:00 am. At 9:30 am, Robin came in to notify her, ¡°Ms. Stanton, Ms. Walker and Mr. Hockney have arrived. They said they want to see you.¡± Nancy paused for a second. Without looking up, she said decisively, ¡°I have a meeting to run. If she wants to see me, tell her to wait.¡± She guessed Ariel was here today because of that nationwide talent recruitment she mentioned. Ariel must havee to a conclusion. That was why she came to assess the situation. If she really wanted a spot in thepetition, she would be the one begging to negotiate terms. Chances were she would want to drop thewsuit in exchange for a smooth career rise. After all, the past was the past. Elena was gone. What was the point in fighting to the bitter end? It was better to trade for whatever benefits she could get. At this thought, Nancy¡¯s eyes flickered with scorn. Ariel was nothing but a weakling. If that was the case, leaving Ariel hanging wouldn¡¯t be a problem. Now that the roles were reversed, Ariel deserved to know what it felt like to be shown no mercy. Robin got the message loud and clear. Downstairs, Ariel received the response. Chad frowned. Was Nancy really putting on airs already? This was clearly just to annoy Ariel. Did Nancy think she could still be so arrogant after everything? Ariel didn¡¯t care. She looked at Tom and said, ¡°M. Chapman, please contact your old friend. We¡¯re going straight up there.¡± Tom¡¯s heart skipped a beat. He had a bad feeling this was going to be serious. Nancy tidied herself up and headed toward the conference room. Matt hade along with Jayson today, mostly just to watch the drama unfold. When Nancy arrived, he raised an eyebrow and said, ¡°It¡¯s just a little money. Why make such a fuss? You should¡¯ve just mentioned it to Jayson.¡± Nancy nced at Jayson sitting beside her. She straightened her back and replied calmly, ¡°No matter how good a rtionship is, things shouldn¡¯t be taken for granted. Jayson cares about me. I don¡¯t want to trouble him too much.¡± Matt¡¯s eyes flickered with some unreadable emotion as he patted Jayson on the shoulder.¡± Look at that. She¡¯s so considerate and not after anything from you.¡± 1 That was exactly what Nancy wanted to express. Matt¡¯s words made her smile quietly toward Jayson. She didn¡¯t say a word about making Ariel wait downstairs. Jayson said nothing in reply, just, ¡°It¡¯s about to start.¡± Matt wasn¡¯t part of Veyo Solutions and didn¡¯t n to go inside. He just intended to wait until it was over and then grab lunch together. The meeting began officially. Nancy sat right next to Jayson. Though they were the major shareholders, thepany¡¯s bws and formal procedures still needed to be properly gone through. Sarah was still in the hospital, so her voting rights were entrusted to Nancy. Regarding this incident, Nancy had prepared clear evidence of the timeline. She hadn¡¯t used the funds for any illegal purpose, had repaid quickly, caused no damage to thepany, and handled tax issues thoroughly. Moreover, those were dividends due to be paid soon. It was nothing too serious. Most board members expressed understanding. ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s stance is key. If he has no problem with it, we have no objections.¡± Inside 509 Nancy had long anticipated this situation. Amid the ongoing discussions, she leaned quietly toward Jayson and softly said, ¡°Jayson, let¡¯s have lunch together. I¡¯ve booked a restaurant. Let¡¯s invite Matt too.¡± She appeared very rxed, as if this wasn¡¯t a big deal at all. With Jayson right beside her, she felt reassured. Jayson looked at her and gave a faint smile. ¡°Sure¡± Nancy immediately rxed further. ¡°The meeting should be nearly over after your vote.¡± Jayson was just tapping the table casually, about to say something, when suddenly the conference room door was pushed open. Nancy turned around and saw Ariel and Chad entering, along with Tom from Nexura Solutions. She frowned sharply, and her expression turned cold. ¡°Ariel, this is an internal meeting of Veyo! You barged in and disrupted the meeting! I can have security escort you out!¡± She had only given Ariel the cold shoulder, and now thetter had barged right in? The others in the conference room were momentarily stunned, then slowly looked toward Jayson, who had remained expressionless. Jayson only nced at Ariel but said nothing. Ariel looked at Nancy and said, ¡°Did I agree to no punishment?¡± 1 Her words shocked many present. What did she mean? Nancy herself couldn¡¯t understand it and even found itughable. She curled her lips with scorn. ¡°Do you need me to remind you? This isn¡¯t Faye Tech. Ms. Walker, why are you acting tough on someone else¡¯s turf?¡± Had Ariel lost her mind? Ariel ignored Nancy and strode to the head of the table. Her gaze flicked briefly to Jayson. Then, she looked at the dozen or so people present with calm eyes and said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry to inform you all of some news.¡± She extended her hand, and Tom immediately handed over several documents. Meanwhile, Chad crossed his arms and leaned to one side, watching the scene with interest. Ariel ced the documents on the table and pushed them toward the others. ¡°Nexura Solutions is the actual controlling party behind Veyo Solutions.¡± Her words fell like a bombshell. The conference room grew so quiet that they could hear a pin drop. The mood was suffocating, as if the oxygen had thinned. Nancy was stunned for quite a while before finally convincing herself she hadn¡¯t misheard. She stood up sharply, a look of biting sarcasm in her eyes. ¡°Ariel, have you lost your mind? Or are you dreaming?¡± Ariel looked at her. ¡°You can read the documents. As she said that, she nced at Jayson, who sat with an air of nobleposure. ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s investment in Veyo originally came from funds allocated by Nexura. The documents clearly state this. And over half a year ago, he signed a shareholding entrustment agreement with Nexura. Anypanies in which he holds shares through Nexura count as shares held on behalf of Nexura.¡± The conference room immediately erupted. Most people jumped up and scrambled to read the documents on the table. Even Nancy felt like she had been struck hard. The usuallyposed woman seemed to crack for a moment. Even her vision blurred. Ariel¡¯s visit today was to deal with this very issue. She hadn¡¯t expected Nancy to make a power move by leaving the three of them waiting downstairs earlier. Well then, the matter would be resolved once and for all at the meeting. Ariel looked toward Nancy. Her gaze was cold but calm. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you have breached thepany¡¯s bws. ordingly, your employment rtionship with Veyo Solutions is herebywfully terminated with immediate effect.¡± Inside 510 Ariel¡¯s voice was calm yet powerful, effortlessly piercing through the room. Her gazended on Nancy¡¯s faltering expression. Since Veyo is under Nexura, and Nexura will never tolerate this kind of situation, Ms. Stanton, you must pay the price for your actions.¡± This unexpected turn stunned everyone present. Even Matt hade over after hearing themotion. He nced at Ariel, then at Jayson sitting quietly beside Nancy. Hisposed demeanor revealed little emotion despite the tense atmosphere. Nancy stared incredulously at Ariel. Her mind went momentarily nk. But Ariel gave her no room to respond. She lightly tapped another document on the table. ¡°Even if youpleted the repayment within the timeframe and it was your personal dividend, ording to Nexura¡¯s rules, early appropriation of funds is not allowed. From now on, you will no longer be part of Veyo Solutions¡® management.¡± Nancy¡¯s face went pale. Overwhelmed by the severity of the situation, her sharp eyes locked on Ariel. ¡°Even if this is true, it should be decided by shareholder vote, not you alone!¡± Tom nced at her and couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°If it truly goes to a vote, Nexura would participate as well. The oue would be the same.¡± Did it really make a difference? ¡°If you disagree with this decision,¡± Ariel continued calmly, ¡°I¡¯ll inform you of one more thing. Nexura has clear bws stipting that if any shareholder misappropriates funds, thepany can forcibly transfer that shareholder¡¯s equity,pletely¡­¡± She paused for a moment. ¡°Kicking them out.¡± At that moment, Nancy¡¯s heart sank. She was stunned and remained silent for a long time before finally regaining herposure. Forcible transfer of equity? If it were just termination ofbor rtions, Nancy would no longer work at or participate in Veyo Solutions, but her shares would remain in her possession. She would still remain a shareholder, which would not affect her future earnings. But now, Ariel was talking about a forced transfer? Was she trying to strip Nancy of everything? In fact, this would even prevent Nancy from receiving any future dividends, even though she was just two days away from them being credited Even Tom was dumbfounded by the situation. He was overwhelmed because he had never imagined things would take this direction. When Jayson prepared the shareholding entrustment agreement, Tom initially thought it was a special investment arrangement and hadn¡¯t paid it much attention. He hadn¡¯t expected it to be such a massive bombshell. Regarding Nexura Solutions¡® investment in Veyo Solutions, Tom guessed thepany must have set up hidden permissions for the investment project. It was known only to certain shareholders, which caused his side to receive dyed information. It was only after the finance manager provided detailed information that things gradually became clear. But¡­ Tom couldn¡¯t help but nce at Jayson. What exactly was Jayson thinking when he arranged this? What considerations did he have? He remembered Jayson signed the shareholding entrustment agreement seven or eight months ago. At that time, Veyo Solutions hadn¡¯t even been established. Tom suddenly felt an inexplicable chill. It wasn¡¯t just Tom. Nancy forced herself to stay calm and read through the documents again. She also noticed the date Jayson signed the shareholding entrustment agreement. At that time, she had only recently returned to Eldoria, and it wasn¡¯t before the establishment of Veyo Solutions, so¡­ ¡°Ariel, so when you asked Jayson for Nexura, you were aiming for this all along?¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes reddened. Even her voice turned hoarse. She stared intently at Ariel, wishing she could see right through her. Inside 511 Nancy¡¯s eyes were as cold as ice. She had worked so hard after returning to Eldoria. She owned such argepany, and everything was moving in a good direction. But now¡­ it was all ruined! Nancy¡¯s words made Chad furrow his brows. He felt Nancy was forcing her own problems onto others. If she hadn¡¯t made that mistake in the first ce, how could things have ended up like this? Ariel looked at her and was suddenly overwhelmed by a sense of helplessness in theirmunication. She let out a bitter smile. ¡°Nancy, I suddenly feel you¡¯re rather pitiful.¡± Her calm words cut deep like a de. Ariel no longer cared to argue or reason with Nancy. There was no point in debate because Nancy was not only blind but also stubborn. At this moment, Nancy couldn¡¯t help but start to break down. This was the worst possible situation for her. She hurriedly looked toward Jayson, who was sitting beside her. Jayson met her gaze. He slowly raised a hand, motioning for her to sit down¨Ca calming gesture meant to soothe. Then he turned to Ariel seriously. ¡°Ms. Walker, ording to the bws, voting rights depend on the number of shares each party holds. I am holding on behalf of Nexura, but together, Nancy¡¯s and Mrs. Stanton¡¯s shares surpass mine. The moment Jayson spoke, Nancy¡¯s face turned ashen. As Ariel looked at Jayson, there was a faint mocking smile on her lips. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you might want to ask Ms. Stanton how much she currently holds.¡± Nancy felt as if she had fallen into an ice cave. She sold 8% of her shares. Now, she was short and powerless topete. Jayson then looked at Nancy, his gaze questioning. Nancy parted her lips but couldn¡¯t speak because she hadn¡¯t told Jayson about selling the shares. She nned to buy them backter when she was financially better off and pretend nothing had happened. Jayson was unaware of this, which was why he mentioned the shares to Ariel in contention. This was Nancy¡¯s weak point. But¡­ Ariel stood up and looked at Nancy, who was now propping herself up on the table and staring nkly at the documents. ¡°Please expedite the follow¨Cup procedures. Thepany will proceed with the forced transfer process in full, which includes your mother¡¯s shares.¡± Ariel paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Ms. Stanton, from now on, you have no further association with Veyo Solutions.¡± Upon hearing that, Nancy uncontrobly copsed into her chair. She hadn¡¯t expected things to get this serious. She suddenly felt like she was lost in a fog. She tried to organize her thoughts, but the shock muddled her mind, making it impossible to think clearly. All she could grasp were a few key points. Jayson had transferred Nexura Solutions to Ariel to protect Nancy from being jailed on defamation charges that Ariel had filed, and Ariel had taken advantage of the situation to exert control over Nexura Solutions. And now, Jayson didn¡¯t know she had misappropriated dividends, nor that she had sold shares, making it impossible for her to confront Ariel directly. But Nancy felt as if something she hadn¡¯t quite grasped was slowly gnawing at her insides, stirring an uncontroble sense of resistance and rejection. Her expression grew worse and worse. Ariel had no intention of staying longer. Since the matter was settled, the rest was up to Nancy to deal with. As for Jayson¡­ When Ariel passed by him, her gaze flickered briefly across his face, and her brows knitted ever so slightly. Even though Jayson signed this agreement long ago, could he truly have forgotten about it when transferring Nexura Solutions to her? Knowing Jayson as she did, it was more likely he had anticipated this all along. Chad nced at Nancy. As he was leaving, he paused briefly. ¡°Ms. Stanton, I suppose you can no longer expect us to show you any respect, can you?¡± Inside 512 Nancy¡¯s eyes widened in realization. She remembered using those very words with Ariel during the celebration party for their project¡¯s sess. Now, those same words were being turned against her, mocking and humiliating her. Her throat tightened, making it difficult to breathe. Desperate like a drowning person grasping for air, Nancy looked toward Jayson. Jayson¡¯s gaze shifted to Ariel. He pushed back his chair and stood. It seems Ms. Walker has made up her mind. And there¡¯s no denying Nancy¡¯s misconduct in this matter. Let¡¯s conclude this here.¡± Nancy¡¯s heart skipped a beat at Jayson¡¯s words, but she had no way to protest. Ariel had achieved her purpose, and she wasn¡¯t about to waste more time on this. It was a mere coincidence that Jayson had prepared the entrustment agreement. Ariel simply chose to use the opportunity to her advantage. Sarah and Nancy had been living off the money earned by giarizing Elena¡¯s work. Ariel saw no reason to show mercy to such unscrupulous people. Moreover, everything she had done was lega, and justified. Her only remaining words were, ¡°She got exactly what she deserved. No one forced her to do those things.¡± With that, Ariel turned and headed for the door. Matt watched this unfold, seeing Ariel cold and resolute for the first time. His eyes thennded on Jayson. He struggled to suppress the shock and disbelief within him. Nancy¡¯s breath came in uneven gasps. As she stared at Ariel¡¯s retreating back, the bottled¨Cup emotions spilled over. Her pride and reputation meant nothing now. With a cold expression, Nancy lunged forward, clicking sharply in her heels. She grabbed Ariel¡¯s wrist, yanking her around. Then, with her other hand raised, Nancy aimed to p Ariel¡¯s face. Chad, standing beside Ariel, hardened his expression when he realized what Nancy was about to do. He raised a hand to block Nancy and shoved her away with force. His eyes gleamed coldly. ¡°Resorting to violence now? If you couldn¡¯t face the consequences, you shouldn¡¯t have done what you did. Don¡¯t me others for your mess. ¡°Nancy Stanton, you¡¯re pathetic and ridiculous!¡± Nancy nearly stumbled back from Chad¡¯s shove. But rage consume her, overriding any sense of calm or reason. ¡°Isn¡¯t she the one who¡¯s being cunning and vicious? Ariel, are you hot afraid of divine punishment?¡± Nancy clenched her fists, seething as she watched everything copse around her. Bit by bit, Ariel had destroyed her and Sarah. Ariel fized her gaze on Nancy, who had lost herposure. The only word that came to mind to describe her was unreasonable. ¡°In that case, is everything happening to you and your mother now divine punishment?¡± Ariel asked with a stony look.¡± Congrattions, you two have lost everything now.¡± Nancy¡¯s face was drained of color. Without waiting for a reply, Ariel turned and walked away. Tom greeted Jayson as he passed. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I guess I¡¯ll- Jayson lowered his gaze from a fixed spot and looked at Tom. ¡°Goack to the office first. We need to handle the follow¨Cup procedures at Nexura Solutions.¡± Then, Tom left the room as well. Those who were still in the room began murmuring among themselves. The management team asionally looked at Jayson, but they ke their doubts and suspicions to themselves. After all, Jayson¡¯s decision to send them there was strange to begin with. Nancy was dazed. In a single day, she was ousted from Veyo Solutions and stripped of her shareholder rights. After a long pause, she looked at Jayson behind her. Jayson walked slowly toward Nancy and looked down. His gaze briefly settled on her hand before he asked, ¡°How many percent of your shares did you sell?¡± Nancy¡¯s mouth went dry. It hit her then. No one had made her do any of it. Nancy¡¯s choices¨Cselling her shares and misappropriating her dividends¡ª were what had led to this terrible situation. Matt walked over to them, looked at Jayson, and said, ¡°Nexura Solutions was one of Jayson¡¯spanies, so it¡¯s not unusual for them to have something like an entrustment agreement. ¡°They¡¯re also the only ones working on military tech products. Having them invest in Veyo Solutions made sense. As for thepensation to the art gallery, you should have informed Jayson. It was beyond your scope to handle alone.¡± Inside 513 ¡°If you hadn¡¯t let Ariel gain the upper hand over the defamation in ident, Nexura Solutions might never have slipped into her control back then. ¡°You could have be the owner of Nexura Solutions yourself. After all, Nexura and Veyo were closely coborating on various projects. But now¡­¡± Matt shook his head in frustration. And on top of that, Nancy had even tried to strike Ariel just moments ago. Nancy¡¯s scattered thoughts dissolved upon hearing those words. Her mind went numb, confusion settling deep within as she reflected. Would things bepletely different now if she hadn¡¯t provoked Ariel and the Faye Technologies team over the flight control system issue back then? Nancy knew better than anyone how Nexura Solutions eventually fell into Ariel¡¯s hands. That opportunity came only because Jayson had intervened to protect her. Everyone knew the facts¨CNexura Solutions was handed over to Ariel in exchange for Nancy avoiding charges. Now, once again, Nancy seemed to be the one causing trouble. Nancy¡¯s headache worsened, light¨Cheadedness creeping in. She couldn¡¯t fathom how everything had spiraled into such a mess. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss thister,¡± Jayson nced at his watch. ¡°You should head home first.¡± Nancy was so overwhelmed she didn¡¯t even know how to respond. The shock of being removed from Veyo Solutions¡® shareholder list still weighed heavily on her. Someone from thepany was sent to escort the lost and helpless Nancy home. In the end, she wasn¡¯t able to join the others for lunch. Matt looked toward Jayson, hesitating before asking, ¡°What do you n to do next?¡± The question hung in the air. Jayson gave him a brief look, one hand in his pocket as he strode toward his car parked along the roadside. ¡°I¡¯ll do whatever needs to be done.¡± 2 After resolving the Veyo Solutions issue, Ariel stared pensively out the window during the drive back. She stopped by Nexura Solutions¡® office once more to review documents and agreements. ¡°What¡¯s Jayson up to this time?¡± Chad wondered aloud, tapping the center of his brows. ¡°There¡¯s no way he¡¯d overlook such an obvious mistake. Is this intentional?¡± Ariel stared at the entrustment agreement. ¡°If Nancy had done her job properly, this agreement wouldn¡¯t have affected her. Even it Nexura Solutions was the controlling shareholder of Veyo Solutions, Nancy still held equity in thepany ¡°No one forced her to sell her shares or misappropriate her divides. She could¡¯ve raised money by selling her own properties If she needed cash.¡± Her gaze settled on Jayson¡¯s signature at the document¡¯s bottom. Jayson had to be fully aware that the entrustment agreement was major issue. For Nancy¡¯s sake, he should¡¯ve addressed it before handing Nexura Solutions to Ariel. What puzzled Ariel even more was that not even Tom, one of Nexia Solutions¡® top executives, knew that the investments in Veyo Solutions actually came from their ownpany. ¡°What about the shareholders? How many of them are actually aware of this?¡± Ariel pondered. Chad was thinking about the same thing too. With how well they knew Jayson, he wouldn¡¯t have allowed something like this to happen. Ariel stared at Jayson¡¯s signature for a long moment, then rubbed he bridge of her nose. Still, Ariel had seeded in getting back at her enemies during these recent events, punishing them personally each time. It brought her a small measure of relief. She knew she¡¯d also need to handle the transfer of Veyo Solutions equity soon. And she had resolved not to go easy on Nancy or Sarah any longer. Ariel stayed at Nexura Solutions, tying up the relevant matters untilte evening. Chad had already returned to Faye Technologies¡® office to fill Janice in on what happened. As Ariel stepped out of the building, her eyes fell on a sleek, ck Rolls¨CRoyce parked at a distance. Jayson was leaning casually against the car. He looked up just as he heard her footsteps approaching. 0 V ¡± Inside 514 Ariel wasn¡¯t sure when Jayson had arrived. With one hand casually fucked in his pocket, Jayson appeared rxed as he leaned against his car. His dark eyes were unreadable as they fixed on her The intensity of his gaze made her pause mid¨Cstep. To Ariel, it felt odd that Jayson woulde to see her at this precise moment. Jayson noticed her hesitation but seemed unfazed. He strode forward confidently. ¡°Is something the matter, Mr. Larkin?¡± Ariel asked, wary under hismanding presence, instinctively considering stepping back. But Jayson stopped just short of her. Bathed in soft moonlight, he lowered his gaze to meet hers. ¡°I suppose you have plenty of questions and want to hear the answers directly from me,¡± he said calmly. T He was right. The shareholders¡® meeting had left Ariel puzzled. Everything had unfolded so quickly and smoothly¡ªand Jayson clearly had no intention of aiding Nancy¡¯s cause. ¡°How kind of you to make the effort,¡± Ariel responded coolly, fixing him with a steady look. ¡°Now that Nancy is no longer a shareholder of Veyo Solutions, there are many loose ends to tie up. Yet you decided to drop by.¡± She couldn¡¯t tell if Jayson was here to exin himself or to speak for Nancy. The whole Nexura Solutions incident felt off to Ariel, but her experience whispered that she might be overthinking it. ¡°Mhm. You¡¯re right,¡± Jayson replied leisurely. ¡°And I can tell you¡¯re in a good mood after today.¡± 1 Ariel curled her lips in a faint smile. ¡°Of course. How could I not be I just watched Nancy and Sarah lose everything they stole from my family. It¡¯s a pity, especially considering how much you¡¯ve done for them.¡± Jayson ignored her biting words, lowering his gaze. Just as Ariel¡¯s defenses softened slightly, he suddenly grasped her wrist and flipped it over. There, a small graze about the size of a fingernail reddened and slightly swollen from friction caught his attention. ¡°You should put some ointment on that,¡± he said quietly. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to grab her wrist. By the time she came to her senses, he had produced a small bottle of ointment and a box of Band¨CAids from his other hand, cing them gently in her palm. Frowning deeply, Ariel started to withdraw her hand, but Jayson had already released her wrist without resistance. Ariel hadn¡¯t noticed the graze on her wrist until now. She figured she probably got it back at Veyo Solutions¡® office when Nancy had grabbed her and tried to hit her ¡°You can handle things at Veyo Solutions as you see fit. The curre management isrgely former Nexura Solutions staff. You won¡¯t have to worry about their professionalism or ethics,¡± Jayson added, shooting another nce at her wrist Ariel lifted her dun, eyes sharp ¡°What are you really up to this th Jayson must have known the stakes Besides, Nancy appearedpletely unaware that the investments Veyo Solutions received originated from tirgura bulutions Still, Jayson offered no exnation He simply checked his watch auf asked casually, ¡°Shall I give you a lift home?¡± Just then, is phone rang He pulled it out to find a WhatsApp voice call Ariel caught the mating profile image and name on the screen. She no longer cared to find out why Jayson came by today Withou hesitation, she turned and made for her car. Jayson remained leaning against the car, phone in hand, watching her retreating figure¨Cbut he didn¡¯t follow, nor did he answer the call. Meanwhile, back at home, Nancy was restless and agitated. Her mind spiraled into a breakdown, overwhelmed by the day¡¯s events and the mounting financial crisis. Inside 515 Jayson didn¡¯t pick up. Nancy drew in a long breath but couldn¡¯t quiet the anxiety and anger rising in her chest. After the mess at the art exhibition, she¡¯d also lost her status as a shareholder of Veyo Solutions. ¡°What¡¯s the matter?¡± Sarah asked as soon as she got home. Nancy¡¯s incoherent phone call earlier had worried her¨Csomething serious had to have happened for her to lose herposure sopletely. Nancy met her with a cold, hard stare. ¡°Veyo Solutions¡­ It¡¯s got nothing to do with us anymore.¡± She roughly told Sarah what happened. Sarah¡¯s heart missed a beat, and she felt her limbs go limp as her face grew pale. ¡°Jayson couldn¡¯t have forgotten about something like that. Why didn¡¯t he warn you?¡± Nancy¡¯s head throbbed. She paused, thinking of Matt¡¯s words, the let out a long, weary sigh. ¡°If Ariel hadn¡¯t insisted on fighting, Nexura Solutions could¡¯ve been the backing Jayson had arranged for me.¡± Matt had a point. Having Nexura Solutions invest in Veyo Solutions would have been the cleanest solution. If not for Seth and Terrance, Nancy wouldn¡¯t have been dragged into that explosive dispute with Ariel and Nexura Solutions wouldn¡¯t have ended up in Ariel¡¯s hands. Sarah plopped down on the couch, stunned. After a few moments, she clenched her fists, and as the shocking news slowly registered in her mind, her voice began to rise. ¡°Did Jayson say how we¡¯re going to fix this? He won¡¯t just walk away, right?¡± If they just let it happen, thest six months of their hard work would be wasted. Not only would Sarah lose her investment, but Ariel would also be the one to benefit from all their effort! Nancy¡¯s lips were pale. She thought again of the unanswered call. Sarah¡¯s stomach dropped. A sense of foreboding rose within her. ¡°Do you think Jayson¡¯s abandoning you?¡± She found the entire incident a bit strange, but her mind was so jumbled that she couldn¡¯t figure out what the problem was. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t.¡± Nancy set her jaw. ¡°He spent so much to get me in thatpetition and onto the research team. He couldn¡¯t have wanted this to happen either.¡± Sarah was seething with anger, taking in the firm look on Nancy¡¯s face. She found many things about the incident odd, and the reasons she could think of didn¡¯t seem convincing. If Jayson hadn¡¯t arranged things deliberately, why didn¡¯t he warn Nancy? If he had acted deliberately, why would he? Was it for Ariel? Knitting her brows, Sarah inwardly dismissed the possibility. Everyone knew how badly Jayson and Ariel hated each other; it made no sense that he¡¯d side with Ariel. 2 ¡°Mom, Jayson couldn¡¯t have predicted that Veyo Solutions and Fay Tech would end up in so many disputes andwsuits,¡± Nancy said, forcing herself to stay calm and piece the situation together. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Seth and Terrance, Nexura Solutions wouldn¡¯t have slipped to Ariel.¡± 15 No one could have foreseen all that. If Jayson hadn¡¯t offered Nex Solutions to keep Ariel from pressing charges, Nancy wouldn¡¯t be sitting here right now. Sarah fell silent. Hearing it said aloud made the sequence of event undeniable. Nexura Solutions had been lost due to the legal dispute Nancy had been dragged into. There was no arguing it. Still, Sarah couldn¡¯t calm down. Her face was as white as a sheet, and the thought of their current predicament was too much. She picked up the drawing board from the table and hurled it to the floor. 112 ¡°How could you risk misappropriating dividends like that? You sh wouldn¡¯t have done nothing! Why did you take such a gamble?¡± In the end, Ariel had won everything, and they had failedplete Nancy was at a loss for what to say. Her mind was a mess. Inside 516 Nancy could barely process anything after receiving such a crippling blow. It felt like she had plunged into a cold, dark pool- one she might drown in at any moment. Everything that had unfolded was disastrous and overwhelming for both her and Sarah. She couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Just when things seemed to be moving forward positively, one n after and her crumbled. Nancy knew she had to find a way to salvage the situation. Publicly, the major incident at Veyo Solutions was still under wraps. The news about Nancy¡¯s misappropriation of dividends hadn¡¯t leaked. But inside thepany, employees were stunned when they learned Ariel had reced Nancy as their new boss. Most had been aware of the connection between the two women; now they had clear confirmation and a stronger sense of whom to respect. That night, Nancy couldn¡¯t sleep. The weight of defeat felt far heavier than any setback before. 1 Even after Veyo Solutions informed her to clear out her desk, she still couldn¡¯t reach Jayson. With no other choice, Nancy decided to visit the office. She applied thick makeup to hide the exhaustion and dejection etched on her face. Just as she stepped into the lobby, she heard footsteps. ncing over her shoulder, she saw Ariel entering, nked by several members of the management team who reported dutifully to her. Ariel stood out,manding respect from those around her. Meanwhile, Nancy, isted and alone, looked nothing but sad and defeated. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened as she tightened her fists. Ariel was heading upstairs and needed the elevator. By coincidence she and Nancy ran into each other there. Onlookers couldn¡¯t help but feel a pang of sympathy for Nancy. Only yesterday, she had wielded power and authority here; now, she¡¯d been cast aside. Anyone would have lost their mind if they were put in a simr situation. Nancy detected the sympathetic gazes and felt them like needles poking her skin, making her extremely annoyed. Still, she clenched her jaw and endured the feeling. As the group stepped into the elevator, Nancy¡¯s voice cut coldly through the air. ¡°Ariel, let¡¯s see how long you can keep this business running.¡± Ariel smirked, ncing sideways. ¡°Did Jayson not drive you here day?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond to Nancy¡¯s remark; instead, she crushed the proud, arrogant mask Nancy was wearing with a single, simple Anger surged through Nancy Fixing Ariel with a sharp re, she vowed, ¡°One day, I¡¯ll make you pay for humiliating me like this. Ariel, stepping into the elevator, turned back with a mocking smile ¡°I¡¯ll be waiting. ¡± Once the doors closed, Nancy breathed out slowly. Cornered though she was, she refused to lose herposure in front of others. Nexura Solutions had sent their final warning. If she resisted the city transfer procedures, legal action would follow, and it was a move Nancy couldn¡¯t contest. She had lost all options at the moment. Steeling herself, Nancy headed upstairs to pack her things. People eyes followed her every move. On her way back to the ground floor, Nancy paused to think, then decided to send a WhatsApp message to Renee. ¡°Renee, did Jayson go homest night?¡± No immediate response came¨CRenee was likely busy with her revision. Taking a deep breath, Nancy dialed Matt. He probably stayed upte; his voice sounded hoarse when he picked up. ¡°Matt, are you free today? Should we grab a meal with Jayson?¡± Matt hesitated before replying, ¡°Jayson¡¯s probably tied up. He¡¯s busy handling the fallout from yesterday¨Cmaking sure this incident doesn¡¯t get out. If people find out you misappropriated dividends, it could ruin your chances for the uingpetition.¡± His words unexpectedly eased much of Nancy¡¯s anxiety, allowing her to cast aside some of the fears that had gripped her heart. Inside 517 ¡°No wonder he hasn¡¯t returned my calls. Is it really that difficult to resolve this?¡± Nancy asked. Matt let out a low sigh before replying slowly, ¡°It¡¯s not easy to keep everyone who knows the truth from talking. You know how important thispetition is. ¡°If you ce in the top three, your chances of joining the national esearch team are very high. Jayson will do everything he can to support you. ¡°And don¡¯t forget, the Larkin family has been unhappy ever since you and your mom got dragged into those scandals. If you don¡¯t seize this chance and win, there may not be another like it anytime soon. ¡°Once you¡¯re on the national research team, nobody will have any grounds to criticize you.¡± Nancy fell into deep thought. Truthfully, Jayson¡¯s silence was making her uneasy. Her mind was a whirlwind of fear and uncertainty. Still, Matt¡¯s reassuring words gave her a slight sense of relief. ¡°I understand. I caused all this trouble, and now Jayson has to clean it up,¡± Nancy said, her voice tinged with gloom. Evelyn would probably kick up a big fuss if she found out about it, which would only add to Jayson¡¯s burden. ¡°Exactly. That¡¯s why you need to stay calm and do your best so you don¡¯t let Jayson down,¡± Matt said, his tone light yet sincere. ¡°Alright. You should rest now. Let¡¯s meet up for a meal another time,¡± Nancy said, rubbing her brow. Mixed emotions churned inside her¨Canxiety and relief at once. ¡°Sure,¡± Matt replied casually, then ended the call. He spoke to her just like before, with no judgment or distance. Nancy exhaled softly. Matt was one of Jayson¡¯s closest friends. Unlike the employees at Veyo Solutions, who quickly sided with Ariel, Matt truly understood Jayson and knew how he felt about Nancy. It didn¡¯t matter what others thought of her anymore. As for being ousted from thepany¡­ Nancy sat in her car for a long while, staring at the office building before her. Her hands sped the steering wheel so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Matt was right. She couldn¡¯t afford any mistakes in theingpetition. She had already lost too much. Now, winning was the only way forward. Making it into the national research team would elevate her status Her background might still fall shortpared to the Larkins, but being part of a prestigious government research team would prove her worth. It wouldn¡¯t just bring fame and recognition¨Cit wouldy the foundation for a sessful career, and, finally, silence the Larkins ¡®criticisms. Even if their opinions didn¡¯t matter to her, Nancy knew she had to ight hard to seize this opportunity. It was herst chance to set things right. Resolved, she decided to keep a low profile and spend more time with Cedric in theing days to learn all she could from him. Turning away, Nancy headed toward Jayson¡¯s newly renovated metal home. Several months had passed; the renovations should be nearlyplete. From what she gathered, Jayson mostly stayed there andmuted to work from there. She figured he might be home right now. Stepping out of her car, Nancy noticed the yard lights were on. As she approached the front door, the digital lock caught her eye. enter, she needed to input the password or unlock it via iris or fingerprint scan. Nancy froze. She didn¡¯t know the password. Jayson had never shared it with her. Taking out her phone, she sent Renee another WhatsApp message ¡°Renee, I forgot the password for Jayson¡¯s house. Can you send it to me?¡± This time, Renee saw her message. After a short while, Nancy received a series of numbers. Inside 518 Nancy felt a slight sense of relief when she saw the password. She knew Jayson was probably at the marital home, and she wanted to wait for him there. Approaching the door, she carefully keyed in the numbers, but the loor didn¡¯t open. The digital lock indicated that the password was incorrect. Frowning, Nancy checked the password Renee sent again and re¨Centered it, but still no luck. Typing quickly, she messaged, ¡± Renee, did you send me the wrong password?¡± Renee replied, ¡°Impossible. That¡¯s the password I use whenever I o to his house. Maybe Jayson changed it? Didn¡¯t he tell you? Have you never been there before?¡± Renee was feeling a bit annoyed too. Jayson hadn¡¯t even bothered to tell her that he had changed the password. Thest two sentences made Nancy¡¯s expression turn grim. Jayson had never shared these details with her as they rarely discussed such mundane matters. Since Renee had asked, Nancy politely replied, ¡°I forgot about it. You should continue with what you were doing.¡± Nancy nced around the quiet yard. She couldn¡¯t see anyone in the vicinity; it seemed Jayson hadn¡¯t even hired any maids to help with the house chores. Just then, her phone rang. It was Jayson. Her heart skipped a beat. She answered, hearing his familiar, husky voice. ¡°I¡¯ll be busy the next few days. I heard you were trying to reach me?¡± Her anxiety eased. ¡°It¡¯s nothing urgent. I was just wondering what you¡¯ve been up to. I happen to be free¡­¡± Jayson exined, ¡°I had to take ast¨Cminute business trip to meet a few people.¡± Nancy was reminded of what Matt said. Jayson was busy arranging everything for herpetition. It made sense that he would be meeting certain people. With a soft sigh, she said, ¡°Yeah, I heard that you weren¡¯t around. ll reach out again once you¡¯re back?¡± ¡°Sure. You should focus on preparing for thepetition.¡± Jayson¡¯s steady tone gave Nancy a strong sense of security. Hisposure, as if he wouldn¡¯t falter even during an apocalypse, made Nancy feel less nervous. ¡°Alright, I will. By the way, I¡¯m nning to visit Mr. Warbrooke more often. Can youe with me if you have time?¡± It would be great if she could get some advice and guidance from dric. Besides, she didn¡¯t have to be formally epted as his student to seek his guidance. People like Cedric usually did their best to nurture talented, promising students and were open to sharing advice to help them gain more knowledge. ¡°Sure,¡± Jayson said, not rejecting her request and answering fairly quickly. Nancy smiled. After a pause, she chuckled softly, ¡°Jayson, are you staying at the arital home? It¡¯s inconvenient not knowing where to find you when I want to talk to you. Can you send me the address when you¡¯re staying and the password?¡± She didn¡¯t mention that she was already outside the marital home or that the password Rence gave her didn¡¯t work. Jayson didn¡¯t even ask where she was. ¡°I¡¯m often at Larkin Manor,¡± he said slowly. ¡°If it¡¯s urgent, you can go to Jardine Manor. People there can help you reach me.¡± Nancy was familiar with Jardine Manor, one of Jayson¡¯s properties and the closest to Blum Corp Tower. He probably stayed there often whenever work got busy. After the call ended, he sent her Jardine Manor¡¯s door password. Staring at the password, Nancy felt a great sense of reassurance. Jayson wasn¡¯t wary of her in the least; he had given her the password so easily. T Still, she wouldn¡¯t really visit Jardine Manor. She¡¯d heard that the leaning staff there was sent from Larkin Manor. If she showed up, news would quickly reach the Larkins, and Jayson¡¯s family would probably treat her differently than he did. Nancy simply wanted to gauge how Jayson treated her now. Since her return from abroad, Jayson¡¯s friends had been respectful and weing toward her. They appreciated one another¡¯spany and had even let her join their circle. Inside 519 Jayson and his friends had not once kept their guards up around Nancy. Even after all that had happened recently, Matt still took the time to exin things to her patiently. Meanwhile, Jayson was willing to share his house password so she could contact him whenever urgent matters arose. Nothing had changed between them. Nancy paid no mind to the building behind her as she turned and walked away. Meanwhile, Ariel was reviewing the investment projects in which exura Solutions had been involved when she received an email confirming that her application for thepetition had been approved. She meticulously examined every detail in the documents. The email specified the exact location and time for the first and second rounds of testing. The venue¨Ca government¨Cselected hall with tight security¨Cwas designed to prevent any leaks of sensitive information. The first round would select 100 participants. The second round would narrow this down to 30, and only three would im the top spots. Thepetition¡¯s standards were exceptionally high. Many regarded it as nearly impossible to win. Ariel devoted over a week to preparing. She would take the first two rounds on the same day, facing tests rted closely to their field, includingmunication and datawork algorithms, aerodynamics, and aircraft design. The tests were conducted in batches, and each participant would be assessed behind closed doors to ensure fairness and impartiality. Only the final round would be held at a public venue. The hall had multiple security checkpoints, as it was a government¨Cowned facility. All participants had to pass through them. Ariel did not have Chad or Janice to drop her off since the tests wouldst hours; she nned to take a cab home afterward. So, she took a cab to the specified drop¨Coff point. Ariel nced around after arriving and noticed a Bentley parked by the roadside. Nancy stepped out, walking with a surprisingly cheerful air; no sign of nervousness at all. Jayson soon exited the car as well. Although Ariel couldn¡¯t hear their conversation, Nancy chuckled lightly. When Nancy turned, she spotted Ariel from some distance away. Her expression instantly hardened, a dark light shing in her eyes as memories of the Veyo Solutions incident surfaced. For a moment, Nancy was caught off guard to see Ariel there. Then realization settled in. While she had Jayson¡¯s support, Ariel had her ownwork. Carlos, who was in the research sector, probably pulled some strings for Ariel. Still, that didn¡¯t mean that sess was guaranteed. Nancy averted her gaze, turning toward Jayson. As she pivoted, hetooting faltered. Instinctively, she reached out and caught hold of Jayson¡¯s sleeve. In the same breath, she collided with his chest. Jayson looked down at her. ¡°I nearly slipped, sorry,¡± Nancy apologized softly. Jayson¡¯s eyes were unreadable. ¡°It¡¯s alright. You should head in my.¡± Ariel was boarding a shuttle bus to the security checkpoint when she witnessed Jayson seemingly embracing Nancy from behind. Nancy smiled brightly as she turned around, meeting Ariel¡¯s eyes without flinching. A cold, mysterious look glimmered within. It was a side of Nancy Ariel had rarely seen. Yet Ariel barely spared her a nce. Jayson leaned against his car after seeing Nancy off, watching the shuttle bus Ariel was on drive away. The tests themselves were incrediblyplex. Each participant was assessed behind closed doors and unaware of others¡® performances. Shortly after passing the security checkpoints, Ariel noticed Nancy hadpleted hers as well. All participants were then required to surrender their phones. While on her way to turn hers in, Ariel approached a corner where she suddenly heard Nancy¡¯s voice. ¡°I dropped by the marital home. The renovation isplete and everything looks new. All the materials used are formaldehyde- free. We could move in anytime.¡± Inside 520 Ariel hadn¡¯t paid much attention to the marital hometely. Now, overhearing Nancy mention it, she did a quick mental calction and realized the renovations must bepleted by now. Yet, Nancy had chosen such a moment to bring it up on the phone Ariel¡¯s eyes shed with scorn. Nancy¡¯s intention was obvious. After ending her call, Nancy spotted Ariel and scoffed. ¡°Do you have a habit of eavesdropping on other people¡¯s conversations?¡± Ariel ced her phone in the designated area and shot Nancy a sideways nce. ¡°Are you that proud about using a second¨Chand ce? Hasn¡¯t Jayson ever thought of buying you two a new house? But I guess you¡¯re fine with how things are.¡± Nancy¡¯s face darkened, but Ariel ignored her and walked away. A deep frown creased Nancy¡¯s forehead. The fallout at Veyo Solutions weighed heavily on her heart, lingering like a shadow she couldn¡¯t shake. The incident had even stolen her sleep. She drew a slow breath and straightened her back, bracing herself as she took stock of her current situation. The first two rounds of the uing tests were closed¨Cdoor assessments. Without Carlos and the others¡® help, Ariel might not even make it through these. The third round¨Cthe most important would be an openpetition focusing on practical skills. Nancy only needed to survive until the final round. Moreover, the third test was significant in scale. The top algorithm and system application might be purchased and implemented by the government. I! Nancy¡¯s work was acquired and she earned a spot on the national research team, Ariel would be left with nothing. So what if she¡¯d lost Veyo Solutions? She stood to gain much more from thispetition¨Cwhether it was the chance to learn and grow as part of the government¡¯s research team or the golden ticket to marry into the Larkin family. Since the tests were challenging and taken individually, no one really knew how well the others performed. After a week, those who passed would be notified to attend the publicly held third test. Ariel was surprised by how difficult the tests were¨Cdesigned to narrow 300 participants down to just three nationwide. She remained calm and cautious,pleting the tests over the course of four long hours. By the time she finished, it was already Chatside the building, Janice waited with a bright smile that seemed to chase away Ariel¡¯s exhaustion, ¡°You must be fired Chad reserved a table at one of your favorite restaurants. Come on¨Cyou deserve a reward!¡± Janice said cheerfully as they got into the car she handed Ariel a cup of hot cocoa, then floored the gas. Janice didn¡¯t ask how Ariel did, she was confident Ariel had everything under control and would have no trouble making the third round Ariel sulled ally and looked out the window, noticing a Rolls- parked in the distance it was Jayson¡¯s car, but he wasn¡¯t inside As Janice¡¯s car passed the Rolls¨CRoyce, someone started the engine and drove out The driver hadn¡¯t picked Nancy up, though. Ariel was puzzled but quickly averted her gaze, passing the quests aside Nancy, meanwhile, paid no attention to Ariel after leaving the building. She had more pressing matters. She could no longer return to Veyo Solutions and had to manage theplicated equity transfer process. But doing nothing was not an option. Getting into a car, Nancy decided to make an appointment with Samson after giving it some thought. Having lost her position at Veyo Solutions, Nancy needed a backup n. She briefly considered seeking a role at Bluum Corp or their headquarters, but feared the Larkins would make a fuss over her asking Jayson for help, deepening their prejudice against her. So, she opted to meet Samson. Yeager Group was the country¡¯srgest military technologypany. Being acquainted with Samson and with her academic background, Nancy believed joining their tech department would be feasible. Plus, their focus on defense tech was a suitable fit. Without dy, Nancy called the Yeager Group office and arranged to meet Samson at 3:00 pm. The process went smoothly, as expected. Nancy felt it was only natural¨Cno surprises there. 1 Chapter 521 Inside 521 After Nancy arrived at Yeager Group¡¯s building, someone showed her the way to the higher floors. Samson¡¯s office was located on one of the top floors. Just as Nancy entered the room with her r¨¦sum¨¦ in her hand, Samson happened to look up. His eyes narrowed slightly. Then, Samson gestured to an empty seat. ¡°Please have a seat, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy didn¡¯t notice anything out of the ordinary in his expression she smoothed down her skirt and sat on the chair. ¡°Mr. Pryce, I¡¯ll get straight to the point. I¡¯vee to see you today because I¡¯m very interested in what you guys do at the Yeager Group. I would like to join the Yeager Group.¡± Samson signaled to his subordinate to prepare some tea for Nancy with a light wave of his hand. He chuckled when he heard what Nancy said. ¡°What do you mean by that, Ms. Stanton?¡± Nancy slid her r¨¦sum¨¦ toward Samson. ¡°That¡¯s my r¨¦sum¨¦. I was hoping I could perhaps secure a position here if you think I¡¯m a good fit for thepany.¡± Actually, Samson knew quite a bit about what had happened recently, especially since Ariel was concerned. For instance, the incident during Sarah¡¯s art exhibition and the rumors about how Veyo Solutions now had a new boss. Moreover, Nancy had suddenly shown up here to submit her r¨¦sum¨¦. It seemed like the rumors ¡°¡°¡°¡°¡°1 201¡¯t baseless. 1 ¡°Did Mr. Larkin not make any arrangements for you?¡± Samson¡¯s brows arched as he tapped on her resume. Nancy remained calm andposed. ¡°It¡¯s my career we¡¯re talking about. I have my own ns and arrangements. Jayson¡¯s done everything in his power to help me settle everything else. ¡°I¡¯ve chosen toe here because I know howpetent you are. Mr. Pryce. I¡¯m sure we¡¯ll be able to work well together if I¡¯m given the opportunity to work at the Yeager Group.¡± Moreover, considering how Samson appeared to be¡­ Nancy had a subtle knowing look in her eyes. However, she tried her best not to let it show. Honestly, she was quite d that she had socialized extensively and formed numerous connections after returning from abroad. Samson gave a little shrug. The corners of his mouth turned up. ¡°Atually, there¡¯s one thing I¡¯m really curious about.¡± Samson directed his gaze to Nancy. ¡°You keep acting as if I¡¯ll definitely do you the favor and make an exception for you. Do you mind correcting me if I¡¯ve gotten the wrong idea, Ms. Stanton? Or perhaps do you have some sort of misunderstanding¡­ like I¡¯m interested in you?¡± Nancy froze. A misunderstanding? What did she misunderstand? For a moment, Nancy was at a loss for words upon witnessing Sanson¡¯s attitude. His response was quite different from what she had expected to see, Samson had a dawning realization the instant he saw Nancy¡¯s reacion. He had a smile on his face. Yet, his words were merciless. ¡°Regardless of what it is, I suppose I should make myself clear. I have no special feelings for you, Ms. Stanton. I hope you won¡¯t have any misunderstanding about that. I¡¯m afraid I¡¯ll be troubled if you do.¡± His words were blunt and direct. 2 Nancy¡¯s expression hardened. She felt as if she had just been pped on the face. Nancy had never felt so awkward and embarrassed before. Still, Samson had no intention of beating around the bush. He never cared about hurting others¡® pride, especially when they were people he disliked. He was already very experienced in rejecting these people¡¯s advances. Moreover, Samson was very observant and perceptive. During the previous incidents, Nancy would somehow behave quite confidently around him. She even came seeking his help after the test incident. Samson had an inkling of what Nancy was probably thinking almost instantly. ¡°Mr. Pryce¡­ You¡¯re overthinking it.¡± Nancy tried to maintain steady breathing and a neutral expression. Inwardly, she was shocked. Samson wasn¡¯t interested in her? What about those things that happened before? 2 Samson figured there was no need to borate more since he had made himself very clear. He tapped on Nancy¡¯s r¨¦sum¨¦ with his finger. Samson didn¡¯t even give it a quick look. ¡°We have enough manpower at the Yeager Group at the moment. We won¡¯t be recruiting any new members for the time being. I¡¯m afraid you¡¯ve wasted your time bying here today, Ms. Stanton.¡± 1 Samson was practically telling Nancy to leave by saying that. He didn¡¯t even bother trying to help Nancy save face. Nancy¡¯s face darkened. Yeager Group excelled in almost every aspect. They also had first¨Crate manpower and facilities. Nancy thought it would enhance her r¨¦sum¨¦, especially if she made it to thepetition¡¯s third test and could join the Yeager Group. However, not only did she not acquire a position here, but Nancy was also told not to entertain any unrealistic thoughts. Inside 522 Chapter 522 Samson¡¯s response and attitude caught Nancypletely off guar She sat there stiffly. However, Nancy wasn¡¯t someone who would subbornly cling to a man over issues like this. She tried her best to appear normal and acted as though what Samson surmised about her wasn¡¯t true. Nancy didn¡¯t respond to what Samson said earlier about not having any feelings for her either. ¡°In that case ¡°1 ¡°You have a guest with you today.¡± The sound of a woman chuckling softly came from the direction of the door. A deep frown creased Nancy¡¯s forehead the instant she heard that voice. By the time she snapped out of the daze, Cecilia had walked into the room. She nced at Nancy out of the corners of her eyes. There was barely veiled contempt in those orbs. She had a haughty, sophisticated air about her. ¡°I came in just in time and heard some parts of your conversation. Cecilia cast a nce at Samson, who remained seated. ¡°You couldn¡¯t possibly be so ignorant as to consider recruiting someone like her to work for yourpany. There¡¯s no telling what kind of stunt she¡¯ll pull next.¡± Cecilia wasn¡¯t even trying to hide the fact that she was mocking Nancy. Nancy¡¯s expression turned frigid. Cecilia sat on the couch and scrutinized Nancy¡¯s face. ¡°You¡¯re going to give us that sour look now? Hearing the truth sucks, doesn¡¯t it? We¡¯re not short ofpetent technical staff members at the Yeager Group, Ms. Stanton. So, what exactly makes you think you¡¯re so special?¡± Cecilia¡¯s remarks were extremely harsh, as she didn¡¯t bother to filter her words. Nancy felt as though Cecilia¡¯s spite and hostility would tear her into shreds at any moment. Furthermore, Cecilia and Ariel shared a friendly rtionship. Looking at things from Ariel¡¯s perspective, Cecilia would only despise and feel antagonistic toward Nancy even more. Nancy got up. Her expression remained the same. ¡°In that case, I won¡¯t take up more of your time, Mr. Pryce.¡± She couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to Cecilia¡¯s remarks. The safest option for her was to avoid Cecilia as much as possible so as not to antagonize her further. Nancy remembered vividly what happened during the art exhibition. The situation would not have gotten so out of hand if it weren¡¯t for Cecilia¡¯s decision to meddle in their affairs. Samson¡¯s impression of Nancy had never been a positive one. He ew even more certain of his gut feelings after having grasped some of Nancy¡¯s actual thoughts. He simply instructed a sbordinate, ¡°Please show Ms. Stanton the way out.¡± After Nancy left, Samson cast a nce at Cecilia. ¡°I¡¯m going to work now. Don¡¯t disturb me unless it¡¯s something urgent.¡± He was implying that Cecilia should leave as well. This was the way they interacted with each other normally, and Cilia was used to it. She grabbed an apple from the table and hurled it toward Samson. Then, she scoffed and headed for the do Without looking up, Samson raised his hand, caught the apple, and lightly tossed it onto his desk. Nancy¡¯s expression slowly turned cold and emotionless after she exited the Yeager Group¡¯s building. She nced over her shoulder at the building. Nancy was burning with rage. At the same time, she was filled with utter disbelief. She found Samson¡¯s words totally absurd and ridiculous. Nancy couldn¡¯t understand why he had to be so forward when she hadn¡¯t said much to begin with. Eventually, she managed to calm herself down. Since it didn¡¯t work out with the Yeager Group, Nancy had to look for another option. However, what mattered more now was that she should focus on preparing for thepetition. Nancy was confident about making it into the third round, which would be an openpetition. She also believed that she would qualify to join the team to build and develop the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet. The bad news was Cecilia had clearly decided to take Ariel¡¯s side. If those two were to form an alliance and Nancy managed to join the research team¡­ With Cecilia¡¯s background and all the special privileges she had, Nancy could already foresee how Cecilia would definitely set out to give her a hard time. Cecilia would most likely find fault with whatever it was she did. Nancy needed to think of ways to resolve this issue. It was a shame since she didn¡¯t have what it took to face Cecilia head¨Con at the moment. However¡­ Afleeting expression shed through Nancy¡¯s eyes. A whileter, she got into her car. She had made up her mind at that point. Ariel had a fair understanding of how thepetition was conducted. Since they were looking to recruit the most suitable candidates from their country, all major local corporations received a few spots so that their employees could apply for thepetition. Simultaneously, all colleges and universities had also informed their students about thepetition and the relevant details. By involving various parties, they aimed to achieve a more revolutionary andprehensive oue through thepetition. Additionally, they might stumble upon more promising and talented individuals by doing this. Inside 523 What Ariel needed to do now was wait for the subsequent announcements. That afternoon, she received a WhatsApp message from Cecilia. ¡°I¡¯m celebrating my birthday this Saturday. I¡¯ve chartered a cruise ship. You shoulde and join me. Bring Jan along too. Mr. Hockney cane along as well if he¡¯s free.¡± Ariel tried to recall if she had any appointments on Saturday; she had none. Ariel figured she should ept Cecilia¡¯s invitation since they were pretty much likerades now. After giving it some thought, Ariel sent a response. ¡°Sure. I¡¯ll let the others know about it too.¡± Chad happened to drop by Ariel¡¯s office to pass her a revised technical proposal just then. Ariel told him about Cecilia¡¯s invitation. ¡°Are youing with us?¡± Chad replied without even looking up, ¡°Youdies should go ahead and have some fun. I¡¯ll sit this one out. Besides, I don¡¯t know her that well.¡± Ariel grinned. ¡°You¡¯ll get to know her better if you meet her more often. She¡¯s invited you too.¡± Chad put down the pen he was holding and knocked softly on the table. He smiled dryly. ¡°That¡¯s what we call being courteous. If she truly wanted me to be there, she would have invited me herself Anyway, it¡¯ll suffice with just the two of you being there. You should be careful to avoid having any alcoholic drinks.¡± Chad lightly waved his hand as he turned around and went back to his office. Ariel gave a little shrug. Later, she returned to Nexura Solutions¡® office to attend to matters rted to the transfer of thepany¡¯s equity. Nancy had also been notified toe and sign the relevant documents. Ariel had no intention of meeting Nancy. After she finished sorting the relevant documents in her office, Ariel decided to check on the progress at Nexura Solutions¡® factory. Faye Technologies and Nexura Solutions had started working together on several projects. With Nexura Solutions in charge of manufacturing, the Faye Technologies team had nothing to worry about, as they were highly efficient in their work. Unfortunately, Ariel ran into Nancy, who was on her way out of the building, while waiting for the elevator. The air grew tense the moment they locked gazes. Ariel raised her brows slightly and entered the elevator without the slightest hint of hesitation. She could imagine how Nancy probably saw her as the most wicked person on Earth at the moment. Nancy probably wanted nothing but to tear her to bits right away. Still, she needed to maintain a proud, dignified image. The number disyed on the screen was dropping gradually. Standing behind Ariel, Nancy suddenly spoke. ¡°I have a reminder for you.¡± Ariel lifted her gaze and looked at Nancy through the reflection of the elevator wall. Nancy was looking at her as well. She had a stony expression ¡°You should be wary of Cecilia Pryce. You¡¯ve spent so much effort trying to bring me down. I know very well what you want. ¡°However, Cecilia is different from us. She¡¯s the type of woman who has everything she needs and excels at pretty much everything she does. Are you not worried that Jayson might be attracted to her?¡± For a moment, Ariel thought she had probably heard it wrong. Her eyes reflected her confusion. Nancy didn¡¯t allow Ariel the time to respond. Her tone was frigid he still sounded as haughty and conceited as ever. ( ¡°You can neverpare to her in terms of your background and sness. If you insist on befriending her, there¡¯s no telling when she¡¯ll stab you in the back. You should think about it yourself¡± Nancy had given it a lot of thought. Ariel had worked so hard to bring her down, most likely because she was trying to win Jayson back. She probably couldn¡¯t give up on him just yet. Hence, Cecilia decided to help Ariel by giving Nancy a hard time. Nancy wondered if she could cause a rift between the two by using Jayson, whom Ariel cared about the most, to sow some doubts in her. 1 Friendship between women could sometimes be quite weak and vulnerable. Once Ariel and Cecilia had turned against each other, would Nancy still have to worry about Cecilia picking on her By prompting Ariel to switch her target to Cecilia, Ariel would be the one ruffling Cecilia¡¯s feathers. Nancy could benefit from this situation and ensure she would not face too many obstacles in her attempt to join the national research team. Just then, the elevator came to a halt. The elevator doors opened. With an icy expression on her face, Nancy walked past Ariel and exited the elevator silently. Ariel stared at Nancy¡¯s receding figure for quite a while. With a small crease on her forehead, Ariel sounded both amused and confused as she scoffed. 1 It seemed like Cecilia had probably ruined one of Nancy¡¯s ns again. Inside 524 Ariel could sense the subtle changes in Nancy¡¯s actions and behavior. She had no idea whether this was how Nancy had always been or whether she had undergone a gradual change after the recent incidents. Ariel wasn¡¯t exactly that surprised since Nancy had hardly faced any hardships in life. It was only natural for her to be upset when Cecilia wouldn¡¯t seem to stop giving her a hard time. Anyway, Ariel couldn¡¯t be bothered to meddle in these affairs. After she checked the factory¡¯stest progress, Ariel also needed to pick a suitable birthday gift for Cecilia. Chad wouldn¡¯t be attending the party with them. Ariel decided to ask Janice instead. Janice agreed toe along almost immediately as she enjoyed these fun asions. Cecilia had thrown a pretty grand birthday party. An entire cruise ship was chartered for the event. As soon as they arrived at the party, Ariel and Janice noticed therge number of guests. Many of them were people Janice knew, and she¡¯d been busy greeting them ever since they got there. Ariel barely knew anyone there. She had hardly expanded her social circle during the past few years. Apart from work acquaintances, the only people Ariel would consider to be her closest friends were Chad and Janice. The rest of the people whom she knew or recognized were all Jayson¡¯s friends. Ariel and Janice went to the fifth floor of the ship. Someone like Cecilia had established numerous connections. People from various backgrounds and professions were in attendance at today¡¯s event. Ariel and Janice even spotted Frederick, who was chatting with a few people in the distance. When she saw him, Janice was honestly confused as to what Frederick was doing here since he and Cecilia hardly knew each other. Eventually, Cecilia spotted Ariel. She put down her ss and went up to Ariel and Janice. ¡°I was waiting for the two of you. We invited a lot of friends and family as well. I hope you won¡¯t mind the crowd?¡± Ariel smiled and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s fine. It¡¯s livelier and more fun this way.¡± Janice passed Cecilia her birthday gift. Then, she walked away to grab a drink. Janice also carefully selected and brought Ariel a ss of pineapple juice. ¡°I know a few people who work in the same industry as you guys that you should probably get acquainted with. I¡¯ll introduce them to you two in a bit.¡± Cecilia turned slightly and pointed in several directions to show Ariel where those people were. Ariel followed her gaze and noticed they were mostly well¨Cknown prominent figures. She was once again reminded of how influential Cecilia and her family were to be able to gather these people here for today¡¯s party. ¡°Thank you. Still, we should be focusing on celebrating your birthday today.¡± Ariel clinked sses with Cecilia and expressed her gratitude. Cecilia tilted and beamed. ¡°We should be using these connections when we need them. Otherwise, it¡¯d be such a waste.¡± Just then, they heard someone saying, ¡°Mr. Larkin, you¡¯re here.¡± People started looking in the same direction since the most distinguished guest had arrived. For a moment, all eyes were on Jayson. Ariel paused while she was about to take a sip of her juice. As she lied her gaze, Ariel saw Jayson and Nancy, who showed up together. Cecilia turned her head and followed other people¡¯s gazes. She seemed amused when she saw the pair. Her brows arched. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I¡¯m really d you¡¯ve decided to grace us with your presene today. However, what¡¯s she doing here?¡± Cecilia couldn¡¯t be bothered to help Nancy save face. She obviously did not wee her here. Nancy pursed her lips and remained silent. Jayson¡¯s gazended briefly on Ariel, who hadn¡¯t said anything. ¡°Happy birthday, Ms. Pryce.¡± He continued tly, ¡°You and Nancy seemed to have some sort of misunderstanding about each other. Why don¡¯t we make use of this opportunity to talk it out and resolve the issue?¡± It appeared Jayson was personally trying to mediate between the two women. Celebrating Cecilia¡¯s birthday was probably not his primary goal. Janice frowned and nced at Ariel. Ariel had put down her ss of juice. She was watching the exchange as if she were just another bystander. Nancy had been observing Ariel discreetly all this time. Unfortunately, Ariel and Cecilia were not on bad terms. Nancy maintained a neutral expression. She knew how hard it was for an opportunity like this toe by, and she knew what she had to do. She stepped forward and picked up a ss of liquor from the table. ¡°I hope you¡¯ll forgive me if I¡¯ve ever done something to offend you Ms. Pryce.¡± She downed the drink in a gulp. 1 14 Inside 525 Nancy seemed poised as she finished the drink without anyints. Even Cecilia found that quite surprising. Someone like Nancy, who had been spoiled rotten by Jayson, had trouble swallowing her pride and making a toast to Cecilia now to please her. However, Cecilia showed no signs of softening toward her. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for Mr. Larkin, someone like her would never be allowed to get on my ship.¡± Then, Cecilia turned around and handed Ariel another ss of fruit juice. There was a stark difference in the way she treated Ariel and Nancy. Although Cecilia did not respond to Nancy, she cared enough to show Jayson some respect, considering his status. ¡°Please have a seat, Mr. Larkin. The other guests had overheard some parts of their conversation. They kept sneaking nces in Cecilia¡¯s group¡¯s direction from time to time. Nancy wasn¡¯t sure if Ariel would heed her words. After Jayson picked a seat, she sat next to him right away. Compared to Ariel, Nancy seemed more like Jayson¡¯s wife. Cecilia simply found this situation intriguing. On the other hand, Ariel had gotten used to seeing these things. She remainedpletely indifferent to it. Samson saw what happened just as he arrived. He halted briefly. Then, he strode toward Ariel and sat beside her. His intentions were as clear as day. His eyes crinkled as he looked at Ariel. ¡°I had a feeling you¡¯d be here, and my instincts were right.¡± Ariel turned her gaze toward Samson. ¡°Mr. Pryce.¡± ¡°I made ast¨Cminute decision to drop by. I heard that you¡¯re participating in the aerospace flight techpetition. Is everything going well so far?¡± Since it was quite rowdy around then, Samson leaned toward Ariel and whispered in her ear. It was as though they were sharing something private. Ariel pondered for a moment. ¡°I¡¯d say things are progressing quite smoothly.¡± Samson lowered his gaze and chuckled softly. Ariel was a bit confused as to why he was suddenlyughing. She tied her head and gazed at Samson. There was a puzzled look in her eyes. Jayson sat opposite them. He could see the two of them whenevere looked up. However, he merely dropped his gaze and looked away, Cecilia noticed how chummy Ariel and Samson appeared. She poured a ss of liquor and ced it in front of Nancy. ¡°It¡¯s my duty to offer hospitality to you since you¡¯re a guest as well. Have a drink, Ms. Stanton.¡± Nancy understood instantly that Cecilia wanted her to finish the denk Frederick, who sat at a nearby table, saw what happened and was out to say something. Nancy raised the ss. ¡°Thank you for your hospitality.¡± Cecilia watched as Nancy responded politely and tactfully. There was nothing in particr they could find fault with. She was slightly impressed by Nancy¡¯s grit and resolve. It seemed as though she was very experienced in dealing with these situations. Cecilia grinned and refilled Nancy¡¯s ss with more liquor. She sawith one elbow on her knee, resting her chin on her palm, and staring at Nancy. ¡°Ms. Stanton, you¡¯re a bright and smart woman. We¡¯re celebrating my birthday party today, and I appreciate all my guests. Still, I must give you a reminder. Certain guests are very special and important to me. Please refrain from causing any trouble for Ms. Walker. Otherwise, I can¡¯t say for sure what I might do.¡± Nancy¡¯s hand, which was holding the ss of liquor, stiffened.¡± Even Jayson had cast a nce in Cecilia¡¯s direction. ¡°Do you feel bad for her?¡± Cecilia widened her eyes as she met Jayson¡¯s gaze. ¡°You should really think about who you should be feeling sorry for, though. Your wife is sitting right next to me now Cecilia was even mocking Jayson now. She was so used to doing things her way that she seemed to have forgotten about maintaining basic courtesy. Anyhow, Ariel knew that Jayson wasn¡¯t one to hold grudges against a woman for something like this. Just as she expected, Jayson simply raised his ss and said tly, Of course not, Ms. Pryce.¡± Cecilia shrugged. ¡°I expected nothing less, Mr. Larkin. Well, you may also rest assured that there are others who truly care about Mrs. Larkin.¡± She directed her gaze to Samson, who sat beside Ariel. The air felt tense as the situation grew more and moreplicated with the different rtionships being brought to light. Chapter 526 Inside 526 Ariel nearly choked on her drink. She coughed a little. Cecilia¡¯s words were simply too¡­ Samson acted swiftly by getting Ariel some tissue. ¡°Do you need some water?¡± He stared at Ariel intently. Samson had indirectly proven that Ceci was right when she said there were others who truly cared about Ariel. Nancy had an awkward look on her face as she watched what was happening. Samson was being so kind and considerate to Ariel when he had tantly mocked and humiliated Nancy not too long ago. Anyone with eyes could tell that Samson had feelings for Ariel.¨C Nancy subconsciously turned her head to study Jayson¡¯s expression. Jayson was taking a sip of his drink. He had averted his gaze the moment Nancy looked his way. With his gaze lowered, it was impossible to discern the emotions reflected in his eyes. After a short pause, Nancy sighed in relief. Jayson wasn¡¯t bothered at all about what was happening. Meanwhile, Janice grinned from ear to ear. ¡°Well, of course. Ari is very attractive woman. Those who don¡¯t appreciate her are absolutely foolish and ignorant. You are right on point, Ms. Pryce. She and Cecilia clinked sses. Janice did not miss the opportunity to point out that Jayson was the one at fault. On the other hand, Ariel thought that the atmosphere felt a bit odd. She nced at Samson and said softly, ¡°Thank you.¡± Even though he already knew Ariel was quite proper and prim, Samson couldn¡¯t help noticing how she had been very polite to him upon hearing her response. Essentially, she was still maintaining her distance. Samson let out a small sigh. He tilted his head and raised his brows. ¡°I¡¯ll be sad if you still think you need to thank me so properly.¡± Other women might not be able to resist Samson¡¯s charm. However, he was facing Ariel at the moment. Ariel was very slow to pick up on the romantic feelings someone else had for her. Moreover, she often dealt with these situations in an overly rational manner. ¡°Sorry.¡± Samson could see the confusion in Ariel¡¯s clear eyes. It was somehow both amusing and intriguing how serious she looked at the moment. Samson stared at her for quite some time. Eventually, he snapped out of his daze. Samson turned his head a gave a slight cough. He grabbed his chilled drink from the table and downed it right away. A strange atmosphere surrounded the two of them after that inter tion. In an instant, they garnered a great deal of attention. Nancy pursed her lips. She nced at Ariel out of the corners of her eyes and furrowed her brows. Suddenly, she noticed how some couples at the other tables were trying each other¡¯s drinks. Her heartbeat quickened. She turned her eyes to Jayson. Jayson was looking down. His eyes were unreadable as he slowly swirled the ss in his hand. It was impossible to tell what was going through his head. Nancy leaned closer toward him. ¡°Jayson, can we exchange our drinks?¡± As Nancy was gradually feeling a bit tipsy, the desire in her heart was bing clearer and stronger. She wanted to exchange drinks with Jayson, just like the other couples were doing. Jayson directed his gaze to Nancy. Before he could say anything, Cecilia narrowed her eyes and snickered. ¡°Do you still not know your ce? Do you not have any sense of shame?¡± The air grew tense yet again the instant Cecilia shared those remarks. Nancy stiffened. As she dropped her gaze, agitation shed through her eyes. Sadly, she couldn¡¯t do anything in retaliation. Nancy knew very well that Cecilia wasn¡¯t someone she could recklessly pick a fight with. It also made Nancy realize how hopeless and useless Ariel was. She had said so much, but Ariel hadn¡¯t heeded her words at all. Instead, Ariel still maintained a close rtionship with Cecilia. 2 In the end, Cecilia was stillpletely focused on aiming her attacks at Nancy. Cecilia didn¡¯t wait for Nancy¡¯s response. She picked up the bottle of liquor and filled Nancy¡¯s ss to the brim. ¡°If you like drinking that much, I¡¯ll keep youpany so you can drink as much as you want.¡± Cecilia lifted her ss. She had an icy look in her eyes. Nancy couldn¡¯t say no as she took in the assertive look on Cecilia¡¯s face. With Cecilia making a toast like that, Nancy knew she couldn¡¯t possibly refuse, even if she was well aware Cecilia only had malicious intentions. After all, she was the one who said she wanted to drink. Inside 527 Chapter 527 Nancy didn¡¯t get to exchange and try Jayson¡¯s drink. She had no choice but to raise her ss. ¡°As long as it makes you happy, Ms. Pryce.¡± Cecilia swirled her ss and smiled enigmatically at Nancy, never aking a sip. She had offered to drink with Nancy but clearly wanted her to drink alone. Nancy could tell that much as well. However, she knew she was in no position to decline Cecilia¡¯s requests. So, she downed the drink. Nancy felt like her throat was burning this time. The alcohol was so strong that Nancy¡¯s face flushed scarlet. She could tell the drink she just had was a type of liquor infamous for its high alcoholic content. Cecilia refilled her ss. However, Nancy hesitated this time. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? You don¡¯t want to drink anymore?¡± Nancy pursed her lips. She felt deeply embarrassed since she was being publicly humiliated. All along, she had been cherished and protected. She had never been treated like an escort and forced to drink like this before. Jayson turned his gaze toward Cecilia and said unhurriedly, ¡°Ms. Pryce, you should know when to stop.¡± Cecilia stared at him, blinking slowly. ¡°Ms. Stanton enjoys drinking, and she¡¯s doing this as a form of courtesy to me. This is how wedies bond. You should stay out of it, Mr. Larkin. The more you try to meddle in this, the more annoying it is for me.¡± Nancy turned slightly and patted Jayson¡¯s arm gently. ¡°It¡¯s alright Jayson. I¡¯m okay with drinking this much.¡± She beamed, looking quite determined. Jayson nced at her and remained silent. Nancy dropped her gaze and stared at the ss of liquor. Eventually, she finished it in one gulp. On the other hand, Cecilia was thoroughly enjoying this game. She refilled Nancy¡¯s ss three more times. Some of the guests felt bad for Nancy as they watched what was happening. They were more or less aware of Cecilia¡¯s temperament. She could be quite difficult sometimes. Cecilia was often quite vicious and unrestrained in the way she did things. Nothing good woulde from getting on her wrong side. Samson cast a nce at Cecilia. The two of them hadn¡¯t spoken to ach other ever since they sat in those seats. Some timeter, Cecilia handed Ariel a new drink. Ariel tried smelling it and realized it was grape juice. The drink tasted sweet and slightly bitter. Ariel felt a bit light¨Cheaded after taking a sip. She didn¡¯t really like it. She put the drink down after taking a few sips. Then, Ariel decided to drink the pineapple juice instead. What Ariel couldn¡¯t understand was why Jayson hadn¡¯t firmly objected to Nancy being forced to down all those drinks. If he did, Cecilia would have held back a little. As she lifted her gaze, Ariel happened to meet Jayson¡¯s eyes. He sat there in a rxed manner and stared at Ariel. A brief momentter, he raised his brows nonchntly. It was as though he was asking Ariel what was wrong. Ariel immediately averted her gaze and frowned slightly. Meanwhile, Frederick could see that Cecilia was deliberately giving Nancy a hard time. His expression turned grim. Yet, he knew that he would only be adding fuel to the me if he were to mindlessly interfere now. Moreover, Janice had recently told their elders about what happened between him and Nancy. Their father and grandfather were irate. Frederick was even told to stop seeing Nancy. Frederick had been deeply troubled by this. Nancy had drunk a lot and was already at her limit. She didn¡¯t want to embarrass herself in front of so many people. So, she said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ms. Pryce. I¡¯m pretty much at my limit, so I should probably stop drinking.¡± ¡°You couldn¡¯t even drink that much, yet you wanted to change drinks with other people. How disappointing.¡± Cecilia leaned back against the couch. She had a stony look in her eyes. ¡°Fine, you¡¯re a guest after all. Our ship will be cruising along a certain route tonight. We have rooms prepared for our guests. You should get some rest. Nancy subconsciously looked toward Jayson. Cecilia scoffed. ¡°What are you looking at? You can¡¯t even walk now¡± Nancy stiffened. She couldn¡¯t get a word out because of how dizzy she was feeling. Jayson directed his gaze to Nancy. ¡°You should go and get some rest.¡± Nancy had no choice but to leave as a staff member showed her to her room. Inside 528 Nancy was seething with anger. Yet, there was nothing she could. She didn¡¯t want to risk embarrassing herself in front of all these people. Moreover, she was certain Jayson woulde and look for herter. 2 Nancy excused herself. Frederick felt slightly relieved and continued chatting with those beside him. He figured it was best for Nancy to avoid Cecilia so that she wouldn¡¯t have to suffer thetter¡¯s harsh treatment. On the other hand, Janice was delighted after seeing what had happened. She took a gulp of her drink and leaned toward Ariel. ¡°There¡¯s no way she¡¯ll ever be able to top Cecilia. That¡¯s the difference between an ordinary woman and someone who¡¯s truly from the elite circle.¡± Frankly speaking, Nancy enjoyed afortable life while growing up. It was just that Sarah had used an unscrupulous method to amass her wealth. While they had a lot of money, and Sarah had an art background, Nancy had received the elite education expected of wealthy children. Even so, there was a huge gap between normal wealthy families and prominent families with a long history. Members of those families were mostly very smart and calcting. They could be very cold¨Chearted and merciless when it came to achieving their goals. Ariel agreed with that sentiment. They could hardly find someone truly pure and kind¨Chearted in the elite circle. At some point, Cecilia went to cut the birthday cake. The atmosphere was electric. Since she had chartered the entire cruise ship, Cecilia and her guests could pretty much do whatever they wanted on the ship. ¡°Do you not like this drink?¡± Samson noticed Ariel had only taken a few sips of a particr drink and asked. Ariel paused briefly and said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t get used to the taste.¡± Samson understood what she meant. ¡°This is one of the specialty drinks here. It¡¯s a cocktail designed specifically to suit thedies¡® pte.¡± Ariel stiffened. ¡°It¡¯s a cocktail?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. It¡¯s created with a special method that reduces the taste of alcohol as much as possible. It smells and tastes just like fruit juice. At the same time, it would make the person drinking it feel a bit tipsy. It¡¯s a very popr drink,¡± Samson exined. However, Ariel¡¯s lips were pressed into a thin line. The drink had alcohol in it. No wonder she felt a bit strange after having a few sips just now. Ariel suffered from alcohol intolerance. She had only taken a small sip, but she could already feel her head spinning. Ariel was beginning to feel restless. She decided to go and get som air. ¡°Sorry, it feels a bit stuffy here. I¡¯m gonna go get some fresh air.¡± Ariel turned around and informed Cecilia in a subdued voice. The corners of her mouth lifted as Cecilia noticed how Ariel¡¯s checks were turning red. ¡°Sure, go ahead. You can head straight to your room if you need to est. I reserved the best room for you. It¡¯s room 6103. You can ask one of the attendants to show you the way.¡± Ariel nodded. As she got up, Ariel patted Janice¡¯s shoulder. ¡°Don¡¯t drink too much to the extent of having another ckout. Janice realized Ariel was leaving. ¡°Where are you going? I¡¯lle with you.¡± Ariel could tell Janice was enjoying her time here. She said, ¡°I¡¯m going to get some fresh air.¡± Janice finally stopped insisting on following Ariel. Samson got up. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?¡± ¡°No. You should stay and have fun with the others, Mr. Pryce.¡± Ariel kept some distance from Samson and stopped him from leaving his seat. ¡°Don¡¯t mind me.¡± Since she was quite adamant about it, Samson could only stand there and watch as Ariel walked away. Ariel could see people almost everywhere she went on the cruise ship. She could smell the ocean as the sea breeze blew on her face and ruffled her hair. Ariel stood on the deck for quite some time. As she stared at the crashing waves below, she could hear her heart thumping noisily against her chest. Her heartbeat quickened. She could feel her cheeks burning and her temples throbbing. Her mind was a mess, and her thoughts were all jumbled up. This was why Ariel had refrained from drinking. She suffered very severe symptoms of alcohol intolerance. The situation could be quite serious even if Ariel had only had a small sip of liquor. Her condition hadn¡¯t improved. Without wasting more time, Ariel turned around and headed for her room. Her room was on the sixth floor. Ariel took the elevator to get to that floor. Just as she stepped out of the elevator, Ariel passed by two attendants in their uniforms. The two of them were so focused on their conversation that they didn¡¯t notice Ariel. Chapter 529 Inside 529 Chapter 529 ¡°I saw Ms. Stanton going into Mr. Larkin¡¯s room just now¡­¡± ¡°Really? Are you sure you¡¯ve seen it right?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no way I¡¯d mistake someone else for her. She really went into the room. What¡¯s more, Mr. Larkin has already returned to his room.¡± Ariel tried to remain conscious even though her legs were about to give way and her head felt like it might split at any moment. She managed to hear the two attendants¡® conversation. However, she couldn¡¯t be bothered with what they were talking about. Jayson and Nancy were free to do whatever they wanted. Ariel couldn¡¯t even ensure her own safety right now. 1 She forced herself to stay awake. As she arrived outside her room, Ariel lifted her head and nced at the room number. After confirming it was the right number, she entered the room and closed the door behind her. In the darkness, she staggered toward the bed. Eventually, she plopped down on the soft bed. The party was still in full swing on the fifth floor. Some people stayed and continued partying since they still had enough stamina. On the other hand, some people had returned to their rooms, as they were already tired. Samson had no interest in joining the party crowd. He stood on the deck by himself. With his elbows on the railings, Samson bent forward slightly and sipped on his drink. A short whileter, Cecilia came up to him. She swirled the ss of liquor in her hand and beamed at Samson. ¡°Why are you still here?¡± Samson cast her a sideways nce. ¡°What?¡± Cecilia tilted her head. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to meet Ariel?¡± Samson said nothing and just stared into the horizon this time while he sipped on his drink. The corners of Cecilia¡¯s mouth turned up as she stared at his side profile. ¡°Room 6103. I¡¯ve created a good opportunity for you. Don¡¯t say I haven¡¯t offered you any help. You should seize the opportunity to the best of your ability.¡± With a frown on his forehead, Samson turned his gaze toward Cecilia. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± With her elbows on the railings, Cecilia ced her chin on her cupped hands and smiled. ¡°Try and make a guess?¡± 1 While saying that, Cecilia turned her head and gazed in the direction of where they had sat earlier. Her gaze fell on Ariel¡¯s ss. Samson followed her gaze and saw the ss as well. He froze for a split second. Then, his eyes hardened. ¡°Cecilia, what have you done?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t do much¡­ I simply gave her a cocktail that had really high alcohol content.¡± Cecilia was rather nonchnt about it. She didn¡¯t borate on the exact contents of the cocktail, though. Upon hearing her words, Samson had a steely look in his eyes. ¡°Cilia, you shouldn¡¯t overstep your boundaries.¡± He hurled his ss onto the floor. Without sparing Cecilia another nce, Samson hurried off to the sixth floor to look for Ariel. Cecilia stared at Samson¡¯s receding figure. Her eyes were unreadable. After some time, she turned around and took a sip of her drink. She had simply pulled a trick to elerate things between Ariel and Samson. She saw nothing wrong with what she had done. It was only when someone called out her name that Cecilia finally snapped out of her reverie. She slowly rubbed her fingers. Then, Cecilia scoffed and walked over to the crowd. The sound of crashing waves could be hearding from outside the window. The noise felt so loud that it seemed to ring in Ariel¡¯s ears. Ariel struggled to open her eyes. When she did, she could see the beautiful horizon through the window. At the same time, she could sense the humidity in the air. Perhaps it was due to the new environment, Ariel felt rather ufortable after spending the night on the ship. She tried moving her muscles. Her temples throbbed. She also felt listless. Ariely on the bed and stared at themp above her for quite a while. She had a dazed look on her face. She slowly turned her head and looked to her side. That side of the bed was empty. She stared at the spot calmly for quite some time. Then, she put aside all thoughts and sat up in bed. When she lifted the covers, Ariel saw what she was wearing. She wasn¡¯t wearing the dress she hade here inst night. Instead, she was wearing the pajamas made of high¨Cquality fabric that were prepared for the guests. Ariel sat there in that position for quite a while. It was impossible to tell what she was thinking. She went to the bathroom to take a shower a whileter, lookingpletely unfazed. After she washed herself, Ariel left the room. She didn¡¯t even look back to check exactly where she was. She was lost in thought as she lowered her gaze and continued walking. When she reached the elevator, Ariel heard someone greeting her ¡®Morning.¡± Inside 530 Ariel stopped focusing on the thoughts she was having. She turned her head and noticed Samson was standing next to here seemed curious about Ariel¡¯s condition, as he bent forward slightly and looked at her. ¡°Howe you¡¯re up so early?¡± He had just finished doing his exercise on one of the lower floors. He noticed Ariel seemed to be in deep thought as soon as he got there. He wasn¡¯t sure what she was mulling over. Ariel paused momentarily after hearing Samson¡¯s question. She raised her head and met his gaze. ¡°Where were you just now?¡± Samson pointed in a certain direction. ¡°There¡¯s a gym downstairs went there and jogged for an hour.¡± ¡°You woke up so early to do your exercises?¡± Ariel checked the time. It was only 7:00 am. Samson stared at Ariel for a moment before chuckling softly. ¡°Sometimes, doing these exercises helps to clear my head.¡± The corners of his mouth lifted. His gaze fell on Ariel¡¯s face. There was a subtle change in the air as both of them fell silent. ¡°Did you sleep wellst night?¡± Samson asked. Ariel nodded a little hesitantly. ¡°I still can¡¯t get used to the ship¡¯s erratic motion on water, though.¡± ¡°We¡¯ll be reaching the dock in less than two hours. Hang in there for a bit. Do you want to have some breakfast first?¡± Samson nced at his watch. His tone softened. Ariel was nning to get something to eat in the first ce. She really disliked alcohol. Both her mind and body rejected anything containing alcohol. All these years, she had made sure to be careful not to ingest anything alcoholic. There were hardly any asions on which Ariel was required to drink. Even just a small sip of an alcoholic drink would make Ariel feel like her stomach was burning. Worst of all, it would take a very long time for the alcohol to leave her system. A rash had broken out in small, itchy patches across her skin since she woke up this morning. Despite the condition not worsening, the difort was a constant presence. She hoped something warm from the restaurant might make her feel better. As for what happenedst night, Ariel couldn¡¯t quite recall who that person was or what exactly happened. She could only vaguely remember that she had taken the first move by hugging that person. The fact that she did that made the whole situation moreplicated. Ariel had no idea why she had acted that way. It was as though she was being driven by something at the time. The main reason why Ariel avoided alcohol was because her body was extremely sensitive to it. She would suffer from varying levels of difort and allergic reactions depending on the situation In addition, Ariel tended to do wild, crazy things whenever she gorunk. What was worse, she would have no recollection of what happened. Ariel tried hard to recall what had happenedst night, but nothing came to mind. A frown creased her forehead as she wondered who that person wa Ariel had not expected any of this, whether it was her identally having an alcoholic drink or her having spent the night with a man. Samson probably noticed that Ariel was a bit distracted. He waited for a while before saying, ¡°I¡¯d like to apologize to you.¡± Ariel directed her gaze at Samson. She was a bit confused as to why he said that. What was he sorry for? ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariel sounded quite puzzled. Samson pursed his lips. Just as he was about to say something, the elevator reached the floor they were heading to. Ariel stepped out of the elevator and nced over her shoulder at him. Samson took in the calm look in Ariel¡¯s eyes. Most of the time, Ariel was aloof and distant. People would hardly detect any warmth or amicable feelings by looking at her eyes. After a moment¡¯s consideration, Samson let out a sigh. He said in a gentle voice, ¡°Shall we eat together?¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ariel nodded. She did not turn down Samson¡¯s suggestion She also missed the sight of Samson¡¯s mouth turning up in a smile! After they entered the restaurant, Ariel looked right ahead and spotted Jayson, who sat there elegantly. He was wearing a ck shirt today. Unlike his usual smart, proper look, Jayson seemed a bitid¨Cback since he did not button up the first few buttons of his shirt. Just as Ariel looked in his direction, Jayson slowly lifted his gaze and met her eyes. His expression betrayed nothing, but the intensity of his stare was undeniable. 1 Ariel suddenly felt a chill run down her spine and halted in her tracks. A thought struck her. ¡°Last night¡­ Could it be Jayson?¡± Ariel pondered. 3 ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Samson moved forward and blocked Jayson from Ariel¡¯s view. He bent forward slightly and studied Ariel¡¯s expression, looking quite concerned. Ariel snapped out of it. Somehow, she felt that Samson was being overly concerned about her. Inside 531 Chapter 531 ¡°It¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s sit over there.¡± Ariel pointed in a direction far from where Jayson was. She did not spare Jayson another nce as she walked over to the table next to the window. However, Ariel couldn¡¯t control the thoughts that were going through her head. Even after she and Samson had taken their seats, Jayson remained in his seat without doing much. While her suspicions grew stronger, Ariel maintained a neutral expression. She didn¡¯t think it was a big deal if the person fromst night was Jayson. They had been married for three years, so another night together wouldn¡¯t make a difference. After all, she wasn¡¯t someone who would let herself be bound by old, outdated values. ¡°Are you feeling cold? Do you need a jacket?¡± Samson nced at the thin, knitted cardigan Ariel was wearing. The temperature in that region was a bit low. He pointed to his clothes. ¡°You can wear mine if you don¡¯t mind.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine. That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Ariel had a dubious look in her eyes as she nced at Samson. She felt even more convinced now. For some reason, Samson was showing her a lot of concern. It was to the extent that Ariel found it peculiar. Samson didn¡¯t force Ariel to ept his help. He decided to respect her wishes. Ariel experienced some difort in her stomach, so she didn¡¯t eat much. However, she did have another ss of warm honey water. During breakfast, Samson went out briefly to take a call. Ariel sent Janice a WhatsApp message, telling her toe down for breakfast. Someone sat opposite Ariel just as she was done sending the message. Cecilia hadn¡¯t applied any makeup. Yet, her facial features were sharp and beautiful. She grinned at Ariel as she silently observed thetter¡¯s condition. ¡°Did you sleep wellst night?¡± Ariel found those words oddly familiar. Samson had also asked her the same question. ¡°What time did the party endst night?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond to her question. Instead, she changed the topic. Cecilia raised her brows. With one elbow on the table, she rested her chin on her hand, ¡°Around 3:00 am? couldn¡¯t sleep, so I just came here instead.¡± Certhie easily steered the topic back to what she wanted to talk about ¡°Actually, Samson was very worried about you after you Leftst sight wing you didn¡¯t look that well I told him your room number, and he went looking for you right away.¡± Ariel nightened her grip around the ss she was holding Suddenly, the situation had gone way out of hand. This was very deberent from what she had spected might have happened. ¡°Samson went looking for me?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression remained the Her tone was soothing Cecilia Uilted her head and smiled ¡°That¡¯s right. He was worried that you might be feeling unwell. He went looking for you right away after I told him your room number Did anything happen between you twost night?¡± When Cecilia said that, Jayson happened to pass by their table since he was heading to the buffet counter. He¡¯d heard every single word she said. Cecilia¡¯s intentions were obvious. She was asking if Ariel and Samson had spent the night together. Jayson slowly came to a halt. He fixed Cecilia with a piercing gaze then, his gaze drifted toward Ariel¡¯s face. His eyes were cold and emotionless. The air felt tense. Cecilia gazed at him. A faint smile yed across her lips. Her eyes reflected her amusement. ¡°Jayson?¡± In the distance, Nancy waved at Jayson as soon as she came into the restaurant. She frowned as she cast a nce at Ariel. There was a hint of displeasure in her eyes. Nancy didn¡¯t like how Ariel kept showing up wherever Jayson went 1 Jayson broke his gaze, turned on his heel, and strode away. Cecilia raised her brows, surprised by Jayson¡¯s silence. She stared at his receding figure for a moment before turning her gaze to Ariel. Ariel still wasn¡¯t sure what had happened. She took a sip of the honey water and said, ¡°I went to bed earlyst night.¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t understand what Ariel meant by that. She fixed her gaze on Ariel for quite some time. On the other hand, Ariel didn¡¯t say much. Inwardly, she was trying to figure out what had happened. If what Cecilia said was true, Samson was the man she had been with the night before. But even more unsettling to Ariel was the strange way Jayson was acting. (1) Ariel dropped her gaze and pondered for quite some time. She decided to find out the truth so that she could get a sense of reassurance. Ariel nned to ask and check with her ex¨Chusband directly. Inside 532 Ariel clearly didn¡¯t want to talk about what had happened the night before. Cecilia studied Ariel for a while and decided not to press her for details. In any case, Cecilia felt her n had worked. She had chosen the perfect time and asion, arranging everything to make it happen. Under such circumstances, all that was needed was the right spark to bring a man and a woman together. Ariel excused herself and went to the restroom. What happenedst night was an ident. 1 She couldn¡¯t recall much of what happened. The only things etched in her memory were the darkness that cloaked the room and the searing heat of that person¡¯s hands as they gripped her wrists. Something inside her had unraveled then. She had wriggled free, wrapped her arms around the person¡¯s neck, and made the first move. Since she had made the first move, Ariel could not entirely me the other party for what had happened. Even so, she thought her condition at that time was strange. She hadn¡¯t intended to make a fuss about the incident. Yet now, she couldn¡¯t even be sure who that person was. She wasn¡¯t particrly close to Samson, and asking him such a question would be far too awkward. So Ariel decided it would be better to ask Jayson instead. After all, in the adult world, physical intimacy wasn¡¯t necessarily such a big deal. People didn¡¯t always treat it as something serious. 2 If the person turned out to be Jayson, Ariel would have no issue handling it. But if it had been Samson¡­ Ariel frowned slightly as she washed her hands. Someone else entered just then. Ariel turned and saw Nancy in the mirror, touching up her makeup Nancy looked radiant. After finishing her makeup, she cast Ariel a sidelong nce. Anel had no interest in pretending to be friendly. She dried her hands and prepared to leave. Nancy stared at Ariel¡¯s back and began, ¡°Last night was wonderful for me.¡± Ariel froze, a little taken aback. They were the only two in the restroom, so Nancy could only have been addressing her. Ariel stayed where she was, waiting to see what trick Nancy would pull Nancy fixed Aried with a stony gaze and smirked. ¡°Ariel, I hope you let Jayson go. Refusing to divorce him isn¡¯t love, it¡¯s just Loftuse¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes hardened at Nancy¡¯s ridiculous remarks Nancy, the stress, was demanding that she divorce Jayson so they could be together Just as Ariel was about to respond, her gaze fell on a faint red marion Nancy¡¯s neck Against her fair skin, it was unmistakably a hickey Nancy didn¡¯t bother to conceal it, she unted it, her eyes mocking as she said teily, ¡°If you still care about your pride, you should end this marriage. Otherwise, you¡¯ll only embarrass yoursel Her meaning was crystal clear, and it was well received by Ariel as well. ¡°Last night, Nancy and Jayson. So, what those two attendants were gossiping about was true?¡± Ariel wondered. She stared at Nancy for a while. Finally, Ariel said, ¡°So, Jayson hasn¡¯t promised to marry you? Then, what¡¯s the use in you begging me to leave him now?¡± Nancy¡¯s face darkened. For all her earlier arrogance, she had been exposed again and lost the upper hand. Ariel ignored her and left. But something Nancy said had given her a realization. Jayson hadn¡¯t told Nancy that they were already divorced. It struck Ariel as strange. However, considering Nancy¡¯s current attitude and the hickey on her neck¡­ Was it possible that the man who had been with Nancyst night wasn¡¯t Jayson at all? 1 Crossing her arms, Ariel lowered her head as she walked along the deck, her thoughts in turmoil. She was even slowly losing the desire to find out who had been with herst night. A sharp wind swept across the deck that morning, chilling her to the bone. When she lifted her head, she saw Jayson in the distance, leaning against the railing with a cigarette between his fingers. The moment he noticed her, Jayson turned and stubbed it out. ¡°It¡¯s cold out here. Why didn¡¯t you wear something warmer?¡± His eyes lingered on her slender frame, as though she might be blown away at any moment. He didn¡¯t seem bothered by what Cecilia had said back at the restaurant. Jayson walked toward Ariel, looking exactly like his usual self. Inside 533 pter 533 Jayson kept his eyes on Ariel as he walked toward her. The moment he drew closer, Ariel instinctively took a step back. Alicker of repulsion crossed her gaze. Jayson noticed. He stopped almost immediately, his stare locking to Ariel¡¯s face as though searching for answers. For a moment, it felt as if an invisible wall had risen between them¡­ After a few seconds, Jayson let the reaction slide. His gaze dropped to her wrist, where a small patch of rashes, norger than a fingernail, had appeared. His tone was still the same. ¡°Remember to apply some ointment once you¡¯re home. Be careful about what you eat and drink next time.¡± With nothing further to add, Jayson walked past her and went inside. Ariel massaged the center of her brows before following him in. Later, Jayson crossed paths with Nancy. She greeted him with a bright smile. ¡°Jayson, do you want toe over to my ce for lunchter?¡± He nced toward the direction she hade from. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can. I need to take care of some matters at work.¡± Though a little disappointed, Nancy knew how busy he was. She kept her smile, her gaze lingering on him. ¡°Thank you for taking care of mest night¡­¡± Jayson¡¯s brows lifted ever so slightly. He cast her a nce, answering with his usual indifference. ¡°You drank too much.¡± ¡°The alcohol was a bit strong, and I even experienced ckouts. Thankfully, I got help with changing into fresh clothes. You¡¯re really thoughtful and considerate, Jayson¡­¡± Nancy was in a cheery mood. She managed to stay conscious until she got inside Jayson¡¯s room yesterday. Nancy was pleased that her n hadn¡¯t been ruined. Jayson¡¯s eyes shifted to the hickey on her neck. His brows rose slightly. ¡°There¡¯s no need to thank me.¡± As he spoke, he pulled out his phone and asked Arthur to pick him up at the port. 2 Nancy faltered at his words, her heart sinking. His attitude left her unsettled. It almost seemed as though he hadn¡¯t been the one with herst night. 1 But then she brushed the thought aside. They had already crossed line of intimacy. There was no need for her to overanalyze. Instead, she focused on what mattered more. ¡°Jayson, I ran into Ariel just now,¡± Nancy said deliberately, tilting her head so the hickey stood out more prominently. That meant Ariel had seen it too. She was trying to tell Jayson that Ariel now knew they had spent the night together. As such, Nancy felt that Jayson and Ariel no Jonger had to pretend to maintain their marriage. Surely, it was time for them to split. ¡± But Jayson slowed his pace, then stopped altogether. A flicker of relization crossed his eyes as he cast her a sidelong nce, 1 He merely hummed in acknowledgment, saying nothing else before walking off. 15 Nancy froze in ce. That wasn¡¯t the reaction she¡¯d expected. Hedn¡¯t mentioned divorcing Ariel at all. Why? She couldn¡¯t understand. 2 Meanwhile, Janice yawned repeatedly as she joined Ariel. The ship had reached port, and Chad was already waiting to pick them
  1. up.
The cruise liner was enormous, and with so many passengers disembarking, they couldn¡¯t spot Cecilia anywhere. Ariel sent her a quick WhatsApp message saying they were leaving, then she and Janice left in Chad¡¯s car. Once inside, Chad nced back at them. ¡°Was it fun?¡± Janice replied listlessly, ¡°After Ari left, I didn¡¯t stay around for long I had too much to drink. I didn¡¯t shower or remove my makeup. I just passed out on the bed. ¡°Now all I have is a pounding headache instead of good memories. Suddenly, Janice recalled something. She directed her gaze to Ariel ¡°You didn¡¯te back to your roomst night?¡± Ariel looked at her nkly. ¡°What?¡± Janice rubbed her neck. ¡°I slept in your room, and I only noticed that I entered the wrong room after I left this morning.¡± A deep frown drew Ariel¡¯s brows together. She remembered checking the room number before going inst night. 1 Inside 534 Ariel furrowed her brows. Her thoughts were in a mess again. Sherned to Janice. ¡°You were in my room? Are you sure you didn¡¯t remember it wrongly?¡± After all, Janice had drunk quite a bitst night. Chad nced at them through the rearview mirror. ¡°What¡¯s this? You two got so wastedst night that your memories aren¡¯t adding up now?¡± Janice straightened her back. ¡°That¡¯s impossible! I might have gotten wastedst night, but I¡¯m sober now. I even checked the room number before leaving this morning. There¡¯s no way I¡¯d still be seeing or thinking wrong after sobering up.¡± Hands on her hips, Janice narrowed her eyes at Ariel. ¡°Ari, you didn¡¯te back to your roomst night. Where did you sleep?¡± Ariel was speechless. Something felt wrong. She was sure she hadn¡¯t misread the numbers and that she had gone into her own room. ¡°Where else would I be?¡± Ariel leaned back against her seat. ¡°Did you see anyone entering my room yesterday?¡± Janice was puzzled. ¡°How would I know? I was already asleep. But did youe back?¡± Ariel fell silent. She was lost in thought yet again. 1 Chad could tell something was bothering her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariel pursed her lips together and shook her head. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± After all, she wasn¡¯t even sure what had happened, let alone how to exin it. But the questions gnawed at her. If Janice had been in Room 6103, then what was the number of the room where Ariel woke up this morning? More importantly, Cecilia had said Samson went to Room 6103 to check on her. But Ariel hadn¡¯t been in that room. She couldn¡¯t help but wonder about yesterday¡¯s events. Did the people behind this whole thing forget to match their stories? So, who had she actually spent the night with¨CSamson, or someone else? The situation was bing increasingly strange andplicated If it had been Jayson, that didn¡¯t exin why Nancy had unted being with him all night. If it had been Samson, why hadn¡¯t she been in Room 6103? And why did Samson¡¯s attitude toward her today feel different? The more she thought about it, the less she could tell who it had been. What should have been a simple matter was now shrouded in mystery. Could it be neither of them? 2 Ariel could feel a headacheing. She had never imagined she would be caught up in something like this. Even her own conditionst night had felt strange, She had experienced difort and ckouts from alcohol before, butst night had been worse. Looking back, it felt as though she had been under the influence of something, doing things she normally never would. 1 Chad nned to drop Janice off first, but after some thought, Ariid, ¡°Chad, let me get off up ahead. I have something urgent to take care of.¡± ¡°Is it serious? Want me toe with you?¡± Chad asked. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I can handle it myself.¡± Ariel shook her head. Janice was stillining about her hangover when Chad pulled over to let Ariel out. Ariel waited until their car drove off, then hailed a cab straight to the hospital. She was cautious by nature. Though her memory ofst night was Blurred, she decided to get a full medical checkup to be safe, including screenings to rule out any sexually transmitted diseases. 12 After all the required screening tests came back with no major issues, Ariel felt much more reassured. She also had her blood tested for any unusual drugs or chemicals. But the hospital reported nothing abnormal. Afterward, Ariel returned home, still unable to make sense of it all. She would much rather know who she had been withst night, so she could address the problem directly. She found herself wishing it were Jayson, if only because it would be a manageable problem. It would make resolving the issue far simpler. 1 Ultimately, the whole thing was an impossible mystery, so she decided it wasn¡¯t worth the energy to worry about. C Inside 535 hapter 535 As long as that man carried no disease and wouldn¡¯t be a burden to Ariel, she had no reason to dwell on what was already done and couldn¡¯t be undone. Adults like them had plenty of real issues to face. No one would spend too much time worrying about a fleeting encounter with a stranger. Ariel decided to take a bath to help herself rx a little. She prepared the water, undressed, and was about to step into the tub when she lowered her head and noticed something. Beside the scar on her lower abdomen was a faint, almost unnoticeable hickey. Her fair skin made even the lightest marks stand out. She had checked her chest and neck earlier that morning and found nothing except for a few alcohol¨Cinduced rashes. It was almost as ifst night had been nothing more than a dream. But now, seeing that faint mark by her scar, Ariel froze. Her eyes clouded with confusion. 1 Nancy went home alone since Jayson was busy with work. Even so she was still in high spirits. 1 Sarah noticed how radiant Nancy looked the moment she arrived home. Thinking about thewsuits and her tarnished reputation filled Sarah with frustration. The wealthy wives she had once befriended now shunned her, as if she carried misfortune. On top of that, losing ownership of Veyo Solutions had made it harder to maintain their once morous lifestyle. All Sarah could manage these days was a bitter smile. Noticing Nancy¡¯s good mood, she asked, ¡°Did something good happen?¡± Nancy smiled. ¡°I suppose so.¡± Despite being mocked and humiliated, she had achieved exactly what she wanted. She had nearly drunk herself into a stuporst night, but she wasnt some naive girl. The lingering sensations on her body told her clearly what had happened. Even if Jayson had been gone when she woke up, Nancy didn¡¯t care This was the oue she had sought. As Sarah studied her daughter, understanding dawned. She smiled ¡°Men are all the same. Still, I must remind you that you should always have a backup. A man like Jayson will always have countless women flocking to him. And there will always be those prettier and more capable than you. ¡°You have him because you¡¯re suited to each other, and since your rtionship has reached this point, you should start making the proper preparations.¡± Nancy sat on the couch. ¡°I¡¯ll make ns and act ordingly.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be overly idealistic. You may be smart and capable, but it takes more than that to maintain a rtionship with a man in the upper circles. Sometimes, you need to be more calctive,¡± Sah cautioned. Nancy paused briefly. If she hadn¡¯t forced herself to stay conscious long enough to reach Jayson¡¯s room, she never would have been able to get Jayson to consider their rtionship more seriously. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry,¡± Nancy said firmly. ¡°Once thepetition is over, thewsuit will be settled too. Jayson and I will make things official.¡± 1 Her focus now was on preparing for thepetition, and she didnt see Ariel as a threat. In her eyes, Ariel might not even survive to the third round. The real concern was whether other exceptionally talented contestants might appear. Those were the ones Nancy needed to watch out for. Sarah¡¯s brows furrowed. ¡°You must take thepetition seriously. At the same time, we have to deal with Ariel. She¡¯s already won Mrs. Larkin Senior¡¯s favor. If she refuses to step aside¡­¡± A dark gleam shed in Sarah¡¯s eyes. ¡°I can make sure she¡¯s removed permanently.¡± Nancy knew her mother was more than capable of such things. After all, Sarah had spent years abroad and built countless connections. ¡°Mrs. Nielsen in Isbell is an old friend of mine,¡± Sarah continued. Since Ariel¡¯s line of work often requires travel, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to arrange things so that one of her trips bes herst (1) Inside 536 Nancy paused for a beat. Her eyes darkened before she said tly, she¡¯s not in my league when ites to thepetition. Whether she can even make it to the third test is another question ¡°And when ites to Jayson, she doesn¡¯t stand a chance against me. The only thing she¡¯s holding on to is the title of Mrs. Larkin. Once thispetition ends, the Larkins will naturally make their choice.¡± Sarah caught on immediately. Nancy didn¡¯t need her help just yet. ¡°Alright then, focus on getting ready. Even if Mrs. Nielsen has her doubts about me, her son has always cared for you. If you need help, he won¡¯t just stand by.¡± Sarah herself was hoping it wouldn¡¯te to that. Nancy rose and headed upstairs. ¡°I know.¡± Ariel soon got the notice. She was to check in at the designated hotel the next day. The third ¡°est wouldst three days, during which they would all have to stay at the same hotel and follow the arrangements. The venue was Eldoria¡¯srgest and most prestigious national stadium. She packed lightly, just enough for the three days. The next morning, Chad came to pick her up. ¡°That hotel¡¯s one of the sponsors. Besides the 30¨Cplus contestants for the third test, top judges and important guests from all over the world are also staying there. Is that hotel¡­ owned by the Larkins?¡± he asked. Ariel nodded. ¡°It is.¡± Chad frowned. So Jayson was one of the sponsors. Who else would it be for if not Nancy? He wouldn¡¯t be throwing money around like this otherwise. Ariel understood perfectly well but had stopped caring. When they arrived nearby, she noticed the massive sponsor billboard by the stadium. It was a brand under Bluum Corp, standing out prominently. Clearly, he hadn¡¯t just sponsored the hotel but had his hands in every part of the event, bing the main sponsor of the nationalpetition. With his sponsor, the budget had soared, and so had the attention. At the hotel entrance, Ariel spotted Carlos stepping out of a car. Surprised and delighted, she walked over. ¡°Mr. Hockney, you can too?¡± Carlos looked at her, ¡°I¡¯m one of the judges. I¡¯m not staying here,hough. I just passed by to see how you¡¯re doing, and whether all the new blood might push you down.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t help butugh. Chad raised an eyebrow. Carlos was just harsh with his words. He was swamped with workt still made time to check on Ariel. ¡°I¡¯ll give it everything I¡¯ve got.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t make any promises. She knew that there was always someone better out there. As soon as she said that, several more cars rolled up. Contestants began filing out. The moment Nancy saw Ariel, herposure cracked for a split second. She had been sure Ariel wouldn¡¯t make it to the third test. Yet, here she was. She frowned for a moment but quickly calmed herself. Practical skills left no room for bluffing. What could Ariel possibly use topete with her? Ariel couldn¡¯t help but notice her too. Soon after, she saw Jayson and Matt getting out of the car. Across the distance, Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on Ariel¡¯s face. Matt stayed quiet, though his gaze flickered her way. Without hesitation, Jayson walked toward Ariel¡¯s group. Nancy knew exactly what he intended. She pressed her lips together and followed. ¡°Mr. Carlos, it¡¯s been a while.¡± Jayson greeted Carlos with a respectful nod. He then looked at Chad. ¡°Mr. Chad.¡± Nancy might have loathed Ariel, but she wasn¡¯t about to show it in front of Carlos. She offered a polite hello of her own. Carlos¡® expression remained stern. ¡°Indeed. Anyway, thank you for supporting the country¡¯s technological development this time, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson was not easy to read, even for him. Carlos couldn¡¯t deny that Jayson was a rare talent. His career was thriving, his temperament steady, his vision sharp, and he was exceptionally smart. He supported national projects time and again. It was no wonder the government favored him. Inside 537 ¡°It¡¯s the least I could do.¡± Jayson smiled faintly. Ariel wasn¡¯t hung up on what had happened that day. But now, face¨Cto¨Cface with Jayson, she could feel that he was no different than before. Her suspicions back then had been baseless. Especially now that it was clear Jayson had been with Nancy at the time. ¡°Mr. Hockney, I¡¯m going to check in first,¡± Ariel said softly to Carlos. Carlos understood she had no patience for small talk. He nodded. ¡°Alright, go get yourself ready.¡± The weight Carlos ced on Ariel didn¡¯t escape Nancy. She curled her hands into fists, and her heart sank. She hadn¡¯t expected this. Only now did she realize Carlos was one of the judges. What if¡­ Carlos yed favorites with Ariel and scored her unfairly? 1 Nancy pressed her lips together as she frowned¨Ca strange sense of danger coiled in her chest. Carlos didn¡¯t linger. He dragged Chad off to use him as freebor. Only then did Jayson¡¯s group enter the hotel to check in. While Nancy was checking in, Matt nced at Jayson and lowered his voice. ¡°Ariel¡¯s better than I expected. She actually made it through. Did you know beforehand?¡± If not, then why had he agreed to sponsor thispetition for Nancy in the first ce? He truly couldn¡¯t make sense of what Jayson was thinking now. Jayson smoothed his cuff with a faint nce downward. ¡°Are Perry and the othersing tomorrow?¡± Matt clicked his tongue. ¡°Of course. Everyone wants to witness apetition of this level in person. I¡¯ve already given away plenty of the tickets you gave me. The upper circle loves events like this. After all, focusing on major growth areas and catching the right opportunities and policy shifts are ways to make money multiply.¡± He was still talking when Nancy suddenly turned around. Her eyes locked on Jayson as she asked, ¡°Jayson, do you want to share a room with me? Save the trouble of checking in another one.¡± Bluum Corp was the main sponsor of the event, and as its owner, Jayson¡¯s presence was expected. Matt froze. It took him a second to realize what Nancy had just implied. She wanted to stay with Jayson? And she was being so straightforward about it? Jayson gave her a cool look but said nothing. Matt caught on instantly. He raised a brow with a casual grin. ¡°You¡¯ve got a bigpetition tomorrow. Focus on that. We won¡¯t bother you. Less distraction that way. I¡¯ve got some business to run through with Jayson anyway. Let me have him for now.¡± His easy tone broke the tension. Nancy was disappointed, but she also thought there would be plenty of time ahead. After the first time, a second was only a matter of time. F She smiled as if it were nothing. ¡°Okay.¡± Back in her room, Ariel took a moment to unpack. To her surprise, the ce was beautiful, with a wide view of the national stadium. Just staring out at it eased some of her nerves. After confirming with Chad when he and Janice would arrive at the venue, Ariel got ready to head down for some afternoon tea. She had a few tickets. At first she thought about inviting Katie and Leonard, but Leonard was still recovering, and Katie wasn¡¯t young anymore. Sitting through long hours wasn¡¯t possible. So Ariel gave up on that idea. After some consideration, she chose not to invite Cecilia as well. The elevator arrived, and the doors slid open, Just as Ariel was about to go in, she saw Jayson standing inside. He looked at her. Ariel hesitated two seconds before finally walking in. The cramped, enclosed space held only the two of them. The doors slid shut. At once, the faint cedarwood cologne he wore filled the air, threading into each breath she drew. It was invasive and impossible to ignore. She lowered her eyes and frowned silently. The air seemed to tighten around them. Jayson nced at her from the corner of his eye. ¡°Were you trying to tell me something that day?¡± Inside 538 Inside the cramped elevator, Jayson¡¯s voice came through low and clear. Ariel looked up, catching his gaze in the mirrored wall. The question hade out of nowhere. She paused for a moment before asking quietly, ¡°Did you know I had a drink that night on the cruise?¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze flicked briefly to the fading rash on her wrist. His tone was calm. ¡°Do you want me to have known, or not?¡± A thought Ariel had been forcing down suddenly surged up again at those words. That unspoken tension returned, even though neither of them said anything. With a ding, the elevator stopped at the first floor. Jayson finally moved. He stepped forward until he stood right beside Ariel and lowered his gaze to her. ¡°Your allergy isn¡¯t healed yet. Make sure you keep applying the ointment.¡± Then the doors slid open. Without another word, he walked out. Ariel stared at his back for a long moment before stepping out herself. Her expression was nk. Some things became clear, while others were simply left unspoken She grabbed a quick bite before heading back upstairs to keep working on her code. After running into Jayson, she stopped dwelling on it and treated it as if nothing had happened. Since it was a practical test, she could roughly anticipate the focus. Coding was bound to be a crucial part of it. Three projects spread across three days, each different from thest. All demanded strong expertise and the ability to manage data live. The next morning, Chad showed up early to head with Ariel to the stadium. It was an openpetition today. The entrance was crowded with people scanning tickets. The buzz around the event was obvious. Only 100 contestants had advanced, and identities were revealed just before the third test began. When Ariel spotted Samson, she was surprised. He raised his brows with a smile and strode toward her. ¡°Surprised?¡± ¡°You¡¯re here too?¡± Ariel blinked. Samson¡¯s teeth shed bright. ¡°Guess I was right not to tell you. Seeing that look on your face makes it all worth it.¡± He leaned closer, lowering his voice. ¡°Actually, I took part not only to be with you but for another reason too. I¡¯m curious if the developer of U.N2 might show up. This feels like the kind of event they¡¯d be drawn to.¡± Ariel¡¯s brow twitched slightly. ¡°Maybe.¡± He studied her for a beat, then asked, ¡°Were you alright that night?¡± Ariel froze, ncing at him. Samson went on, ¡°I checked in on you. When I went in, you were already asleep, so I didn¡¯t disturb you. Did you feel better after that?¡± That day, he had been worried about Ariel. But when he chased after her, he found her already lying quietly in bed. Only then did he close the door and leave. However, he suspected Ariel had realized the drink had been tampered with. Her expression eased a little. ¡°¡­Yeah.¡± She figured Samson must have mistaken Janice for her that night. He had thought she had fallen asleep and left. If he had walked in on her actual condition, it would have been a disaster. Ariel actedpletely normal. She didn¡¯t even bring up the drink from that day. Samson studied her a moment longer before shifting the topic. ¡°Today¡¯s simtion is a three¨Cperson team event. I just checked. I¡¯m on a team with you, and the third person is called Elsie Reid.¡± He pointed in a direction, and Ariel saw a young woman walking over. Elsie¡¯s gazended on Ariel, sharp and openly hostile. Ariel didn¡¯t mind and pretended not to notice. ¡°Nice to meet you.¡± Elsie frowned and ignored her, nting herself firmly at Samson¡¯s side. The message was obvious. Samson understood too, but he didn¡¯t bother addressing it. Instead, he walked closer to Ariel. ¡°When we¡¯re on stage, the three of us will need to work together to adjust parameters and keep the drone stable under interference.¡± Inside 539 Ariel nodded. She nced toward the judges¡® table. Most of them were already seated. Besides Carlos, there were a few others she recognized -all heavyweights in the field. The stadium was huge, ideal for a tech showcase. Spectators gradually filled in. As Ariel walked past, she spotted Jayson, who had personally escorted Nancy. Nancy¡¯s expression tightened slightly when she saw Samson paired with Ariel. She didn¡¯t greet anyone and turned to Jayson.¡± You go ahead. I¡¯ve got this. Don¡¯t worry.¡± Jayson nodded. Ariel didn¡¯t spare him a second nce. She turned back to discuss strategy with Samson. Nancy looked at Samson, feeling slightly intimidated by his abilities. Yet the thought that he was interested in Ariel made a trace of sarcasm curl her lips. Ariel was more capable than she had imagined. Though she hadn¡¯t aplished much, she had caught a man¡¯s attention. No wonder Jayson didn¡¯t care for her. 2 With a frosty expression, she moved past Ariel to join her own team. Jayson returned to his seat beside Matt and Sarah. Perry had ast¨Cminute engagement and wouldn¡¯t be here today. He would only be able to attend the crucial round the day after tomorrow. Matt couldn¡¯t hide his surprise at the scale of the event. The money being spent was staggering, obvious to anyone watching. Everything was just top¨Cnotch. Beyond the organizers, most of the audience were industry insiders and investors. Chad sat nearby, disinterested in small talk. His eyes were fixed on the stage. After a while, thepetition officially began. The drones required immediate intervention for stability. This was hardly a challenge for Ariel. She dynamically adjusted the parameters to achieve precision. Her hair slipped loose, cascading down her neck. Samson noticed it. He walked over and gently brushed it behind her shoulder, holding it lightly without touching her skin. Keep going.¡± Ariel was immersed in her work, barely registering the gesture, but the audience saw everything. Frowning, Matt stood up. ¡°What¡¯s Mr. Pryce doing? Isn¡¯t he staring at Ariel a bit too openly?¡± Her husband was right there. Jayson watched quietly without saying anything. Sarah, however, let out a small chuckle. ¡°Ms. Walker really knows how to get along with others. She¡¯s surprisingly popr.¡± Chad happened to hear that clearly. He turned around. ¡°Oh, Mrs. Stanton, you¡¯re here too? Wouldn¡¯t your recent giarism scandal affect Ms. Stanton¡¯s reputation? Sarah¡¯s face darkened. She had been hit right where it hurt. Chad sneered. How could he not hear the subtle jab Sarah was making at Ariel? Smiling, he tilted his head and continued, ¡°If Ms. Stanton doesn¡¯t score better than Ariter, it would show that her charm doesn¡¯tpare, and her skills fall short as well.¡± Sarah frowned at those words. The statement was absurd. How could Ariel score higher than Nancy? But as the first round ended two hourster, the results told a different story. Ariel¡¯s team topped the charts. Nancy¡¯s face went pale. Every data point from her teamgged behind Ariel¡¯s. It wasn¡¯t until they stepped down that she barely regained herposure. Jayson¡¯s seat was near the judges¡® table. Nancy drew a deep breath and approached him. ¡°Jayson, every team has a different average level of ability.¡± Ariel had benefited from being paired with Samson, and her scores naturally soared. 1 The grouping wasn¡¯t fair. She knew Samson¡¯s skills were extraordinary, and even Elsie graduated from Pembroke University, one of the most prestigious schools abroad. The two of them were basically carrying Ariel the whole way. Inside 540 ¡°The grouping was random, right?¡± Matt nced over, raising an eyebrow. ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter. You just need to score higher in the individual roundster.¡± Nancy frowned silently. She understood that the individual scores counted toward the overall total. However, Ariel had been lucky, ending up in a group with Samson and Elsie, and even managed to snag first ce in this round. ¡°High team scores don¡¯t reflect individual ability. They just got lucky and ended up in better groups.¡± Sarah could tell what Nancy was thinking. Her own discontent with Ariel was clear, though she didn¡¯t show it. Chad turned and chuckled at that. ¡°Everyone standing here is top¨Ctier in their own right. Ms. Stanton, if you want to talk about individual skills, you might not even match up. What exactly are youining about?¡± If she voiced it, it woulde across as rude. Nancy¡¯s expression darkened, showing some annoyance at Chad¡¯s frankness. She instinctively nced around, relieved when her team members weren¡¯t nearby. Chad caught on to her thoughts. He snorted and turned toward Ariel. Meanwhile, Jayson nced toward a spot not far off before looking at Nancy and saying, ¡°Prepare well for tomorrow.¡± Nancy felt a headacheing on and could only nod absentmindedly. At the end of the session, the two groups crossed paths. When Nancy looked at Ariel, her gaze was cold, dripping with sarcasm. She didn¡¯t greet her. Instead, she turned on her heel and left. Jayson was still coordinating with the organizers. Matt paused, nced at Ariel, and traced a finger across his nose before saying, ¡°Congrattions.¡± Then he walked off quickly. Ariel found it odd. Matt wouldn¡¯t normally say such things. The next day would focus on hardware and algorithm optimization under real¨Ctime conditions, and the third day would involve applying the contestants¡® own code in live tests. That was the true moment to show their abilities. The winning code might be selected for implementation by the government. Ariel took a break in her room, then immediately continued coding, showing no sign of letting up. Chad didn¡¯t disturb her. The next day, even more people showed up. With countless eyes watching, even Ariel couldn¡¯t help but feel some pressure. Carlos approached, keeping a straight face. ¡°Do your best. By the way, the judges want to meet you. Go say hello.¡± Only then did Ariel rx a little and quip, ¡°Wouldn¡¯t meeting judges now make me look like I¡¯m trying to curry favor?¡± Carlos shot her a re, waved his hand, and returned to his seat. She was just joking. After Carlos left, she took the time to greet a few of the senior figures before turning to prepare. Nancy passed by at that moment. She gave Ariel a cold scan. ¡°Today is the individual algorithm test. You can¡¯t ride on your team¡¯s score, Ariel. You¡¯re on your own now.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t even look up, ignoring her entirely. Nancy frowned. Ariel¡¯s quiet confidence was something she couldn¡¯t quite understand. On stage, Ariel raised her head briefly and spotted Jayson seated directly opposite. Their eyes met for a moment. His gaze was calm and steady. She diverted her gaze without any reaction. During the algorithm optimization trial, Ariel worked methodically. With multiple assessments, the data was almost dizzying. Having the entire process projected on the big screen made it an even tougher test of their mental resilience. Ariel didn¡¯t rush. When the session ended, each dataset was evaluated individually. Nancy thought her performance was decent, though she noted two areas needing refinement. The judges beganpiling theirprehensive assessments. Inside 541 he final results were announced. Nancy suddenly went pale as she saw Ariel¡¯s name and algorithm data on the screen. She stared at the data in disbelief. Ariel had achieved the highest score? The final results werepletely unexpected. Cold sweat broke out on Nancy in an instant. She couldn¡¯t understand how Ariel could havee out on top. However, she could make sense of that data, and it was nearly wless. Even most of the contestants were stunned. They nced around to see the person behind the name. ¡°How good are they?¡± Matt couldn¡¯t make sense of the numbers, but Ariel was solidly in first, with Samson right behind her. The two of them were almost neck and neck. Jayson nced at the two names, then said calmly, ¡°There¡¯s a huge gap between them and everyone else.¡± Matt felt even more shaken. Was this really the same Ariel he knew? Thispetition drew the best young talents from across the country, all under 30, and Ariel had just left them all in the dust. Even Frederick, sitting beside Matt, was stunned for a long moment before he finally muttered, ¡°No way. She scored higher than Nancy overall? I saw her meet the judges before it started. Could something be going on there?¡± He couldn¡¯t think of any other exnation. Jayson shot him a nce but didn¡¯t say a word. Nearby, Janice, who had been cheering, heard Frederick¡¯s words clearly. She shot him a re with a dark expression. ¡°Idiot. Are you really going to throw dirt at the judges instead of admitting she¡¯s better?¡± Frederick¡¯s face darkened. ¡°Janice, what do you even know? Mind your business.¡± Janice crossed her arms and smirked. ¡°I may not understand the technical stuff, but I sure understand simps.¡± ¡°Janice!¡± Frederick¡¯s face went red with anger. She didn¡¯t bother replying and just turned to walk away. Matt watched all this and instinctively looked at Jayson. He didn¡¯t react to Janice¡¯s jab at Frederick. Frederick¡¯s feelings for Nancy didn¡¯t faze him in the least. Just then, Nancy left the stage and walked over. Her face was noticeably pale. Even she felt it was absurd and impossible to ept. Yesterday¡¯s result could be chalked up to her group carrying her, but today¡­ Her limbs felt numb, as if the ground beneath her could vanish at any second, sending her plummeting into an endless abyss. ¡°Are you okay?¡± Frederick stepped up and looked at her with concern in his eyes. He lifted a hand as if to pat her shoulder. Nancy noticed and subtly avoided him with a frown. Frederick froze mid¨Cmotion. Nancy didn¡¯t answer him. Her face stayedposed, but cold sweat formed at her temples. She suddenly realized something¨CAriel was on a whole different level than she had imagined. ¡°Go get some rest. Tomorrow¡¯s what really matters.¡± Jayson stood and looked at Nancy. His gaze was neutral, leaving her with an inexplicable emptiness. Mentioning tomorrow sent a chill racing down her spine. Doubt crept in. What if something went wrong again? If she slipped up tomorrow, she could be out for good. The chance to join the sixth- generation fighter jet research team¨Cher only shot at redemption¨Ccould vanish. After all, besides Ariel, there were other toughpetitors like Samson and Elsie. Nancy didn¡¯t mind losing to the others, but she simply couldn¡¯t ept or acknowledge being beaten by Ariel. Nancy took a deep breath and forced herself to suppress the chaos in her mind. ¡°¡­Yeah, I get it. Don¡¯t worry. Tomorrow¡¯s the real battle, and nothing¡¯s final yet. Today¡¯s results aren¡¯t worth stressing over.¡± X GET IT Inside 542 Matt nced at Jayson, who didn¡¯t seem the least bit fazed by Nancy¡¯s results and didn¡¯t even offer a word offort. Matt¡¯s eyes lit up with a hint of interest before saying, ¡°Right. Mindset matters more than anything. It¡¯s good that you think that way.¡± Nancy felt a tightness in her chest but didn¡¯t say anything else. Her gaze drifted toward Ariel. As it happened, Ariel and the others had to pass through here. As they walked past, Jayson tilted his chin and slowly looked at Ariel. ¡°Congrattions,¡± he said. That simple word made Nancy freeze. Something inside her seemed to copse in that instant. Sirens went off in her mind. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to speak to her. She slowed her steps and met his gaze. He just looked at her without any expression, yet his eyes hinted at something that was almost a smile. Even Chad was surprised. He nced at Nancy¡¯s reaction. Sure enough, her face was grim. Ariel kept walking, saying nothing. Janice, however, grinned and teased, ¡°Mr. Larkin, instead of congratting your ex¨Cwife, why not cheer up Ms. Stanton first? Look at her, defeated and frustrated.¡± Nancy¡¯s face darkened even more at that. Once they left, Nancy finally looked at Jayson, only to see his gaze still fixed on Ariel¡¯s retreating figure. Her fists clenched tightly. ¡°Jayson, can you take me back first?¡± Jayson finally looked at her. ¡°I¡¯m not done here. I need to meet with some of the judges. You go ahead.¡± D Nancy quickly masked her surprise and kept herposure. ¡°Okay, you go ahead, then.¡± Without hesitation, she lifted her legs and walked off, refusing to show an ounce of disappointment. As Frederick watched her walk away, a small pang of annoyance rose in his chest. How could Jayson notfort her at all? He wasn¡¯t showing any care, and yet he paid attention to his ex¨Cwife? Ariel and Nancy weren¡¯t evenparable. 2 But of course, Frederick had no right toment. Annoyed, he gave the others a quick heads¨Cup before leaving Matt nced at Jayson. ¡°Nancy probably got hit hard. Anything you do right now would probably feel magnified tenfold for her.¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes flickered upward slightly. ¡°Is that so?¡± Matt hesitated. Honestly, even after knowing him for over a decade, he still couldn¡¯t fully read Jayson. 3 Once Jayson wrapped up, he headed to Cedric¡¯s house. Cedric wasn¡¯t surprised to see him. Hands behind his back, he asked, ¡°You actually have time to visit me?¡± Jayson chuckled casually. ¡°It¡¯s fine that you missed the first two days. Aren¡¯t you nning to go to the stadium tomorrow?¡± ¡°Are you here to invite me?¡± Cedric snorted and had someone pour tea for Jayson. ¡°Something like that.¡± Jayson nodded. Cedric looked at him. ¡°Jayson, I haven¡¯t settled things with you over what happened at Ashford University.¡± 2 ¡°It¡¯s not toote now,¡± Jayson replied lightly with a faint smile. Cedric couldn¡¯t help but appraise him. ¡°Your great¨Cgrandfather said you were cunning. I can feel it now. You¡¯re the first person brave enough to use me as a tool Jayson chuckled. ¡°You tter me.¡± Cedric snorted coldly. ¡°Considering your support for the country¡¯s research projects and full sponsorship this time, I¡¯m not going to lecture you.¡± ¡°Technology is the backbone of national defense. It¡¯s a good thing if we can produce more top talents like the one who developed U.N2,¡± Jayson said, sipping his tea. Cedric looked at him. ¡°You¡¯re interested in that too?¡± ¡°Sort of. Hasn¡¯t U.N2 already be a must¨Ccover topic for you and Mr. Hockney when teaching students? Inside 544 Ariel had just stepped out the door when she immediately heard that. She had identally walked right into Nancy¡¯s ¡°proposal¡± scene. After failingst time on Jayson¡¯s birthday, now it came out much more bluntly, without any preamble. The crowd here wasn¡¯t very dense, but the way the exit was set up made it impossible not to brush past each other. Ariel really didn¡¯t want to witness this. It would just be awkward. When she looked over, Jayson lifted his gaze to meet hers. Of course, Nancy knew that Ariel hade out. But when she looked over, a faint sneer appeared on her face. ¡°Ms. Walker, maybe you should step aside,¡± Nancy said coldly. These words came across more like a signal of determination, carrying hints of warning, provocation, and mockery. She was perhaps the only one who dared to make the wife step aside to propose to her husband. Jayson gave Nancy a faint side nce. Only when Nancy spoke did Ariel nce at her. She realized that Nancy no longer seemed like her old self- both in attitude and in the way she carried herself. 2 She replied calmly, ¡°Ms. Stanton, given your sense of shame, do you really need anyone to step aside?¡± Ignoring Nancy¡¯s even icier expression, she turned and walked away. She hadn¡¯t paid any mind to the earlier ¡°proposal¡°. She left without so much as a nce back, as if they were just strangers. This was their private matter, and she had no desire to pry. 1 Ariel didn¡¯t know what Jayson had said in reply. She hade out to pick up Janice. Once she got Janice back to their room, she saw a text from Samson. ¡°I just reached the hotel. Want to grab dinnerter?¡± Ariel thought for a moment and replied, ¡°I can¡¯t today. Maybe another time.¡± Janiceughed at her response. ¡°Mr. Pryce still hasn¡¯t given up on you, huh?¡± She knew Ariel had turned down Samson and found it rather intriguing, ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯ll be a spot reserved just for a genius like him. Given that he now holds a managerial position at Yeager Group, joining the national research engineering team would be right on time. I think the only reason he has taken part is because of you.¡± If he got in, his chances of interacting with Ariel would increase. Janice realized that Samson was rather calcting Ariel didn¡¯t reply. She still found the cruise incident strange. Luckily, Samson had behaved decently that night. Nothing uncontroble had happened, especially since Janice had been the one staying in her room. The next day, Ariel was in good form. She took her medication before Janice got up. Arriving at the stadium, she noticed familiar faces in the audience. Matt was chatting with Perry and Zach. While thepetition mainly served to recruit talent for the government, it was also a chance forpanies to poach talent. A number of techpanies were present. Ariel saw many influential figures from the industry. It wasn¡¯t every day that so many big names gathered in one public venue. As she stepped into the inner area, she spotted Gary and Cedric. Gary waved at her with a smile. ¡°Ariel, today¡¯s your chance to shine.¡± He then lowered his voice. ¡°Some department heads are attending today as well. It¡¯s still confidential. After thepetition, you can go meet them and discuss what projects you want to get involved in.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t help feeling nervous but nodded. ¡°Understood.¡± Cedric nced at her. ¡°I¡¯d like to see if you¡¯ve slipped over the years and whether Carlos made a mistake in judging you.¡± Ariel froze. Gary raised an eyebrow at Cedric. ¡°Mr. Warbrooke, you know who Ariel is¡­¡± Cedric knew she was the U.N2 developer, so why the sharp tongue? ¡°Come here. Don¡¯t waste words with irrelevant people, Carlos said to Ariel, giving Cedric a cold nce as he approached. Ariel nodded and moved over. Seeing that, Cedric snorted in irritation and turned to take his seat. Meanwhile, Gary shook his head. These two had been at each other¡¯s throats since they were teenagers. When would it ever end? Samson came over to greet Ariel. ¡°Feeling nervous?¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°Not really.¡± He nced toward the judges¡® table. ¡°You¡¯re close with Mr. Warbrooke too?¡± He had just seen Ariel speaking with Cedric. There weren¡¯t many people Cedric would even bother with. Inside 545 Samson was genuinely surprised. Ariel didn¡¯t bother exining. Over at the VIP section, Cecilia spotted Samson talking to Ariel. She raised a brow and nced at Jayson beside her. Smiling, she said, ¡°Mr. Larkin, I¡¯m curious. Who are you rooting for between the two of them?¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze met hers, cool and indifferent. He didn¡¯t answer. Cecilia frowned: Frederick, overhearing, chimed in, ¡°Isn¡¯t it obvious? The first two rounds were just appetizers. Today¡¯s the main event, the real test. Not just anyone can go toe¨Cto¨Ctoe with a top university graduate.¡± Matt watched Jayson closely, unsure. Jayson didn¡¯t seem concerned at all about today¡¯s results. Matt frowned. He knew Nancy was truly talented. There was no doubt about that. However, Ariel was unpredictable. If Nancy were to outperform her, the Larkins might have something to say about it. After all, this was a publicpetition. If Jayson¡¯s wife got beaten by Nancy, it wouldn¡¯t look good. Frederick¡¯sment made Zach nce at him. ¡°The results speak for themselves. You really don¡¯t need to say that, Mr. Swanson.¡± He found Frederick¡¯s remark unnecessary, almost like he was trying to drag Ariel down. Had she offended him? Frederick opened his mouth to say more, but seeing Jayson, he reluctantly shut it. After Zach spoke up, Perry studied him for a moment, then frowned thoughtfully. ¨C Meanwhile, Ariel was preparing when Nancy approached. Her gaze swept coldly over Ariel. ¡°It¡¯s not toote to quit now if you want to spare yourself embarrassment.¡± Ariel, recognizing the words were directed at her, replied tly, ¡°Mind your own business.¡± She showed Nancy no courtesy at all. Nancy¡¯s expression froze for a moment, then twisted into a cold smirk. Ariel was only bringing trouble on herself by ignoring her warning. Without saying anything else, Nancy turned and left. Janice and Chad, arriving just then, overheard. Janice asked in confusion, ¡°Why is she so confident? She¡¯s bluffing big time,¡± Chad patted Ariel on the shoulder. ¡°Have you noticed that Nancy¡¯s been quite prickly toward youtely?¡± Ariel had noticed, of course. Maybe it had to do with Veyo Solutions, but it was probably not just that. Especially since Nancy hade over the other day, talking about spending the night with Jayson. She was probably feeling insecure. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll go get ready,¡± Ariel said, brushing off the distractions. Chad then guided Janice toward the audience section. Today was the final day, thest round of thepetition. Codes were to be submitted for real¨Ctime testing, with each project subjected to extremely precise trials. Some tests even involved military drones. This would require wless coordination between software and hardware. Any deviation, even 0.1, could make all the difference. Samson kept a close eye on the results after submitting. He was more curious than ever about Ariel¡¯s ability. 1 He wasn¡¯t trying to be proud, but he was confident he would be in the top two. He had a rough sense of Nancy¡¯s abilities through Veyo Solutions¡® project. However, he had no idea about Ariel¡¯s real ability. Results began appearing, item by item. Nancy remained calm. After meeting Cedric yesterday, she had a fresh strategy. She knew nobody would be her match today. She had broken through certain limits. Even Samson and Elsie couldn¡¯tpete with her now. Ariel wouldn¡¯t evene close. At that thought, a faint smile tugged at Nancy¡¯s lips. As soon as the host¡¯s words ended, she looked toward therge screen, and her smile froze at once. She wasn¡¯t the only one who was surprised. Even the audience gasped. Cecilia squinted, instinctively looking to Jayson for his reaction. But Jayson simply lifted his gaze and fixed his eyes on the boldest name on the screen. Zach and Matt both jumped to their feet. Stunned, they stared at the name in the first ce¨CAriel, Matt couldn¡¯t process it. Was Ariel this capable? In a battle among the best of the best, she could still¡­ Nancy couldn¡¯t ept it at all. She was too shocked. As the announcement was made, she said with a stiff expression, ¡°Sorry, I don¡¯t ept this! Please re¨Crun the test!¡± 2 Inside 546 With Nancy¡¯s sudden outburst, the stadium instantly became chaotic. No one had expected anyone to demand a retest in such rigorously controlledpetition. Ariel turned to look at her. Nancy¡¯s eyes were ice¨Ccold. She remained in disbelief. Even now, Ariel could still outscore her? She refused to believe or ept it. Chad nced at the big screen. The national stadium was huge, fully capable of hosting live drone operations. These weren¡¯t ordinary consumer drones. They were top¨Ctier models, including military¨Cgrade types that had already been released publicly. Each utilized different system codes, allowing the judges to evaluate overall performance. Chad finally focused on Nancy. She was actually in second ce, tied with Samson. How had he never known Nancy was this capable? ¡°She¡¯s that good?¡± Even Janice felt something was off. Chad and Ariel had told her before that Nancy was indeed a rare talent, but she could never have reached. this level. ¡°I¡¯m not sure. But judging solely on this set of data, her overall performance is wless,¡± Chad said, squinting at the numbers. Had she suddenly outdone herself? It made sense why Nancy couldn¡¯t ept the results. Ariel had surpassed her by a clear margin. ¡°This is insane¡­¡± Matt muttered in awe. ¡°Even in a battle among elites, it doesn¡¯t work like this. Ariel haspletely outpaced everyone in the tests.¡± Perry, with some technical knowledge, immediately understood the significance of the data. That was why he was even more stunned, Ariel actually wrote the code? Zach stayed silent, but his chest raced. He had suspected Ariel wasn¡¯t ordinary, but he hadn¡¯t imagined she could leave everyone in the dust like this. ¡°Jayson.¡± Matt nced at him. ¡°Is it really okay for Nay to challenge the results?¡± Jayson, leaning back in his chair, looked toward Nancy on stage before slowly saying, ¡°Then let¡¯s fulfill her wish. Re¨Crun the tests.¡± Matt¡¯s heart skipped a beat, Was Jayson siding with Nay against his own wife or¡­ Ariel was actually surprised by Nancy¡¯s sudden challenge. She nced calmly toward the judges¡® table. ¡± Sure. I don¡¯t mind proceeding ording to Ms. Stanton¡¯s request.¡® Carlos¡® expression didn¡¯t change. He leaned to whisper to the others beside him. ¡°If there¡¯s any doubt, it should be resolved. People need to be convinced,¡± Carlos said coldly. Nancy straightened her back and shot Ariel a frosty re. She refused to believe her top¨Ctier system code could be outdone. If Ariel¡¯s score was taken by unfair means, why wouldn¡® she want a fair chance? Even Samson squinted at Nancy. Had he underestimated her before? But Ariel¡¯s data also stunned him. That was practically perfect. The situation instantly became unexpectedly dramatic. The audience seemed to enjoy it. After all, top¨Ctier geniuses were shing, and their dynamics were¡­ intriguing. Ariel didn¡¯t mind the retest. Her expression was calm, showing no surprise. The two drones took off again. The staff tested all aspects from scratch. When Carlos got the results, he nced coldly at Nancy ¡°Ms. Stanton, do you have anything more to say?¡± He revealed the results, and the data matched the earlier results. Ariel was still ahead. Nancy¡¯s body went numb. An uncontroble panic threatened to rise. She still refused to believe it. Her code this time was¡­ She quicklyposed herself and said, ¡°I just think the results seem off. I¡¯ll ept it if we redo the match.¡± In short, she wouldn¡¯t ept this oue. From below, Frederick frowned and stood. The VIP section was close to the judges, so his voice could be, captured by the microphone. ¡°I think Ms. Stanton has a point. Besides¡­¡± 3 Inside 547 Frederick pressed his lips together. He knew his words might offend, but seeing Nancy standing there, he couldn¡¯t hold back. ¡°With Ariel¡¯s mentor on the judging panel, who knows the scoring was truly fair? And¡­ whether she actually wrote and developed all of this herself is uncertain either.¡± No one could misinterpret what he meant. He was practically pping the words ¡°strong backing¡± across Ariel¡¯s face. She was suddenly caught in a storm of usations. It threatened not only her but Carlos¡® reputation as well. The tension in the publicpetition shot to the max. Jayson cast a side nce at Frederick. Zach sneered. ¡°Mr. Swanson, are you out of your mind? Are you questioning Ariel, Mr. Hockney, or the fairness of thispetition?¡± Although he was shocked by Ariel¡¯s skill, he wouldn¡¯t allow anyone to smear it for selfish reasons. Cecilia arched an eyebrow at Jayson, a hint of meaning in her gaze. ¡°What do you think, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t turn to her. Looking up calmly, he said, ¡°Then let¡¯s make the key technical aspects public and reevaluate.¡± Upon hearing that, Nancy suddenly pressed her lips together and kept quiet. Ariel rarely showed a cold expression in public, but now she looked at Nancy, her eyes frosty. ¡°If you¡¯re still not satisfied, I don¡¯t mind going again and modifying my code topete with you.¡± It was practically aplete rewrite! Nancy¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She stared at Ariel in disbelief. How could she dare bring up such a request? At this level, even minor adjustments required mastery. A single mistake could copse everything. How dare Ariel¡­ Nancy silently clenched her fists and didn¡¯t respond. Instead, she fixed Ariel with a re, ¡°That¡¯s meaningless. What I¡¯m questioning is, Ms. Walker, your approach is very simr to mine. I expect an exnation.¡± Even Chad couldn¡¯t help butugh through his frustration at those words. He reviewed the data from both sides and couldn¡¯t help ut note¡­ ¡°Her flight trajectories and dynamic parameters do match Ari¡¯s.¡± Chad frowned, equally perplexed. Even Gary¡¯s expression darkened at Nancy¡¯s words. What she said could easily nt biased assumptions about Ariel in anyone¡¯s mind. And now, with thepetition going live on certain tforms, Ariel¡¯s reputation could be tainted for life if this wasn¡¯t rified. The judge was her mentor, the origin of her code was unclear, and her methods mirrored Nancy¡¯s. Each point on its own was damaging. If Ariel didn¡¯t have solid proof today, she would be crushed in this field, maybe even cklisted by the government. Carlos¡® face went cold. ¡°Nancy, are you prepared to take responsibility for what you just said?¡± A cold sweat ran down Nancy¡¯s spine. But at this point, there was no turning back. So much had happened. She had to go all in now. If Veyo Solutions/hadn¡¯t run into trouble and Sarah hadn¡¯t been caught in the giarism scandal, maybe she wouldn¡¯t be in such a rush. But as it was, she had no choice but to take the gamble. She knew the risk. But what if it worked? Carlos continued, ¡°Alright, then. Since you have doubts, let¡¯s make all the system codes public here andpare them directly.¡± Nancy hesitated, then pressed her lips together before saying, ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s confidential.¡± The statement wasughable. Ariel couldn¡¯t help but snicker. Nancy wasn¡¯t willing to reveal her code, yet she was casting doubt. Was she really just trying to see her ¡°die ¡°here today? Since that was the case, Ariel wouldn¡¯t leave her any leeway. ¡°What if I could reconstruct your entire code from the data?¡± Not only did Chad find it simr, but she also felt something was off. In fact, she felt Nancy¡¯s code eerily mirrored her U.N2 work. Inside 548 Nancy froze at Ariel¡¯s words. Reconstruct her entire code? Who did Ariel think she was? Did she really think she was that capable? Even though Nancy¡¯s first instinct was to dismiss it as nonsense, her heart still skipped a beat. She instinctively nced toward Cedric. He hadn¡¯t said a word at all, just quietly observing. He still seemedpletely unaware. That gave Nancy a small measure of relief. ¡°Ariel, don¡¯t try to impress everyone. If it can be reconstructed so easily, it wouldn¡¯t even be confidential.¡± She sneered. Ariel didn¡¯t even bother debating her. She simply looked toward the judges¡® table. ¡°I can perform reverse- engineering analysis right now.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re really capable, go ahead and try.¡± Cedric, who had been silent until now, finally spoke. His tone was so light it was impossible to tell whether he trusted Ariel or not. Carlos shot him a nce. Cedric clearly knew Ariel¡¯s abilities, yet he still said that. He was really harsh with his words as usual. Nancy¡¯s throat tightened. Was Ariel crazy? How dare she bluff in front of everyone But Ariel didn¡¯t hesitate. She had a clear idea where the simrities were most striking, and she suspected Nancy¡¯s code was somehow linked to U.N2. Ariel¡¯s move stunned everyone in the audience. Most people would think she was just talking big. Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on Ariel. After a long moment, he subtly raised an eyebrow. Then his gaze flicked toward Cedric. Ariel had a n. Even in reverse¨Cengineering, she had a precise direction. Sure enough, when she saw that part of the code, her brow furrowed. Slowly, she turned to Nancy with a cold edge in her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll ask you again. Did you write this?¡± Nancy wasn¡¯t sure what Ariel had reconstructed, but there was no way for her to escape now. She clenched her fists and shot back, ¡°Of course. Ms. Walker, are you trying to pin something on me? Aren¡¯t we talking about your problem? Shouldn¡¯t you be proving yourself Ariel gave a small, amused smile as she passed the detailed code to Carlos. Once Carlos saw it, his expression turned ice¨Ccold. He stared at Nancy with a razor¨Csharp stare. ¡°Is that so? Are you really that capable? This part of the code actually matches U.N2.¡± The moment he said that, a number of people jumped to their feet, stunned. Nancy? U.N2? The connection was instantaneous. People couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Nancy was actually the U.N2 developer. Matt and the others were caughtpletely off guard by this situation. Samson¡¯s face darkened, and his gaze at Nancy deepened. He knew her skills. There was no way she was involved with U.N2. Even Nancy herself momentarily lost herposure. Her eyes went wide in disbelief. She clearly hadn¡¯t expected this. A cold sweat broke out across her skin. She nced instinctively at Cedric. Wasn¡¯t this just Cedric¡¯s scribble? How could it be¡­ Cedric finally looked at Nancy, then slowly chuckled. ¡°Really? Is that true?¡± Nancy felt a massive weight m down on her neck. The overwhelming sense of danger threatened to swallow her whole. Especially now, with U.N2 suddenly in the mix, the government would certainlyunch a full investigation. She had no idea how Ariel had figured it out. Now, she had to prove she had nothing to do with U.N2 if she wanted a chance to survive. Nancy¡¯s face went pale. She hurriedly said, ¡°There¡¯s been a misunderstanding. That¡¯s not the case. I can release part of my actual system code.¡± She was confident her code didn¡¯t match Ariel¡¯s reconstruction. Without waiting for the judges to respond, she handed over part of her system code. Ariel was astonished when she saw the familiar code. A faint chill touched her lips. ¡°Most of this matches what I reconstructed. Care to exin, Ms. Stanton?¡± The tide suddenly turned. Nancy was so shocked that she couldn¡¯t utter a word. Inside 549 Nancy never expected her code to actually match Ariel¡¯s reconstruction. This meant that what Cedric had written yesterday wasn¡¯t his own idea, but¡­. Her vision darkened, yet she gritted her teeth. She didn¡¯t even realize her voice was shaking as she said, ¡°No one here is the actual party involved. No one can speak for them. Your spection has no basis. The U.N2 developer isn¡¯t here. Who could possibly represent them I won¡¯t ept this baseless usation.¡± Even as she said it, a creeping panic gnawed at her from within. Her gaze instinctively flicked toward Jayson in the audience. He remained seated with his legs crossed, too far away for her to read his expression. It was as if a veil of mist covered him¨Cshe had never truly understood him. But she felt that if things went wrong today, Jayson would handle it. It had always been that way. The mention of the U.N2 developer suddenly set the stadium abuzz. Everyone knew that if that usation were true, the consequences would be unimaginable. Frederick knew that well. His face darkened instantly. ¡°Empty words! How can you nder someone like this? Isn¡¯t this about the simrities between your work and Ms. Stanton¡¯s? Are you dodging the point, shifting me, and framing her?¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze stayed fixed on him for a moment beforending on Nancy. ¡°What if the developer were here?¡± Her voice was so calm that it made everyone uneasy. Samson¡¯s eyes snapped toward her. His gaze suddenly burned with intensity. Even Cecilia frowned. She sensed that something was slipping beyondprehension and control. Ariel¡¯s words had clearly ignited the heaviest bomb in the stadium. Many were taken aback. ¡°No way. How could that level of figuree here without anyone knowing?¡± ¡°Could Nancy really have giarized? But how would she even know U.N2¡¯s ssified code?¡± ¡°This is a publicpetition. Unlike a private corporate dispute, if this gets confirmed, Nancy would be held ountable by the government.¡± This wouldn¡¯t just be a minor issue. The consequences would be severe. Nancy¡¯s entire future could be destroyed, with no chance of recovery. A defamation sentence of a year or two was trivial inparison Nancy understood this perfectly. Her face was ashen, but she kept her gaze icy as she stared at Ariel. ¡°Do you even know what you¡¯re saying? Fine. Then tell me. Who is it? Ariel, how much more absurd can you get to target me?¡± Gary could tell from Nancy¡¯s attitude that she knew the Na developer was confidential, hence her frankness. But¡­ ¡°Ms. Walker is right. The developer is here.¡± Gary stood unusually stern. Zach froze the moment he heard that. Gary knew the U.N2 developer? And they were actually present? Nancy¡¯s body shivered. Before she could say anything, Carlos looked at Ariel. ¡°At this point, this isn¡¯t just about personal issues. It involves national secrets. The situation is serious. It¡¯s time to reveal yourself and resolve this properly.¡± His words left no ambiguity. Matt and the others shot nces at Ariel. Realizing the implication, Matt almost lost his voice. ¡°Is¡­ she¡­¡± Cecilia¡¯s expression tightened. It took her a moment to process, and when she did, a subtle shadow darkened her eyes. Gary no longer held back. He stepped onto the stage. With a grave expression, he stared at Nancy and enunciated every word, ¡°If you want an exnation, fine. I¡¯m officially notifying you here. The U.N2 developer, kept confidential and protected by the country five years ago, is none other than the Ariel Walker standing before you!¡± Inside 550 Gary¡¯s intervention nearly shook the entire stadium. For a few seconds after his words, there wasplete silence. Nancy was almost speechless. Her eyes went wide and panicked as she looked at Ariel, like she was trying to figure out whether Gary was telling the truth. She instinctively took a step back. Her face was drained of color. ¡°No way¡­¡± Nancy wasn¡¯t the only one stunned. Everyone present froze. Then, as if someone had struck a spark, the stadium erupted with gasps, murmurs, and exmations. Even Zach, who had seen his fair share of chaos, stared wide¨Ceyed, unable to process it. The others nearby weren¡¯t any calmer. Perry, who had beenposed moments ago, suddenly paled. He looked in disbelief at Ariel standing calmly before them. He knew Ariel was skilled, but he had never imagined she could be¡­ this terrifying. In that instant, Perry felt a sharp pang of regret. If only he hadn¡¯t given up so quickly back then¡­. Frederick, who had just been speaking up for Nancy, was dumbstruck. His expression darkened. The weight of the revtion almost suffocated him, leaving him unable to utter a single word. Even Matt, usually nonchnt, froze. After a moment, he nced at Jayson beside him. ¡°Am I hearing things?¡± It was too unbelievable. He almost wished he were still dreaming. Jayson said nothing, only raising his chin slightly as he watched the thin, graceful figure on stage. Gary then turned to Carlos. ¡°Revealing Ariel¡¯s identity today is truly unavoidable. If we didn¡¯t, she would forever be shadowed by suspicion and nder. A researcher serving the country must never suffer such injustice!¡± He understood perfectly that if Ariel¡¯s identity wasn¡¯t made public today, Nancy¡¯s actions would ensure Ariel was the one under suspicion. Mrong, undeniable evidence was the only way to defend her. Otherwise, no words would matter. Everyone knew who Gary was. His intervention already spoke volumes. Carlos finally rose. His face was stern as he looked at Nancy ¡°You demanded fairness and asked for the developer to step forward. Now, Ariel is the U.Nz developer. What do you have to say now?¡± The question was calm, but itnded like a blow, each word striking Nancy to the core. Her face went pale. She could never have expected this tn of events. How could Ariel¡­ ¡°How could she be¡­ This must be a misunderstandinger voice trembled. Her mind scrambled desperately for an escape, but everything inside her was in chaos. Ariel finally nced at her, showing no hint of emotion. ¡°Mr. Hockney, I have reasonable suspicion that Nancy has stolen and giarized my U.N2 code. I request a full investigation.¡± The moment those wordsnded, Nancy felt her legs give way. A wave of sheer panic washed over her. Throughout her smooth, untroubled life of over 20 years, she had never faced anything this serious. If the usation were proven true, this wouldn¡¯t be a mere dispute but a grave issue linked to the country. It was enough to destroy her. Shocked, Janice turned to Chad. Chad gave her a reassuring nce before saying, ¡°If it¡¯s true, her life is over from here on.¡± Janice¡¯s eyes went wide, but she also felt a thrill. Nancy had dug her own grave. Carlos¡® gaze hardened. ¡°Even if Ariel hadn¡¯t used you, the gravity of this matter would have drawn a government investigation. If confirmed, Nancy, you could be guilty of giarizing national secrets or even leaking ssified technology. The consequences would be severe.¡± What he said was true. Parts of Ariel¡¯s U.N2 technology had started being taught this year at Ashford University by various professors to their graduate students. It wasn¡¯t fully public, so what Nancy did today still infringed on protected technological interests. Inside 551 Gary, representing the military, fixed Nancy with a cold stare. ¡°Nancy, you¡¯ll need to cooperate with the investigation from here on out.¡± The situation was driven straight to the climax. No one had expected things to escte this far. Meanwhile, Samson had been quiet for a long while before finally turning his gaze to Ariel. A storm of emotions shed in his eyes. He had always known Arie wasn¡¯t simple. He had even suspected she might be better than him, but he had never once imagined this. This oue made Nancy¡¯s mind go nk. Her breath game in short, uneven bursts as she looked toward Cedric, who sat there calmly. For the first time, she lost herposure in public. She couldn¡¯t understand. How could this be happening? Noticing her gaze, Cedric narrowed his eyes. He knew full well how this happened. He scoffed. ¡°How bold. Did she even think about the consequences of taking such a risk?¡± He knew Nancy had only one chance to ess the confidential U.N2 code¨Cyesterday. It didn¡¯t matter whether the code was Ariel¡¯s or not. Nancy¡¯s actions were unforgivable. She thought the code was Cedric¡¯s, so she quickly memorized and reused it. Like a reckless gambler, she bet he wouldn¡¯t call her out in public or even notice right away. Just another petty scheme. Since she chose this path, she must deal with the fallout on her own. Cedric turned to Gary and said coldly, ¡°I know some of the details. If you need me to, I¡¯ll cooperate.¡± Upon hearing that, Nancy felt thest bit of hope drain from her chest. Her mind scrambled, searching for a way out, but there was none. She had hesitated yesterday. But if she didn¡¯t take the risk, she knew she would never get another shot. She had thought that even if she used Cedric¡¯s code, he might choose not to expose her out of pride, and that could win her a chance to enter the national research engineering team. Cedric could have taken pride in it too. It could have been a win¨Cwin. But he hadn¡¯t spared her. She had calcted everything but never imagined the code was Ariel¡¯s. And that single misstep sent her plunging into ruin. But how could she ept this? With red eyes, she turned to Jayson. Finally, he moved, but he didn¡¯t look at her. His gaze shifted to Gary. ¡°Go on with the investigation.¡± His words left Nancy feeling suffocated. She looked at him in panic. She wasn¡¯t sure whether he had a n to help her. But this matter was far too serious. The government would intervene directly. Once her giarism was confirmed, she would be permanently cklisted from the industry. She would have nowhere to turn, at home or abroad, and the criminal charges awaiting her would be more than she could bear. +15 BONUS Cecilia, too, finally came to herself. Her gazended on the ever¨Ccalm Jayson with a mix of shock andplexity. She suddenly felt that something had been off for a while. Nancy was forced off the stage to face an investigation. As she passed the VIP section, her face drained of all color. She couldn¡¯t help but stop and look toward Jayson. ¡°Jayson!¡± At this moment, she no longer cared about keeping up appearances. Jayson gave her a sidelong nce and said nothing. Nancy suddenly felt as if she were plunging into an abyss. It was a feeling she couldn¡¯t put into words. She looked at him, her face ashen. But no one gave her another chance to say anything. She was taken away for questioning. Only then did Frederick snap back to his senses. He swung toward Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin, why aren¡¯t you saying anything? Do something!¡± He rushed up to Jayson, practically frantic. Matt¡¯s expression finally darkened. He spun around, cutting Frederick off. Frowning, he barked, ¡°Why don¡¯t you do something? You want to help her, right? Take her ce and face the charges, then!¡± What kind of stupid nonsense was Frederick talking about? Inside 552 The shock of it all rippled through the crowd. Who could have imagined thepetition would end like this? Nancy¡¯s giarism was already explosive, but Ariel¡¯s true identity was an even bigger bombshell. Frederick¡¯s face went from red to pale, but he couldn¡¯t utter a word. Janice noticed Frederick¡¯s outburst. Her face darkened with anger, but she no longer wanted to interfere. Nancy was under government investigation, and that was far beyond Frederick¡¯s reach. With aplicated expression, Cecilia stared at Jayson for a moment before finally asking, ¡°Mr. Larkin, aren¡¯t you worried?¡± With her words, those nearby finally started to catch on. From start to finish, Jayson hadn¡¯t shown the slightest crack of emotion. He sat there like none of it had anything to do with him. Jayson slowly nced at Cecilia. ¡°It¡¯s just an investigation. Why should I be worried?¡± Cecilia frowned at his words. The sense of strangeness in her chest sharpened by the second. Nancy had to be dealt with, yes. However, thepetition itself still had to be concluded. Without a doubt, Ariel rightfully took first ce. Now that her identity had been revealed, who could possibly argue? Shock was the only reaction left. Everyone in the field knew of U.N2, the groundbreaking work from years ago that had shaken the industry. Everyone had assumed it was created by one of the old experts. Who would have guessed it was the work of a young woman? Ariel was only 20 five years ago. The realization hit the room like another wave. What kind of terrifying, once¨Cin¨Ca¨Clifetime genius was this? Ariel hadn¡¯t expected things to escte this far today, especially not on a national stage. Under normal circumstances, once her non¨Cdisclosure agreement ended, she would only asionally be introduced at fixed events within the field. Nothing this grand would ever have happened. Researchers weren¡¯t supposed to be celebrities. Yet here she was, with both fame and recognitionnding squarely at her feet. And under this spotlight, no one could ever again try to pull cheap tricks on her. In fact, she might just be one of a kind in the research world. The energy in the stadium still burned bright. When Carlos turned to Ariel, a rare smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Ariel, the honor is rightfully yours.¡± That one line lit the ce up all over again. Cheers rang out from every corner. 1 On this grand stage, Jayson stood below, watching Ariel shine above them all. She was dazzling and untouchable. After a pause, his lips curved into the faintest smile. Looking at Ariel, Janice couldn¡¯t help but wipe at the corner of her eyes. Chad chuckled at the sight and reached out to ruffle her hair. ¡°Don¡¯t cry.¡± In fact, he was moved as well. They all knew Ariel deserved it. From this moment on, her name would carry the weight of honor itself. Only then did Chad nce at Jayson again. Bluum Corp¡¯s massive sponsorship had helped make this stage possible. In a way, it had be one of Ariel¡¯s stepping stones. But Nancy¡¯s scandal¡­ Ariel wondered how long the investigation into Nancy would drag on. When she finally stepped down, she found Samson waiting for her. His gaze lingered on her, heavy with unspoken feelings, but what finally escaped was nothing more than a yful remark. ¡°Guess I really do have good taste.¡± Ariel understood that his feelings must beplicated right now. He had once told her straight out that U.N2¡¯s developer was his idol. ¡°Sorry, I was under some restrictions, so I couldn¡¯t tell you,¡± Ariel apologized. Samson¡¯s gaze burned into her for a moment before he shrugged with a smile. ¡°It¡¯s fine. I get it. Still, it¡¯s a lot. I¡¯ll need some time to let it sink in.¡± Ariel knew her identity had hit plenty of people like a lightning strike. As she turned, her eyes caught sight of Jayson, already heading toward the exit. 2 Inside 553 Chapter 553 Jayson stopped and looked at Ariel. From across the distance, she couldn¡¯t quite read his expression, but he seemed to be staring at her for a long moment. Her entire presence seemed rtively rxed. Neither of them said anything. Samson nced at Ariel, then back at Jayson. Jayson didn¡¯t linger. He walked toward the exit, where people came and went. As he waited for his ride, Cecilia stepped out. She turned, observing his impassive profile. ¡°Ariel isn¡¯t the same as before. No one can outshine her now. With her identity revealed on a stage like this, she¡¯s secured fame and fortune. Nothing and no one can shake her anymore.¡± Even if someone wanted Ariel gone, no trick in the book would work. Jayson lowered his gaze. His thumb brushed over the smooth edge of a metal lighter. ¡°Maybe.¡± Cecilia smiled, though it carried no warmth. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I honestly don¡¯t understand you. Who do you actually love? Nancy or Ariel?¡± 1 Before today, she might have sworn it was Nancy. But now, something felt off. Ever since Cecilia returned after Jayson and Ariel¡¯s marriage became public, he hadn¡¯t shown Ariel the slightest tenderness. Everything he did leaned toward Nancy. He shielded her, cleared the way for her, and favored her again and again. Naturally, Cecilia had always believed that Nancy was the one Jayson truly loved. 2 Anyone looking in would have thought the same. But now, Nancy was in serious trouble. If the charges held, she was looking at a minimum of seven years. Cecilia knew well that her own ¡°help¡± after returning¨Cranging from the art exhibition scandal to blocking Nancy¡¯s climb upward¨Chad yed a part in Nancy¡¯s downfall. Amid the process, Ariel quietly rose to fame and fortune, gaining nationwide recognition and earning the highest esteem from the government. She had truly made her name. She wasn¡¯t just some obscure researcher anymore. No one could easily stand in the way of her future rise or the glory that awaited her. And with Bluum Corp pouring money into thepetition, the stage was nothing short of spectacr. This left Cecilia wondering if Jayson really loved Nancy at all. 484 With his influence, he could have used his role as the main sponsor to bury the scandal for now. Jayson finally looked at her but gave no answer. Cecilia studied him and smiled faintly. ¡°Mr. Larkin, don¡¯t tell me¡­ you used Nancy to throw me off.¡± 1 Just then, his car pulled up. Only then did he answer casually, ¡°You¡¯re overthinking, Ms. Pryce.¡± Without another word, he turned to step into the car. Cecilia narrowed her eyes. A thought suddenly hit her. If she hadn¡¯t meddled in Nancy¡¯s affairs and hadn¡¯t kept her focus there, would Ariel ever have made it to the spotlight of the nation¡¯s most prestigious techpetition? (3 The path Ariel was taking inevitably involved the government and would inevitably bring her into the political arena. Without what happened today, she might still be that obscure woman. Keeping her from rising wouldn¡¯t have been too difficult. (1) After all, the ways of political circles ran deep. But now, Ariel stood under the gaze of the entire world. With the spotlight upon her, her brilliance could no longer be hidden. Cecilia suddenly frowned. Cold sweat broke out along her back as an unthinkable suspicion shed through her mind. Meanwhile, thepetition was still wrapping up. Nancy¡¯s scandal had stirred up no smallmotion, and the matter would need continued follow¨Cup. Plenty of industry leaders had shown up, and all of them were eager to meet Ariel. However, she had no energy left for handshakes and pleasantries. After slipping out of the crowd, she sought out Cedric instead because she still couldn¡¯t make sense of everything that had happened today. Inside 554 Cedric didn¡¯t rush off today. A steady stream of people came up to greet him. He seemed to be in a decent mood, as he didn¡¯t brush them all aside without the slightest courtesy with that icy expression of his. By the time Ariel walked over, he had just dismissed a group of people. When he saw her, he let out a sharp huff and sped his hands behind his back before striding toward the exit. Ariel fell in step with him. Cedric¡¯s assistant shadowed them closely, intercepting anyone else who tried toe over and chat. ¡°Could I have a word with you?¡± Ariel asked, knowing that Cedric was giving her a chance. He gave her a sidelong nce. ¡°You¡¯re in a league of your own now. People will be lining up for a chance to meet you. Why are you asking for my permission?¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. That venomous tongue of his never softened. She didn¡¯t take offense, though. Instead, she kept her voice even and humble. ¡°You tter me, Mr. Warbrooke. Honestly, today¡¯s fiasco caught me off guard too.¡± Cedric took his time descending the steps. His tone remained sharp. ¡°Well, from here on, your road ahead will be nothing but smooth. You¡¯ll be one of a kind in the entire research field.¡± Few in the world of research ever managed to capture this much attention or honor. In fact, in their world, it was basically just him and Carlos who were household names. Everyone else was either known for a rare, groundbreaking contribution or for climbing to the very top of an institution. Recognition at this scale was rare. From here on, countless people would be curious about how far Ariel could go and what heights she might yet achieve. Ariel understood that well enough, but something puzzled her. ¡°Earlier, you mentioned you knew something about Nancy¡¯s situation. What did you mean by that?¡± Why was Cedric even tied to this? At that, Cedric looked at her. ¡°It¡¯s nothing worth mentioning. In the end, it was her choice. One thought separates good from evil. She kept harboring ill intentions. If her conscience had been clear, she wouldn¡¯t be where she is now.¡± He wasn¡¯t blind to Nancy¡¯s potential. She had a sharp mind and a strong memory. She could retain the key points he emphasized and even put them into practice. He had never denied that she had ability. Ariel couldn¡¯t quite make sense of the tangled web behind it all. But Cedric¡¯s reaction struck her as surprisingly calm. He showed little sign of shock. ¡°The government will step in on this matter. It spans too many levels for you to worry about. They¡¯ll take care of it.¡± Cedric checked his watch with a cold expression. Without waiting for her response, he waved her off and walked away, temperamental as ever. As Ariel watched his retreating back, she frowned slightly. When Chad came out, he patted her on the shoulder. ¡°Jan¡¯s gone to clean up Frederick¡¯s mess. He spoke up for Nancy in public today. Given how serious her case is, his involvement did him no favors.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Frederick to risk so much for Nancy. 1 ¡°What did Mr. Warbrooke say?¡± Chad asked. Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°Nothing detailed. But it just feels strange that Nancy went to see him at such a critical moment and just so happened to stumble across my code.¡± Nancy had already lost two rounds. Her mindset must have shifted without her even realizing. At such a fragile moment, if temptations arose and shecked resolve, it would be all too easy for her to go astray. After all, evil began with a single thought. The line between saints and sinners was thinner than we thought. Chad shrugged, twisting his car keys around his finger. ¡°Funny thing is, she turned it around and used your code of resembling hers. If you hadn¡¯t had that trump card, she would¡¯ve destroyed youpletely. Had she not done that, I don¡¯t think things would have spiraled out of control like this.¡± Nancy never imagined that Ariel would have such a powerful card up her sleeve. Otherwise, the one being taken away for investigation right now would have been Ariel. And she would have be the embodiment of disgrace in everyone¡¯s eyes. Ariel said no more. She decided it was best to leave quickly. If she lingered any longer, someone was bound to corner her, and it wouldn¡¯t be so easy to wrap things up. Inside 555 After Ariel and Chad left, Cecilia paused before getting into her car and cast a nce in the direction they had gone. When Samson came out, he noticed her thoughtful expression. He approached. ¡°No one expected her identity. Now that it¡¯s public, she¡¯s bound to get attention from the government. Petty tricks won¡¯t work on her anymore.¡± He walked toward his own car. Before leaving, he said casually, ¡°Don¡¯t think Jayson won¡¯t figure out what you did that day.¡± Cecilia finally nced at him. A faint smile touched her lips, but there was little warmth behind it. Nancy had never imagined she would find herself under a national investigation. Afteryer uponyer of questioning, sweat had soaked through her cor. The process dragged on for nearly two hours. Since this involved top¨Clevel ssified information, the procedure was unusually strict. She couldn¡¯t possibly confess, and each denial only served to prolong the investigation. When she finally emerged, the sun was setting. Not once had she received a call from Jayson. He hadn¡¯t evene to pick her up. 1 As Nancy stared at the empty intersection, her already pale face grew even more sallow. She pressed her lips tight, forcing down her unease. There was still more investigation to cooperate with, and she would be ced under temporary surveince. It was clear just how serious the consequences would be. Her heart sank at that thought. When the federal investigative agency¡¯s car dropped her off at her home, Sarah was already waiting for her. The news was already out, spreading online with rming speed and intensity. The moment Nancy entered, she copsed onto the couch. ¡°Is this some kind of mistake? How could Ariel be this capable? She¡¯s just a rookie!¡± Sarah¡¯s hands and feet were icy. She nearly lost her mind. Ariel was actually connected to U.N2? That former housewife who had once just stirred pots in the kitchen? Nancy¡¯s lips turned white. She drew in a deep breath. ¡°I don¡¯t know! If I don¡¯t handle this properly, I could be charged with leaking state secrets. That¡¯s a serious crime, and it touches the interests of the government. If they hold me responsible, I¡­¡± She would be done for. Such a charge was one that nearly everyone would condemn, and she could forget ever continuing in this field she once took pride in. Even Sarah, who had weathered many storms, was unnerved. She slumped onto the couch, but her mind raced. ¡°Why didn¡¯t Cedric tell you the code wasn¡¯t his? This is way too coincidental!¡± Nancy¡¯s thoughts were a tangled mess. Ariel was actually the developer of U.N2. Nancy still found it hard to believe and ept. She knew just how terrifying this achievement was. Ariel had been only 20 at the time. In just one night, the gap between her and Ariel became cosmic. She was the one left in the dust. All her life, she had considered herself a genius, a leading figure in her field. She had always carried herself with such arrogance in front of Ariel. But in the end, she was told that she had nevere close to matching Ariel¡¯s level, let alone being considered her equal. The revtion hit like a fiery p, shattering all of Nancy¡¯s pride. At that moment, disbelief was apanied by a strange, creeping anger. Her mind was consumed with the thought of going to prison, possibly for many years. Everything she had worked for in this field could be destroyed in an instant, leaving her future in ruins. A dark thought even crossed her mind. It would have been better if she had been charged back when she and Ariel shed over the defamation case. At least she could have served her sentence and been out within a year without it harming her career. prospects. Veyo Solutions wouldn¡¯t have been in jeopardy, and she would still be collecting dividends. None of this catastrophe would have happened. Nancy pulled out her phone and found Jayson¡¯s number, but she paused just as she was about to make the call. Inside 556 At the very moment she almost dialed, Nancy threw her phone, then bent forward to run her fingers through her hair. She was clinging to the hope that Jayson would swoop in and handle the mess she got into like he always had. But this time, he neither came to see her nor even bothered to call. Her pride twisted against itself, while a nameless panic wed at her chest. She believed that Jayson would help, and she wanted to wait for him to take the initiative. Thest thing she wanted was to let him see her at her most panicked and broken because she knew he wouldn¡¯t like that side of her. What she needed was for him to feel for her on his own. ¡°I¡¯ll try to handle this myself first. I¡¯m sure Jayson will step in if he sees that.¡± Nancy shut her eyes tightly, forcing herself to takefort in that thought. But Sarah was already beside herself. She gasped. ¡°You know perfectly well that you can¡¯t handle this! Ariel used you of stealing her work on camera. The government will go after you. She¡¯s trying to crush you! That bitch is really ruthless!¡± She had invested years of effort, grooming Nancy into someone of promise. They could have stepped into high society. But now, they were about to plunge straight into hell. How could she not be angry? Nancy¡¯s reputation in the upper echelons of the country waspletely ruined. Every avenue¨Cher marriage, her career, even the rest of her life¨Cwas blocked. There was no way out. With a pale face, Nancy said, ¡°I¨CI¡¯ll go talk to Mr. Warbrooke first. If he can help exin things for me, maybe I¡¯ll have a chance at a lighter sentence.¡± After all, Cedric had initially nned to take her in as his student. He would surely feel some sympathy for her. 1 Determined, she headed straight to the Warbrooke residence. She couldn¡¯t just sit and wait for disaster to strike. If she did, the only thing waiting for her was a dead end. But when she got there, she couldn¡¯t even get in the door. The guard simply said, ¡°Mr. Warbrooke said to act as if you two never met. Please leave.¡± Cedric¡¯s message was clear. A chill ran down Nancy¡¯s spine. ??? She got that code from Cedric in the first ce. If he could vouch that she had no knowledge of it, it might at least soften the blow. (1) But now¡­ ¡°I just want to say a few words to Mr. Warbrooke. Please, can you let me through?¡± she pleaded, refusing to give up. The guard didn¡¯t answer, only giving her a mocking look before shutting the gates in her face. Nancy¡¯s face fell. She didn¡¯t expect there to be no leeway at all. Cedric had been on her side, so why¡­ Back in her car, she gripped the steering wheel tightly. Her usual calm was cracking under pressure. After a long moment, Nancy suddenly remembered that Perry¡¯s grandmother¡¯s family had some connections in the federal investigative agency. She could try to smooth things over first. (19 At that thought, she called Perry. The line rang for a while before he finally picked up. ¡°Yes?¡± Nancy didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. She forced her voice to stay steady as she said, ¡°Perry, I know this is a lot of trouble, but could you help me reach some contacts in the federal investigative agency?¡± She and Perry had been close. After she returned to Eldoria, he cared about her quite a lot. At least at this moment, she felt he might show her somepassion. There was a pause on the other end. ¡°Look, I think you need to take responsibility for your own problems, and¡­ honestly, I¡¯m under no obligation to help you.¡± Nancy froze. The coldness in Perry¡¯s voice was unmistakable. Without another word, he hung up. Nancy was stunned for a long moment, unable to make sense of it. Why was Perry treating her so coldly? Weren¡¯t they close before? Didn¡¯t he¡­ even have feelings for her? 1 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 557 Chapter 557 The series of closed doors and mmed opportunities was finally breaking Nancy. No matter howposed she had been in the past, she couldn¡¯t withstand the shock and consequences of this case. She had hoped to find a way out on her own, but now, it felt like a brutal reality hade crashing down on her overnight. Nancy realized she had no useful connections and had never really stood on equal footing with people in this world. She couldn¡¯t ept Perry¡¯s attitude. At this moment, it seemed like only Matt could speak up for her. Even just persuading Perry or letting Jayson know what she was facing would help. Nancy felt her chest grow heavier by the second. She pushed caution aside and turned the car toward the club Matt frequented. When Matt learned Nancy was here, he didn¡¯t stop her. She was led straight inside. Matt gave her a once¨Cover as she stepped in. It was the first time he had seen the once¨Cproud, untouchable Nancy looking like this¨Cdisheveled, almost defeated, yet her eyes still burned with relentless ambition. ¡°You can move around freely now?¡± Matt asked, raising an eyebrow. Just one question struck Nancy to the core. Actually, she couldn¡¯t, and there were people watching her every move. ¡°I came to ask if you know what Jayson is trying to do. You know, I didn¡¯t mean for this to happen.¡± Nancy downyed it. She had no other options left. Matt sat on a barstool and studied her before smiling. ¡°What do you think Jayson can do?¡± Nancy paused for a second and looked at him. ¡°He hasn¡¯t figured something out yet?¡± Matt poured a drink and shrugged. ¡°You seem to be mistaken about something. People are criticizing you heavily, and many are openly attacking you. If you hadn¡¯t publicly tried to turn on Ariel, the bacsh might not be this intense, and you wouldn¡¯t be buried in scandal. Why do you think¡­ someone like Jayson would lower himself for you?¡± Stunned, Nancy stared at Matt. His expression was still kind, no different from before. But his words¡­ Her heart sank in an instant. She couldn¡¯t hide her shock as she looked at him. ¡°Matt, what do you mean by that?¡± Matt raised an eyebrow and set down his ss. ¡°Nobody forced you to take such a shortcut. The Larkin family is all about capital. They may have power, but they wouldn¡¯t squander it on someone who doesn¡¯t create real value. What makes you think Jayson is the type of man who¡¯d go blind over a woman?¡± Nancy went numb. A cold, creeping dread spread through her. Matt stood. ¡°I¡¯ve got things to do. Make yourselffortable.¡± With that, he turned and left. Nancy¡¯s ears rang sharply. Something inside her was pulling her downward, but she refused to ept it. She couldn¡¯t believe Jayson wouldn¡¯t care about her. They had always been close. Nancy suddenly thought of how morous Ariel had be. Now that the Larkins knew Ariel¡¯s capabilities, they would never give her up. That was an obvious fact. With Ariel¡¯s talent, she didn¡¯t even need to join thepetition, but she did. Nancy felt that Ariel must have done this on purpose. She deliberately put her in the spotlight and humiliated her in front of everyone, all to show off just how exceptional she was. Ariel¡¯s cruelty made Nancy feel sick. Hatred burned in her eyes. But what she struggled to ept most was the thought of Jayson not stepping in. She couldn¡¯t believe he would abandon her. Nancy leaned on the table for a long moment. Then, she called Jayson again. They had already taken things further. Their rtionship had grown intimate. There was no way Jayson would ever give up on her. Inside 558 When Nancy got back to her car, the call still hadn¡¯t gone through. She stared at the screen for what felt like an eternity. At this moment, she felt as if something inside her was slowly crumbling. Her lips were pressed tightly together, and cold sweat had soaked her forehead, but she kept trying to call. Maybe Jayson just didn¡¯t see it. She tried again and again. But still, there was no answer. Nancy¡¯s face slowly drained of color. Suddenly, she mmed her phone onto the passenger seat. She stayed slumped over the steering wheel for a long while. Her thoughts were a mess. Her long¨Cheld beliefs were crumbling, yet she refused to ept it. What did Ariel gain from all this? Nothing more than capturing Jayson¡¯s attention and using that status to keep holding onto him. By now, Jayson was most likely caught up with Ariel. 1 Just like Sarah had said, Ariel was far more shameless than Nancy had imagined. 2 After taking a long moment to calm down, Nancy finally managed to pull herself together. She hadn¡¯t wanted to bother Jayson before, but now, she couldn¡¯t just sit back anymore. Ariel didn¡¯t know the specifics of Nancy¡¯s situation, but she would cooperate with the investigation as the victim. As Cedric had said, this was a serious matter, and strict procedures were unavoidable. Many people had already caught wind of her identity, including Betty and the other Larkins. Even Jayson¡¯s uncle, who was long stationed overseas, had called to ask about it. Ariel had just finished a meeting when Betty called. ¡°Yes, Grandma?¡± Betty was clearly shocked, but she couldn¡¯t hide the delight in her voice. ¡°Ari, why didn¡¯t you tell me about your past? I heard about thepetition from Marie. Our family is so lucky!¡± Ariel poured herself a ss of water, listening quietly as Betty chattered happily. ¡°Whether it¡¯s your past aplishments or your sess in thispetition, it¡¯s all good news. Come back to your marital home tonight, and let¡¯s have dinner together. I want to cook for you. It¡¯s been so long since we had a meal together, and we just got some of your favorite seafood flown in,¡± Betty said affectionately. She was clearly in high spirits. Marital home? Ariel frowned instinctively. She was about to decline. After all, that space now had nothing to do with her. It was Jayson and Nancy¡¯s private area. ¡°Sorry, Grandma. I have to workte today.¡± Ariel came up with an excuse. Betty, feeling sorry for how hard she was working, couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Just take the day off. I¡¯m already here at your marital home. Can youe by after work tonight?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t know that Betty had already arrived. She thought about it for a moment. Bound by the divorce agreement to keep things quiet, she tapped her fingers on the desk before finally saying, ¡°Grandma, I¡¯ll let Jayson know first.¡± Betty didn¡¯t think much of it and responded cheerfully. Ariel called Jayson. When he answered, she got straight to the point. ¡°Grandma wants me to go to Crescent Point. Can you talk to her?¡± After all, that house now belonged to him and Nancy. She thought he should be informed. Jayson seemed busy at work. The background noise quieted for a moment before he asked, ¡°What time do you get off? I can pick you up.¡± Ariel frowned. ¡°Are you listening? I said Grandma wants me to go to Crescent Point.¡± ¡°Yeah, what time do you finish?¡± he replied casually. Ariel couldn¡¯t understand him. Jayson seemed to have figured out what she was thinking. Calmly, he said, ¡°Grandma already told me. She¡¯s happy for you and has prepared a lot at our marital home. Do you have time to go over tonight?¡± (2) Ariel didn¡¯t mind seeing Betty. After all, thetter had been the most caring person to her in the past three years. And since Betty had already prepared everything, it wouldn¡¯t feel right to stand her up. The only thing that felt odd was going to Crescent Point now. But if Jayson didn¡¯t mind, why should she? Inside 559 ¡°Fine,¡± Ariel replied. Now that Betty knew about het past and identity, there was no brushing her off anymore. She hung up without asking Jayson to pick her up. She felt that that kind of disy would only make things awkward for both of them. After finishing work, Ariel checked the time and finally drove toward Crescent Point around 7.00 pm. It was the start of the rainy season. Halfway there, the sky opened up. The air carried the damp smell of earth and rain. When she arrived, she got out of the cat under an umbre and walked up to the door, only to realize she no longer had the code. Ever since Jayson bought the house back, the doot code had been changed. But if she rang the bell, Betty might notice something was off. Ariel frowned slightly. Just as she was considering her options, footsteps approached from behind. Through the damp air came a faint scent of fir. Before she could turn, the person behind her took her hand and pressed her finger against the scanner. With a beep, the door unlocked. Surprised, Ariel looked up at Jayson. He had already released her. His gaze was calm as he looked at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± He didn¡¯t exin further. Instead, he simply stepped past her with the umbre and walked inside. Her fingerprint? Ariel frowned, not quite able to understand. He had kept her fingerprint registered in the home he shared with Nancy? Had he forgotten to delete it? She pushed the thought aside and stepped inside. The moment she saw the renovated first floor, she felt disoriented. The familiaryout she remembered had almostpletely changed. The furnishings felt strange, leaving no trace of the home she had lived in and carefully decorated for three years. This was a new house. Someone else¡¯s home. Her thoughts only lingered for two seconds before Jayson nced back at her with an unreadable gaze. What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ariel gave him a brief look, said nothing, and walked in after him. The moment she entered, she saw Evelyn sitting in the living room. Hearing themotion, Betty came out of the kitchen, with Rachel trailing after her. The moment Betty saw Ariel, she rushed over and held her hand. Then, she shot Jayson a sharp look.¡± What¡¯s wrong with you? How could you not tell us about Ari? You kept it so well. Don¡¯t tell me you didn¡¯t know.¡± She was sure that Jayson knew about it. He had just chosen not to say a word. And now the whole family looked like outsiders, blind to their own child¡¯s life. Jayson only lifted a brow. ¡°There were special circumstances. Ari couldn¡¯t say anything.¡± Betty looked ready to press him further when Ariel cut in gently, ¡°Sorry, Grandma. I was under confidentiality agreements. I really couldn¡¯t tell you.¡± Betty wasn¡¯t truly angry. She just felt a wave of emotion. Such an exceptional woman had stayed so low- key. Now, with her sudden reveal, it all felt almost unreal. A researcher so highly valued by the government had actually lived so quietly in their family for all these years. ¡°Oh, don¡¯t apologize. This is an honor for our family.¡± Betty, after all, had seen her share of the world. With a broad smile, she patted Ariel¡¯s hand. ¡°Go wash your hands. Dinner will be ready soon.¡± Beaming, she bustled back into the kitchen. Ariel¡¯s aplishments filled her with joy. Meanwhile, Evelyn sat there with aplicated expression. She couldn¡¯t pretend she wasn¡¯t shocked. Plenty of wealthy wives were already asking about Ariel nonstop. Clearly, the impact on everyone was significant. When she first found out, she was stunned for a long time, even thinking it was just a rumor. After all, it all sounded so unrealistic. In her eyes, Ariel had always been that quiet, gentle woman who revolved around Jayson. ¡°Jayson,e with me for a minute,¡± Evelyn said atst, her voice strained. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to speak directly to Ariel. Rising from her seat, she addressed Jayson instead. He didn¡¯t refuse. Ariel didn¡¯t bother wondering what they were going to discuss. She simply sat quietly as a guest in the Inside 560 Chapter 560 Evelyn still couldn¡¯t wrap her head around it. Standing under the veranda, she watched the rain trickle down in thin, silver lines, her expressionplicated. ¡°I¡¯ve heard a few things, and it seems Mr. Warbrooke is involved as well. Jayson, don¡¯t you think you owe me an exnation?¡± She just couldn¡¯t make sense of it. Cedric had been brought in at Jayson¡¯s request, through Emerich, all for Nancy¡¯s sake. Under normal circumstances, her situation wouldn¡¯t have turned out so bad. But in the end, why did Nancy¡¯s downfall get linked to Cedric? Worse, Cedric had technically been introduced to Nancy through the Cavell family. If Nancy got dragged down, and Cedric himself admitted to being involved, it wouldn¡¯t be long before people started digging into the Cavells as well. That kind of scandal was thest thing Evelyn wanted. ¡°If I¡¯d actually epted Nancy back then, this whole mess would have sshed onto the Cavells too. What were you thinking?¡± Setting aside all the gossip swirling around about Ariel these past few days, what lingered was irritation. If she had chosen the wrong person back then, she would have been dragged straight into this mess. Jayson flicked his gaze toward her, then out into the night without saying anything. Evelyn¡¯s face hardened. ¡°You never should¡¯ve dragged the Cavells into helping Nancy. Whether she seeded or failed should¡¯ve been her own problem. But now that you tied us to her, how do you expect outsiders to see me? If anyone uncovers the Cavells pulling strings, how are we supposed to keep our reputation intact?¡± That finally got a reaction. Jayson lowered his gaze and slid his thumb across his phone. ¡°Isn¡¯t this exactly what you wanted?¡± Evelyn froze. She stared at him in disbelief. He looked down at her. ¡°You wanted the perfect daughter¨Cinw. You approved whoever seemed most promising. So shouldn¡¯t the risks be shared too? Benefits don¡¯te without a price.¡± Evelyn stared at his cold expression in shock. ¡°You¡­¡± Jayson didn¡¯t give her another word. He turned and went back inside. For a long moment, Evelyn stood there, shaken. She felt as if something had struck her out of nowhere. Jayson was only speaking the truth, but he said it in the harshest way possible. If she hadn¡¯t hesitated back then, the one sitting at the bottom of this pit right now would have been her. Her expression darkened. Then, the phone in her hand buzzed. It was someone confirming Ariel¡¯s identity. Evelyn had sent people to investigate because she couldn¡¯t believe it at first. But now¡­ ¡°Mrs. Larkin, it¡¯s true. Ms. Walker¡¯s identity has been verified.¡± That was when Evelyn¡¯s face paled. Ariel had hidden this all these years. When the truth finally came out, it felt like a p across the face. Evelyn felt that all the times she had dismissed Ariel back then now felt painfully pathetic. Ariel had only sat for a while when she saw Renee walk in. Renee¡¯s eyes widened the moment she saw Ariel. There was shock and something awkward in her expression. In the end, she walked over. ¡°You¡¯re quite the schemer, aren¡¯t you? Keeping it from us all this time.¡± She still hadn¡¯t let go of the grudge from when Ariel blocked her and changed her number. No matter what Ariel¡¯s status was now, Renee couldn¡¯t get past that. Ariel finally looked at her. Her gaze was cool. Yet, Renee actually felt a flicker of relief. Ariel was so impressive, and she was her sister¨Cinw. She felt satisfied, knowing it would make her look good. At this thought, Renee approached Ariel and poured herself a ss of juice before saying, ¡°I can overlook the fact you didn¡¯t tell me. But as you know, the college entrance exams areing up. Find some time to tutor me.¡± 2 Ariel lowered her eyes to her phone as she retorted, ¡°Doesn¡¯t Jayson have money to hire you a tutor?¡± She was clearly saying no to Renee. Renee¡¯s eyes flew wide. Ariel actually refused? ¡°You¡¯re Jay¡¯s wife. How can you not help me?¡± Renee couldn¡¯t ept it. A few years ago, Ariel had always done whatever she asked. She couldn¡¯t tolerate the way Ariel was treating her now. Ariel was still part of the Larkin family. She was still Jayson¡¯s wife. Renee felt that it was Ariel¡¯s job to take care of her. It had always been that way. So what if she was impressive now? 1 Inside 561 In Renee¡¯s eyes, Ariel was still throwing herself at Jayson and begging for a scrap of attention. Ariel stood up. ¡°So what? Did I give birth to you?¡± She had no patience to argue with Renee, so she turned to leave. Renee looked at Ariel in shock. Her face went pale from Ariel¡¯s words. It felt like a sudden sting to the chest. She was taken aback by Ariel¡¯s attitude. Unable to pin down exactly what she felt, she chalked it up to anger and marched toward Ariel. ¡°You¡¯re doing this on purpose, aren¡¯t you? Is it because I was close to Nancy before? Ariel, if you want me to acknowledge you as my sister¨Cinw, just say so.¡± She reached out to grab Ariel¡¯s hand. But Ariel wasn¡¯t about to let her. She lifted her hand and swatted Renee¡¯s away. Renee¡¯s ss tilted, and orange juice spilled onto Ariel¡¯s stomach. This time, Ariel¡¯s eyes turned cold. Meeting that gaze, Renee felt a chill run through her. She froze. Jayson arrived just in time to see this scene. Frowning, he shot Renee a cold look before turning to Ariel. You should go get changed.¡± Ariel frowned. Where was she supposed to change? Also, she hadn¡¯t brought any spare clothes. Jayson seemed to read her mind. ¡°Use the master bedroom on the second floor. You can wash it and throw it in the dryer if you want.¡± Ariel looked at him, her tone cold and detached, as if she were just a guest. ¡°Is that really okay?¡± Wasn¡¯t that his and Nancy¡¯s private space? She had zero interest in snooping or crossing boundaries. Jayson lowered his gaze at her. ¡°Do you want me to take you up?¡± Ariel frowned. Being soaked was ufortable, so she ignored him and headed upstairs. Since he didn¡¯t mind, she had no reason to refuse. As soon as Ariel left, Jayson turned his attention to Renee. Renee felt a chill run down her spine as she met his gaze. Biting her lip, she murmured, ¡°I didn¡¯t do it on purpose¡­¡± As Jayson walked past her, he said indifferently, ¡°Remember to apologize.¡± Once upstairs, Ariel saw that theyout of the second floor hadn¡¯t changed much. But even after the divorce, she wouldn¡¯t snoop around indiscriminately. Jayson mentioned she could use the master bedroom. It was still in the same ce. She walked straight to it. The moment she pushed the door open, she froze, and a sh of surprise crossed her eyes. She looked around the room. The bedding, rug, couch, curtain, and ornaments were exactly as she had arranged them. Even the vanity was in its old spot. The only difference was that her bottles and jars on the vanity had all been removed, making it look bare. None of Nancy¡¯s things were in sight. Ariel furrowed her brow, genuinely confused. The master bedroom hadn¡¯t changed at all, as if it belonged to apletely different world from the rest of the house. She almost wondered if she was imagining it. After all, the ce looked as if she had never left. Just as she was about to step back, footsteps echoed behind her. When she turned around, Jayson had alreadye upstairs. He nced at her, then stepped aside into the bedroom. ¡°If you¡¯re going to change, do you mind wearing one of my shirts first?¡± Ariel looked around the room again. She really couldn¡¯t wrap her head around Jayson. He had destroyed everything but left the master bedroom untouched? ¡°Sure. Thanks,¡± she said. Her white silk shirt was soaked through and unusable. She wasn¡¯t about to suffer for the sake of keeping distance. Jayson pulled a white shirt from the wardrobe, which was simr in material to hers. She had a waist chain on her outfit, which would work well with it. Ariel took it and headed into the bathroom. Inside, she hand¨Cwashed the stained shirt before tossing it into the dryer. She should be able to change back after dinner. When she came out, Jayson was still there, sitting and scrolling on his phone. As for why the master bedroom hadn¡¯t been redone¡­ She nced at all the decorations she had put in the room and frowned. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you redo this room?¡± Jayson looked up at her. Before he could answer, a knock came at the door. Rachel stood there, looking uneasy. ¡°Mr. Larkin, Nancy¡¯s here. She wants to see you.¡® X The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 562 415 BONUS Ariel instinctively frowned. Running into Nancy under the circumstances now didn¡¯t feel right. She didn¡¯t bother quessing what Jayson might do and turned to leave. After all, if anyone was going to be troubled, it would be him. As Ariel reached the top of the stairs, she saw Betty sitting in the living room with a cold expression and ordering the staff, ¡°No outsiders are allowed in. If she won¡¯t leave, ask her to wait.¡± Betty was usually warm and approachable, but she had a ruthless streak when handling matters. She offered no chances or negotiations. Beside her, Evelyn showed no expression and didn¡¯t say a word. By now, she knew all too well that Nancy was aplete mess. In her eyes, she was utterly incapable of shouldering any real responsibility. So when Ariel came down, Evelyn¡¯s face remained neutral, though her eyes betrayed a hint of something. Ariel had never revealed even a hint of her trump card these past few years. That kind of temperament was beyond ordinary people. In the end, Evelyn felt almost like a fool. Though shocked by Ariel¡¯s abilities, she couldn¡¯t help but wonder if Ariel was ying them. Betty waved her over. ¡°Ari,e eat.¡± She made no mention of the woman outside the gate, so Ariel pretended she knew nothing. After all, this was the Larkin family¡¯s property. Their stance was clear, and their actions had nothing to do with her. Jayson walked up behind Ariel, seemingly unconcerned with how Betty dealt with Nancy. He fell into step beside Ariel and nced at her. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ariel was surprised by his calmness. Nancy was out there in the rain, waiting. Ariel froze for a second. Something about this felt off. Renee knew that Nancy was at the gate too. Having spent so much time together, she couldn¡¯t help feeling a little uneasy. ¡°It¡¯s pouring out there, Jay. Aren¡¯t you worried?¡± she asked, lowering her voice so Betty wouldn¡¯t overhear. Jayson¡¯s deep gaze flicked over her. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to eat, you can have the driver take you home first. #1 Renee¡¯s expression stiffened. But at the thought of Ariel¡¯s skills, she forced herself to stay quiet. She didn¡¯t want to say anything that might upset Ariel right now. Ariel was easy to please. Renee was sure that if she showed a little kindness, Ariel would treat her well, just like before. Renee had studied Ariel¡¯s postgraduate admissions results and knew Ariel would be a great asset to her. Outside, Nancy had decided to take a gamble. She had gone to Jardine Manor, found it empty, and thought she would try here. Sure enough, lights were zing. She didn¡¯t know who was inside. But after she rang the doorbell, a maid came out to tell her to leave. Her heart sank, and her face went pale. Jayson wouldn¡¯t even see her. Everything she had believed in began to crumble. She couldn¡¯t ept it. Nancy decided to throw caution to the wind and let the rain soak her through. She thought that Jayson couldn¡¯t really be that cruel. If he saw her, surely he would feel for her. Now, with no way out, she felt that any cost was better than dealing with the uncontroble consequences. Inside, dinner went on. Betty kept putting food on Ariel¡¯s te while asking excitedly about every detail. Her eyes were filled with pride and joy. Ariel answered selectively. ¡± Evelyn, however, didn¡¯t look particrly pleased. She wondered if Ariel would use this trump card to elevate her own standing. After all, Ariel had always been at a disadvantage in her rtionships. A sudden rise might¡­. Ariel didn¡¯t care what anyone at the table thought. Her appetite was moderate, so she ate slowly. Jayson poured her a ss of water and set it beside her. Ariel finally cast him a sidelong nce. Inside 563 Chapter 563 Jayson¡¯s expression was distant. Noticing Ariel¡¯s gaze, he looked up at her. ¡°Do you want some soup?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t bother ying along with this public disy of affection. She replied, ¡°No, thanks.¡± Her gaze flicked to the window. It seemed like no one at the table was even thinking about Nancy being outside. Jayson didn¡¯t show any hint of unease as well. After dinner, none of them lingered. Betty didn¡¯t notice anything unusual between Ariel and Jayson. After giving many reminders, she got into her car. On her way out, Renee nced toward the gate. She frowned slightly, then quickly got in the car. Out of sight, out of mind. Jayson took a call and headed off to discuss work. Only Evelyn stayed behind. She looked at Ariel. ¡°The past is the past, but I¡¯d like to give you some advice. Since you chose to marry Jayson, regardless of your current status, you¡¯re still his wife. You chose not to bring up your past back then, so I hope you won¡¯t hold any grudges over it.¡± She wasn¡¯t sure if Ariel would take offense. If she used her current fame and status to act on a whim and divorce Jayson, how would the world view the Larkin family? After all, Nancy¡¯s scandal had just caused quite a stir not long ago. In Evelyn¡¯s eyes, Ariel now had enough leverage to stir trouble. Her expression softened slightly. ¡°Of course, I know you wouldn¡¯t. After all, it was you who maneuvered for this marriage back then.¡± Evelyn was sure that Ariel¡¯s love for Jayson was total and selfless. So even with newfound backing, Ariel could never be ruthless in matters of the heart. She wouldn¡¯t dare divorce Jayson, nor could she bear to. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Evelyn to say that, but she could see through theyers of meaning. Evelyn wouldn¡¯t have talked to her at all if she didn¡¯t care, or if she weren¡¯t wary and annoyed. Before, the proud and aloof Mrs. Larkin had always ignored her. Ariel looked far too nonchnt, which made Evelyn feel a subtle unease. She frowned slightly. ¡°Let¡¯s be honest. Nancy¡¯s intrusion happened because you gave her the chance. You can¡¯t me anyone else.¡± 1 Ariel finally looked at her. ¡°So you think a mistress¡® appearance is the spouse¡¯s fault?¡± Without waiting for Evelyn¡¯s answer, she continued, ¡°Then I hope you don¡¯t make any mistakes.¡± Evelyn¡¯s usual coldposure faltered. She hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to speak to her like that. Ariel ignored her after that. She went to change back into her own clothes. When she came out, the house was quiet. She didn¡¯t intend to linger. With the Larkins gone, she had no reason to stay. Without hesitation, she moved toward the door. Jayson appeared from the side hall. His gaze lingered on her face for a moment. ¡°It¡¯s still raining. I¡¯ll walk you out.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t even turn around. ¡°No need.¡± He ignored her words. As she stepped out, he strode forward and draped his coat over her shoulders. ¡°It¡¯s cold tonight. Wear it.¡± Ariel was caught off guard. She almost instinctively frowned. Before she could speak, she sensed a chilling gaze. She turned and saw Nancy, who was still outside. She was nearly soaked through. Her figure, pressed against wet clothing, was clearly visible. Even the Nancy hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to be here. Having waited three hours in the rain, the first person she sawing out of the house was Ariel, with Jayson thoughtfully draping a coat over her to protect her from the rain and wind. His attentiveness made Nancy¡¯s expression darken almost uncontrobly. She clenched her fingers tightly into her palm. Inside 564 Chapter 564 When had ite to this? Nancy suddenly found herself reduced to a mere onlooker, watching a scene that stabbed straight at her chest. For a moment, she felt like she might choke on her own anger. It had always been Ariel watching her stand by Jayson¡¯s side. She suddenly understood why Jayson hadn¡¯te out to meet her. Surely Ariel had been ying tricks to keep him inside. Nancy¡¯s gaze was sharp enough to hurt. When Ariel turned to nce at her, her eyes were icy and indifferent. Standing on the steps above, she seemed to look down on Nancy. She watched her trembling lips and the bitter, resentful re in her eyes. Nancy was no longer the morous, arrogant figure she once was. Meanwhile, Nancy felt a humiliating sense of disparity that made her chest tighten with difort. She had nned to tug at Jayson¡¯s heart by getting soaked in the rain. Yet now, it was Ariel¨Cthe one Jayson was caring for¨Cwho saw her in this pitiful state. Ariel was actually a little surprised. Nancy had changed so much from before. However, she felt no sympathy whatsoever. Instead, she thought it was simply poetic justice. Even now, what she saw in Nancy¡¯s expression wasn¡¯t an awareness of her own mistakes but pure resentment and anger. She realized that some people¡¯s thinking was twisted and irrational to the core. ¡°No need. There¡¯s someone else who actually needs your concern,¡± Ariel said. She didn¡¯t spare Nancy another nce and wasn¡¯t nning to wear Jayson¡¯s coat. She knew that doing so might shock Nancy, but she had no interest in indulging such petty theatrics. She had no intention of getting involved in their issues. Though she did notice that the two of them weren¡¯t as close as she had expected. Jayson watched Ariel¡¯s cold expression as she slipped off his coat and got into her car without looking back. She didn¡¯t bother wondering what was going on between them and just drove away. Jayson stayed there, watching her car vanish into the night. Nancy saw his expression clearly, even though Jayson hadn¡¯t shown any overt emotion. He was always difficult to read. She suddenly realized she had never truly understood him. But now, guided by her instinct, she suddenly realized that Jayson had never explicitly expressed aversion or rejection toward Ariel. Jayson slowly withdrew his gaze and looked at Nancy with one hand in his pocket. As Nancy met that look, she felt a chill run down her spine. She suddenly realized something. Jayson had always looked at her the same way. But only now did she suddenly realize that beneath that calm gaze had alwaysin a streak of cold indifference. ¡°Jayson¡­¡± Nancy shivered. Her anger toward Ariel instantly gave way to a sense of panic. ¡°Did Ariel say something to you that made you act like this?¡± Jayson remained silent. A car pulled up beside Nancy. Arthur stepped out under his umbre and approached Nancy to give her a document. ¡°Ms. Stanton, here¡¯s a copy of the agreement you signed. Please review it.¡± Nancy snapped back to reality and looked at the document with a cold expression. When she read the contents, her expression changed drastically. It was a wager agreement. Back when Jayson had invested in Veyo Solutions, she had promised him a perfect performance within two years. Jayson had said he didn¡¯t mind, but Matt had suggested a wager agreement, framing it as a yful challenge. If she seeded, all was well; if she failed, she could just give herself to Jayson. 1 At the time, she hadughed it off as a joke but had still agreed to it because she knew Jayson had invested a lot. She had wanted to prove her capability, to show she wasn¡¯tpletely reliant on him, and to silence critics. In the end, she had suggested to Jayson that she sign a personal agreement like a pledge. If she failed to meet the performance targets or if thepany suffered any mishaps, she would personallypensate Jayson with 70% of his investment. Jayson had said 70% was unnecessary and revised it to 30%, saying he didn¡¯t want to put too much pressure on her. Inside 565 The terms had nothing to do with Veyo Solutions. It was all Nancy¡¯s personalmitment. So now¡­ Arthur looked at her calmly. ¡°This agreement was signed in your personal capacity, Ms. Stanton. It doesn¡¯t involve Veyo Solutions. You¡¯re required to pay an additional 60 million dors.¡± Nancy¡¯s face stiffened. Eventually, the colorpletely drained from it. She hadpletely forgotten about this personal wager agreement. Even if Veyo Solutions had a new owner, the agreement still applied only to her. Jayson had never mentioned it before, and she had assumed he wouldn¡¯t hold it against her. But now, at her lowest point, the wager agreement suddenly resurfaced. It would be thest straw that breaks the camel¡¯s back. Nancy looked at Jayson in disbelief. ¡°Jayson, you¡¯re joking, right?¡± Jayson, holding a ck umbre, stepped closer and watched her through the gate. His expression was as calm as always. ¡°If you¡¯ve reviewed it, then go back.¡± Her breathing was ragged, and her eyes were red. ¡°Jayson, what¡¯s this supposed to mean?¡± He lowered his gaze and stared at her. His eyes held a chill, like the rainy night itself. Nancy felt her world copse. She staggered forward and clutched the gate railing. ¡°Can we talk? I admit that I shouldn¡¯t have had those thoughts after seeing Mr. Warbrooke. It did put you in a difficult spot, but we had already¡­ confirmed our rtionship. I gave myself to you that day, Jayson. Don¡¯t joke with me like this.¡± It took them so long to confirm their rtionship. Everything was finally moving in the right direction. Matt¡¯s and Perry¡¯s attitude toward her didn¡¯t matter. Only Jayson¡¯s did. She couldn¡¯t ept this. If Jayson brought up the wager agreement at this crucial moment, it would really crush her. His gaze on her remained as calm as always, with no hint of difference from the past. ¡°What rtionship? ¡± That single question froze Nancy. As she looked into his eyes, she felt a coldness that seemed to cut straight through her. Even though Jayson had always looked at her like this, only now did she sense the subtle indifference that had always been buried deep within him. (1) ¡°Haven¡¯t you already epted me? You were so passionate with me that night. You like me!¡± Nancy stared at Jayson intently, determined to find some excuse to avoid the truth. She already had him. Ariel¨Cthat dull, uninteresting woman¨Cwas no match for her. Jayson still carried himself with poise, but beneath thatposurey a coldness etched deep into his bones. ¡°Ms. Stanton, what¡¯s your fling with another man got to do with me?¡± 2 Nancy¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Another man?¡± Her lips trembled. ¡°It wasn¡¯t you? That¡¯s impossible!¡± That night on the cruise ship, he had never explicitly denied it! Otherwise, she wouldn¡¯t have believed they were already intimate, or that he would divorce Ariel to marry her. Jayson looked at her and said coldly, ¡°I don¡¯t recall ever saying I had any romantic feelings for you, let alone confirming any rtionship.¡± 1 Nancy couldn¡¯t believe it. Only at this moment did she feel a helpless despair. Countless times, she had unted herself as his ¡°girlfriend¡± in front of Ariel. She assumed Jayson had acknowledged her as such, so except for one mention of marriage, she had never brought it up. 1 She had been confident that Ariel could neverpare to her and that she was clearly the better choice. But with everything happening now, she couldn¡¯t help recalling all that had happened over this time. A doubt she had long tried to suppress deep in her heart gradually surfaced. ¡°Arthur, see her out.¡± Jayson said nothing more. His expression remained unchanged. It was still the same him, still charming, yet with a deadly edge. Nancy stared in disbelief at his tall, imposing back. Arthur smiled as he looked at her disheveled state. ¡°Ms. Stanton, if you can¡¯t pay thepensation, then please return the house Mr. Larkin bought.¡± 1 X GET I Inside 566 Chapter 566 Nancy¡¯s throat constricted. She stared at Arthur with a look of bewilderment on her face. She thought she had probably misheard him. Raindrops rolled down her face. It was so cold that Nancy was finding it hard to process what was happening. ¡°What¡­?¡± Even though Arthur spoke politely, it only made him appear even colder and merciless. ¡°We¡¯re simply giving you a suitable suggestion. Ms. Stanton, we hope you¡¯ll get the matter sorted out as soon as possible. Arthur did not waste his time standing there. After telling Nancy everything he needed to inform her about, Arthur walked past her and entered the house. Nancy stood by the door in a daze for quite some time. She couldn¡¯t understand how things had turned out this way. She was shaking all over uncontrobly. Nancy was both furious and terrified. ¡°Ariel Walker¡­¡± she muttered inwardly. 1 Her mind was filled with only one thought. Ariel must be behind this. She must have done something or said something to Jayson. Otherwise, why would Jayson do this to her? 1 Nancy subconsciously tried to shift the me to Ariel. Yet, as she got drenched in rain, the cold, hard facts thaty before her shattered all the lies she had been telling herself. Although Jayson hadn¡¯t red or shouted at her at any point, Nancy couldn¡¯t help but notice the cold, detached look in his eyes. All along, Jayson had been standing on a high pedestal while looking down at her. Without needing to do much, he had Nancy in the palm of his hand. Jayson could go along with Nancy¡¯s requests or satisfy her wishes asionally. Doing these favors meant nothing to him. However, from Nancy¡¯s perspective, she would naturally assume Jayson was giving her preferential treatment. Nancy felt as though her heart had been torn into a million pieces as reality hit her. Upon receiving such a huge blow, Nancy¡¯s eyes turned red. She clenched her jaw hard. Nancy simply could not ept the fact that Jayson had no feelings for her at all. He was even going to take away thest safe haven she had when she was already in deep water. Nancy knew very well that Jayson would not change his mind, no matter how long she waited and tried to plead for his mercy. When she got back inside her car, Nancy recalled asking Jayson that question outside the hotel the other day. Back then, Jayson merely looked at her and smilednguidly. He didn¡¯t even respond to her question. It was Matt, who came out a bitter and heard her question, who answered, ¡°No one would hate a smart and beautiful woman.¡± Jayson did not refute his words. At the time, Nancy thought Jayson agreed with Matt too. Moreover, that was what she believed wholeheartedly as well. If she coulde in first ce at thepetition, Jayson would surely choose her and stop paying any attention to Ariel. After that, it would only be a matter of time before Jayson discarded Ariel. Yet, everything fell apart, whether it was Nancy¡¯s life, her pride, or her beliefs. She wondered what Jayson had thought of her all this time. Did he think that she was hrious? Nancy had even asked Jayson to marry her when the person she had slept with the other day was someone else. Nancy looked bitter and devastated on her way home. 1 She couldn¡¯t ept that it was all over for her while Ariel was gaining fame and recognition. How did things turn out like this? Ariel was supposed to fail miserably like Elena did and face ruin. How could Ariel even think about getting ahead and trampling all over her? As Nancy became fixated on that thought, her eyes turned red. Her eyes burned with resentment. When she returned to her neighborhood, Nancy nearly crashed into a tree by the roadside because she had been momentarily distracted. 1 She immediately turned the steering wheel. The sound of tires screeching could be heard the next instant. Nancy stumbled out of the car. Frederick spotted her from a distance and hurried over immediately. He couldn¡¯t believe he would actually find Nancy looking so distraught one day. She lookedpletely different from the prideful, elegantdy that he knew. Frederick had been waiting here for quite a while. He grabbed Nancy¡¯s arm to support her. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Nancy, did something happen?¡± +15 BONUS Nancy finally saw him. However, she could no longer maintain a gentle and polite expression on her face. ¡°Let me go!¡± Frederick pursed his lips. ¡°I don¡¯t want to hide it anymore now that things have turned out like this. Nancy, I¡¯ll take responsibility for what happened that day. I¡¯ll try to persuade my parents to give us their blessings. 3 ¡°The authorities are still investigating what happened during thepetition. I believe that you¡¯re innocent. However¡­ my parents aren¡¯t quite happy about me seeing you. So, I can¡¯t promise that we can make our rtionship public any time soon.¡± 3 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 567 Chapter 567 Frederick decided to be brave for once and follow his heart. He wasn¡¯t exactly sure about the details of what happened during thepetition. However, Frederick reckoned someone like Nancy couldn¡¯t possibly do something like that. Nancy was a rare genius. Why would she do something like giarizing Ariel¡¯s work? What could she possibly achieve by doing that? ¡°Janice and Ariel are quite close. Perhaps she could help persuade Ariel not to pursue any legal actions.¡± Frederick was deeply troubled by the current situation. Still, he was positive they could find a way to resolve everything. Unfortunately, Nancy couldn¡¯t hear a single thing. The only thing she heard was Frederick dering that he would take responsibility. Her face was as white as a sheet. It was clear now what had happened. At first, Nancy didn¡¯t want to believe what Jayson had said¡ªthat it was someone else whom she had spent the night with. Yet, Frederick was telling her now that it was him. Nancy subconsciously tried toe up with an excuse to make herself feel better. Perhaps Jayson was just angry with her? So¡­ it was Frederick who had ruined everything for her! He even ruined Nancy¡¯s ns and rtionship. Her eyes zed with resentment. Nancy shoved Frederick away. ¡°Who do you think you are? There¡¯s no way I would have spent the night with you that day. How could you even think that you couldpare to Jayson? Why should I choose someone like you?¡± 1 Frederick was left absolutely bbergasted. He stared at Nancy in disbelief. Nancy¡¯s tears brimmed over. She shouted hysterically, ¡°Frederick Swanson, I¡¯ll file awsuit against you for rape!¡± 2 She paid no mind to Frederick, who looked rather hurt and stunned, as she staggered toward her house. Frederick never imagined he would see the dark, unhinged side of Nancy today. She was mad, hysterical, and unreasonable. That night, Nancy was the one who came into his room and hugged him. Frederick wasn¡¯t staying in that room at first. During the party, a staff member informed him that they had to move him to another room for certain reasons. Frederick was alright with it. When Nancy came to him that night, Frederick was both confused and pleasantly surprised. However, his yearning for her outweighed the doubts he had. So, Frederick epted her advance. 4 However, he never imagined Nancy would be making such usations against him now. Frederick would be lying if he said he wasn¡¯t hurt by her words. He couldn¡¯t understand why Nancy was suddenly acting this way. Nancy lookedpletely out of it as she stepped in through the door. She had thought about it on her way home. At the moment, she had been driven into a corner. Jayson had discarded her. Perhaps Jayson had never actually considered her as a potential love interest. If Jayson was going to make herpensate him as per what they had listed in the wager agreement, Nancy wasn¡¯t going to just give away the onest thing that was useful to her. She nned to sell the house as soon as possible. At the very least, she would be able to secure some funds. Even if Jayson¡¯s side tried to ask for the house back aspensation, they wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything if Nancy had already sold the house. 1 Yet, Nancy heard Sarah¡¯s frantic voice just as she entered through the front door. ¡°What on earth do you people want?¡± Nancy¡¯s heart missed a beat. She dashed forward and found several men in suits standing in the living room. Sarah was fuming, and her face was drained of color. She quickly asked Nancy when she saw her, ¡± Nancy, what¡¯s going on? These people say they are from the court and that someone has requested a property repossession¡­¡± Nancy¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°The court? I haven¡¯t received any summons, nor have I attended any court hearings regarding this matter. What rights do you have to do this?¡± One of the men opened up a folder containing a document and passed it to Nancy. ¡°You may have a look at the document. You and Mr. Larkin had established your rtionship as the debtor and creditor when Mr. Larkin notarized the document a few months ago. 2 ¡°The notarization assures that the document is authentic and can be trusted. If the debtor fails to fulfill their obligations, the creditor can request to take possession of your property.¡± Nancy froze. She could no longer maintain a neutral expression. Jayson had actually notarized the wager agreement they had signed. Inside 568 The ringing in Nancy¡¯s ears made it hard for her to think. She couldn¡¯t understand how she had once again found herself in a hopeless situation. It was as though every incident that had happened so far had been calcted and meticulously premeditated so that Nancy would fall right into their trap. Nancy wouldn¡¯t be able to do anything as she was met with her downfall. Any attempts at self- preservation would be pointless. ¡°We hope you¡¯ll cooperate with us, Ms. Stanton.¡± The man ced the court¡¯s notice on the table. ¡°The deadline for when you are expected to fulfill your obligations is stated here in detail. If you refuse to cooperate, we¡¯ll have to get you forcibly evicted from this propertyter on.¡± These men came here to notify Nancy about the seizure of her property and to take care of the relevant procedures. (1 The property was thereby restricted from being put up for sale or used as coteral for a mortgage. This way, they could effectively prevent the debtor from secretly selling the property to another party. Nancy had even lost herst resort. It shattered thest bit of hope she had been holding onto in her heart. She plopped down on the couch, consumed by despair and powerlessness. Nancy couldn¡¯t possibly not see it at this point. Since the beginning, she was nothing but a simple being that Jayson could easily crush under his feet. She broke out in cold sweat thinking about how frighteningly smart and calcting Jayson was. She felt as though she was about to suffocate. The feeling was so horrible that Nancy felt like she was driven to the brink of having a breakdown. The group of men was here to notify the Stantons about the seizure of their property. It did not concern them what the Stantons had done to lead to this. Soon enough, they left the ce. A heavy silence lingered in the air. The only sound they could hear was the pitter¨Cpatter of the raining from outside, which felt ironically fitting for their current situation. The two of them were in a pitiful state. Sarah eventually came to her senses. She darted toward Nancy. ¡°Have you talked to Jayson? Why has he suddenly requested a property repossession? Is he¡­¡± She couldn¡¯t bring herself to voice her suspicions. Sarah felt gripped by a sense of fear. Nancy¡¯s eyes were red. Several strands of hair were stuck to her cheeks. She had lost her usual radiance and confidence as she sat there, unmoving, in a daze. Sarah raised her voice abruptly. ¡°What on earth is happening? Isn¡¯t the house ours? What does he expect us to do by seizing the property at a time like this?¡± Nancy finally snapped out of her daze. She felt extremely troubled as she was forced to face reality. Nancy could no longer deny the fact that Jayson was a man she should never dream of coveting. (1 She had never managed to understand him. Without even realizing it, she ended up on the path of destruction. Nancy understood why Perry and the others had refused to help her. Most enterprises sought to maintain a positive rtionship with a sessfulpany like Bluum Corp. With all things considered, none of them would want to get involved and put themselves in such a delicate position. 1 ¡°We¡¯re screwed¡­¡± Nancy¡¯s mouth went dry. ¡°Jayson won¡¯t bother about what happens to us anymore. He never really wanted to help me. This time¡­ we¡¯repletely screwed.¡± 2 Jayson even urately predicted that she would sell the house right away to secure some funds. His timing was impable. He made sure that Nancy would witness everything she had wanted crumble and fall apart bit by bit before her. Nancy was forced to witness her own fall from grace. That was the worst kind of torment one could put someone through mentally. Regardless of what the reason might be, whether Jayson had forsaken Nancy out of personal interest or he had, for certain reasons, decided to trample all over her, Jayson was slowly showing that scary side of him. Yet, he remainedpletely aloof and nonchnt about it. Jayson easily had Nancy under his thumb. Nancy realized how cruel and merciless Jayson was now. 2 With a bewildered look on her face, Sarah plopped onto the couch. She felt like she was about to go insane upon learning about the unexpected turn of events. Nancy¡¯s eyes burned with fury. The fact that Jayson had never liked her was what bothered her the most. Unfortunately, she was facing various issues that could potentially ruin her life forever. Yet, Nancy could no longer seek Jayson¡¯s help. It seemed like the only way left now was to¡­ Nancy flinched. She could barely conceal the resentment in her eyes as an idea came to her. Nancy had no choice but to suppress her anger and indignation for now. 2 Ariel had taken a day off. She had been under a lot of pressuretely. She probably wouldn¡¯t have been able to hold out for so long if it weren¡¯t for Liam having made the necessary adjustments to her prescriptions ordingly. Ariel had received numerous phone calls during thest couple of days. She could sense everyone¡¯s eagerness to meet her, including seasoned experts from their industry, business owners, and even government officials. Top media agencies had also attempted to schedule an interview with Ariel. However, she turned down those requests. Inside 569 Chapter 569 For the time being, Ariel didn¡¯t want to make too many public appearances when people had just learned of her identity as the U.N2 developer. People from various sectors and industries had shown an overwhelming amount of interest in her. They had also been receiving guests at Faye Technologies¡® office almost nonstop. Janice had even sent a message to their WhatsApp group chatining about how her workload had increased drastically. So, Ariel soon decided to head back to their office. Requests for partnership that Faye Technologies received had increased several¨Cfold as well. With Ariel¡¯s current fame and assistance from Nexura Solutions, Faye Technologies had essentially established itself as one of the top¨Ctierpanies in the country. Once Ariel had resumed work at Faye Technologies, she checked Nexura Solutions¡® work progress as well. As for Veyo Solutions, they would be merging it with Nexura Solutions soon to make it more convenient for Ariel to manage bothpanies. Ariel noted how the employees at Veyo Solutions had carried out their tasks dutifully. The individuals that Jayson had selected from Bluum Corp or Nexura Solutions and appointed to positions in Veyo Solutions were the cream of the crop. Even though they were experiencing drastic changes in thepany¡¯s structure, everyone continued to fulfill their responsibilities. Ariel didn¡¯t have to spend more time and energy addressing management- rted issues. In the afternoon, Janice entered Ariel¡¯s office while humming a soft tune. She handed Ariel a cup of grape -vored cold brew. ¡°I just came up from downstairs. Guess who I just saw.¡± Ariel¡¯s brows lifted. ¡°Who was it that made you look so happy now?¡± Janice clutched her stomach andughed a little. ¡°It was Nancy! You had no idea, didn¡¯t you? Nancy wanted to see you, but Cassidy didn¡¯t inform you about it since she didn¡¯t want Nancy to bother you. Nancy¡¯s been waiting there for more than an hour now.¡± Janice decided to reward Cassidy with an extra bonus for doing something so brilliant. Ariel truly had no idea that Nancy was here. She was quite surprised to hear that Nancy had requested to meet her since thetter had met Jayson the other day. However, Ariel had no clue how their meeting went that day. She lowered her head and continued to study the design sketch of an aircraft¡¯s wing. ¡°I don¡¯t see any point in meeting her either.¡± Janice was in a cheery mood. She took off the cover, had a big gulp of coffee, and chewed on the ice in her mouth. ¡°She can wait for as long as she wants. That woman¡¯s a character! She¡¯s shameless enough to show up here.¡± Most people would care enough to preserve their pride and dignity. Therefore, Janice simply couldn¡¯t understand what Nancy was thinking. Ariel focused on finishing her current task since she had to head over to the military baseter for a meeting. She would gradually be busier as the projects she was involved in were initiated one after the other. When it was almost 3:00 pm, Ariel had to stop by one of their factories. She took her bag and headed downstairs. Ariel spotted Nancy, who sat and waited in the lobby lounge. Nancy had dressed up nicely. Still, it was impossible to conceal her bloodshot eyes. It seemed like she was pushing herself to put up a strong front. There was a sh of resentment and indignation in Nancy¡¯s eyes the moment she saw Ariel. Nevertheless, she got to her feet. After taking a deep breath, she walked up to Ariel and stood in her path. ¡°Can I talk to you for a moment?¡± Ariel halted. She fixed Nancy with an icy gaze and stayed silent. Nancy felt extremely humiliated upon meeting Ariel¡¯s gaze. Yet, she could only swallow her pride. As she stared at Ariel, Nancy lowered her voice a little. ¡°I know you probably resent me for getting in between you and Jayson. I can¡­ offer you a proper apology. Will you consider asking the authorities not to pursue any legal action against me?¡± Nancy hated herself for doing something like this. Yet, she had no choice but to plead for Ariel¡¯s mercy now. Nancy had run out of options. The only way she could get out of trouble was if Ariel decided to overlook what she did. She knew that the chances were slim. Yet, if she didn¡¯t do this, she might have to serve time in prison. Both her life and her career would be totally ruined. 2 Considering the consequences, Nancy had to make a choice. Even if it meant she had to put herself down and beg for Ariel¡¯s mercy¡­. Even if the hatred she had for Ariel was growing stronger¡­. It wasn¡¯t her ce to choose what she could or could not do now. Moreover, she found it extremely humiliating to have to plead for mercy from someone she used to scorn, who had now utterly defeated her. Ariel stared at Nancy silently. It was obvious that Jayson had stopped helping Nancy. She found this situation amusing. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected the day toe when Nancy would swallow her pride and plead for mercy. Nancy even apologized to her. It seemed like she had really been driven to a corner with no way out. Ariel had an indifferent look in her eyes. She cast Nancy a sidelong nce. ¡°Ms. Stanton, aren¡¯t you being really insincere with the way you¡¯re apologizing to me? Are you still a kid? Even now, you¡¯re still thinking of using minimal effort to get others to forgive you? What? Can¡¯t get any help from your lover anymore?¡± Nancy froze. Her face grew pale. Inside 570 Chapter 570 Frankly, Ariel couldn¡¯t understand people like Nancy. She had gotten used to having things her way. Despite all the trouble she had caused, Nancy shamelessly appeared at their office to see her. While Nancy imed that she was here to ask for Ariel¡¯s forgiveness, she hadn¡¯t exactly realized what she had done wrong. Even if she appeared meek and docile now, this was just a way for Nancy to escape punishment by thew, which she wanted to avoid at all costs. Nancy¡¯s expression hardened upon hearing Ariel¡¯s blunt, caustic remarks. The feelings of resentment that she had suppressed within her boiled over. Still, she pushed back those feelings, her lips trembling. Although she hated Ariel¡¯s high¨Cand¨Cmighty attitude, she responded meekly anyway. ¡°I know that you hate me. You can treat me however you want. I just hope that you¡¯ll consider not pursuing any legal actions about what happened. You might not believe me, but I really had no idea you were the creator of those codes. I just¡­¡± Nancy couldn¡¯t even exin herself properly. Did she do that in a moment of weakness? Was it because she had desperately hoped to attain what she wanted? ¡°Was it only the codes?¡± Ariel cast her a mocking nce. ¡°It seems you and your mother have never thought about what you¡¯ve done wrong. Even now, you¡¯re still looking for ways to avoid punishment, and you refuse to repent for your mistakes. ¡°In the past, Sarah Moore ndered my mom, causing her to be an object of scorn and ridicule. She stole the glory that was supposed to belong to my mom. My mom didn¡¯t manage to graduate because of what Sarah did. Moreover, her then¨Cfiance broke off the engagement with my mom. ¡°Sarah spotted her opportunity and tried to covet that man. Then, she prompted others to attack my mom with various criticisms, causing my mom to fall into depression. ¡°My mom became too afraid to interact with other people. She was forced to give up on her dreams and studies. Later on, she was tricked into marrying someone too soon, which eventually led to her demise. ¡°Sarah Moorepletely ruined my mother¡¯s life. You¡¯ve been able to enjoy afortable life all thanks to that wicked, cold¨Chearted woman. You knew very well a life had perished in exchange for all the privileges you were receiving. Do you still think you deserve forgiveness now?¡± This was the first time Ariel had spoken about Elena and what happened to her. If Sarah hadn¡¯t betrayed Elena and tried so hard to get rid of her back then, Elena would have already be an amazing woman who exuded radiance and confidence by now. Elena wouldn¡¯t have developed depression, which Morgan had taken advantage of to get close to her. As a result, Elena went from one living hell to another. That was life. One wrong step might lead to many more mistakes. Ariel would rather she had never been born into this world so that Elena could live the life she deserved. Even after Sarah went abroad, she would send Elena an email every year around Halread University¡¯s graduation season, sharing about the awards she had won and the art exhibitions she had participated in. Each year, she would also include a video recording of Nancy smiling innocently and greeting Elena. Sarah would always end her email with these remarks. ¡°It¡¯s a shame you didn¡¯t manage to graduate from the university back then. Otherwise, you¡¯d be able to experience what I¡¯m experiencing now as well.¡± Sarah did this every year, tirelessly, to upset and agitate Elena. She finally stopped a few years ago. Ariel had only learned of what she did at a muchter time. She couldn¡¯t believe how someone could be so evil and twisted. Hence, when she found out Jayson and Nancy had an unusual rtionship, Ariel swiftly made up her mind and decided to get a divorce. Ariel used to be someone meek and indecisive. Moreover, she was more family¨Coriented. She craved being loved and having her own family. Since she grew up without those things, Ariel was more eager to give and sacrifice herself for others. She didn¡¯t even mind receiving nothing in return. She hated that side of her as well. Yet, Ariel was sometimes powerless or too scared to address the w in her personality that had been caused by her childhood experiences. However, Ariel broke out of her shell at that moment and became someone who was determined to fight for what was rightfully hers. It was at that moment that Ariel finally realized making herself happy should be the top priority in her life. She shouldn¡¯t be banking her hopes on other people to make that happen. GE Inside 571 Chapter 571 Ariel was aplete, independent individual. The achievements she had attained were simply the fruits of her efforts. She couldn¡¯t possibly me it all on the old her who felt lost and helpless. Every human had ws. Ariel was just d that she had chosen to change and be a better version of herself. Ariel liked her new self. Nancy could tell from Ariel¡¯s expression that she wasn¡¯t going to help her. Nancy knew very well about what had happened between Sarah and Elena that Ariel had just shared since she had been part of it as well. Still¡­ ¡°Ariel, you¡¯re just shifting the me to me now. Can¡¯t we treat those things as separate incidents?¡± Nancy¡¯s breathing became quick and uneven. She tried to persuade Ariel that it was their mothers who had bad blood and not them. Ariel cast her a stony gaze and said mockingly, ¡°I am treating them as separate incidents, though. You should be imprisoned for what you did during thepetition. Congrats, Ms. Stanton.¡± Without sparing another nce at Nancy¡¯s ashen face, Ariel turned around and walked away. Nancy was consumed with fear almost instantly. She subconsciously reached out to grab Ariel¡¯s hand. Ariel wasn¡¯t going to let Nancyy her hands on her this time. She shoved Nancy away before thetter could get close enough. Nancy lost her footing. She staggered and fell onto the floor. With an icy expression, Ariel looked down at her. ¡°You have no right to ask for my forgiveness.¡± There was an unpleasant ringing in Nancy¡¯s ears. People were all looking her way. They stared at her with scorn, contempt, and disdain. This had never happened to Nancy. She was on the brink of losing her mind upon receiving such harsh treatment. Her bloodshot eyes bulged as she red menacingly at Ariel¡¯s receding figure. Ariel spotted Cecilia, who had just gotten out of the car, as she exited the lobby. Cecilia noticed her as well. She beamed and waved her hand. ¡°Are you heading out?¡± Ariel halted in her tracks and directed her gaze at Cecilia. ¡°Ms. Pryce, you¡¯re here for¡­?¡± Cec¨ªlia pointed to the streets in the distance. ¡°I was just there. I decided to drop by and invite you to dinner since I happened to pass by. My friends are all very curious about you. A lot of people are your fans, considering what you¡¯ve achieved so far.¡± Ariel smiled faintly. She maintained a neutral expression. ¡°I¡¯m afraid I won¡¯t be able to do that with you for the time being. I¡¯ll be pretty upied since our work has increased drastically recently.¡± (1) She politely declined Cecilia¡¯s offer. Cecilia didn¡¯t seem to mind it as she smiled. ¡°I understand. Let¡¯s meet up when you¡¯re free, then.¡± Ariel¡¯s phone rang just then. She took her phone out and nced at the screen. Then, she looked at Cecilia and pointed at her phone.¡± Sorry, I have to get going now.¡± ¡°Sure, no worries. You should go.¡± With a smile on her face, Cecilia waved her hand again. Ariel walked past her. After watching Ariel get into the car, Cecilia crossed her arms and stared pensively in the direction where the Range Rover had driven off to. 1 The ashen¨Cfaced Nancy wasn¡¯t expecting to run into Cecilia just as she stepped out of Faye Technologies¡® lobby. The wariness that stemmed from a woman¡¯s instincts rose within her. Deep down, Nancy wished to avoid getting on Cecilia¡¯s wrong side. She also didn¡¯t want to let others see the pathetic and miserable state she was in. Without a word, Nancy turned around and was about to hurry off. Cecilia directed her gaze to Nancy. ¡°Hold on.¡± 2 Nancy clenched her fists. She had a nk look on her face. She felt hopeless and defenseless as despair consumed her. Nancy turned around. Cecilia scanned her from top to bottom. Eventually, she smirked. ¡°I happen to be free now. Why don¡¯t I give you a lift?¡± a Nancy stared at Cecilia with her bloodshot eyes. She knew Cecilia had yed a part in her current predicament, but she also knew shecked the power to retaliate. After she parted ways with Cecilia, Nancy received a phone call from Sarah. Sarah¡¯s voice cracked since she was getting a bit too emotional. ¡°Thewyer Jayson had hired for me¡­ He refused to defend my case in court!¡± a Inside 572 Chapter 572 Ariel had just returned to Faye Technologies¡® office after finishing some work when she received a call from Edward, who informed her of a new development. ¡°Sarah¡¯swyer has refused to represent her in court.¡± Surprised, Ariel asked, ¡°He refused to represent her?¡± Edward, on the contrary, didn¡¯t sound surprised at all. He responded, ¡°That¡¯s right. Considering all the issues Sarah¡¯s facing, this will probably be a heavy blow for her.¡± Ariel pondered for a moment. ¡°This is quite unexpected.¡± ¡°Not really. Mr. Larkin had introduced Sarah to thewyer, who was working abroad. Perhaps there were reasons why he decided to do that.¡± Edward continued, ¡°Thewyer probably never intended to take the case. He simply agreed to their request to buy time, ensuring Sarah wouldn¡¯t go looking for anotherwyer. 2 ¡°Basically, Sarah¡¯s side will bepletely crushed. Without the necessary help and preparations, it¡¯s impossible for them to find anotherwyer now, and judging by their current situation, they won¡¯t be able to get any legal help at all. Sarah is probably feeling very anxious right now.¡± Ariel stared at the screen of herptop, her eyes unreadable. Sarah¡¯swyer had decided to drop the case at a critical time, which meant even Nancy was at risk of imprisonment. They were also dealing with intellectual propertywsuits, since Sarah was being prosecuted for illegally acquiring Elena¡¯s painting. Considering various factors, Sarah and Nancy wouldn¡¯t even be able to get legal help. The oue of thiswsuit wasrgely predetermined at this point. ¡°Was it Jayson¡¯s idea?¡± Ariel said slowly. After all, Jayson was the one who introduced Nancy and Sarah to thewyer. It seemed strange to Ariel now. Edward replied in a calm, t tone, ¡°I can¡¯t answer that, Ms. Walker. However, there are probably more things that you¡¯re unaware of.¡± (1) Edward was clearly hinting at something with what he just said. Ariel knew he wouldn¡¯t be sharing more than what he already had. She tactfully stopped asking him more questions regarding the matter. After discussing some details regarding thewsuit with him, Ariel finally ended the call. As she sat in her chair, Ariel tapped her finger on the table with a pensive look on her face. She scrolled through her call history, and soon enough, she found the number that wasn¡¯t saved with a name. Jayson was someone who just did whatever he wanted. Ariel hadn¡¯t once understood the man. Even now, she had various questions about what he had done. What interrupted Ariel¡¯s train of thought was another phone call. The federal investigative agency called to inform her that they need to meet her again to ask a few more questions. Additionally, Cedric had visited their office and shared what he knew. With that, they had pretty much concluded the investigation. Nancy flew into a rage when she learned theirwyer had refused to represent Sarah in court. She hurled her phone to the floor, feeling as if she was about to lose it as her frustration peaked. Despite that, the teary¨Ceyed Nancy picked up her phone a whileter. Fortunately, it only had some cracks on the screen and was still functioning normally. Sarah had received confirmation about the news as well. Upon receiving such a critical blow, her legs went limp. She was so aggravated that she felt like she was about to have a heart attack. Everything they had done so far seemed to havee back to haunt them, destroying what they had built so far bit by bit and cutting off all their escape routes. Initially, Sarah reckoned they would eventually be able to turn things around if they just made sure not to lose thewsuit. However, the tiny bit of hope they had was nowpletely crushed. Nancy¡¯s heart sank when she received another call from the federal investigative agency. She could tell that they were already conducting the final part of their investigation. ¡°Ariel must have been waiting for this day toe. She was the one behind this incident! She even tormented and humiliated you!¡± Sarah heaved a deep breath. However, the voiceing out of her mouth was a bit shaky. Her eyes zed with hatred. ¡°We can¡¯t just stay here and do nothing!¡± Sarah had lost her usual radiance and elegance. Instead, her face was pale and haggard. Still, there was a venomous look in her eyes. ¡°They¡¯re keeping you under close surveince. Under normal circumstances, you won¡¯t be able to leave the country. However, you won¡¯t have the opportunity to do so if you don¡¯t leave now.¡± Nancy swiftly turned her gaze toward Sarah. Sarah¡¯s breathing became a little erratic. ¡°I¡¯ll figure out a way. We¡¯ve established connections throughout the years. The Nielsen family¡­ they should be able to help us. We need toe up with a n to leave the country first.¡± Staying here only meant that they would be facing their end. Sarah knew very well that what Nancy did was considered extremely serious and unforgivable in their country. Nancy¡¯s life would bepletely over if she were convicted of the charges and sentenced to prison. Inside 573 Chapter 573 Even thewyer who was supposed to defend Sarah¡¯s case had pulled out at thest minute. Sarah was in hot water too. They could only resort to shady, underhanded methods. Their top priority now was to avoid prosecution and imprisonment. Nancy understood what Sarah was trying to say. She took a deep breath. ¡°We won¡¯t be able to leave the country by flight. We¡¯ll have to use other ways¡­ You should go first.¡± Sarah never imagined that their family would one day end up in this state. People treated them with scorn and contempt ever since their reputation was ruined. They had lost their wealth, status, and all the great opportunities that were initially avable to them. Sarah couldn¡¯t help feeling indignant. She tightened her fists. A cold glint flickered in her eyes. Edward and Jayson had made ast¨Cminute arrangement to meet the next day. In the evening, Edward visited Bluum Tower. Arthur greeted Edward and personally showed him in. Jayson left the conference room and went back to his office. When he spotted Edward, Jayson smiled slightly. ¡°Mr. Graham.¡± Edward looked at him and had a sip of tea. Then, he began, ¡°Sarah¡¯swyer has left Eldoria. There won¡¯t be any issues for Ms. Walker after this.¡± Jayson lowered his gaze and adjusted his cufflinks. He said in a monotonous voice, ¡°You can make the necessary arrangements as you see fit, Mr. Graham. You don¡¯t necessarily have to inform me about every detail.¡± Edward gazed at Jayson. If it weren¡¯t for what happened before, he probably wouldn¡¯t have an inkling of what Jayson was thinking. At the thought of that, Edward said unhurriedly, ¡°Ms. Walker has probably caught on to something by now. With how wise and sensible she is, she may start questioning a few things, like matters rting to the divorce agreement.¡± 1 Jayson¡¯s brows arched. He took off his rimless sses. ¡°We¡¯ll just leave it at that. What matters more is to settle the issue at hand.¡± Edward understood the meaning behind those words. He just needed to act like he knew nothing of what he just said. Someone knocked on the door at that moment. +15 BONUS Arthur entered the room and whispered in Jayson¡¯s ear. ¡°Mr. Larkin, they¡¯re finally making a move.¡± Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged. His phone vibrated. Jayson took a nce at it and noticed there was a message from Nancy. ¡°Jayson, could you free up some time to meet me? I¡¯ll wait for you at Goldsbury Bay.¡± Ariel caught a cold the day before. With her immune system weakened, she was running a mild fever. She decided to take a half¨Cday off and work from home instead. It was almost 8:00 pm by the time she hadpleted the design sketch of the aircraft¡¯s wing. Ariel was famished since she hadn¡¯t had anything to eat. She checked the fridge only to find that she had run out of food ingredients. So, Ariel took her phone and headed out in her slippers. There was a supermarket near their residential area. It would take only five minutes to get there on foot. Ariel found it convenient to stay in this area. She could find hospitals and several supermarkets nearby. The subway was located just a few hundred yards away. If the subsequent treatments had proven effective, Ariel nned to buy a property and settle down here. After getting some fresh ingredients from the supermarket, Ariel walked back to her ce while gazing up at the night sky from time to time. On the way, she received a call from Chad. Chad¡¯s voice was uncharacteristically grim. ¡°I just met Commander Quinton, and he told me they just received some news. Nancy and Sarah¡­ they¡¯ve gone missing.¡± A deep frown drew Ariel¡¯s brows together. ¡°What do you mean?¡± Despite having said that, she had an inkling of what might have happened. Chad snickered. ¡°They still have the connections and resources to pull this stunt and try to sneak away from the authorities at times like this. They should reconsider it before taking such a step in our country. ¡°It¡¯ll be fine. The authorities will act swiftly and take care of the problem as soon as possible. Meanwhile, you should just take another day off.¡± Ariel frowned slightly. ¡°Alright, I understand. Ariel could tell that Nancy and Sarah were probably trying to leave Eldoria, or they were hoping to head overseas. As she was about to reach the entrance to her residential area, Ariel picked up on the sound of tires screechinging from somewhere not too far away. It sounded quite simr to the noise a car would make when someone suddenly mmed on the brakes. Ariel paused briefly and looked in the direction of the noise. Under a streemp, a ck car swiftly turned a corner. The bright lights from the high beams temporarily blinded Ariel. She lifted her hand to block the lights. Out of the corners of her eyes, Ariel noticed the car was still speeding. Ariel seemed to be the target as the car sped toward her. 1 Inside 574 Chapter 574 Ariel¡¯s brain stopped working at that moment. There was a loud ringing in her ears. She felt as though the blood in her veins had gone cold. Ariel stood rooted to the spot. She couldn¡¯t even lift her foot. (1) She couldn¡¯t see the car clearly either. Everything was quickly turning white before her eyes. Ariel subconsciously held her breath. Just then, a Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan came speeding this way from a certain direction. The car swerved and drove toward the ck car at high speed. With a loud crash, the car speeding toward Ariel was sent flying several yards away. The night breeze swept through Ariel and ruffled her hair. There was another sound of brakes screeching. Ariel had yet recovered from the shock and horror when someone came up from behind her and carried her in their arms. As she was held in a tight embrace, the faint, familiar scent of fir invaded Ariel¡¯s senses. She was carried into another car. Ariel lifted her gaze and saw Jayson¡¯s deep¨Cset eyes. For a split second, Jayson didn¡¯t try to hide his emotions. He looked a lot less distant and unfazed when Ariel looked his way. ¡°Don¡¯t look outside.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t let go of Ariel. He circled his arms around her waist. As he looked out the window, Jayson bent forward and put one hand on the back of Ariel¡¯s head to pull her closer toward him. Ariel couldn¡¯t see a thing since Jayson had held her tightly in his arms. However, she sensed the car shaking. It seemed like something had crashed into the car they were in. Ariel¡¯s heart missed a beat as she felt the strong impact. Jayson mmed his arm against the dashboard as he was trying to protect Ariel¡¯s neck. In the darkness, a small frown creased his forehead. However, that happened for just a brief moment. After that, Jayson appeared like his usual self. It was suddenly quiet outside. ly sounds they could hear in the car were the sounds of their breathing and their heartbeat. eartbeat. ven noticed Jayson¡¯s rapid, irregr heartbeat. xperiencing the series of shocking, terrifying events, Ariel felt a chill run down her spine. She was She was ed in cold sweat. Nanc obsti Nanc She Jays finally looked down and gazed at her. He lightly stroked Ariel¡¯s hair while she was still looking looking and shocked. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s fine now. Do you want to get up and have a look?¡± Befo happed out of her daze. She didn¡¯t even have the time to think about how Jayson was holding her Iding her She in his embrace. leav aightened her back and looked out the window. Any bet. ck car was nowhere to be seen. On the other hand, the Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan had stopped topped here not too far away. Just massaged his neck as he got out of the driver¡¯s seat. Nan her: ully, the Rolls¨CRoyce Cullinan had a very solid exterior. Arthur hadn¡¯t suffered any injuries during during the crash. Jay: ed over to where Jayson and Ariel were. ¡°Mr. Larkin, the coast is clear now.¡± Nan turn s not sound anxious or agitated in the slightest. He remained calm. It was as though he had ed for this. Nan sho urrowed his brows and sat up straight. He turned his eyes to Ariel. His voice was low and ¡°It¡¯s not really safe around this area for the time being. Would you like toe somewhere with with How ?¡± thoughts werepletely jumbled at that moment. She couldn¡¯t imagine someone would actually all T enough to do something like that at a ce like this. uldn¡¯t have mistaken it. That car was heading her way, and it nearly ran her over. ately, Jayson showed up just in time. She emerged from the incidentpletely unscathed. It that danger was lurking everywhere. Frowning, she asked Jayson, ¡°Where are you going?¡± didn¡¯t answer her question. He cast a nce at Arthur. ¡°Are you alright?¡± smiled. ¡°My injuries aren¡¯t very serious.¡± dropped his gaze and lightly pinched his arm. Then, he directed his gaze to Ariel. ¡°I¡¯m going to omeone.¡± Nancy had been waiting at Goldsbury Bay for almost an hour. She was feeling restless. There was an obstinate look in her eyes as she stared into the distance Nancy had asked Jayson to meet her. However, she didn¡¯t tell him about her ns to leave the country. She couldn¡¯t give up just yet. They had spent such a long time together. She simply couldn¡¯t believe that Jayson had no feelings or sympathy for her at all Before leaving the country, Nancy wanted to see Jayson one more time. She knew very well that doing this was risky. However, she wouldn¡¯t be able to get over it if she were to leave without doing this first. Anyway, Jayson had no idea that she would be leaving the country soon. Nancy wanted to take onest bet. Just then, two cars pulled up. Nancy shot to her feet when she noticed the familiar car te numbers. Her eyes brightened. The look on her face said, ¡°I knew you¡¯de.¡± Jayson got out of the car. Nancy could feel her resentment dissipating a little. She was about to step forward when she saw Jayson turning around and opening the car door. Nancy¡¯s face darkened the instant she saw Ariel getting out of the car. She subconsciously backed away, shocked. However, Arthur had appeared out of nowhere and stood behind her. X Inside 575 ¡°Jayson, what¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± The corners of Nancy¡¯s eyes turned red. She tried very hard to suppress the emotions surging through her. Jayson directed his gaze to her. Even though he had a calm look in those deep¨Cset eyes, Nancy couldn¡¯t help feeling this chilliness around her upon sensing his gaze. ¡°I arrived herete since I had to handle another matter first. Did it bother you?¡± Jayson¡¯s tone was t and steady. However, Nancy¡¯s heart missed a beat. Ariel had a dawning realization the moment she saw Nancy. Who else would try to plot something like that against her at a time like this? Nevertheless, Ariel was surprised that Nancy would go so far as to attempt something so wicked and appalling when thetter knew the government wasing after her. Instead of running away at once, Nancy decided to get rid of Ariel permanently before she tried to escape. ¡°Is that so? I thought you weren¡¯ting.¡± Nancy steadied her voice. She looked as though she had no idea about the matter Jayson had to handle earlier. Jayson fixed her with a frigid gaze. He didn¡¯t want to waste time dragging this out with Nancy. ¡°I¡¯ll give you two options. One, apologize to Ariel and ask for her forgiveness. Two, Arthur will snap those dirty hands of yours.¡± 1 Shocked, Ariel¡¯s eyes narrowed. Those words werepletely unexpected from someone as calm and cultured as Jayson. Nancy¡¯s eyes hardened, then widened in disbelief. Arthur was someone Jayson had recruited from abroad. On the surface, he was Jayson¡¯s secretary, but he was also Jayson¡¯s bodyguard. Colton had previously warned Nancy that Arthur never held back against his targets. As for the apology, Nancy could tell that a simple ¡°sorry¡± wouldn¡¯t be enough to do the job. She could sense that Jayson was fuming despite his aloof and indifferent demeanor; his words were harsh and threatening. Even Ariel was a bit surprised as she snuck a nce at Jayson. ¡°He¡¯s¡­ angry?¡± Ariel pondered. Nancy clenched her jaw and asked stiffly, ¡°What did I do wrong? Why should I apologize to her?¡± +15 BONUS Jayson dropped his gaze and replied straightforwardly, ¡°If you refuse to do it, you won¡¯t be able to leave Eldoria tonight.¡± Nancy gasped, staring at Jayson in horror. She hadn¡¯t expected him to know about her n to sneak out of the country with the help of her connections. In an instant, Nancy was engulfed in cold, unsettling despair. Jayson had rarely shown such a cool, unfriendly side of himself. He took out a box of cigarettes and tried to light one. Suddenly, he hesitated. Jayson¡¯s gaze drifted toward Ariel. With an impassive face, he tossed the box of cigarettes into the car. Then, he cast Nancy a sidelong nce. Ariel took a nce at Jayson. They had been together for a while and once looked very sweet. But the moment Nancy faced trouble, Jayson put his own interests first. Even though she was someone he once cared for, he had no problem ending their rtionship and severing all ties with her right away. At least, that was what Ariel had observed so far. She knew very well that Jayson was helping to seek justice on her behalf. Frankly speaking, Ariel wasn¡¯t the one who had instigated these incidents. She was well aware of that fact. Nancy was feeling anxious and restless. The time for her departure to another country was slowly drawing closer. She would miss her chance to leave if she stayed there any longer. It was almost impossible for Nancy to maintain a neutral expression as she red at Ariel. Her mind was racing. Nancy could feel a headacheing. She knew what Jayson wanted wasn¡¯t just a simple apology from her. It would be over for her if she didn¡¯t leave this ce soon. Nancy was overwhelmed by a deep sense of humiliation. Her eyes reflected her resentment, but she had no choice but to give in. As she knelt before Ariel, Nancy¡¯s jaw was clenched so tightly she could taste blood. Her voice was slightly shaky, holding a hint of hatred and indignation. ¡°Please¡­ Please forgive me. I was wrong. Our family is sorry about what happened to your mother. Can you please let me off this time?¡± Nancy¡¯s eyes were red. Her pride and confidence were slowly getting crushed. She never imagined she would end up in this state, especially after a lifetime of being praised for her achievements and capabilities. Yet, everything was ruined when it hadn¡¯t even been that long since she came back from abroad. Ariel had mixed feelings as she watched the unfolding events. She knew that, with her own abilities, she could never have made someone like Nancy repent so humbly. Yet, the person she hated most had been forced to do exactly that. However, knowing Nancy couldn¡¯t possibly be innocent¨Cespecially after all the past incidents and the recent ¡°ident¡°-Ariel found the situation ironic. Ariel stared stonily at Nancy, who was weeping crocodile tears. ¡°Well, you got what you deserved.¡± Inside 576 Chapter 576 Ariel couldn¡¯t quite put her feelings into words. After all these years, she had finally received an apology from one of the perpetrators¨Csomeone who had enjoyed countless privileges by exploiting Elena¡¯s work. The circumstances were unusual. However, if not for this situation, Nancy would never have uttered those words. Nancy was apologizing only because she didn¡¯t want to be held ountable for her actions. Yet what she was being forced to do now would be enough to torment her for the rest of her life, especially for a woman as arrogant as she was. The copse of one¡¯s spirit and pride didn¡¯t just strip away fame and fortune¨Cit left a person in unbearable turmoil. Ariel ignored the stiff, resentful look on Nancy¡¯s face. She turned her gaze toward Jayson, her eyes cold and indifferent. ¡°We can¡¯t let her go. She must take responsibility for what she¡¯s done.¡± Nancy¡¯s expression twisted with horror and confusion. ¡°Ariel Walker! What more do you want from me?¡± She even got down on her knees to beg for forgiveness. Why was Ariel being so cruel and cold¨Chearted? Ariel didn¡¯t bother arguing. She had already made her stance clear. Without another word, she turned and got into the car. Nancy¡¯s confidence was slowly crumbling. She couldn¡¯t stay here. If she did, it would be the end of her. She turned desperately to Jayson. ¡°Jayson, she wasn¡¯t harmed at all, right? Didn¡¯t you say I just needed to apologize to her?¡± Jayson lowered his gaze, though his eyes glinted with ice. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for the arrangements you made before leaving the country, do you think I¡¯d even be here to see you?¡± Nancy looked flustered as she stared at Jayson. This was the first time she had heard such blunt, cutting words from him. Jayson had always beenposed and refined, yet now he had stripped away all pretense and spoken the harsh truth outright. Arthur nced at Jayson, knowing full well what had happened. Although Jayson had prepared in advance and Ariel hadn¡¯t been harmed, he had been furious when he discovered Nancy¡¯s schemes. Nancy¡¯s mind reeled. The beliefs she had clung to shattered in an instant. She truly liked Jayson¨Cno one else had ever stirred her heart the way he did. Yet what he gave her in return¡­ ¡°Have you never¡­ not even once¡­ felt anything for me?¡± she asked, her voice thick with anger and despair. Her eyes searched his, desperate for even the smallest flicker of hesitation or sympathy. But there was nothing. Jayson cast her a sidelong nce. ¡°Did you think I¡¯d ever fall for someone my wife despises?¡± (4 His tone was calm, almost casual, but the words pierced her heart like a de. Nancy¡¯s world copsed with a single word¨Cwife. Before she could recover, the wail of police sirens echoed in the distance. Her head snapped toward the sound, dread rising within her. It struck her then¨Cit wasn¡¯t her insistence on meeting Jayson that had doomed her escape. Jayson had foreseen everything. Even if she and Sarah hadn¡¯t tried to eliminate Ariel under the guise of an ident, he would never have let them get away. If not for matters concerning Ariel, he wouldn¡¯t havee to see her at all. Only now did Nancy realize that Jayson treated Ariel differently from anyone else. A man like him never needed to show such concern for anyone or anything. Ariel was the only exception. From the very beginning, Jayson had never allowed anything to touch her. 1 ¡°Nancy!¡± Sarah¡¯s hoarse voice rang out from the distance. Nancy snapped back to reality. Sarah, who was supposed to escape first, had been captured as well. On the brink of madness, Nancy stared at the elegant yet merciless man. Jayson had sealed off every escape route. ¡°Jayson Larkin, I hate you!¡± she screamed atst, hatred burning in her eyes. Love, resentment, and obsession twisted into one. Jayson replied coolly, unhurriedly. ¡°Go ahead and hate me. But direct your resentment at the right person. You two ended up here because of me. Ariel had nothing to do with it.¡± 1 Tears streamed down Nancy¡¯s cheeks. His words crushed the final shred of hope within her. They were merciless. For the first time, Nancy understood just how terrifying Jayson truly was¨Chis ability to twist and shatter a person¡¯s heart was unparalleled. 1 Inside 577 Chapter 577 Nancy was a smart woman. Once love no longer clouded her judgment, everything became clear. Jayson had never simply wanted to see the Stantons fall. He had used her, pushing her deeper into ruin while paving the way for Ariel. Every scheme, every uproar she caused became a stepping stone that elevated Ariel¡¯s name to global recognition. She was nothing more than a pawn. Had she not walked straight into each of Jayson¡¯s traps, Ariel would never have risen so quickly. Without Nancy¡¯s scandals drawing attention, Ariel might have remained an unknown researcher, quietly dedicating herself to her work. If not for his greater ns, Jayson could have eliminated Nancy long ago. Instead, he chose a path where Ariel would repeatedly triumph over her, gaining revenge while also reaping benefits. Even if Nancy had stayed abroad, Jayson had countless ways to make her suffer. But none would have been as effective as what he orchestrated now. Nancy and Sarah¡¯s reputations were in ruins. Nancy had lost every chance of marrying into a wealthy family. Any hope of redemption was gone. Jayson had never cared for her. His time by her side had been nothing but a means to an end. He held everyone in the palm of his hand while quietly clearing obstacles for Ariel¨Cguiding her dreams, giving her opportunities, ensuring her sess. A chill ran through Nancy. She sensed that what she had pieced together was only the tip of the iceberg. Jayson¡¯s true motives were still beyond her grasp. She no longer even had the strength to hate him. Jayson didn¡¯t spare her a nce. After speaking briefly with an officer from the federal investigative agency, he got into the car. Nancy watched as he left without hesitation. Her legs gave out, and she copsed onto the ground, defeated. In the end, no one could tell if the emotions in her eyes were resentment, sorrow, or something far moreplex. As more people arrived, Ariel realized Jayson had never intended to let Nancy escape. She also spotted Sarah being shoved into one of the cars. That vicious, calcting woman¨Cwho had sought revenge even when cornered¨Cwas finally being held ountable. The memory of what had just happened left Ariel shaken. If Jayson hadn¡¯t shown up, she might have died. And as she thought carefully about the string of incidents, she began to see the truth¨Cshe had been receiving the benefits all along. Outside, chaos filled the air. But when Jayson closed the car door, the noise was shut out. Now it was just the two of them, enclosed in silence, unable to ignore each other¡¯s presence. Ariel¡¯s earlier thoughts lingered in her mind. She frowned, studying Jayson¡¯s face with uncertainty. He nced at her but said nothing. Starting the engine, he rested one hand on the steering wheel. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± Ariel sat quietly in her lounge wear. Looking at her now, no one would believe she had narrowly escaped death an hour ago. She lowered her gaze to her slippers. When Jayson had carried her into the car earlier, they had slipped off. He picked them up and slipped them back onto her feet without hesitation. He used to do small, thoughtful things like this when they had just married. But now, it felt strangely unfamiliar. Ariel turned her head away, listening to the faint wail of sirens outside. For the first time, she realized what Jayson looked like when he was truly angry. Or perhaps it wasn¡¯t anger at all. Perhaps this was his true self¨Cthe cold, ruthless side she had never seen. All those years, even during their divorce proceedings or in one of their fights, he had never once spoken harshly to her. Momentster, as a police car drove past, Ariel broke the silence. Calmly, almost matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, she said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Inside 578 Chapter 578 There was no denying that Jayson had saved her tonight. Ariel wasn¡¯t so petty that she wouldn¡¯t thank him. Still¡­ She frowned slightly, surprised by how Jayson had treated Nancy. Jayson turned the car around. ncing at her, he replied unhurriedly, ¡°You¡¯re wee.¡± Silence settled again, heavy and ufortable. Ariel knew he had saved her and made sure Nancy and Sarah wouldn¡¯t escape punishment. He had done a lot for her. Yet, she remained cool¨Cheaded, choosing to treat these matters separately. Whether Jayson was sincere didn¡¯t matter. Tonight, he had also been settling personal scores with Nancy. Their past had nothing to do with her¨Cshe had simply been dragged into it. She reminded herself not to overthink, not to make baseless assumptions. Since Jayson had never shared his true thoughts, all she could do was thank him politely. ¡°Do you need GPS navigation?¡± Ariel asked after a while. They were still some distance from her residential area. Neither of them wanted to continue the earlier topic. Jayson kept his eyes on the road, half his face hidden in the shadows. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I know the way.¡± Ariel nced at him curiously but said nothing more. She had no intention of making small talk. Strangely, it almost felt as though nothing had happened tonight. As they neared her neighborhood, a sudden thought urred to her. ¡°What were you doing in this area just now?¡± Jayson had shown up at the exact right moment to pull her out of danger. He gave her a sideways nce and eased the car to the side of the road. ¡°Are you really curious about the reason, or are you just asking for the sake of it?¡± His words didn¡¯t make much sense. Ariel frowned at him, wondering if that made any difference at all. She chose to ignore him. Then, opening the door, she stepped out of the car. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a small dent on the sleek Rolls¨CRoyce Sweptail, the paint scratched in ces. It needed inspection, but at least the vehicle was still running smoothly. Jayson unbuckled his seatbelt and got out, supporting one arm slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll walk you up if you¡¯re still feeling scared.¡± Ariel caught the awkward way he moved. She walked over, grasped his sleeve, and checked his arm. Jayson simply stood still, looking down at her. The fabric of his shirt was tom. Beneath it, a long cut ran across his skin, beads of blood seeping out. It was hard to tell if there were fractures, but it was clear why he had barely moved that arm. Her brows knitted tightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you say anything earlier? I should¡¯ve been the one driving.¡± It also exined why he had been using only one hand to drive earlier. Jayson shifted slightly, angling his body so she couldn¡¯t keep staring at the wound. He spoke lightly,¡± You were too shaken up earlier. If I¡¯d let you drive in that state, we might really have ended up in a crash.¡± Ariel¡¯s face darkened. She was certain her emotions had been stable enough. They had reached her residential area, but Jayson clearly needed medical attention. However, inviting him upstairs was out of the question. Instead, she walked around to the driver¡¯s seat, opened the door, and nced at him. ¡°Get in. I¡¯ll take you to the hospital.¡± It had already been a chaotic evening. If Jayson had told her earlier, she would have asked Arthur to take him while she caught a cab home. This time, Jayson didn¡¯t refuse. He slid into the passenger seat and even tilted his head toward her. ¡°It¡¯s not too much trouble for you, is it?¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze turned frosty. She didn¡¯t bother answering such an obvious question. She wasn¡¯t used to driving a Rolls¨CRoyce Sweptail, but Jayson calmly guided her through the controls. Fortunately, the hospital was nearby. She pressed the elerator, and before long, they pulled up to the emergency room. Even at night, the ER was bustling with people. Ariel, in her light gray cardigan over a white tank top, with a matching mid¨Clength skirt and nude slippers, looked simple and rxed. She hurried inside to fetch a nurse. X Inside 579 Chapter 579 Jayson followed behind Ariel at his own pace, watching as she weaved through the crowd, searching for the right ce. Eventually, Ariel managed to get a doctor to examine his injury. ¡°There don¡¯t appear to be any fractures. But his joint is dislocated, and there are soft tissue injuries. We¡¯ll need to treat those. Please remove your shirt.¡± When the doctor examined the injury more closely, he couldn¡¯t help but nce again at Jayson¡¯s face. He was impressed by how calmly Jayson endured the pain. Jayson did as the doctor requested. He unbuttoned his shirt and slipped it off. Ariel furrowed her brows. The sight of the dislocated joint looked awful. Meanwhile, the cut wasn¡¯t too deep, but it looked painful. Then her eyes caught on a scar running several inches along his arm. Jayson¡¯s skin was fair, and though the scar had faded to a lighter shade, it still stood out against the firm lines of his arm. That scar came from the time he had rescued her at the Spencer residence. Ariel was surprised he hadn¡¯t done anything about it. With the resources he had, Jayson could have easily had it removed. And now, he was injured again because of her. For a moment, Ariel felt an odd sense of debt, as though she owed him something. ¡°We¡¯ve realigned the joint,¡± the doctor said as he finished treating him. ¡°Keep the wound dry and change the dressing daily for the next three days.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was calm, though a faint crease in his brow betrayed the pain. Once he put his shirt back on, his eyes shifted to Ariel. She quickly looked away. ¡°Should I call Arthur to pick you up?¡± she asked, not intending to stay with him any longer. Checking the time, Jayson said, ¡°He¡¯s probably still doing follow¨Cup work from the incident and will need to go to the hospital to get treated afterward.¡± ¡°What about Colton?¡± ¡°He¡¯s away on a business trip.¡± In conclusion, no one was avable. Ariel pressed her lips together. Her gaze flicked again to his arm, remembering the scar. Finally, she pulled the car keys from her pocket. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you home.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Jayson dly epted her offer. As soon as they got into the car, Ariel asked, ¡°Where are you staying tonight?¡± Jayson put on the seatbelt and looked at her. ¡°Do you need me to point you in the right direction to get us to the marital home?¡± (1) She wouldn¡¯t need him to do that, of course. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be still living there, but she didn¡¯t pry further. They drove toward Crescent Point. It was a half¨Chour drive. The door was equipped with a smart recognition system. Ariel drove the car into the yard and entered the garage. Jayson unbuckled the seatbelt and nced at Ariel. ¡°Can you help me get theptop in the backseat?¡± Since his injury was because of her, Ariel didn¡¯t mind helping him. By the time she retrieved theptop, Jayson had already reached the front door. She had no choice but to follow him. Jayson hadn¡¯t opened it yet, so she stood silently nearby. She could probably unlock it with her fingerprint, but this wasn¡¯t her home anymore. The least she could do was show some courtesy. Jayson nced at her, as if reading her thoughts. Lifting his good arm, he bypassed the fingerprint scanner and keyed in a password instead. It was a newbination. Ariel tried not to look as Jayson punched the numbers. However, she found it strange. Nheless, there was no point in avoiding it¨Cher fingerprint was probably still saved in the system. They didn¡¯t hire any live¨Cin helpers here. Inside, the house felt foreign. She had lived here for three years, yet everything about the interior was different now. She set the keys on the living room table. ¡°I¡¯ll leave these here. If you still feel unwell, contact your assistants. I¡¯ll grab a cab home.¡± She had no ns to stay. She had sent him home safely. That was enough. Jayson nced at the keys that Ariel had put on the table. He said calmly, ¡°It¡¯ste. If you don¡¯t feel safe at your ce tonight, you can stay here instead.¡± Ariel was ready to decline immediately, but when she looked up, her gaze collided with his. As if unaware of her thoughts, Jayson added, ¡°You should stay. I¡¯ll go somewhere else.¡± Inside 580 It was clear from the look on Jayson¡¯s face that he wasn¡¯t joking. Still, Ariel refused his suggestion. ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. You don¡¯t have to trouble yourself. Nancy and Sarah were the ones who hired the assant. Since they¡¯ve already been captured, the assant has no reason toe after me anymore. I¡¯m not afraid.¡± Ariel had no intention of spending the night in this house. This ce was no longer her home. Jayson gazed at her in silence, recognizing the resolve in her eyes. Whenever Ariel didn¡¯t want something, she refused without hesitation. ¡°It¡¯s hard to get a cab around here. You should just take my car and drive yourself home,¡± Jayson finally relented. Truthfully, he had someone keeping watch near Ariel¡¯s residence. He already knew the ce was safe. This time, Ariel didn¡¯t turn him down. She really would have had to walk quite a distance to hail a cab, since they weren¡¯t allowed to enter this neighborhood. ¡°Alright. Have someone retrieve the car at Faye Tech tomorrow.¡± Ariel picked up the keys again, not even bothering to look around the house. As for the rumored nursery, she showed no interest or curiosity at all. Without another word, Ariel turned and left. She was still driving the Rolls¨CRoyce Sweptail that had been hit earlier that day. Though unfamiliar with the vehicle, she was slowly getting the hang of it by recalling what Jayson had taught her. Jayson didn¡¯t follow her out. He stood by the window instead, watching as the car rolled out of the yard and disappeared from view. No one could stop her once she decided to leave. Dropping his gaze, Jayson looked down at his injured arm. After a moment, he pulled out his phone and made a call. ¡°Look into Nancy and Sarah¡¯s connections. Who helped them this time?¡± Sarah had lived abroad for many years and built numerous connections along the way. Even in such a critical moment, she had managed to arrange everything before attempting to flee the country. That alone proved her background was far from ordinary. Ending the call, Jayson unbuttoned his shirt and headed upstairs to the bedroom. He was certain Ariel wouldn¡¯t encounter any more danger that night. Ariel herself wasn¡¯t worried either. First, the chances of trouble at her residence were low. Second, she knew Jayson¡¯s men would have already dealt with any possible risks. As for Nancy and Sarah, formal procedures still had to bepleted, but there was no doubt the two would face punishment. The next morning, Ariel got ready and drove Jayson¡¯s car to Faye Technologies. She didn¡¯t mention the incident to Katie or Leonard. To her, there was no point¨Cit would only make them anxious. On the way to the office, she received a call from Carlos. He was livid after hearing what had happened the previous night. Ariel tried to calm him down, but Carlos¡® voice was cold and firm. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. The authorities will handle this case ordingly and give us a satisfactory oue. You have nothing to fear. We¡¯ve got your back.¡± Ariel could tell Nancy and Sarah would face harsher punishment this time. Their crimes had gone far beyond their earlier misdeeds. In the parking lot, she ran into Janice, whose eyes widened in shock. She hurried over and ran a hand across the side of the car. ¡°Did you strike gold? This car is worth over ten million dors! Am I seeing things, or is this really yours?¡± Ariel shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s Jayson¡¯s car.¡± Janice¡¯s lips instantly pursed, her expression turning disdainful. ¡°I knew it! Only someone like him¨Cthe embodiment of capitalism¨Ccould own a car like this. Wait, why are you driving it?¡± Ariel thought for a moment, then decided to tell her what had happened the night before. Janice was shocked out of her wits. She immediately looked Ariel over, head to toe, and only rxed after confirming she was unhurt. Then her expression darkened. ¡°Has shepletely lost her mind? That woman¡¯s heart must be nothing but venom!¡± When they reached Ariel¡¯s office, they saw Chad. Ariel informed him too. ¡°Nancy and Sarah tried to flee the countryst night, but they were caught.¡± Chad had a grim look on his face. ¡°I heard the news this morning. The incident is quite serious. I received some updates from Commander Quinton. They¡¯ve already found some information through their investigation. ¡°The man they sent after youst night came from Southeast Am. He¡¯s a ruthless criminal with a horrific record.¡± Inside 581 A professional like him would always make sure to finish the job. Yet Ariel hade through the crisis remarkably unscathed. Chad asked, ¡°Was it Jayson who helped you deal with the man?¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°He was the one who saved mest night. Things got a littleplicated, but I wasn¡¯t hurt. You don¡¯t have to worry about me.¡± To put their minds at ease, Ariel gave Chad and Janice a brief ount of what happened when she and Jayson met Nancy yesterday. Janice¡¯s jaw dropped. It took her a moment to recover. ¡°Damn¡­ Jayson is one cold¨Chearted man. They were together for so long, yet he discarded her just like that.¡± While Janice was furious over what Nancy had done to Ariel, Jayson¡¯s ruthlessness sent chills down her spine. and Clinging to Ariel¡¯s arm, Janice¡¯s emotions were a swirl of anger and relief. ¡°Thank goodness you Jayson settled the divorce so peacefully. You didn¡¯t cling to him either. Otherwise, with him being so clever and dangerous, who knows what he might have done to you?¡± It truly was a blessing that Ariel had chosen to leave Jayson. With his personality, Janice couldn¡¯t even imagine what he would have done if Ariel had refused the divorce and stubbornly held on to him. Ariel pondered Janice¡¯s words. Would Jayson really have gone that far? She couldn¡¯t say for sure. Chad, however, saw no point in entertaining such hypotheticals. ¡°They¡¯re already divorced. What you¡¯re worried about isn¡¯t going to happen. They¡¯ve gone their separate ways, and they¡¯re no longer connected in any way.¡± He patted Ariel¡¯s shoulder reassuringly. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. You hold a much more important position now. The government values you highly. ¡°Nancy and Sarah brought this on themselves. By trying to pull those stunts, they¡¯ve onlynded themselves in even bigger trouble. You¡¯ve already gotten your revenge. Forget about them and move on with your life.¡± Life hadn¡¯t been easy for Ariel over the past few years¨Cwhether living with the Sandersons or enduring her two¨Cyear marriage to Jayson. 11 She could see the worry in their eyes, so she tilted her head and smiled softly. ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± She would just wait and see what punishments Nancy and Sarah would ultimately face. That afternoon, Ariel had a call. She nced at the screen and answered. ¡°Hello?¡± ¡°Are you alright?¡± Lucas¡® deep voice came through, thick with restrained anger. ¡°I heard that you were in danger.¡± Ariel frowned. She had blocked Lucas¡® number, yet he was contacting her through a different one. Without a word, she hung up. She couldn¡¯t be bothered to respond to him, even feeling that taking his call had disrupted her work. Her thoughts shifted to Arthur. She felt she owed him her gratitude for what he had done yesterday. Arthur had risked his life when he rammed his car into the other vehicle. If not for the sturdiness of his car, he would have been gravely injured. Even so, Ariel was certain he had sustained at least minor injuries from the impact. Unfortunately, she would have to go through Jayson if she wanted to thank him. The thought made her hesitate. She hoped Arthur woulde himself to retrieve Jayson¡¯s car. That way, she could thank him in person. Since Nancy and Sarah¡¯s actions were considered serious criminal offenses, the authorities had kept the details from the public for now. Instead, they released updates on the investigation into Nancy¡¯spetition scandal, announcing her arrest. It quickly became widely known that Nancy had been guilty of giarism. Meanwhile, Ariel¡¯s name was spreading fast due to the recent chain of events. As the wife of Bluum Corp¡¯s owner, she naturally drew public interest. While Nancy faced growing criticism, Ariel received an outpouring of support and encouragement. After lunch at Faye Technologies¡® cafeteria, Ariel was heading back to her office when Chad strode toward her with a grim expression. He grabbed her wrist and lowered his voice. ¡°We have a problem.¡± Ariel was baffled by his statement. Chad¡¯s face was ice¨Ccold as he exhaled sharply. ¡°We don¡¯t know who leaked the information, but a media outlet just published an article iming you got Jayson to marry you by¡­ drugging him and throwing yourself at him.¡± (1) Inside 582 Ariel froze at those words. With people nearby, she stayed silent and followed Chad upstairs to their floor. By the time they got to her office, Janice had hurried over after hearing the news. She panted heavily as she looked at Ariel. ¡°What¡¯s going on? How did they suddenly publish an article like that?¡± Ariel was looking down at the article disyed on the tablet. Chad¡¯s face was tight with frustration. ¡°It came out of nowhere. We had no idea this article wasing. Who else knows what really happened back then?¡± Ariel scanned the article carefully. It used her of using underhanded tactics to seduce Jayson and imed she had staged a scandal by inviting reporters into their room to photograph them together. In short, it painted her as a shameless woman who had trapped Jayson into marriage. ¡°There were quite a few people,¡± Ariel murmured, brows knitted. Back then, for the Sanderson Group¡¯s benefit, Morgan had taken advantage of the Larkins¡® long¨Cstanding friendship with the Walkers. His eagerness for profit had driven him to extremes. He had arranged for several reporters to be present, then immediately informed Betty and pressured the Larkins to take responsibility. Because Jeffrey and Timothy were once warrades, Betty had begun urging Jayson to marry Ariel. Morgan¡¯s intention was clear¨Che wanted to back Jayson into a corner, leaving him no way to refuse. The situation at the time had beenplicated. Ariel, who was one of the pawns in the setup, had remainedrgely in the dark about the full truth. If she thought about it carefully, only a select few knew what had really happened that day. Besides, Jayson had managed to contain the fallout. The reporters involved had all disappeared afterward, and the details were buried. ¡°Who would do something like this? They¡¯re vile!¡± Janice fumed. ¡°That was years ago, and you two are already divorced. What¡¯s their goal? How shameless can someone get?¡± Ariel had just begun to enjoy recognition for her work. People admired the rare genius who excelled in her field. Whoever leaked this information clearly intended to destroy her reputation. How would the public see her now? Those who once respected her might turn against her. She was being cast as an ambitious schemer willing to do anything to achieve her goals. Ariel furrowed her brows. She and Jayson were divorced, and she could simply ignore the gossip. But this rumor would likely spread beyond control. What was more, she was scheduled to begin her research at the military base next month. The timing of this scandal felt deliberate. 1 ¡°I think you should talk to Jayson about how to handle this,¡± Chad said. After all, they were the ones being discussed in the article. Ariel shared his opinion. She then tapped the tablet and opened thements section. ¡°They¡¯ve been married for years, yet they were childless. Now we know why. Under those circumstances, it¡¯d be a miracle if Mr. Larkin ever let her carry his child.¡± (1 ¡°She did that? I¡¯m starting to question if they¡¯ve been exaggerating her talents. Did she use dirty tricks to get ahead too?¡± ¡°Her aplishments are fabricated. She¡¯spletely immoral.¡± Those were the first fewments. The first one stood out sharply, cutting deeper than the rest. Even Ariel found herself unable to ignore it. Noticing Ariel¡¯s grim expression, Janice moved closer. She nced at the tablet before yanking it from Ariel¡¯s hands and shutting it off. ¡°What do these people even know? They should really watch what they¡¯re saying!¡± Ariel noticed that many people werementing on that issue. People criticized her for not having children during her marriage to Jayson, despite their years of marriage, which they twisted into further proof¡± of the rumor. The timing of this leak was almost too perfect. With Ariel under the public spotlight, the criticism was only going to intensify. ¡°You need to figure out how to solve this,¡± Chad advised grimly. ¡°There are plenty of people jealous of your sess. And not everyone in the research or academicmunity ys fair. Some will stab you in the back the first chance they get.¡± Chad understood that all too well. Inside 583 Not everyone in their industry would appreciate Ariel¡¯s intelligence and talent. When personal interests were at stake, some people inevitably revealed their darker, greedier sides. Ariel understood exactly what Chad meant. Without wasting any time, she decided to speak with Jayson. She had just reached the ground floor and was heading toward her car when she spotted a Bentley parked by the roadside. Lucas stepped out, his expression hard as stone. The moment he saw her, he strode forward and grabbed her wrist. ¡°You¡¯ve been drawing too much attentiontely. First, you nearly lost your life. Now your reputation¡¯s in shambles. The situation¡¯s tricky. You should avoid public appearances for now,¡± he said sharply, already dragging her toward his car, as if her earlier act of hanging up on him didn¡¯t matter. ¡°Lucas! Let go of me!¡± Ariel snapped, her expression turning icy as she yanked her wrist free. Each time she saw him, Lucas seemed more out of control. He had never been this domineering before. (1) Lucas turned back to her, eyes dark. ¡°You still haven¡¯t given up, have you?¡± He stepped closer, his voice low and cutting. ¡°Don¡¯t you see it? Everything that¡¯s happened¨Cit¡¯s all because of Jayson. I¡¯m the only one who truly cares for you. Do you honestly think he gives a damn about you?¡± His brows drew together, his voiceced with resentment. ¡°You rushed to find a new man the moment I was sentenced to prison. If you¡¯d just waited for me, you wouldn¡¯t be in this mess.¡± (1) Lucas still hated her for abandoning him back then. They had grown up together, inseparable for years. To him, Ariel¡¯s quick marriage to Jayson after his imprisonment felt like a betrayal, as if she¡¯d been eager to tie herself to Jayson all along. 1 Ariel drew in a steady breath, her face void of emotion. ¡°Wait for you? Why should I? We¡¯re siblings, Lucas. Nothing more. You really need to snap out of this delusion.¡± Her patience with his disrespect was wearing thin. He treated her like she was his possession, as if her life wasn¡¯t her own. Lucas had once been kind to her, and she felt she¡¯d already repaid that kindness many times over. He stared at her, a faint twitch pulling at his brows. He told himself not to take her words to heart, though a dark frown creased his forehead as he stepped forward again. ¡°If you¡¯d left him sooner, none of this would¡¯ve happened,¡± Lucas said coldly. ¡°He doesn¡¯t love you, and you know it. Ariel, you should be able to tell which of us truly wants the best for you. I¡¯m the only one who can fix this for you.¡± Whatever warmth had lingered in Ariel¡¯s eyes vanished. She turned to walk past him, but stopped when she spotted Jayson approaching. He walked toward her, his expression unreadable. Lucas¡® mocking smirk didn¡¯t go unnoticed, but Jayson ignored him. His calm gazended on Ariel as he spoke evenly. ¡°I came to retrieve the car. Do you have the keys?¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t expected Jayson toe in person. She had no intention of wasting another second on Lucas. Since she needed to discuss matters with Jayson anyway, she replied, ¡°They¡¯re in my office. Come with me.¡± Without sparing Lucas a nce, she turned and headed back into the building. As Jayson moved past him, Lucas tilted his head, wearing a sardonic smile. ¡°You¡¯re awfully generous, Mr. Larkin. Still willing to forgive Ari after what she did to you back then? ¡°I get it, though. After I was sent to prison, she needed someone to depend on. Feelings didn¡¯t matter. But tell me, are you doing this out of charity, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson stopped and turned to Lucas, smiling faintly. ¡°She doesn¡¯t belong to anyone, nor does she need to rely on someone else to survive. You may be close to her, Mr. Sanderson, but she chose to marry someone else without hesitation. Perhaps your rtionship isn¡¯t as strong as you think it is.¡± 3 Inside 584 Lucas seemed surprised as he met Jayson¡¯s gaze. Jayson, however, remained calm andposed. He gave a slight nod, then turned to follow Ariel into Faye Technologies¡® building. The lobby was bustling with people at that hour. By the time Ariel reached the elevator, Jayson had already caught up with her. Employees of Faye Technologies looked on in shock and excitement as the pair walked past. Even after it had been revealed that Jayson was Ariel¡¯s husband, no one had ever seen them appear together at the office like this, side by side. Many were struggling to process what they were witnessing. Ariel carried herself withposure despite the curious stares, and Jayson seemedpletely unfazed. When the elevator doors opened, he held them apart for her and stepped inside after she entered. The moment the doors closed, whispers spread through the onlookers outside. Most had assumed the couple was at odds after reading the scandalous article that day, but the atmosphere between them had seemed unexpectedly calm. Jayson had even appeared somewhat considerate of Ariel. Once again, he was visiting her office. Ariel nced at him, her gaze lingering briefly on his injured arm. She couldn¡¯t ignore it. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you send someone else to retrieve the car? You¡¯re still injured.¡± There was no need for him toe in person. Jayson¡¯s eyes swept over her office before he replied evenly, ¡°I had some free time.¡± Ariel frowned slightly but chose not to press the matter further. She handed him the car keys. ¡°Have you seen the news?¡± 1 He epted the keys, meeting her eyes. ¡°I have. Don¡¯t worry. Bluum Corp¡¯s PR team will handle it.¡± Ariel felt relieved upon hearing his response. Still, she found it hard to believe. ¡°I thought you¡¯d use this opportunity to get back at me for what happened back then.¡± After all, regardless of whether Ariel had orchestrated it, Jayson had been the one set up. And now that they were divorced, it would¡¯ve been understandable if he chose to do nothing about the article. Jayson ran his fingers over the keys. ¡°You must think I¡¯m really patient then¨Cfinally exacting revenge after all this time.¡± Ariel was momentarily at a loss for words. She had always known that beneath his cold, reserved demeanor, Jayson was sharp and critical. Arguing with him was rarely easy. ¡°I¡¯ll look into it,¡± Jayson continued. ¡°You focus on your work and don¡¯t let this affect you. You know it¡¯s a trap, so don¡¯t fall for it.¡± He slipped the keys into his pocket. ¡°If you trust me, just ignore the news entirely.¡± He clearly had no intention of staying long, offering this final reassurance before preparing to leave. Earlier, Ariel had been unsure whether Jayson would intervene in the matter, but his firm response brought her a sense of calm. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel felt there was little left for her and Jayson to discuss beyond their shared issues. With their conversation done, they should stay out of each other¡¯s way. Their rtionship was over, and it was better for them to avoid seeing one another. She wasn¡¯t the type to cling to a past love. Besides, she and Jayson hadn¡¯t parted amicably. Considering the circumstances of their divorce, Ariel had no desire to sit down and calmly speak with him. She was already hinting, in a brisk, business¨Clike way, that it was time for him to leave. Jayson didn¡¯t mind it. But just as he reached the door, he paused, ncing back at her. ¡°Mr. Johnstone mentioned that Mr. Sanderson and Ms. Johnstone¡¯s wedding is in two months. Will you attend the ceremony with me?¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t known about this. She met his gaze, replying in a t tone, ¡°I¡¯m not free. I won¡¯t be going.¡± The wedding had nothing to do with her, and she had other priorities. Jayson studied her in silence for a few seconds, then turned and left without another word. After he was gone, Ariel remembered that she was expected at a charity event that evening. With rumors already swirling, skipping the event would only fuel more spection. Many influential figures would be present, and while Carlos was originally supposed to apany her,st¨Cminute work had forced him to cancel. He¡¯d urged her to attend alone. But no one had anticipated that a scandal using her of forcing Jayson into marriage would erupt out of nowhere. Even Chad had stopped by to caution her. ¡°Should you just skip tonight¡¯s event? People will only gossip more if you show up.¡± Ariel shrugged. ¡°They¡¯ll gossip whether I¡¯m there or not. Avoiding it won¡¯t solve anything.¡± Chad knew her well enough to understand her resolve, but concern still furrowed his brow. ¡°Why haven¡¯t we heard anything from Jayson yet? Was he lying to you? He hasn¡¯t taken care of the situation.¡± Inside 585 Ultimately, the key to resolving the situationy with Jayson. All he had to do was issue a statement denying the rumors. A single sentence from him would be enough to rify everything¨Che could simply say none of what the article imed was true. Ariel pressed her lips together, then shook her head and said matter¨Cof¨Cfactly, ¡°I¡¯d understand if he doesn¡¯t want to help me, considering what happened back then. I¡¯ll figure out what to do after I return from the charity event.¡± The charity event was being held in Eastgate, so Ariel drove herself there. Despite the rumors swirling around her, she knew staying out of sight would do more harm than good. After parking her car, Ariel encountered a few familiar faces near the entrance. Most people treated her the same as always, with some even greeting her politely. After all, the scandal hadn¡¯t been verified, and Ariel had gained significant attention recently for her achievements. ¡°Ms. Walker, it¡¯s a pleasure to finally meet you. I hope you don¡¯t mind me asking, but is Mr. Larkin not attending tonight¡¯s event with you?¡± A senior executive from a materials productionpany approached her with a broad smile. Ariel responded calmly, ¡°He¡¯s busy with work. We hope you understand.¡± The man merely grinned and let the matter drop. As she entered the hall, Ariel could hear hushed whispers around her. ¡°They¡¯re not even trying to hide how bad their rtionship is. Maybe the rumors aren¡¯t entirely false. I thought people in the research sector were supposed to be honest and conscientious¡­ Guess you really can¡¯t judge a book by its cover.¡± Ariel paused briefly but ignored thements and kept walking. She soon spotted Cecilia heading her way. ¡°Ariel? You¡¯re here!¡± Cecilia beamed and waved before walking over to cling to Ariel¡¯s arm. ¡°Are you alright?¡± She had a concerned look on her face. ¡°I heard the rumors. Some of thements were so harsh. Has it caused you a lot of trouble?¡± She studied Ariel¡¯s face carefully. ¡°You should be receiving praise and admiration right now, yet you¡¯ve been dragged into a scandal instead. That article isn¡¯t true, is it?¡± Even after Nancy had been arrested, new rumors about Ariel and Jayson continued to circte. Some people felt quite bad for the couple. Still, a majority of people were also left curious about the true state of their rtionship. Ariel nced at Cecilia¡¯s hand on her arm, her expression calm. ¡°I suppose that depends on what people choose to believe.¡± That was all she said. Cecilia looked startled. She examined Ariel closely. ¡°You¡¯re joking about this? This could have serious consequences. If the authorities investigate and you don¡¯t have a proper exnation¡­ What will you do?¡± (2 She let out a sharp hiss, her toneced with irritation. ¡°And why hasn¡¯t Mr. Larkin said anything? He hasn¡¯t even tried to defend you. It¡¯s really cold of him to just ignore your crisis.¡± Half a day had passed since the article was published online. Yet, Jayson made no move toment or rify. Gently pulling her hand away from Cecilia, Ariel turned and took a ss of fruit juice from the table. ¡°You seem angrier than I am, Ms. Pryce.¡± She gave Cecilia a faint smile. Cecilia crossed her arms and shrugged. ¡°I just can¡¯t help feeling bad for you. Honestly, Mr. Larkin¡¯s behavior is disappointing. He probably showed Nancy more care and concern than he¡¯s shown you¡­¡± (1) She trailed off as if she¡¯d said too much. ¡°I¡¯m sorry. I can be a little blunt sometimes. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± But deep down, Cecilia believed Jayson¡¯s silence was a tacit acknowledgment of the article¡¯s ims. A man like him wasn¡¯t known for forgiving those who had wronged him. Ariel¡¯s lips curved slightly. ¡°Of course not.¡± Just then, someone whispered something in Cecilia¡¯s ear. She frowned slightly, pulled out her phone, and began checking it. From a distance, a slightly surprised voice suddenly called, ¡°Mr. Larkin?¡± Ariel froze momentarily and turned her head toward the sound. Even Cecilia looked startled, though she quickly spotted Jayson. Ariel watched as Jayson entered through the door. His gaze found her almost instantly. He acknowledged those around him with a polite nod, then strode toward her. Some people followed behind him. Eventually, Jayson stopped before Ariel. Ariel looked confused, surprised to see him there. Cecilia quickly put away her phone and smiled. ¡°Mr. Larkin, we weren¡¯t told you¡¯d be attending tonight¡¯s event.¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze met Ariel¡¯s, but she quickly looked away and noticed the wedding ring on his ring finger, which he hadn¡¯t worn for a long time. 1 A flicker of confusion crossed her face. Then, in a voice loud enough for everyone nearby to hear, Jayson said evenly, ¡°I¡¯m here to apany my wife.¡± 2 Inside 586 Ariel¡¯s frown was almost imperceptible as she nced at Jayson. Inside, she felt a flicker of surprise. But more than that, a strange sense of unease. It had been so long since Jaysonst wore his wedding ring that she couldn¡¯t even remember when he had stopped. In the past, Ariel had been the only one wearing that symbol of their marriage. She¡¯d clung to it, thinking that by wearing the ring she could somehow uphold the illusion of a happy rtionship. Back then, she assumed Jayson had stopped wearing it because they were both working at Bluum Corp. Wearing matching rings designed by one of Fiorvell¡¯s most renowned jewelers would have made their rtionship far too obvious. So she never questioned him about it. On second thought, perhaps Jayson hadn¡¯t been trying to hide their rtionship at all. Maybe he had simply never wanted to wear it. After all, Betty had often reminded him to put it on, even telling him it was fine if he only wore it at home. Yet, he never did. It became clear over time¨Che simply didn¡¯t want to. Eventually, Ariel came to believe he had discarded it altogether. At least that was what she¡¯d believed for a very long time. It was only after seeing the ring again that everything became clear to her. Jayson had chosen to wear it tonight to silence the rumors swirling around them. Many people in the room had noticed the ring too, especially since he made no effort to conceal it. Their reactions ranged from shock to intrigue. Jayson, the head of Bluum Corp, was well¨Cknown among the guests. A man of his influence had no reason to put on a charade if the rumors were true. Cecilia reached that conclusion as well, and the smile on her face faltered slightly. 2 Someone couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°You hardly ever attend these events, Mr. Larkin. But today¡­¡± Jayson ignored the skeptical looks around him as he stepped closer to Ariel. ¡°Something ridiculous happened today,¡± he said evenly, ¡°and I was worried it might ruin my wife¡¯s mood. I pushed back my work toe and apany her. I didn¡¯t want her to feel troubled or upset because of others¡® pointed remarks.¡± His response was calm, measured. Yet to the people listening, his words carried different meanings. Those who had been on the fence remained unfazed, while those who had been whispering about Ariel earlier now wore stiff, uneasy expressions. It was obvious that Jayson was there to deny the rumors. Ariel pressed her lips together. A strange feeling stirred within her. His actions tonight weren¡¯t just quashing gossip; they were also reinforcing their public image as a loving married couple. (1) Jayson could have simply responded by stating that the article¡¯s content was fake. He could even leverage the public¡¯s angry response to the news to bring up the issues surrounding their divorce with Betty. Betty might evene to realize that their marriage had been a mistake, and gradually she would be able to ept their decision to get a divorce. Ariel knew from years of PR work that online scandals rarelysted long. If sheid low, the controversy would eventually fade. As the so¨Ccalled victim, Jayson could have put an end to the spection with a single public rification. Instead, he had chosen to show up in person, making an unspoken statement and warning those who had been gossiping. ¡°I see,¡± one of the guests remarked with a knowing chuckle. ¡°The two of you have such a close rtionship. Even with Mr. Larkin¡¯s busy schedule, he made time to attend this event with Ms. Walker.¡± 2 The others quickly realized what was happening. One of them chimed in, ¡°Some people just can¡¯t stand seeing others happy. They try to ruin reputations with baseless usations, thinking someone like Mr. Larkin would actually fall for their schemes. They clearly weren¡¯t thinking at all.¡± Their words reminded the crowd of an obvious fact. With Jayson¡¯s status, could anyone truly believe he¡¯d been forced into marriage? Even if he had to resort to less¨Cthan¨Chonorable methods, Jayson was not a man to be coerced. Anyone foolish enough to try would pay dearly for it. And with tonight¡¯s charity event bound to be covered by the press, it was clear Jayson¡¯s presence wasn¡¯t just about keeping Arielpany. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 587 Chapter 587 Jayson had attended this public event with the intention of making some rifications. He lowered his gaze and nced at Ariel. ¡°Since we¡¯re already here¡­ aside from your personal donation, why don¡¯t we make a joint one?¡± Ariel met his gaze, her expression betraying nothing. ¡°You can do as you see fit.¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Jayson lifted his gaze and looked at the charity event¡¯s organizer standing nearby. His voice was calm andposed as he addressed the audience. ¡°This is probably our first time attending an event as a married couple. There have been some negative opinions and spection about my wife on certain online tforms. She isn¡¯t the type to be bothered by gossip, but I know those rumors have affected her. ¡°Tonight, I¡¯m donating 99 million dors under both our names. I hope it brings as much good energy to our marriage as it does to this cause.¡± Ariel blinked in surprise, startled by the staggering amount. She looked at Jayson in disbelief. Cecilia¡¯s brows knitted as she stared at Jayson¡¯s impassive face, a storm of mixed emotions shing through her eyes. The guests were stunned. With their sharp instincts, most of them quickly understood Jayson¡¯s intentions. If anyone else had faced such nder, they might haveshed out in anger or sought revenge. But Jayson¡¯s method was far more strategic. Not only did his announcement serve as a warning to those gossiping about Ariel, it also made their closeness undeniable. From now on, few would dare speak ill of her. Cecilia could see exactly what he was doing. If Jayson had wanted to, he could have silenced every mention of the article entirely. He had the means to wipe the web of any trace of it. But he chose not to. Instead, he took a route that best protected Ariel¡¯s reputation. Yet, Cecilia couldn¡¯t understand it. The article¡¯s ims about that past incident were true. Why was Jayson defending Ariel now? ¡°You¡¯re very generous, Mr. Larkin¡­¡± Cecilia said atst, snapping out of her daze. She smiled, but her eyes held no warmth. Jayson nced at her. ¡°The best way to fight against cheap, dirty tricks is to expose them for what they are.¡± +15 BONUS Cecilia smiled slightly. ¡°You¡¯re right. That¡¯s very wise of you, Mr. Larkin.¡± Her attention shifted to Ariel, who had remained utterlyposed throughout the exchange. Cecilia smiled sweetly. ¡°Ariel, you must be very happy, being married to a man like him.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change. Her tone was steady, though there was a hint of irony in her words. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t lower your standards too much when choosing a partner, Ms. Pryce.¡± Moments ago, Cecilia had criticized Jayson for favoring Nancy over Ariel. Now she was implying Ariel should be happy with her marriage. The contradiction in her words was ring. Cecilia¡¯s gaze flicked to Jayson before she chuckled lightly. ¡°You¡¯re right. I was just touched, that¡¯s all. Few men would go as far as Mr. Larkin has.¡± The charity¡¯s organizer was delighted. Jayson and Ariel had just made thergest donation of the evening. Typically, guests donated a few million dors¨Cenough to maintain a positive image for theirpanies or brands. But Jayson¡¯s 99 million was a shock even to top enterprises. Almost instantly, rumors that Ariel had forced Jayson into marriage or that their rtionship was stormy were silenced. Jayson¡¯s move was clever. He didn¡¯t need to waste manpower or resources to shut down the gossip directly. And in doing so, he also gained favor by supporting a good cause. Just then, Ariel¡¯s phone chimed with a notification. She nced at the screen and saw a message from Janice containing a link. ¡°What¡¯s this? Bluum Corp has just issued a statement! Jayson said that he¡­¡± Ariel frowned and clicked the link to find out what it was. Inside 588 Chapter 588 In the past, Ariel often liaised with the team managing Bluum Corp¡¯s official social media ount. Because of that, she knew its protocols better than anyone. Any post made on thepany¡¯s official ount had to go through several rounds of review to ensure there were no errors or issues. Yet, the post she was now looking at read- ¡°Hello, everyone. I¡¯m Ariel Walker¡¯s husband, Jayson Larkin. In our marriage, I was the one who fell for her first and longed for her to be my partner. I hope everyone will stop spreading false rumors that damage my wife¡¯s reputation. Please allow us to live peacefully and stand by each other¡¯s side. ¡°Both my wife and I hold firm on certain principles. I was never forced into this marriage. I trust those who know better won¡¯t be swayed by baseless gossip. If it isn¡¯t too much to ask, we¡¯d be grateful for your blessings and well wishes. Wishing everyone a wonderful day.¡± The message was simple yet meaningful¨Cconcise, polite, and sincere without being overly formal. The post was quickly racking up likes and shares. Ariel stared at it for a long moment before putting her phone away, her expression unreadable. Once, she might have felt ted. But things had changed. Her feelings toward Jayson had shifted ever since their rtionship did. She knew he was only doing this to maintain appearances. Noticing her brief distraction, Jayson turned to her. ¡°Grandma saw the article online. She¡¯s worried. After this event, will youe with me to see her? It would ease her mind.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t possibly say no to that. Tonight, Jayson had spent a staggering amount of money to quell spection and malicious rumors about her. He had even made a public deration of love on Bluum Corp¡¯s official ount to silence gossip. No matter how she looked at it, she owed him a great deal. Ariel knew it was only fair to return the favor. ¡°Sure,¡± she replied. Nearby, Cecilia swirled the wine in her ss as she watched the pair whispering to each other. Her face remained expressionless until she finally smiled and approached Ariel. Resting an arm lightly on Ariel¡¯s shoulders, Cecilia said, ¡°You should be mindful of those watching. We need to sign the donation certificate soon. Shall we go together?¡± Ariel nced at her but didn¡¯t refuse. From behind, Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on the two women, his expression unreadable. +15 BONUS The evening had reached its peak the moment Jayson arrived. It was spected that this year¡¯s charity fundraising total had already surpassed previous years. Guests from various sectors approached Ariel to greet her, showing admiration and respect for her aplishments while tactfully avoiding any mention of Jayson. Thanks to her years of experience in public rtions, Ariel mingled effortlessly. By the time the event ended, it was just past 8:00 pm. Before leaving, Cecilia leaned close to Ariel and murmured, ¡°What a pity. Samson¡¯s feelings for you were genuine. I hope you won¡¯t be too cold to him the next time you meet. After all, this is his first time experiencing unrequited love.¡± Ariel knew she¡¯d be seeing Samson often after joining the research team¨Cit was inevitable. Yet, she didn¡¯t give a clear answer. Cecilia continued nonchntly, ¡°Well, I¡¯ll see you around. You must join me the next time I ask you out. I see you as a friend now.¡± Ariel¡¯s clear eyes met hers. ¡°See you next time.¡± Cecilia arched a brow and grinned. Her gaze flicked to Jayson standing behind Ariel. ¡°You¡¯re wee to join us too if you¡¯re free, Mr. Larkin,¡± she said lightly. Jayson gave a polite nod. Without waiting for a response, Cecilia turned and stepped into her car. Ariel turned back to Jayson. ¡°Are we heading to Larkin Manor?¡± Jayson held his hand out. ¡°Give me your car keys. Grandma is waiting at the marital home. I¡¯ll drive.¡± ¡°What about your car?¡± Ariel frowned. ¡°Arthur took the car to handle some work matters. I don¡¯t have a car right now,¡± Jayson replied evenly. Inside 589 Chapter 589 Jayson¡¯s exnation sounded perfectly reasonable. Ariel hesitated for a moment before handing him the car keys. Since he had volunteered to drive, she saw no reason to object. She started to head for the back seat, but Jayson opened the door to the front passenger seat instead. ¡°I¡¯m driving an unfamiliar car,¡± he said, ncing at her. ¡°You should sit here and make sure I don¡¯t mess it up.¡± Ariel frowned slightly. ¡°What, do you think you¡¯ll drive us into a ditch?¡± Leaning casually against the door, Jayson replied, ¡°Who knows? If we do, after attending a public event together, we¡¯d definitely make the headlines tomorrow.¡± Ariel fell silent, realizing he was teasing her. She eventually got into the front passenger¡¯s seat. Jayson started the engine, smoothly turning the car in the direction they both knew well. After a brief contemtion, Ariel spoke. ¡°Thank you for rifying things for me tonight. You were more or less a victim in this whole situation. I admit that. But wasn¡¯t it a bit excessive to donate that much money?¡± Bluum Corp¡¯s official statement alone should have been enough to calm the rumors, and Ariel felt Jayson¡¯s extra step had been unnecessary. He nced at her, driving in a rxed posture with an air of good humor. ¡°Hmm¡­ and your reason for thinking that?¡± Ariel calmly shared her thoughts. ¡°It feels like a huge favor, one I can¡¯t possibly repay. You could have told me beforehand instead of doing what you did just now. It only makes me feel burdened.¡± She didn¡¯t want to owe him more, not when their rtionship had already ended. Jayson chuckled and nodded. ¡°So you see it as a favor you owe me for?¡± Ariel met his gaze steadily. ¡°Given the state of our rtionship, do you really think I can just ept all your help without feeling that way?¡± She continued, ¡°Besides, did you think through the consequences of handling things like this? ¡°We¡¯re divorced. But tonight, you made another public statement and a joint donation that reestablishes us as a married couple. Are we going to keep up this act from now on?¡± This was the question that had been nagging at her all evening. +15 BONUS ¡°Even though things with Nancy didn¡¯t end well, one day you might meet someone new, maybe even remarry. How are you going to exin this to the public when that timees?¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t criticizing him¨Cjust pointing out an obvious issue that needed serious consideration. She had originally hoped Jayson would make a straightforward statement dering the rumors false and announcing his intent to take legal action. That alone would have been enough to stop the gossip, and over time, people would forget. After all, what mattered most in solving the current situation was Jayson¡¯s attitude. Ariel couldn¡¯t exactly understand what Jayson was trying to achieve through his current approach. Honestly, she thought he was overdoing it. Had he not thought about the consequences? If he ever decided to date or marry someone else, tonight¡¯s ¡± love deration¡± on Bluum Corp¡¯s ount would look like a joke. What would he do then? And he hadn¡¯t even posted it on his personal ount, but Bluum Corp¡¯s official page. Hands steady on the wheel, Jayson kept his eyes on the road. ¡°You¡¯re thinking pretty far ahead for my sake.¡± For some reason, Ariel thought there was something pointed in his tone, a meaning beneath the words. Still, she didn¡¯t think she¡¯d said anything wrong. ¡°They¡¯re real issues. You should take them seriously.¡± Jayson gave her a brief sideways nce. ¡°And how are you so sure I¡¯d ever want to announce a new rtionship, or that I¡¯d be looking to marry someone else?¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t bother hiding your affair when we were still married. Do you really think that would change now that you¡¯re legally single?¡± Ariel shot him a sharp side nce, her voiceced with sarcasm. The words left a brief, heavy silence hanging in the air. Inside 590 Even Jayson had fallen silent for a moment. He tapped his finger lightly on the steering wheel before turning his head to study Ariel¡¯s expression. There was no trace of emotion on her face when she spoke those words. ¡°Are you venting your resentment at me,¡± Jayson asked, ¡°or just teasing me?¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t understand why he was asking that. She leaned against the car window, her tone calm and steady. ¡°I¡¯m simply stating the truth.¡± Once again, Jayson was left speechless by her response. The car fell into another stretch of silence. When he made a turn, Jayson finally said, ¡°Do you feel nothing at all when talking about those things?¡± ¡°People who weren¡¯t directly involved often express disdain or scorn when discussing such matters.¡± Ariel¡¯s voice was icy. ¡°What kind of emotion do you expect me to feel?¡± An ufortable quiet settled over them once more. Then, from Jayson¡¯s chest came a sound so soft it was barely audible. It almost sounded like a chuckle. ¡°You¡¯ve got a sharp tongue,¡± Jayson said suddenly. ¡°That¡¯s good. It means you won¡¯t let anyone take advantage of you.¡± Jayson was suddenly praising her. Ariel couldn¡¯t fathom his thoughts. She turned back to the window, quietly admiring the night view. As far as she was concerned, she hadn¡¯t said anything wrong. Jayson was entitled to his own views. He had never felt ashamed of what he¡¯d done in the past, and a few remarks from her now certainly wouldn¡¯t change that. Soon, they arrived at Crescent Point. The yard lights were on. From a distance, they could see people moving around. When Jayson drove into the yard, they realized several workers were busy with different tasks. Jayson stepped out of the car, walked over, and opened the door for Ariel. ¡°Grandma brought some men over to fix and install a few things,¡± he exined. Ariel offered noment. This was Jayson¡¯s house, and it was up to the Larkins to decide what they wanted done with it. As soon as they stepped inside, Betty came toward them from the living room. She looked a little displeased, but she still sped Ariel¡¯s hands warmly and tried tofort her. +15 BONUS ¡°These days, the onlinemunity is full of negativity. People vent their frustrations by attacking others. Jayson will deal with those spitefulments. You shouldn¡¯t let them get to you.¡± Ariel could tell Betty was truly worried about her. She took Betty¡¯s hands in hers. ¡°I know. I don¡¯t even have the energy to care about thements and opinions of those who don¡¯t even matter to me. It won¡¯t bother me.¡± Ariel was often preupied with work. Public opinion didn¡¯t matter much to her, but she wanted to silence the rumors before they damaged her career and reputation. Still, Betty was unsettled. What had happened in the past wasn¡¯t something they could openly discuss, and she feared mentioning it would only cause more friction between Ariel and Jayson. However, she had seen thetest statement from Bluum Corp¡¯s official social media ount and was overjoyed. Betty had never imagined she would live to see Jayson and Ariel publicly acknowledging their rtionship. She believed their feelings for each other would only deepen over time, and that brought herfort. Since neither Jayson nor Ariel seemed upset about the resurfaced rumors, Betty decided to drop the topic. Holding Ariel¡¯s hand, she said, ¡°I heard what happened to Nancy Stanton. She¡¯ll pay for her actions in prison. It¡¯s about time we were rid of that troublesome woman.¡± Betty felt deeply satisfied by Nancy¡¯s downfall. Nancy¡¯s misdeeds and poor choices had led her here¨Cshe had no one to me but herself. Ariel only smiled faintly. She didn¡¯t tell Betty about her recent brush with death, and it was clear Jayson hadn¡¯t mentioned it either. Betty¡¯s heart wasn¡¯t as strong as it used to be, and Ariel didn¡¯t want to frighten her. ¡°I brought some of our maids from Larkin Manor here to cook some tasty dishes for you. I checked your fridge, and it was empty. You two are probably so busy that you don¡¯t even have the time to cook most days. I¡¯m going to make sure you get all the nourishment you need today.¡± Betty patted the back of Ariel¡¯s hand and gestured toward the kitchen. ¡°If there¡¯s anything in particr you¡¯d like, just let them know.¡± She hadpletely ignored her grandson, who was standing behind her. Jayson simply let Betty be. He slowly stepped away and poured himself a ss of water. It was Ariel¡¯s first time entering the kitchen since the renovations. Not much had changed. To her surprise, the light yellow refrigerator was still in its old spot, just as she remembered. She used to drink herbal soups regrly and would buy lots of dried fruits to pair with them, always storing them in that cheerful yellow fridge. Inside 591 That fridge belonged to Ariel and was for her personal use. She had carefully chosen that model after much browsing, and it was no longer avable on the market. Ariel was certain it was her old fridge. She could tell because the fridge mas she¡¯d collected from different ces were still stuck to it. Georgia, the housekeeper who had managed the marital home, noticed Ariel staring at the fridge. She walked over, opened it, and pulled out a ss jar of dried cranberries. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, are you perhaps thinking of having some snacks first?¡± Georgia still remembered Ariel¡¯s eating habits well and had instinctively offered something Ariel used to enjoy. Ariel hadn¡¯t expected to find dried fruits stored in the fridge. She had assumed the fridge would be empty. She nced at the cranberries, noting their freshness and a recent expiration date. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Ariel said, declining the offer. Jayson heard her response as he came over with a ss of water in his hand. Ariel shot him a questioning look. Did Jayson enjoy eating dried fruits too? He even had them stocked up at home. Sensing her gaze, Jayson tapped lightly on the table and said in a calm voice, ¡°Why are you looking at me like that? Am I not allowed to like that fridge?¡± Only the two of them understood the meaning behind his words. The house had undergone extensive renovations, yet Jayson had chosen to keep that fridge. Ariel stared at him and said frigidly, ¡°It¡¯s mine.¡± Jayson turned and left the kitchen. He replied nonchntly, ¡°I¡¯m not selling it.¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. It seemed he already knew what she was about to say, and he had made it clear he wouldn¡¯t part with the fridge. Jayson was a master at shutting down conversations he didn¡¯t wish to continue. Georgia, standing nearby, was baffled by their cryptic exchange. The moment Jayson stepped into the living room, Betty swooped in and dragged him toward the sunroom. Once she made sure Ariel was still in the kitchen, Betty smacked him hard on the back. +15 BONUS ¡°Someone leaked what happened between you and Ari a few years ago,¡± she said sharply. ¡°What really happened back then? After that, you and Ari drifted apart. Are you starting to regret your choices?¡± Jayson took a sip of water and calmly met her gaze. ¡°I never said I regretted anything.¡± Betty wasn¡¯t expecting that response. ¡°Don¡¯t try to dodge the question! You were the one who agreed to the marriage and imed you¡¯d take responsibility. And then you neglected her! If I¡¯d known it would turn out like this, I wouldn¡¯t have let Ari marry you in the first ce.¡± Back then, things had beenplicated. Everyone who knew about the incident assumed Ariel had used underhanded tactics. Betty had indeed pressured Jayson to marry her, but what no one else knew was that Jayson had privately admitted the situation was his fault¨Cnot Ariel¡¯s. He had been willing to take full responsibility. In truth, Betty hadn¡¯t forced him into anything. While it was difficult to tell what was going through his head, Betty knew for a fact that Jayson was notoriously difficult to sway. No one could make him do something he truly didn¡¯t want to, no matter how much they pressured him. But he had never exined exactly why he called it his mistake. Soon after, Ariel and Jayson were officially married. With her life experience and keen insight, Betty quickly figured out who had orchestrated the incident. From Ariel¡¯s reaction and the series of events that followed, she could tell the Sanderson family had been behind it. Jayson likely told her it was his own fault to convince Betty that Ariel wasn¡¯t involved in the scheming. He was probably worried that Betty would me Ariel for what happened. But Betty had never thought that way. Ariel wasn¡¯t just a Sanderson; she was also a member of the Walker family. Betty had only been shocked when she first learned what had happened. Neither Jayson nor Ariel had truly been at fault. She liked Ariel and had been happy to help her grandson marry her. The Sandersons questionable reputation didn¡¯t bother her much. However, Betty was convinced that Jayson had feelings for Ariel after hearing him talk about how the incident was his fault. All these years, he had always believed that. +15 BONUS When their marriage began to show cracks, Betty worked tirelessly to reconcile them. She couldn¡¯t stand the thought of them breaking apart. She had hoped they might one day return to being a loving couple. If she hadn¡¯t been so sure that Jayson¡¯s feelings for Ariel ran deep, she wouldn¡¯t have invested so much time and effort to mend their rtionship. Inside 592 Chapter 592 +15 BONUS Jayson looked at Betty, who was clearly displeased. He could tell she was upset about how Ariel was being portrayed in the recent news article. Betty had brought up the incident from back then because she felt sorry for Ariel. Jayson softened his tone, speaking as though he were narrating someone else¡¯s story. ¡°Grandma, some things aren¡¯t as simple as they appear. If you think carefully, Ari didn¡¯t have much of a choice back then. She used to be someone who¡¯d sacrifice herself just to make others happy. ¡°She deserves the chance to be independent now, to put herself first. She needs the time and space to calmly decide what she really wants, and what choices she should make for her own life.¡± Back then, Ariel had been alone and powerless. She¡¯d been put on the spot and treated like amodity. Scared, flustered, and embarrassed, she still had to hope for a solution that would please everyone else. With the Sanderson family pressuring her and banking all their hopes on her, she had neither backing nor an escape route. (1) Betty was momentarily stunned. Was Jayson hinting at something more with his words? Jayson raised his brows and offered her a faint smile. ¡°I¡¯m going to get changed,¡± he said, ending the conversation. Ariel had initially thought about waiting in the living room. But Georgia approached her. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin Senior said you¡¯ll be dining on the rooftop terraceter. Would you like to head up there and enjoy the breeze in the meantime?¡± Ariel epted the suggestion. The rooftop terrace had always been her favorite part of the house. Back when she and Jayson had just gotten married, she would sit there reading while waiting for him to return from work. She often dozed off while waiting, and Jayson would carry her back downstairs when he arrived. Sometimes, if the weather was nice, he¡¯d simply lie down beside her until she woke up. The memories stirred a faint mncholy in her chest. She didn¡¯t immediately go up on her own, instead following behind Georgia, who led the way. But as they passed one of the rooms, Georgia stopped abruptly, as if remembering something. She turned to Ariel with an apologetic expression. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, I identally broke a part of something while cleaning earlier. Please forgive me.¡± Ariel gave her a puzzled look. Georgia turned around and opened the door. +15 BONUS Ariel was taken aback, staring at the room that was unmistakably decorated for a child. The spacious room was neutral, not clearly designed for a boy or a girl. A cradle sat in the center, the floor covered with soft beige carpeting. Any sharp edges had been padded for safety. It was clear some items had yet to be purchased, but the essentials were already in ce. Georgia stepped inside and picked up a toy from the edge of the cradle¨Ca small gadget meant to soothe a baby to sleep. ¡°The toy fell off while I was wiping the cradle. I couldn¡¯t get it back into ce,¡± Georgia exined nervously. ¡°I saw Mr. Larkin working on assembling everything before, but I don¡¯t know how to fix it.¡± She looked genuinely flustered and apologetic. Ariel realized then that Jayson had assembled the cradle himself. She had no interest in prying into his private life. This was clearly part of the ns he had once shared with Nancy. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Just leave it and let him know,¡± Ariel replied without much thought. As she turned to leave, she nearly bumped into someone behind her. She stopped abruptly and looked up. She had no idea how long Jayson had been standing there. He was staring at the room for quite some time. After a moment, he looked at her and lifted his chin slightly. ¡°Do you have any feedback on the room¡¯s decor, Mrs. Larkin?¡± 1 The question sounded like a casual conversation between husband and wife about their child¡¯s room¨Cat least in front of others. But Jayson had clearly chosen the wrong person for this exchange. This was supposed to be part of his future with Nancy. Ariel wasn¡¯t about to entertain his act. ¡°Do you even have a child, Mr. Larkin? Maybe you shouldn¡¯t n so far ahead just yet,¡± she said coolly, brushing off his question. His ns and arrangements had nothing to do with her. Her words were blunt, perhaps harsh, but entirely true. X Inside 593 Chapter 593 Ariel walked past Jayson and headed upstairs. Jayson nced over his shoulder at her, then stepped into the nursery. Taking the toy from Georgia¡¯s hands, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll handle it. You should go take care of your other duties.¡± Georgia, a little bewildered, nodded and quietly left the room. Jayson stood next to the cradle and fitted the toy back in its rightful spot. He traced his finger along the edge of the cradle before leaving. After dinner, Ariel expected Betty to return to Larkin Manor as usual. Instead, Betty ordered someone to prepare a guest room. Then, she instructed Georgia, ¡°Go and make some herbal soup for Ari.¡± Then, with a sharp frown, Betty turned her attention to Ariel. ¡°Look at you! You¡¯ve lost so much weight from overworking. Didn¡¯t you already get all the ingredients for the soup from Dr. Zehnder? You stopped drinking it because you were too busy, didn¡¯t you? You can¡¯t keep neglecting your health.¡± Ariel felt a chill run down her spine at the mention of the herbal soup. During the second year of her marriage, she and Jayson had begun experiencing issues. Still, Jayson frequently met with Brian Zehnder, a doctor specializing in alternative medicine, to help improve her constitution. Betty had been delighted by his efforts and often sent expensive herbs to Ariel. Over time, Ariel¡¯s health- worn down from caring for the sick Elena and further damaged after sustaining a stab wound while protecting Lucas¨Cgradually improved. Even so, she had always struggled to refuse the well¨Cmeaning gestures of concerned elders. ¡°Thank you, Grandma,¡± Ariel replied politely. But her mind was already spinning, searching for a way to leave. With Betty staying the night, she needed a convincing excuse to get away. Jayson was on a work call in the study, and Ariel nned to consult with himter. For now, she stayed on the terrace, messaging her tech department in the group chat about critical project details. Downstairs, the Larkin Manor maids were still bustling about in the kitchen. After a while, a maid brought her a bowl of steaming herbal soup. Ariel nced at it. She set it aside to cool, then frowned and downed it in one gulp. The bitterness and pungent spice of the herbs assaulted her senses, and she nearly gagged. +15 BONUS Phone in hand, she rushed downstairs, remembering the dried fruit in the fridge¨Cher only hope of washing away the taste. She headed for the kitchen. Inside, the maids had finished cooking and were now cleaning, chatting softly as they worked. None of them noticed Ariel standing just outside the doorway. One maid, Reba Hughes, stood close to Georgia, her voice low but tense. ¡°Did you know Mr. Larkin and his wife don¡¯t actually have a good rtionship?¡± Georgia frowned. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that so carelessly. I¡¯ve worked here for years, and I¡¯ve never once seen Mr. and Mrs. Larkin fight.¡± Reba shook her head. ¡°I thought the same at first. But I¡¯ve been keeping a secret for a long time- something I found out by chance. Remember when Mr. Larkin used to bring herbs from Dr. Zehnder and tell you to make soup for Mrs. Larkin?¡± Georgia nodded. Reba sighed. ¡°The herbal soup was indeed extremely good for the body since they were made with rare and precious ingredients. But¡­¡± Ariel found herself holding her breath, staring at Reba. Unaware of her presence, Reba lowered her voice even further. ¡°Do you know why Mrs. Larkin hasn¡¯t had a child all these years? One time, when I went to pick up the ingredients, I overheard the supplier mention something. They said there was an additional herb- harmless to the body, but it could prevent pregnancy.¡± Ariel froze. Her expression shifted from disbelief to pure shock and horror. Inside 594 Those in the kitchen were still talking. However, Ariel couldn¡¯t quite register what they were saying anymore. Without a sound, she stepped back from the doorway, her expression nk. Moving as if in a daze, she walked silently to the base of the staircase and stopped there. Her head felt light, her mind drowning in disbelief. Rational thought was quickly smothered by a storm of emotions she could barely control. She never could have imagined something like this. After problems began surfacing in her marriage, Ariel had once believed that having a child might help her and Jayson reconcile. She had been waiting¨Choping¨Cfor the day she would hear the news she was pregnant. But the days passed, and her hopes never came true. She had always known conceiving might be difficult because of her frail health and the injury she¡¯d sustained before. Yet it wasn¡¯t impossible. Once her body had fully recovered, pregnancy should have been natural. What she never imagined was that Jayson himself had been preventing it all along while she was desperately waiting for a miracle. Clutching the railing with one hand and pressing the other against her chest, Ariel took a deep breath, struggling to steady herself. But the anger and anguish surging within her were impossible to contain. She had thought it pointless to demand answers after their divorce, believing there was no use in revisiting the pain of the past. Yet now, the suffocating bitterness in her chest overpowered every restraint she had built. Ariel went up the stairs and headed toward the master bedroom. When she pushed the door open, Jayson was inside holding a tablet and still on a call. He turned around when he heard the noise. His gazended on her red¨Crimmed eyes and the icy expression on her face. Still holding the phone to his ear, Jayson studied her quietly. The sight of him sent Ariel¡¯s emotions boiling over. She crossed the room quickly, hand raised, ready to p him across his face. Jayson maintained the same expression as he watched Ariel swing her arm at him. He stood there, unmoving, looking her straight in the eye with a steady, unblinking gaze. Ariel froze mid¨Cmotion, her arm suspended in the air. +15 BONUS In that moment, rity returned. She wrestled herself free from the dark tide of anger threatening to consume her. The values instilled in her since childhood wouldn¡¯t allow her to strike him. But Jayson leaned forward, pressing his cheek into her raised palm. ¡°Why stop? I¡¯m not going to dodge,¡± he said calmly, without a trace of irritation. The gesture made it seem as though she was caressing him instead of about to strike. Ariel felt a wave of conflicting emotions¨Cconfusion, frustration, and reluctant amusement. She lowered her hand, feeling the warmth of his skin linger on her palm. Jayson ended his call, straightened, and looked at her closely. ¡°This is the first time you¡¯ve lost your temper in front of me. What happened? Tell me so I can understand.¡± Ariel felt like she had never actually understood this man. She had a frigid look in her eyes. ¡°It was your doing that I haven¡¯t been able to conceive all this time. Jayson Larkin, why would you do that?¡± Ariel fought to keep her emotions in check, knowing that if she could just get the full story, she might finally find the closure she deserved. A flicker of recognition passed through Jayson¡¯s eyes¨Che understood immediately. He set his phone aside, leaned back against the couch, and met her gaze. ¡°What answer would make you feel better?¡± he asked evenly. It was an admission, blunt and undeniable. Ariel spat mockingly, ¡°You could have just told me if you didn¡¯t want a child! You didn¡¯t have to go behind my back doing those things!¡± Jayson didn¡¯t look away. ¡°Did you honestly think you were in any condition to carry a child back then?¡± Ariel¡¯s expression grew solemn. ¡°Ariel,¡± he continued, ¡°you knew better than anyone that you weren¡¯t fit to conceive. Why were you forcing yourself?¡± Realizing his words sounded harsh, Jayson paused briefly, then said in a quieter tone, ¡°That¡¯s the only exnation I can give you.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t quite put her thoughts into words at that moment. She was well aware that she was frail at the time. Still¡­ Inside 595 ¡°Then, you could have just told me that we should wait until my health improved before trying for a baby. You didn¡¯t have to do something like that behind my back. ¡°You gave me hope, only to take it awayter. Jayson, you didn¡¯t do this for some noble reason. You had your own motives for making sure I never got pregnant.¡± That was what Ariel found most unforgivable about his actions. Jayson looked away briefly but didn¡¯t defend himself. He simply stared at her in silence. Perhaps both of them were in a foul mood. The air between them grew heavy with difort. Even though Ariel had thought she¡¯d put everything in the past, this revtion cut deeper than she expected. (19 If she had conceived back then, she wouldn¡¯t have had to face the devastating truth now¨Cthat she might never bear a child, not with the looming possibility of a full hysterectomy. But then again, what would her life with Jayson have been like if they¡¯d had a child? Would they still have been able to separate so cleanly? Ariel felt drained after her outburst. What was the point of dwelling on this now? What good would ming him do? Jayson seemed to notice the shift in her demeanor. Her expression was no longer so cold and sharp. He reached for her wrist, holding it firmly when she tried to pull away. Guiding her to the couch, he crouched in front of her. ¡°Even after everything I¡¯ve done to you, you couldn¡¯t bring yourself to p me. You¡¯re too mild¨Ctempered for your own good.¡± Ariel¡¯s face hardened, her eyes shing with contempt. After everything she¡¯d just said, this was his response? To call her mild¨Ctempered? Jayson didn¡¯t seem fazed by her anger. In a light, almost conversational tone, he asked, ¡°If we¡¯d had kids, what kind of life would you be living now? Would you have poured all your time and energy into being a housewife?¡± 1 Jayson was asking a hypothetical question that was no longer valid. The Ariel she was now would never even entertain such a thought. But back then? She would have. She would have dly built her life around her children. What she had always wanted, since childhood, was a family¨Caplete, loving family of her own. She would have given up everything to fill that void in her heart. 2 +15 BONUS The current version of her was very different from the old her. She didn¡¯t know how to respond. Jayson continued, seemingly oblivious to her hesitation. His voice was calm, almost soothing. ¡°Having kids isn¡¯t everything. If you decide you want one, you can always try. You could even start now.¡°4 She understood what he was implying¨Cthat she could still meet someone else, remarry, and start over if she wanted. But for her, things weren¡¯t that simple anymore. (1) Her body was a ticking time bomb. Even if Liam decided against removing her womb, her condition would make conceiving nearly impossible. That was life. No one ever got the perfect solution. People rarely had everything they wanted. Ariel knew Jayson was still hiding the real reason behind his actions, but she no longer had the energy to dig for the truth. Her anger had burned itself out, leaving only a heavy indifference. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to argue anymore. She decided to ept his earlier answer. They were already divorced. She would only be tormenting herself by clinging to something she couldn¡¯t change. She rose from the couch, intending to leave the room. She hadn¡¯t lost all sense of reason. It was gettingte, and she didn¡¯t want to disturb Betty¡¯s rest. Jayson held onto her wrist. ¡°You can yell at me whenever you want, but it¡¯ste. Stay here tonight.¡± Her mood was still dark. Even though she¡¯d been trying to calm herself, resentment still coiled tightly in her chest. Yanking herself free of his grip, she snapped, ¡°You only need to move your mouth to talk, Jayson. Keep your hands to yourself.¡± He didn¡¯t seem offended. He released her immediately. ¡°Ariel, that¡¯s not fair.¡± She turned to him with a puzzled look. ¡°What do you mean?¡± He ran a finger along the edge of his phone and said tly, ¡°That night on the cruise, you did whatever you wanted with me. Now I¡¯m not even allowed to touch you?¡± (5) Ariel froze, startled. She hadn¡¯t expected him to bring up that night¨Cthe incident they had both avoided mentioning all this time. Inside 596 For a moment, Ariel almost forgot what they were even arguing about. ¡°Can you be reasonable? That¡¯s not what we¡¯re talking about.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression darkened. Her usual calm was reced with sharp edges. Jayson tossed his phone on the table. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been reasonable, you wouldn¡¯t have been able to touch me that day.¡± Ariel was so thrown off by his words that she nearly forgot she was furious at being lied to. She couldn¡¯t believe he would say something like that. He sat back down and looked up at her. ¡°Grandma¡¯s asleep. Don¡¯t wake her. I¡¯ll stay here. You take the bed, alright?¡± Ariel calmed down, her gaze turning cold as she looked at him. She wasn¡¯t interested in keeping up the polite facade anymore. ¡°You¡¯re always busy with work anyway. It shouldn¡¯t be hard to find an excuse to leave.¡± That way neither of them had to suffer through this. Jayson met her gaze and replied in his usual tone, ¡°Fine.¡± He grabbed his clothes, ready to walk out. And yet, Ariel suddenly felt a headacheing on. When she really thought about it, who was she to throw the host out of his own house? She pushed back the turmoil inside her. ¡°Forget it. This is your home. As a guest, I have no right to tell you to leave. Do as you please.¡± Betty staying the night was a surprise, and Ariel hated going back on her word. If she failed to honor the agreement, that would be her responsibility, and it would only stir up trouble with the whole Larkin family. Only now did she finally see what a terrifying man Jayson really was. He had never shown the slightest sign of his scheme before. Divorce was absolutely the right choice. 2 Jayson picked up on the t way she called herself a guest. Catching the numbness in her eyes, he twisted her words back at her. ¡°Well, at most, guests give their hosts a kiss on the cheek. But with you, that kiss turns into a p. How polite of you.¡± Ariel snapped back to her senses. When she heard that, her tone turned sharper. ¡°I never touched you. Don¡¯t make things up.¡± He tossed a pillow on the couch. ¡°Sure. Almost doesn¡¯t count. Thanks for sparing me, Ms. Walker.¡± +15 BONUS Ariel felt a twinge of regret. She should have just thrown the p without caring about appearances. She didn¡¯t bother answering and headed to the bathroom to wash up. When she came out, she nced at the man on the couch. ¡°The deadline for keeping this a secret isn¡¯t far off. Once it¡¯s over, I have no reason to y along. Mr. Larkin, you¡¯d better prepare your grandma for it.¡± Only a few months left. Tonight was an exception. Ariel would never do this again. Without waiting for his response, she went straight to the bed she had slept in for three years andy down with her back to him. They didn¡¯t share a bed. Whether Ariel had uncovered the truth tonight or not, the distance between them was already set in stone. Jayson watched her slim back for a long time before finally getting up. He walked to her bedside, switched off the light, and left only a dimmp on for her to see if she got up in the night. Ariel didn¡¯t sleep well that night. Her dream was a mess. By the time she woke up, Jayson was already gone. She got herself ready and went downstairs. Betty was overseeing the breakfast preparation. ¡°Jayson went out for a run. He¡¯s not back yet. Do you want to eat first, Ari?¡± Ariel checked the time. It was barely past 6:30 am. At the thought ofst night, Ariel really didn¡¯t want to linger. ¡°I¡¯ve got something urgent at work. I¡¯ll head out first. Enjoy your breakfast, Grandma.¡± Betty didn¡¯t press her and just muttered, ¡°You¡¯re working yourself too hard. Let me have someone pack you a sandwich for the road.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t turn down the offer. She left before Jayson returned. If he wasn¡¯t willing to tell her the truth, she wasn¡¯t going to push. They both carried their own resentment. There was no point in forcing themselves to sit together and be ufortable. Back home, she showered, changed clothes, and finally went to the office. Bluum Corp¡¯s press statement had set off waves. +15 BONUS Early in the morning, Janice rushed into Ariel¡¯s office while biting into a burrito she had bought on the way. She plopped another burrito down beside her and said, ¡°What¡¯s this guy after? Why did he pull a stunt like this? It¡¯s not like him at all!¡± That kind of statement was obviously not something a proper PR department would put out. Without Jayson¡¯s approval or instruction, there was no way it would have gone out like that. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 597 ¡°And the charity association announcedst night that you and Jayson donated together. It totally flipped public opinion overnight. That¡¯s some badass PR.¡± Janice clicked her tongue. ¡°Jayson actually decided to act like a human being for once.¡± None of it was a surprise. Ariel had been in PR long enough to know exactly which levers to pull and what oues they created. She suddenly thought of the contraceptive herbs. The thought left her unsettled. People wereplicated, tooyered for simplebels of good or bad. ¡°What matters is that it¡¯s settled. It doesn¡¯t matter what he thinks.¡± Ariel pulled a tissue and wiped the crumbs from the corner of Janice¡¯s mouth. She didn¡¯t want to waste another thought on Jayson. ¡°Jan, do I have anything else on my schedule today?¡± She opened herptop, slipping back into work mode. With the fire put out, Janice didn¡¯t dwell either. She swallowed herst bite and replied, ¡°Yeah. Your performance at thepetition and your status as U.N2¡¯s developer are trending right now. The aerospace agency wants a meeting with you at 6:00 pm. ¡°Some higher¨Cups are expecting to sit down and map out the next steps. Mr. Pryce will be there too. After all, you two are the champion and runner¨Cup.¡± Ariel was already gearing up for a new chapter. These engagements were all part of the process. ¡°Alright. Come with meter. Chad will cover phase two progress,¡± she said. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll just hitch a spot at the big shots¡® table.¡± Ariel mapped out the project in her hands and already had a clear n for the second half of the year. By 5:00 pm, she and Janice set out. The dinner spot was a private dining house tucked away on a mountaintop. They had just parked when someone called out, ¡°Ariel.¡± She turned to see Samson walking toward her with Elsie trailing behind him. Elsie was still young, with a fair, adorable face. She pressed her lips together and stared at Ariel. Her emotions were written all over her. Ariel spared her a nce before focusing on Samson. He was the same as always, except his eyes burned with more intensity now. ¡°Looks like we¡¯ll be seeing each other a lot from now on. I¡¯ll be counting on your guidance. You won¡¯t get tired of me, will you?¡± His words came easily, tinged with humor. +15 BONUS Ariel tugged the winking Janice along and walked inside. ¡°Of course not, Mr. Pryce. You¡¯re being too modest.¡± ¡°Good to hear that. I was a little nervous on the way over. Being around a person as aplished as you makes me feel small.¡± Smiling, Samson strolled at her side. His gaze was openly fixed on her, his warmth unrelenting. Janice shot Ariel a look loaded with meaning, as if to say she definitely approved of this young man. Ariel jabbed her in the ribs. Janice yelped and coughed herself back intoposure. 2 Elsie noticed. Her expression stiffened as she shot Janice a re. 1 A waiter guided them into a private dining room with panoramic views. Ariel spotted a few higher¨Cups she had met before, along with the government¨Cappointed coordinators, including Gary and thepetition¡¯s main sponsor, Jayson. Dressed in a dark¨Cgray suit, he sat with his legs crossed, his body sinkingzily into the back of the chair. At the sound of the door, he slowly raised his head and fixed his gaze on her with precision. When his eyes flicked to Samson standing shoulder to shoulder with Ariel, he tilted his head slightly. Ariel pressed her lips together and looked away before their eyes could meet. When Gary saw Ariel, he waved with a smile. ¡°Ariel, Samson, Elsie, Ms. Swanson,e on in. Take a seat.¡± However, even taking a seat seemed toe with its own unspoken rules. Everyone here knew that Jayson and Ariel were married. Samson raised an eyebrow and nced toward Jayson. His smile showed he didn¡¯t seem to care about their rtionship. Tilting his head toward Ariel, he said, ¡°Ari, the view¡¯s better over here. Why don¡¯t you sit with me?¡± +15 BONUS Chapter 598 Inside 598 Chapter 598 Samson¡¯s carefree attitude caught Ariel off guard for a moment. He didn¡¯t lower his voice when he said that, meaning the people at the table could easily hear him. Even Gary couldn¡¯t help but look up. After a moment¡¯s consideration, he finally said, ¡°Samson, you and Ariel seem pretty close.¡± He didn¡¯t know much about these younger folks¡® personal lives, but Samson¡¯s tone did sound intimate. Jayson¡¯s eyes stayed on Ariel, calm as ever. He tilted his head slightly and said to Gary, ¡°Yeager Group has business dealings with Faye Tech.¡± Gary blinked, realization dawning. Samson nced at Jayson, then chuckled, as if btedly realizing what he had done. ¡°Yeah, Yeager Group and Faye Tech do interact a lot. Being around the same age, we naturally grew closer over time.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t really understand why Samson had called her ¡°Ari¡°. But given the special asion today, if she chose to sit with Samson, people would naturally wonder why she and Jayson seemed so distant as a couple. After all, a spot was clearly left open right next to him. But she didn¡¯t want to sit with Jayson either. After what happenedst night, she didn¡¯t have the energy to put on an act. ¡°Wow, the sunset over there makes the clouds look gorgeous! Mr. Pryce, you have such great taste. Come on. Let¡¯s go take a look.¡± Janice linked her arm with Ariel¡¯s and headed in the direction Samson had pointed. She knew what Ariel was likely thinking and took the initiative to defuse any questions her choice might raise. By showing herself as yful and easygoing, nobody would specte about Ariel. In her view, Ariel¡¯s marriage was over, so there was no need to make her feel ufortable next to Jayson. Ariel didn¡¯t argue. She just went with Janice and sat down. She ended up to Gary¡¯s right. After settling Ariel into that seat, Janice ran over to the floor¨Cto¨Cceiling windows to look outside. When Samson came over, the spot to Ariel¡¯s right was empty. He nced at her and pointed to the seat, silently asking. Ariel couldn¡¯t possibly refuse, so she nodded. Elsie also found a ce to sit. Jayson, to Gary¡¯s left, remained in that same posture. With one hand resting on the table, he idly caressed the warm teacup. He seemed rxed and entirely unbothered. Gary, sandwiched between the couple, wasn¡¯t oblivious. Not one to fuss over formalities, he spoke directly to Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin, why don¡¯t we switch seats? I¡¯ll feel ufortable sitting here.¡± Ariel was surprised by Gary¡¯s suggestion. Easygoing leaders like him were rare. (1) Jayson smiled. ¡°It¡¯s fine. No need to trouble yourself.¡± Gary shook his head with a smile. ¡°I¡¯m old but not blind. I can¡¯t force myself into the middle.¡± Jayson rose. ¡°Well then, thank you, Commander Quinton.¡± And just like that, they swapped seats. Jayson moved to Ariel¡¯s left. Suddenly, she found herself sitting between the two men. She was rendered speechless. Ariel really couldn¡¯t figure out why she ended up in such an awkward spot. Jayson¡¯s eyes drifted over her, but Ariel didn¡¯t return a nce. Samson looked at Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I didn¡¯t get a chance to greet you properly earlier. I hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Jayson offered a faint smile and poured a cup of tea for Ariel. ¡°It¡¯s nothing.¡± Gary introduced Ariel to two higher¨Cups from the aerospace agency, Kaiden Roth and Maurice Knight; she would be working frequently with them. These were high¨Cprofile figures most people wouldn¡¯t even get a chance to meet. Ariel had anticipated some unexpected faces, so she handled it calmly. Gary had heard a few things recently, but seeing Ariel¡¯s and Jayson¡¯s demeanor, he still couldn¡¯t quite figure out what was really going on. Carlos had said they were getting divorced, but recent events suggested otherwise. There were some twists and surprises, but in the end, it seemed their rtionship was still intact. After all, which man would go to such lengths for his ex¨Cwife? 1 Inside 599 Gary thought it was a shame. Zach had absolutely no chance now. ¡°Ariel, Carlos and I have submitted the rmendation letter. We still have to go through the necessary procedures. Another round of political review is required as well.¡± Ariel understood that any government department would be exceptionally strict. The political review was an indispensable part of the process. She nodded. ¡°Got it. I¡¯ll submit everything on my end as soon as possible.¡± As Jayson listened to the talk about the political review, he tapped his fingers on the table thoughtfully. He knew this process was inevitable. If things moved fast, the results mighte as soon as next month. The others around them were clearly there for Ariel and Jayson. There was a bit of small talk over tea, mostly about what would happen next. By the time the dishes were mostly served, Gary had already had a couple of drinks. He nced at Jayson and said, ¡°Mr. Larkin, you have such an amazing wife. You really need to cherish her. Don¡¯t be half- hearted.¡± Gary had always favored Ariel. Back then, he had seen Nancy tagging along with Jayson to various events and knew there had been plenty of gossip. He didn¡¯t want such a good woman to suffer. Upon hearing Gary¡¯s words, Ariel paused mid¨Csip. Beside her, Jayson replied calmly, ¡°I understand what you mean, and it¡¯s my fault for not exining. My rtionship with Ms. Stanton is purely professional. There¡¯s nothing beyond the normal interactions between men and women.¡± He understood exactly what Gary was hinting at. Ariel was surprised that he didn¡¯t avoid the topic at all. He actually gave a straightforward exnation without any hesitation¨Cthere was no inappropriate rtionship between him and Nancy. Those were words he had never spoken before. She hadn¡¯t expected to hear that in this setting. Gary blinked, realization dawning. ¡°Oh¡­ I see. Guess I overthought it.¡± Jayson shook his head. ¡°I know you¡¯re just looking out for Ari and me. I appreciate that.¡± After saying that, he turned to look at Ariel, his gaze open and straightforward. When Ariel met his gaze, she hesitated for a brief moment, then understood that that was just courtesy talk. With his status, he needed to maintain his image in public. There was no need to take his words to heart. 3 +15 BONUS Samson chuckled from the side. ¡°Mr. Larkin, if you put it that way, it does seem like you¡¯ve benefited the most. You had the elite returnee Ms. Stanton as your close friend, and now you have the universally admired Ms. Walker as your wife.¡± He had deliberately taken a jab at Jayson during Cecilia¡¯s exhibition when she first returned. Now, this was another subtle dig, though framed as a joke. Ariel ignored their conversation, focusing on a piece of sweet and sour ribs. Her fingers brushed against some sauce. Jayson showed no sign of anger at Samson¡¯s words. He pulled out a tissue and handed it to Ariel, then gave a faint smile. ¡°It was my mistake in hiring the wrong person before, but Mr. Pryce, you really shouldn¡¯tpare her with my wife.¡± (13) Ariel hadn¡¯t expected him to be so quick. The tissue was in her hand the moment the sauce got on her fingers. Samson paused at Jayson¡¯s words, then chuckled. ¡°Fair enough. That kind of person doesn¡¯t deserve it.¡± Janice happened to hear what Jayson said and couldn¡¯t help but click her tongue in surprise. She texted Ariel under the table. Ariel nced at her phone and saw the text. ¡°Jayson is slick. A man like him must be full of schemes.¡± She didn¡¯t reply. She just used the tissue to clean her hand. Samson suddenly seemed to remember something. He raised his eyebrows at Jayson, his eyes openly challenging. ¡°Ariel and I are friends, and we¡¯ll be working together on research soon. Mr. Larkin, you know how demanding it is, especially with the government watching. Since you¡¯re her husband, maybe you could give me a heads¨Cup about what she likes or dislikes. I¡¯ll do my best to keep her in good hands.¡± That loaded hint of rivalry, which only Jayson could sense, radiated off Samson. Inside 600 Gary and the others were caught up in policy talk, barely noticing what was happening here. Smiling, Jayson leaned back in his chair and responded to Samson, ¡°It¡¯s so nice of you, Mr. Pryce, but don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll keep supporting our country¡¯s aerospace projects and will do my best to provide all the necessary support. I won¡¯t let my wife work too hard, so Mr. Pryce, you can focus your energy on your research.¡± He had a way of deflecting with precision. Samson knew men like Jayson all too well. He was utterly inscrutable. No ordinary person could hope to outmaneuver him. Otherwise, the saying in elite circles wouldn¡¯t exist. Among peers from prominent families, they could only scramble behind Jayson for the tiniest scraps. Samson shrugged and raised his ss toward Jayson. ¡°I will, Mr. Larkin. You have my word.¡± The two men kept their expressions neutral, giving away no hint of tension. Across the table, Elsie had been watching closely. She couldn¡¯t shake the sense that Samson¡¯s eyes carried a hint of ambition toward Ariel. That thought made the dishes in front of her suddenly hard to enjoy. Meanwhile, Ariel didn¡¯t care to join the conversation. Her attention shifted when she heard Gary mention some of the technical barriers the aerospace field was currently facing. That referred to the material and production techniques for the material monopolized abroad. Some dominant countries had long imposed strict restrictions on their use here in Croinia. These were problems that had gued her five years ago, and clearly, they hadn¡¯t been solved since. Oveing them remained one of her aspirations. ¡°Mr. Quinton, it¡¯s really you.¡± A tall figure appeared at the door. Cecilia stepped in on high heels, smiling brightly when she saw Ariel. ¡°What a coincidence!¡± 1 She had met some of the people in the room before, so she went around with handshakes and greetings.¡± Long time no see, Mr. Knight.¡± ¡°Mr. Quinton, this ce is actually run by a friend of mine. I only just found out you were here. Hope I¡¯m not disturbing you.¡± Cecilia was considerate in the position of a junior. Gary didn¡¯t mind. ¡°It¡¯s fine. You can join us.¡± Cecilia moved to Jayson¡¯s side and extended her hand. ¡°Mr. Larkin.¡± 1 Jayson tilted his head to look at her but didn¡¯t shake her hand. He just said calmly, ¡°Oh, please, Ms. Pryce. We know each other. No need for formalities.¡± Cecilia¡¯s expression didn¡¯t falter. Instead, she smiled subtly and withdrew her hand. ¡°Ah, so you remember me.¡± After saying that, she walked over to Samson and gestured for him to make room. Samson didn¡¯t argue and slid over to the seat next to his original spot. Once seated next to Ariel, Cecilia said apologetically, ¡°I forgot to mention that I¡¯ve known Mr. Larkin for quite some time.¡± Ariel looked at her. ¡°Oh, really?¡± ¡°We were ssmates.¡± Cecilia squinted as she reminisced about those years. ¡°Mr. Larkin and I both graduated from Merrick Institute of Technology. He was already a star then. He finished a dual PhD in Finance and Economics at 23. I was still plodding through my undergrad in Arts.¡± (3 Ariel knew that Jayson had always been several steps ahead of everyone else. As for Cecilia¡­ Ariel did some quick mental math. It seemed like Cecilia and Jayson had known each other for quite a long time, even before Ariel entered the picture. Cecilia propped her chin on her hand and raised an eyebrow at Jayson. ¡°I thought you might not remember me, which is why I never mentioned it.¡± Jayson sipped his tea,posed as ever. ¡°Well, we weren¡¯t close. It just came back to me now.¡± (3 His words¡­ Cecilia¡¯s eyes flickered for a moment. Ariel was a little surprised at Jayson¡¯s response. She knew him well. Saying something like that was actually him showing very little courtesy. Others might not have noticed, and it might even have sounded polite to them, but Ariel knew better. She found it strange. But Cecilia didn¡¯t seem to mind. She shrugged casually. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you do have a sense of humor. Then again, I suppose your eyes are only on your wife.¡± 1 She smiled warmly at Ariel, with a hint of teasing in her expression. ¡°You don¡¯t mind that I didn¡¯t mention this to you, right? Mr. Larkin hasn¡¯t told you either?¡± Ariel smiled faintly. ¡°It¡¯s not important anyway. Doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Inside 601 +15 BONUS Ariel¡¯s calm response made Cecilia¡¯s lips twitch. In the end, she just smiled. ¡°That¡¯s good to hear. I just didn¡¯t want you thinking I was keeping things from you. Wouldn¡¯t want it to mess with our friendship.¡± 3 Ariel gave a faint, gentle smile, betraying nothing. Cecilia had a sharp edge, one she released asionally, but having grown up around high¨Cstakes situations, she could keep herposure. However, she found herself thinking of things Nancy had once said. Had Nancy twisted some details? During the dinner, Ariel found out from Gary that their team would be attending a meeting at a confidential facility three dayster. The attendee list was finalized, and Samson was included. She still felt that Samson should strengthen his standing at Yeager Group. The higher¨Cups there were all schemers, and even as Kristen¡¯s son, he wouldn¡¯t get far without real influence. Joining the national research engineering team seemed out of ce for him. After all, it wasn¡¯t the main path for his career. Gary and the other officials quietly left first. Janice found a dish particrly delicious and excitedly went to have a portion packed to take back for Chad to try. By now, night had fallen. Cecilia, still in high spirits, turned to Ariel and Jayson. ¡°It¡¯s still early. How about a second round? I know a bar with a great vibe. Let¡¯s go together.¡± Samson looked at Ariel as well. Jayson spoke first. ¡°Maybe not. We¡¯re visiting Ari¡¯s sick uncleter, so we won¡¯t have time.¡± Ariel knew it was an excuse, but she nodded slightly and added, ¡°Have fun, you two.¡± Cecilia looked disappointed as she nced at Jayson. ¡°Alright, next time then.¡± 1 Samson didn¡¯t care what Cecilia thought. Smiling, he turned to Ariel. ¡°See you in three days.¡± Taken on its own, those words carried a certain weight. The enthusiasm behind ¡°looking forward to our next meeting¡± was obvious. And Samson said that right in front of Jayson. Thetter observed Samson calmly without much expression. He didn¡¯t overreact to such signals. Since Samson was stating a fact, Ariel gave a slight nod. Ignoring Cecilia, Samson walked ahead. Cecilia didn¡¯t linger either. Jayson checked the time. It was almost 8:00 pm. ¡°Want to ride with me?¡± Ariel texted Janice without looking up. ¡°No need. We¡¯ve got our car.¡± Jayson stayed put, watching her for a moment. His gaze was so intense that Ariel looked up, frowning. ¡°Mr. Larkin, is there something else you want to say?¡± ¡°Remember what I told you?¡± His tone softened slightly. ¡°Of course, I¡¯m not here to interfere with your friendships.¡± This was the second time he had said something like this. The first had been regarding Samson¡¯s ¡± reminder¡°. What about this time? Was it about Samson or Cecilia? Ariel raised her head. His business was none of hers, but since he spoke, she replied coldly, ¡°I have no habit of befriending your admirer or sitting down with her to chat about you over wine.¡± 2 Only then did Jayson slowly raise his brows. At that moment, Janice returned with the takeout box. Ariel followed her into the car, uninterested in Jayson¡¯s reaction. Jayson nced at her retreating back, then got in his own car. Arthur drove steadily, keeping a measured distance behind the Range Rover in front. Ariel didn¡¯t notice the car behind them. Tonight was a social engagement. She needed to take her medication half an hour after dinner. The pills Liam had prescribed were always in her bag. While Janice was driving, she took out her pill case from her bag. She popped a pill¨Cone with minimal side effects¨Cinto her mouth and swallowed it with water from her thermal sk. Janice nced over. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Ariel closed the lid and replied casually, ¡°Just my daily vitamin C.¡± Janice held out her palm. ¡°I want some too.¡± Ariel hadn¡¯t even responded when a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She covered her mouth and patted her chest lightly. 5 Noticing that, Janice mmed on the brakes and turned on the hazard lights. Ariel flung open the door and crouched by the roadside, pale and gagging. Behind them, Jayson¡¯s car quickly pulled up. Inside 602 A sour, churning feeling hung in Ariel¡¯s throat, though she couldn¡¯t vomit. Her stomach cramped painfully. Even her hands, which were bracing her on the roadside, trembled. Jayson was out of the car in an instant. Long legs carried him swiftly as his features tightened with concern. He reached Ariel before Janice, crouched down, and gently patted her back. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Are you feeling sick?¡± Ariel was miserable. Her abdomen was twisting with waves of pain. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to respond to his pats. Janice hurried over, worried. ¡°Did you eat something bad?¡± Frowning, Jayson looked at Ariel. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to a hospital.¡± ¡°No need.¡± Ariel, already recovering, immediately stopped him from lifting her. When she turned toward him, she noticed the unusual tension in his eyes and the furrow in his brow¨Cemotions she rarely saw on his face. She waved off his hand and told Janice, ¡°It¡¯s just car sickness.¡± In fact, she knew that it was a reaction to her medication. These days, she had been on a variety of medications, some with harsh side effects and some causing instant nausea. But she had never shown herself like this in front of others before. Jayson¡¯s expression darkened slightly as he looked at her pale face. ¡°You¡¯ve never gotten car sickness before. Better to see a doctor, just in case.¡± Ariel took Janice¡¯s hand and stood. Her eyes remained cool. ¡°Thanks for your concern, but I know my body.¡± With no intention of talking further with Jayson, she turned to get into the car without giving him a chance to speak, let alone going to a hospital with him. Jayson nced at the passenger door for a moment, then seemed to relent. He turned to Janice. ¡°Do you mind if I drive? The ride will be smoother, and she won¡¯t feel ufortable.¡± Janice instinctively wanted to refuse, but then she realized Ariel might be ufortable because of her shaky driving. She gritted her teeth. ¡°Fine, since you offered. But if she gets worse, you¡¯ll get it from me.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± Jayson slid into the driver¡¯s seat, and Janice took the backseat. Ariel frowned at him as he got in. ¡°Mr. Larkin, are you getting hooked on being the driver?¡± He started the car and replied calmly, ¡°Do you want to pay the fare, then?¡± Ariel ignored him. Fortunately, she didn¡¯t feel any more difort after that. In the backseat, Janice darted her eyes between them constantly. Something felt odd, but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. She decided to stop thinking about it and chattered away with Ariel about all sorts of trivial topics. Ariel responded politely, keeping up the conversation. Jayson asionally nced at Ariel¡¯s profile as he drove. He knew that Ariel had a natural capacity to care for and love those she cared about. He asked Janice for her address, then dropped her off first. Janice had been worried about Ariel being alone with him. Ariel, sensing what she was thinking, reassured her, ¡°It¡¯s fine. I¡¯ll text you when I¡¯m home.¡± Janice nced back multiple times before finally leaving. Once she left, the car was quiet again. Ariel looked out the window and said, ¡°I¡¯m not going to the hospital. Don¡¯t detour. I just want to rest.¡± She guessed exactly where Jayson would go after dropping off Janice. He nced at her for a long moment. Her firm stance made it clear she wouldn¡¯t cooperate if he tried anything. He gripped the wheel, then turned toward Ariel¡¯s neighborhood. They didn¡¯t speak again. Jayson watched to ensure she wasn¡¯t in pain anymore. Since it was Ariel¡¯s car, the security guard automatically let them through the gate. When they reached the underground garage, Jayson kept one hand on the wheel as he looked at her.¡± We¡¯re here, ma¡¯am.¡± (1 Ariel opened the door and stepped out immediately. Jayson unbuckled and followed. ¡°Thanks. Be careful on the road,¡± she said politely, keeping her expression neutral. Jayson leaned against the car and stared at her small face under the cool light without a word. Ariel¡¯s car key was still in his hand. He didn¡¯t offer it back, so she asked coldly, ¡°Anything else?¡± Afterst night¡¯s series of confrontations, she wasn¡¯t in the mood to give him any warmth. Jayson remained silent. Inside 603 Chapter 603 Jayson¡¯s silence irritated Ariel. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you¡¯re not bringing up the cruise ship incident, are you?¡± Jayson hadn¡¯t addressed it directly yet, but since they had had a confrontation, pretending nothing happened was impossible. Ariel decided to strike first. This time, Jayson seemed to smile faintly, though the meaning of his smile was unclear. Calmly meeting his gaze, Ariel spoke with a steady, measured tone to give him a clear sense of her stance. ¡°We¡¯re adults, married for three years. If you want to bring that up, fine, but my stance is clear. ¡°It makes no difference whether it was you or anyone else. You should know I won¡¯t cling to you. Don¡¯t worry. Whatever happened between us won¡¯t change the oue of our rtionship.¡± Whether or not Jayson was worried about this, she made her position clear. Jayson gave a subtle lift of hisshes, his eyes unfathomably deep. ¡°I¡¯m traditional. I don¡¯t quite have the forward¨Cthinking awareness you do.¡± 4 Ariel hadn¡¯t expected him to focus on that. She thought herst line¨Cthat it wouldn¡¯t change the oue -was the point. But she had no intention of letting his remark slide. As if he were a stranger, she shot back sarcastically,¡± Mr. Larkin, maybe your mind and body should get on the same page before you say that.¡± Jayson could tell that Ariel was referring to any physical involvement he might have had with Nancy. Clearly, she hadn¡¯t listened to his words at the dinner table. She knew he hadn¡¯t lied to her before. It was clear she hadn¡¯t taken his words at dinner to heart. She knew he had never lied to her, yet her stance toward their future remained thoroughly cold. Tilting his head, he looked at her and asked with a casual yet strangely serious tone, ¡°So you crawled under my bed? Which one? Is there room? Maybe I should take a look too.¡± 1 His tone was measured and almost regal, buting from him, it carried another subtle other meaning. Ariel frowned, unsure what emotion he was conveying. He rarely spoke like this. Jayson nced at the ring light above and added, ¡°Ariel, I¡¯m not joking.¡± 2 She knew exactly what he meant, but¡­ ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter.¡± Ariel looked up again. ¡°Whether it has happened or not, the harm has already been done. We should be grateful we didn¡¯t waste any more time on each other. Jayson, I don¡¯t care anymore. I think you understand.¡± +15 BONUS This conversation was almost a first. He could clearly see her indifference and resolve. Perhaps the light was so ring that it was grating on his eyes. Ariel didn¡¯t intend to debate right or wrong. She reached for the car key in his hand. Noticing her movement, Jayson lifted his hand slightly. He wisely let the previous topic drop and asked as if nothing had happened, ¡°What do you think of Samson?¡± (1 Ariel looked up coolly and replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°Smart, tall, hot, and has good genes.¡± (2 The corner of his lips twitched as he said, ¡°It sounds like you¡¯re picking a father for your future children.¡± It was a rare moment of dry humor, but it carried a hint of something ambiguous when it reached her ears. Ariel yanked her car key from him. ¡°That¡¯s my business. Let¡¯s not meet or contact each other unless necessary.¡± With that, she turned and walked away. Jayson looked at her for a few seconds, not taking offense at her words. ¡°Ariel, stay alert. People are unpredictable.¡± 3 Since Ariel hadn¡¯t given him a definite answer and clearly didn¡¯t want to discuss these topics any further, Jayson didn¡¯t mind repeating himself. Ariel paused for a second but didn¡¯t look back or respond. Once home, she took a shower, watered her nts, and finally sat down after a long day. She wasn¡¯t exactly resting, though. Gary had mentioned the uing political review, and she had materials to organize and submit. The timeline was uncertain. Even if things moved quickly, the procedures at the department she had chosen wereplex and meticulous. It would likely take at least a month. One thing nagged at her. Since the review involved personal information, her divorce would inevitably be known within the organization. But in recent months, she and Jayson had publicly ¡°shown affection¡± because of various events. Inside 604 Chapter 604 Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it. After all, it would just be internal knowledge. The fact of her divorce from Jayson wouldn¡¯t be made public, so it wouldn¡¯t affect the use in their agreement. Once she was done, she went back to her room to rest. The industry had been buzzingtely. A major bid would be announced soon, and Faye Technologies needed to be fully prepared. On the third day, Ariel set out alone for the military base. Along the way, her phone buzzed with an unfamiliar number. The moment she answered, a familiar female voice came through. ¡°It¡¯s me, Lori.¡± Upon hearing that name, Ariel hung up immediately. She didn¡¯t care for any of the Sandersons. There was no need to talk to them, and she wasn¡¯t even curious about the purpose of Lori¡¯s call. Once she arrived, she blocked the number without hesitation. After passing strict security, she entered a two¨Clevel conference room. Samson and Elsie were already there. Samson smiled the moment he saw Ariel. ¡°Over here.¡± Ariel gave him a calm look, noting that the three of them would sit together. As she approached, Elsie indicated a spot beside her. ¡°Do you want to sit here?¡± Ariel nced over and noticed that Elsie would be sitting between her and Samson. She didn¡¯t mind and simply walked over to take the seat. 1 Samson was rather surprised that Elsie had cut in. He nced at her for a second longer. Elsie tightened her grip on her pen without saying a word, but her cheeks turned red. Samson didn¡¯t say anything. From his pocket, he pulled out a ss jar filled with handmade candies and handed it to Ariel. ¡°I noticed you like sweet¨Cand¨Csour vors. My family¡¯s pastry chef made these. They¡¯re really good. I hope you like them. You seem like someone who gets so busy you forget to eat. A little sugar might help.¡± He carried the jar around like a prized possession and took it out the moment he saw her. Ariel looked at him. ¡°It¡¯s fine. Thank you.¡± Samson didn¡¯t mind her cool detachment. He left the jar beside her. ¡°Don¡¯t be so polite with me. The meeting will be long, so grab some whenever you want.¡± He then nced at Elsie and shrugged with a smile. ¡°Sorry, this is a personal gift with special meaning, so I won¡¯t be giving you one. I hope you understand.¡± 1 Elsie got it immediately. These were for Ariel alone. She pressed her lips together and nodded, unable to say anything. Ariel had considered giving the jar of candies back, but more people began arriving for the meeting. She spotted the higher¨Cups she had met previously, as well as six engineers. She quickly shifted her attention to the agenda. This meeting was meant to discuss the ns moving forward. The biggest challenge was the scarcity of SX alloy, which Ariel already knew about. Imports were heavily restricted by foreign monopolies, limiting domestic ns. Maurice spoke solemnly. ¡°Currently, the production techniques for SX alloy are all overseas. Domestic efforts are underway, but it won¡¯t happen quickly. For years, we¡¯ve had to rely on imports from Rynovar and Ulyndor. Other countries, led by Merinia, outright refuse to export to us. Our demand for SX alloy in future R&D will be substantial, so resolving this is crucial.¡± The monopolization and blockade of key tech materials would simply limit development. Ariel knew this all too well. This had been a critical bottleneck a few years ago. Relying on Rynovar and Ulyndor wasn¡¯t sustainable. Costs could skyrocket. Moreover, only three patent- holdingpanies in Rynovar and Ulyndor possessed mature technology for SX alloy. If they refused to cooperate in the future, it would create serious trouble. Domestic research efforts would take time and resources, not to mention navigating government approvals. It would be a long¨Cterm, ongoing challenge. ¡°But¡­¡± Maurice suddenly looked at Ariel. She met his gaze. Maurice¡¯s expression showed surprise. ¡°Ms. Walker, perhaps you could negotiate this.¡± 1 A shadow flickered across Samson¡¯s eyes as he turned to look at Ariel. 2/ Inside 605 ¡°Me?¡± Ariel asked, confused. Maurice¡¯s expression held a trace of awe. ¡°We got word internally a couple of days ago. A few years back, Bluum Corp invested heavily in setting up apany in Broburn, Ulyndor. They have the production technique and supply chain ready. Apparently, it just went live this year. I¡¯m just wondering if you could¡­ handle the negotiations.¡± Ariel blinked in shock. Jayson had apany in Ulyndor? Why had he never mentioned such an important matter? He would have been working on it for years. Investing in such scarce material meant enormous future market share and profits. If sessful, he could bring it into Croinia and monopolize the market. He could dominate aerospace projects across multiple countries as well: It would be a long¨Cterm trend with practically limitless potential earnings. It could drive many investors wild. Such massive market potential wasn¡¯t unknown, but starting research wasn¡¯t easy. The initial investment alone would require hundreds of millions of dors, and the risks were enormous. Under the tech blockade, failure rates were unusually high. Any failure would cost a fortune, and the process would take years. The dangers were significant on all fronts. Few investors would dare to risk it, no matter the potential payoff. After all, the risk of loss was equally high. Hardly any investor would have the nerve to throw that much money into a niche tech material that the general market wouldn¡¯t even touch. And on top of that, how had Jayson navigated all the approvals in Ulyndor? ¡°Ms. Walker, would you be able to do that?¡± Maurice asked again. He was well aware that Jayson¡¯spany was in Ulyndor. Should a partnership with Croinia form, Merinia might limit Jayson¡¯s exports, resulting in some market loss. Negotiations¨Con partnership terms or pricing¨Cwould be necessary to secure the market. Ariel finally came back to her senses, her mind reeling. Jayson had been quietly pulling off something monumental. ¡°I¡­ I¡¯ll try talking to him,¡± she said. If Croinia could lift this restriction, she would not just be happy but genuinely thrilled. 1/3 But she hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to be the one opening the door, and there was no guarantee he would agree. Her answer eased the tension around the most critical part of the meeting. By the time it ended, Samson was still sitting there, his eyes downcast, lost in thought. Then a small smile appeared. ¡°Mr. Larkin really is unpredictable. If we could secure a partnership with him, he could be a key figure in tech R&D, potentially gaining control over Croinia and parts of other countries. Bluum Corp might advance to the next level thanks to this single investment decision.¡± It was only the high barriers to entry that kept investors at bay. Otherwise, they would be fighting tooth and nail. The potential profits were staggering, after all. Midway through, someone came for Samson. He gave Ariel a heads¨Cup before stepping out. Ariel considered leaving too. Elsie looked at her while biting her lips and suddenly said, ¡°Ariel, let¡¯spete fairly, okay?¡± Whether it was about friendships with Samson or business. Ariel nced at her, realizing what this sudden challenge was all about. ¡°No need. You can have him.¡± Elsie widened her eyes. ¡°I don¡¯t need your pity!¡± 2 Ariel didn¡¯t feel like arguing with her over this, so she turned and walked out. As for that jar of candies, she left it exactly where it was. After getting into her car, Ariel sat quietly, thinking. This matter was serious. Jayson was a businessman. Deals required finesse, and even the government couldn¡¯t enforce things recklessly. After a moment, she decided to call Jayson. When Jayson picked up, Ariel paused, recalling Maurice¡¯s words. After thinking it through, she asked, ¡± Are you free? Can we meet?¡± His voice was calm, but he couldn¡¯t resist bringing up her old line. ¡°Does your ¡®no meeting or contact unless necessary¡® rule still apply?¡± Inside 606 Ariel was momentarily speechless and rubbed her temple. She knew she had no real leverage here, so she said, ¡°If you¡¯re busy, just forget it. After all, the SX alloy deal was a long¨Cterm y. She couldn¡¯t finalize anything overnight. If Jayson didn¡¯t want to talk, she couldn¡¯t exactly force him. Just as she was about to hang up, he said, ¡°Bluum Corp. I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± Jayson seemed to anticipate her move. After saying that casually, he ended the call before she could. With that confirmation, Ariel didn¡¯t bother revisiting their previous conversation. She turned her car toward Bluum Corp. It had been a long time since she hadst been there. Walking into the building now, she noticed more than a few eyes following her, almost like the crowd moved with her. The front desk greeted her with utmost respect. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, please use Mr. Larkin¡¯s private elevator.¡± Ariel remained rtivelyposed. She nodded in thanks and stepped into the elevator. With her status now clear, the friendliness around her was more noticeable than ever. She arrived on the CEO¡¯s floor. As she passed the secretarial department, the busy secretaries caught sight of her. Their expressions shifted one after another, betraying a mix of emotions. Ariel had once been Bluum Corp¡¯s PR manager. Back then, she and Jayson barely interacted. Few could have imagined that such a low¨Cprofile figure was actually Jayson¡¯s wife. Now, everyone instinctively went over their past interactions in their minds, wondering if they had ever offended her. Ariel didn¡¯t care what they were thinking. She headed straight to Jayson¡¯s office instead. Arthur and Colton weren¡¯t around, so she knocked and let herself in. As she pushed the door open, Jayson happened to look up from behind his desk. He removed the frameless reading sses from his nose and asked, ¡°Have you eaten yet? Want to eat together?¡± ¡°No, thanks. I¡¯m here to discuss work.¡± Ariel moved to the couch and sat, keeping things strictly professional. Jayson studied her expression, then rose and sat at an angle beside her. ¡°I¡¯m listening.¡± ¡°You know why I¡¯m here.¡± Ariel finally understood. That night at dinner, he had heard them talking about SX alloy but said nothing. Was he waiting for the right offer? Jayson¡¯s gaze flicked to her. ¡°They sent you here to y the rtionship card?¡± ¡°Do we have anything between us?¡± Ariel quipped, then quickly shifted the topic. ¡°Mr. Larkin, feel free to state any requests or conditions you have.¡± Jayson said nothing. It was unclear what he was thinking about. 3 Ariel didn¡¯t rush. She waited quietly. Finally, he replied coolly, ¡°I do have a condition.¡± ¡°About the price? Or the contract length? How do you n to structure it?¡± she asked. After all, once this deal went through, it wouldn¡¯t be a small sum. It would be used continuously over the next ten years, often running into tens of billions. That wasn¡¯t trivial. ¡°You have to stay at home for two months.¡± 5 The office went silent. Ariel thought she must have misheard. Her brows knitted together. ¡°What?¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes remained steady as he repeated himself, ¡°You have to stay at home for two months.¡± 7 Ariel couldn¡¯t believe it. Was he serious? They were talking about a deal worth ten billion dors, critical to national research. Every step required meticulous coordination. And his main point was for her to go. home? ¡°What is that supposed to mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s the condition.¡± ¡°Have you been listening? The priority here is whether yourpany in Ulyndor wants to work with Croinia. Such a partnership could risk sanctions from Merinia, potentially limiting the market and causing losses-¡± (19 ¡°That is my concern. If you agree, I¡¯ll meet the higher¨Cups tomorrow.¡± Jayson¡¯s tone stayed calm throughout, as if they were discussing anything but a deal that could drive countless people wild. (5) Inside 607 Chapter 607. Chapter 607 +15 BONUS Ariel couldn¡¯t understand Jayson¡¯s reasoning, but she pressed her lips together. ¡°Sorry, that¡¯s a different matter. And besides, that¡¯s not my home.¡± They had been living apart for so long. What was the point of asking her to go back? Her answer didn¡¯t surprise him. If anything, he took it calmly. ¡°Alright, then I¡¯lle to your ce.¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze turned cold. What was wrong with him? Jayson lowered his eyes, his thumb brushing the wedding ring on his finger. ¡°Grandma came by yesterday. She noticed there¡¯s no sign of you living with me anymore. I didn¡¯t know how to exin it.¡± The movement drew Ariel¡¯s attention to his hand. The ring was still there. It seemed like he had no ns to take it off. But that wasn¡¯t the point. She looked at him steadily, her expression unchanged. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I¡¯m here to talk business. Whether it¡¯s your ce or mine, my answer is the same. No.¡± When she drew the line, she wouldn¡¯t budge. Jayson knew this well. He didn¡¯t press. He never liked forcing her anyway. ¡°Fine.¡± ¡°And the deal?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll negotiate with them.¡± That went smoother than she expected. Ariel thought it was odd. She had been ready for Jayson to give her a hard time. ¡°Just like that?¡± A little spark of excitement broke through inside her. His lips tilted in a smirk. ¡°Well, do you want to start from the top again?¡± Absolutely not. Ariel rose to her feet without hesitation. ¡°Thank you. I won¡¯t disturb you any longer. No need to walk me out.¡± She didn¡¯t linger a second longer. With Jayson¡¯s unexpected agreement in hand, she left right away without a flicker of hesitation. Of course, Jayson noticed. He stood at the doorway for a long moment, then lowered his gaze to the ring on his finger before pulling out his phone and calling Arthur. With Jayson set to meet with the higher¨Cups himself, Ariel no longer had to worry. Even so, she was still reeling at how quietly he had pulled off something that big But since it was something that could push Cro¨ªnia forward, she couldn¡¯t help but feel pleased, it also meant her own research projects would run more smoothly. In a good mood, she even felt like cooking, On her way home that evening, she picked up fresh fruit and vegetables. When she got upstairs, she noticed signs that someone had moved in across the hall. There were new scuff marks by the door, along with some unopened boxes. The upscale apartment she lived in wasn¡¯t small. The building had two units per floor. For as long as she had been here, the one across from her had always been empty, (2) She gave it only a nce before unlocking her own door. The moment she stepped inside, her phone rang. It was a call from Carlos, informing her that he had spoken with Gary and her political review would be put on a fast track. He also told her she would be allowed to make an exception and start work early. This was good news. Before hanging up, Carlos added, ¡°Jayson¡¯s an interesting guy. He¡¯s full of surprises.¡± He had caught wind of the SX alloy matter. Jayson was now highly praised in government circles. Among the younger generation, only he and Ariel stood out. Even she hadn¡¯t known what he was up to, which said a lot about how shocked everyone else must have been. Thankfully, Carlos didn¡¯t pry further. He just reminded her to stop by before her reporting date, then ended the call. After changing clothes, Ariel was about to start making dinner. She had just finished tying up her hair when heavy knocks rattled her front door. The noise made her jump She had lived here for over eight months in total peace and quiet. Never once had someonee knocking thiste. Since she was living alone, her nerves tensed She moved to the door and peered through the peephole. The figure outside made her frown. It wasn¡¯t danger after all, and her nerves eased a little. When she opened the door, the person outside nearly lost their bnce. ¡°What is it?¡± she asked. Inside 608 Lucas had been leaning against the door. When Ariel suddenly pulled it open, he swayed a little, frowning as he looked up at her. His face carried the flush of alcohol. He was even holding a bottle in his hand. Yet the instant he saw Ariel, the gloom between his brows dissolved. Bracing himself on the doorframe, he studied her face and slowly smiled. ¡°I suddenly missed you. This ce was hard to find, you know. Took me a while to track down.¡± 1 Lucas was drunk. Ariel¡¯s expression stayed cold. She knew he had never been one for heavy drinking, and she hated this uninvited visit. ¡°Please don¡¯t disturb my neighbors. Stop knocking and go home.¡± She didn¡¯t n to entertain him. Turning, she started to shut the door. Lucas saw her resistance clearly. For a split second, it was like a jolt to his mind, snapping him awake. He lifted his hand to block the door. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to exin yourself? Why are you living here alone? Where¡¯s Jayson? Are you two separated?¡± The thought thrilled and hurt him all at once. Ariel gave him nothing, but that was fine. At least things with Jayson weren¡¯t perfect either. That was enough to make Lucas feel alive again. He could still remember the rush of excitement when he discovered Ariel wasn¡¯t living with Jayson anymore. Without a second thought, he rushed over. ¡°What¡¯s it to you?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t like talking about anything with drunks; it was meaningless. She looked at him coldly. ¡°Don¡¯t bother me again, Mr. Sanderson.¡± Her icy tone dragged Lucas back to reality. He faltered for a moment before taking in that downright merciless look on her face. ¡°So you two really do have problems, huh? Tell me, are you divorcing him? Wait. Or is it already over?¡± He was frighteningly sharp about these things. His eyes burned into Ariel, filled with love, hate, and obsession. He was so obsessed that he wanted to throw everything else aside. Ariel¡¯s patience snapped. She tried to m the door without another word. But Lucas saw iting. Her indifference cut into him like a de. The pain was so sharp it reddened Chapter 608. +15 BONUS his eyes. Everything he had suppressed since prison burst loose, driving him to madness. He shoved the door wide with his leg and stepped inside before wrapping a hand around the back of Ariel¡¯s neck. ¡°Ari, I don¡¯t care about the past. Wipe him clean from your mind now. You were always meant to be with me.¡± He had always loved her. He couldn¡¯t allow her to hold another man in her mind and body. That thought consumed him. He was seized by a mad desire to im her. Whether she loved him or hated him, she still had to belong to him. Lucas was strong. Before Ariel could react, he pulled her overpletely. The desire in his eyes terrified her. She shoved at him, furious. ¡°Lucas! Don¡¯t act like a madman! Let go of me!¡± She knew exactly what he intended. But her body was weak, leaving her unable to struggle at all. Her face had gone pale. When Lucas noticed her fierce resistance, the ache in his chest twisted tighter, agitating his very nerves. He was just about to kick the door shut when a gust of cold wind rushed in from behind. His arm was yanked away, and before he could react, a fist smashed into his face. His bone seemed to crack under the blow. Lucas stumbled back into the shoe cab. His phone slipped from his pocket andnded by Ariel¡¯s feet. She hadn¡¯t even processed what happened when a hand braced her shoulder. Startled, she looked up into Jayson¡¯s face, which was colder than she had ever seen it. He was staring at Lucas. After steadying her, he strode forward and struck again, mming a fierce punch before Lucas could regain his footing. The sound of it hitting flesh was enough to make anyone¡¯s skin crawl. Lucas snapped back to himself. His expression twisted dark as he snatched up the bottle in his hand and swung it toward Jayson¡¯s head. Ariel nearly screamed. Cha Inside 609 pter 609 Jayson reacted fast. He met the iing bottle with his fist, shattering it in midair. Ariel saw blood running down his knuckles. The two men lunged at each other. Lucas sobered up instantly. Eyes bloodshot, he stared at Jayson, his torn lip twisting into augh.¡± Jayson, let me be straight with you. Ari¡¯s heart has always been with me. You can have any woman you want, so why tear us apart? Do me a favor. Let her go, and let us be together.¡± Upon hearing that, Jayson suddenly froze. His expression was dark and brooding. That single hesitation gave Lucas an opening. Fueled by rage, he tossed aside the jagged bottleneck, grabbed Jayson by the cor, and mmed him against the door. A loud bang echoed through the room. As Ariel watched the scene before her, a suffocating fury welled up, burning in her throat until it hurt.¡± Enough, Lucas!¡± She was rarely one to lose her temper. Even in the face of the biggest problems, she was usually calm. But now, her clenched fists were trembling from how hard she was gripping it. Ariel was grateful for the care Lucas once gave her, but those very things had turned into a de at her throat. She used to believe Lucas was someone she could lean on like Elena, Katie, and Leonard. Family affection had always been something she clung to. But the old filter of dependence had long since shattered. Now, even thest trace of their ten¨Cplus years of bond was gone. ¡°You want an answer, Lucas?¡± She looked at him coldly. ¡°I don¡¯t feel anything for you. What I had was gratitude, a childish attachment. All I ever felt for you was dependence. I don¡¯t love you. Do you hear me? If you do, then leave.¡± Lucas froze at those words. Whether it was the alcohol clouding his brain again or something else, he looked hollow, like something had been ripped from him. Bent over, he gasped for breath. He was still drunk. Jayson lowered hisshes, his eyes locked on Ariel without a blink. Ignoring him, she bent down and picked up Lucas¡® phone that had fallen at her feet. He never bothered with a password, so it was easy to unlock. She scrolled until she found Wendy¡¯s number and dialed it. When the call connected, she gave a quick address. ¡°Pleasee pick him up.¡± Then, she tossed the phone back to Lucas. Jayson¡¯s gaze narrowed slightly. Looking at the defeated Lucas, he flexed his fingers. His knuckles were still bleeding, but he didn¡¯t care in the slightest. A faint curl tugged at his lips. ¡°Mr. Sanderson, who told you we were separated?¡± Lucas¡® face darkened even further. Ariel frowned at Jayson, confused by the sudden question. Also, where did hee from? 1 Just as she was thinking, the elevator doors suddenly opened, and Wendy rushed out. It had only been three minutes since the call. Ariel¡¯s expression shifted. Wendy had been nearby too? The moment Wendy saw Lucas with blood on his face, her eyes went red. She hurried over to support him. ¡°Lucas!¡± Lucas didn¡¯t respond. But Wendy¡¯s eyes shot to Ariel, zing with hatred. ¡°I¡¯m begging you! Know your ce and stop showing up in front of him!¡± So Wendy had known all along. Ariel suddenly remembered what Wendy had once told her. The diamond ne Lucas gave her was just a freebie that came with Wendy¡¯s gift. At the time, she believed it was unintentional. But looking back, who was really that oblivious? The very fact that Wendy said it meant there was some hidden meaning behind it. Ariel suddenly wondered, why were people such ves to feelings? Driven by emotions, they did things that weren¡¯t true to themselves. She once had, and now Wendy was doing the same. She was trapped by emotions. Pitiful, yet hateful. Inside 610 Ariel had no interest in arguing with Wendy. She was the one being disturbed tonight. Her face was cold, and her voice held only the bare minimum of courtesy. ¡°You know the truth better than anyone. Stop trying to pin it on others just to escape. I wish you two a lifetime of happiness. Just don¡¯t bother me again. That was her dismissal. The night was a noisy mess. Lucas was well and truly drunk. His mind was clouded with alcohol again, yet his eyes never left Ariel. No matter how many times Wendy called to him, he stayed silent, red¨Ceyed and stubborn. No one knew who he was holding out for. Ariel didn¡¯t spare him another nce. After throwing down those words, she turned to Jayson, who had stayed quiet by her side. The instant she turned, Jayson lowered his gaze and fixed his eyes on her face. The warm light above reflected in his pupils. He stared without speaking. Ariel thought for a moment, then tugged at his sleeve. ¡°Come in.¡± At the very least, she and Jayson had to look like a real couple in front of Lucas, whether to keep up the facade of marriage or to make him give up. The door shut behind them. The narrow entryway felt heavy. The air was thick with each other¡¯s scent. Without looking at Jayson¡¯s expression, Ariel turned and walked inside. ¡°Take a seat.¡± Only then did Jayson move. He strode leisurely into the living room. Ariel cared about the details of life, and it showed in the cozy way she had decorated the home. The curtains were pale yellow paired with sheer white drapes. The table and chairs were made of walnut, their surface adorned with delicate coasters. A warm white rug was spread beneath the couch, while a vase holding two Casanca lilies rested on the coffee table. Everywhere bore the traces of someone who lived well and cared for herself. Jayson took it all in, then nced at Ariel rummaging through a vintage cab. As he looked down, his lips curved faintly. At least she hadn¡¯t let herself suffer. She came back with a well¨Cstocked first aid kit. Seeing him still standing, she said, ¡°Sit.¡± He dropped onto the couch. Ariel bent down and pulled out what she needed to treat his wounds. ¡°Can I ask why you¡¯re here?¡± As she spoke, her eyes shifted to the cut across his knuckles, She frowned slightly. ¡°Give me your hand.¡± Jayson nced down, thenid his hand in hers. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t been here, how would you have handled tonight?¡± While disinfecting the wound, Ariel shot him a look, though her touch was careful. ¡°He wouldn¡¯t really lose it.¡± She knew Lucas well enough. Even if she couldn¡¯t match him in strength, he wouldn¡¯t dare go too far if sheshed out at him. ¡°You really trust him.¡± Jayson raised a brow, his toneced with nonchnce. ¡°Are you saying that with some kind of attitude?¡± Ariel frowned, catching the subtle bite behind his words. ¡°No. It just hurts.¡± He nced at the back of his hand, which was cut by shards of the bottle. His expression betrayed no hint of pain, leaving it unclear whether his words were true. That left Ariel with noeback. He was indeed injured, and it was because of her. That was why she allowed him in to help him tend to his wound. She wasn¡¯t cruel enough to ignore it. ¡°Sorry¡­ and thank you.¡± Ariel was silent for a moment. She didn¡¯t look at Jayson¡¯s expression and continued tending to his wound. ¡°Why are you sorry? I was the one who shed with him.¡± Jayson looked up at her as she stood beside him. ¡°And what are you thanking me for? People don¡¯t help you just to hear you say thanks. Being too calcting ruins the meaning. Sometimes it¡¯s simply because you¡¯re worth it. That¡¯s all.¡± 1 Inside 611 Jayson¡¯s tone had rxed quite a bit now. Ariel paused for a second. When she looked up at him, their eyes met. Something about Jayson seemed different, but she couldn¡¯t put her finger on it. She decided not to respond and went ahead to bandage his hand. Only then did she notice a cut on his neck. He had fair skin, and tiny beads of blood were seeping from the cut. It was probably from the ss shards when that bottle shattered. She pulled out another alcohol swab. ¡°Tilt your head a little.¡± Jayson cooperated. Ariel leaned closer and carefully cleaned the cut. He must have felt the pain as his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. She eased her touch a little. But he frowned and suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her to sit beside him. ¡°I¡¯ve got this.¡± ¡°Can you see the cut? Did I hurt you?¡± ¡°No, your breathing¡¯s just distracting.¡± Sitting with his legs apart, he opened the iodine and dabbed it on carelessly. Ariel was rendered speechless for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m a living person, not a paramecium. Can¡¯t I even breathe? ¡± Hisshes flicked up as he nced at her. ¡°I¡¯m just sensitive.¡± Right. Ariel suddenly remembered. She clenched her fists and decided not to bring it up. Instead, she packed away all the supplies neatly.¡± Whatever.¡± Jayson stared at the first¨Caid kit for a moment. ¡°Does the hospital get its supplies from you? Why do you have everything?¡± The kit was big. The topyer handled external injuries, while the other twoyers held different bottles and jars, all neatly organized in small ss containers. She really had everything categorized. ¡°I value my life. You can never have too many health supplies,¡± Ariel replied calmly, then returned the kit to the cab. When she walked back, she noticed Jayson was wearing a pair of ck Herm¨¨s leather slides, like he had juste from home. He was dressed in all¨Cck loungewear as well. ¡°Why are you dressed like this?¡± she asked. Jayson brushed at the sterile dressing on his hand and replied, ¡°Didn¡¯t realize I needed to dress up to see you. Noted. I¡¯ll be careful next time.¡± Ariel caught the jab and pressed her lips together. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else-¡± ¡°Mind if I borrow a charger? My phone died,¡± Jayson interrupted, cing his phone on the table. Ariel walked over. ¡°Hold on a second.¡± She handed him her power bank. ¡°You can take it with you.¡± This was a polite way of chasing him out. Ignoring her, Jayson switched on the phone with swift motions and pulled up WhatsApp. Ariel stood beside him and couldn¡¯t help but notice his profile picture when he opened it. It was a matching photo with Nancy¡¯s. She immediately looked away, not wanting to stare or seem rude. But Jayson looked up and caught the motion. He casually handed her the phone. ¡°Want to see it? Go ahead.¡± Ariel frowned, confused. She didn¡¯t want to see his phone. Jayson set the phone back on the table, screen still on. In the silence, his casual voice slipped into her ear. ¡°Lucas is extremely self¨Ccentered. Ariel, you two were never suitable for each other.¡± She actually found it a little ridiculous. And this judgment wasing from Jayson of all people? ¡°Well, we were suitable for each other, and we still got divorced.¡± (1) The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 612 The reply rolled off Ariel¡¯s tongue smoothly. Neither of them gave an inch. Jayson just stared at her for a long moment. The silence was heavy and unsettling. Finally, he nodded his head. ¡°So you think we¡¯re suitable for each other?¡± 3 Ariel looked at him in bewilderment. That was what he pulled from that? Still, she couldn¡¯t deny some of Jayson¡¯s words. Back when she was with Lucas, he constantly used his brother status to control her, interfering in much of what she did. He was quick to anger and nitpicked over everything, to the point that she had grown used to asking herself if Lucas would approve and if this was the right decision before doing anything. 1) She knew Lucas had helped her a lot when she was younger, but she also knew his care cameced with possessiveness and control far beyond what their rtionship should have been. But in those years with Jayson, she never felt that same difort. Jayson was different from Lucas. At the very least, even when things between them had soured, she never felt worthless in front of him. He had taught her that she mattered, that she always had the right to say no, and that being herself wasn¡¯t impossible. 1 But when Nancy appeared, everything shattered. That was why Ariel had no intention of clinging to Jayson or humiliating herself. ¡°That¡¯s not the point.¡± She exhaled softly and started toward the kitchen. Jayson¡¯s gaze followed her as he asked casually, ¡°When did you move on from Lucas?¡± Her steps froze at that question, and her memories became clearer. Her feelings had always been muddled before. It was only after marrying Jayson that the distinctions became clear to her. Family love and romantic love, dependence and attachment, were worlds apart. In the end, she felt herself slowly butpletely overtaken by Jayson. Ariel had never been great at expressing herself. But those years with him, she had loved him with everything she had. It was just that many things hadn¡¯t gone as she wished, and everything was no longer the same. ¡°Once your phone¡¯s charged, you can call Arthur toe get you.¡± Ariel dropped the subject. O Their rtionship was long broken. There was no point digging through ashes. It was better to keep boundaries. Jayson didn¡¯t look away. ¡°That profile picture isn¡¯t a matching photo,¡± he said suddenly. 1 Ariel blinked, surprised. That sounded like¡­ an exnation? A look of confusion flickered across her face. No matter what Jayson¡¯s intentions were in saying this, Ariel said truthfully, ¡°Mr. Larkin, exnations and truths thate toote don¡¯t matter anymore.¡± 2 They had been divorced for so long. Feelings left unnoticed or unresolved at the time were meaningless to bring upter. But Jayson felt oddly at ease. Despite the earlier chaos and his injuries, there was a strange lightness in him. Unbothered whether she wanted to hear it or not, he continued, ¡°Hers is AI¨Cgenerated. Mine¡¯s hand- drawn. The styles arepletely different. You can¡¯tpare them.¡± Ariel just looked at him without a word. She honestly didn¡¯t know what he was trying to say. But¡­ ¡°Cheatinges in different levels now?¡± she retorted. 1 The result was still the same. Jayson finally rose to his feet. Ariel had always been alone in this house, and suddenly having someone else there¨Cespecially someone tall and imposing like him¨Cwas overwhelming. He stepped up behind her and retied the apron at her waist where the knot hade undone. ¡°Ariel, you loved the wrong person. I didn¡¯t. That makes me luckier than you.¡± Ariel wanted to turn and look at him. His words were too much for her to process at the moment. But Jayson pressed his hand lightly against her head, stopping her. ¡°I¡¯m grateful tonight. You helped me make peace with a few things.¡± Jayson¡¯s tone stayed the same as he continued, ¡°Consider this a heads¨Cup. You¡¯ll be seeing me more often from now on. But tonight, I¡¯ll let you be.¡± Inside 613 Ariel was caught off guard by Jayson¡¯s words, but he had already turned and walked out. She went to lock the door. When she nced through the peephole, she saw him entering the unit right across the hall. 2 He opened and closed the door in one smooth motion, not lingering a second longer. Ariel stood there, stunned. Jayson lived across the hall? Was he out of his mind? He actually left his mansion behind to squeeze himself into this shabby little apartment? Did he really go that far to exin things to Betty? But Ariel only thought about it for a moment. Whatever Jayson chose to do was his freedom, and she had no right to interfere. Even though he had been acting strangely today, Jayson had been injured because of her. She didn¡¯t like owing anyone a favor. After making dinner, Ariel thought for a moment, then packed an extra portion into a thermal food container. She set it outside his door, knocked lightly, and went back home without waiting for him to answer. 1 The next morning, Ariel woke early. When she stepped outside, she couldn¡¯t help but nce across the hall. Having Jayson suddenly as a neighbor was unsettling, to say the least. But the thermal food container she had left had disappeared. Clearly, he had taken it in. She quickly looked away and hurried downstairs with her bag. At Faye Technologies, she ran into Chad, who was just arriving as well. Ariel was preparing to join the military base department, and Faye Technologies had projects lined up too. The bidding process required further discussion. Preparing the tender response was equallyplicated. For the next ten days, Ariel barely had a moment to herself and would asionally sleep at the office. (1) She hadn¡¯t heard any updates for the SX alloy negotiations Jayson was handling with the higher¨Cups. But she had received the appointment letter from the government. She needed to report in. Havingpleted a series of tedious procedures, Ariel set her ns in order, just as Samson arrived. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re not in the same department,¡± he said with a shrug, sounding a little disappointed. Ariel, however, found it a relief. It was better not to bump into each other every day. ¡°But Elsie should be with you. You¡¯re the lead, so you¡¯ll probably have to guide her,¡± Samson added. With Ariel¡¯s skills, she was more than qualified to be a mentor. ¡°We¡¯ll see how they arrange it,¡± Ariel replied, keeping it neutral. Samson smiled. He always said the kinds of things most people swallowed back. ¡°Honestly, I envy Elsie. She gets to work with you directly. I was hoping to learn more from you myself. You¡¯re my role model, after all. You¡¯re part of the reason I got into this field.¡± He freely expressed his admiration and humility. Ariel didn¡¯t quite know how to respond, but she could see his drive. He wasn¡¯t some spoiled rich heir coasting through. If it meant contributing to Croinia¡¯s scientific research, she was naturally more than willing to help. ¡°Ms. Walker, please head to Room 1001.¡± Someone came to inform her. Samson gave her a reassuring look. ¡°Your case is special. You¡¯re an exception to joining the research team early. The process will be stricter, but just follow their steps. Don¡¯t stress.¡± Only Ariel was allowed to start working before the political review had even concluded. It was an honor granted solely because of her exceptional ability. Ariel thanked him with a nod and followed the staff member into the office. Inside, she found several unfamiliar faces waiting. ¡°Ms. Ariel Walker, right?¡± One of them looked at her with a stern expression. Ariel nodded. ¡°And you are¡­?¡± ¡°We¡¯re from a special department¡¯s HR team, responsible for reviewing your personal information. Some of the documents you submitted two weeks ago contain omissions and errors. We¡¯ll need you toplete them.¡± Ariel was surprised. She had put that file together with painstaking care. ¡°Omissions and errors?¡± The man nodded. ¡°Your marital status and spousal information are wrong.¡± Inside 614 Ariel was confused, of course. She couldn¡¯t fathom why the problemy with Jayson, considering they were already divorced. She took a moment to calm herself before asking, ¡°What exactly is the problem?¡± The sharply dressed man looked slightly surprised by her reaction. He hesitated, then pulled out a file. ¡± Ms. Walker, in the materials you submitted, you indicated that you are divorced. However, after a detailed review, we¡¯ve confirmed that you are still listed as being married.¡± 2 ¡°That¡¯s impossible. There must be some mistake,¡± Ariel said instinctively. It sounded absurd. Their divorce was documented in ck and white. Something had clearly gone wrong in the process. ¡°No, it¡¯s urate. You will need to provideplete information about your spouse,¡± the man continued. Spousal information was a critical part of the record. It couldn¡¯t be left iplete. They had to verify everything and confirm that all necessary details were correct. Ariel¡¯s heart sank sharply, and her normallyposed face froze for an instant. She nced at the documentation they handed her. It inly stated she was still married. They reviewed this kind of information regrly, so such errors shouldn¡¯t happen. That meant¡­ Her lips went pale, and she gripped the stack of documents tighter without even realizing it. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll review everything thoroughly and get back to you as soon as possible.¡± ¡°Okay. Be careful with these details, Ms. Walker.¡± The man found it strange, yet he stuck to procedure and said nothing more. Maurice looked at Ariel with a puzzled look. ¡°How could this happen? You¡¯re a special case, Ariel, and an exception. It¡¯s best to handle things carefully. But don¡¯t worry. Just make sure it¡¯s corrected quickly.¡± Ariel managed a tight smile, betraying no shock. Once out of the office, her heart pounded, and a swirl of inexplicable emotions pressed on her chest. She needed to figure out exactly what was going on. Especially now, at such a critical moment, there could be no mistakes. Ariel took a deep breath and tried to calm herself as much as possible before heading to the vital records office with her ID. At the counter, she handed over her ID. ¡°Excuse me, I¡¯d like to check my marital status.¡± The clerk seemed a little surprised at the request but processed it anyway. After checking, they said, ¡°Ms. Ariel Walker, right? Our records show you are currently married.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression froze inch by inch. A chill ran straight to the top of her head. She sat there dumbfounded for several long moments before slowly retrieving her ID. As she got into the car under the zing sun, her ears rang relentlessly. Why? After collecting herself, she dialed Jayson with a cold expression. This was a matter between the two of them, after all. Of course such an absurd situation needed to be rified. But his phone was off, leaving her frustrated. She forced herself to stayposed and decided to return home first. On the way, she called Jayson¡¯s secretarial department. The secretary¡¯s tone immediately became respectful when he recognized her. ¡°Mrs. Larkin, Mr. Larkin is on a business trip to Heincove. If it¡¯s urgent, you may contact Mr. Beck.¡± Ariel exhaled slowly inside the car. ¡°Alright, please give me his number.¡± She quickly dialed Arthur. Fortunately, he answered. ¡°This is Ariel.¡± ¡°Yes, Mrs. Larkin? Mr. Larkin is in a meeting with an important client.¡± 1 Ariel didn¡¯t care about his big meeting. Her voice was cold. ¡°Wherever he is, make sure he knows I need him back immediately.¡± Arthur hesitated but eventually agreed. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Larkin. I¡¯ll find a chance to inform Mr. Larkin.¡± X Inside 615 Ariel ended the call and sat in the car for a few moments before a sudden thought struck her. She hurried upstairs. In her bedroom, she rifled through drawers until she found the divorce certificate she had carefully kept. There it was, ck and white and stamped with the official seal. She couldn¡¯t understand how this problem could have happened. Ariel sat on the edge of the bed for a long while, frozen in ce. Countless possibilities shed through her mind, but each one seemed utterly bizarre. She didn¡¯t want to overthink. Brushing her hair back, she let out a slow breath. There was nothing to do but wait for Jayson¡¯s call now. Outside, rain began to fall. Sitting and stewing would only make her anxious, so she decided to take a shower. She kept telling herself that there must have been a mix¨Cup somewhere along the process. She upied herself for almost three hours, yet Jayson still hadn¡¯t called. It only made Ariel¡¯s anguish grow. Just as she was about to try calling again, there was a knock at the door. Ariel stared at it for a moment, then took a steadying breath and went to answer. When she opened the door, she saw Jayson, who had rushed back. He looked a little disheveled from being out. Rain had left damp marks on his suit at the shoulders and neck. He nced at his watch. This was the fastest he could have possibly gotten back. ¡°Arthur said you needed to see me urgently.¡± Ariel studied his face. She hadn¡¯t expected him to actuallye back so quickly, but¡­ ¡°Jayson, there¡¯s a problem with my political review,¡± she said as calmly as she could, but her eyes were fixed on his expression. ¡°They say I¡¯m still married. Surely that¡¯s a mistake, right?¡± Standing at the doorway, Jayson stared at her without a hint of surprise on his face. In that instant, Ariel¡¯s heart sank. ¡°Why aren¡¯t you saying anything?¡± Her voice trembled, but she didn¡¯t look away. His gaze was unwavering. ¡°Yeah, we¡¯re not divorced.¡± The admission was blunt. That very bluntness, and the way he never showed a hint of it despite knowing everything, sent shivers down her spine. All her months of effort suddenly felt meaningless. This time, she couldn¡¯t hold back. Her face went cold as she raised her hand and pped him sharply. The sharp sound echoed in the hallway. Jayson¡¯s head jerked from the p, then he slowly turned to meet her reddened eyes. Her breathing trembled, and her lips had gone pale from a mix of disbelief and anger. ¡°Jayson, tell me, what is real? You knew all along! Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± They hadn¡¯t divorced, and he had been fully aware! He had been deceiving her silently all this time! That was what she couldn¡¯tprehend and what made her so angry. Be it the contraceptive herbs incident back then or what was happening now, it was all a hurtful blow to her. Jayson lowered his gaze and nced at her hand, which had turned red from the p. Even as it hung by her side, it was still trembling. It must have hurt. He bent slightly and took her hand in his and brushed his thumb over her heated palm. ¡°This was my decision. I did it for my own reasons, and I ignored your wishes.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes reddened uncontrobly. She yanked her hand away sharply. ¡°Jayson, what are you even trying to do? You were the one who treated me well at first, the one who¡¯s been distant for nearly two years, and in the end, the one who betrayed our marriage! Don¡¯t I even have the right to ask for a divorce? What do you want from me?¡± She had felt like she had been reborn after the divorce. Even though the process had been grueling, it had been a glimmer of hope in the countdown of her life. And now, suddenly, she was being told it was all an illusion? He hadn¡¯t said a word about this. So what had she been struggling for all this time? Her rare breakdown spilled over, a single tear rolling down her cheek. Even a single, tiny tear felt like it had carved a hole in her chest. Inside 616 Ariel couldn¡¯t ept this reality. She thought she had already taken a big step forward. After being told her life might be nearly over, she had thrown herself into change. She had even felt proud and grateful for the person she had be. Humans would instinctively avoid difort, cling to theirfort zones, and avoid taking on too much risk or responsibility. She felt that she had done well to get this far. And yet, despite all her growth, she had never truly escaped this cage of love that had hurt her. So she couldn¡¯t forgive Jayson¡¯s deception. This was a personal assault on her emotions. She wasn¡¯t aputer program that could just delete memories at will, forget with a click, or erase the past entirely. The suffering she had endured belonged only to her, and it wasn¡¯t something she could just let go. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± As Jayson stared at her eyes, which were clouded with moisture from anger, his Adam¡¯s apple bobbed. He instinctively reached out to wipe them. But Ariel stepped back. Exhausted, she said softly, ¡°There¡¯s nothing left to say between us.¡± What could she even argue for? When she thought about the absurdity of her situation, it even struck her as ironic. Ignoring Jayson¡¯s expression, Ariel reached for the door to close it. However, he ced a hand against it. He knew Ariel wasn¡¯t one to lose control, but some things needed an outlet. ¡°Yes, I regretted it. I didn¡¯t want you to leave,¡± he said. Ariel looked at him, feeling incredulous. ¡°Ariel, I¡¯m not as omnipotent as you think. Hiding the truth from you was just me avoiding the issue. I used to pride myself on never regretting anything, but with you, I can¡¯t make absolute decisions. There were reasons for divorce and reasons not to. I think you should understand that. ¡°I know you probably don¡¯t want to see me now, and maybe you can¡¯t even hear me, but I¡¯m right next door. Ariel, when you¡¯re ready, we need to sit down and talk.¡± She needed time to process. Anyone would be overwhelmed. Jayson understood the impact this revtion had on her. Ariel ignored him. She closed the door, then walked over to the couch and sat down. She stayed like that, watching everything in the room. This whole thing was too absurd. She needed time to think. Through the night, she listened to the steady patter of rain against the window. Her mind was restless, so sleep eluded her. She thought about a lot of things¨Cher past with Jayson¨Cthe good, the bad, the sad, and the painful. Breaking a cycle wasn¡¯t easy. Deciding to divorce Jayson had been like stabbing herself in the heart. Watching him with Nancy during the process was like enduringshes of barbed whips. But she had endured it all and came out stronger. She had managed to build the life she had now, and for that, she was grateful. And now, after all that pain, he had just told her, ¡°You never really escaped. It was all a joke.¡± That fact was impossible for her to ept. Ariel closed her eyes and let out a wry, bitterugh. The troubles in her life just seemed never¨Cending. It wasn¡¯t until dawn that she finally forced herself upright. The rain had stopped, and the air was thick with the smell of wet earth. She felt as if her whole body was damp. Ariel pressed her hands to the table and massaged her temples. A sharp headache was pounding in her head. Her biggest concern now was figuring out how to deal with this. Jayson had admitted they were never divorced, but she still had no idea how things had gone so wrong in the first ce. (13 She felt numb today. The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 617 Chapter 617 Ariel hadn¡¯t slept at all the previous night. Plus the emotional turmoil, her whole body felt weak. She drank a ss of water to moisten her throat and theny back down in her bedroom. Anger and shouting really took it out of her. She was realizing she couldn¡¯t handle these kinds of crises the way she used to. (1) Sleep came fitfully. Around noon, the doorbell rang. Dragging her tired body to answer, she found a deliveryman outside, but she didn¡¯t remember ordering anything. ¡°Ms. Walker, you have a parcel to sign for.¡± Ariel checked thebel. It was indeed addressed to her, with her phone number on it. She took it. ¡°Thank you.¡± Once she closed the door, she weighed the box. It wasn¡¯t too heavy. The shippingbel showed it came from a rtively remote town, and it was sent a week ago. Ariel opened it to find a document envelope on top. Inside was a certificate. The moment she unfolded it, she froze. It was a donation certificate, apanied by various receipts. But the donations weren¡¯t money. They were ten schools of hope established in her and Jayson¡¯s names. The schools were spread across different states, even one as far as Larnwick. And this parcel hade from that school in Larnwick. Alongside the certificates and receipts were carefully packaged local specialties she had never seen. There were also photos from different ces. After the schools were built, children started enrolling. The five¨Cstory teaching buildings included dormitories and libraries. Poor children could receive an education, left¨Cbehind children were cared for, and orphans had a safe ce to live. In the photos, Ariel saw children with clear eyes but malnourished faces. Some were small, others older. They looked shy, yet curious and full of hope. Apanying the pictures were letters of gratitude. At the bottom was one from the principal, handwritten and heartfelt. It exined that after months of construction, the schools had only just officially opened in the past month. It mentioned Ariel¡¯s and Jayson¡¯s names, thanking them for bringing hope to the children and benefiting this otherwise barrennd. Ariel felt the gratitude in the letter. She had never personally participated, yet here she was being credited as a ¡°savior¡± for so many children. Suddenly, she remembered. Jayson had gone to a charity g with Nancy, even shing with her at the time. But the organizers had decided to donate in Jayson¡¯s and Nancy¡¯s names, so why did all this merit end up attached to her? As Ariel stared at the letter, her mind spun. She held it tightly, lost in thought for a long while. Everything came at once. Ariel found it hard to process, and part of her found it almostically absurd. Her life was so full of twists and turns. A sudden knock at the door pulled her back to reality. She walked to the door and peered through the peephole. It was Jayson, dressed in loungewear. He hadn¡¯t gone to the office today either. Given what had happened yesterday, they needed to talk things through, so Ariel opened the door and let him in. He carried a neatly packed meal. Seemingly unaware of Ariel¡¯s somewhat detached expression, he walked to the table to set it down. Then, his gaze fell on the open parcel. He had arranged for it to be sent a few days ago, but clearly¡­ the timing now wasn¡¯t quite right. d Inside 618 Chapter 618 ¡°You haven¡¯t eaten yet, right?¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze flicked over the parcel before turning back to Ariel. ¡°Want to eat something first?¡± Ariel no longer carried the storm of emotions fromst night. Anyone confronted with such an absurd situation would struggle to stayposed. She nced at Jayson in his loungewear. Even someone as work¨Cobsessed and constantly upied as him had moments when he skipped the office entirely. ¡°No need.¡± Ariel felt that she was keeping herself fairly calm. ¡°How do you think we should handle this?¡± she asked. Jayson knew this moment couldn¡¯t be avoided. He lowered his eyes, studying her expression without missing a detail. ¡°Aren¡¯t you curious about the reasons?¡± The biggest problem right now was that Ariel didn¡¯t ask for any exnation. Why hadn¡¯t the divorce gone through? Why did he refuse to divorce? Why hadn¡¯t he told her? She seemedpletely devoid of interest in him. Ariel looked at him. ¡°The reasons are your business, but I¡¯m the one left dealing with the fallout. Am I supposed to have some kind of emotional reaction to you?¡± She admitted she could be biting at times, but this was the umtion of all the anger she hadn¡¯t let out before. She had stepped back once during the contraceptive herbs incident. This time, she couldn¡¯t do that anymore. Both times set her off. Jayson¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he noted the resistance in her eyes, which was sharp and prickly enough to hurt from a distance. ¡°Have you always wanted to cut ties with me?¡± He still stared at her as if he wanted to look straight into her mind. ¡°Even for the past three years?¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t curious about his answer, but he clearly wanted her to respond. She held his gaze calmly. ¡°Jayson, if you had paid attention, you¡¯d know I¡¯ve always been honest with you over those years.¡± ¡°Even the reason you married me?¡± he blurted. Her eyes flickered. She hadn¡¯t expected him to bring this up so suddenly. Jayson knew his words had clearly been harsh. He took a deep breath and stepped forward. ¡°Our divorce agreement has so many unfair uses, yet you signed it without hesitation just to get away from me. Did you even consider whether it was legally sound?¡± He remembered watching her at that moment. Her determination was clear, without a flicker of doubt. Even though the agreement was unfair, she didn¡¯t care. The divorce agreement was a factor, but not the full reason the divorce hadn¡¯t gone through. Jayson even thought of himself as pretty devious, considering how much effort he had poured into reversing the oue of something that seemed set in stone. Ariel pressed her lips together. ¡°What exactly do you want from me?¡± ¡°What could I want from you? Rip open your chest to see what your heart looks like? Crack your skull to see what you¡¯re really thinking? To find out if there¡¯s a ce for me inside? Ariel, what do you think I want?¡± His tone had softened, but his eyes were heavy with unspoken intensity, as if he were speaking of someone else¡¯s business. But it was exactly this tone and gaze that made Ariel¡¯s mind tense for a moment. He hadn¡¯t even said it outright, yet she read him perfectly. She clenched her fists, her gaze icy. ¡°So I¡¯m supposed to pay the price for your fickle feelings? Just because you regret it, I have to deal with it?¡± How ridiculous. She actually saw the faint traces of feeling in Jayson¡¯s eyes. But he had withdrawn it at the moment she needed it most. Who had ever paid the price for the damage to her heart? Jayson fell silent. He realized that Ariel really was something else. She could drive a knife straight into his heart with the slightest words. He also saw no sign of relief or hesitation about their still¨Cexisting marriage in her eyes. Inside 619 Chapter 619 This was a gamble on Jayson¡¯s part. He knew that Ariel couldn¡¯t avoid a political review when joining the national research engineering team. Letting her go through it without interference was a bold gamble even he couldn¡¯t fully exin. At the core, he wanted to know whether she still had feelings for him. But her indifference was right there, in as day. The pain he had buried deep in his heart for years began to ache again. 1 ¡°Eat first. We¡¯ll have plenty of time to talkter.¡± Jayson turned around and opened the meal box, making a small gesture of concession. Ariel considered herself calm enough today. She had no intention of arguing with Jayson. By now, everything was clear. The schools of hope offered some exnation, and Jayson¡¯s string of actions now had context. However, these weren¡¯t enough for her to forget the suffering she had been through. ¡°Your way of doing things terrifies me. You always quietly strike without a word. Jayson, there¡¯s no going back for us.¡± Her voice was gentle. She was merely stating facts. Constion after harsh treatment counted for nothing. Ariel looked at Jayson. ¡°I¡¯ve officially joined the 719 Military Aircraft Base. Once I sort everything there, we can deal with this properly.¡± The sudden re¨Cup of this issue was a headache. It left her stuck right in her critical period. If this escted, it would spark controversy within the government. The project she was involved in was urgent. There was no way they could wait over a month for her to finish the paperwork and resubmit before proceeding with the project. She had already been granted an exception once, so she didn¡¯t want to put the higher¨Cups in a difficult position. Besides, due to her condition, she didn¡¯t want to cause any unnecessary friction for anyone or anything. Under the bright indoor light, Jayson¡¯s eyes were dark. He didn¡¯t respond to her words directly. He continued unpacking the meal box one by one and even set out her favorite chocte pudding. ¡°This is made by the pastry chef you liked the most from Larkin Manor. It¡¯s made with less sugar.¡± After saying that, he turned to her. ¡°This is my fault. I¡¯ll take responsibility for any of your feelings. Focus on your work first. I¡¯ll send you my personal informationter. Let¡¯s talk after your work is stable.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond. Jayson set out the cutlery and slowly said, ¡°Let¡¯s give each other some time. Ariel, you can hate me however you want. I¡¯ll take it all.¡± He didn¡¯t pester her, and there was no need to debate anything at this moment. He turned around decisively, pushed the door open, and closed it behind him. The room fell silent once again. Ariel stared at the two dishes on the table. They were both her favorites, without a trace of scallions she was allergic to. She suddenly remembered the time she got sick at the hotel. Jayson had ordered food with scallions for her, and she had to pick around before eating. Now, she was being cared for, but she couldn¡¯t stomach the food. In the end, she didn¡¯t take a single bite. But she felt the thoughtfulness behind that parcel from afar. She decided to keep it. At a critical moment like this, her situation with Jayson would have to be handled carefully. This was precisely a time when she couldn¡¯t afford to slip up. After a day of rest, Ariel received a WhatsApp message from Chad in the evening. ¡°Something happened to Jaysonst night. He stood up an international client at thest minute. I heard rumors that on his way back, he had some kind of ident. Someone he¡¯d crossed before came after him, and it¡¯s said he almost got into a car crash.¡± Inside 620 Chapter 620 Ariel thought back tost night. Her emotions were unstable then, so she didn¡¯t notice anything unusual. She only saw Jayson arriving a little disheveled, and his clothes were damp. Nothing else stood out, and he hadn¡¯t said a word. A man like Jayson had to be ruthless and decisive in business. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t have secured his spot as the head of the Larkin family amidpetition with his uncle¡¯s family overseas. He was bound to step on toes. After all, his methods were merciless. Some people, cornered and desperate, might act recklessly. Lost in thought, Ariel noticed an email in her inbox. Jayson had sent her his personal information, letting her submit it first to handle the pressing matter at hand. She stared at the email for a while. Once she was reasonably sure he was fine, she casually replied to Chad, ¡°He¡¯s fine.¡± As for the fact that they hadn¡¯t divorced, she thought it over and decided to talk to Chad and Janice in person. Sometimes, she just wanted to hear what advice her friends might offer. How and when to deal with it? Even thinking about it made her head spin. The next day, Ariel finished getting ready and left her unit. She couldn¡¯t avoid seeing the door across the hall. Chad¡¯s text from earlier floated through her mind. Jayson was exactly the kind of man who spoke ording to his mood, whether the news was good or bad. Ariel turned and headed straight for the elevator. At Faye Technologies, before she even reached her floor, a man¡¯s voice called out, ¡°Ari, why haven¡¯t you been picking up your phone?¡± Ariel turned and saw Morgan and Lori sitting in the lobby area. Her expression cooled instantly. Morgan, oblivious to her look, approached with a warm smile. He seemed the very image of a caring father. ¡°It¡¯s been a while since Ist saw you. Why haven¡¯t youe home? Do you have time now? I need to talk to you about something.¡± Lori shot Ariel a scornful look. ¡°Dad, she¡¯s on a roll now. Of course, she carries herself like she¡¯s above everyone.¡± When they arrived, they made it clear to the receptionist that they were Ariel¡¯s father and sister, yet they were still left waiting in the lobby. As expected from a staff member trained by Ariel¨Cso low¨Css and rude. Morgan lightly chided, ¡°Ari isn¡¯t like that. She¡¯s always thoughtful. Don¡¯t say such things. What would others think if they heard?¡± Ariel¡¯s voice dripped with scorn as she watched Morgan¡¯s hypocritical act. ¡°Yeah, we don¡¯t even have the samest name. What would people think?¡± Morgan¡¯s expression froze for a moment, then he forced a smile. ¡°Ari, don¡¯t be difficult. I came today for something important. We¡¯ll need a quiet ce to talk. This isn¡¯t the right spot.¡± Ariel simply turned and walked away, giving him no chance to continue his act. Lori¡¯s face fell. Morgan¡¯s expression hardened slightly. ¡°This concerns you, Ari. Don¡¯t make it ugly.¡± Ariel almostughed. There were countless shameless people in the world, and Morgan was top¨Ctier among them. She was actually curious what tricks Morgan could possibly pull after everything. Her identity was now an open secret. She had suspected that this day would eventuallye when Lori called her a while back. ¡°Come up.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t take them seriously, but she knew if she didn¡¯t confront this head¨Con, Morgan and Lori would never leave her alone. Morgan¡¯s expression finally softened. He followed Ariel upstairs with Lori in tow. When they reached Ariel¡¯s office, Morgan¡¯s eyes flickered with surprise and calction. He truly hadn¡¯t expected that Ariel was sopetent. Herpany was thriving, and she was recognized as a top talent by the government. He should never have agreed to it when she changed her surname back then. ¡°I¡¯m impressed. Look at you now.¡± Lori¡¯s expression was sour. Ariel had once been an outsider, hardly notable within the Sanderson family. But now, she was thriving and respected. Inside 621 Chapter 621 ¡°Lori, don¡¯t be sarcastic with Ari,¡± Morgan interjected. Ariel regarded their act with calm detachment. She didn¡¯t even bother to prepare coffee for them. ¡°Get straight to the point.¡± Smiling, Morgan started, ¡°Ari, I¡¯ve been hearing¡­ Jayson¡¯s been making big movestely. It seems that he¡¯s secured a rare market. I had people look into it. This investment of his could bring in millions of dors in profit every year. I¡¯ve been thinking of making some investments myself. Could you bring it up with Jayson and let us be a part of it?¡± The industry had already been in turmoil recently. Jayson¡¯s move stunned countless people. It was terrifying for someone to secure such a massive monopoly at such a young age. And who wouldn¡¯t go crazy for the profits involved? Ariel stared coldly at his greedy expression. ¡°Mr. Sanderson, you really have no shame, huh?¡± Lori scowled as she red at Ariel. ¡°How dare you speak to Dad like that?¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze stayed icy. ¡°Weren¡¯t you always saying I¡¯m an outsider and you¡¯re the true Sanderson family heiress? What, he¡¯s suddenly my dad now?¡± Lori was at a loss for words for a moment, then gave a cold snort. ¡°That was so long ago. How can you achieve big things when you¡¯re this petty?¡± Morgan frowned. ¡°Enough! We¡¯re here today to ask Ari for help.¡± Smiling, he added, ¡°Lori isn¡¯t young anymore. I was thinking of having her join yourpany. You can guide her and help her build connections. With you two working together, you could both achieve great things.¡± Some people¡¯s shamelessness knew no bounds. Ariel sneered. ¡°Mr. Sanderson, has age only made you more shameless? Listen up. You can forget about Jayson¡¯s business. Your n to push Lori into Faye Tech won¡¯t happen either. If you have nothing else, please leave.¡± Her dismissal left no ambiguity. As far as she was concerned, her reply left no room for doubt. Morgan¡¯s expression finally darkened. His smile faded, reced by aplex look. ¡°Ari, leaving no room for negotiation isn¡¯t wise. You shouldn¡¯t learn that from your mother. Apleteck of tact will only cost you dearly.¡± Lori¡¯s eyes glimmered with restrained malice and excitement. ¡°See, Dad? Since she likes to do things the hard way, why bother being polite to her?¡± Ariel sensed the dangerous undertone immediately. Sure enough, Morgan sighed and ced a photo on her desk. ¡°I didn¡¯t want to do this, but you¡¯ve really upset me.¡± Ariel nced down. In that instant, her gaze turned cold, stripped of any warmth. The photo was of her. Four years ago at the hotel, Morgan arrived before the reporters. With his preparations in ce, he managed to slip in at just the right moment and tearfully demanded that Jayson take responsibility. At the time, she was a disheveled mess, wrapped in a nket with no idea how to react. This very photo was the proof of her ¡°climbing into his bed¡°. With her bare shoulders and neck exposed, the photo carried an overpowering air of seduction. It was practically¡­ a nude photo. Ariel drew in a frigid breath. Her eyes turned cold as they settled on Morgan¡¯s hypocritical face. She hadn¡¯t imagined that her own father would secretly photograph her in such apromising state to threaten her. ¡°Do you think a man like Jayson would want a wife whose intimate photos are all over the ce?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 622 Chapter 622 Morgan¡¯s threat echoed in Ariel¡¯s ears. The mockery in her eyes only deepened. Good thing she had never expected anything from this so¨Ccalled father, so there was no disappointment now¨Cjust bitter amusement. Back then, when the reporters rushed in, Jayson had already made sure she was covered. The only image they caught was of the two of them, fully dressed, alone in the room. Even that, Jayson had handled it cleanly and left no trace. Who would have thought that the true malice woulde from Morgan in the end? But to Lori, Ariel¡¯s calm was nothing but fear. Smiling, she tapped on Ariel¡¯s desk as her eyes swept across the luxurious office. ¡°Didn¡¯t I warn you not to be so ungrateful? You think we don¡¯t know exactly what you are? Ariel, we did you a favor by giving you the perfect husband. Don¡¯t tell me you n on biting the hand that fed you.¡± 2 ¡°Lori, don¡¯t talk to your sister like that. She¡¯s always been smart and has never given me a headache. I¡¯m sure she¡¯ll talk to Jayson on our behalf. After all, the Sanderson family is going to end up in both of your hands one day.¡± Morgan¡¯s tone was all fatherly affection, but his eyes burned with greed. ¡°Whatever.¡± Ariel¡¯s calm, almost indifferent response cut him off. He paused for a moment, then nced at her again. She had already flipped open herptop without a flicker of emotion on her face. ¡°Ari, what¡¯s that supposed to mean?¡± Morgan chuckled faintly. Ariel gave the faintest nce upward. ¡°Say whatever you want. I don¡¯t care.¡± His face darkened at once. She looked at him calmly. ¡°But let me remind you. Given my current position, if you really go down that road, it¡¯ll be an insult to a national research scientist. And after that, you can expect awsuit. That¡¯s all I have to say. Do you two have anything else? If not, get out.¡± 2 She carried herself like a detached outsider, showing no hint of tension or fear. Lori stiffened. Even Morgan struggled to believe what he was seeing. Only now did he realize how much Ariel had changed. She had never been this strong¨Cwilled before. When had she grown so unyielding? There was even a hint of authority in her now that made him wary. ¡°Ariel, are you insane? You¡¯re just going to throw your reputation away?¡± Lori¡¯s face went pale, her eyes wide with disbelief. Ariel pressed the inte. ¡°Send security up here. Have them escort these two out of my office.¡± Her merciless dismissal darkened Morgan¡¯s expression. For once, his polished mask slipped. He rose and stared Ariel in the eye. ¡°You¡¯ve really grown up. Now you dare talk back to me. Ari, I can¡¯t tell if you¡¯re just pretending to be calm. or if you¡¯re overestimating Jayson¡¯s feelings for you. Why would he want a woman who¡¯s be the subject of dirty jokes in people¡¯s idle chatter?¡± The words dripped with cruelty. Ariel didn¡¯t even look up at him. Just then, Janice stormed in with security in tow. The moment her eyesnded on Morgan and Lori, her face twisted with contempt. ¡°Well, well, even the rats from the gutter found their way in here. Ethan, Sean, toss them out. Faye Tech will need a full cleanse inside and out. They¡¯ve dirtied the ce!¡± (2 Morgan¡¯s face went stiff with humiliation. He wasn¡¯t about to be dragged out in front of everyone. He gave Ariel a look of disappointment, as if she were an ungrateful daughter, then pulled Lori¨Cwho was about to snap back¨Caway with him. Once they were gone, Ariel¡¯s gaze shifted to the photo on her desk. No doubt Morgan had more. When Janice approached, she spotted it too. Her expression twisted with rage at once. She snatched it up and tore it to shreds. ¡°Those bastards! They¡¯re not human!¡± (1 Her anger bled into sorrow. She rushed over and hugged Ariel, not wanting her to feel too upset. Ariel patted her shoulder lightly. ¡°It¡¯s fine. This is nothing. He didn¡¯t get what he wanted, so he won¡¯t do anything for now.¡± Even if Morgan did release her photos, she had no reason to be afraid. She hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. No rumor or prejudice could change that. After leaving Faye Technologies, Morgan got into the car with a dark expression. Inside 623 Back then, Morgan had kept this card up his sleeve, always nning for the day he could use it to control Ariel and squeeze every drop of value out of her. Who could have guessed she would turn into someone he barely recognized? ¡°Dad, what if Ariel doesn¡¯t bend, no matter what we try?¡± Lori muttered through clenched teeth, clearly in a foul mood. Morgan didn¡¯t have an answer. The truth was, exposing the photos carried plenty of risk for him too. What if the Larkin family traced it back to him? After all, this incident would also affect their reputation. It wouldn¡¯t be surprising if they decided to crush the Sanderson family before kicking Ariel out. ¡°We¡¯ll have to y the long game.¡± Lori narrowed her eyes and was lost in thought for a long moment. ¡°Actually, I met someone recently who¡¯d be very interested in Ariel¡¯s dirt.¡± 1 Morgan looked at her. Lori finally smiled in triumph. ¡°Dad, maybe it¡¯s time we change tactics. Earn what we can while we still can.¡± At Bluum Corp, Arthur stepped into Jayson¡¯s office. ¡°Mr. Larkin, Mr. Crosby is here.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Let him in.¡± When Matt walked in, Jayson was still busy at his desk. His back was straight, and a pair of rimless sses rested on his nose as he worked. The sleeves of his white shirt were rolled up, and over it he wore a dark vest, which softened his usual sharp edge and gave him a touch of refinement. Matt clicked his tongue. All that charm was nothing but a facade to fool people. ¡°You¡¯ve been impossible to drag out for drinkstely. I thought you were supposed to be building connections, not dating your desk.¡± Jayson finally nced at him. ¡°Some of us actually work.¡± He had never been the type to lose himself in nightlife. He had gone to more than his share of events since he was young, but he never once left drunk. Even after things fell apart with Ariel, he hadn¡¯t tried drowning himself in liquor. He didn¡¯t like running from problems like that. He believed in staying sharp and figuring out real solutions. ¡°You can¡¯t skip tonight, though. It¡¯s Freya¡¯s 18th birthday. A huge celebration. If we don¡¯t show, it¡¯ll look bad.¡± Jayson paused at those words. His cool gaze rested on the files on his desk for a few seconds, as if he were lost in thought. ¡°What time?¡± ¡°7:00 pm. You should be getting off work now. We can head straight over from here.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Jayson rose and grabbed his jacket. Matt studied his expression. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you ask Ariel to join us?¡± Jayson stepped into the elevator with a neutral expression. ¡°She won¡¯te.¡± The Houston family hosted Freya¡¯s 18th birthday at their private estate. It was quite a grand affair. Jayson and Matt had barely arrived when they overheard Freya speaking to her friends with a hint of disappointment. ¡°I¡¯ve got a friend I really adore. Ms. Ariel Walker, the one everyone¡¯s talking abouttely. But she can¡¯t make it tonight because of work.¡± Matt gave Jayson an impressed look. Guests drifted over to greet Jayson, but he brushed most of them off and imed a quiet corner with a drink. Matt followed, clinking his ss against Jayson¡¯s. ¡°Something¡¯s off with you.¡± Jayson looked at him. ¡°How so?¡± ¡°You¡¯re in a foul mood. It¡¯s obvious. Don¡¯t tell me you¡­¡± He paused, choosing his words carefully. ¡°You two didn¡¯t patch things up? What is it? She wouldn¡¯t agree, or you wouldn¡¯t?¡± That hit the mark like a knife. Jayson sipped his drink in silence. Matt¡¯s mind raced, and he quickly reached a conclusion. They had most likely ended up in a huge fight. He suggested, ¡°How about we open a bottle of whiskey? It¡¯s stronger.¡± Jayson ignored him. Suddenly, his interest waned. He had shown up and made an appearance, which was enough to count as support. Now he would rather go home. He wanted to see how Ariel was doing. Just as he started to rise, Cecilia¡¯s voice cut in, ¡°Where are you going, Mr. Larkin?¡± Her arrival was a surprise. She raised her ss and clinked it loudly against Jayson¡¯s. ¡°Care to talk?¡± Matt studied her quietly but said nothing. Jayson clearly had no intention of talking to her. Cecilia¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver as she said frankly, ¡°Jayson, I don¡¯t mind that you¡¯ve been married before.¡± 1 Inside 624 Chapter 624 Cecilia¡¯s words hit out of nowhere. Matt almost choked on his drink. He shot her a stunned look. Jayson slowly turned to face her. His gaze was indifferent. Cecilia didn¡¯t care about his expression in the slightest. She swirled her sszily. ¡°I suddenly find this all so meaningless, Jayson. A few years ago you rejected me, saying you had a crush. Back then, you and Ariel weren¡¯t married yet. Tell me, it wasn¡¯t her, was it?¡± Matt was suddenly hit with a shocking revtion. He practically jumped up on instinct and rushed forward to block anyone froming this way. Cecilia tilted her head and smiled. Her stunning eyes were fixed on him. ¡°I hope it wasn¡¯t, or it¡¯d really bruise my ego.¡± A man like Jayson never spared even a shred of courtesy when he didn¡¯t care. No matter how much effort or scheming she had used back then, he remained unmoved. Even when she became emotionally unstable because of his coldness, he still didn¡¯t spare her so much as a nce. She even wondered if the ¡°crush¡± Jayson had mentioned was just something he made up to mess with her. In her eyes, people like him didn¡¯t understand love. ¡°Ms. Pryce, that has nothing to do with you,¡± Jayson said, his tone t. As always, he offered no courtesy, but Cecilia was long used to it. Jayson had been far harsher in the past. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m just curious how important Ariel is to you.¡± Cecilia let out a chuckle. ¡°You protected her like crazy when that rumor popped up onlinest time. What if there¡¯s proof this time?¡± Under the dim light, Jayson¡¯s eyes revealed nothing. Cecilia watched him with a soft smile. ¡°Jayson, let¡¯s discuss the terms. Do you want her reputation destroyed to be the infamous ¡®scandalous scientist¡® or divorce her and marry me? You should know that Ariel is nothingpared to my family.¡± She studied his face without blinking, searching for even the slightest flicker of reaction. In truth, no matter how he responded, it wouldn¡¯t exactly thrill her. ¡°Proof?¡± Jayson stepped closer. Cec¨ªlia knew he would probably snap, but she didn¡¯t care. Years ago, he had wounded her pride, yet she never asked him to pay for it. She casually pulled out a few photos. Jayson¡¯s gaze fell on them for just a moment. That single nce was enough to stir a dark, tangled emotion in his eyes. Cecilia liked watching him in these silent moments. He wasn¡¯t as cutting. ¡°Think about it, Jayson. Why drag this out for years? Why hold Ariel back?¡± Unexpectedly, Jayson moved closer and tore the photos apart again and again. His expression was nk as he asked, ¡°Ms. Pryce, if I¡¯m not mistaken, your father is set to step down in about a year, right?¡± A cold edge crept into Cecilia¡¯s smile. ¡°What are you implying?¡± Jayson stuffed the scraps into his pocket, his gaze darkening. ¡°At a time like this, will he choose to step down honorably or drag trouble onto himself?¡± ¡°Jayson, don¡¯t go too far.¡± Cecilia¡¯s expression froze. She was surprised that Jayson would say something like that. Had he lost his mind? Did he even know what he was saying? Jayson lowered his gaze. The edges of his eyes were sharp as frost. ¡°Maybe we¡¯ll discuss the terms when you¡¯re in your father¡¯s position. Until then, Ms. Pryce, don¡¯t get ahead of yourself. I can y this game, but you might not be able to handle it.¡± With that, he turned and left. Even his back radiated cold, merciless power. For a moment, Cecilia felt that she was dragged back to two years ago. Jayson had always been ruthless with her. Even when she had reached the point of threatening him, he could still coldly reply, ¡°If you choose to die, don¡¯t expect me to clean up your body. You have nothing to do with me.¡± Inside 625 Jayson now seemed more human than he ever had before. Cecilia even wondered who had changed him. What started as her threat had ended up as his counterattack. Did he not realize how absurd his words sounded? She knew someone like him wouldn¡¯t yield, even if striking back was no simple task. Cecilia watched his retreating figure, then drained the rest of her drink in one go. Finally, a smile tugged at her lips. Jayson was so fiercely protective of Ariel. Even if it meant mutual destruction, he wouldn¡¯t let anyone hold her back. Cecilia couldn¡¯t help but feel a twinge of envy for Ariel. But¡­ so what? She had plenty of time to y the game with Jayson. Ariel had received Freya¡¯s call, but she declined politely. Although she liked Freya, she didn¡¯t want anything to do with Perry anymore. It was better to keep boundaries clear. She really did have work to do. That afternoon, she headed straight to the 719 Military Aircraft Base for a major meeting. The core department members kept it going until almost 9:00 pm. Temporary lodging was arranged on¨Csite. Her body couldn¡¯t take it anymore, so she just rested there. She hadn¡¯t intended to go back anyway, especially with the possibility of running into Jayson. The next day, Ariel needed to visit anotherrge military base to get Gary¡¯s signature. Luckily, the 719 base had a car heading that way, so they arranged for her to go along. Before getting in, she noticed Samson was driving. He looked up from his phone, caught her gaze, and smiled slightly. ¡°I¡¯ll drive you there. Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. I¡¯m not doing this for you. I have a few things to handle there too. Don¡¯t feel pressured.¡± Since he had said that, Ariel couldn¡¯t really argue. Turning away now would seem petty and ungracious. She nodded and got into the car. ¡°I¡¯m headed to Zone 3.¡± ¡°Perfect, me too. Buckle up. I heard you had a meeting yesterday. If you¡¯re tired, don¡¯t worry about me. Just close your eyes for a bit. It¡¯s fine.¡± Samson conducted himself with perfect propriety. During their conversation, he had already switched the music to something soothing. Ariel could tell he knew how to take care of people. At his age, that kind of attentiveness was rare. ¡°Thanks. I¡¯m not sleepy.¡± He nced at her and chuckled softly. ¡°It¡¯d be a little awkward if we don¡¯t talk. I actually have a lot of professional questions I want to ask you. I¡¯m curious by nature. You know, having my idol right here, staying thisposed is already pretty hard.¡± With a knack for joking, he could effortlessly ease tension and subtly lower the invisible boundaries between them. ¡°No problem. Ask away.¡± Of course, Ariel wouldn¡¯t refuse. If it was about work or research, she could answer every question seriously, without letting any personal thoughts slip in. Samson asionally stole nces at her profile as she spoke, silently smiled, and then seamlessly dove deeper into the conversation. Before she knew it, they had arrived. The sun was bright and ring. Ariel raised her hand to shield her eyes as she stepped out. Samson got out and, almost magically, opened a folding umbre for her. ¡°You¡¯ve got reports to write. Do your work. I¡¯ll hold this for you so your phone screen won¡¯t re.¡± The scene made them look like a perfect couple. Ariel wasn¡¯t in a rush to start writing anyway. Just as she was about to say something, she felt a gaze straight ahead. She looked up. Jayson had just gotten out of the car. He was a little distance away, making his expression hard to read. However, she was certain he was watching her. His gaze lingered for a long moment. And next to him was Stanley, who had just arrived. Ariel was a little surprised to see him. Inside 626 Samson saw those two men as well. His brows arched. However, he did not go up to them to offer his greetings. Instead, he leaned closer to Ariel¡¯s ear and said, ¡°Where are you going next? I¡¯ve been here a few times, so I¡¯m quite familiar with the ce. Should I show you the way?¡± Ariel averted her gaze from the two men and responded politely, ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary. Commander Quinton will send someone to meet up with me. You should go ahead and take care of what you need to do.¡± She refused his help. Her tone was calm and polite as it usually was. Samson didn¡¯t insist on helping her with the directions. He passed an umbre to Ariel. ¡°Take this with you. Should I give you a ride home once you¡¯ve settled your work here?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t have to wait for me.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t exin much. She probably didn¡¯t want to owe Samson yet another favor. Samson smiled and replied, ¡°I¡¯ll get going, then.¡± After Samson left, Ariel stopped wondering about why Jayson was here today. She turned around and headed off. Jayson saw Ariel and Samson¡¯s interaction. He had no idea what the two of them were discussing. He eventually averted his gaze and looked at Stanley. ¡°You¡¯ve heard about the material too?¡± Stanley nodded. There was a look of approval in his eyes. ¡°You¡¯re truly wise and far¨Csighted, Mr. Larkin. By making that move a few years back, it resolved some of the technical difficulties we¡¯re facing now.¡± The Department of Defense would require the material for various purposes as well. It was exactly because the material was extremely valuable that the Merinian government had withheld information regarding it for so long. ¡°You tter me. It¡¯s a pleasure to be able to contribute to the development of our country¡¯s research sector. Also, it¡¯s such a lovely coincidence to run into you while I¡¯m here to discuss the details for the partnership.¡± Jayson walked alongside Stanley in long, confident strides. He remained humble yet dignified. Stanley noticed those details from the way Jayson carried himself. Those were things he had hardly observed in other young people. ¡°Are you signing the contract today?¡± Jayson shook his head. ¡°We haven¡¯t confirmed the partnership yet. There are still some details that we need to discuss further.¡± Stanley hoped they would be able to finalize things as soon as possible. He asked, ¡°Are you going to meet Gary to discuss the details? I have some free time after this, so I cane with you as well.¡± Jayson paused briefly before nodding. ¡°Sure, of course.¡± Stanley noticed Jayson was being a little hesitant. He smiled and asked, ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Are you perhaps unsatisfied with the conditions that have been offered to you so far?¡± Jayson smiled faintly. ¡°That¡¯s not it. It¡¯s just that¡­ I have some other minor concerns. Partnering with the government is a crucial matter, and I wish that the process could be carried out smoothly. I hope we won¡¯t be hearing any unsavory rumors either.¡± Those words halted Stanley in his tracks. ¡°Oh? What kind of concerns are bothering you, Mr. Larkin? You can be frank with us. Gary and I will take them into consideration as well.¡± Jayson turned his gaze toward Stanley. He had a calm look in his eyes. ¡°Lately, Ms. Pryce has tried to approach me rather frequently. It hasn¡¯t been that long since I announced to the public my rtionship with Ariel. ¡°If rumors involving Ms. Pryce starts going around now, I¡¯m afraid it may damage the image or reputation of all the parties involved. Also, I¡¯m worried my wife may feel a bit upset if she hears those rumors.¡± Stanley¡¯s expression slowly turned grim as he listened to those words. He was silently seething. He understood very well what Jayson was trying to tell him. Cecilia had been trying to get close to Jayson to the point that he felt was problematic. Jayson¡¯s expression remained unchanged. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware the government views this partnership as a n of great significance. At the same time, I¡¯m worried that we may encounter a situation during the partnership that could affect my wife as well. That¡¯s why I¡¯m feeling a bit troubled now.¡± Stanley¡¯s face darkened. Although Jayson¡¯s tone was humble and polite, there was an underlying meaning behind his words. Jayson would probably drop the talks for the partnership if Cecilia continued to cause him trouble. They couldn¡¯t possibly let the partnership fall through, especially not when the government considered it as one of their top priorities at the moment. Moreover, it turned out Cecilia was somehow involved in it. Stanley would naturally be held ountable for allowing something like that to happen. ¡°That¡¯s very immature of Cecilia. Don¡¯t worry, Mr. Larkin. I¡¯ll talk to her and make sure she doesn¡¯t act out of line anymore. We mustn¡¯t let other issues impede the development of our country¡¯s research sector. I¡¯m sure you agree with that as well.¡± Jayson chuckled softly. ¡°You¡¯re right. You¡¯re a sensible and considerate man, Mr. Pryce. In that case, I know I won¡¯t have to worry much.¡± Inside 627 Chapter 627 Stanley responded in agreement. Yet, he furrowed his brows for a brief moment. He and Kristen had been divorced for many years. Coupled with his busy work schedule, Stanley had seldom met or spoken to Cecilia and Samson. Still, he wouldn¡¯t want to see either of them get into any trouble. Also, he couldn¡¯t possibly allow the n to partner with Bluum Corp to fall through. After getting Gary to sign and stamp his name on the relevant documents, Ariel went and tested an aircraft of thetest model that had just been brought here recently. She spent about an hour testing the aircraft. By the time she came out of the building, Ariel spotted Jayson, who was leaning against his car. Jayson looked in Ariel¡¯s direction when he picked up on the sound of footsteps. He adjusted his stance and straightened his back. Ariel could roughly tell why he was still here. She ignored Jayson and was about to walk away. ¡°Ariel, do you want to leave together?¡± Samson had just caught up with Ariel from behind. He beamed when he noticed Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you¡¯re here as well.¡± Jayson cast him a sidelong nce. ¡°I was waiting for my wife to be done with work.¡± Ever since she learned that they were still legally married to each other, Ariel had apletely different feeling upon hearing Jayson address her as his wife. Hearing him say that made her feel extremely awkward. Anyhow, it was very obvious what Jayson was implying with his words. The smile on Samson¡¯s face grew wider. He looked at Ariel. ¡°Ariel, we¡¯re heading the same way if you¡¯re nning to head back to the military base. There¡¯s a report that I may need you to go through back at the base.¡± ¡°A report?¡± Ariel echoed inwardly. Since it was something rted to work, Ariel couldn¡¯t possibly neglect her duties and responsibilities. ¡°She can always check the report at times that are much more convenient to her. Mr. Pryce, perhaps you should learn to be a bit more confident and handle things on your own. That way, you won¡¯t have to rely on my wife so much toplete the task.¡± T Jayson¡¯s eyes were devoid of emotion. An enigmatic smile hung on his lips. ¡°Have you decided to start following Ariel around since you have more free time after losing your lover, Mr. Larkin?¡± Samson appeared as though he had just realized why Jayson was doing this now. Jayson gave him a sideways nce. ¡°If you¡¯re feeling envious, perhaps you should consider registering an ount on the dating app that Matt¡¯s currently working on developing.¡± 1 Ariel kept silent. Her ears were buzzing as she listened to the men¡¯s exchange. She didn¡¯t want this situation to go on any further. To the public, she and Jayson were husband and wife. She couldn¡¯t just drop the act entirely. ¡°Mr. Pryce, Jayson and I have other prior arrangements. Thank you for your kind offer, though.¡± Ariel politely rejected Samson¡¯s offer to give her a lift. Samson wasn¡¯t exactly surprised to get that response from her. He smiled brightly. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll meet you back at the base, then. You should keep the umbre.¡± He directed his gaze to Jayson next. ¡°Safe travels, Mr. Larkin.¡± After Samson left, Ariel was left with no other options since she wouldn¡¯t be able to get a cab there. She had no choice but to leave with Jayson. Jayson opened the car door for her. ¡°Should I carry the umbre for you?¡± 1 Ariel simply ignored him as she entered the car and put on her seat belt. Jayson drove here today. He turned the car around and drove off. None of them spoke in the car. Ariel turned on her phone and saw someone had posted on Instagram that the Sanderson family had just secured a massive deal with an overseaspany. A lot of people were envious of them. Ariel fell into deep thought, wondering when Morgan had secured an opportunity like that. Just a few days ago, he had threatened Ariel to make her convince Jayson to help with the Sanderson family¡¯s business. However, Ariel had simply brushed him off. She lowered her head and looked at the tender response Chad had sent her. Jayson took a nce at Ariel. It was obvious she had no intention of talking to him, not even about matters regarding the photos. Jayson reckoned Ariel had found out about the photos even earlier than he did. Yet, she didn¡¯t discuss the matter with him nor ask him to resolve the issue. He noticed out of the corners of his eyes several words from the title of the document disyed on her phone screen. Jayson said unhurriedly, ¡°Are you joining the tender in Sheffieldton for V¡¯srge Ariel lifted her gaze and looked toward him. Jayson continued, ¡°Bluum Corp¡¯s airline will be joining the bid as well.¡± He tilted his head slightly and studied Ariel¡¯s expression. ¡°Will that put Faye Tech under a lot of pressure? 11 Ariel looked back at her phone and said straightforwardly, ¡°Are you trying to initiate the conversation now?¡± Inside 628 Chapter 628 Jayson wasn¡¯t bothered by Ariel¡¯s attitude. He responded frankly, ¡°Was it obvious? How about I hold an umbre for you?¡± (1 Ariel furrowed her brows and directed her gaze at him. ¡°What is it you¡¯re trying to do?¡± Jayson slowly turned his head and met Ariel¡¯s gaze. ¡°I¡¯m simply curious and trying to find out what kind of tactics would work on you.¡± Ariel felt that Jayson had gotten the upper hand again during their conversation and decided to ignore him entirely. Oftentimes, neither of them was willing to give in whenever they started bickering. Honestly, Jayson was aware that nothing was going on between Ariel and Samson. Regardless of how forward Samson was with his feelings, Jayson knew Ariel well enough to know that she could be very slow and guarded. She might not even notice the other person¡¯s intentions no matter how much effort they had put in. Soon enough, they reached the residential area. Without pausing to wait for Jayson, Ariel opened the door and got out of the car. However, it only urred to Ariel when she had walked some distance away that she had forgotten to bring along Samson¡¯s umbre. She turned around and headed toward the car again. Jayson, who was walking at a leisurely pace, caught up with her then. Ariel nced in the direction of the car. ¡°Sorry, but I need to get something from your car.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± ¡°The umbre.¡± ¡°I just tossed it away since I thought you didn¡¯t need it anymore.¡± Ariel stared at Jayson with a look of displeasure on her face. Meanwhile, Jayson responded nonchntly, ¡°How much does it cost? Should Ipensate you for losing the umbre?¡± Without a word, Ariel turned around and strode off. She knew very well there was no point arguing with Jayson, who clearly had no intention of giving the umbre to her. After arriving on their floor, Ariel swiftly entered her apartment and closed the door, ignoring Jayson, who was behind her. She had things to do. Ariel would be traveling to Sheffielton tonight. On the other hand, Chad would depart from Heincove on the day of the tender to meet Ariel in Sheffielton. +15 BONUS They would be achieving a new milestone if they could win the bid this time for V¡¯srgemercial airliner. The Faye Technologies team aimed to make the most of this opportunity. Ariel had ced a high priority on the project as well. The project could help build a solid foundation for thepany¡¯s growth and development in the next two years. Ariel would soon join the research work at the 719 base. However, she couldn¡¯t possibly neglect her duties at Faye Technologies. It was almost 8:00 pm by the time Ariel was done packing her suitcase for a three¨Cday business trip. She came out of the front door while dragging her suitcase. As if by a remarkable coincidence, the door opposite hers swung open as well. Jayson had finished packing his suitcase as well. He looked at Ariel. ¡°Should I give you a ride to the airport? I need to head to Sheffielton too.¡± Ariel turned around and locked the door. She replied frigidly, ¡°Should I really ride in your car and risk losing my life when one of your enemies might try to take you out by staging a car crash again?¡± Jayson stared at her for a few seconds before his eyes widened. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to beat around the bush when expressing your concern for me.¡± Ariel frowned in exasperation. She felt absolutely defeated. Shepletely ignored Jayson and remained silent even after both of them got into the elevator. When they reached the ground floor, Jayson exited the elevator in two long strides and took Ariel¡¯s suitcase from her hand. ¡°A lot of people will be attending the event this time. It¡¯ll seem strange for us to travel there separately. You should just put up with this for now.¡± Jayson snatched the suitcase from Ariel¡¯s hand, leaving her no time to protest before he stowed it in the trunk. Ariel couldn¡¯t possibly win against Jayson in terms of physical strength. She stood there with an icy expression on her face. Jayson opened the door and nced over his shoulder. ¡°Should I move you into the car like how I did with your suitcase? Should I carry you horizontally or vertically?¡± 2 Jayson stepped forward as if he was really going to do it. Without uttering a word, Ariel got into Jayson¡¯s car before he did. Jayson¡¯s lips curled up as he watched her do that. He didn¡¯t tell Ariel about how Cecilia had suggested marriage to him and how he had asked for Stanley¡¯s 214 help in stopping Cecilia¡¯s actions. With the photos now in Cecilia¡¯s possession, Jayson had no trouble figuring out where she¡¯d gotten them. He¡¯d personally made sure to remove every trace of evidence the reporters had. That meant the leak could only havee from one ce¨Cthe Sanderson family. Ariel was unsurprised to find out they were on the same flight. It was past midnight by the time they arrived at Sheffielton. Fortunately, Chad had arranged in advance for someone to pick Ariel up from the airport. Ariel left as soon as she retrieved her suitcase. She didn¡¯t bother waiting for Jayson. The hotel was located right opposite the venue for the tender. Ariel quickly washed herself and turned in for the night. The bid for the tender would happen on the third day. They would also be having a tech exhibition in Sheffielton on Ariel¡¯s second day there. The tender was set to begin at 3:00 pm on her third day there. Before that, a small reception would be held at the high¨Cend club located next to the hotel Ariel didn¡¯t visit the tech exhibition. As the representative from Faye Technologies, her focus was on the tender. Since Ariel had mostly stayed in her room, she managed to avoid running into Jayson. Yet, the hotel¡¯s management team would make sure to send food to her room whenever it was about time for her to have her meals. Moreover, they were all dishes that appealed to her pte and were made ording to her preferences. Inside 629 Chapter 629 Even though Ariel had a good idea, she didn¡¯t ask Jayson about it. By offering no response, she was making his efforts futile. On the third day, Ariel left her hotel room to attend the reception. When she arrived at the club, Ariel spotted Samson, who was already there. She wasn¡¯t surprised. The technology required to build argemercial airliner could be quite advanced andplex. It was perfectly understandable that the Yeager Group would want to join the bidding. ¡°When did you arrive in Sheffielton? Howe I didn¡¯t see you during yesterday¡¯s get¨Ctogether?¡± When he saw Ariel, Samson excused himself from thepany representatives and strode directly to her. Ariel greeted him with a nod. ¡°I was a bit preupied with handling some online work.¡± Samson stared at her intently before smiling wryly. ¡°I keep getting the feeling that you¡¯ve been a little cold and distant to metely. Or am I mistaken?¡± There was no way he wouldn¡¯t notice it. While Ariel was usually calm and reserved, she had never been this cold and withdrawn. Samson could hardly sense any warmth or geniality from her, not even as a friend. He reckoned perhaps Jayson had said something to her. Ariel paused briefly but didn¡¯t exin much. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking it, Mr. Pryce.¡± Samson drew a long breath as he tried to conceal the disappointment in his eyes. ¡°I sincerely hope so. Ariel, you can always trust me to be your friend.¡± He didn¡¯t dwell on the matter for too long. After scanning their surroundings, Samson directed his gaze to Ariel. He had an earnest look in his eyes. He said straightforwardly, ¡°We both know thergemercial airliner project is a significant milestone for whoever wins the bid. The Yeager Group is going after it, which makes uspetitors. I trust you understand, Ariel.¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t possibly be bothered by things like that. Moreover, she had a lot of faith in Faye Technologies¡®petence. Ariel was well aware that eachpany had their own edge and strong suit. Besides, she didn¡¯t even mind that Bluum Corp would be joining the bidding too. ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel troubled about it, Mr. Pryce. What matters most is giving your all for the project. I can¡¯t possibly be hoping that mypetitors will yield and let me take the project.¡± Ariel had a clear and firm stance. Even if the Yeager Group was a strongpetitor, the Faye Technologies team had what it took to go up against them for the tender. Samson could see that was truly how Atiel felt about the current situation. After staring at her for some time, he chuckled softly. ¡°As expected of Atiel Walker. How could people not like someone like you, who has so much grit and courage?¡± Hearing approaching footsteps, Ariel nced over her shoulder. With an impassive expression, Jayson came up to them and cast Samson a sideways nce. ¡°Am I interrupting something?¡± Samson tilted his head and jokingly said, ¡°Of course not. You being here can never be a bother to me.¡± Jayson moved and stood next to Ariel. His tone remained the same. ¡°I used to think my wife¡¯s wedding ring was too shy. She prefers keeping a low profile. So, she only wears the ring when she feels like it. ¡°Now, I think it¡¯s a good thing the ring is quite shy. Not only does it make my wife look more radiant, but it also serves as a reminder to those who unwittingly get too close to her.¡± 1) Ariel studied Jayson¡¯s expression discreetly. She felt that the two men probably had some sort of conflict or disagreement before. Jayson seemed to have a lot of contempt and disdain for Samson. Samson didn¡¯t take his words to heart. He remained unruffled as he smiled innocently. ¡°You should rx a little, Mr. Larkin.¡± Jayson responded coolly and bluntly, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t get ahead of yourself, Mr. Pryce.¡± Ariel could clearly sense the hostilitying from both men despite the facade they were maintaining. She pivoted and left the scene. The reception was like a small warm¨Cup activity for the tender, which was set tomence in another two hours. Ariel observed that several of the country¡¯s most sessful andpetitivepanies had dispatched their senior executives as representatives to participate in the bidding. That was a clear indication of how vital the tender was this time. It felt like thepetition for the tender had already begun at that point. Faye Technologies, Bluum Corp, and the Yeager Group were the front¨Crunners for the tender. It would be a toughpetition. Given Ariel¡¯s current fame, many people approached her to greet her. Curiously, they all seemed to know that Ariel had alcohol intolerance. These people suggested using non¨Calcoholic drinks whenever they wanted to make a toast to her. None of them tried to force Ariel to have some liquor. 314 ??????? 704 After a while, Ariel cast a nce in Jayson¡¯s direction. He was the only person who could get all these people to do this favor for him. It was almost time for the tender to begin by the time Ariel had finished socializing with the other guests. Ariel headed for the restroom, dialing Chad¡¯s number to find him. She pressed the call button just as she stepped out of the hall. As she rounded a corner, a hand mped a handkerchief over her mouth and nose from behind, pulling her back. A sickeningly sweet scent flooded her senses, and her eyes widened. The world tilted almost instantly. Inside 630 The scent was overpowering. Ariel tried to struggle, twisting against the iron grip holding her, but her limbs quickly lost strength. Her vision dimmed with every passing second. She fixed her gaze on the tender venue just around the next corner, the sight blurring before everything faded to ck. The bid was scheduled to begin at 3:00 pm. Since the club and the venue were close by, it was easy for guests to move between the two locations. When Jayson arrived, he spotted Chad stepping into the venue at the same time. Though Chad disliked seeing Jayson there, he masked his irritation behind perfect manners, his smile as polished as ever. ¡°Mr. Larkin! Was it really necessary for you to attend the tender personally? Bluum Corp has so many capable people who could¡¯ve handled this.¡± Indeed, there were many other people from Bluum Corp who could have represented Jayson. Jayson didn¡¯t miss the faint edge in Chad¡¯s voice, but he brushed it aside. ¡°A project that Faye Tech is so interested in deserves my attention.¡± ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating, Mr. Larkin. I¡¯m sure something of this scale means little to Bluum Corp.¡± Chad¡¯s smile was wide, his tone warm and polite. Jayson checked the time. It was already 2:40 pm. He scanned the room but didn¡¯t see Ariel anywhere.¡± Have you seen Ariel?¡± Chad frowned. It was almost time for the tender to start. ¡°Shouldn¡¯t she be here already?¡± Ariel was known for her punctuality. Chad pulled out his phone and noticed a missed call from her¨Cone he hadn¡¯t seen until now, ced nearly 20 minutes ago. He dialed her number, but after several rings, there was no answer. A ripple of unease crept in. ¡°Weren¡¯t you with Ari just now, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson¡¯s brows furrowed slightly. Ariel had stepped away earlier to greet some guests, then mentioned she was going to the restroom. That was likely when she vanished. ¡°Let¡¯s look for her first.¡± Jayson turned and strode toward the club, phone in hand as he started making calls. Chad hadn¡¯t seriously considered the possibility of something happening to Ariel. She was an adult, fully capable of looking after herself. What mattered now was ensuring she arrived before 3:00 pm¨Cotherwise, +15 BONUS it would appear she had withdrawn from the bidding. Seeing Jayson spring into action, Chad quickly began searching the area himself. Jayson called Ariel multiple times, but she didn¡¯t pick up. His expression hardened. Ariel wasn¡¯t the type to disappear without exnation. She was meticulous, always punctual. She was rarelyte, as other matters never held her up. Something was wrong. At the venue entrance, Jayson nearly collided with Samson, who had just arrived. ¡°Where are you going, Mr. Larkin? The event¡¯s about to start. Leaving now seems ill¨Cadvised,¡± Samson said coolly. Jayson stopped briefly, studying Samson¡¯s indifferent expression, then brushed past him without a word, pulling out his phone to message Arthur on WhatsApp. Samson, one hand in his pocket, watched him leave. Momentster, Chad rushed out of the hall. ¡°Something happened, Mr. Hockney?¡± Samson asked, stepping into his path. ¡°Perhaps I can help. I know this area well.¡± Chad¡¯s anxiety was mounting. He wondered if Ariel truly had run into trouble. ¡°We can¡¯t find Ariel anywhere. I¡¯ll talk to youter, Mr. Pryce.¡± Samson¡¯s brows drew together, a shadow flickering in his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. She should be fine. I¡¯ll have some people help search.¡± Meanwhile, Jayson had reached the club, a six¨Cstory building, and requested to see the manager. ¡°I need surveince footage from 1:50 to 2:30 pm¨Cspecifically, the areas around Hall 2, the elevators, staircases, and every entrance or exit.¡± His voice was cold and sharp. The manager, well aware of who Jayson was, immediately contacted his superiors and cooperated fully. Thanks to Jayson¡¯s precise instructions, the search moved quickly. Soon, the footage showed Ariel leaving Hall 2 and heading toward the restroom. X Inside 631 After that, Ariel vanished from all surveince footage. ¡°Are there any exits in that part of the building? Any staircases, freight elevators, or service lifts that could lead elsewhere?¡± Jayson asked. The club manager shook his head. ¡°No, nothing like that over there.¡± Jayson¡¯s frown deepened, a cold glint shing in his eyes. ¡°Think carefully. Is there anything in that area?¡± Even though Jayson hadn¡¯t raised his voice, hismanding presence was suffocating. The manager broke into a cold sweat under his emotionless stare. After a moment of intense thought, the man spoke up. ¡°No staircases or elevators. But there¡¯s a door leading to the kitchen. The kitchen connects to a back passage that exits to the street.¡± Jayson took off immediately, heading for the location the manager had described. The building¡¯syout wasplicated, and he spent some time weaving through the kitchen before finding the exit. The passage led him to a narrow alley, which opened up onto a busy street. But there were no more clues. Jayson forced himself to breathe steadily, scanning the area. Whoever had taken Ariel could have disappeared in any direction by now. Then his gaze shifted to the tender hall across the street. His eyes hardened. Pulling out his phone, he called Arthur while breaking into a run. ¡°Find the person in charge of the venue. Keep it quiet. Ariel¡¯s probably being held somewhere inside.¡± Ariel stirred, her head pounding as she regained consciousness. A sharp, chemical smell still lingered in her senses¨Cthe same one that had knocked her out earlier. From her prior hospital visits, Ariel recognized the scent as some form of ether. Her hands were bound. She opened her eyes to find herself in a dimly lit, poorly ventted room. The air was heavy and stifling, and her limbs felt like lead from the lingering effects of the drug. She struggled to sit up and froze. Someone else was in the room. A sinisterugh cut through the silence. ¡°Cautious, aren¡¯t you? Just like your impressive husband.¡± A chill ran down Ariel¡¯s spine at the mention of Jayson. She immediately turned toward the voice. The man approached Ariel. He was quite tall and had a medium build. Sweat beaded her forehead as she instinctively tried to inch away. The man¡¯s hand mped down on her shoulder like a vice. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going? Your husband put my brother in prison just days ago. It¡¯s only fair I take you to settle the score, don¡¯t you think so?¡± His grip tightened painfully, anger radiating off him in waves. ¡°You¡¯re angry at him, not me,¡± Ariel said, her voice calm despite her racing heart. ¡°Kidnapping me won¡¯t get you anywhere.¡± The man spat, ¡°Aren¡¯t you his wife?¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes flicked around the room. The carpet was plush and expensive, the kind seen in upscale establishments¨Cclubs, hotels, private lounges. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear the rumors about his affair?¡± she said coolly. ¡°If you wanted leverage, you¡¯d have been better off taking the woman he¡¯s keeping in prison.¡± The man faltered, doubt flickering across his face. That brief hesitation was all Ariel needed. Summoning every ounce of strength, she twisted sharply, shoved him hard, and bolted. Caught off guard, the man stumbled back, crashing into a table and hitting the floor with a thud. Ariel sprinted toward the restroom near the entrance, her eyes locking on a small window. She dashed inside, mmed the door shut, and locked it. Grabbing a hairdryer, she smashed it against the window. ¡°Help!¡± Her bound hands made it hard to keep her bnce. She nearly fell several times but didn¡¯t stop. ¡°Help!¡± Although Aria was weakened by the chemical coursing through her body, a powerful will to live drove her, but even that wasn¡¯t enough. She failed to shatter the ss despite several attempts. Behind the door, the man cursed violently, pounding and kicking until the frame rattled. The flimsy lock wouldn¡¯t hold much longer. Ariel¡¯s face was pale, her clothes damp with cold sweat. The door burst open with a deafening crack. The man¡¯s furious face filled her vision as he lunged forward, seizing her arm and yanking her up. ¡°You conniving little wench!¡± he snarled, shaking with rage. His hand gripped her cor, tugging hard as he loomed over her, eyes dark with vengeance. Ariel¡¯s eyes burned with tears, but her expression was icy. She forced herself to stay calm, to think; she needed to save herself. Her fingers closed around the showerhead. She raised it high, ready to strike. Bang! ¡°Ariel!¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 632 Chapter 632 The man was pulled away instantly. Ariel was finally freed from his iron grip. Her wide, fearful eyes remained fixed on the scene unfolding before her. The first person she saw was Samson, arriving just in time to save her. Several security guards followed closely behind him, swiftly subduing her abductor. Samson rushed to her side, quickly untying the ropes around her wrists. ¡°Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?¡± Ariel¡¯s heart pounded erratically, her chest rising and falling with shallow breaths. She hadn¡¯t expected Samson to be the one rescuing her. ¡°How did you know I¡¯d been abducted?¡± she asked, trying to steady herself despite the throbbing pain in her wrists and shoulder, and the splitting headache caused by the ether. Samson¡¯s brows furrowed as he removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. ¡°I ran into Mr. Hockney. He said he couldn¡¯t find you anywhere, so I came out to look for you.¡± ¡°What about the tender?¡± Ariel¡¯s voice was quiet but strained. She knew Samson was representing Yeager Group¨Che needed to be present for the bidding. Samson shook his head, adjusting the jacket around her. He offered a calm smile. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that. What matters is that you¡¯re safe. Even if I lose this bid, there will always be other promising opportunities. #1 Ariel¡¯s expression darkened. Faye Technologies had already been forced out of the bidding because she¡¯d been abducted. Now Samson had missed his own chance while searching for her. She knew how important this project was¨Ccountlesspanies were fiercelypeting for it. Missing this opportunity would be a heavy loss for both of them. Samson saw the concern on Ariel¡¯s face and cut her off. ¡°Don¡¯t stress over it. And don¡¯t feel sorry for me; this was my choice.¡± He didn¡¯t want to talk about it anymore. Instead, he helped her to her feet. ¡°Let¡¯s get out of here first.¡± Only when they stepped into the corridor did Ariel notice the logos on the walls. They were still at the very venue where the tender was being held. Samson supported her carefully as they made their way down the stairs¨Cher legs were weak and trembling. Suddenly, the host announced, ¡°Congrattions to Bluum Corp for winning the bid!¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes widened slightly, and she turned toward the sound. At that moment, Jayson appeared, hurrying up the stairs with a cold, unreadable expression. The three of them met midway on the flight of stairs. Ariel¡¯s gaze shifted to him. His breathing was quick and uneven, and though his eyes were cold and dark, there was a flicker of something softer as he looked at her. ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Larkin,¡± Samson said, smiling faintly. Jayson was clearly the biggest winner. With little resistance, hispany had secured the highly coveted project. Ariel couldn¡¯t quite describe what she was feeling. Perhaps it was the shock of everything that had happened¨Cor maybe the ether clouding her mind¨Cbut a jumble of emotions surged within her. Thunderous apuse erupted below as people congratted Bluum Corp and Jayson. The bidding had concluded while Ariel had been tied up, used as leverage against Jayson. Jayson ignored Samson entirely. He strode up the stairs, took Ariel¡¯s hand from Samson, and without a word, swept her into his arms. He carried her toward the exit, not sparing Samson another nce. Ariel remained silent. She didn¡¯t even have the strength to protest. Outside, Arthur stood waiting with the car. Jayson handed Ariel over gently and instructed Arthur, ¡°Stay here and handle everything. Make sure the abductor is well taken care of.¡± Arthur¡¯s expression hardened. He could already tell this was no simple situation. Inside the car, Ariel sat curled up, silent. She didn¡¯t cry or speak; her calmness was almost unsettling. Jayson didn¡¯t try to exin. He mmed his foot on the elerator, speeding toward the hospital. They had called ahead, so everything was ready when they arrived. Ariel didn¡¯t insist on walking. She let Jayson carry her straight into the emergency room. She informed the doctor that she believed she had also inhaled a quantity of ether. Jayson¡¯s gaze was sharp as he turned to the medical staff. ¡°Should you perhaps run a toxicology test and check her for injuries?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± the doctor replied. ¡°We¡¯ll take her blood for analysis and run a full examination.¡± They worked quickly, drawing Ariel¡¯s blood. The effort left her even more drained, a wave of dizziness 214 washing over her. Inside 633 Chapter 633 For a while, the medical staff moved in and out of the room, tending to Ariel. Eventually, only she and Jayson remained. Jayson tossed Samson¡¯s jacket aside. His gaze darkened when he saw Ariel¡¯s torn, crumpled shirt and the angry red marks on her shoulder. The emotions he¡¯d been suppressing red up, and his eyes turned icy. After staring at her shoulder for some time, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse as if he¡¯d been holding back for too long. ¡°Do you also think I stole this opportunity from Faye Tech?¡± Ariel¡¯s lips parted slightly. She had been upset when she¡¯d heard the host announce Bluum Corp as the winner. But she also knew this project wasn¡¯t so important to Bluum Corp that Jayson would orchestrate something like this. ¡°You didn¡¯t n for this to happen,¡± she said quietly, her face pale, her tone t. ¡°But you were still the cause.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t deny it. The man had abducted Ariel to get revenge on him. Ariel turned to the window, her expression distant. ¡°And Yeager Group missed the bid too. Samson was searching for me instead of representing hispany.¡± Jayson¡¯s expression shifted slightly, thoughtful at first, then clearer, sharper. ¡°You think he¡¯s the one who saved you?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t respond. There was no point arguing¨Cthe facts were obvious. Samson had been the first to reach her, and hispany had paid a steep price because of her. Before she could say more, Chad burst into the room. Relief softened his features when he saw Ariel unharmed, but his face was still pale. Ariel¡¯s chest tightened with guilt. She thought of the employees who had worked tirelessly to prepare their tender proposal. ¡°Chad, I¡¯m so sorry,¡± she whispered. ¡°We lost this opportunity because of me.¡± Chad frowned, stepping closer to look her over. ¡°Why would you apologize? You¡¯re far more important than any project, Ari. Do you understand?¡± He patted her head gently, still shaken. ¡°No one wanted this to happen. You¡¯re the victim here. Faye Tech will have more chances. If we lose this one, we¡¯ll just wait for the next.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t know how to respond. Winning this bid had been one of her top priorities, but she was rational enough not to pin all the me on Jayson. Bluum Corp¡¯s victory and her abduction had been 1/3 orchestrated by someone else entirely. The true culprit was the one who had kidnapped her. Ariel reminded herself of that. Perhaps another woman wouldsh out or break down in this situation. Ariel had moved past that stage. ¡°Who said you lost the project?¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was low but steady. He hadn¡¯t lit the cigarette between his fingers. Both Ariel and Chad turned to him, surprised. Before they could press for details, Samson¡¯s voice came from the doorway. ¡°What did the doctor say?¡± He stepped inside, holding a pearl earring that had fallen from Ariel¡¯s ear during the ordeal. Jayson¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change as he watched him. Paying no mind to Jayson¡¯s face, Samson walked over and set the earring on the bedside table. ¡°Do you feel a little better?¡± He looked at Ariel with concern. Ariel didn¡¯t know how to face him. He had sacrificed hispany¡¯s chances to save her. She worried his superiors or Yeager Group¡¯s directors might hold him ountable for it. ¡°Mr. Pryce,¡± Jayson said suddenly, standing. He snapped the cigarette in half and tossed it into the trash. His eyes locked on Samson. ¡°Do you mind stepping outside for a moment?¡± It was more of a statement than it was a request. Samson replied instantly, ¡°Sure.¡± Chad stayed behind with Ariel while the two men exited the ward. Jayson walked slowly down the corridor until they reached the far end. He stopped, his lighter flicking idly in his hand, his expression unreadable. ¡°You arrived awfully quickly, Mr. Pryce.¡± Samson leaned casually against the wall, meeting his gaze. ¡°What are you implying, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson¡¯s tone sharpened. ¡°How did you find Ariel so fast, Mr. Pryce?¡± Inside 634 Samson looked genuinely shocked as he met Jayson¡¯s gaze. ¡°Isn¡¯t it a good thing I found her so quickly? What exactly are you implying, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson turned fully toward him, his expression calm but his presence radiating danger. ¡°There¡¯s no need to dance around the truth,¡± Jayson said, a contemptuous smile curling his lips. ¡°Let¡¯s speak inly.¡± Realization flickered in Samson¡¯s eyes. ¡°Are you suggesting I had something to do with this?¡± He chuckled, his tone light but edged. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I won¡¯t deny I like Ariel. But I¡¯d never stoop to such tactics just to impress her.¡± ¡°You and I both know what your true intentions are.¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was low, his eyes sharp and prating. ¡°You arrived at the perfect moment¨Cjust before I did. And right after Ariel was rescued, she heard Bluum Corp had won the bid. You¡¯ve improved a lot since west met two years ago.¡± Despite Jayson¡¯s words about the past, Samson¡¯s eyes held a clueless, innocent look. He offered no response, simply staring back without a word. ¡°If you choose not to believe me, that¡¯s your choice,¡± he said smoothly. ¡°Prejudices destroy more than they solve. I have no reason to make an enemy of you, Mr. Larkin.¡± Samson shrugged. ¡°Besides, I¡¯m sincerely worried for Ariel.¡± Jayson knew there would likely be no evidence to tie Samson to today¡¯s events. Some truths lived only in shadows, known to a select few. But this was also the day Jayson made his stance clear. He flicked his lighter open and closed, his hand resting casually in his pocket. ¡°It¡¯s a shame for you, though. Faye Tech didn¡¯t lose the project. Bluum Corp and Faye Tech both secured wins this time. The onlypany that came out empty¨Chanded was Yeager Group.¡± Samson¡¯s eyes narrowed, Jayson made one final remark. ¡°Mr. Pryce, you still have a long way to go.¡± He didn¡¯t need to spell out his intentions¨CSamson would pay for what had happened today. Jayson walked away, his figure receding down the corridor. Samson turned, watching him go. His face betrayed nothing, though his mind lingered on Jayson¡¯s words -about Bluum Corp and Faye Technologies shared sess, and about himself still having ¡°a long way to go¡°. 1/3 +15 BONUS A sharp ringtone broke his thoughts. Samson nced at the caller ID and answered. Cecilia¡¯s imperious voice came through immediately. ¡°Where are you? Dad came to see me, told me to return to Merinia immediately. He even sent bodyguards to watch me. Is he nning to keep me under close surveince?¡± Her irritation was palpable; she couldn¡¯t escape her escorts for even a second. Samson listened in silence, letting her vent. Then, without a word, he ended the call. He turned his gaze toward Ariel¡¯s ward, fingers brushing against the pearl earring he still held. Jayson had pulled him out of the room before he could return it. Samson studied the earring for a moment, then slipped it into his pocket and strode off. Inside the ward, Ariel turned to Chad as soon as Jayson left. ¡°Can you talk to the doctor? Ask them to share my test results and updates with you instead. I¡­ I don¡¯t want Jayson involved.¡± A quiet dread gnawed at her. She wondered if any of the tests would reveal her illness. Blood tests alone wouldn¡¯t show much, but the others might. Chad frowned, puzzled. ¡°Ari, if the doctor finds anything serious, he¡¯ll definitely tell Jayson. We won¡¯t be able to hide it from him. What¡¯s going on?¡± Ariel couldn¡¯t answer. Words failed her as unease twisted inside her. She could see what Jayson had been trying to dotely, and the thought of him discovering her chronic condition made her chest tighten. She didn¡¯t want to be bound to him any further. ¡°I¡­¡± The lingering chemical in her system surged, and a wave of nausea overwhelmed her. Her head pounded, her throat burned. Ariel bent forward abruptly, about to vomit into the dustbin. Inside 635 Jayson entered the ward just in time to see what was happening. His expression darkened slightly. He strode over, dragged the dustbin closer to Ariel, and crouched beside the bed, gently patting her back. He didn¡¯t seem concerned that she might identally vomit on him. ¡°Are you still feeling nauseous?¡± Ariel vomited quite a bit. She felt extremely unwell. Her stomach spasmed painfully, and her throat burned. Tears welled in her eyes from how hard she had been struggling earlier. Jayson grabbed a tissue, carefully wiping her mouth and then a stray tear from the corner of her eye with his fingertip. ¡°You should lie down and rest for a while,¡± he said, his lips pressed into a thin line. ¡°We¡¯ll consult the doctorter.¡± Ariel finally began to feel a little better, though weakness still weighed on her. She hadn¡¯t expected such a strong reaction to ether. With all her hospital visits, she¡¯d grown familiar with many chemicals, but this one had clearly taken a toll. ¡°Here, have some water.¡± Chad handed Ariel a ss. The sight of her looking so unwell agitated him, and he couldn¡¯t help but me Jayson for what had happened. ¡°I heard what happened on my way here, Mr. Larkin,¡± Chad said sharply. ¡°Whether it¡¯s Faye Tech losing the project or Ari¡¯s life being put in danger, this all stems from you. Have you considered what might¡¯ve happened if Mr. Pryce arrived anyter?¡± Jayson couldn¡¯t refute that. He met Ariel¡¯s gaze, his voice low but firm. ¡°I won¡¯t let anything like this happen again. I promise.¡± Too exhausted to argue, Ariel sank back into her pillow. Chad opened his mouth to speak again, but Jayson cut in. He tucked the nket around Ariel, his eyes steely. ¡°Faye Tech didn¡¯t lose the project. Submissions were still epted as long as they arrived before the official review began. ¡°As soon as Ariel went missing, I had Arthur add Nexura Solutions into Bluum Corp¡¯s tender response for a joint bid.¡± Both Ariel and Chad were stunned by what Jayson said. It made sense¨CJayson was a shareholder of Nexura Solutions, so he could authorize such a decision. Once Nexura Solutions secured the project, Faye Technologies, closely tied to them, would inevitably be involved in its execution. +15 BONUS ¡°You modified your tender response while searching for Ariel?¡± Chad asked, his disbelief evident. Jayson remainedposed, as if this was only natural. Even if Bluum Corp submitted their bid at the veryst moment, the organizers would still ept it¨Cno one could afford to ignore a Bluum Corp submission. With Yeager Group¡¯s and Faye Technologies¡® direct bids missing, Bluum Corp effectively secured the project. Jayson knew how important this was to Ariel. With her disappearance threatening Faye Technologies¡® chances, he¡¯d needed to act quickly to salvage the situation. As for Samson, Jayson hadn¡¯t expected the man to orchestrate something so sinister. Ariel stared at Jayson, speechless. The revtion sent her and Chad on an emotional roller coaster. ¡°You¡¯re a really meticulous person, Mr. Larkin.¡± Chad stared at Jayson, a mix of emotions on his face. Just then, the doctor entered, holding a folder. ¡°Ms. Walker¡¯s test results are back. There¡¯s ether in her system, but the levels aren¡¯t rming. It shouldn¡¯t causesting harm, though ether is potent¨Cit exins her dizziness and nausea.¡± Ariel¡¯s anxiety mounted as she stared at the doctor. The doctor nced at her. ¡°However, some other readings are slightly irregr. I¡¯d rmend a more thorough examination.¡± ¡°Arrange it immediately,¡± Jayson said, not giving Ariel the chance to object. P Inside 636 Chapter 636 Ariel furrowed her brows. She didn¡¯t need another check¨Cup. No one knew her body better than she did. Besides, the staff here had no idea she was terminally ill. Subjecting herself to additional tests would only strain her already fragile body. ¡°I¡¯m fine,¡± she said firmly. ¡°I¡¯ve just been busytely and probablycking some minerals or vitamins. There¡¯s no need for another check¨Cup.¡± More tests meant more blood draws. After months of treatment, even routine procedures had be unbearable. And now that she had joined the sixth¨Cgeneration fighter jet project at the 719 base, her health had to remain a secret. If anyone discovered her condition, they¡¯d have no choice but to reconsider her involvement. Jayson frowned. ¡°Ariel, it¡¯s safer to do a thorough check¨Cup.¡± Ariel¡¯s expression stayed calm, unreadable. ¡°I¡¯m fine now. What you should do is deal with the man who caused this. Staying here is a waste of your time, and you¡¯ll put yourself in danger if you don¡¯t act.¡± ¡°I¡¯m wasting my time?¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze sharpened. ¡°Ariel, I¡¯m certain I know how to prioritize better than you.¡± The tension between them was obvious. The doctor noticed it too. ¡°Take your time to decide. I¡¯m only making a suggestion,¡± he said before turning to leave. Hospitals respected patients¡® wishes¨Cno one could be forced into treatment they didn¡¯t want. ¡°Also,¡± the doctor added, ¡°there¡¯s bruising and swelling on her shoulder. She¡¯ll need treatment for that.¡± As they were still in the emergency room, the doctor was soon called away to help other patients. Sensing the tense atmosphere and well aware of Ariel¡¯s temper, Chad checked the time. ¡°You just threw up,¡± he said. ¡°I¡¯ll go get you something to eat.¡± Silence fell over the room as soon as Chad left. Jayson wasn¡¯t nning on leaving. He¡¯d already assigned Arthur to handle the abductor¡¯s handover to the authorities. Now, he moved silently, showing no sign of difort as he cleaned out the dustbin Ariel had just used. Ariel watched him. This was Jayson Larkin¨Cwealthy, refined, raised in privilege. Yet here he was, doing something most family members would hesitate to do. When he was done, he washed his hands, poured her fresh water, and returned to her side. He didn¡¯t touch his phone or try to speak. +15 BONUS Ariel could sense what he was trying to convey, but she chose to ignore it. Soon, a young nurse entered. ¡°Ms. Walker, I¡¯m here to treat your shoulder.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Thank you.¡± The nurse couldn¡¯t help ncing at Jayson, who sat quietly nearby. Men like him were rare¨Celegant, handsome,manding. Still, she quickly focused on her task. Ariel winced as the nurse worked. The pain was sharp, but she stayed quiet. ¡°I¡¯ll do it,¡± Jayson said suddenly, rising to his feet. He walked over, his voice steady. ¡°Tell me where to start.¡± Startled, the nurse instinctively handed him a cotton bud. ¡°Sterilize the skin first.¡± Ariel turned slightly to look at him. ¡°You¡¯re going to do it?¡± Moments ago, he hadn¡¯t said a word to her. Jayson didn¡¯t answer directly. He shot her a sidelong nce, then bent to examine her shoulder. Her pale skin was marred by angry red marks, swollen from the abductor¡¯s brutal grip. Bruises would bloom there soon. ¡°Stay still,¡± he said quietly. There was a glint of coldness in his eyes, but his touch was steady and gentle as he applied ointment. Jayson knew Ariel hated pain. Even a simple blood test made her flinch if the nurse wasn¡¯t careful. Strangely, under his careful hands, the sting seemed to fade. The nurse watched, a faint smile ying at her lips. ¡°Your husband treats you so well. He really cares for you.¡± Ariel was struck speechless. She wasn¡¯t expecting to hear that from aplete stranger. Jayson kept his head low as he treated Ariel¡¯s injury. He asked tly, ¡°The ophthalmology department is the busiest here, isn¡¯t it?¡± The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 637 The nurse looked surprised. ¡°How did you know that, sir?¡± Jayson cast a sidelong nce at Ariel, his tone light. ¡°Judging by your earlier remark, you seem to have sharper eyesight than she does. Perhaps you could refer us to one of your ophthalmologists here. I¡¯d pay them handsomely for their service.¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. She could hear the underlying jab in his words¨Chis subtle way of teasing her for saying he was wasting his time here. The nurse chuckled softly, catching on to his yful tone. Ariel¡¯s treatment didn¡¯t take long. Once her job there was done, she left to attend to other duties. ¡°What were you talking to Samson about earlier?¡± Ariel asked as she straightened her clothes. Jayson nced up. ¡°I thanked him for being so selfless¡­ doing so much for another man¡¯s wife.¡± Ariel studied him closely, sensing there was more to his words. ¡°He did save me, and the Yeager Group suffered a heavy loss. Can you tell me the real reason for your attitude toward him?¡± The real reason? Jayson had a distant look in his eyes. It wouldn¡¯t make sense to use Samson of ulterior motives¨Che had missed the chance to submit his bid and lost the project. If all he wanted was to y hero, there were easier ways to stage such a rescue without sacrificing a golden opportunity. Proving Samson¡¯s intentions would be difficult. Giving up a major project so easily suggested Samson hadyered motives, but none of them would be easy to expose. Without evidence, Jayson¡¯s suspicions would only look like baseless jealousy. That level of cunning deserved acknowledgment. ¡°Would you rather hear my opinion from a rational standpoint or a personal one?¡± Jayson leaned back elegantly in his chair. ¡°What¡¯s the difference between those two?¡± ¡°Rationally, you shouldn¡¯t see him as just some naive, simple young man. He earned a high position in the Yeager Group not long after returning from abroad, despite being surrounded by seasoned, shrewd colleagues. ¡°He¡¯s ambitious and adept at power ys. The Yeager Group specializes in military technology. They have resources, government contracts, and a strong influence. ¡°So it makes no sense that after six months of solidifying his standing, he¡¯d suddenly give it all up to focus on research. Whatever he¡¯s plotting, make sure you don¡¯t get caught up in it.¡± Jayson¡¯s tone was calm but deliberate, his analysis precise. Ariel listened, though she didn¡¯t need reminding. She already knew Samson wasn¡¯t simple. ¡°What about your personal reasons?¡± she asked. She suspected some history between these two men- perhaps this was his way of warning her. Jayson¡¯s gaze locked onto hers. ¡°I¡¯m a very jealous man,¡± he said quietly. 1 Ariel frowned, her brows knitting in disbelief. For once, he sounded utterly ridiculous. Thankfully, he didn¡¯t push the topic further. Rising from his seat, he said, ¡°Get some rest. We¡¯ll head back to Eldoria tomorrow. You should still go for that check¨Cup when you have time.¡± With that, he stepped out to take a call. Momentster, Chad returned, handing Ariel a warm, sweet drink to replenish her energy. She only managed a few sips; she didn¡¯t have much appetite. Since she wasn¡¯t seriously hurt, Ariel opted to leave rather than stay overnight in the emergency ward. But before Jayson couldplete her discharge paperwork, she dashed into the restroom and vomited the drink she¡¯d just had. She rinsed her mouth and stared at her reflection in the mirror. After a long moment of thought, she turned and headed for the doctor¡¯s office. The same doctor who had treated her earlier was inside. ¡°I have a question,¡± Ariel said, stepping in. ¡°Would the small amount of ether in my system cause me to vomit twice?¡± The doctor hesitated before answering. ¡°It could disrupt some bodily functions, but the symptoms would be mild. Your vomiting could be due to other factors¨Cindigestion, medication side effects, food poisoning ¡­ or, if you¡¯re sexually active, pregnancy.¡± Inside 638 Chapter 638 Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She froze, a ringing sound filling her ears. Her fists clenched unconsciously. ¡°Alright¡­ I¡¯ll just keep observing my condition for now.¡± She asked nothing more. She hadn¡¯t taken her medication in hours. And just a few days ago, she had been intimate with Jayson. (1) The possibility that she might be pregnant left her dazed, her thoughts swirling in confusion. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Jayson¡¯s voice startled her. After settling the hospital fees, he had been searching for her. His gaze flicked to the doctor before settling on her, a faint crease forming between his brows. He stepped closer, studying her carefully. ¡°Does it still hurt anywhere?¡± Ariel said nothing. She turned and walked away, desperate to keep him from guessing what the doctor had just implied. Jayson watched her retreat, sensing something was off. But with her walls up, he had no choice but to follow quietly. They weren¡¯t heading back to Eldoria tonight. Chad, worried about her, decided to stay and apany her home the next day. As Ariel and Jayson emerged from the hospital, Chad ended his phone call and turned to face them. He met Jayson¡¯s gaze. ¡°We won¡¯t trouble you anymore, Mr. Larkin. Ariel¡¯sing with me.¡± Jayson¡¯s gaze shifted to Ariel. Her mind was in chaos. Without sparing him a nce, she slipped into the cab Chad had hailed, eager for space to think. Chad, unaware of the tension between them, remained cold and guarded around Jayson. After a curt nod, he left with Ariel, giving Jayson no chance to linger or help. Jayson stood rooted, fury simmering as he watched the cab disappear into the night. What happened today crossed his bottom line. On the ride to the hotel, Ariel was silent and withdrawn, lost in thought. Even when Chad escorted her upstairs, she barely seemed present. +15 BONUS He handed her the ess card. ¡°Are you still shaken from earlier?¡± Snapping out of her thoughts, she shook her head. ¡°Not really. Just¡­ nauseous and tired.¡± Chad¡¯s tense shoulders eased slightly. ¡°Get some rest. I booked us a flight to Eldoria tomorrow at two. Call me if you need anything.¡± She forced a faint smile and rubbed her arms, trying to appear normal. 1 Inside her room, the moment the door shut, Ariel ran her hands through her hair, agitation coursing through her. Her palm drifted to her lower abdomen. Could she really be pregnant? She sank onto the couch, pulled out her phone, and began searching online. But she had cancer. Surely pregnancy wasn¡¯t possible for someone like her. Yet every search result told her it wasn¡¯t impossible¨Crare, yes, but not impossible. Emotions churned in her chest as she stared nkly at the screen. She sat like that until her neck and shoulders ached. Thinking about it now was pointless. She¡¯d schedule a check¨Cup once they were back in Eldoria. And as for Jayson¨Cthere was no need to tell him. 2 Just as she resolved to stop spiraling, a knock came at the door. ¡°It¡¯s me,¡± Jayson announced himself. Ariel froze, staring at the door. She couldn¡¯t bring herself to open it. She couldn¡¯t face him¨Cnot while her mind kept circling back to the same terrifying possibility. He stared at the tightly shut door, certain Ariel had heard him knock. She was ignoring him. He thought she must be furious. After all, no one coulde out of such an ordeal unscathed. He called Arthur. Momentster, Arthur delivered on his request. Ariel had just gotten into bed when the door clicked open. She sat up as Jayson walked in, room keycard in hand, Without a word, he dragged a chair over and ced it by her bed. ¡°You can go ahead and sleep,¡± he said, settling into the chair. Ariel red at him. ¡°What are you doing here? How did you even get in?¡± ¡°I¡¯m staying,¡± he replied calmly. ¡°You can cry, hit me, yell at me¡­ or ask for a hug. Whatever you need.¡± [1] His voice was even, making it hard to tell whether he was serious or teasing. But his intention was clear- he was going to stay by her side. 1 Inside 639 Chapter 639 It was impossible to tell what was really going through Jayson¡¯s mind. Ariel had been through too much today. On top of that, she was hiding a heavy secret. Her expression remained nk. ¡°I need you to leave.¡± Jayson met her gaze, unflinching. ¡°That¡¯s not one of the options I gave you.¡± ¡°Jayson, what is it you want? I never said I needed you.¡± Ariel¡¯s fists clenched tight. He looked straight into her eyes. ¡°I need you.¡± He didn¡¯t point out that she was just pretending to be strong. ¡°Ariel, I need to keep you in my sight. You¡¯re not the only one who was shaken today.¡± He didn¡¯t hide the raw edge in his voice. Today¡¯s incident had been a stark reminder that he needed to be better prepared for unexpected threats. But Ariel wasn¡¯t swayed. She knew exactly what kind of man Jayson was. She had no interest in speaking to him. Besides, her mind was tangled elsewhere. Without a word, she turned,y down on the bed, and faced away from him, treating the famous Mr. Larkin as if he weren¡¯t there. Jayson¡¯s eyes narrowed as he stared at her back. The edge of her shirt slipped down slightly, revealing her shoulder, mottled with red and purple bruises. A dark glint flickered in his gaze. Ariel had expected to spend a restless night, still shaken from the day¡¯s events and the doctor¡¯s unsettling words. Yet to her surprise, she drifted into a deep sleep. When she woke the next morning, a strange pressure at her waist caught her attention. She nced down and froze¨Cit was an arm. Her brows furrowed. She gently pried Jayson¡¯s arm off and sat up. Jayson opened his eyes the instant she moved. There was no trace of drowsiness in his sharp gaze. ¡°Don¡¯t look at me like that. You¡¯re the one who grabbed my hand in your sleep and wouldn¡¯t let go. If I hadn¡¯t gotten on the bed, I wouldn¡¯t be able to use my arm today,¡± He turned the tables before she could use him. ¡°You could have just woken me up. I¡¯m nowhere near as strong as you,¡± Ariel said coldly, sliding out of bed. Jayson rubbed the bridge of his nose, then got up ahead of her. He nced over his shoulder. ¡°You¡¯re right. Still, I couldn¡¯t bring myself to wake you.¡± Without another word, he disappeared into the bathroom. Ariel pressed her lips together. Jayson was always careful with his words, tailoring them to suit the moment. Unfortunately for him, sweet talk no longer worked on her. Jayson hadn¡¯t slept a wink. He rinsed his face with cold water. When he stepped out of the bathroom, Ariel was gone. Her suitcase had vanished too. She had left without hesitation or ceremony. Her message was clear¨Cshe didn¡¯t want to stay with him. Yet traces of her lingered. Jayson stood by the bed, lowering himself onto the side she had slept on. Her warmth still clung faintly to the sheets. He sat there for a long time, unmoving. Ariel had asked Chad to change to an earlier flight so that they could get back to Eldoria sooner. Janice, who had barely slept since hearing about the attack, arrived at the airport early to pick her up. The moment they saw each other, Janice scanned Ariel from head to toe. When she confirmed Ariel was unharmed, her face crumpled, tears welling. ¡°That bastard should have abducted Jayson instead! What a cowardly way to get his revenge! Only a scumbag would target someone weaker than him!¡± ¡°I¡¯m fine now,¡± Ariel said softly, trying to calm her. Chad shook his head. ¡°That¡¯s enough. It¡¯s a rtively straightforward case. Jayson¡¯s men are already handling it. You should see Ari home. I¡¯ve got work to take care of.¡± Janice grabbed Ariel¡¯s suitcase and marched toward her car. ¡°I¡¯ll stay over at your ce tonight. No, I should stay there for a couple of days to keep youpany.¡± Ariel pinched her cheek, amused. ¡°I¡¯m fine. Besides, I¡¯m back in Eldoria now. Everything¡¯s alright.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ariel merely smiled and said nothing. It was because Jayson was living right opposite her. That fact alone ensured her safety, and Ariel was well aware of it. (1) After getting into the car, Ariel put her phone in the center console and put on her seat belt. Her phone vibrated briefly. Thinking it was hers, Janice picked it up and nced at the screen. It was a message from Liam. ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯ve postponed your follow¨Cup appointment twice. You muste in as soon as possible. You¡¯ll also have to go for the subsequent chemotherapy sessions.¡± Inside 640 The smile on Janice¡¯s face froze the moment she finished reading the message. She knew exactly what it meant if someone needed chemotherapy. Her head snapped toward Ariel, eyes wide with shock and disbelief. Ariel turned and saw Janice¡¯s tearful eyes. rmed, Ariel wiped at Janice¡¯s tears. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Why are you crying?¡± Janice pointed at her phone. ¡°What¡¯s the meaning of this?¡± Ariel¡¯s breath hitched when she saw Liam¡¯s WhatsApp message. Her throat tightened, making it impossible to speak. ¡°Ariel! What the hell is going on? What chemotherapy sessions? What follow¨Cup appointments? You¡­ What¡¯s wrong with your body?¡± Janice broke down in tears as soon as she registered the severity of the situation. She raised her voice, hoping to force Ariel to tell her it was all a misunderstanding, that it wasn¡¯t true. But Ariel only looked at her and swallowed hard. A bitter smile curved her lips. ¡°I¡­ I have endometrial cancer.¡± Janice¡¯s world seemed to copse around her. She froze, forcing herself to ept the devastating truth. ¡°When did you find out?¡± Her voice cracked. ¡°If I hadn¡¯t seen this message, when were you nning to tell me? To tell Chad?¡± Torn between her own upset and sorrow for Ariel, Janice suddenly broke into loud sobs. Ariel had anticipated this reaction. She¡¯d known Janice would respond this way. Janice wasn¡¯t used to hardship and was prone to emotional outbursts. Like someone confessing a terrible sin, Ariel lowered her gaze. ¡°I¡¯ve known for a while. I wanted to wait until the project at the 719 base was finished before telling you both.¡± If she had told them earlier, neither Chad nor Janice would have allowed her to work. ¡°So you¡¯ve been enduring this alone?¡± Janice sobbed. ¡°Ariel, you¡¯re merciless¨Cto yourself! How could you be so cruel?¡± Janice wiped her tears, a terrible ache in her chest. Ariel had long gotten used to it. She wiped the tears from Janice¡¯s cheeks. ¡°Don¡¯t cry. I¡¯ve been receiving proper treatment, and I¡¯ve found an excellent doctor. There¡¯s still hope for my case.¡± Janice gritted her teeth and rubbed her face roughly, as if steeling herself. ¡°Which hospital is it?¡± she dered, suddenly ready to face the world. ¡°Let¡¯s go now!¡± Ariel didn¡¯t argue. She simply typed the address into the navigation. Janice drove in silence, wiping her tears as they went. It was a rare moment for Janice, who was usually so talkative, to be silent. Ariel sat quietly, her emotions in turmoil. When they arrived, Janice pulled Ariel toward the hospital entrance, ready to head upstairs. But Ariel stopped, her hand curling into a fist. ¡°Jan, I need to go to the obstetrics and gynecology department first.¡± Janice had yet to recover from the earlier shock. ¡°Why do you need to go there?¡± Ariel decided not to hide it from her. ¡°I want to take a pregnancy test.¡± Janice¡¯s eyes widened in shock. ¡°Pregnancy test? You¡¯re pregnant? Who¡¯s the father?¡± That day, she was learning one shocking piece of news after another. Ariel couldn¡¯t tell her much for now. ¡°It¡¯s only a suspicion. I haven¡¯t confirmed it yet.¡± Despite her confusion, Janice took charge, handling all the paperwork so Ariel wouldn¡¯t have to lift a finger. Ariel sat in a chair, her hands and feet cold. They had to wait for about an hour to get the results. ¡°With your condition,¡± Janice asked, her mind still in a mess, ¡°would you even be able to have a safe delivery if you were really pregnant?¡± The question sliced through Ariel¡¯s defenses, dragging up the fears she¡¯d tried to bury since yesterday. When it was time to collect the report, Janice scanned the QR code she had received and printed it out. At that moment, Liam stepped out of the elevator and immediately spotted Ariel. He froze briefly, then changed direction and approached her. ¡°When did you get here?¡± Ariel looked up, pulled from her daze. ¡°I came to do another test first.¡± Liam studied her face for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll schedule an appointment for youter. We¡¯ll reassess your condition.¡± Ariel opened her mouth, about to ask him a question, but Janice returned with her report just then. Inside 641 ¡°I don¡¯t really understand what the report says. We¡¯ll have to see a doctor and ask for a clearer exnation.¡± Janice wasn¡¯t familiar with the medical jargon. Liam turned his head and said in a calm voice, ¡°What¡¯s the report about? I can take a look at it.¡± Janice had met Liam before. She frowned slightly. ¡°You¡¯re Ari¡¯s¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯m Ms. Walker¡¯s attending physician.¡± Liam met her gaze and held out his hand. Theers of Janice¡¯s mouth twitched. Then, she ced the report in his hand. Ariel looked at him nervously. ¡°What does it say?¡± Liam scanned the report, then shifted his gaze to Ariel. He seemed slightly surprised. ¡°You¡¯re 11 weeks pregnant.¡± Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. Her face was filled with bewilderment. For a moment, she struggled to process her thoughts as a rush ofplicated emotions surged through her. Janice asked, ¡°How is this even possible? Can her body cope with the pregnancy in her current condition? Liam had a grim look on his face. ¡°Frankly speaking, it¡¯s difficult to conceive in your current state. The chances were very low, which makes your case unusual.¡± Ariel¡¯s breathing grew heavy and uneven. She forced herself to calm down and looked at Liam. ¡°Then, the child¡­¡± ¡°You can¡¯t keep it.¡± There was zero hesitation in Liam¡¯s voice. He could tell Ariel already knew the answer. The light in Ariel¡¯s eyes dimmed. Liam¡¯s tone softened slightly as he took in Ariel¡¯s ashen face. ¡°To begin with, you¡¯re already in poor health. If you keep the baby, you¡¯ll have to stop all treatments aimed at eradicating the cancer cells for at least ten months. ¡°If that happens, the cancer may spread to other parts of your body. Giving up the pregnancy is the only way for you to survive.¡± The reality was harsh, but Ariel had no choice but to face it. Liam knew most expectant mothers formed strong emotional attachments to their unborn child due to the influence of hormones. They would naturally feel devastated about ending a pregnancy. +15 BONUS But Ariel¡¯s case was different. She had no other option. If she chose to keep the baby, all cancer treatments would have to be put on hold. Janice¡¯s face turned pale. She wrapped her arms around Ariel and asked, ¡°Is there really no other way?¡± She knew how much Ariel had longed for a child over the years. And now.. Liam pressed his lips together. ¡°Ms. Walker, you¡¯ve already postponed your treatment twice because of work. You can¡¯t do that anymore. If you really wish to have a child, there might still be a chance once you¡¯repletely cured of your cancer.¡± Still, Liam knew the truth. Ariel was battling endometrial cancer, and the treatments she needed would severely damage her body. Her body would endure drastic changes depending on the medication and surgeries required. Recovery would be a lengthy process. Moreover, no one could say for sure if Ariel would be able to achieve full recovery. Ariel understood what Liam was saying. She had known from the start that she couldn¡¯t keep the baby. What she had once wanted most now threatened her very life. The blow was so devastating she felt she might copse. Janice¡¯s eyes stung. ¡°The baby¡¯s father is¡­¡± Ariel looked at her. Countless emotions flickered in her eyes, but Janice understood without words. Ariel had only ever shown that kind of helplessness for one person. Liam paused. He wasn¡¯t sure what was going on between Ariel and Jayson. Still, as a doctor, his duty was to make the situation clear. ¡°Ms. Walker, take some time to think it over. Just remember¨Cyou need to put yourself first.¡± Janice nced nervously at Ariel. Ariel slowly nodded. ¡°I know what I should do. I¡¯ll focus on getting myself cured.* She wasn¡¯t so selfless anymore. She had sacrificed too much for others in the past. This time, she wouldn¡¯t insist on keeping the child. (2) ¡°What about Jayson? Are you going to tell him?¡± Janice asked with a sigh of relief. Inside 642 Honestly, Janice didn¡¯t want to see Ariel and Jayson tangled up again over something like this. Since Ariel had already decided to end the pregnancy, there was no need to make things moreplicated. Ariel had made up her mind long ago. She shook her head, her face expressionless. ¡°No. Let¡¯s just pretend none of this ever happened.¡± In her view, it was only a matter of time before she and Jayson officially separated. Besides, she wasn¡¯t in any condition to carry a pregnancy to full term. Telling him would only create more problems. 1 She didn¡¯t want the trouble of discussing with Jayson whether to keep the child and risk him discovering her illness. There was simply no need for him to know. It was her body, her choice. Liam regarded Ariel thoughtfully. As he had suspected, the problems between her and Jayson ran deep. ¡°I know this is a lot to process,¡± he said gently. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. Take some time to calm down and gather your thoughts. When you¡¯re ready, make an appointment with the obstetrics and gynecology department for the procedure.¡± He didn¡¯t intend to pressure her. As long as she had decided on an abortion, there wouldn¡¯t be major issues affecting the treatment n. ¡°Thank you.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze. Her expression remained steady, though she felt as though all warmth had drained from her body. She knew she was about to endure unbearable agony. After all, she had long wished for this moment, waiting what felt like forever for it. But the child hade at the worst possible time. She couldn¡¯t keep it. She also needed time to ept the cruel reality. ¡°I have urgent work right now,¡± Ariel said slowly. ¡°If I undergo the procedure immediately, I won¡¯t be able to handle the workload. I¡¯d like to schedule it for two weeks from now.¡± She had just joined the research project at the 719 base. With cancer already weakening her, an abortion now would leave her frail and sickly. Waiting until the first phase of work wasplete would allow her to cope better. Janice¡¯s eyes reddened. She sniffled. ¡°Your health has toe first. Everything else can wait. Nothing matters more than you.¡± Ariel only smiled faintly. She looked strong and resolute, but sorrow lingered in her eyes. Liam¡¯s gaze lingered on her pale face. After a moment, he offeredfort. ¡°Once you¡¯ve undergone the procedure, I¡¯ll work out the most suitable treatment n for you. There¡¯s still a chance you could conceive again after you recover.¡± Then he nced at his watch. ¡°Since you¡¯re pregnant, I¡¯ll need to adjust your medication and dosage to reduce any harmful side effects. After you¡¯ve rested post¨Cabortion, we can proceed with tumor removal surgery.¡± For now, Ariel had to avoid medications that might harm a pregnant woman; otherwise,plications could arise before the abortion and her condition could worsen dangerously. ¡°I understand. Thank you,¡± Ariel replied quietly. Liam handed her a new prescription. After collecting the medicine, Janice apanied Ariel back to the ground floor. Just as they reached the lobby, Ariel ran into Wendy, whose baby bump was now obvious. Wendy was holding a number slip in her hand. Her expression darkened the moment she saw Ariel. She despised her. Ever since Lucas had caused a scene, Wendy had found it hard not to me Ariel. Lucas had drunk himself into a stupor while entertaining clientsst night and now suffered from severe stomach pain. That was why he and Wendy hade to the hospital. Ariel only gave her a brief nce. But Wendy fixed her gaze on Ariel. ¡°Ariel, Lucas and I are getting married next month. I still need a bridesmaid. You should do it. Think of it as a gesture of goodwill for our union.¡± Ariel froze in her tracks. Janice¡¯s jaw dropped. She stared at Wendy incredulously. ¡°Don¡¯t you have any friends? Why should Ariel do something like that for you?¡± Wendy ignored her. Her voice was cold. ¡°Lucas and I went to the same high school and college. I¡¯ve liked him for many years, but your presence was always in the way. You should never have taken his time and attention. ¡°So now, you should do this to make up for the years we lost, and to show that things between you and him are truly over. That way, both you and I can finally be at ease.¡± Inside 643 If Ariel attended the wedding, Lucas might finally realize they weren¡¯t meant for each other. ¡°Who do you think you are, ordering me around while acting all high and mighty?¡± Ariel asked, her voice calm and indifferent. Wendy¡¯s expression darkened. Ariel nced at Wendy¡¯s obvious baby bump. ¡°Ms. Johnstone, no one can take from you what¡¯s rightfully yours. And just because you want something doesn¡¯t mean everyone else wants it too.¡± Wendy had imed she and Lucas had known each other for years, but ming Ariel for how things turned out was unreasonable. ¡°You said I was a hindrance. I¡¯m curious¨Cwhen did you two start seeing each other? Lucas was single before he went to prison.¡± Wendy¡¯s expression tightened at Ariel¡¯s remark; a sh of unease passed her eyes. She had visited Lucas and confirmed their rtionship a month after his sentence. Wendy had vowed to wait for him, and he had promised not to let her down. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Lucas demanded, clutching his stomach as he stepped up behind Wendy. His face was cold. His gaze locked on Ariel, scanning her from head to toe as if to see whether she was ill or injured. Wendy snapped back to herself and clung to Lucas¡® arm. Ariel nced at Lucas¡® pale face, then took Janice¡¯s hand. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Janice thought about how unlucky they were to run into the couple and started to walk away. ¡°Ariel, you¡¯ll being to my wedding, right?¡± Lucas called, staring hard at Ariel¡¯s retreating back, fists clenched. Ariel looked over her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll send my best wishes, Mr. Sanderson.¡± There was no warmth, no hesitation¨Conly distance. Lucas felt as though he might explode. They had always cared for one another growing up. How had it ended like this? He couldn¡¯t understand how Ariel could treat him like a stranger when he believed she was the one at fault. ¡°Lucas? We should go see the doctor now.¡± Wendy¡¯s voice was tight as she gripped his arm. Lucas had been drinking heavilytely; he hadn¡¯t hidden the reason either. Wendy suspected it was because of Ariel, but she kept that thought to herself¨Cshe wouldn¡¯t appear weak. Lucas slowly gathered himself. The tempest in his eyes subsided. He straightened and said quietly,¡± Wendy, we should reconsider getting married.¡± He couldn¡¯t keep pretending. His expectations for Ariel¡¯s reaction werepletely wrong, and he lost all patience for the n. Wendy¡¯s face hardened. She forced a smile. ¡°Stop joking, Lucas. I waited for you for three years. Look how far along I am. Take back what you just said.¡± Lucas felt raw frustration. All he could picture was Ariel¡¯s cold, distant expression. He couldn¡¯t ept that she might not want him. ¡°I never asked for this child,¡± he said. ¡°You were the one who said you wanted a child even if we didn¡¯t marry. You can¡¯t use it as an excuse to force me. ¡°When I took over Jadeon Technologies, thepany was on the brink of bankruptcy¨Chundreds of millions in debt. Your father wanted to test me by handing thepany over. I¡¯ve revived it; I¡¯ve proved myself.¡± Wendy¡¯s face was drained of color. Her eyes bore into Lucas. ¡°You want to call off the wedding now after we¡¯ve already sent the invitations? Lucas Sanderson, are you nning to go back to Ariel? Do you think she¡¯s some innocent woman? Nancy¡¯s life is ruined because of her. Don¡¯t you see how wicked she is?¡± Wendy spat. Lucas frowned, still feeling unwell from the hangover. ¡°I don¡¯t need your opinion on who she is. I think we¡¯re done here.¡± He turned to leave. Exasperated, Wendy shouted after him. ¡°Lucas! If you go back to her, I won¡¯t let Ariel off. I¡¯ll drag her down with me!¡± Suddenly, a sharp pain stabbed Wendy¡¯s lower abdomen. She stiffened. ¡°Lucas¡­¡± Inside 644 After leaving the hospital, Janice still wore a gloomy expression. The woman who was usually so bubbly and cheerful seemed unusually quiet and downcast. Ariel could sense her sadness and worry. She gently put her arms around Janice. ¡°I¡¯m still here and doing fine, aren¡¯t I? Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been receiving proper treatment. Dr. Spencer is an experienced specialist who has worked overseas for many years. He told me the surgery has a high sess rate. I¡¯m not lying to you. I¡¯m telling you the truth.¡± Janice wanted to scream at Ariel for hiding everything from her. But whenever she looked at Ariel¡¯s frail figure, all her anger turned into sorrow and pity. ¡°I¡¯m just so mad. All you got from those three years of marriage is this illness. And now you even have to go through the pain of losing your child. I wish I could make Jayson feel the same hell you¡¯re suffering right now.¡± But what kind of punishment could make a man like Jayson truly suffer? What would even count as revenge to someone as cold and heartless as him, who had barely shown Ariel any concern? Ariel shook her head. ¡°Getting tangled up with Jayson won¡¯t do any good. All I want now is to focus on my treatment¡­ and prepare myself for when I have to say goodbye to the baby.¡± She had neither the time nor energy to waste on anything else. Janice sniffled again. ¡°I¡¯ll stay with you through all of this. Chad and I will both be here for you. You need to let us support you sometimes.¡± Ariel subconsciously caressed her lower abdomen and gave a faint smile. ¡°Okay. I was thinking of dropping by the office. Noah said they had issues with the results from one of the test runs. I should go and check on it.¡± Janice hesitated. Ariel had always taken her responsibilities seriously, never leaving anything undone. In the end, Janice had no choice but to give in. As she drove past the World Trade Center toward Faye Technologies¡® office, they passed Bluum Tower on the way. Ariel had been staring absently out the window until her gaze caught on a car parked at Bluum Tower¡¯s entrance. Morgan stepped out, straightened his jacket, and walked in with his chin lifted and a broad smile stered across his face. Ariel frowned slightly. ¡°Since when has Morgan been showing up at Bluum Tower? Could he be trying to strike a deal between Bluum Corp and hispany?¡± she wondered. After threatening her the other day, Morgan would likely use her as leverage to gain benefits from Jayson. The thought made Ariel uneasy. As far as she was concerned, she had already cut ties with Morgan. And sooner orter, she would divorce Jayson. She averted her gaze, her brow furrowed in troubled thought. When Morgan was shown into the CEO¡¯s office, Jayson had only just returned from Sheffielton. ¡°Jayson, I hope I¡¯m not disturbing your work.¡± Morgan beamed as he entered. Jayson looked up and smiled faintly. ¡°Please, have a seat.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve been wanting to see you for some time, but you¡¯ve been so busy it¡¯s been hard to get an appointment. Luckily, the timing worked out today.¡± In truth, Morgan was annoyed. He was Jayson¡¯s father¨Cinw¨Cyet he still had to make an appointment just to see him. Jayson couldn¡¯t be bothered to exin himself. ¡°May I know why you wanted to see me today?¡± Morgan grinned broadly. ¡°Despite your age, you¡¯re widely respected for your financial expertise. The Sanderson family business hasn¡¯t seen much growth in recent years. But after signing a deal with a Vendpany, we finally have new hope. That¡¯s why I wanted to ask for your advice and opinion.¡± ¡°You tter me.¡± Jayson poured him a cup of tea, moving unhurriedly. Morgan felt encouraged by Jayson¡¯s polite demeanor. ¡°So, I was wondering if you might consider letting the Sanderson family join some of Bluum Corp¡¯s promising projects.¡± Their recent deal had yielded huge profits. Since talking to Ariel hadn¡¯t worked in his favor, Morgan decided to approach Jayson directly, Jayson looked up, meeting his eyes. Morgan sighed. ¡°Ari will eventually inherit a share of the Sanderson family¡¯s wealth. As her father, I have to do my best to build more assets for my children. ¡°Jayson, Ari has worked hard to manage your household since marrying you. I¡¯m d you truly appreciate everything she¡¯s done.¡± At that moment, Arthur entered the office. He cast Morgan a calm nce before moving to stand behind Jayson. Jayson replied tly, ¡°You¡¯re exaggerating. If anything, I owe Ari a great deal after everything she¡¯s done for me.¡± Chapter 645 Inside 645 Chapter 645 Morgan¡¯s eyes lit up at those words. Until now, he had assumed Jayson felt nothing for Ariel, but recent events had nted seeds of doubt in his mind. Otherwise, he wouldn¡¯t havee up with the idea of getting Jayson¡¯s help to boost the Sanderson family¡¯s business. Still, Morgan thought it inappropriate to suddenly raise the issue of the materials right then. ¡°If that¡¯s truly how you feel, then Ari is a fortunate woman.¡± Morgan smiled. ¡°Still, our family has been-¡± Jayson nodded slowly. ¡°Have you heard about the project in Guilmant that¡¯s being funded by an overseaspany? ording to Bluum Corp¡¯s assessment, the project will generate considerable revenue in the future. It¡¯s a safe and solid venture. If you¡¯re interested, I can put you in touch with the right people.¡± Morgan immediately straightened. He knew that any project Jayson endorsed had to be exceptional. ¡± Wouldn¡¯t that be too much trouble for you?¡± ¡°Of course not. After all, we¡¯re inws.¡± Jayson nced at him. ¡°However¡­¡± Morgan¡¯s stomach tightened. He hated hearing that word. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± Jayson lowered his gaze, pouring himself another cup of tea without replying. Arthur caught the cue and spoke in his stead. ¡°Mr. Sanderson, you may not realize how manypanies are vying for a ce in that project. The requirements are strict¨Cboth in terms of scale and minimum investment. ¡°At present, yourpany¡­ probably doesn¡¯t meet the criteria.¡± Morgan¡¯s expression twisted. ¡°Not even with Jayson¡¯s rmendation? Couldn¡¯t they show some leniency?¡± Arthur smiled faintly. ¡°They¡¯re an overseas corporation. Their rules and regtions leave little room for exceptions. It won¡¯t be easy, and the odds are slim. Perhaps you should consider ways to expand yourpany¡¯s scale first?¡± ¡°Expand the business scale?¡± Morgan thought bitterly. The only realistic path was to take out a loan since the Sanderson Group¡¯s current funds were insufficient. Jayson kept his gaze lowered, tracing the rim of his cup with one finger. ¡°Caution is wise, Mr. Sanderson. But in investments, sess often requires grit and courage. Opportunities like this are rare. If you feel it isn¡¯t right, we can always wait for the next one.¡± He stopped there, making no further offer of help. Morgan sat there torn and restless. Arthur added, ¡°Competition is fierce. Once the project isplete, participants stand to gain at least ten to twenty percent profit. That¡¯s why the standards are so strict.¡± The words made Morgan waver. Still, he refrained from answering right away. ¡°Let me think it over, Jayson. The Sanderson Group¡¯s finances aren¡¯t exactly stable.¡± Jayson nodded. ¡°No worries, I understand. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.¡± Morgan had a frown on his face as he exited Bluum Tower. He had already instructed men to investigate the Guilmant project and would wait for their assessment before making a decision. But he trusted Jayson¡¯s judgment. If the project had caught his eye, it must hold real promise. Perhaps a loan¨Cwhether from a bank or other lenders¨Cwas worth the risk to expand thepany¡¯s scale. ncing back at Bluum Tower, Morgan sighed inwardly. He couldn¡¯t rely on Ariel, who now seemed more aligned with the Larkins than with her own family. Ironically, Jayson had treated him with more courtesy than she ever did. At Faye Technologies¡® office, Ariel met with Noah and the tech team to resolve a data issue. By the time they finished, it was already evening, and Chad still hadn¡¯t returned. Janice insisted on staying the night at Ariel¡¯s ce, and Ariel had no choice but to relent. But as soon as they stepped out of the elevator on Ariel¡¯s floor, they saw Jayson waiting. He appeared to have waited for quite some time. He leaned against the wall, straightening when he heard the elevator doors open. Since her pregnancy had been confirmed, Ariel¡¯s eyes hardened at the sight of him. Her lips pressed into a thin line. Jayson noticed her pallor and frowned, stepping toward her. ¡°Why do you look so pale?¡± Janice¡¯s anger red. She instantly thought of Ariel¡¯s illness and how the abortion would only worsen her suffering. Her eyes brimmed red as she shoved Jayson back. ¡°Don¡¯t touch her! Do you have any idea how much pain and misery you¡¯ve caused her?¡± Inside 646 Janice exploded, blurting out those words so abruptly that even Ariel was caught off guard. Jayson stumbled back a few steps from the force, though he didn¡¯t fall¨Chis strong core muscles kept him steady. His dark eyes revealed no particr emotion as his gaze brieflynded on Janice. Ariel knew Jayson wasn¡¯t the type tosh out at a woman over something like this. Janice, on the other hand, hadpletely lost herposure. Devastated by Ariel¡¯s illness, she could only vent her anger and resentment on the man she med for it all. ¡°Why is a man like you still alive? How is that fair? You were unfaithful, and you neglected Ariel. She suffered endless pain and agony all alone. Are you even human?¡± She had lost all sense of reason. She didn¡¯t care that she was shouting at Jayson, nor did she care about the consequences. Her heart ached for Ariel, and she thought she should have done this long ago. Jayson stared at her silently, his voice calm and steady, his eyes unreadable. ¡°I won¡¯t refute anything you¡¯ve said since you¡¯re speaking up as Ariel¡¯s best friend. But I¡¯ve never seen you lose your temper like this before. Did something happen today? Ms. Swanson, would you care to exin the reason behind your outburst?¡± Janice was struck speechless. Clenching her fists, she spat, ¡°What reason do you expect? Pretty much everything you did was wrong. Jayson, Ari¡¯s life would¡¯ve been ten thousand times better without you. You¡¯re the cause of her misery!¡± Ariel worried Janice might blurt out the whole truth in her fury. Fortunately, Janice managed to rein herself in before revealing anything more. Jayson¡¯s brows lifted slightly at her words. There had been moments, beforest year, when he¡¯d wondered the same thing himself. After a brief pause, his eyes shifted to Ariel. ¡°Back when we were still together, why didn¡¯t you do what she just did? Why didn¡¯t you yell at me whenever you felt sad and miserable?¡± A lump rose in Ariel¡¯s throat at his question. In the past, she had thought Jayson had lost interest in her¨Cor worse, that he had never loved her at all. Women could be especially sensitive in matters like these. Once she sensed those strange, inexplicable changes, she couldn¡¯t bring herself to confess her true feelings. She was too afraid of looking weak and pathetic. ¡°Jan, let¡¯s head inside.¡± Ariel tugged Janice along as she keyed in the password, ignoring the man standing behind her. She knew Jayson was waiting to see her, but the number of times she had waited for him to ¡± Ariel pressed her lips into a thin line, conflicted. ¡°There¡¯s something else. He and I¡­ we¡¯re not legally divorced yet.¡± Janice¡¯s eyes widened, struggling to process what she¡¯d just heard. Ariel sighed deeply. ¡°There wereplications, and the system never updated our records. Technically, we¡¯re still married. He also doesn¡¯t know about my health condition. ¡°I believe we¡¯ll eventually finalize the separation. There¡¯s no need for him to find out about the pregnancy either.¡± She had no intention of wasting time or energy on meaningless matters. As long as they stayed out of each other¡¯s lives, that was enough. Janice understood and respected Ariel¡¯s decision. She knew Ariel gave her all when in love, but once she chose to end things, she was firm and decisive. There was no going back. But hearing they weren¡¯t officially divorced yet reignited Janice¡¯s fury, ¡°You were right not to tell him! Jayson got what he deserved! He has no right to know about your personal life, let alone interfere with your choices. ¡°If he¡¯s trying to reconcile, he¡¯ll be overjoyed if he finds out you¡¯re pregnant. Once you go through with the procedure, you should tell him then. Let¡¯s see if the proud, arrogant Mr. Larkin can still keep his smug smile!¡± 1 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 647 Chapter 647 After all the hurt and pain Jayson had caused Ariel, it was only fair they made him suffer a little as well. But Ariel never thought that way. What Janice suggested was nothing more than revenge, and Ariel knew it could only trigger a chain of unwanted consequences. Even so, Janice¡¯s concern wasn¡¯t about vengeance¨Cit was about the hardship Ariel might eventually face. If Jayson were to learn they had lost their first child, his grief would only add to Ariel¡¯s burden. ¡°I don¡¯t think this situation with Jayson willst long. A proud, conceited man like him only turned his attention to you because he just broke up with his previous lover. Ignore him, and he¡¯ll give up soon enough.¡± Janice only wanted to shield Ariel from more pain. 1 Ariel understood her concern and smiled gently. As for Chad, neither of them knew how to break the news to him. They decided to wait for the right time. Janice ended up staying with Ariel for an entire week. The once bubbly, carefree woman seemed to have matured overnight. She began learning how to help with Ariel¡¯s daily routine while also taking it upon herself to keep Jayson away. Ariel simply let her. On Monday, Ariel stopped by the 719 Military Aircraft Base for work. As she turned a corner, she spotted Samson speaking on the phone. ¡°I know some of the Yeager Group¡¯s directors are unhappy with me. They see the Sheffielton tender project as a golden opportunity. The situation is serious since they¡¯re trying to use it against me,¡± he said. Ariel slowed her steps. ¡°But it¡¯s fine. That project doesn¡¯t matter much. I can always secure another one with greater profits. We need to stay open¨Cminded. I¡¯ll take full responsibility this time.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t linger to hear the rest and continued on her way. Not long after, Samson appeared. His eyes scanned her from head to toe, a faint frown creasing his face. Are you feeling better now?¡± Ariel recorded some data before nodding. ¡°I¡¯m alright now.¡± Samson let out a quiet sigh of relief. ¡°That¡¯s good. I¡¯ve been swamped with work at thepany and didn¡¯t even have time to visit you again in the hospital. I¡¯m sorry.¡± ¡°Why are you apologizing?¡± Ariel set down her pen. ¡°You¡¯ve probably had enough trouble of your own because of what happened.¡± Samson met her gaze. ¡°You don¡¯t need to worry about that. No matter what kind of rtionship we have, I couldn¡¯t just stand by after learning you were in danger. I believe it was worth it.¡± 1 Ariel didn¡¯t know how to respond. It was clear she owed him a great debt for what he¡¯d done. 1 ¡°Watch out!¡± Several staff members pushed a cart carrying an aircraft wing through the corridor, and Samson was standing in a dangerous spot. Ariel reacted quickly, grabbing his arm and pulling him toward her. Samson barely registered what was happening before his shoulder bumped into hers. He froze for a moment, looking down at her. Ariel¡¯s brow furrowed, her expression grim as she stared at the cart that had just passed. For some reason, Samson found her seriousness amusing. A chuckle escaped his lips. He tilted his head and said, ¡°I may have failed to secure the project, but I think you won¡¯t be so cold to me anymore.¡± Ariel¡¯s frown deepened as she fixed her gaze on him. Samson only winked and grinned. ¡°That thought alone makes me happy.¡± 2 It was enough to brighten his mood. Taking a few steps back, Samson added with a smile, ¡°I hope we¡¯ll have more moments like this. Get back to your work. I¡¯ll see you around.¡± With that, he turned and walked away. Ariel stared after him, momentarily lost in thought. Later, she received new instructions regarding the SX alloy. More tests were needed to gather data and ensure the material strictly met all standards. This update is avable on Find_Novel(. Her next task was to inspect some parts of the factory that Jayson had recently relocated back to the country. Inside 648 Chapter 648 The higher¨Cups had also appointed someone to assist Ariel with her tasks regarding the SX alloy, and that person was Elsie. By the time Ariel found her, Elsie had already received the relevant instructions. Holding several documents in her arms, Elsie looked at Ariel and said sternly, ¡°Other than my mentor, you¡¯re the only person around my age who can boss me around and make me work as your assistant.¡± Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel It was a blunt reminder of the gap between them. Still, Elsie believed she would one day ovee that gap and surpass Ariel. For now, Ariel should at least thank her for her help. Ariel checked the address on her phone and replied, ¡°Then you¡¯d better get used to it.¡± 1 Elsie was struck speechless. By the time she gathered herself, Ariel had already taken the documents and strode out of the room. Frozen for a moment, Elsie quickly hurried after her, grumbling, ¡°Hey! How can you say something like that?¡± She nearly bumped into someone as she stepped out. Samson looked down at her, and her irritation vanished instantly. ¡°You two heading out?¡± Samson asked. Elsie gave a quick nod. ¡°We¡¯re going to test the SX alloy.¡± Samson¡¯s gaze shifted to Ariel¡¯s retreating figure. ¡°Just the two of you?¡± Elsie shook her head. ¡°There are othersing with us.¡± Finally, Samson stepped aside, raising his brows slightly. ¡°Alright. Good luck with your work, then.¡± Elsie blushed and hurried off. Samson pretended not to notice her reaction. On the way, Ariel tried to read up on thepany Jayson owned. It had been established five years ago, and the production of certain materials had been moved back to the country. A subsidiarypany was set up to oversee the process locally. Importing those materials from Ulyndor was never easy. The procedures were strict due to their rarity and unique properties.. When Ariel and her team arrived at their destination, the man in charge of liaising with them, recently transferred from Ulyndor, immediately spotted her. +15 BONUS ¡°Mrs. Larkin, this way, please.¡± The man¡¯s name was Eric Jacobs. Ariel didn¡¯t recall meeting him before. ¡°Have we met?¡± Eric smiled. ¡°No, we haven¡¯t. I was based in Lockewin until recently. I just returned a few days ago to oversee operations here. But I know you quite well. Mr. Larkin keeps a photo of you two on his desk at the Lockewin office.¡± The photo he mentioned was formal, almost like a wedding portrait. A fleeting expression crossed Ariel¡¯s face, but she brushed it aside. ¡°Let¡¯s keep things professional and follow the proper protocols.¡± Rather than ept special treatment, she insisted on following procedure. Inside the building, Ariel soon spotted Jayson listening to a report from his subordinates. He was present that day as well. As soon as he saw her, he walked over, his gaze fixed on her. ¡°As expected, you were assigned to lead the team.¡± All eyes turned to Jayson. They watched as the famous Mr. Larkin approached Ariel, yet thetter didn¡¯t even bother to look up. Rumors about their marriage had circted widely. Many spected they weren¡¯t happy together, that at the very least Jayson didn¡¯t love Ariel. But the way he looked at her¨Cwith a calm yet intense gaze¨Csuggested otherwise. It was enough to make people wonder which of the two cared more. Ariel remainedposed. Her fingers subconsciously brushed against her lower abdomen. ¡°Was it really necessary for you to be here, monitoring things personally?¡± ¡°No.¡± Jayson nced at the rest of the inspection team, then said casually, ¡°I came to see you.¡± Ariel ignored his words and walked over to Elsie. ¡°Can you help me record the datater?¡± Elsie cast a quick look at Jayson. ¡°Did you two have a fight?¡± ¡°What makes you say that?¡± Jayson asked, his expression unreadable. ¡°She doesn¡¯t seem to want to talk to you,¡± Elsie replied bluntly. ¡°So I hope you won¡¯t interfere with our work.¡± Ariel stared at Elsie in surprise. There was a frankness about her that was rare in adults¨Cshe didn¡¯t even bother to help Jayson save face. Jayson shifted his gaze back to Ariel. He didn¡¯t lose his temper. Still staring at her, he asked Elsie, ¡°Since you¡¯re so perceptive, can you also tell me what I should do to get her to talk to me?¡± Somehow, it felt like those words were meant for Ariel. She furrowed her brows. Jayson¡¯s straightforwardness was something she could never get used to. X Inside 649 +15 BONUS 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, 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 you? ¡°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¨Cincluding the part about Lucas possibly calling off his wedding. With nowhere left to retreat, Ariel faced him head¨Con. ¡°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. ¡°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 Fresh chapters posted on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Inside 650 Ariel never imagined she would be hearing these words from Jayson. He maintained his usual calm, dignified demeanor, but beneath theposure lingered a trace of sorrow in his eyes. Ariel felt confused. Jayson wasn¡¯t supposed to act this way. He had just admitted that, during their four years of marriage, he had been wary of Lucas for nearly three. She was stunned. Ariel pursed her lips and looked at him. ¡°What did you find out about me and him?¡± 1 There was a time when she and Jayson had shared a happy, loving rtionship. Yet, one day, he changed abruptly. Ariel had long assumed he maintained their harmonious first year together simply out of good manners and upbringing. She thought his feelings for her had cooled because he had grown tired of her or had a change of heart. That was the conclusion she held on to, even long after they had gone through the ¡°divorce¡± procedure. But now Jayson revealed he had been wary of Lucas all along. In all those years, he had never once mentioned Lucas to her, nor shown any signs of frustration or concern. After marrying Jayson, Ariel devoted herself to her partner and their household. She had bid farewell to her past. The thought of rekindling anything with Lucas had never once crossed her mind. So how had Jayson discovered her history with Lucas and even grown suspicious of him? Watching her closely, Jayson decided to reveal the truth. ¡°I know you were childhood friends. I know you once had feelings for each other. You married me partly because of Lucas, not entirely because you spent the night with me. You were more or less forced into this marriage.¡± What he said was true. Ariel couldn¡¯t even deny it. Still, she had never once brought up Lucas after marrying Jayson, and the Sandersons had wisely kept silent as well. ¡°How did you find out about this?¡± she asked. Jayson dropped his gaze, inhaled deeply, then looked back into her eyes. ¡°Remember theptop you once asked about? I told you it was lost or misced. That wasn¡¯t true. I¡¯ve kept it in my study all this time.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes widened. She understood instantly. Thatptop had been with her for years, starting from high school. Countless important moments and memories were saved on it¨Cincluding traces of Lucas. She pressed her lips together and met Jayson¡¯s gaze. Atst, she realized why he had changed back then. Jayson read the shock and bewilderment in her eyes. But beneath it, she seemed strangely unfazed. She didn¡¯t appear to care about what he had discovered on theptop, or how deeply those things had affected him. ¡°Did I ruin your chance to be with him?¡± Jayson asked evenly, though his eyes flickered with turbulent emotions. ¡°Were you nning to marry him back then? Did you change yourst name so it wouldn¡¯t look suspicious to others?¡± Atst, he asked the questions he had been holding back for years. Theptop had contained many things rted to Lucas. Jayson knew Morgan¡¯s schemes had partly forced Ariel into marriage, but he hadn¡¯t known who exactly she had made that decision for. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n find{n}ovel It was onlyter, when he overheard a conversation between Ariel and Morgan, that he learned she had yielded to Morgan¡¯s threats to help Lucas reduce his prison sentence. Then he found the diary entry saved on herptop. ¡°Today, Lucas suggested that I change myst name to Walker. I think that¡¯s not a bad idea.¡± Though she hadn¡¯t borated on the details leading up to that suggestion, it wasn¡¯t hard to guess. Lucas was the one who proposed it. As a man, what could his intentions possibly have been? If Ariel hadn¡¯t changed her surname, official records would alwaysbel her as Lucas¡® younger sister. But once she became Ariel Walker, the perception shifted entirely. Ariel fell silent, lost in thought. The memory of that time resurfaced, and she understood what troubled Jayson. Still, she had no intention of exining herself. (5) Jayson lowered his gaze and let out a wry smile. ¡°And about our marital home¡­ Lucas once filmed you, asking about your dreams for the future. ¡°You gave a detailed description of your ideal home, and it was almost identical to the one you designed and decorated after we married. That house wasn¡¯t just ours¨Cit was a representation of the future you and he once envisioned together. ¡°These two things showed clearly how much you cared about him.¡± That was why Jayson hadpletely renovated the house after buying it back. 3 The only space he couldn¡¯t bring himself to touch was the master bedroom he and Ariel had shared for three years. Inside 651 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¨Cmonth 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¨Cthe 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 too 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 BONUS of those people too? And once Lucas was released from prison¨Cwhat 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 Newest update provided by Find¡ïNovel 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¨Ca 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¨Cminded. 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 Inside 652 Chapter 652 Jayson had mustered all his courage when he asked Ariel that question. He no longer wanted them to waste time doubting each other¡¯s thoughts or intentions. If it had been in the past¨Cwhen Lucas was still a man worthy of her¨CJayson might have epted Ariel choosing him. But after seeing the things Lucas had done, he could no longer stand the thought. The sudden news about Lucas and Wendy possibly calling off their wedding caught Jaysonpletely off guard. Ariel had once told him clearly that she no longer loved Lucas and was severing ties with him. Yet Lucas had remained the root of Jayson¡¯s insecurities for years. At a moment like this, it was impossible for him to remain calm and unaffected. Ariel never imagined she would see this side of him. It was as if Jayson had cast aside all pretense, exposing his most vulnerable self. He held her wrist firmly, pressing her back against the ss wall behind her, trapping her in the corner. ¡°Let go of me first.¡± Ariel caught the subtle, yearning look in his eyes as she tried to pull free. ¡°I need an answer from you.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t give in to her request. His gaze stayed locked on her. Ariel met his eyes calmly. His question wasn¡¯t even difficult to answer. She didn¡¯t have to think deeply about it¨CLucas was no longer part of her future. After marrying Jayson, she had already redefined her rtionship with Lucas, considering him more of a family member than anything else. When Lucas was released from prison, Ariel had been physically and emotionally exhausted, while also burdened with caring for the remaining members of the Walker family. With so few loved ones to rely on, she had weed Lucas¡® release as a small bit of good news. But every encounter after his release proved otherwise. Lucas mocked and ridiculed her deliberately, making it clear he wanted her to suffer. Seeing only malice in him, Ariel eventually epted that Lucas was no longer family. As for the things troubling Jayson¡­ ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± A voice from the doorway cut her off. Chapter 652 Jayson had mustered all his courage when he asked Ariel that question. He no longer wanted them to waste time doubting each other¡¯s thoughts or intentions. If it had been in the past¨Cwhen Lucas was still a man worthy of her¨CJayson might have epted Ariel choosing him. But after seeing the things Lucas had done, he could no longer stand the thought. The sudden news about Lucas and Wendy possibly calling off their wedding caught Jaysonpletely off guard. Ariel had once told him clearly that she no longer loved Lucas and was severing ties with him. Yet Lucas had remained the root of Jayson¡¯s insecurities for years. At a moment like this, it was impossible for him to remain calm and unaffected. Ariel never imagined she would see this side of him. It was as if Jayson had cast aside all pretense, exposing his most vulnerable self. He held her wrist firmly, pressing her back against the ss wall behind her, trapping her in the corner. ¡°Let go of me first.¡± Ariel caught the subtle, yearning look in his eyes as she tried to pull free. ¡°I need an answer from you.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t give in to her request. His gaze stayed locked on her. Ariel met his eyes calmly. His question wasn¡¯t even difficult to answer. She didn¡¯t have to think deeply about it¨CLucas was no longer part of her future. After marrying Jayson, she had already redefined her rtionship with Lucas, considering him more of a family member than anything else. When Lucas was released from prison, Ariel had been physically and emotionally exhausted, while also burdened with caring for the remaining members of the Walker family. With so few loved ones to rely on, she had weed Lucas¡® release as a small bit of good news. But every encounter after his release proved otherwise. Lucas mocked and ridiculed her deliberately, making it clear he wanted her to suffer. Seeing only malice in him, Ariel eventually epted that Lucas was no longer family. As for the things troubling Jayson¡­ ¡°I¡­¡± ¡°What are you guys doing?¡± A voice from the doorway cut her off. Elsie had walked in, her eyes immediately falling on Jayson gripping Ariel¡¯s arm, keeping her pinned in ce. The air between them was thick with tension rather than intimacy. The sight was undeniably strange. Elsie¡¯s expression darkened. She rushed forward, pulling Ariel away and ring at Jayson. ¡°What do you think you¡¯re doing? Even if you¡¯re arguing, you shouldn¡¯t resort to violence against a woman.¡± Her intervention only made the scene feel more absurd¨Calmost ridiculous. Ariel nced at Elsie, who looked genuinely upset. The young woman was far more innocent than Ariel had expected. She was practically an open book. Jayson frowned and shot Elsie a look. ¡°You should visit the national art museum one day. By your standards, the painting ¡®A Kiss¡® on disy there would probably count as assault.¡± 2 Elsie blinked in confusion. What was that even supposed to mean? She couldn¡¯t make sense of his words at all. Ariel recognized his teasing and decided to put an end to the nonsense. ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± she said to Elsie. ¡°How many sets of data have you collected so far?¡± Elsie frowned at Ariel, then cast another wary nce at Jayson. ¡°Three. He didn¡¯t try to hit you just now, Read full story at find~novel right?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°What were you doing, then?¡± Ariel confirmed once again how pure and innocent Elsie was. She didn¡¯t answer, aware that Jayson¡¯s eyes were still on her from behind. When they entered the testing room, Elsie scratched at her jaw and said, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to pry. But I hope you¡¯ll stay professional. Don¡¯t let your personal issues affect your work.¡± Her dislike for Ariel was clear, and it seemed unlikely to change. ¡°Alright.¡± Ariel leaned forward to examine the data, replying half¨Cheartedly. Elsie clenched her teeth, then walked to the other side of the room. The earlier incident didn¡¯t slow Ariel¡¯s progress. Jayson didn¡¯t appear again afterward. X Inside 653 Chapter 653 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. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n F?ndNovel Maybe all of this was a sign. Perhaps she and Jayson simply weren¡¯t meant to be¨Cfated 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¨Ctime 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¨CGYN 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?¡± 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 to do with me?¡± Lucas froze. Meanwhile, Ariel stepped onto the esctor. Looking up, she spotted Wendy on the floor above, pale as a sheet, 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¨Canger, envy, 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¨CGYN department. Inside, an elderly specialist with gray hair examined Ariel. ¡°A healthy, high¨Cquality 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¨Cno 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¨Cshe understood exactly what Ariel was trying to do. 444 Inside 654 Wendy felt a chill run through her body. There could only be one reason Lucas had suddenly decided to call off the wedding. To her, it didn¡¯t feel like a mere coincidence that both Lucas and Ariel were making such abrupt decisions. 1 Wendy clenched her fists tightly for a long while before leaving quietly, careful not to let Ariel notice she had been there. The biggest issue now was that Jayson seemed to have no idea that Ariel was pregnant and nning to get an abortion. For a moment, Wendy¡¯s ashen face went nk as she fell deep into thought. Lucas finally stopped staring at the floor above when he noticed Wendy approaching. Taking in her slightly pale face, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll send you back first.¡± Wendy bit her lip and looked straight at him. ¡°I lost my child. Lucas, you owe me for what happened.¡± His steps halted, and a faint frown appeared on his forehead. He couldn¡¯t deny her words¨Cthey were true. During their argument the other day, Wendy had used the child as leverage to threaten Lucas. But in the heat of her turbulent emotions, an ident happened. The induced abortion procedure had left her frail and weakened. ¡°We¡¯ll talk about that another day.¡± Lucas¡¯s expression darkened as he headed for the entrance, ignoring what she had just said. Wendy swallowed back her urge to scream at him. Still, she couldn¡¯t help wanting to shift the me onto Ariel¨Cher grief over losing the child made her desperate for somewhere to direct her resentment. ¡°Frankly, it was Ariel¡¯s fault I lost my child. I wouldn¡¯t have been so agitated if you had just settled things with her properly. My child died because I was too emotional.¡± Lucas turned and shot her a frosty look. ¡°Wendy, let¡¯s be fair. Don¡¯t drag others into this. You know she had nothing to do with it.¡± Wendy stiffened. Deep down, she knew he was right. But what else could she do? She couldn¡¯t bring herself to let go of Lucas, nor could she me him directly. The only outlet left for her pain was to resent Ariel. Lucas refused to argue further. No matter how strained things were between him and Ariel, he wouldn¡¯t tolerate anyone attacking or criticizing her. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel Without another nce at Wendy, he got into the car. Wendy caressed her t abdomen before finally climbing in as well. News of her induced abortion quickly spread, reaching the Sandersons too. Morgan was saddened by it. He suggested Wendy stay with them for a while to recuperate. She didn¡¯t refuse. Living with the Sandersons gave her more opportunities to maintain her rtionship with Lucas. Not long after her arrival at Sanderson Manor, Wendy spotted a familiar guest in the living room. Lori stood up, trying to mask the glee in her eyes as she approached Wendy. ¡°Wendy, you should focus on resting and getting better. Don¡¯t be too saddened by what happened.¡± (1 In truth, she was delighted by Wendy¡¯s loss. If the wedding were canceled too, it would be even better. Meanwhile, Wendy¡¯s gazended on Cecilia, who was smilingnguidly. 1 ¡°How do you know Ms. Pryce?¡± Wendy asked. Lori beamed, not borating much. ¡°It¡¯s a long story, but Ms. Pryce helped usnd a major overseas deal, so I invited her over today. Do you know her too?¡± Cecilia nced at Wendy but didn¡¯t recall much. People in the elite circle often crossed paths at events, though Cecilia only made the effort to remember those from powerful, wealthy families. ¡°We went to the same high school,¡± Wendy said tly. Cecilia¡¯s brows lifted. ¡°I remember now! Sorry.¡± Her gaze drifted toward Wendy¡¯s lower abdomen. ¡°What happened to your¡­¡± Wendy¡¯s expression turned grim. Lori sighed, though a glimmer of joy flickered in her eyes. ¡°She lost her child. You know Ariel too, Ms. Pryce. Well, Ariel and Lucas¡­¡± She paused, furrowing her brows. ¡°She was the reason Wendy and Lucas fought. Now that Wendy¡¯s lost her child, that woman had better not try any tricks to ruin their rtionship.¡± Cecilia narrowed her eyes, curious about the nature of Ariel and Lucas¡® rtionship. ¡°Aren¡¯t Lucas and Ariel siblings?¡± Cecilia asked pensively. Lori snickered. ¡°That woman? She¡¯s always been conniving, even as a child. She¡¯s exceptionally good at seducing men. Even after marrying Mr. Larkin, she still kept close to Lucas. ¡°One of these days, Mr. Larkin might throw her out for her inappropriate behavior. Most importantly, she had better note between Lucas and Wendy again.¡± Each mention of Ariel¡¯s name felt like a stab to Wendy¡¯s heart. Her voice turned icy. ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Ariel¡¯s pregnant now. There¡¯s no way she¡¯ll still try to get close to Lucas.¡± Wendy bit her lip. ¡°But¡­ it seems she hasn¡¯t told Mr. Larkin yet. I don¡¯t know what she¡¯s nning.¡± X Inside 655 +15 BONUS Wendy wasn¡¯t exactly sure either. It was undeniably strange that Ariel had decided to get an abortion yet. was keeping it a secret from Jayson. Wendy knew she had to make sure Ariel no longer had any chance of swaying Lucas. She needed toe up with a perfect, foolproof n. On the other hand, Cecilia¡¯s head shot up the instant she heard those words. She failed to mask her reaction¨Cher face revealed utter shock. Ariel was pregnant with Jayson¡¯s child! Cecilia had never paid much attention to the matter before, since Jayson and Ariel hadn¡¯t had children even after being married for several years. But now, it felt as though rm bells were ring in her head. Neither Wendy nor Lori noticed the fleeting expression on Cecilia¡¯s face. Meanwhile, Lori felt slightly relieved. More often than not, she shared the same opinions as Wendy on certain issues. She was about to continue the conversation when Cecilia suddenly rose to her feet. Her face was expressionless as she said, ¡°I just remembered I have some errands to run. I¡¯ll be going now.¡± Lori hadn¡¯t expected her to leave so quickly. She had been hoping to strengthen ties with someone like Cecilia¨Cperhaps even grow closer. ¡°That¡¯s a shame. I¡¯ll see you out, then. We can do this again next time.¡± Cecilia showed her no special courtesy. With her usual haughty air, she turned and strutted out of the room. She had been generous by agreeing to visit the Sanderson, and what she learned today was far more valuable than she anticipated. By the time Ariel left the hospital, it was alreadyte. She had made an appointment with the OB¨CGYN specialist to undergo the procedure the following Saturday. She just wanted to get it over with as soon as possible. Rather than agonizing day after day, Ariel would rather make up her mind and finalize her decision. She couldn¡¯t risk her own life for the child. First, she had to terminate the pregnancy before proceeding with her treatment. There was no other option. The best way was to have the abortion quietly, without alerting anyone. That way, no one else¡¯s life would be burdened by her decision. As she reached her residential area, the sun was already setting. Stepping out of the elevator, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but nce toward Jayson¡¯s unit. He still wasn¡¯t home. It must not have been easy for him to decide to be so honest with her today. Likewise, it wouldn¡¯t be easy to collect his thoughts and face her again so soon. Ariel entered her apartment. Not long after, she received a call from Janice. ¡°There¡¯s an event tomorrow,¡± Janice said. ¡°Some prominent industry figures from Sorenta and representatives from several overseaspanies will be attending. The Faye Tech team has been invited too. Chad said you and I should go. Your status and influence are different now¨Cit¡¯ll be a good asion for you to make an appearance.¡± ¡°That¡¯s rather sudden.¡± Ariel frowned slightly. ¡°Why didn¡¯t we hear about this event earlier?¡± (1) Normally, invitations arrived several days in advance. ¡°I don¡¯t know either,¡± Janice muttered. ¡°Anyway, I¡¯ll be by your side tomorrow to keep you safe.¡± She was determined to protect Ariel¨Ceven going as far as helping her handle drinks if guests pressured her into drinking. To Janice, Ariel was now as fragile as a porcin doll, someone who couldn¡¯t afford even the slightest harm. Ariel didn¡¯t dwell on it for long. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll see you tomorrow.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll need a bit more time to finish up at work,¡± Janice added. ¡°I¡¯ll head over to your ce once I¡¯m done.¡± Recently, Janice had been staying with Ariel, too worried about leaving her chronically ill friend alone. Ariel understood her concerns. ¡°Text me when you¡¯re done with work.¡± The next day, Janice and Ariel left together for Faye Technologies¡® office. As Ariel locked her door, she nced at the opposite unit. Jayson still hadn¡¯t returned. He had been a constant nuisance since moving in next door¨Calways running into her whenever she went in or out. Slowly, she found herself unable to ignore his presence. But Jayson hadn¡¯t gone home that night. It had taken all his courage to share his true thoughts with Ariel. Yet she hadn¡¯t responded¨Cshe didn¡¯t even deny his suspicions. 1 Chapter 655 Follow current nov?ls on find?novel Naturally, that had put Jayson in a gloomy mood. So instead of going back, Jayson spent the night at the office. There was a private room for him to rest in. After a shower, he buried himself in work. It was just past 10:00 am when Jayson leaned back, massaging the bridge of his nose. Arthur suddenly entered, holding a tablet. His expression was grim. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you¡¯ve received an email. You need to see this.¡± Jayson raised his head. ¡°What email?¡± Arthur ced the tablet on his desk. Jayson looked down. Several photos were disyed on the screen¨Cshots of Ariel walking into the OB- GYN department. At the end of the email was a single line which read, ¡°Congrattions, Mr. Larkin. You¡¯re going to be a father soon.¡± 1 Inside 656 Jayson stared at Ariel¡¯s back in the photo. There was even a photo of her with her head lowered as she rested a hand on her t stomach. Her face wasn¡¯t visible, but that one gesture said everything. Jayson felt a tide rising in his chest, creeping into his whole body and leaving him with a deep, unshakable ache. For once, his usually steady mind was a mess. By the time he realized it, he was already on his feet with his phone in hand, calling Ariel. He didn¡¯t even care why she hadn¡¯t told him. None of the questions mattered. All he knew was that Ariel was carrying his child. Seeing Jayson suddenly bolt toward the door, Arthur hurried after him. ¡°Mr. Larkin, you still have a few important meetings today. Should I reschedule?¡± He had read the email too. He knew what Jayson was feeling right now. ¡°Yeah, reschedule them all,¡± Jayson said, striding forward with the phone pressed to his ear. Arthur knew that Jayson had something far more important to deal with right now. But when he nced at the calendar, he couldn¡¯t help but remind, ¡°You have a reception at Sterling Hotel at 11:00 am today. Guests areing in from overseas, and you¡¯re one of the key invitees.¡± ¡°Not important.¡± Jayson was still waiting for Ariel to pick up. But she didn¡¯t. The line rang and rang. He finally stopped in his tracks and pressed his brow to steady himself for a moment. ¡°Check with Sterling Hotel. See if Faye Tech¡¯s on the guest list.¡± These events usually only invited top¨Ctierpanies. But with Faye Technologies¡® rapid rise and their partnership with Nexura Solutions, they just might be on the list. Arthur nodded quickly. ¡°On it.¡± Jayson kept striding downstairs. Things between him and Ariel had ended on a sour note yesterday. She hadn¡¯t tried to ease his doubts or offered him even a single word of reassurance. (1 If she had just said, ¡°It wasn¡¯t like that,¡± he would have convinced himself that everything he did in those years was nothing but his own overreactions. But she had given him nothing. She ignored his feelings and didn¡¯t even bother to call. It was hard for him not to feel all those years of ¡°grievances¡± flooding back at once. Yet now, Ariel was pregnant. They had a new beginning waiting for them. 5 He realized how petty he had been. Why had he clung to the past? Why had he needed everything spelled out? By the time Ariel and Janice arrived at Sterling Hotel, the ce was already buzzing. A wave of unfamiliar faces filled the room¨Coverseaspanies were here for in¨Cdepth exchanges. It was a chance to build bridges that could lead to future partnerships. Janice knew this world well. As soon as they walked in, she subtly began introducing Ariel to the unfamiliar faces. ¡°That¡¯s Eden Gibson, head of QU¡¯s Vend division. See that guy in the gray suit? That¡¯s Dustin Chambers. He sells special materials in Arvenburg. And the model¨Clooking woman is Abbie Mitchell, manager of Sra division for the world¡¯s biggest drone brand.¡± Latest content published on f¦É?dn¦Ïvel Janice knew each person by name and background. She had a thorough grasp of everything, leaving no room for mistakes. Ariel smiled. ¡°Impressive. You know all of them?¡± Janice smirked. ¡°Have you forgotten what I do? You and Chad handle the tech, and I cover the rest. That¡¯s how we make a perfect team.¡± Smiling, Ariel gave her a light pat on the back in praise. Janice had even memorized their quirks and preferences. With those details in hand, it was easier to strike up the right conversations. Leaving the right impression could make all the difference. Chapter 657 Inside 657 Chapter 657 +15 BONUS Networking meant drinking, at least a little, so Janice had asked the waiter to prepare non¨Calcoholic drinks for Ariel to pass off as cocktails. Janice, on the other hand, made her way around the room with a ss of wine in hand. By the time she circled back, her head was spinning. ¡°We managed to trade a few contacts. Doors are opening. Not bad. At least we gain something tonight.¡± Ariel passed her a ss of water and patted her back. ¡°Alright, take it easy now.¡± Janice waved it off, rubbing her temples. ¡°I¡¯m fine. I just need the restroom. I¡¯ll be right back.¡± As Ariel watched her go, worry tugged at her. The moment she turned back, she caught sight of Lucas across the room. When he saw Ariel, he was clinking sses and chatting with others, yet his gazended on her. Just as he started toward her, Ariel turned away as if she hadn¡¯t noticed and slipped in another direction. That stopped him in his tracks. But Lucas kept his eyes fixed on her retreating back. His lips were pressed tight, and his fingers clenched the ss in his hand. This update is avable on Find_Novel(. ¡°Mr. Sanderson? Who are you looking at?¡± Someone came over to toast him. Lucas snapped out of it and smiled. ¡°Someone from my family.¡± The other person¡¯s eyes widened with realization. ¡°Ah, I see. Your beloved, huh?¡± Lucas just gave a casual smile and didn¡¯t answer. Meanwhile, Ariel had gone to chat with a CEO in artificial intelligence for a while. The renewable energy sector was booming and had massive potential. It aligned with her long¨Cterm vision. After exchanging contacts, Ariel realized Janice still hadn¡¯te back, so she turned to the waiter Janice had run into when she left. ¡°Excuse me, have you seen Ms. Swanson? Which way did she go?¡± The waiter looked at her. ¡°Ms. Swanson? I just helped her to the lounge. She was feeling dizzy, so someone took her over there to rest.¡± He pointed in the direction. Ariel followed his gesture. The event upied the entire third floor, with a lounge area off to the left. Ariel frowned. ¡°Which room?¡± If Janice was feeling that bad, why didn¡¯t she call? Surely she could have made a call. ¡°Room 3007.¡± Someone called the waiter over on his walkie¨Ctalkie, so he gave Ariel a quick nod before hurrying off. Ariel didn¡¯t get a chance to ask more. The whole situation felt off, so she called Janice while heading toward Room 3007. Janice sometimes put her phone on silent, so there were asional times when she couldn¡¯t be reached. Ariel couldn¡¯t get through to her and couldn¡¯t confirm anything. But since Janice had been drinking, she couldn¡¯t just leave her alone. She walked toward Room 3007 while dialing. When the call wouldn¡¯t go through, Ariel switched to WhatsApp. At the door, she knocked. When no one answered, she cautiously turned the handle, and to her surprise, it opened. ¡°Jan?¡± She peeked in. Suddenly, the WhatsApp call connected. ¡°Ari? Where are you?¡± Janice¡¯s voice was casual, as if nothing were wrong. Ariel let out a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to step back, someone brushed past her from behind, identally bumping her. She stumbled further into the lounge. Just then, the door clicked shut behind her. Frowning, Ariel turned around. A voice cut sharply through the air. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± She turned and saw Lucas stepping out of the bathroom. He had taken off his shirt, revealing his toned muscles. His shirt was damp, stained dark with spilled wine. It was obvious that he hade here to get changed. ¡°Are you with someone?¡± Janice¡¯s voice sounded puzzled over the phone. ¡°Where are you? Should Ie find you?¡± ml ¨C novt moment, she muttered in annoyance, ¡°Jayson? You¡¯re here too?¡± Inside 658 Upon hearing Jayson¡¯s name, Ariel lowered her eyes and thought for a few seconds. The WhatsApp call with Janice had already been dropped due to poor connection. At the main hall, when Janice spotted Jayson, a few people noticed him too. Cecilia arrived around the same time. After chatting briefly with a few guests, she made her way straight over. Jayson didn¡¯t pay attention to anyone else. He just asked Janice, ¡°Where¡¯s Ariel?¡± Janice didn¡¯t know either. But one of the waiters, suddenly seeming to remember something upon seeing Jayson and Janice, pointed down the left hallway. ¡°Are you looking for Ms. Walker? She went to Room 3007.¡± Jayson nced in that direction. At that moment, Cecilia reached his side. ¡°Mr. Larkin, Ms. Swanson, why aren¡¯t Ms. Walker and Mr. Hockney here?¡± However, Jayson was already heading toward the lounge area on the left. He didn¡¯t spare anyone else a second nce. Right now, all he cared about was confirming Ariel¡¯s pregnancy. Nothing else mattered. But the waiter, like he had just remembered something, added, ¡°Mr. Larkin, maybe you should wait here. I can get her for you.¡± Jayson shot him a look. Janice noticed the waiter¡¯s odd expression. Frowning, she asked, ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Cecilia tilted her head to watch the waiter. He finally said thoughtfully, ¡°Ms. Walker is probably busy. She¡¯s meeting with Mr. Sanderson from Jadeon Tech.¡± That one sentence immediately made Janice¡¯s face go cold. ¡°And? The siblings have nothing urgent to talk about. No need for you to speak for him.¡± She sensed something was off. Ariel wouldn¡¯t have any reason to meet with Lucas. What made it even stranger was that the waiter said it in front of Jayson, with others nearby listening. The first hint of trouble must be dealt with immediately. Cecilia suddenly seemed to remember something. ¡°I heard Mr. Sanderson was adopted by the Sanderson family. I know his fiancee, and she seems to have an issue with Ariel. Why would a sister¨Cinw be jealous of the sister?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t bother responding. He strode toward the lounge area. Cecilia stepped forward, spreading her arms in front of Jayson. Her cold, sharp eyes fixed on him as she lowered her voice. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I know people, and I¡¯ve heard some whispers from Ms. Johnstone. ¡°Ariel and Mr. Sanderson have a history. Now that they¡¯re suddenly alone together, what if there¡¯s something that¡¯s not meant to be exposed? I¡¯d advise you to stay calm and wait for her toe out. Considering all the people here, shouldn¡¯t we care about Ariel¡¯s reputation?¡± She added casually, ¡°Besides, Ms. Johnstone told me that Ariel¡¯s pregnant. Did you know?¡± Jayson finally lowered his gaze toward her. Cecilia met his eyes without flinching. She raised an eyebrow, then dropped a prickly question. ¡°What¡¯s with that reaction? You¡¯re her husband, right? And she didn¡¯t tell you?¡± When Wendy mentioned this yesterday, she had found it odd. Clearly, there was something suspicious about Ariel not telling Jayson. Especially since she seemed to have something going on with Lucas. Would Jayson suspect Ariel and Lucas? ¡°I don¡¯t think you should be worrying about my wife, Ms. Pryce,¡± Jayson said coldly, brushing past her without another word. As Cecilia watched his back, a fleeting trace of something shed across her eyes. Janice hadn¡¯t heard the exchange. She ran ahead of Jayson, wanting to warn Ariel toe out. But just as they arrived, the door opened. Jayson slowed his pace, then stopped. Ariel stood at the doorway, and behind her was Lucas, who had just finished changing. He balled up a shirt in his hands and tossed it into the bathroom, then raised his hand to straighten his tie. There was something subtly suggestive about those gestures. Lucas met Jayson¡¯s gaze and suddenly smiled. ¡°Mr. Larkin? You¡¯re here too? Don¡¯t get the wrong idea. There¡¯s nothing going on between us.¡± It would have been fine if he hadn¡¯t mentioned it, but bringing it up only made it seem like he had something to hide. Ariel shot Lucas a cold look. He didn¡¯t care about her situation at all. Jayson¡¯s gaze skimmed over Lucas and settled on Ariel. He stepped forward, standing right beside her.¡± Mr. Sanderson, I may not know you well, but I know my wife better than anyone. You didn¡¯t have to make such unnecessary jokes.¡± 2 Lucas¡® smile faded. X Chapter 659 Content originallyes from f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? Inside 659 Chapter 659 Ariel immediately grasped the situation. This was wrong. Being seening out of the same room together looked strange. Cecilia narrowed her eyes at Lucas as she approached. ¡°Mr. Sanderson, why didn¡¯t you talk to Ariel outside? Why bring her into the room? People could get the wrong idea. You should be thinking about protecting her reputation.¡± Janice snapped back to attention. Frowning, she retorted, ¡°They¡¯re siblings. Who¡¯d get the wrong idea about them? Aren¡¯t you overthinking this, Ms. Pryce?¡± Cecilia smiled lightly and didn¡¯t dwell on that topic. ¡°Sorry, I was just looking out for Ariel. That¡¯s all. By the way, Ariel, I heard from Ms. Johnstone that you¡¯re pregnant. Congrattions.¡± Lucas, who had just been looking rxed, suddenly stiffened. Ariel¡¯s expression shifted as well. Wendy? Ariel looked at Cecilia, surprised that she knew about her pregnancy. Even worse, she had revealed it in front of Jayson. Janice¡¯s emotions were clear on her face. With Ariel¡¯s pregnancy suddenly exposed, today¡¯s situation could easily turn into a major misunderstanding. Janice knew Ariel wouldn¡¯t tell Jayson. Now, with an outsider like Cecilia revealing it to him, it looked suspicious, especially since Ariel had been alone in a room with Lucas. 1 Janice didn¡¯t care what Jayson thought, but she refused to let Ariel¡¯s reputation take a hit. If Jayson doubted Ariel or suspected someplicated connection between her and Lucas involving the baby, how could Ariel handle his wrath? As Janice¡¯s expression darkened with those thoughts, Jayson looked at Ariel calmly. He stepped forward and took her hand, intecing his fingers with hers. Lucas saw the intimate gesture loud and clear. Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat. She looked up at hisposed face. ¡°Since Ari is pregnant, she needs extra care. Thank you for noticing and even helping her, Mr. Sanderson, Jayson said evenly. His expression betrayed no hint of doubt, like anyone might expect. Cecilia hadn¡¯t anticipated this reaction. A flicker of coldness crossed her face. Ariel pressed her lips together silently. She hadn¡¯t expected Jayson to respond this way either. But of course, she didn¡¯t feel the need to exin anything. After all, she had done nothing wrong and owed no one an exnation. If others didn¡¯t believe her, no amount of exnation would make them. 4 Yet, Jayson neither questioned the baby nor asked why she had been with Lucas. Janice looked at Jayson in surprise. Only now did she realize he really was a gentleman. He wouldn¡¯t believe just any rumor. Lucas, on the other hand, went pale. His gaze locked on Ariel¡¯s stomach as his mind raced. Ariel was pregnant? ¡°If you¡¯re done here for today, shall we head home?¡± Jayson looked at Ariel as usual,pletely unaffected by what had happened today. 1 Noticing that, Cecilia clenched her fists silently. Her expression went cold. She was sure Wendy and Lori weren¡¯t imagining things. There must be something going on between Ariel and Lucas. But now that Jayson had witnessed it with his own eyes, why hadn¡¯t he confronted Ariel? He didn¡¯t even ask her whose baby she was carrying. Normally, any man would be suspicious if his wife were pregnant and hadn¡¯t told him. Especially a man of Jayson¡¯s status, he couldn¡¯t possibly overlook even the smallest problem. Ariel knew she should react carefully in public, so she kept herposure and simply nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± $13 Jayson never let go of her hand. ¡°Ms. Swanson, are youing with us?¡± Janice, sensing that a private conversation was probably needed between them, swallowed her concern and said, ¡°No, I¡¯ll drive myself.¡± Jayson nced at Lucas. ¡°Well, then. Goodbye, Mr. Sanderson.¡± He remained perfectlyposed, showing no hint of chaos or aggression. Yet to Lucas, it felt like a silent p, making it all the more unbearable. Lucas¡® expression darkened. His eyes were glued to Ariel. He couldn¡¯t believe what just happened. Jayson led Ariel toward the exit. Cecilia clenched her fists tighter. The oue waspletely unexpected. She hadn¡¯t seen the reaction she anticipated. Fresh chapters posted on find?novel Inside 660 When Jayson led Ariel out, all eyes naturally followed them. There were too many onlookers to ignore. However, he didn¡¯t slow his pace, and he never loosened his grip on her hand. Even after leaving the Sterling Hotel and getting into Jayson¡¯s car, Ariel still didn¡¯t speak. She knew they would inevitably talk about her pregnancy. ¡°Seatbelt,¡± Jayson said, leaning over to help her fasten it. His gaze lingered on her stomach for a few seconds. ¡°Do you want to go home first?¡± Ariel sat there quietly. ¡°Up to you.¡± Jayson started the engine without hesitation. He didn¡¯t ask about her situation with Lucas earlier. ¡°Do you feel any difort because of the baby?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t answer. 2 Jayson turned the steering wheel, seemingly unbothered by her silence. A faint, easy smile tugged at his lips. ¡°Your health¡¯s never been good. I¡¯ll have Dr. Zehnder check on you. We can ease some of the pregnancy symptoms a bit.¡± His voice was low, steady, and patient. ¡°I remember you¡¯ve always loved kids. Do you hope for a boy or a girl? I was thinking that, either way, one child is enough. What do you think?¡± That was his genuine thought. Ariel¡¯s health had always been delicate, but she loved children. Now that she was carrying one, he just wanted to take care of her and keep her asfortable as possible. After all, pregnancy was something that would take a toll on her body. One child was enough. ¡°By the timing, you must be over three months in, right? That should be the stable period. I looked it up before. The embryo is fully formed and can be called a fetus around 12 weeks. Most of the organs have developed, and even the limbs can move. Can you feel it?¡± He knew more than Ariel herself. His words were slow, as he spoke with a faint smile. Fully formed¡­ 1 That meant it was a living being. Ariel didn¡¯t respond. Only she knew how things would ultimately turn out. 1 Judging from Jayson¡¯s demeanor, he clearly hadn¡¯t just heard the news from Cecilia. He seemed 1/2 Content originallyes from findnovel As if he could read her thoughts, he said honestly, ¡°Someone sent me pictures of you at the OB¨CGYN. I know I found outte and through someone else, but I still wanted to be there with you for those moments.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze. OB¨CGYN department¡­ Everything was clear now. Since Cecilia had learned from Wendy, this email had toe from Wendy as well. Ariel turned to look at him but didn¡¯t mention the baby. She asked, ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask about Lucas?¡± Jayson kept his eyes on the road. ¡°Do I need to? I know you better than anyone. Being in the same room doesn¡¯t mean anything. I won¡¯t lose my rationality because of that.¡± He could tell that there was something fishy about the situation. Others might be suspicious, but if he let himself overthink it, it would be nothing short of an insult to Ariel. The most important thing right now was that they had a baby. This could even mark a turning point for them. 1 Yet, Ariel felt that things had changed. Jayson was a rational person, and today¡¯s events wouldn¡¯t have much impact. However¡­ ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to ask why I didn¡¯t tell you?¡± Some questions had to be addressed eventually. Jayson¡¯s gaze flickered. ¡°Fine. Tell me what¡¯s on your mind.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to keep it,¡± Ariel said bluntly. 4 Jayson mmed the brakes. Her answer hit like an icy ssh, shattering any faint hopes for the future. As he turned toward her, his eyes shifted with emotion. ¡°Why?¡± He had suspected this from the moment he realized she hadn¡¯t told him, but he had suppressed that thought. That was why he hadn¡¯t asked why she hadn¡¯t told him. He had been avoiding some possible answers. Chapter 661 Inside 661 Ariel loved children. How could she possibly give up on this baby? ¡°Do you think I owe you an exnation?¡± she asked. (2) Lowering her gaze, she brushed her hand over her stomach. ¡°You never consider my thoughts before acting. So why should I consult you about my decision?¡± Jayson¡¯s tension spiked. He stared at her. ¡°But this is my baby too.¡± ¡°That¡¯s exactly why I don¡¯t want it.¡± Ariel looked him squarely in the eyes. This was one of the rare times she was truly biting. Her expression was utterly cold, as if this had nothing to do with her. ¡°Jayson, this is the consequence of everything you¡¯ve done. I won¡¯t let a child be born into an unhealthy home.¡± 3 Although this was an excuse she had no choice but to make for her cancer, it was still a fact. Wasn¡¯t this cause and effect? He didn¡¯t want her to get pregnant, so he gave her medicine to prevent it. Now he wanted her to have the child, so she must obey? Why should everything be dictated by his will? ¡°Does this have anything to do with Lucas not marrying Wendy?¡± Jayson suddenly asked as he looked at her. Lucas backed out of his marriage, and suddenly, Ariel, who had always loved children, didn¡¯t want his baby. Ariel clenched her fists. His words cut. ¡°You-¡± ¡°Let¡¯s go home.¡± Jayson cut her off abruptly, restarting the car. He didn¡¯t want to hear any more words that would pierce his heart. The joy he felt when he first learned of the pregnancy had turned to an ache that seemed to hollow him out. Ariel knew that he understood how determined she was, so she stayed silent. Jayson drove them back to their neighborhood. After going upstairs, he followed her to the door. ¡°This is my home,¡± Ariel said, looking back. She was chasing him away. He lowered his head and pressed her hand to the fingerprint scanner. The door opened. He led her inside. ¡°Are you hungry? I can make something for you.¡± Not a word about terminating the pregnancy. Ariel looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m not hungry. You don¡¯t need to bother.¡± She was referring to both the food and the baby. +15 BONUS This text is hosted at f?ndnovel Jayson paused. He took a slow, deep breath before turning to her. ¡°Did the doctor prescribe anything? Did they say the baby is healthy?¡± He shifted the topic again. Ariel turned toward the bedroom. ¡°There are plenty of women who can have children for you. No need to fight me over it. You can have whatever you want with just a curl of your finger.¡± He could simply find Evelyn a daughter¨Cinw with high¨CIQ genes. Jayson¡¯s face darkened. He stepped closer, grabbing her arm. ¡°Mind your words. What do others have to do with me?¡± He knew his tone was harsh. He lowered his head to calm down for a moment, then looked at her again. His hand, which had been holding her arm, slid down to grasp her hand. He traced her hand with his thumb. In his deep eyes, there was a hint of a silent plea. ¡°Ariel, give me some time, and give yourself some time too. What if you acted out of anger toward me and ended up regretting it? This is a living being in your body.¡± Beyond that¡­ He wasn¡¯t even sure if Ariel was rejecting this baby because Lucas wasn¡¯t marrying Wendy. After all, the timing was too coincidental, and all the lingering pain from past years still throbbed faintly in his mind. Even if she said she didn¡¯t love Lucas anymore, the sting remained. He couldn¡¯t fathom any reason why Ariel¨Csomeone who adored children¨Cwould want to give up on the baby. The only possibility before him seemed ringly obvious, but he refused to let himself lean toward that thought. He refused to let anyone else be the reason, even if it meant believing Ariel hated him. Feeling the warmth in his palm, she gently pulled her hand back. ¡°You¡¯re overthinking. I¡¯m not doing this because of you, Jayson. Don¡¯t put yourself at the center of everything.¡± 1 Jayson felt like his heart had been pierced. Inside 662 Ariel went back to her room to rest without a care about what Jayson was thinking. She had said everything she needed to say. Now that he knew about her pregnancy, she wouldn¡¯t hide her ns from him. Jayson stayed in the living room for a long while, staring at the gardenia on the table. His phone in his pocket buzzed repeatedly. When he finally checked it, he noticed some work calls and one call from an international number. He stepped out onto the balcony to dial that number. When he returned, it was nearly midnight. Ariel hadn¡¯t eaten anything. He entered the kitchen. She usually took good care of herself, so the fridge was stocked with fresh fruits and vegetables. He had spent a few years in Merinia, so he could cook for himself and knew the basics of cooking. But now that Ariel was pregnant, there were a lot of things to be careful about. Before he started cooking, he went through a bunch of tutorials and articles¨Cwhat foods were best for pregnant women, how to boost nutrition, ways to ease pregnancy diforts, and so on. He knew Ariel¡¯s tastes well. Plus, with the fridge stocked full of her favorite foods, he cooked with ease. He made a ck truffle mushroom soup and a tangy¨Csweet yam puree with berrypote. 1 After cooking, he removed his apron and went to Ariel¡¯s bedroom. He gently pushed the door open and stepped inside. Ariel was asleep. Facing away from the door, she lookedpletely unguarded. Jayson walked over and crouched slightly by the side of the bed, quietly looking at her face. Then, his eyes rested on her belly for a while. Ariel woke the moment he entered. She opened her eyes and asked, ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± ¡°Get up and eat. I made something you like.¡± Jayson ignored her cool tone and reached for her wrist. ¡°Jayson, I think I¡¯ve made myself clear,¡± Ariel said firmly, pulling away. ¡°I know. But does that have something to do with you needing to eat on time?¡± Jayson lowered his gaze, Ignoring her resistance, he took her hand again. Ariel had no choice but to get up. As she stepped out, a sweet, fresh aroma reached her. She had always loved yam puree with berry Work often kept him busy, but he always found time to make it for her when she wanted it. Ariel let out a soft sigh. ¡°You didn¡¯t have to do this.¡± Original content can be found at find?novel Jayson guided her to a chair and helped her sit. ¡°You¡¯ll feel ufortable these days. I¡¯ll stay and take care of you.¡± Ariel remained unmoved. ¡°Jayson, did you even listen to what I said?¡± He met her gaze steadily. ¡°I¡¯ll give you time to think, and you can also see whether I can be a good dad. You can decide after that, okay?¡± Jayson knew Ariel would have her doubts. Her harsh words wouldn¡¯t make him angry or back down. He needed to show her that he would do well and put her mind at ease. He had hurt her in the past, so she would naturally have trouble trusting him. He could understand that. As Ariel looked down at the dessert, a bitter taste rose in her mouth. There was no chance left. She muttered, ¡°You should go back.¡± But Jayson felt that Ariel¡¯s stance seemed to be softening. He stood behind her and tied her hair up to make it easier for her to eat. It was obvious he had done this countless times, as he didn¡¯t hurt her at all. Calmly, he smoothed each strand of hair and tied it into a neat low ponytail. ¡°Seems like you¡¯re not having much pregnancy difort. See? The baby¡¯s being kind to you.¡± X A$ +1 Inside 663 Ariel instinctively recalled the doctor¡¯s words. Latest content published on FindN0vel A high¨Cquality embryo would behave differently during pregnancy. The father¡¯s genes and physical condition were crucial. No wonder she hadn¡¯t suffered much physically despite her illness. The little one in her womb was so quiet. Otherwise, she would have noticed it long ago. Plus, because of her health issues, her periods weren¡¯t exactly regr, so she never suspected she might be pregnant. Noticing Ariel deep in thought, Jayson gently stroked the top of her head. ¡°If you want anything to eat, just tell me. I¡¯ll make it for you every day. It¡¯s much easier to have me do it than a maid.¡± He could tell Ariel was seriously thinking about the baby, and he was certain that she didn¡¯t dislike it. Not wanting to affect her appetite, he set down his apron and turned to leave. As Ariel sat in thought, a gentle kick from her baby brought her back to the moment. She stiffened slightly, experiencing a feeling entirely new to her. The motion was so faint it almost felt imaginary, yet it pulled hard at the strings of her maternal instinct. Whether from hormones or other factors, it began to overwhelm her. Ariel¡¯s expression remained calm, but her eyes quietly reddened. The only little life in the world so closely connected to her hade into being, yet could only fade away. But she knew she didn¡¯t have to make any reckless decisions. She wouldn¡¯t give herself up for the baby. Even if she wanted it toe into the world, she had to survive first. After all, a child without a mother would be utterly miserable. She had endured such suffering before. No matter how much Jayson loved the child, he could never fully fill that void. Ariel admitted that maternal love was profound, but she had no other choice. Over the next couple of days, as soon as Ariel opened her eyes, Jayson was already busy outside. The all¨Cpowerful, high¨Cand¨Cmighty CEO was now curled up in this modest apartment, cooking and tending to every detail of her life¨Ceven squeezing her toothpaste. Even when she tried to persuade him to stop, Jayson would just look at her and say, ¡°You can pretend I don¡¯t exist, but if I were you, I¡¯d find ways to hassle me, pick at me, and wake me up in the middle of the night to get whatever I wanted to eat or have. After all, freebor shouldn¡¯t go to waste.¡± He even offered ideas. Ariel remained unmoved and paid him no mind. She headed to the military base as usual. Jayson didn¡¯t say a word about that. He had no intention of interfering with her work or daily activities. However, not intervening didn¡¯t mean he fully let go. He still drove her to the military base. Ariel could see how much he cared about the baby. In fact, she was considering whether she should tell him that her illness had made the pregnancy impossible. 2 She needed to consider the potential chain reactions that could follow. After watching Ariel enter security at the military base, Jayson lingered. His eyes were shadowed with emotion. As he started his car, he made a call. ¡°Are you sure everything¡¯s foolproof?¡± Ariel went to the wing design section to consolidate the blueprints. Unlike regr aircraft, fighter jets would require countless repeated tests. A single mistake could be catastrophic. Later, she would start merging materials from Jayson¡¯s side. For now, her work required regr testing of his materials¡® data. As she was about to head to another workspace, she noticed Samson standing silently by the door, though she had no idea how long he had been there. His expression wasplicated in a way she couldn¡¯t quite read. Inside 664 Chapter 664 Samson returned to his usual self and strolled over casually. ¡°You just got here?¡± Ariel nodded while putting away the blueprints. She thought that the fleeting look ofplex emotion she had just seen on him was just an illusion because he was now smiling casually as always. His eyes reflected her features. ¡°You look a little worn out. Is the work here stressing you? Maybe you should take a breather. Elsie is assigned to help with a lot of your tasks. You can use her as much as you want. It¡¯ll also teach her a thing or two.¡± Ariel knew that, but she preferred to handle important matters herself. Of course, she wouldn¡¯t neglect guiding Elsie. She just prioritized what mattered most. ¡°I know. I will,¡± she replied. Then, she asked, ¡°Is Yeager Group still giving you a hard time?¡± She couldn¡¯t just act like nothing had happened. She had to check in at least. Samson shrugged. ¡°It¡¯s nothing serious. As you know, my mother¡¯s the CEO. They can¡¯t just kick me out of Yeager Group. Dealing with it might be a bit of a hassle, but I¡¯m still young. A little pressure is what helps me grow tougher and stronger.¡± He didn¡¯t brag that it would be easy. He spoke his mind frankly. There was a genuine sincerity in his manner. Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°I can¡¯t help much with yourpany matters, but I remember the favor. I¡¯ll return it when Faye Tech has a good projectter.¡± This was the most appropriate way she could think of. It didn¡¯t involve anything beyond a simple exchange. (1 Samson caught her meaning and smiled slightly. ¡°That¡¯s not important. I¡¯m not the type to beg for projects. Since this is my first time dealing with fighter jets, just a little guidance from you to help me avoid mistakes would be more than enough. What do you say?¡± That was a simple request. Ariel nodded. ¡°Sure. Just ask if you need me.¡± After saying that, she moved to the other side of the workspace. Samson watched her walk away. His expression remained neutral, but his eyes were deep. He had learned that Ariel was pregnant from Cecilia, yet he hadn¡¯t shown a hint of reaction. 424 This baby sure didn¡¯te at the right time. Just then, his phone rang, and he answered. Cecilia¡¯s voice was cool. ¡°So, what¡¯s going on with you and Jayson? Has he been giving you trouble?¡± Jayson probably pinned everything on Samson regarding the earlier Sheffielton incident. The fact that there was no response was definitely unusual. Fresh chapters posted on f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? ¡°Nothing¡¯s going on,¡± Samson replied. But he knew that a man like Jayson wouldn¡¯t easily move on from something he was certain about. Even though he didn¡¯t like Jayson, he still needed to stay on his guard. Cecilia warned, ¡°Don¡¯t slip up. You¡¯ve already lost to him before.¡± Samson nced up casually. Then, Cecilia noticed something. She asked, ¡°Why is there a woman¡¯s pearl earring in your ce? I found it on your bedside table. Whose is it? Should I throw it?¡± 1 Samson turned toward Zone 2 and replied evenly, ¡°No need.¡± 1 Cecilia suddenly chuckled. ¡°Toote. I had someone throw it.¡± Samson paused for a brief moment. His face showed no reaction, and he didn¡¯t say a word. He just continued walking like he didn¡¯t mind at all. Cecilia clicked her tongue. ¡°Well, yeah. It¡¯s not worth caring about. Just a piece of trash, right?¡± Samson hung up, ignoring her entirely. As he left the military base, he made an international call. When Ariel finished work and stepped out, she saw Jayson already waiting at the entrance. Leaning against the hood of the car, he turned toward her when he heard her. The sky was dim, yet his eyes shone brightly as they met hers. ¡°Do you really have so much free timetely?¡± Ariel asked bluntly. He clearly had an almost overwhelming workload, yet these past few days, he hadn¡¯t missed a single moment to be with her. Jayson opened the car door. ¡°You probably won¡¯t see me for the next three days. I have an urgent work trip tonight.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to tell me your schedule.¡± ¡°Whether you want to hear it is your business; whether I report it is mine.¡± He handed her a bottle of milk he had brought from home. Ariel nced at the time. ¡°The military base has arranged a car for me. There¡¯s no need to trouble yourself.¡± Jayson looked down, his dark eyes meeting hers. ¡°Let¡¯s talk about the baby when I return. I¡¯ll be back in no more than three days. Whatever you decide, I want to be there with you.¡± (1) This business trip was unavoidable, but he still wanted to keep Ariel in check, making sure she didn¡¯t take any action while he was away. X Inside 665 Chapter 665 Jayson was confident he could find a way to soothe and persuade Ariel as long as he was around. She thought for a moment. Three dayster happened to be the Saturday she had scheduled for the abortion. Perfect timing, in a way. ¡°Okay,¡± she replied calmly. She didn¡¯t intend to go behind his back anyway. There was no need. She would tell him on Saturday. 1 Noticing she didn¡¯t object, Jayson exhaled quietly in relief. He knew that once Ariel said yes, she wouldn¡¯t go back on her word. He didn¡¯t let the military base car take her home; he drove her himself instead. He needed to leave and return early from his business trip. This was about the SX alloy. He had to take care of some procedural issues to ensure Ariel¡¯s military base project wasn¡¯t disrupted. Th?s chapter is updated by find?novel Once Jayson left, Ariel opened the fridge. Inside were neatly washed and cut fruits, and the dinner he had prepared. She just needed to reheat it. Jayson didn¡¯t know her password, but her lock had a mechanical key, and he probably had a copy. Ariel made a mental note to change to a purely numeric lock. On Friday afternoon, Ariel went to the hospital. She needed a pre¨Cprocedure assessment with Liam today, so the abortion could take ce the next day. Just stepping into the hospital stirred a lingering ache in her chest. She drew a deep breath, forcing down the sense of despair, and resolutely entered the lobby. However, something felt off as she walked in. She turned around to look. She couldn¡¯t shake the feeling that someone had been watching her. But with the crowd in the lobby, it could have been an illusion. 1 Ariel rubbed her forehead and rode the esctor upstairs. Liam had two surgeries scheduled today but made time for Ariel to hand her a checklist, which involved a gynecological exam and an ultrasound. ¡°These two tests will give results quickly. The gynecological exam will confirm your uterine condition, and the other is for anesthesia assessment,¡± Liam said, his gaze gentle and steady. ¡°There¡¯s no need to be nervous. You can have Ms. Swanson apany you if you want.¡± Ariel shook her head. ¡°I haven¡¯t told her. Today is just the assessment. No need to trouble anyone.¡± The procedure was tomorrow. She could handle today on her own. Liam noticed the sorrow hidden beneath her calm demeanor. He nced at his watch. ¡°I¡¯ve got a surgerying up that should take about an hour. I¡¯ll see you once it¡¯s over. It¡¯s alwaysforting to have someone there.¡± Ariel just smiled faintly. ¡°Thank you, but it¡¯s really fine.¡± With that, she turned and left. Several tests would take some time, with the anesthesia assessment scheduledst. After waiting in line for quite a while, it was finally Ariel¡¯s turn. She needed a physical examination before her anesthesia assessment. But as she entered, a nurse led her to another room. ¡°Isn¡¯t it there?¡± Ariel pointed to a nearby room. Everyone else seemed to have headed there. (1) Without turning, the nurse said, ¡°Your case is special. You require two additional procedures.¡± Ariel didn¡¯t argue. Her condition was indeed different from the others, so she simplyplied. Inside, she saw a masked doctor. ¡°Just lie down here,¡± he instructed. Ariel nodded absentmindedly. As shey down, her hand instinctively brushed her stomach. There was a slight curve already. She was naturally very slim and couldn¡¯t eat much, so her belly didn¡¯t look very noticeable, even in the advanced months of pregnancy. At this moment, Ariel could hear her own racing heartbeat. The thought that these assessments were a step toward ¡°killing¡± her baby sent a sharp ache through her throat, and moisture pricked her eyes. She bit her tongue, forcing herself to steel her heart. The doctor came closer, shading the bright light. Ariel opened her eyes, only to meet a pair of eyes that looked indifferent. He restrained her arm and held a syringe filled with liquid. Ariel suddenly became fully alert. A cold sweat broke out for no reason. ¡°What is this? Does the assessment require an injection?¡± 1 Instead of answering, the doctor signaled the nurse to help hold her down. Ariel sensed danger immediately. She tried to rise, but he pressed her shoulders firmly down. Inside 666 The doctor¡¯s forcefulness only deepened Ariel¡¯s unease, especially with his hand mped on her shoulder so tightly that she couldn¡¯t move at all. ¡°What are you doing? I never agreed to any injection!¡± Ariel had a sharp intuition about certain things, and the feeling that something was off kept intensifying. ¡°Ms. Walker, don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s just an allergy test.¡± The nurse had stepped in to help the doctor restrain her. Her tone was nonchnt, but her actions were firm. Ariel was sure this wasn¡¯t part of the assessment. With her fragile condition, every step should have been weighed carefully by the doctor, and Liam hadn¡¯t ordered this. This wasn¡¯t a blood draw. It was an injection! ¡°Let go of me!¡± Ariel shouted, thrashing violently. But her sharp resistance barely slowed them down. Official source is FindN()vel The nurse, clearly impatient, used both hands to restrain her. Ariel was suddenly pinned down, forced to watch as the silent man stuck a needle into her vein and pushed a bit of liquid inside. A surge of strength came from nowhere. Ariel fought back, unconcerned if her thrashing made the needle tear into her. She drove her leg upward and kicked toward the man¡¯s stomach, no longer caring whether she hurt him or not. They were trying to hurt her, and she had no idea why. Ariel¡¯s struggle was so fierce that even the nurse was thrown aside. Seizing the moment when the man recoiled, Ariel rolled off the bed and staggered toward the door. However, it was locked. Ariel could only m into the door repeatedly to draw attention from outside. Realizing how quickly Ariel caught on and how much of a scene she was causing, the two exchanged grim looks before slipping out through another door. 2 Meanwhile, Liam finished the surgery quickly. He left the sutures and final touches to his team as he nned to check in on Ariel. As he reached the waiting area, a loudmotion from deep inside the corridor caught his attention. With a slight frown, he stepped into the corridor. The consultation room where people were lining up was quiet. Themotion wasing from the innermost room. ¡°Someone¡­ help¡­¡± The voice was broken, but Liam instantly recognized that it was Ariel¡¯s voice. His expression darkened. Puzzled as to why Ariel would be in that room, he strode over without any hesitation. At that moment, the door swung open and Ariel copsed out. Liam¡¯s face went pale as he caught her in his arms. 1 He nced down and saw the needle still embedded in her arm. Herplexion was ghostly pale, clearly showing she was under some kind of influence. Liam froze in surprise. He nced inside but saw no one else. At once, he scooped Ariel into his arms and strode out in long steps. The nurses outside quickly noticed something was wrong and rushed over. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Call OB¨CGYN and prep an OR! Now!¡± His voice was steady and low. Liam walked quickly. Right now, Ariel was his top concern. Her pregnancy was clearly in trouble. Ariel had scheduled an abortion with a doctor for Saturday, and her information was already on record for the appointment. The OB¨CGYN department quickly dispatched staff to assist. Ariel¡¯s sight blurred to ck as her body rocked with every jolt. The stabbing cramps drenched her in cold sweat. In her haze, her hand still instinctively pressed against her belly. The pain radiated upward until it wed at her chest. A chilling premonition struck, so overpowering it tore herst shred of reason apart. She had already decided to tell Jayson about the abortion she had scheduled for tomorrow once he came back. But this happened suddenly and without warning. An ident harmed the baby. All the strength she had braced herself with was ripped apart in an instant. The pain she thought she would faceter came crashing down on her now, merciless and unstoppable. Chapter 667 +15 BONUS Inside 667 The OB¨CGYN team moved fast. When Liam carried Ariel into the operating room and got her settled, he noticed the needle still stuck in her arm. Pressing a cotton swab against it, he withdrew the syringe. Most of the liquid was still inside and not fully administered. That was probably what had caused Ariel¡¯s problem. He came out holding the syringe. Two foreign doctors had arrived faster than he had anticipated. This private hospital was famous worldwide, known for its discretion. The patients who came here were either rich or powerful, and the hospital paid top dor to keep foreign specialists on staff. Ariel¡¯s case was an emergency. At that point, any doctor they could call in was better than none. Liam didn¡¯t know these two personally, but they had already scrubbed in. Just before leaving, he paused and turned to them. ¡°Is the doctor she booked with not avable today?¡± he asked in Merinian. One of the foreign doctors nodded. ¡°She needs an urgent abortion. The other doctors are upied. Don¡¯t worry. It¡¯s a simple procedure.¡± Liam didn¡¯t exin that Ariel needed the procedure because of an ident. He could only step out for now. Ariel had already shown signs of miscarriage. Maybe, if they pushed hard with treatment, there was a sliver of hope. But she had already scheduled an abortion. The suddenplication now meant the pregnancy would be terminated ahead of time. The operating room doors closed. Liam stared at the glowing light above, then pulled out his phone and called Zach. Zach had just gotten off work. Seeing the call, he answered, ¡°Liam? You¡¯re off early today?¡± Liam didn¡¯t waste time. ¡°Do you have Ms. Swanson¡¯s number from Faye Tech? Send it to me. I need to get in touch with her.¡± It was the first time Zach had ever heard Liam sound this serious and urgent about reaching a woman. His curiosity burned. ¡°Sure, I¡¯ll send it over. But what are you-¡± Liam quickly hung up. 1/3 Momentster, Zach texted him the number. Liam immediately called Janice and told her about Ariel¡¯s situation. Janice rushed out of the house in a panic and drove as fast as she could to get to the hospital. For original chapters go to f?ndnovel By the time she ran up, she was out of breath, but she didn¡¯t care. She hurried straight to the operating room. ¡°What happened to Ari? Why was she suddenly taken in?¡± Liam looked at her and pressed his lips together before replying, ¡°She might not be able to keep the baby.¡± The words had barely left his mouth when hurried footsteps echoed down the hall. Janice¡¯s mind went nk as she turned around. She saw Jayson rushing in, looking worn. His wless face had turned pale, and in his eyes were splintered traces of light that could no longer be pieced together. Step by step, he walked toward the operating room doors. The corners of his eyes flushed red. He fixed his gaze on the operating room as if he could see straight through to where Ariely on the table. Janice was stunned to see Jayson suddenly show up. Ariel had told her he was away on a business trip and wouldn¡¯t be back until tomorrow. ¡°When did she go in?¡± Jayson finally asked. He stayed silent for a long time before pulling his shattered emotions back together. His voice was hoarse as he kept his eyes fixed on the operating room. He understood that since Ariel was already inside, nothing he did could change her decision. Liam nced at Janice, then replied, ¡°About half an hour ago.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t care why Liam was here. He knew Liam was a doctor. At this moment, he felt as if countless des were splitting his mind open, each breath in his chest heavier than thest. Only one truth echoed in his head¨CAriel didn¡¯t want their baby, and she didn¡¯t want him either. Inside 668 Chapter 668 Liam caught the trace of self¨Cmockery and defeat in Jayson¡¯s face. For a man like him to look that way, it was obvious that¡­. Jayson¡¯s throat bobbed as he clenched his fists and lowered his head. The weight of exhaustion and shock seemed to crush him. Every breath burned in his chest like shards of ss. He lowered his gaze, his lips curving into a silent, self¨Cmocking smile. His eyes held the hollow pain of a man whose hope had burned out, yet he didn¡¯t say another word. His whole presence radiated a sharp, suffocating intensity, one that nearly stole the air from the room. Meanwhile, Janice¡¯s mind was racing. She didn¡¯t exin anything to Jayson. Instead, she turned straight to Liam. Jayson was lost in his own storm, oblivious to everything else. ¡°Dr. Spencer, could you¡­¡± Janice met Liam¡¯s eyes, making her meaning clear. Liam understood. She didn¡¯t want him telling Jayson anything about Ariel¡¯s condition. He gave a small nod. This was Ariel¡¯s private matter, after all. He had no intention of interfering in her personal life. ncing at his watch, he said, ¡°I¡¯ve got another surgery to get to. Once Ariel¡¯s awake, you cane find me anytime.¡± The syringe he had removed from her earlier was already disposed of after its contents were identified. It was highly dangerous for a pregnant woman. He would have to talk to Ariel once she was stable. He still didn¡¯t know what had happened in the consultation room, but he had already reported the incident to the hospital. Now, all he could do was wait for the results. ¡°Okay. Thank you.¡± Janice¡¯s feelings wereplicated. This surgery wasn¡¯t even supposed to happen today. It was really an ident. Liam hurried off. When Janice turned back, she saw Jayson standing there in silence. His features were clouded with grief so raw it almost seemed broken. Ariel¡¯s choice had clearly struck him hard. The surgery dragged on far longer than expected. Janice was a wreck with worry. By all ounts, the procedure should have taken less than half an hour. Jayson, on the other hand, satpletely still. It was impossible to tell what he was thinking. Readplete version only at f?ndnovel By the time the surgery ended, nearly 90 minutes had passed. Two foreign doctors emerged, masks still on. Jayson snapped back from his daze instantly and rushed toward them. Their eyes found him right away. One of them spoke first. ¡°Everything went smoothly.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t reply. His eyes, bloodshot and raw, were fixed on Ariel as she was wheeled out. He dragged his heavy steps forward. Staring at her with her eyes still shut, he couldn¡¯t describe what he was feeling. Was it more pain or more helplessness? Janice¡¯s heart pounded painfully as she stepped forward. ¡°The baby¡­¡± One doctor nced at her. ¡°We¡¯ll take care of it.¡± There was no need to spell it out further. Janice¡¯s eyes stung red. She was grieving for Ariel. Only she knew just how much Ariel had suffered and how painful it had been. Jayson¡¯s Adam¡¯s apple moved as he mechanically followed the gurney toward the ward. Once Ariel was settled, he sat at the bedside and never looked away from her face. Janice could see the bitter irony etched on his face. She drew in a long breath, then said firmly, ¡°Jayson, don¡¯t look at her like that, and don¡¯t you dare me her. You¡¯re the reason things havee to this. Of all people, you¡¯re thest one with the right to me her.¡± It needed to be said. Without waiting for a reaction, she turned and walked out. Inside 669 Janice knew Ariel and Jayson needed their space, and she wouldn¡¯t intrude. Janice¡¯s voice lingered in his mind. Jayson didn¡¯t respond for a long while. Readplete version only at F?ndNovel Over the past couple of days, he had hardly slept, rushing from one task to the next just to get back as quickly as possible. He had expected Ariel to wait for him before making her final decision, and at the very least, respect him as the father of their child. But no matter how fast he rushed, he still missed the moment she made her decision. It seemed she never intended to wait, and she wasn¡¯t giving him even the slightest chance. Ariel woke from anesthesia sooner than expected. When she opened her eyes, she sensed someone at her side. She turned and met Jayson¡¯s pale face. He had been sitting by her bedside for who knew how long without any expression. His emotions were tightly restrained. A sudden buzz ran through Ariel¡¯s mind. Her body felt hollow, and the subtle connection to life inside her was gone. She understood immediately that the baby was no longer in her body. Even though she hadn¡¯t nned on keeping the baby, the suddenness of this loss left a bitter taste in her mouth. Yet, she couldn¡¯t let herself grieve because she didn¡¯t even feel entitled to it. So, she simply stared at Jayson. A long, tense silence stretched between them, like knives sliding across their hearts. Finally, Jayson cleared his throat and slowly tucked the nket around her. His voice was hoarse, almost stripped of warmth. ¡°Does it hurt anywhere?¡± He spoke as if it were an ordinary question, but something had changed. Ariel¡¯s fingers, hidden beneath the nket, dug into her palm. She showed no expression. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t you wait for me?¡± He didn¡¯t look at her. Instead, his eyes were fixed on the nket. Even though he didn¡¯t raise his voice, she could feel the weight of his interrogation. ¡°Would it have made a difference if I had?¡± There was no clear answer for what had happened, and she couldn¡¯t make sense of them. She needed the truth, but she also felt wronged. None of this had happened by her own choice. Jayson¡¯s eyes shed red, and he finally looked straight at her. ¡°Do you hate me that much? It was my baby¡­ our baby¡­ and you couldn¡¯t wait to get rid of it?¡± Ariel¡¯s throat tightened. No words came out. ¡°Or was it because Lucas called off his marriage?¡± He asked the question he had dreaded most, the very ?¡± The timing was always so cruelly precise, like a sword piercing through the scab of a wound he had barely begun to heal. By choosing to give up the baby, Ariel seemed to be telling him that there was no ce for him in her heart, and not a trace of love had ever existed. It was as if she didn¡¯t care at all how much pain it would cause him. Ariel looked away, staring at the harsh light above, which made her eyes sting. ¡°If you¡¯re already certain, why do you need me to confirm it? If I said no, how much of that do you believe?¡± That was the root of the problem. She knew Jayson wouldn¡¯t ever fully believe her. He remained silent for a long moment. Finally, a bitterugh escaped his throat. A surge of burning pain welled up in his chest, but he couldn¡¯t release a single bit of it. All he could do was feel it slowly cool. He rose slowly. ¡°If that¡¯s what you truly want, then I¡¯ll let you have it.¡± +15 BONUS. Inside 670 Chapter 670 How could Jayson not see Ariel¡¯s resolve? She hadn¡¯t thought about dealing with him at all. It had been so clear that she didn¡¯t want his baby. He even wondered, just how much did Ariel despise him? Were all those years they had spent together ever genuine? Or had it all been because of circumstance, duty, or obligation? Now, with the baby gone, he finally knew how she truly felt. He couldn¡¯te to terms with it, and he couldn¡¯t see any reason other than Lucas calling off his marriage. Even lying to himself felt impossible. Ariel didn¡¯t know what expression to show, whether for the ident or Jayson¡¯s reaction. Exhausted in both body and mind, she didn¡¯t even want to speak. Jayson had already risen. His Adam¡¯s apple bobbed as he said, ¡°Once you recover and your work at the 719 base wraps up, I¡¯ll cooperate with whatever you want.¡± With that, he turned and left the ward. He couldn¡¯t face her now. In all his 30 years, he had never imagined experiencing this kind of soul¨Cdeep pain, this mingling of grief and rage, and the feeling of everything falling apart. Yet, he knew he had no right to demand an exnation. After all, not loving him wasn¡¯t a crime. Ariel didn¡¯t call after him. After all, there was nothing she could exin. What Jayson saw now was the ultimate oue. Besides, what could she even exin? After all, this was a hospital. How could she possibly prove that a doctor had tried to harm her? She lightly touched her abdomen. People always said a mother and baby were connected. Now, she could clearly feel that the one life that had been hers and hers alone was gone. How could she not feel anything? Humans weren¡¯t machines; they had countless emotions. She knew that even if today¡¯s events hadn¡¯t urred, the baby still wouldn¡¯t have survived. But it was hers, nheless. Ariel closed her eyes. A buzzing pain stabbed her nerves, leaving her unsettled. Even as tears slid down her cheeks, soaking the pillow, she didn¡¯t notice.
Jayson hadn¡¯t left. Aftering out, he sank into the chair by the door, his legs heavy. Leaning back, he tilted his head to stare at the ceiling light and remained motionless for a long while. When Janice returned from buying personal supplies, she saw Jayson sitting there. The man who was usually so proud and aloof now radiated an indescribable loneliness. She didn¡¯t know what they had talked about, but she could vaguely guess that it probably hadn¡¯t ended well. Now that the baby was gone, even someone as headstrong as Jayson had likely been driven to the edge. Janice felt sympathy for Ariel, but some things weren¡¯t hers to intervene in. Their problems ran deeper than this incident. Ignoring Jayson, she entered the ward to stay with Ariel. Ariel said nothing, and the night passed quietly. The next day, Janice woke up at 6:00 am, nning to make some breakfast for Ariel. The moment she stepped out, she saw Jayson still sitting in the same chair. He hadn¡¯t left all night. It didn¡¯t look like he had slept as well, as hisplexion was far from good. She hesitated for a moment, then said, ¡°Losing the baby wasn¡¯t what she wanted either.¡± N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on find¡¤novel Jayson¡¯sshes twitched. His cold, indifferent eyes flicked toward her. Janice didn¡¯t say anything more. She turned and left. Jayson¡¯s body ached and throbbed with numbness. He finally rose, stood by the ward door for a moment, then left. As he headed downstairs on the two parallel esctors, he kept his eyes down, oblivious to the other side. Liam, however, couldn¡¯t help but nce at him. Isaac, walking beside Liam, gave Jayson¡¯s back a thoughtful look. Liam asked Isaac, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Isaac snapped out of it. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s nothing. Let¡¯s go check on Ms. Walker first.¡± He had just finished a night shift and happened to meet Liam, who told him about Ariel¡¯s case. Having met her often while treating Leonard and knowing that Liam was acquainted with her, he felt he should go see how she was doing. X Inside 671 Liam hade by to talk to Ariel about what had happened yesterday, By the time he arrived with Isaac, Janice had juste back. ¡°Is she awake?¡± ¡°Yes, let¡¯s go in,¡± Janice said, pushing the door open. Ariel turned toward them. She hadn¡¯t slept wellst night, and her face looked drained. When she saw Isaac, she greeted him politely, ¡°Dr. Coleman.¡± Isaac let out a sigh. ¡°I heard what happened. Just wanted to check on you. You need to take care of yourself and not get too worried.¡± Ariel tugged a faint smile at her pale lips. ¡°Thanks. I will.¡± ¡°Dr. Spencer, why are you here so early?¡± Janice asked. Ariel clenched her fingers slightly, and her eyes were fixed on Liam. He stepped closer and looked at her. ¡°When I saw you yesterday, your arm had a syringe. I had it analyzed. It was a clinical blood¨Ccirction and clot¨Cdissolving medication mixed with some anesthetic. It¡¯s pretty strong. That¡¯s what caused your reaction.¡± Ariel went pale, her lips tightening. ¡°But this is a hospital. How could that¡­¡± And not just any hospital¨Cthis was a major medical center. How could something this terrifying happen here? Isaac understood immediately. ¡°They gave that to a pregnant woman? That must be deliberate.¡± What kind of doctor would make such a basic mistake? Furious, Janice panted as she asked, ¡°Did you catch them?¡± Liam shook his head. ¡°They know the hospital well. We have no leads so far. That kind of drug usually works for about an hour. But because of your condition, it hit you instantly. If you hadn¡¯t struggled, no one would have detected a thing because the drug metabolizes too quickly. The source would¡¯ve disappeared before anyone could trace it.¡± He frowned. This was ridiculous. Who would expect something like this to happen in a hospital? Sure, one could argue it was a medical ident, but even that seemed far¨Cfetched. ¡°This isn¡¯t an ident,¡± Ariel said, drawing a deep breath to suppress the tightness in her chest. ¡°It feels targeted. We need to find those two people first.¡± No matter what, she had to get to the bottom of this. This wasn¡¯t just some minor incident. Janice gritted her teeth. ¡°Should we call the police?¡± Liam agreed. ¡°I¡¯ve already reported it to the hospital. They¡¯re investigating. Let¡¯s wait for any updates.¡± After a pause, he added, ¡°I ran into Mr. Larkin just now. He just left?¡± Readplete version only at Find?Novel Ariel¡¯s gaze flickered briefly. She didn¡¯t say much, just nodded slowly. Liam had no idea what was going on between them, but it was clear that it wasn¡¯t good. Isaac suddenly remembered something and looked at Ariel in surprise. ¡°Mr. Larkin? Your husband?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t know what to say. The divorce hadn¡¯t gone through, and their rtionship was broken, yet she couldn¡¯t reveal the truth to anyone. Janice spoke for Ariel. ¡°Is something wrong?¡± Something suddenly clicked for Isaac, and he pped his hands. ¡°I remember now! That¡¯s why he seemed familiar when I ran into him. Liam and I returned from abroad. I specialize in transnt and oncology surgery. ¡°I wasn¡¯t supposed toe back with Liam because I still had patients overseas. But I was offered a high sry and bonus to return immediately. They said there was an important case here but didn¡¯t give me details. ¡°I¡¯ve only briefly brushed past Mr. Larkin outside the hospital director¡¯s office. He¡¯s actually the one who arranged my return. It¡¯s probably because of Mr. Walker¡¯s liver transnt.¡± Inside 672 Chapter 672 Ariel¡¯s gaze flickered. She never expected Isaac¡¯s treatment of Leonard to somehow involve Jayson. Isaac finally remembered everything. ¡°Ms. Walker, back when you were waiting for Mr. Walker¡¯s surgery, not great with faces, so it took me a while. I was I remember thinking Mr. Larkin looked familiar. I¡® swamped with work overseas and barely had time toe back. Mr. Larkin must¡¯ve coordinated with the hospital over a month or two to make that happen.¡± And the hospital had offered him a hefty bonus, plus pay 40% higher than what he earned abroad. That was a big part of why he came back. Janice looked confused. ¡°Wait, I thought Dr. Spencer introduced you to Ariel.¡± She didn¡¯t see how Jayson fit into this. Isaac smiled. ¡°I got assigned to the hospital where Mr. Walker was being treated, and since I specialize in oncology, it was only natural I¡¯d end up handling his case. Even without Liam¡¯s introduction, there would have been a public onboarding ceremony at the hospital. Ms. Walker would¡¯ve found out about me and reached out anyway.¡± Everything lined up in a way that made the oue inevitable. Ariel stayed silent for a long time. Saying she wasn¡¯t surprised would have been a lie. She had thought she had tried hard to connect with Isaac through Liam. But Jayson never mentioned any of this. By now, she could roughly understand what he was thinking back then. He must have held back and not been fully honest with her because of Lucas. Leonard¡¯s treatment was a big favor. But now, her rtionship with Jayson was essentially broken. How could one even separate right from wrong in all this? Ariel could only give a bitter smile, unable to put the feelings into words. She had no energy to focus on Jayson. The baby was never meant to stay, yet saying goodbye to it in such a painful way left her heart with lingering sorrow. Liam could tell Ariel was still fragile. ¡°You need to rest well. Your mood affects your recovery more than you realize. Once you¡¯re fully back on your feet, we can discuss treatment again.¡± He wasn¡¯t an overly empathetic person, but Ariel was the only patient he interacted with frequently. He knew a lot about her experiences and struggles and couldn¡¯t help but pity her at times. ¡°I understand.¡± Ariel¡¯s face was pale, and her expression was nk, as if all her energy had drained away. For more chapters visit Find¡ïNovel Liam gave her a long look before leaving with Isaac. The investigation was ongoing. There had to be an exnation. For now, all they could do was wait. Ariel didn¡¯t feel like talking. She just stared silently out the window. Janice felt uneasy watching her quietness but couldn¡¯tfort her. All she could do was stay by her side as much as possible. Jayson didn¡¯t go to the office. He returned straight to the marital home, wandering there with a sense of aimlessness. He found himself in the nursery without even realizing it. Even when Georgia came by to speak to him, he didn¡¯t notice. He closed the door and sat on the alpaca stool. His eyes were calm yet unyielding as they swept over every detail. The room wasn¡¯t overdecorated. Jayson had left space for Ariel. She liked personal touches, so he wanted her to feel free to arrange it herself. He had torn down the marital home partly because of Lucas, and partly because he wanted to cast off all the bad memories with Ariel and start over. Back when he had smashed up the house, he had been torn between worry and anticipation. The day he saw that email, he recognized the hospital in the background and knew Ariel¡¯s neighborhood was nearby. Once he confirmed she was pregnant, he felt as if his heart was about to burst through his chest. He wished he could have shown her all the feelings he usually kept buried beneath his calm exterior. He knew he wasn¡¯t a good person, but all the sincerity he had was given wholly to Ariel. So when he discovered her heart might belong to someone else, his pride shattered. The pain cut to the bone, and he could neither ept nor face it. With the baby, he thought he finally had a ray of hope. Yet, it shattered in an instant. It once again forced him to watch helplessly as Ariel showed how she didn¡¯t love him. Before leaving for his business trip, he had considered many things. Since Cecilia had learned of Ariel¡¯s pregnancy, he had arranged bodyguards to protect Ariel in secret, to avoid another abduction likest time. However, he kept them hidden so as not to affect her daily freedom. 1) But this time, Ariel had gone to the hospital herself. Inside the hospital, there was only so much his bodyguards could do. He had taken precautions, but in the end, Ariel wouldn¡¯t wait for him. Some decisions just couldn¡¯t be stopped, no matter how hard he tried. Inside 673 Chapter 673 Jayson¡¯s head pounded like it was splitting open, but he couldn¡¯t sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, Ariel¡¯s cold face carved itself into his mind, hammering at him without pause. He sat in the nursery for two straight hours before finally standing. Out in the living room, he dug out an old pack of cigarettes and a lighter from the cab. Without ncing at Georgia, he said, ¡°Make a few dishes that are good for recovery in the way Ariel likes them. Give them to Toby and have him send them to the hospital.¡± Georgia immediately sensed something was wrong. ¡°Is Mrs. Larkin sick? Should I deliver them myself?¡± ¡°No need. Let Toby go.¡± Jayson¡¯s voice was rough. He mped his lips around the cigarette and lowered his head to light it. His hand was trembling, so the lighter sparked a few times before the me finally caught. After that, he turned and walked toward the balcony. Georgia would be going back to Larkin Manor sooner orter. Jayson didn¡¯t want word of Ariel losing the baby to reach his family. That would only trigger a storm of questions she couldn¡¯t handle. Georgia didn¡¯t know what had happened, but after working for the Larkins for more than ten years, she had never seen Jayson so defeated. Still, she knew her ce. The affairs of her employee weren¡¯t hers to meddle in. Ariel remained in the hospital for two days. During that time, Jayson never showed. Only his driver came, dropping off meals three times a day. It was as if Jayson had vanished. However, Ariel didn¡¯t ask about him. When she was discharged, she returned to her neighborhood. Chad had heard about her situation, from losing the baby to the cancer. Since Ariel hadn¡¯t gone back to Faye Technologies, she couldn¡¯t use any excuses to hide it from him. She had thought Chad would at least be calmer than Janice, yet when he rushed over, his eyes were red as he red at her with both frustration and concern. In the end, he could only grit his teeth and say, ¡°Ariel, do you even consider us your friends? What do you think friends are for? Why did you shoulder everything alone?¡± 1/4 But Ariel was already so frail. Chad swallowed down his anger. With his hands on his hips, he forced himself to breathe evenly but still couldn¡¯t ept this. Finally, he said, ¡°Stop all your work right now and focus on your treatment! Stop worrying about everything else!¡± The baby was gone, and though that grief would linger, what mattered most now was Ariel. She hadn¡¯t expected this reaction from him. He was far more forceful than Janice, and there was no way she could brush him off. So she tried bargaining. ¡°I promise, once I finish up the 719 base project, I¡¯ll stop and focus on my treatment. My condition is stable enough now. You know how it is. Once you¡¯re in the national research engineering team, you can¡¯t just pull out halfway.¡± Chad knew she was right. He clenched his jaw, staring at her helplessly. Ariel was too stubborn to confide in them, and now it was toote to have her quit. He forced down his emotions, thinking how unfair life was for piling every hardship onto Ariel. ¡°Fine. Handle the 719 base project as much as you can, but your graduate school is starting soon. You don¡¯t have the energy for it. I¡¯ll talk to my dad and postpone your enrollment. I won¡¯t let you push yourself recklessly. 11 Ariel understood that as well. At the moment, postponing was the only choice. Chad also tly forbade her from going back to work at Faye Technologies. He ordered her to rest for at least two weeks. With the baby gone, she needed time to recover. Ariel didn¡¯t argue. Still, if tasks came from the 719 base, she would do her best to take care of them. She hadn¡¯t told Katie or Leonard about her condition. She kept their calls brief, careful not to raise suspicion. Janice decided to stay and take care of her. Ariel never saw Jayson again from across the hall. It was as if he had vanished into thin air. She wasn¡¯t surprised. Even knowing her illness meant she couldn¡¯t keep the baby, she still grieved the loss. How much worse Checktest chapters at find~novel must it have been for Jayson, who thought she simply didn¡¯t want the baby? She knew he wasn¡¯t exactly even¨Ctempered. Arielsted barely over a week at home before returning to work. Grief had no end. She needed something to keep her mind upied, or she would drown in it. The hospital and Liam hadn¡¯t given her answers yet. She suspected the hospital would suppress the incident, and the police investigation would take time. A clear conclusion might be far off, but she needed one. She needed proof of who had targeted her. Once back at the military base, Ariel immediately called a team meeting. Over at the hangar, work on the stealth parameters for the aircraft was in full swing. Next, she would need to lead the team on the flight control system. As she left the conference room, she came face¨Cto¨Cface with a man. Inside 674 Samson was holding a file, clearly on his way to the data center. The moment he saw Ariel, he heaved a sigh of relief and quickened his pace toward her. Frowning, he stared at her. ¡°You¡¯ve been gone eight days. They said you took leave. Did something happen?¡± His sharp features were shadowed with concern as he studied her. Ariel met his gaze, while her thoughts stirred beneath the surface. ¡°I had a miscarriage, so I took some time to recover.¡± This time, she kept nothing back and dropped the bombshell news. Painful as the truth was, she didn¡¯t flinch as she said it. She just looked at Samson openly. His gaze flickered. Surprise hit first, then stiffness, before his expression settled into something solemn.¡± How could that happen? What caused it?¡± He pressed his lips together. ¡°Actually, I had already heard from Cecilia that you were pregnant. You know it wasn¡¯t easy for me to ept, so I could only pretend I didn¡¯t know. But what you¡¯re going through 11 Ariel¡¯s eyes were clear, though her mind was turning. She had thought Samson might simply pretend not to know about her pregnancy. But with Cecilia as his sister, pretending ignorance would have been weird. In truth, the first person she suspected was Cecilia. That night on the cruise still gnawed at her. Ariel hadn¡¯t been herself that night, and it wasn¡¯t only because of the alcohol. After knowing Cecilia¡¯s feelings for Jayson, Ariel could only see her as the prime suspect. One attempt would lead to another. If Cecilia had really drugged her that night, Ariel wondered who she would have ended up with if Jayson hadn¡¯t been sharp enough to intervene. That meant Cecilia wanted to ruin her rtionship with Jayson. This time, losing the baby had been so sudden and was another ident. Besides, it happened right when Jayson was away from Eldoria. What would he think when he returned to find Ariel had ended the pregnancy on her own? After all, he had seen hering out of a room with Lucas. Now that the baby was suddenly gone, it was only natural to suspect and overthink. And who would benefit from that? But for now, there was no clear proof it was deliberate rather than a medical ident. Even after filing a report, they could only wait for news. Without solid evidence, nothing could be confirmed. ¡°Ms. Pryce hasn¡¯t been around muchtely, has she? Is she busy?¡± Ariel asked, ignoring Samson¡¯s worried tone. Samson looked at her intently, clearly not giving her question much thought. ¡°Not really. My father¡¯s angry with her. He¡¯s been keeping her under watch. She can¡¯t go anywhere without someone tailing her. Our family is really strict. She¡¯s basically grounded for now.¡± Ariel nodded lightly. ¡°I see. Your father¡¯s so strict even with grown children.¡± She said that casually but inwardly weighed the exnation. Being under watch meant giving Cecilia a ready excuse that she had had no chance to do anything. Samson kept his eyes on her. His expression was unusually grave when he suddenly said, ¡°Actually¡­ you know my father.¡± Ariel looked at him. Samson continued honestly, ¡°My father is Stanley Pryce. I think you¡¯ve met.¡® Ariel froze for a moment. Stanley Pryce? The minister of the Department of Defense? ¡°1 Discover more novels at Find?Novel She truly hadn¡¯t expected Samson and Cecilia toe from such impable backgrounds. With that connection, all the events and her suspicions suddenly felt baseless. ¡°Because of him, I had early ess to U.N2. That¡¯s where my interest came from. It feels like fate that we crossed paths,¡± Samson said. He lifted his hand to shield her face from a shaft of sunlight before continuing seriously, ¡°I don¡¯t know everything you¡¯ve been through, but I do understand that losing a child is devastating. Still, I don¡¯t want you drowning in that grief. I¡¯ve told you before, Jayson isn¡¯t the one for you. Before, there was Nancy in the picture. Now you had a baby but lost it. Isn¡¯t that a sign for you to move on?¡± Inside 675 Samson paused for a moment before saying, ¡°Ariel, your life has only just begun. Marriage or children won¡¯t change the fact that you shine. Whatever you choose, I hope it leads to something good.¡± Just then, Elsie stepped out and caught sight of the scene. She froze for a moment and bit her lip without realizing it. Samson¡¯s gentleness toward Ariel was something he never showed anyone else. Ariel had already nced her way, so Elsie walked forward. Up close, she realized Ariel didn¡¯t look well at all. Even with makeup on, her face was pale and drawn. Elsie knew Ariel had been on leave. Clearly, she was still unwell. Her brows furrowed. ¡°If you¡¯re sick, whye back so soon?¡± Ariel looked as though even a breeze could topple her. She was frailer than Elsie. ¡°Just checking on your work. See if I can pick at it a little,¡± Ariel said, without even a hint of teasing in her tone. Elsie bristled instantly, folding her arms. ¡°My work¡¯s solid. I don¡¯t think you¡¯ll find any faults.¡± With a little huff, she added, ¡°Actually, you came just in time. We need to test the materials today and submit the analysis.¡± That was Ariel¡¯s responsibility. But after everything that had happened, going over to Jayson¡¯s department felt a little strange. Still, she wasn¡¯t going to avoid it. Work still needed to be done. ¡°Alright, let¡¯s go.¡± Samson knew Ariel wouldn¡¯t answer the question he had left hanging earlier, so he let it go too. ¡°Take care.¡± Ariel lowered her gaze, nodded slightly, and turned to head for the car. As Elsie watched her thin figure retreating, something unsettled tugged at her. She almost ran after her, but Samson¡¯s question stopped her. His gaze slowly moved away from Ariel¡¯s back and turned to Elsie. ¡°We don¡¯t seem to have each other¡¯s number, do we?¡± Elsie stopped at once, her ears burning. ¡°Are you asking for my number?¡± Samson blinked, a little surprised, then gave a small smile without denying it. ¡°Yeah, if that¡¯s alright. My department will be coordinating with yours moving forward.¡± Realization hit Elsie. He was asking because of work. Her words earlier came out too quickly, making it seem like Samson was asking for her number for his own sake. She felt so embarrassed that she wished she could disappear into a hole. ¡°Oh¡­ Of course. Let me type it.¡± After they exchanged contacts, Elsie darted off with a flushed face. When she joined the group, Eric was still the one coordinating with them. But as they stepped through the main doors, Ariel spotted Jaysoning toward them. He was reading the file in his hands, while several people followed at his heels. Unaware of their arrival, he simply ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? f?ndnovel brushed past them. Ariel naturally didn¡¯t call out. Elsie, though, frowned and blurted, ¡°Mr. Larkin, didn¡¯t you see your wife?¡± She still remembered the fight they had hadst time. The sudden call made Jayson¡¯s long strides slow. He turned slightly and looked up. And there was Ariel. After all these days, she hadn¡¯t recovered much. She still looked pale. Their eyes met. Ariel¡¯s expression stayed neutral, and she made no move to speak. In that pause, Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on her for the briefest moment. Then, he gave a polite nod to the higher¨Cups with him and turned to walk away. He didn¡¯t say a word and showed no hint of emotion. Inside 676 Chapter 676 The group moved in step with Jayson. No one made a special effort to greet Ariel. Ariel wasn¡¯t surprised. This felt like exactly how things should be right now. Since Jayson had left the hospital, she hadn¡¯t seen him at all. Eric hadn¡¯t noticed anything unusual. ¡°Mr. Larkin¡¯s probably busy. He was abroad for a while and just returned today.¡± Ariel nodded. That exined his absence. But even if he hadn¡¯t left Croinia, they still wouldn¡¯t have crossed paths. After what happened with the baby, there was no chance of any emotional connection between them anymore. She remembered what Jayson had said at the hospital¨Cthat he would wait until her work at the 719 base was done to cooperate with her. She understood exactly what that meant. He was hurt. He assumed she had gone through with the abortion before he returned. He despised her for not wanting his child. So it was over. Newest update provided by FindN0vel It made sense that he would think that way. They wouldn¡¯t have any further ties in the future. Ariel didn¡¯t even know what her own future held. Would she fully recover? Fail? Or maybe rpse? At this point, how could she even hope to convince him to believe her? She didn¡¯t have any proof herself. ¡°Have you two not made up yet?¡± Elsie asked, tilting her head in curiosity. Ariel didn¡¯t address the question. Instead, she turned to Eric. ¡°This round of materials is being tested in batches. We¡¯ll probably need to do two more roundster. Make sure your team cooperates fully. There can¡¯t be any mistakes.¡± Eric smiled. ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Mrs. Larkin. Mr. Larkin has always overseen this since it¡¯s important for your future work.¡± Ariel paused slightly, then led Elsie inside to start organizing the work. The materials involvedplex data, and Ariel would need to analyze each report carefully. She asionally nced at Elsie and instructed her, ¡°Take note of this and send it to my email.¡± Elsie listened, bewildered by the unfamiliar sets of data. ¡°What kind of data is this?¡± Ariel didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°Just don¡¯t get the numbers wrong.¡± Elsie didn¡¯t understand, but Ariel was her superior, so she obeyed. She couldn¡¯t help but observe Ariel¡¯s uncanny ability to remember everything with absolute precision. While others might need long hours of calction and scrutiny, Ariel was different. Her mind was like the perfect vessel. During all the time Elsie had watched her, she had never seen Ariel struggle or hesitate. Every piece of data under her control was handled with wless uracy. That was pure skill and a rare talent. Elsie began to understand why Samson admired Ariel. That kind of calm confidence, born from strength, gave her a maic presence. Biting her lip, Elsie finally asked, ¡°How did youe up with this calction algorithm? Can you exin it?¡± She pointed to the trickiest part of the data. Ariel finally looked at her. ¡°Modified honeb method. Bring yourptop. I¡¯ll give you an example.¡± Elsie froze. She hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to openly share her personal technical methods. ¡°What are you spacing out for?¡± Ariel tapped her lightly on the forehead with her pen. Startled, Elsie touched her forehead. ¡°You¡¯re really generous.¡± Ariel nced at her. ¡°I have many sets of algorithms. You can try learning them if you can.¡± Elsie was rendered speechless. Those words infuriated her. Ariel worked with great efficiency. After two more rounds of detailed work over the next two weeks, the materials could be put into formal use. The entire process would take over a month, and the research project was reaching a crucial stage where the materials would be needed. Once the work was done, Ariel submitted the data to the government for review. It was already gettingte. When she stepped out, she noticed a call from Betty. After some hesitation, she answered. ¡°Grandma?¡± Betty¡¯s tone was cheerful and casual. ¡°Ari, what time are you getting off today? Have you been busytely?¡± Inside 677 Chapter 677 Ariel checked the time. ¡°I just got off work. I¡¯m not really busy now.¡± Betty was clearly in a good mood. ¡°Perfect. Since you¡¯re done,e to Larkin Manor today. Kyle and Jayda are back from overseas. They¡¯re nning to celebrate my 80th birthday with me. They justnded. You should join us for a family dinner.¡± Ariel thought of Betty¡¯s second son, Kyle Larkin. After she and Jayson married, Kyle and his family had been stationed at the overseaspany and hadn¡¯te back much in the past three years. When her identity became public, Kyle had even called Betty to congratte her. ¡°Ari? Jayson said he can¡¯t make it. Since you¡¯ve finished work,e back. I¡¯ll arrange for someone to pick you up. I want to hear your ideas for my birthday party too.¡± Ariel considered it. She and Jayson were not on good terms, yet the Larkins were unaware of their issues. Th? link to the orig?n of this information r?sts ?n Find1Novel Now that the old agreement was void, she didn¡¯t actually need to hide the truth from Betty. Perhaps it was best to speak to Betty face¨Cto¨Cface, test the waters, and decide how much to reveal. Besides, with Betty¡¯s birthday approaching, it was impossible to avoid family gatherings. So this was a good opportunity to address the problem and try to sever lingering ties. ¡°Jayson¡¯s not going?¡± she asked, confirming. ¡°Yeah, he said so. You should talk some sense into him. Work doesn¡¯te before family.¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there, Grandma.¡± Ariel agreed. She knew by now that Jayson likely had his own ns to talk to Betty. By evening, Ariel arrived at Larkin Manor. A maid greeted her at the door. Even from outside, she could hearughter from the living room. The moment she stepped inside, her eyes immediately fell on Jayson, sitting with his legs crossed on a single couch. He raised his gaze and looked over calmly. She froze for a moment. Betty immediately shot Jayson a re. ¡°You had the nerve to tell me Ari couldn¡¯te because of urgent work? If I hadn¡¯t called to confirm, I¡¯d have beenpletely fooled!¡± +15 BONUS Only then did Ariel realize that Jayson had refused on her behalf. He hadn¡¯t expected Betty to call Ariel and simply ask her to was about to greet Betty when someone came over and took her hand. ¡°Ari, you¡¯re here! Come, sit down.¡± It was Jayson¡¯s second aunt, Jayda Dodson. Seated next to Jayson was Kyle. Jayda immediately pulled Ariel inside. Jayson looked at her face without any expression and said nothing. Smiling, Kyle looked at Ariel. ¡°I always said Jayson has good taste. Our family had produced a research prodigy.¡± Ariel kept herposure. ¡°Kyle, you¡¯ve traveled far. It must¡¯ve been exhausting.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing. We¡¯re staying a while this time.¡± ¡°Wait, didn¡¯t you see Shane when you came in just now?¡± Jayda asked. At that moment, a deep voice came from the doorway. ¡°Ari seemed preupied. I called her, but she didn¡¯t hear me.¡± Ariel turned and saw Shane Larkin striding toward her. He was Kyle¡¯s only son and was a year older than Jayson. Ariel didn¡¯t know much about him. After her first year of marriage to Jayson, Kyle and his family had moved to Isbell. They had left rather abruptly. Betty hadn¡¯t mentioned him, so Ariel hadn¡¯t expected to see him here. Shane approached Ariel, sized her up, and held out his hand. ¡°Ari, it¡¯s been a while. You haven¡¯t forgotten me, have you?¡± It had been several days since her miscarriage, but she hadn¡¯t fully recovered and would sometimes zone out. Before Ariel could respond, Jayson, who had been silent until now, suddenly stood up. He took her hand and pulled her slightly behind him before looking at Shane. ¡°Shane, stop joking around with Ari.¡± Inside 678 Ariel lowered her gaze and looked at Jayson¡¯s hand holding her wrist. His expression remained calm. When he spoke to Shane, there was even a faint curve of a smile on his lips, yet it revealed nothing of his thoughts. Shane chuckled and tilted his head toward Ariel behind Jayson. ¡°See? Jayson¡¯s still so protective of you. We haven¡¯t been back in years, so it¡¯s normal that Ari isn¡¯t very close to us.¡± Betty chimed in, ¡°True. You all went abroad about a year after Ari and Jayson¡¯s wedding. It¡¯s been nearly three years since shest saw you.¡± The Larkin family¡¯s businesses spanned multiple countries, with various ongoing investments, all managed regionally. ¡°I was so surprised when I called you about Ari,¡± Jayda said, then yfully red at Ariel. ¡°Ari, how did you never let anything slip before? You¡¯re incredible at keeping secrets.¡± Before Betty went to take her supplements, she proudly added, ¡°Ari¡¯s not an arrogant person. It was the government¡¯s demand. It wasn¡¯t like she wanted to hide it.¡± Just then, Evelyn entered. Jayda immediately beamed. ¡°Evelyn, you¡¯re really lucky to have such a great daughter¨Cinw. You must feel really proud. In our circles, it¡¯s nothing unusual to marry a rich heiress, but Ari is a rare gem.¡± It was indeed a kind of family honor. Evelyn gave Jayda a faint nce. ¡°Right, back when Jayson married Ariel, who had no family background, you were pretty pleased too.¡± After all, only Jayson and Shane werepeting to be head of the family at that time. But in that crucial moment, Jayson married Ariel, who had nothing and wasn¡¯t a proper match. She brought no status or value. Kyle and his family were delighted, fully entertained by the spectacle. Yet now, Jayda was putting it so nicely. ¡°That¡¯s because I thought Ari was a good woman. Turns out my judgment wasn¡¯t wrong. Evelyn, I remember you weren¡¯t too happy back then. You nearly took a gem for a worthless trinket, huh?¡± Jayda joked, shaking her head. Still, she couldn¡¯t help feeling annoyed. Who would have guessed Ariel was so talented? Evelyn sat on the couch and said casually, ¡°Jayda, you say your judgment¡¯s good, but you had Shane escape so quickly back then. Otherwise, who knows who Ariel would have ended up marrying?¡± +15 BONUS For original chapters go to findnovel At those words, the room went tense. Though Evelyn didn¡¯t say outright what it was about, Jayda¡¯s smile stiffened, and Ariel frowned silently. Because what happened back then was moreplicated than it seemed. Morgan wasn¡¯t capable enough to target Jayson so precisely. At the time, Shane, the Larkin family¡¯s eldest son, was actually his first target. It happened to be during Jeffrey¡¯s birthday party before he passed, where the entire hotel was booked to host the guests. Back then, Morgan had tricked her into going to Room 6609. Arielter found out that Room 6609 was actually Shane¡¯s suite. She didn¡¯t know exactly what had happened at the time, but when she woke up, she was in Room 6606 with Jayson. Only once did Ariel happen to hear Jayda on the phone, saying, ¡°The Sandersons tried to slip someone into our family. Come on, Shane is out of their league, and we don¡¯t need that kind of headache.¡± That was when she realized Morgan hadn¡¯t targeted anyone in particr. Just getting her close to any Larkin was enough to achieve his goal. Though she didn¡¯t really know what went on in between. Now, with Evelyn suddenly bringing it up¨Cwithout even spelling it out¨Csomething felt a little off. But of course, the most ufortable one was Jayda. She had once watched Jayson being pressured into marrying someone like Ariel and had even mocked Evelyn several times. Inside 679 Jayda never imagined that her teasing back then would now give Evelyn cause to be sarcastic. Jayda just smiled lightly and stood up. ¡°Evelyn, you¡¯ve got quite the sense of humor. A good match doesn¡¯t BONUS Shane nced at him. ¡°I¡¯ll probably stick around a few months this time.¡± (1) Jayson lowered his gaze, turning his wedding ring. ¡°Really? Can you afford to put things on hold at Isbell for that long?¡± Shane smiled. ¡°It¡¯s been years since I came back. Gotta make sure Grandma¡¯s birthday is properly celebrated.¡± He lit a cigarette. ¡°It¡¯s all thanks to you, Jayson. If it weren¡¯t for you, I wouldn¡¯t have been able to leave this ce and spend the past three years at Isbell.¡± Jayson¡¯s sharp gaze swept toward him. ¡°Isn¡¯t that what you wanted?¡± Shane¡¯s smile faltered. Hew ed it? then, Jayson was like a mad dog, leaving no room forpromise and decisively cutting off every ape route for him. To put it nicely, Shane volunteered to go to Isbell. But actually, Jayson had essentially forced him out of nia. use¡­ Ariel¡¯s ident had happened on the exact day of the board election. This update is avable on f?ndnovel The moment she got hurt, Jayson bailed on the important meeting as expected. Shane had thought it would distract Jayson, make him slip, and cost him the win. But instead, it only fueled Jayson¡¯s determination. Just because Ariel had broken her hand, he went all in against Shane and his family. Two months of relentless struggleter, they eventually withdrew from the Croinia market and retreated to Isbell. Not long after Jayson married Ariel, Shane realized she meant something different to him. Later, a single test proved just how important she truly was to him. What Shane hadn¡¯t expected was that, even in such dire straits, Jayson still managed to turn the situation around. Inside 680 Chapter 680 Shane had been the first in the Larkin family to truly realize just how much Jayson valued Ariel. ¡°Now that you¡¯re back, what¡¯s your n?¡± Jayson asked as if nothing had ever happened. His tone was calm and unreadable. Sometimes, Shane hated that about him. He was always soposed, but every move of his was ruthless. ¡°Why? Nervous about meing back?¡± Shane chuckled, throwing the question out as a joke. Jayson¡¯s gaze slidzily his way. ¡°I¡¯m d that you don¡¯t hold a grudge. Back then, it was a real blow to your pride. Now that you¡¯re back, people will still gossip. You¡¯ll probably feel uneasy for a while.¡± The words might as well have pped a ¡°loser¡±bel across Shane¡¯s face. Shane¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver, but he knew the truth. He had lost badly, and plenty of people had enjoyed watching the spectacle. Despite being a year older, he had still ended up shoved overseas. ¡°How could I? We¡¯re family in the end. Family doesn¡¯t hold grudges,¡± Shane answered smoothly. Jayson didn¡¯t bother humoring such empty lines. He had expected Shane and his family¡¯s return. When he had forced them abroad, he had known it was only a matter of time. After all, no one would willingly ept being cast out and exiled. Fresh chapters posted on Find~Novel Shane patted Jayson¡¯s shoulder and turned back toward the living room. Jayson didn¡¯t follow immediately. He lingered in the quiet corridor, his thoughts heavy. Back then, he was overwhelmed, with too many things crashing down on him at once. Ariel¡¯s ident was pure misfortune. Before Jayson rose to power, the hidden battles were endless, with every dirty trick in y. Shane knew well that Ariel was his weak spot. He wouldn¡¯t stay abroad forever or ept being under his thumb. Returning to Croinia was inevitable, and he would probably use Ariel against him from time to time. From that moment on, Jayson had thought it through. Ariel needed to grow strong on her own before then, instead of living forever under his protection. Once Ariel¡¯s abilities caught the attention of the government, Shane would have to think twice before making a move against her. He wouldn¡¯t act rashly. After fighting tooth and nail with Shane for the position and just after forcing him out, Jayson had also discovered Ariel¡¯sputer. Plus, there was Cecilia, a ticking time bomb with her unpredictable actions. +15 BONUS With pressureing at him from every direction, Jayson had been utterly drained. The truth was, great families had no such thing as peace and harmony. Everyone had their own agenda, and betrayal came all too easily. Back then, he had to juggle the power struggle at Bluum Corp, fend off Shane¡¯s schemes, and protect Ariel. On top of that, Lucas¡® matter nearly drove him to the brink. Looking back, those days had been hell. Now that Shane and his family were back, it meant vignce once again. Jayson rubbed at his brow, then finally stepped into the living room. Ariel was still inside, after all. Betty had urged Ariel to find Jayson, and the two nearly collided in the doorway. Jayson instinctively reached out to hold her waist before letting go. Ariel met his calm eyes. Not once had heshed out at her for refusing to keep the baby. The issue had simply been left unspoken. Both of them tacitly avoided it. Ariel didn¡¯t think much of him ignoring her today. After ncing around to make sure no one was watching, she asked softly, ¡°When do you n on telling Grandma about us? Today might be the right time. I came here intending to bring it up. But since you¡¯re here too, I thought I should ask about your n. They had already decided on divorce. Some groundwork needed to beid. Inside 681 Jayson¡¯s throat tightened, but in the end, he only said, ¡°Uncle Kyle just got back, and Grandma¡¯s in good spirits. There are too many people around today, and her birthday¡¯sing up. We can tell her after that. Besides, the first phase of your work at the 719 base is almost done.¡± ???? ????s? ???????s ?? FindN0vel Ariel did the math. Betty¡¯s birthday was more than 20 days away. She wasn¡¯t so desperate that she couldn¡¯t wait. But Jayson¡¯s answer told her that he agreed to the divorce. The matter of the baby weighed on him more heavily than she had expected. Despite his immense love for children, he had never once asked her to have one in all their years together. If he hadn¡¯t tampered with the herbal soup back then, she wondered what their lives would look like now if they had had a child. Maybe she wouldn¡¯t have had to endure so much pain. ¡°Alright.¡± Ariel nodded, then turned and walked away without another word. Jayson stood watching her back. After a while, he lowered his head and let out a heavy breath, feeling like he could barely breathe. What he wanted to hear was that her abortion had nothing to do with Lucas, and that it wasn¡¯t because she didn¡¯t love him. Even if she had said she hated him, he could have found a way to convince himself otherwise. But she said nothing, not even a lie. Maybe now Jayson finally understood how Ariel had felt when his feelings for her had ¡°faded¡°. At the family dinner, Ariel noticed something was off. Everything felt like surface¨Clevel politeness, especially between Jayson and Shane. She knew vaguely how fierce their rivalry had been. But the way they sat here chatting as if nothing had ever happened, it only felt strange. When dinner ended, Betty tried to keep everyone around. But this time, Jayson quickly said, ¡°Grandma, Ari has to head to the military base early tomorrow. It¡¯s too far from here.¡± Betty had no choice but to let them go. Shane and his family nned to stay behind, so Jayson left with Ariel. He even kept up appearances, asking Ariel for her car keys and driving her car as they left together. 1/3 From the third¨Cfloor balcony, Shane stood watching as the Range Rover pulled away. Only after a while did he pull out his phone. It rang for some time before the line connected. ¡°You¡¯re back?¡± +15 BONUS Shane leaned against the railing. His eyes narrowed into the night. ¡°Mr. Pryce, your intel must be wrong. They didn¡¯t seem like they were having problems.¡± ¡°What made you think they were having issues in the first ce?¡± Shane asked, amused. Samson didn¡¯t answer. Instead, he said, ¡°You¡¯ve been abroad long enough, so you know Jayson¡¯s business overseas better than most. Mr. Larkin, you won¡¯t get many chances. Help me, and I¡¯ll make sure you stay.¡± Shane said nothing, just narrowed his eyes. On the way back, the car was quiet. It wasn¡¯t exactly awkward, just a quiet silence, with both lost in their own thoughts. The drive ended in the underground garage. When Ariel got out, Jayson followed and tossed her the keys. ¡°Go on up.¡± She caught them, then watched him as he walked toward the Rolls¨CRoyce parked in its usual spot. Clearly, he wasn¡¯t nning to stay here tonight. Her thoughts flickered back to the old incident the Larkin family had dredged up. She had been at the center of it, yet somehow she was the one who knew the least. Watching Jayson reach for his car door, she suddenly asked, ¡°Did you really have no idea you were being set up back then?¡± Inside 682 +15 BONUS Ariel had never asked before. Back then, she had always thought of herself as the one who ¡°benefited¡°. The details didn¡¯t seem important. After all, it was her family who had profited from the Larkins. And at the time, she couldn¡¯t remember much anyway. She had been drifting along in a daze, pushed forward without much say. It was easy to overlook a lot of things. But today¡¯s dinner had stirred something. It made her realize there were too many unanswered riddles. Jayson had never once exined how she ended up in Room 6606. Her question came suddenly. He froze, and his thumb absently rubbed over the key. After a while, he replied honestly, ¡°I knew.¡± Ariel was stunned. Jayson didn¡¯t turn back, only lowered his gaze. ¡°Plenty of people try to y dirty. But not just anyone can set me up.¡± Countless people wanted to climb higher. But only Ariel¡­ He still didn¡¯t look at her. His tone stayed even. ¡°If Morgan hadn¡¯t pulled that stunt, the Sandersons and Larkins wouldn¡¯t have been on the same level.¡± Without that ¡°leverage¡°, the Larkin family would never havepromised so easily. Things between him and Ariel would have needed time, especially since there was no real foundation between them at the time. But this incident was an unexpected opportunity he could use. Jayson admitted that he didn¡¯t always care about the process. What he wanted was the result. Without any more exnation, he got into the car. But his words gave Ariel a clear answer. So he had known everything, which meant he had gone along with it willingly. Ariel couldn¡¯t process it all at once, but part of her mind clicked into ce. It made sense. Without Jayson¡¯s ¡°cooperation¡°, how could Morgan have set him up so easily? Yet back then, they had barely known each other. Had Jayson been interested in her at that time? What he said wasn¡¯t wrong. Without Morgan¡¯s shady maneuver, the Sandersons never could have reached the Larkins¡® level, and a smooth marriage alliance between them was practically impossible. With so many suspicions in her mind, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but dwell on them for a long time. When she got home, she took her medicine and then saw the text Janice had sent. ¡°Holy crap, I was clearing my contacts today. When I scrolled through WhatsApp, I found my chat with Nancy and saw her name. What kind of name is that?¡± Ariel opened the screenshot. It was Nancy¡¯s profile. It had the same ¡°matching profile photo¡± that looked suspiciously like Jayson¡¯s. But her disy name was the kicker¨CBabe. Ariel asked, ¡°That¡¯s her WhatsApp name?¡± Janice replied, ¡°Yeah, I deleted her from my contacts just now. I had her saved as ¡®Nancy, the foxy mistress,¡® so I never saw her WhatsApp name. This time, I clicked in and noticed it. Like, what the hell? So basically, she¡¯s ¡®Babe¡® in everyone¡¯s WhatsApp? Imagine some poor girlfriend checking her boyfriend¡¯s phone and seeing that. They¡¯d definitely get the wrong idea.¡± Ariel was rendered speechless. She remembered seeing Nancy call Jayson on WhatsApp before. She had assumed that ¡°Babe¡± was his personal contact name for Nancy. She had even thought they must be really close for Jayson to actually be that cheesy with Nancy. Never had she expected it to be a misunderstanding. He hadn¡¯t even bothered to add Nancy¡¯s number to his contacts. In their circle, everyone always updated contacts immediately to avoid confusion. Ariel could only think of one possibility for Nancy to pull a stunt like that. Maybe she had noticed that Jayson never saved her number, so she changed her WhatsApp name to make sure Ariel would notice. ¡°That woman¡¯s scheming as hell. Who would be fond of her?¡± Janice scoffed before asking, ¡°Anyway, any word from Dr. Spencer?¡± Ariel snapped back to reality. Just hearing about the hospital made her temples throb. The ache spread down into her chest. She still couldn¡¯t ept what had happened to her in the hospital. ¡°I¡¯ll ask again.¡± Ariel called Liam. Liam had just gotten off work. Being unusually cautious about this matter, he said, ¡°This case isplicated. The hospital has kept everything tightly under wraps to protect its reputation, but they¡¯ve been fairly cooperative. I asked around. ¡°After their investigation with the police, there was nothing left from that day. The syringe had no fingerprints, so even if you suspect someone, there¡¯s no evidence.¡± This text is hosted at find?novel Inside 683 Even the surveince footage showed nothing. The two people who had harmed Ariel had vanished from the hospital as if into thin air. They probably knew the hospital inside out. There was no other way they could have left absolutely no trace behind. If Ariel hadn¡¯t been alert, who knew what might have happened to her? Ariel closed her eyes. She couldn¡¯t ept this. Even if she had wanted to terminate the pregnancy, she couldn¡¯t ept losing the baby in that way. Liam said, ¡°I work at this hospital, but I assure you, the hospital¡¯s been cooperative. They likely didn¡¯t know anything. The director made it clear that if the hospital had been at fault, they wouldn¡¯t shirk responsibility. It¡¯s just that the people who did this were clever. We couldn¡¯t find anything yet.¡± He knew how Ariel felt, so he made sure to exin everything clearly. He even spoke to the hospital¡¯s higher¨Cups using his family name. The hospital agreed to cooperate, with the only condition that nothing be publicized until the investigation concluded. No one wanted the hospital dragged into a scandal prematurely. The fallout could be disastrous. Liam could understand that. Without concrete evidence, it wasn¡¯t fair to implicate the entire hospital. Ariel knew he had done more than enough to help. She swallowed and said softly, ¡°Thank you for handling this.¡± Liam¡¯s tone softened. ¡°We¡¯ll have news soon. For now, we need to focus on your health. The surgery can be scheduled as soon as possible.¡± Because of the abortion, her body had already suffered trauma. The method she had undergone was dangerous, adding extra risks to the procedure. Ariel replied, ¡°Okay. You can make the arrangement, Dr. Spencer. I¡¯ll be free in about two weeks.¡± Liam was silent for a long moment, then spoke gently. ¡°Ariel, don¡¯t be afraid. I¡¯ll do my best.¡± She was still so young. How could she not be afraid? Ariel knew Liam was careful and gentle by nature. She drew a deep breath and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± No one could say for certain whether the surgery would seed. All she could do was steel herself. After hanging up, she looked at Janice¡¯s screenshot of Nancy¡¯s WhatsApp name again. She gave a quiet, bitterugh and shook her head. Sometimes, even what one saw couldn¡¯t be trusted. After washing up, Ariel sent a set of seemingly unrted data to Elsie, who was still workingte. Elsie was confused when she saw that in her email. Ariel wrote. ¡°Don¡¯t worry if you don¡¯t understand. It¡¯s not important. Keep working.¡± Elsie¡¯s head was already spinning from overwork, and seeing Ariel¡¯s vague message made her even more frustrated. How could she understand the data if Ariel didn¡¯t exin? Newest update provided by F¦ÉndNovel Grumbling, she continued handling the unfinished tasks. The material was going to be put to use, and she had to ensure the analysis reports were wless. She was essentially doing the final touch¨Cup for Ariel. Elsie wanted to do her best, determined not to leave any mistakes that Ariel could criticize. As she left the data center with herptop, she ran into Samson carrying some files. Elsie immediately stopped. ¡°You¡¯re still here?¡± Samson turned to look. ¡°Just checking some ess records. What about you?¡± Elsie chuckled awkwardly. ¡°I¡¯m hungry. I need a bite to keep going.¡± Samson noticed her hair, which was tied into a messy bun with a stray lock sticking up, and the exhausted look on her face from having to workte. She was clearly mentally and physically drained. He nced at the time. ¡°Perfect. I want to grab a bite too.¡± Elsie¡¯s eyes lit up. ¡°My treat?¡± Samson raised an eyebrow. ¡°Well, thank you. Elsie practically saluted. ¡°No worries. I¡¯m happy to treat you.¡± ¡°What?¡± She fell silent. This was the first time she got to have dinner alone with her crush. What a small, joyful reward in thete¨Cnight hours. Inside 684 The next morning, Ariel got up early. The materials data submission had been approved. She was suddenly notified that Jayson¡¯s materials would undergo a live test in the hangar. This step hadn¡¯t been nned before. It was clearly added at thest minute. Ariel needed to go and oversee it. The SX alloy waspatible with all fighter jets. After passing this impromptu test, it would be formally put into use. The internal testing was at Zone 3, and several higher¨Cups were scheduled to attend. As a partner in the project, Jayson naturally had to be there to witness this historic moment. Gary and the others were still upstairs in a meeting. Jayson arrived at the testing site first. Almost immediately, he spotted Cecilia with a visitor pass. The pass observe tests that weren¡¯t strictly confidential. Seeing him, Cecilia walked over with purpose. ¡°I figured you¡¯d be here today.¡± Jayson nced away. ¡°Ms. Pryce, you seem to have a lot of free time.¡± allowed her to Cecilia smiled. ¡°That depends on how you use it. If your time is spent on people and things that matter, it¡¯s never really free time. Get full chapters from find?novel He had no intention of entertaining such trivial talk. His expression remained t. But she looked at him in doubt. ¡°Are you in a bad mood? You seem different than usual.¡± Jayson said nothing. He hadn¡¯t been sleeping welltely and had been traveling abroad frequently. Plus, Ariel¡¯s situation still weighed on him. ¡°Are you okay? I rarely see you like this. You didn¡¯t fight with Ariel, did you?¡± Cecilia reached out, trying to pat his arm in reassurance. In that brief moment, a flicker of something unusual passed through Jayson¡¯s eyes. He instinctively wanted to dodge. At that moment, Ariel got out of the car. She caught sight of Cecilia half¨Ctouching Jayson¡¯s arm. Jayson stepped back and looked at Ariel. She had suspected that Cecilia was the one behind the hospital incident. Seeing her now, she paused for a couple of seconds, but her expression gave nothing away. By the time Jayson¡¯s gaze fell on her, she had already turned and was walking over to greet Maurice. Cecilia didn¡¯t mind Jayson¡¯s subtle retreat. Her smile was enigmatic as she said, ¡°Ariel really doesn¡¯t care about you at all. That¡¯s not how a wife acts toward a husband she loves. Doesn¡¯t she love you?¡± Jayson¡¯s expression didn¡¯t change, but her words hit him sharply. The core issue behind the recent fallout with Ariel really came down to that question. Yet, he stayedposed, betraying nothing. He calmly replied, ¡°That¡¯s because she knows my heart is hers alone. No one else deserves her attention yet.¡± Cecilia¡¯s expression darkened instantly. His sharp words pierced her like a de. She looked at him coldly. ¡°Jayson, I know you don¡¯t settle. She¡¯s been involved with Lucas. Since she¡¯s disloyal and insincere, why put up with her? You deserve someone who chooses you every single day.¡± Words like that were sweet to hear, especially at a moment so full of tension and sorrow. Few men could resist. However, Jayson merely looked at her. ¡°No matter what happens between her and me, it won¡¯t affect the fact that there¡¯s nothing between you and me.¡± Cecilia¡¯s features stiffened. Jayson turned and walked toward the observation area. Cecilia stared at his back for a long moment before slowly shifting her gaze to Ariel. She couldn¡¯t understand. Just how could Jaysonpletely cut ties with Ariel? She had never seen Ariel as a rival in any respect, yet Jayson repeatedly frustrated her. Now she couldn¡¯t even tell if he stayed tied to Ariel out of avoidance of her or because he genuinely loved Ariel. When Jayson arrived, Gary waved. ¡°Mr. Larkin, today¡¯s a historic moment. If everything goes smoothly, we¡¯ll be seeing each other often from now on.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t nce at Ariel. He simply nodded politely. ¡°It¡¯s my honor.¡± Inside 685 When Samson arrived, he slid into the seat next to Ariel. ¡°Mr. Larkin, I need to go over some work stuff with Ariel. Hope you don¡¯t mind.¡± Jayson had already taken a step forward. ¡°You should ask her if she minds. I don¡¯t interfere with her freedom.¡± Ariel nced at him. She caught a subtle hint of meaning in his words. But to an outsider, it just sounded like he was respecting her choice. Samson turned to Ariel, his mood light. ¡°What¡¯s going on? Mr. Larkin usually wouldn¡¯t allow this before.¡± Ariel lowered her head and texted Elsie while asking him, ¡°Aren¡¯t you sitting with your sister?¡± Samson¡¯s smile faltered, showing little interest. ¡°We don¡¯t get along that well. She can sit wherever she wants.¡± Ariel casually nced at Cecilia, who happened to meet her gaze. Cecilia tilted her head and even winked at Ariel with a smile. Ariel silently folded her fingers, keeping the flood of emotions in her chest from showing. The test was about to start. As the provider of the SX alloy, Jayson naturally sat in the front row. Halfway through, the test suddenly stopped. Someone frowned, double¨Cchecking the readings. Then, a representative came over and said seriously, ¡°Commander Quinton, there¡¯s an issue.¡± Jayson looked up. Gary stood, concerned. ¡°What issue?¡± The representative looked first at Jayson, then at Ariel, before saying cautiously, ¡°None of the material¡¯s test data seems to line up.¡± Ariel¡¯s gaze flickered. She looked straight at him. Gary¡¯s expression turned serious. ¡°What¡¯s going on? The data is critical and impacts the next phase. At this point, any mismatch will only dy the follow¨Cup ns.¡± Time equaled huge costs. Any problem meant starting over, and they couldn¡¯t afford that. The representative exined, ¡°The data submitted by Ms. Walker appears inurate. It exceeds predicted values. Our test results don¡¯t match what she provided. It looks¡­ falsified.¡± Falsified? Ariel¡¯s expression darkened. She knew exactly how severe falsifying data in a major government project could be. Gary nced at her. ¡°Did something go wrong in the process?¡± Ariel stood and walked over. ¡°Which parameters specifically don¡¯t match?¡± Discover more novels at Find1Novel The representative replied, ¡°The values you submitted are 10% higher than the material¡¯s estimated performance. That¡¯s well above the required threshold. Mr. Larkin¡¯s tests don¡¯t reach those numbers. Ms. Walker, are you sure this data is urate? Or¡­¡± Ariel understood immediately. He was implying that, as Jayson¡¯s wife, she might have submitted data beyond the standard to pass the higher¨Clevel review in order to secure a ten¨Cyear monopoly for him. After all, an on¨Csite test wasn¡¯t in the n before this. If they had followed the previous n, the material would already be in use by now. But now, Ariel felt like she had been ¡°busted ¡°at this stage. ¡°Can I see the data?¡± she asked, her eyes narrowing. The representative handed over both the on¨Csite test data and the submission from Elsie. One nce was enough for Ariel to know that the confidential data she had submitted had been tampered with. This wasn¡¯t the report she had confirmed. Jayson stood up and walked over to Ariel. He didn¡¯t seem overly tense about the problem. Calmly, he said, ¡°I¡¯m sure there¡¯s a misunderstanding. Our material¡¯s quality is visible to all. There¡¯s no need to go through this unnecessary step.¡± True, but the data was entirely inurate. If it had gone straight into use, it would have caused major problems. The issue was still serious. It could lead to multiple suspicions. Had the couple colluded to inte their own product for wider profit? ¡°Yeah, maybe we should double¨Ccheck,¡± Samson said slowly. ¡°There¡¯s no way Ariel wouldpromise critical work or act out of self¨Cinterest.¡± Inside 686 Jayson¡¯s eyes narrowed before his gaze drifted toward Samson. Meanwhile, Samson had walked over to stand beside Ariel. With his brows furrowed, he looked at Gary. ¡°I don¡¯t believe Ariel is someone who would knowingly break the rules. As Mr. Larkin mentioned earlier, even if there¡¯s a discrepancy between the two sets of data, the quality of his materials is still on par. ¡°There are plenty of ways Ariel could help boost Mr. Larkin¡¯spany¡¯s sales and reputation. She wouldn¡¯t need to take such a risky approach, especially with a major project like this.¡± Samson spoke up on Ariel¡¯s behalf. He then nced at her and offered a reassuring look. ¡°It¡¯ll be alright. I¡¯m sure the agencies involved will conduct a thorough investigation.¡± Gary, too, believed Ariel wouldn¡¯t do such a thing. She was one of the few students Carlos both favored and approved of. That alone should have been enough to show her character and professional ethics were sound. ¡°You were responsible for handling this task. You checked all the data yourself, didn¡¯t you?¡± ¡°That¡¯s right. I personally recorded the data, while my team memberspiled it. I also reviewed the final report before we concluded our work,¡± Ariel exined honestly. Gary knitted his brows. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I¡¯ll cooperate with the investigation,¡± Ariel continued calmly. Instead of looking flustered or anxious, she remainedposed. Gary gave a slight nod. ¡°Given what¡¯s happened, everyone involved will be subjected to careful questioning. Based on the findings of the investigation, the higher¨Cups will decide what to do next.¡± Falsifying data was considered gross misconduct in their field, and such mistakes were never tolerated. ¡°Ms. Walker has always been cool¨Cheaded in her work. She wouldn¡¯t naively make these mistakes to help her partner¡¯s business. I trust her,¡± Cecilia remarked as she exited the observation area, her tone light and casual. Ariel fixed Cecilia with a piercing gaze. Jayson lowered his head. ¡°Don¡¯t worry,¡± he whispered to Ariel. It wasn¡¯t just Ariel facing questioning; Jayson would have to as well. After all, they were legally married, and any form of dishonesty was strictly prohibited in governmental affairs, no matter how small. If proven guilty, the consequences could be dire. Ariel could tell something had clearly gone wrong to cause this mishap. She gave a slight nod. Soon, she and Jayson were separated and escorted to different rooms for questioning. Gary frowned as he watched them get escorted away. The situation didn¡¯t sit right with him. Ariel had always struck him as prudent and sensible. It was unlike her to make such a slip. Samson stared at Ariel¡¯s receding figure for a long moment before asking thoughtfully, ¡°Mr. Quinton, what happens if foul y is proven? Will Ariel be suspended if she¡¯s found guilty of falsifying data?¡± +15 BONUS Gary¡¯s frown deepened. His expression turned grim as he nodded. ¡°If there¡¯s enough evidence, she¡¯ll be suspended temporarily while further investigations are conducted.¡± Though the mishap hadn¡¯t caused direct harm, the reliability of past testing would now be questioned, as problems with the data had surfaced. The results might turn out fine if tests were redone, but Jayson¡¯spany¡¯s materials would remain under suspicion until everything was verified. Only once the details were confirmed could the materials be put to use. Unfortunately, the process would significantly dy progress. Even if Ariel had simply been careless and recorded the wrong data, her mistake would still have slowed the project and createdplications. Ultimately, someone would have to take responsibility. Most likely, that person would be Ariel. She might even be suspended. Newest update provided by find?novel A fleeting expression crossed Samson¡¯s eyes. At the same time, Cecilia cast him a meaningful nce. Neither of them said anything further. Ariel and Jayson were questioned separately. By the time Ariel¡¯s questioning ended, Chad had already heard the news and rushed over to pick her up, intending to take her to the Hockney residence. Since Jayson hadn¡¯te out yet, Ariel left with Chad and got into his car. Not long after, she received a call from Carlos. ¡°I know you wouldn¡¯t make such a careless mistake. But the government is very strict in these matters. If you¡¯ve done nothing wrong, it¡¯s only a matter of time before the agencies find the evidence to clear your name. Still, there¡¯s one thing you must be mindful of. ¡°This incident directly concerns yourpetence, ethics, and credibility. If the officials find it hard to trust you, they may hesitate to assign you important responsibilities in the future.¡± The severity of the situation depended on the investigation¡¯s oue. For now, there was no evidence to prove anything, but the mere spection was enough to cause damage to Ariel¡¯s career and reputation.. 23 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 687 Chapter 687 Ariel lowered her gaze, deep in thought. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll make sure everything is handled properly. Quite a few people assisted me with this project, so they¡¯ll also be questioned. Perhaps the issue arose somewhere during the process.¡± ¡°Give it some time. I¡¯ll talk to Gary and see what else I can do. You shouldn¡¯t worry too much.¡± Carlos didn¡¯t know all the details, but he was certain Ariel wouldn¡¯t make such mistakes. Ariel hummed in acknowledgment. There were many people on her team, but the one who had helped her most with important tasks was Elsie. Ariel had reviewed the data before Elsie submitted it. That meant something must have happened in the short window between her review and Elsie¡¯s submission that caused the blunder. Besides, Elsie had little reason to be a suspect. She wouldn¡¯t gain anything from tampering with the data, while Ariel, as Jayson¡¯s legal spouse, stood to bear the heaviest scrutiny. Ariel also didn¡¯t believe Elsie resented her enough to take such a huge risk just to bring her down. ??? ????? ???????s ??? ?????s??? ?? Find[?]ovel If Elsie were caught, all the opportunities she had worked so hard to earn would be lost. After Ariel ended the call, Chad turned his gaze to her. ¡°Do you have any idea what actually happened?¡± Since Ariel was under investigation, her work at the 719 base had been suspended. For a fair inquiry, she was also barred from entering the base until the investigation wasplete. With her ess revoked, Ariel couldn¡¯t even try to prove her innocence. All she could do was wait. Ariel shook her head. ¡°I have some clues, but I can¡¯t say for sure yet.¡± Chad had a pensive look on his face. ¡°Could Jayson have something to do with this? Perhaps the batch of materials he had you test was already problematic.¡± He didn¡¯t know the specifics of Ariel¡¯s team¡¯s workflow or whether anything had gone wrong during their interactions with Jayson¡¯s team. But it was undeniable that Ariel had run into trouble precisely when handling a project connected to him. Chad was familiar with how the military ran projects. Mistakes like this were rare, since every step followed strict rules and protocols. Logically, the problem might havee from Jayson¡¯s side, especially given how strained his and Ariel¡¯s rtionship was. And would someone like Jayson really not hold a grudge against Ariel over what happened to their baby? From what Chad had heard from Janice, the two had argued that day, and things hadn¡¯t ended well. It was clear Jayson had cared about the baby, yet he must have believed Ariel had stubbornly chosen to abort it. Would someone as shrewd and calcting as Jayson really not me her? Chad knew he was being suspicious, maybe overly so. But as one of Ariel¡¯s closest friends, he couldn¡¯t bring himself to fully trust Jayson after seeing how much Ariel had already suffered these past few years. Ariel shook her head. ¡°No. There were no issues with the data that I had reviewed. The alterations happened right before the submission¨Cthat¡¯s what caused the incident. The problem didn¡¯te from Jayson¡¯s side.¡± She knew Jayson well enough to be certain. He wouldn¡¯t stoop to such cheap tricks, no matter how much resentment he felt. Jayson had always confronted his enemies head¨Con, and even then, they stood little chance of winning against him. He had no need for underhanded methods. ¡°The data was altered? Who would dare do something so outrageous?¡± Chad was stunned. ¡°If that¡¯s true, the situation bes even moreplicated.¡± Still, he noticed how calm Ariel remained. She hadn¡¯t lost herposure in the slightest. Time and again, Chad was struck by her strength and mental resilience. Since there was nothing more they could deduce for now, Chad and Ariel decided to head back. As Chad started the engine, Ariel¡¯s gaze drifted in a particr direction. Jayson¡¯s car was still there. He was clearly still being questioned and wouldn¡¯t be out anytime soon. Ariel never received a call from him afterward. The next day, Ariel got a call from Samson, asking to meet up. 3:44 PM Wed 1 Oct 43% Curious about what he wanted to say, Ariel agreed, and they met at a cafe near her neighborhood. As soon as Samson walked in, he drew the attention of several young women. But his eyes went straight to Ariel, and he strode toward her. ¡°Have you been waiting for a long time?¡± ¡°No. Have a seat.¡± Ariel had already ordered a cup of ck coffee for him. After taking his seat, Samson studied her with a faint frown, his expression tinged with worry. ¡°Are you alright?¡± Inside 688 Ariel nodded. ¡°I¡¯m fine, as you can see.¡± Samson paused for a moment. ¡°I¡¯m sure you¡¯re aware this incident will affect Mr. Larkin as well. The higher- ups are very concerned about the issue. There¡¯s no telling whether they¡¯ll continue to trust him and move forward with the partnership.¡± Ariel had thought of that too. She wouldn¡¯t be the only one affected by the data incident. Samson studied her and asked, ¡°Did you and Mr. Larkin have a fallout or an argument recently? You told me the other day you had a miscarriage, yet you didn¡¯t seem all that sad about it. Was it because Mr. Larkin had hurt you deeply in the past? Is that why you¡­¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t surprised that others might think this way. After all, she and Jayson had never been seen as the picture¨Cperfect, loving couple¨Cespecially back when Nancy was still around. Some people still suspected their marriage wasn¡¯t truly happy. She could easily guess what Samson was trying to imply with his questions. ¡°Are you wondering if I impulsively set a trap for Jayson while handling the project?¡± Ariel asked bluntly. Samson pursed his lips. ¡°I believe you wouldn¡¯t do something like that. However¡­ I can¡¯t say the same for Mr. Larkin.¡± Ariel knew that anyone ware of her less¨Cthan¨Charmonious marriage with Jayson might think the same. After all, this was one of the rare chances she could truly damage his business. Ariel had her own achievements as the U.N2 developer. With Carlos¡® support, she could always join simr projects in the future. But it was different for Jayson. Samson continued, ¡°If even someone like me¨Can outsider¨Chad these fleeting doubts, then Mr. Larkin might have them too. After all, the two of you know the most about your rtionship issues. I wanted to meet you because I was worried about you. He sounded as though he was analyzing the situation for her. For a moment, Ariel was at a loss for words. This update is avable on F¦Énd£Îovel 3:45 PM Wed 1 Oct 43% Her rtionship with Jayson had been strainedtely. They were both devastated by what happened to their baby. And Jayson¡¯s reaction to the incident had been surprisingly intense. She couldn¡¯t even predict what Jayson might think if he truly believed she was trying to sabotage him. The thought almost amused her. Yesterday, Chad suspected Jayson might be taking revenge on her. Today, Samson was suggesting Jayson might think she was plotting against him. Yet neither of them had the upper hand. Without clear judgment, one could easily lose sight of what was really happening. That would only create more misunderstandings between her and Jayson. ¡°That won¡¯t happen. Thanks for your concern, Mr. Pryce.¡± Ariel wasn¡¯t going to borate. She simply thanked Samson. Samson noticed she wasn¡¯t the least bit anxious. He leaned back slightly and rxed. ¡°It seems I¡¯m more worried about this than you are.¡± He couldn¡¯t tell if Ariel was truly unconcerned about how the higher¨Cups would handle the incident, or if she was simply confident she could resolve it. ¡°Anyway, did Mr. Larkin already tell you? His team has apparently submitted evidence proving theirpany wasn¡¯t at fault. Could it be that Mr. Larkin intends to sacrifice you for the sake of self¨Cpreservation? To pin all the me on you?¡± Samson¡¯s words carried heavy suspicion toward Jayson. After all, Jayson¡¯s top priority should be securing the partnership. No sane person would want to lose the chance at such enormous profit. But Ariel hadn¡¯t heard anything about this supposed evidence. Jayson hadn¡¯t told her a thing. As for the possibility that he might sacrifice her, she calmly took a sip of milk and replied without hesitation, ¡°He wouldn¡¯t.¡± Her voice was steady and firm. There wasn¡¯t the slightest hint of doubt. Samson¡¯s hand, which was holding his cup of iced ck coffee, stiffened. He fixed his gaze on her. ¡°You trust him that much?¡± Ariel answered evenly, ¡°I can¡¯t speak for other things. But Jayson would never do anything to harm me. You don¡¯t need to worry about that, Mr. Pryce.¡± 3:45 PM Wed 1 Oct Samson could tell she wasn¡¯t blindly trusting Jayson¨Cshe was truly confident in him. 43% Inside 689 It seemed as though Ariel and Jayson hadplete faith in each other, no matter what kind of crisis they faced. Samson fell silent, looking slightly dazed. Beyond the shock and confusion, an inexplicable feeling stirred within him. As he tried to suppress that strange, unsettling sense of unease, Samson finally said, ¡°I came here today to tell you that I can help you if you ever need it.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be necessary.¡± Ariel set down her cup. ¡°I never said I couldn¡¯t handle the issue. There¡¯s no need for you to get involved.¡± Samson had rarely seen such calmposure in any woman. Even men who had weathered countless experiences might not remain as steady as Ariel did. He stared at her, momentarily at a loss for words, as though something had struck him in the head. Once again, he realized just how different Ariel was from anyone else. Ariel wasn¡¯t interested in whatever Samson was thinking. She rose to her feet and looked at him. ¡°I¡¯m curious about one thing, Mr. Pryce. On what grounds did you start to believe I was sabotaging Jayson, or that Jayson The source of th?s content is find?novel might sacrifice me for his own sake?¡± Anyone who didn¡¯t know much about her and Jayson¡¯s rtionship wouldn¡¯t have drawn such conclusions. Samson lifted his head, his eyes strangely burning with longing. ¡°If you two were happily married, Mr. Larkin wouldn¡¯t have been with Ms. Stanton, and you wouldn¡¯t have seemed so unaffected by your miscarriage. ¡°I¡¯ve simply analyzed the situation based on the facts. After everything that¡¯s happened, you probably wouldn¡¯t stay devoted to Mr. Larkin. As for him, since he didn¡¯t love you, he might be capable of anything.¡± Hearing someone else say that Jayson didn¡¯t love her only confirmed what most people believed. Ariel pondered briefly before saying, ¡°Thank you for your concern, Mr. Pryce. But you don¡¯t need to worry about whether Jayson would discard me just to secure a business deal. As for your feelings toward me, I believe I¡¯ve made my stance clear before.¡± With that, Ariel gave a slight nod and left the cafe. 3:45 PM Wed 1 Oct Samson sat, staring at the coffee she had ordered for him. After a while, he picked it up and took a sip. 43% His earlier response to Ariel¡¯s question might have sounded like jealousy toward Jayson. But in truth, Samson knew what had happened between Ariel and Jayson recently and what their conflict was about. He was aware of the details at the hospital. He had deliberately tried to sow doubts in Ariel¡¯s mind about Jayson. Yet he hadn¡¯t expected Ariel to be so certain that Jayson would never take revenge on her for their conflict over the baby they had lost. She still believed he would never harm her. Samson hadn¡¯t expected those answers. It wasn¡¯t such an important matter to make them doubt each other. Still, for some reason, Ariel¡¯s unwavering trust in Jayson left Samson oddly irritated and frustrated. Even he found it absurd. He couldn¡¯t understand why he felt this way. When Ariel returned to the residential area, she spotted Jayson¡¯s car parked outside their building. It hadn¡¯t been seen there for quite some time. He must have seen her too, because he stepped out of the car. He nced in the direction she came from. ¡°Are you done talking to him?¡± Ariel frowned. ¡°You saw us?¡± Jayson didn¡¯t deny it. ¡°I saw you two sitting at the table by the window on my way here. You seemed pretty engrossed in your conversation.¡± ¡°Why didn¡¯t youe in?¡± ¡°Would it have been fine for me to interrupt?¡± Jayson leaned against his car, his eyes fixed solely on her. ¡°Do I even have the right to meddle in your personal matters?¡± He spoke as though he were already an outsider, deliberately keeping his distance¨Cas if practicing how they would interact once they were officially divorced. Inside 690 Chapter 690 Find the newest release on Find_Novel(. Even though Jayson didn¡¯t sound or appear angry or bitter, Ariel could tell he was still affected by certain emotions. Not everyone could let go of the pain of losing a child so easily, including herself. Ariel straightened her back and fixed her gaze on him. ¡°Did youe here because you have something to say to me?¡± Jayson lowered his eyes. ¡°Do you trust me?¡± ¡°Are you worried I¡¯ll doubt you?¡± Ariel asked instead. Jayson looked straight into her eyes and gave a faint smile. ¡°I hope not. ¡°Of course I won¡¯t,¡± Ariel replied unhesitatingly. ¡°The great Mr. Larkin isn¡¯t such a vicious or narrow¨Cminded person anyway.¡± Jayson chuckled softly. ¡°It seems you hold me in high regard.¡± The truth was, he wasn¡¯t always much of a gentleman¨Cespecially when it came to Ariel. He could be very particr about certain things, yet he was also willing to yield if it was something she truly wanted. Ignoring his slightly mocking tone, Ariel said, ¡°I heard you already submitted some evidence. Will it be enough to prove yourpany hasn¡¯t done anything wrong?¡± ¡°You received the news quickly. No, perhaps I should say Samson receives his news very quickly.¡± Jayson¡¯s eyes narrowed. Even in the face of imminent danger, he never seemed to lose hisposure. Tilting his head, he said in a lighthearted tone, ¡°Well, it¡¯s not like you don¡¯t have any backup ns yourself.¡± Ariel nced at him in surprise, wondering if Jayson had some sort of built¨Cin radar for detecting these things. He didn¡¯t really need an answer. His calm words carried a sense of reassurance. ¡°I have some materials, but I haven¡¯t submitted them yet. I¡¯ve informed the higher¨Cups there¡¯s no problem with them, and I can prove it. I was hoping to present my evidence along with whatever you have.¡± At times like this, Ariel couldn¡¯t help but be impressed by how smart and far¨Csighted he was. It felt as though no one could hide any secrets from him. 3:45 PM Wed 1 Oct 74670L Y ¡°Do you see it now? We¡¯re both the targets this time. We need to work together to get through this.¡± Jayson straightened and nced toward the residential area¡¯s cast entrance. That was where Ariel had gone to grab coffee just now. ¡°Or maybe you could use this chance to bring me down. You resent me very much, don¡¯t you?¡± Ariel turned and walked toward her building. Jayson shot her a sidelong nce. ¡°Instead of doing that, I might as well abduct you and keep you confined at my ce. Once you give me another child, we¡¯ll call it even.¡± Ariel nearly stumbled. She was speechless. Even though he wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, his words were far too crude. Jayson had never been one to resort to underhanded tactics. People already struggled to beat him when he fought cleanly. He had no use for cheap, dirty tricks. Before Ariel could step into her building, Jayson received a call from Shane. ¡°I¡¯m staying at Larkin Manor for a few days to keep Grandmapany. We had a batch of fresh crabs flown in today. Grandma says Ari loves them. I can bring some over to your ce since I¡¯m free.¡± Jayson lifted his gaze toward Ariel. He knew she loved seafood. Betty often had different kinds flown in just for her, still fresh enough to taste their best upon arrival. ¡°You can have someone else deliver them to us,¡± Jayson replied. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I have something to discuss with you anyway.¡± Jayson caught up to Ariel in a few long strides and said, ¡°Alright. But Ari and I aren¡¯t staying at the marital home right now. We¡¯re at another ce.¡± Ariel turned sharply toward him at those words. After the call ended, Jayson said, ¡°Shane¡¯s bringing fresh crabs for you. He¡¯ll be here shortly.¡± Ariel was opposed to the idea. ¡°I don¡¯t want to receive any guests at my ce.¡± ¡°Then, we¡¯ll meet him at my ce instead.¡± He stepped into the elevator first. 3:45 PM wea UCI 4670 ¡°Do you see it now? We¡¯re both the targets this time. We need to work together to get through this.¡± Jayson straightened and nced toward the residential area¡¯s east entrance. That was where Ariel had gone to grab coffee just now. ¡°Or maybe you could use this chance to bring me down. You resent me very much, don¡¯t you?¡± Ariel turned and walked toward her building. Jayson shot her a sidelong nce. ¡°Instead of doing that, I might as well abduct you and keep you confined at my ce. Once you give me another child, we¡¯ll call it even.¡± Ariel nearly stumbled. She was speechless. Even though he wasn¡¯t entirely wrong, his words were far too crude. Jayson had never been one to resort to underhanded tactics. People already struggled to beat him when he fought cleanly. He had no use for cheap, dirty tricks. Before Ariel could step into her building, Jayson received a call from Shane. ¡°I¡¯m staying at Larkin Manor for a few days to keep Grandmapany. We had a batch of fresh crabs flown in today. Grandma says Ari loves them. I can bring some over to your ce since I¡¯m free.¡± Jayson lifted his gaze toward Ariel. He knew she loved seafood. Betty often had different kinds flown in just for her, still fresh enough to taste their best upon arrival. ¡°You can have someone else deliver them to us,¡± Jayson replied. ¡°It¡¯s alright. I have something to discuss with you anyway.¡± Jayson caught up to Ariel in a few long strides and said, ¡°Alright. But Ari and I aren¡¯t staying at the marital home right now. We¡¯re at another ce.¡± Ariel turned sharply toward him at those words. After the call ended, Jayson said, ¡°Shane¡¯s bringing fresh crabs for you. He¡¯ll be here shortly.¡± Ariel was opposed to the idea. ¡°I don¡¯t want to receive any guests at my ce.¡± ¡°Then, we¡¯ll meet him at my ce instead.¡± He stepped into the elevator first. 3:45 PM Wed 1 Oct 42% Ariel felt a little dumbfounded after hearing Shane would being. She had no choice but to trail after Jayson. She had a hunch the crabs came from Betty, who knew her food preferences well. When they reached their floor, Jayson said, ¡°Come in. I¡¯ve been living here for quite a while, yet you¡¯ve never had the chance to visit.¡± Inside 691 Since Shane wasing, Ariel eventually decided to follow Jayson to his apartment after giving it some thought. Jayson keyed in the password for the door with Ariel standing beside him. They were the same numbers she had seen him use to unlock the door of their marital home. As soon as she stepped inside, Ariel noticed the apartment looked like an exact copy of her own. The decorations were practically identical¨Cthe floors, curtains, ornaments, and even the furniture. It felt as if she had just walked back into her own ce. She wondered if her eyes were ying tricks on her. ¡°When did you prepare all this?¡± she asked as Jayson bent down and took a pair of slippers from the shoe rack. They were the same brand and design she usually wore.. He crouched down and ced them by her feet, then looked up at her. ¡°Are you going to make me pay copyright fees for copying your apartment¡¯s interior design?¡± Ariel shot back, ¡°You can just transfer the money to my bank ount right away.¡± Jayson could have done exactly that without asking first. He stood up and walked inside. ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll send you the receipt after I make the transfer. Do you mind adding my WhatsApp number so I can do that?¡± Ariel fell silent. The amusing part was that she and Jayson hadn¡¯t re¨Cadded each other on WhatsApp ever since she deleted his contact details. She knew he wasn¡¯t being serious. He was only teasing her. The rightful source is find{n}ovel After entering the apartment, Ariel was about to find a ce to sit when she turned around and noticed a cupboard identical to the one she had at home. Several photos were disyed on it. One of them was of her and Jayson sitting side by side, looking rather stiff. Neither of them appeared particrly happy or excited. Back then, Ariel had assumed Jayson was upset since he hadn¡¯t smiled at all that day. But now, looking again, she could see a faint trace of contentment in his eyes. 3:45 PM Wed 1 Oct 42% +25 BONUS Typically, a wedding photo taken at the city hall after a marriage registration wouldn¡¯t be disyed. Among the other photos, Ariel recognized one that Betty had insisted on takingst year so she could send it to Marie. Jayson had originally intended to send that photo to Ariel, but she had already blocked and deleted his WhatsApp contact. However, a call from Nancy had dyed Jayson from sending the photo immediately, so he failed to notice that Ariel had removed him from her WhatsApp contact list. Ariel had assumed he simply didn¡¯t want photos of them together, since they had taken so few. But now, when she looked at it again, she noticed Jayson¡¯s head and body leaning slightly toward her as he stood beside her, gazing at the camera. Subconsciously, he had been expressing a desire to be closer to her. A lot could be gleaned from bodynguage. Still, the Ariel back then hadn¡¯t dared overthink it. She ignored such details to avoid embarrassing herself. She let out a deep sigh. Noticing her gaze, Jayson poured her a ss of water. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it.¡± Ariel stiffened slightly and looked at him. Was he saying she shouldn¡¯t read too much into it now, since things were different? Jayson met her eyes, easily guessing her thoughts. ¡°Don¡¯t overthink it. I didn¡¯t put those photos there to show Grandma or anyone else.¡± Ariel remained silent. She understood what he was trying to say. The doorbell rang just then. Jayson went to answer it. Shane looked surprised as he stepped in. ¡°Are you two trying out themoners¡® lifestyle? Why stay in an apartment like this when you own a luxurious manor?¡± Neither Ariel nor Jayson offered an exnation. Shane set the cooler box of fresh crabs on the table, pretending nothing had happened and that they were a close¨Cknit family. ¡°Jayson, you should steam a few of these crabs for Ariter.¡± 3:45 PM Wed 1 Oct Ariel stood up. ¡°Thanks, Shane.¡± ¡°It¡¯s nothing,¡± Shane replied, then turned to Jayson. ¡°Can we talk for a bit?¡± He gestured toward a quiet corner. Jayson said tly, ¡°You can say it here. I share pretty much everything with Ari.¡± Shane grinned. ¡°That¡¯s right. No one knows better than me that you only have eyes for her.¡± 42% Inside 692 hapter 692 Ariel wasn¡¯t interested in listening to what Jayson and Shane had to say. She just wanted to get this over with as quickly as possible so she could go back and rest. Shane got straight to the point. ¡°I¡¯ve already worked in Isbell for several years. My work there is pretty much done, so I¡¯m hoping to transfer back to Croinia. ¡°I¡¯m not asking for a position at Bluum Corp, of course. Instead, I was thinking I could be transferred to our branch in Humberston. That¡¯s not too much to ask, right?¡± Humberston and Eldoria were located far apart. Shane was hoping to get transferred back to Croinia first. Jayson smiled. ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s possible to transfer you to our Humberston branch at the moment, Shane. These transfers require nning and careful consideration. ¡°Besides, most of the key positions in ourpany are already filled by senior, experienced employees. None of them would wee a new boss suddenly being ced over them.¡± In other words¡­ Official source is find{n}ovel ¡°So, you won¡¯t approve my transfer?¡± Shane¡¯s expression remained unchanged. Jayson sat down with ease. ¡°I thought you liked Isbell, Shane. You¡¯re putting me in a tough spot by making this request now.¡± Shane¡¯s smile faltered slightly. Jayson was clearly mocking him with that remark. He had never wanted Shane to return in the first ce. Family ties meant nothing to Jayson. He had exiled Shane to a foreign country for years, all because of a woman. If he could, Shane would have taken out his resentment on Ariel. But he hadn¡¯t expected her to rise to fame and sess in just a few short years. Anyone who tried to bring her down now would only be inviting trouble. Originally, Shane had nned to use Ariel as leverage against Jayson once he returned. But he was forced to reconsider his approach. ¡°In that case, let¡¯s put the matter aside for now. There¡¯s still time. We can slowly find a solution.¡± Shane managed to end the discussion on a civil note. 7:04 PM He turned to Ariel. ¡°You two should use those crabs to make some dishester, Ari. I¡¯ll get going now.¡± Ariel nodded. ¡°Drive safe.¡± Jayson didn¡¯t get up. He had no intention of seeing Shane out. Shane didn¡¯t seem to mind. He turned and walked to the door. But the moment it shut behind him, his expression turned cold. It was clear Jayson intended to keep things exactly as they were, giving Shane no chance to fight back. Before stepping into the elevator, Shane dialed a number. Someone picked up. 53% +35 BONUS A deep frown creased Shane¡¯s forehead. ¡°I¡¯ll help you this time. But you must keep your word about my request. Mr. Pryce.¡± Ariel had been instructed to pause all work for the time being and cooperate with questioning. The next day, when she arrived at the designated ce, she found Jayson was already there. In the spacious conference room sat Gary, Maurice, Elsie, and other members of Ariel¡¯s team. Elsie¡¯s expression hardened the instant she saw Ariel. She strode up to her and asked loudly, in front of everyone¡¯s watchful eyes, ¡°Do you think I caused this mishap just so I could finally beat you?¡± Everyone was looking at Elsie, even Ariel. Elsie looked agitated. ¡°I¡¯d never do something so underhanded! It¡¯s fine if you don¡¯t believe me, but I n to beat you with my skills and abilities. If you¡¯re kicked out of here, who will Ipete with?¡± Elsie hoped Ariel wouldn¡¯t suspect her of being behind the incident, simply because of her dislike for her. Ariel could tell Elsie wasn¡¯t lying. She was an open book with no hidden malice or ulterior motives. ¡°I know,¡± Ariel replied softly. Elsie trailed after her. ¡°You do? You¡¯re not secretly cursing me out, right?¡± Ariel chose to ignore Elsie¡¯s incessant ramblings. The others, however, could clearly see that Ariel and Elsie didn¡¯t have the warmest rtionship as colleagues. 7:04 PM Thu 2 UCH 53% +35 BONUS Gary looked at Ariel. ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel nervous, Ariel. Mr. Larkin said you and he have something to tell us today. Is that right?¡± Ariel nced at Jayson, and he met her gaze. Without a word, they somehow understood each other. Ariel began, ¡°The data my team submitted has been tampered with.¡± Maurice asked, ¡°How can you prove Gary turned his eyes on her as well. that?¡± Ariel remainedposed, ready to respond. But before she could, Gary¡¯s secretary entered the room. ¡°There¡¯s been an ident.¡± Jayson lifted his gaze. Gary asked, ¡°What happened?¡± The secretary looked at Jayson. ¡°Mr. Larkin, a major ident just urred at one of Bluum Corp¡¯s materials factories. Ten minutes ago, a worker made a mistake during the alloy smelting operation, causing an explosion. ¡°The worker suffered severe burns and was rushed to the hospital. However, the injuries were too serious. The worker didn¡¯t make it.¡± Inside 693 The news came as a shock to everyone. Jayson narrowed his eyes. For something like this to happen at such a time, it didn¡¯t seem like a simple coincidence. Gary¡¯s expression hardened. ¡°Has the news already gotten out?¡± His secretary nodded. ¡°For some reason, the news spread very quickly. Some civilians have even learned that Mr. Larkin¡¯spany is partnering with the government on a research project. There are already opinions suggesting they¡¯re a high¨Criskpany since one of their employees lost their life in the workce.¡± The actualments were even harsher. Some civilians suspected the government of trying to cover up the incident. A fatal workce ident was a serious matter. In other words, they would not only need to reassess whether Jayson¡¯s materials were up to standard, but also question the safety and security of his factories¡® operations. With both problems surfacing at the same time, the damage to Jayson¡¯spany would be doubled. Ariel processed the information and quickly spotted the most critical issue. If it were just about the data, they could spend more time redoing the tests. But Jayson¡¯s factory appeared to have operational risks¨Crisks that had already cost an employee their life. With the public aware of the incident, the situation became even moreplicated. She frowned and looked at Jayson, who sat calmly in his seat. Jayson dropped his gaze, pondering for a moment. Then, crossing his legs, he said nonchntly, ¡°The news must¡¯ve spread really fast. Everyone¡¯s already talking about it, yet I, the boss, haven¡¯t received any official word.¡± He knew Eric would have contained the situation as soon as the ident happened. Someone must have deliberately leaked it. Maurice had a grim look on his face. ¡°It¡¯s almost time to incorporate your materials into this major project, Mr. Larkin. But with all this happening, yourpany might be ssified as high¨Crisk. 7:04 PM Thu 2 Oct 53% +35 BONUS ¡°The investigation and the resolution of the ident at your factory will take time. And we can¡¯t simply wait while the project moves forward.¡± That was the most pressing issue. Gary¡¯s face darkened. Ariel studied Jayson¡¯s expression. Somehow, it seemed as though he had expected this. Just then, the conference room door opened. One of the hangar staff hurried in and went straight to Gary. ¡°Commander Quinton, there¡¯s something we need to report.¡® Gary turned his gaze on the man. The staffer was visibly flustered. After a few seconds to steady himself, he said, ¡°There¡¯s an alternative provide: for the special single¨Ccrystal material.¡± Ariel¡¯s eyes widened slightly. An alternative provider at this time? Jayson arched his brows, an enigmatic smile tugging at his lips. Gary was taken aback as well. He mmed his hand on the table and stood. ¡°What do you mean? What alternative provider?¡± ¡°It¡¯s¡­¡± the man began to exin. ¡°It¡¯s me, Mr. Quinton.¡± A voice came from the doorway. 3 As the door swung open, Samson walked in. His gaze lingered briefly on Jayson¡¯s face before he smirked faintly and turned to Gary. ¡°Mr. Quinton, I can help resolve your current issue by providing the necessary technology for producing the materials.¡± Gary looked dumbfounded. ¡°You have ess to that technology too?¡± Samson responded, ¡°Yes. We¡¯ve been running tests until recently, and now the production process is stable. Our main sales target is North Merinia. But with Mr. Larkin¡¯s problems, it seems it¡¯ll take him some time to sort things out. 7:04 PM Thu 2 Oct Chapter 693 Newest update provided by FindN()vel 53% +35 BONUS ¡°With all the public criticism, the government¡¯s ns and strategies will also be affected. I can allocate and provide most of ourpany¡¯s materials for this project. That way, there won¡¯t be any major dys in our military operations.¡± Ariel stared at Samson. In just minutes, everything became clear. Samson had miraculously arrived with help at the very moment it was needed. While everyone else was in shock and full of questions, Samson revealed he possessed the exclusive production technique for the special material, offering the perfect solution to the government¡¯s troubles. Between Jayson, embroiled in scandal, and Samson, who had almost no rumors or controversies surrounding him, the choice was clear. Inside 694 +35 BONUS The rightful source is FindN()vel Samson offered the most suitable solution to an extremely sticky situation by revealing the materials he possessed. To anyone, it looked like he had delivered timely help in a moment of crisis. Ariel¡¯s thoughts raced. It would be a lie to say she wasn¡¯t surprised. Outside of Croinia, the material was produced and held by only a few parties and selectpanies. Possessing it granted them influence over key decisions in a country¡¯s military and technology sectors. The profit from producing and selling it was enough to make businessmenpete fiercely. Until now, Jayson had been the only one with permission and the technique to produce the material. Anyone in their country¨Cor anywhere in the Sra region¨Chad to obtain it through him. But Samson, it turned out, had secured the production rights as well, keeping it hidden until now. At that moment, Ariel realized just how cunning and calcting he was. She subconsciously nced at Jayson. Jayson leaned back in his chair, slowly turning his gaze toward Samson. Curiously, he didn¡¯t look sveisend. Ariel stopped frowning and listened quietly. Gary looked bewildered. ¡°Samson, are you sure about what you¡¯re saying?¡± Samson smiled as he sat down. ¡°Mr. Quinton, I am the Yeager Group¡¯s sessor, after all. With ourpany¡¯s reputation, what is there to worry about?¡± He nced at Jayson. ¡°Of course, our scale of business isn¡¯t asrge as Mr. Larkin¡¯s. Still, providing the material for at least the next two years won¡¯t be a problem. After all, Mr. Larkin has¡­¡± He feigned sympathy. ¡°I¡¯m sure he¡¯s in a tight spot after such an awful incident. A dispute involving a worker¡¯s death and safety concerns is never easy to resolve. ¡°I hadn¡¯t nned to sell this material in Croinia. But since Mr. Larkin¡¯spany has run into problems, I feel I should offer an alternative so the government¡¯s research project won¡¯t face dys.¡± Jayson looked at him expressionlessly. ¡°You wasted no timeing to our rescue, Mr. Pryce.¡± Samson chuckled softly. ¡°I¡¯m simply doing this for everyone¡¯s sake.¡± Jayson knew exactly what he was up to. Two years ago, during his time in Ulyndor, he and Samson were rivals in 7:04 PM Thu 2 Oct the race to secure the market for this material. 53% +35 BONUS Back then, Samson¨Cyoung and inexperienced¨Chad been crushed. Hispany fell into a severe financial crisis and operations were suspended after losing ess to raw materials. They had practically gone bankrupt. Now Samson was staging aeback. With Jayson¡¯spany embroiled in scandal, the Department of Defense was left with two options¨Cthe Yeager Group, one of Croinia¡¯s top¨Ctierpanies, or Bluum Corp, now the focus of controversy. The choice was obvious. ¡°Since we¡¯re being cautious¡­¡± Jayson stretched out his legs. ¡°A while ago, Ariel was used of falsifying data, allegedly for personal reasons. ¡°In that case, I¡¯ll share the annual, quarterly, and even monthly inspection reports we¡¯ve kept since I began this business. These reports are stored with the most renowned, globally recognized agency in Ulyndor, which specializes in assessing material quality. ¡°They inspect our production every month. I¡¯m sure most of you know their reports are one hundred percent credible.¡± Gary looked shocked. Meanwhile, Samson narrowed his eyes. Ariel looked at Jayson as she wondered to herself, ¡°The materials were tested monthly?¡± She knew of the agency. Even countries like Ulyndor and Rynovar had to pass their inspections before selling materials. But the fees were exorbitant¨Cover a million dors per inspection, with extra charges for keeping records. The upside was absolute credibility. Even thergestpany in Merinia only requested quarterly inspections. Monthly checks would be a massive expense. Yet Jayson had done exactly that, leaving a verifiable record that his materials had always met standards. Gary still sounded stunned. ¡°You can provide that information, Mr. Larkin?¡± Jayson signaled to Arthur, who brought over a thick stack of documents. 7:04 PM Thu 2 Oct 53% +35 BONUS Gary instantly recognized the agency¡¯s seal of approval. Jayson¡¯s materials were certified to be of the highest quality. Seeing it was nearly time, Ariel spoke up. ¡°Regarding the usations that I falsified data to boost Mr. Larkin¡¯s business, I deny thempletely.¡± Inside 695 Ariel turned to Elsie. ¡°Did you bring yourptop?¡± Elsie looked slightly puzzled but nodded. ¡°Of course. What do you take me for? I always have myptop with me.¡± The corners of Ariel¡¯s mouth lifted. ¡°Have youpiled the data I¡¯ve been sending to your email almost every day for the past month?¡± Elsie seemed to catch on to something. ¡°I¡¯vepiled them¡­¡± Ariel shifted her gaze to Gary. ¡°I kept an extra copy of the data with her. I know it¡¯s sensitive information and we¡¯re not supposed to leak it. ¡°Elsie has no idea what the data actually is since I shuffled and rearranged it randomly. The original data can only be restored by following a certain pattern. These are the real results we gathered from testing, and they should match the data collected from the tests run at the base the other day.¡± Samson stiffened, frowning slightly as he nced at Ariel. Meanwhile, Jayson tilted his head, studying her. He had always known Ariel had a habit of keeping backups of her work. Normally, they couldn¡¯t store multiple backup copies of sensitive military data, making it imperative to perform their work with absolute caution. No errors were tolerated at any stage of the procedure. With others having witnessed Ariel and Elsie¡¯s purely professional rtionship, it was clear Elsie wouldn¡¯t help Ariel in fabricating a new data set. The extra copy of data not only highlighted Ariel¡¯s meticulousness but also demonstrated her trust in Elsie, as she had entrusted her with its safekeeping. Elsie¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°You kept all that from me too? You should¡¯ve told me about your n. I was worried sick for nothing!¡± She immediately pulled out herptop and uploaded the encrypted emails Ariel had sent her, allowing them to be assessed for the investigation. Yet, as Elsie did so, she subconsciously nced at Samson across from her. She vaguely recalled he was the only one she¡¯d seen before submitting the data. 7:05 PM Thu 2 Oct 53% +35 BONUS Gary wasted no time instructing his men to check. Soon, they confirmed that Ariel¡¯s data matched the results from the most recent testing, as well as the records stored at the agency in Ulyndor under jayson¡¯s request. There wasn¡¯t a single error. The data was precise and almost wless. Ariel turned back to Gary. ¡°I hope a full investigation will be carried out regarding the tampering of our data. This is a serious issue that has hindered the progress of an important project, and there¡¯s the risk of sensitive information being leaked.¡± She looked next at Elsie. ¡°As for her, I¡¯m sure she¡¯s willing to cooperate with the investigation. But I can assure you she hasn¡¯t broken any rules or protocols. Otherwise, I wouldn¡¯t have entrusted her with the data.¡± Elsie felt overwhelmed. She never imagined Ariel would defend her so firmly, shielding her from me. In a way, Ariel was vouching for her innocence and professionalism simply by leaving the data in her care. ¡°So, where did it all go wrong?¡± Elsie wondered. Her heartbeat quickened. The whole situation was absurd and terrifying. If not for Ariel¡¯s foresight, what would have happened to her? Within a short time, Ariel and Jayson had produced solid evidence proving that none of them had aced dishonestly. Samson stayed silent, his conflicted gaze lingering on Ariel. Jayson calmly addressed Gary. ¡°Regarding the factory incident, I promise I¡¯ll handle it properly if you¡¯re willing to put your faith in me.¡± Gary finally had a clearer picture of what was happening. If the data had indeed been tampered with, then the issue was far more serious than expected. Up until now, Updates are released by find?novel Ariel had never once mentioned that possibility. She only requested an investigation at this point. Clearly, she had her reasons. Faced with such an incident out of nowhere, Ariel chose to wait, giving the perpetrator time to expose their true intentions. Now, everything was crystal clear. The problemy in the attempt to monopolize the market in Croinia and the Sra region. That was the real motive. Ariel¡¯s gaze flicked toward Samson before she rose and walked over to Jayson. 7:05 PM Thu 2 Oct Jayson lowered his eyes, waiting for her to speak. 53% $35 BONUS Ariel turned back to Gary. ¡°I understand you have your own considerations when choosing between Bluum Corp and Yeager Group. But I¡¯d like to remind you of one thing. ¡°When I was developing the U.N2 a few years ago, the prototype only seeded because someone provided crucial material at the time. It perfectly resolved the ws in the drone¡¯s exterior. With Jayson¡¯s help, that reconnaissance and strike drone became as well¨Cknown as it is today.¡± Inside 696 Samson¡¯s expression hardened almost instantly at Ariel¡¯s words. He hadn¡¯t expected something like that to have happened in the past. Almost everyone in the conference room looked shocked or bewildered after hearing what Ariel revealed. The U.N2, developed by Ariel, marked the beginning of a new era in reconnaissance and strike drones. It showcased their excellence in developing cutting¨Cedge technology. With such an achievement under her name, the government likely wouldn¡¯t impose severe punishment even if Ariel had falsified data. In other words, as long as she hadn¡¯t betrayed the country, Ariel would always be respected and highly regarded as the developer of the U.N2. Now, however, Ariel was saying that Jayson had contributed to the creation of the U.N2. In truth, Ariel had only learned of this recently. After conducting several tests and speaking with Eric a few times, she discovered that Jayson had established his materialspany much earlier than she thought. Back then, she had been struggling to find the right material for the U.N2. Coincidentally, someone had contacted the research institute, offering help and support. They didn¡¯t know who that person was. After running further tests, Ariel was nearly certain it had been Jayson. Yet he had never spoken about it all this time. Jayson did not deny providing Ariel with the materials. He had made the arrangements long before, though he hadn¡¯t expected her to uncover the truth. With U.N2 as their trump card, the tables were turned once again. Jayson lifted his gaze, rose to his feet, and moved to stand beside Ariel. Casting Samson a nce, he said casually, ¡°What a coincidence. I know quite a bit about yourpany, Mr. Pryce. Two years ago, your business and mine shed over certain matters. ¡°Yourpany shut down when you failed to secure the technology and raw materials needed for production. I didn¡¯t expect you to still be running it these past two years. Fortunately, I¡¯m someone who keeps detailed records of data and information. I¡¯ve listed all the key factors that caused yourpany to lose to mine back then. Official source is Find¡ïNovel 7:05 PM Thu 2 Oct ¡°By the way, while traveling abroad recently, I also looked into the production techniques used in your factories. Compared to mine, they seemed rathercking.¡± Samson¡¯s expression turned to ice. At Jayson¡¯s signal, Arthur produced another document, which Gary and Maurice carefully reviewed. 7.53% 435 BONUS The report showed that while Samson¡¯spany was slowly growing and earning more profit, it carried significant risks in its operations and production processes. Recently collected data was included as well. A cold glint shed in Samson¡¯s eyes. He hadn¡¯t thought Jayson would stoop so low. Not long ago, Samson had targeted the headquarters of Jayson¡¯s materialspany, hoping to force him to leave Croinia temporarily. Jayson had indeed left Ariel behind and rushed to Ulyndor to resolve the issue. What Samson hadn¡¯t expected was that Jayson would still find the time to uncover the real location of hispany and collect this damning evidence¨Call while showing no sign of what he had been doing. Turning his gaze to Ariel, Samson saw her standing with Jayson. Together, they looked invincible. Gary and Maurice exchanged nces, realizing what was truly going on. Before they could say anything, Jayson reassured them. ¡°Rest assured, I¡¯ll handle the factory incident properly. I won¡¯t put either of you in a difficult position.¡± The two men said nothing further. Jayson had made everything clear. Gary nced at Samson. Considering he was his friend¡¯s son, Gary stepped forward and patted him on the shoulder. ¡°You can take your time working on a partnership with the government.¡± Before long, more than half the attendees had left the conference room. Samson fixed his gaze on Jayson and smirked. ¡°Mr. Larkin, don¡¯t you ever get tired of this?¡± Jayson had managed to gather all this material and information even while dealing with other overwhelming issues. Expressionless, Jayson replied, ¡°You¡¯ve improved, Mr. Pryce. Still, nothing you do will cause me any real damage.¡± Samson¡¯s usual bright and friendly expression gave way to a frosty one. Ariel remained silent. end pg up pg dn 7:05 PM Thu 2 Oct Jayson took her wrist and led her toward the door. Samson¡¯s gaze lingered on Ariel¡¯s face. This time, she didn¡¯t even nce at him. It was the first time Samson had seen her so cold and distant. The sight left him restless and agitated. His eyes darkened as he stared at her retreating figure. 53% $35 BONUS Elsie sat unmoving for a long while, then finally rose and approached Samson. ¡°I truly hoped you weren¡¯t involved in this.¡± But if Ariel hadn¡¯t vouched for her, she would have been the first one med for everything that had happened. Inside 697 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, ¡°If 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 81% 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 The source of th?s content is FindN0vel 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¨Cwhat 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¨Cstage cancer.¡± 4:07 PM Fri 3 Oct Ariel¡¯s fists tightened on herp at those words. 0176 ¡°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?¡± Inside 698 Ariel considered briefly how she should phrase her words. Since things hade to this, perhaps it was time to let go of everything that had been holding her back and finally tell Jayson the truth. The truth about her cancer. The truth about what had actually happened that led to the abortion before Jayson returned to Croinia. Ariel suddenly felt she should clear the air and bepletely honest with him, especially since they would soon be divorced. She was even more inclined to do so when she thought about how Jayson had secretly brought Isaac back to help with Leonard¡¯s treatment and how he had quietly supported her while she worked on the U.N2 project. Maybe they should have an honest, heart¨Cto¨Cheart conversation for once. Then, they could part ways without any lingering regrets or resentment. ¡°What is it that you want to say?¡± Jayson asked, sensing something heavy on her mind. Ariel began, ¡°I want to tell you that-¡± A sudden screech cut her off. Arthur jerked the steering wheel, and the car skidded sideways before he mmed on the brakes. The force of momentum threw Ariel against the side, but Jayson caught her from behind. Frowning, he nced sharply out the window. Arthur looked over his shoulder apologetically. ¡°Mr. Larkin, a car sped toward us just now. I had to swerve to avoid it. Are you both alright?¡± 1 Jayson spotted the car speeding away. A cold light flickered in his eyes. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± A small frown creased Ariel¡¯s forehead as she rubbed her neck, having apparently pulled a muscle. ¡°I¡¯m okay,¡± she said. But her pain was evident to Jayson, whose frown deepened in concern. ¡°Let¡¯s head back first,¡± he responded. His gaze lingered in the direction the car had gone, his eyes unreadable. It was clear this wasn¡¯t just a simple ident. 4:07 PM Fri 3 Oct It was around noon when they arrived at Larkin Manor. Jayson helped Ariel out of the car. ¡°Let¡¯s get you a coldpress.¡± She nodded faintly, still wincing. As soon as they entered the house, they found Shane sitting in a corner with a book in hand. He looked up at the sound of their footsteps and smiled warmly. ¡°You¡¯re back early today.¡± Jayson shot him a cold nce. ¡°Were you expecting me to be buried in work today?¡± 6 81% Shane kept a neutral expression. ¡°When have you not been? Still, you should be more considerate of Ari¡¯s feelings.¡± He seemed oblivious to the undertone in Jayson¡¯s words. Jayson ignored him and signaled for someone to bring an ice pack. He had Ariel sit on the couch, then leaned in to press the cold pack gently against her neck. She shivered at the sudden chill. Jayson lowered his gaze. ¡°Bear with it for a bit.¡± Ariel took the ice pack from him. ¡°I¡¯ll do it myself.¡°. th Shane watched the scene unfolding before him. ¡°Why are you being so polite with your own husband? What¡¯s going on, Ari?¡± Ariel remained silent, finding it hard to answer. Besides, they had another reason foring back to Larkin Manor today. Straightening, Jayson shot Shane a sidelong nce. ¡°Haven¡¯t you seen today¡¯s news?¡± Shane appeared confused. ¡°What news?¡± ¡°How could you not know?¡± Jayson replied slowly, his tone edged with mockery. ¡°You¡¯ll never qualify as a Shane stiffened slightly before forcing a grin. ¡°Is that so? I¡¯ll check the news now.¡± Jayson waited not far from Ariel, watching as Shane took out his phone and browsed the inte for the news, eager to see his response. Shane immediately knew the news Jayson was talking about. He assumed the public was already voicing strong 51% opinions and that Bluum Corp. would soon face heavy criticism. The bacsh would quickly hit all of its Readplete version only at ?ovelFind Shane¡¯s smile vanished the moment he clicked the article. He slowly shifted his gaze to Jayson, who was busy pouring tea into a cup. Instead of condemning Bluum Corp, the onlinemunity was buzzing with praise. The victim¡¯s wife hade forward to exin that both her husband and daughter had cancer. She admitted her husband had been persuaded to stage the ident at the factory to secure argepensation payout. She issued a formal apology and publicly thanked Jayson. Instead of ming them for the false incident that had tarnished Bluum Corp¡¯s name, he had quietly provided three million dors for her daughter¡¯s treatment and another two million for her studies. Public sentiment shifted instantly. Negativements vanished, reced by waves of admiration. In just two hours, Jayson¡¯s team hadpletely turned the tide. Those who had first hurled harsh words now praised Bluum Corp for its empathy and swift resolution. They hadn¡¯t pushed the me on anyone else. Even though they had been wrongly used, they had chosenpassion over retaliation. Through this, Bluum Corp¡¯s reputation wasn¡¯t just restored¨Cit was elevated to new heights. GET IT N¡­ X Inside 699 Shane¡¯s expression stiffened the moment he saw thetest developments online. He had already arranged for the victim¡¯s wife and daughter to be taken to a hidden location. So how had Jayson¡¯s men managed to secure them? Those two were supposed to be under their control. And yet, Jayson had even brought the wife out to make a public statement. If that was the case, Samson¡¯s n had likely fallen through as well. From the start, Shane had orchestrated the incident to help Samson gain control of the Cro¨ªnia market and sell his materials. But now¡­ ¡°Do you think I handled the incident properly, Shane?¡± Jayson asked with a faint smile. His eyes, however, were devoid of warmth. Shane quickly schooled his face into neutrality. The moment their gazes met, he knew Jayson had already figured everything out. Jayson had returned to Larkin Manor at this hour for one reason only¨Cto warn him. Shane had never revealed his real identity to the deceased worker, and his wife would have had no way Official source is f?i?n?d?n?o?v?e?l? knowing who he was either. But if Jayson had managed to track down the wife and daughter, then he must have discovered the truth. of ¡°You¡¯re the only one capable of resolving these problems quickly and cost¨Ceffectively,¡± Shane said with a wry smile, slipping his phone into his pocket. Still, he couldn¡¯t help worrying about Samson¡¯s side of things. Ariel nced furtively at Shane. She had remained silent the whole time, yet she could see how heavily surrounded Jayson was by enemies: It was only his cautious nature that allowed him to see through so many schemes and tricks. ¡°I thought it best to handle the matter carefully,¡± Jayson said evenly. ¡°One wrong step could mean the downfall of the entire Larkin family. I¡¯m sure you understand that, Shane.¡± Shane forced a smile, though his temples throbbed with tension. Just then, Betty came downstairs. Spotting Ariel, she beamed and hurried over. ¡°Ari, you¡¯re not busy with work today?¡± 4:07 PM Fri 3 Oct 81% Ariel didn¡¯t mention the eventful morning they had just endured. She nodded. ¡°We¡¯re not too busy today. Since we¡¯ll be celebrating your birthday tomorrow, Jayson and I thought we¡¯d visit today.¡± Betty¡¯s grin widened when she heard Ariel had remembered her birthday. ¡°You two are so thoughtful. I¡¯ve also sent invitations to your grandma and uncle. Tomorrow, have Jayson pick them up and drive them to the venue.¡± Ariel agreed with her suggestion. Tomorrow was the final day anyway. Even if Katie or Leonard let slip about the divorce, it wouldn¡¯t matter. Jayson stayed silent as Betty and Ariel chatted, while Shane quietly slipped out of the living room. He walked down the corridor and stopped by a pond, then ced a call to Samson. It took a long moment before Samson finally answered. His voice was cold. ¡°Mr. Shane Larkin, you¡¯re really not that great at your job.¡± Shane frowned. ¡°You know better than anyone that this incident wasn¡¯t easy to resolve. Jayson only managed because he¡¯s sly and maniptive. I still don¡¯t know how he tracked down the worker¡¯s wife and daughter.¡± But Samson had no interest in revisiting what now felt meaningless. ¡°Thanks to you, Jayson has gained a perfect opportunity to polish Bluum Corp¡¯s image.¡± Samson¡¯s n had failedpletely. Achieving his goals would now be harder than ever. He hung up without another word. Standing by the window, Samson¡¯s usual gentle demeanor was reced by an icy expression. He frowned, brooding over how Jayson had once again scraped victory by the narrowest margin. Lowering his head, he studied the pearl earring resting in his palm. Cecilia had ordered the maids to throw it away, but one of them had secretly retrieved it for him. As he stared at the smooth white pearl, Samson recalled Ariel¡¯s coldness toward him today and how she had defended Jayson. Despite everything Jayson had done to her, Ariel still hadn¡¯t learned her lesson. Samson despised women who abandoned reason whenever romance was involved. Just then, Cecilia entered the room and noticed him staring absently at the object in his hand. 4:07 PM Fri 3 Oct Chapter Bag She strutted over in her heels. ¡°What are you thinking about so deeply?¡± 81% Samson clenched his fist around the pearl and shoved it into his pocket before turning. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Cecilia had already heard rumors about what happened at the base, particrly how Ariel and Jayson had worked seamlessly together to resolve the data issue. She frowned. ¡°Your n failed, didn¡¯t it? Looks like they¡¯ve only grown closer.¡± Samson brushed past her. ¡°So?¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t you promise me you¡¯d drive them apart?¡± Cecilia mocked. ¡°Yet you couldn¡¯t even manage to charm Ariel.¡± Samson froze mid¨Cpour as he reached for the liquor. His gaze hardened. ¡°In any case,¡± Cecilia continued with a smirk, ¡°don¡¯t expect me to be much help if things between you and Jayson don¡¯t work out. ¡°You should focus on dealing with the materials first. It won¡¯t look good if Yeager Group loses its edge. As for Jayson and Ariel¡­ I already have an idea of what to do.¡± Inside 700 Betty¡¯s birthday party was considered a major event in Eldoria. Members of the city¡¯s wealthy and prominent families would attend to celebrate, and some even traveled from other regions just to be there. Many hoped to gain the Larkin family¡¯s favor and establish valuable connections. The night before, Ariel returned to the Walker residence. She decided to personally pick up Katie and Leonard and take them to the venue. She didn¡¯t bring Jayson along, as Betty had suggested. Ariel wanted to remind Katie and Leonard in private not to identally say anything that might upset Betty during the party. After all, only they knew about the divorce. Katie bore no ill feelings toward Betty. She knew how much care Betty had shown Ariel during the years she lived with the Larkins. For that reason, Katie didn¡¯t mind doing this for Betty¡¯s sake. ¡°What are you and Jayson nning to do moving forward?¡± Katie asked once they were in the car. ¡°I¡¯ve heard things from my friendstely. They all say you two are such a loving couple. Are you thinking of reconciling?¡± Leonard turned his gaze toward Ariel as well. A fleeting expression crossed Ariel¡¯s eyes before she shook her head. ¡°No. But you don¡¯t need to worry. I¡¯m an adult now. I¡¯ll handle it properly.¡± She decided this wasn¡¯t the right time to bring up the baby. ¡°Only the two of you can decide what happens in your rtionship, Ari. I just hope you¡¯ll follow your heart in every decision you make. Don¡¯t let yourself be limited by outside factors telling you what you can or can¡¯t do.¡± Leonard fixed Ariel with a gentle gaze. He knew very well about Ariel¡¯s character and temperament. His words momentarily stunned Ariel, but then she nodded. ¡°I know.¡± The birthday party was held at Rose Luxe Hotel. Owned by the Larkins, the entire property had been reserved for the celebration. The hotel was more thanrge enough to amodate the many invited guests. When Ariel and her family arrived, Jayson was already waiting at the entrance. From a distance, Ariel spotted him speaking to another guest. His tall frame stood out in the crowd, dressed in a handmade, perfectly tailored suit. Even from afar, many young women were sneaking nces at him. 4:07 PM Fri 3 Oct 781% As if sensing Ariel¡¯s gaze, Jayson looked her way the very next moment. He nodded politely to the guest he had been speaking with and excused himself before striding toward Ariel. He greeted Katie and Leonard warmly. ¡°Katie. Leo. Let¡¯s head inside first.¡± Leonard found himself quietly impressed. He had always liked Jayson¨Cthere was a confidence and refinement about him that he rarely saw in others. Despite his youth, Jayson was quick¨Cwitted and sensible. Even with the strain in his rtionship with Ariel, he never once treated Katie or Leonard with anything less than respect. Leonard let out a small sigh. Perhaps Ariel and Jayson simply weren¡¯t meant to be. Katie, meanwhile, responded to Jayson rather coolly. She still felt bad for Ariel. With Ariel holding her arm for support, Katie entered the hotel. Jayson followed close behind them. The event was bustling. Many sessful and well¨Cknown businessmen could be seen among the crowd. Ariel soon noticed Jackson chatting with Betty and several other guests. Not long after, Matt and the others approached to greet Katie respectfully. ¡°Hello, Mrs. Walker Senior.¡± Perry nced briefly at Ariel before addressing Katie and Leonard. ¡°Mrs. Walker Senior. Mr. Walker.¡± Leonard¡¯s eyes lingered on Perry. He remembered that the young man seemed to harbor feelings for Ariel. He had caught on the day before the federal holiday. For more chapters visit find?novel Before he could stop himself, Leonard blurted out, ¡°Mr. Houston, didn¡¯t you¡­¡® The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone! Inside 701 +15 BONUS Chapter 701 Leonard¡¯s gaze drifted toward Jayson, and he immediately stopped himself from finishing what he was about to say. Perry, with a knowing look in his eyes, gave a slight nod. Meanwhile, Jayson slowly lifted his gaze, appearingpletely oblivious to the silent exchange between the two men. He didn¡¯t ask any questions either. Perry acted as though he hadn¡¯t noticed Leonard¡¯s hesitation. Just then, someone came over to greet him. Perry¡¯s gaze brieflynded on Ariel before he turned around to speak to the neer. Ariel, uninterested in small talk, led Katie and Leonard over to where Betty was. Once Ariel had left, Matt stepped closer to Jayson. ¡°Judging by your interactions¡­ the two of you haven¡¯t reconciled yet?¡± Jayson lowered his gaze. ¡°We¡¯re getting divorced soon.¡± After what happened to their child, Jayson had be convinced that Ariel no longer had any feelings for him. Without another word, he walked away to another spot in the hall, leaving Matt standing there, stunned and confused. What did he just hear? There was no way Jayson would willingly end things with Ariel. Just as Ariel was bringing Katie and Leonard over to greet Betty, she received a WhatsApp message from Janice, saying that she and Chad had arrived. Original content can be found at findnovel Ariel looked toward the entrance and spotted Janice hurrying over, dragging Chad along. Even though she disliked seeing Jayson, Janice had no choice but to attend Betty¡¯s birthday party since her parents would be present as well. Janice cast a nce at Jayson, who stood not far away. Then she grabbed Ariel¡¯s arm and whispered, There¡¯s no way he¡¯ll ever find a new wife as perfect as you. You¡¯ve always fulfilled your duties to make sure the Larkins never lost face.¡± 11 Unlike Ariel, Jayson had never cared about how it affected her when he appeared in public with Nancy by his side. Ariel stayed silent. Today would be thest time she had to endure something like this. After today, their separation would be formally announced. ¡°I agree with her,¡± Chad said, raising his brows at Janice. Perhaps sensing they were talking about him, Jayson turned his gaze toward Ariel¡¯s group. 1/3 Janice scoffed, folding her arms. ¡°What¡¯s he looking at? It¡¯s not like I said anything wrong. He even had a huge fight with you not long ago because of the baby.¡± The instant those words left her mouth, Janice regretted them. Ariel had been devastated by the incident as well. Flustered, she scratched her head. Chad knew she had blurted it out because she was emotional. He lightly tapped the back of her head.¡± You should sit at the kids¡® tableter.¡± Though Ariel kept her expressionposed, a sharp pang of sorrow cut through her chest. She felt a dull, throbbing ache in her lower abdomen, as if the scar left there would never fully heal. She drew in a deep breath, suppressing her emotions. Just then, Betty waved at her. ¡°Ari,e join us for a chat.¡± Janice tagged along, worried about Evelyn, Ariel¡¯s demanding mother¨Cinw, who was also there. She was ready to defend Ariel the moment Evelyn tried to scold or criticize her. Ariel still cared about keeping up appearances for the Larkins, but Janice didn¡¯t. Since Ariel and Jayson were separating anyway, why should Ariel continue suffering such treatment? 1 Ariel made her way toward Betty and the others. Shane and his parents were nowhere to be seen, either because they hadn¡¯t arrived yet or were busy greeting other guests. Betty sped Ariel¡¯s hands warmly¨Conly for a voice to cut in abruptly. ¡°Mrs. Larkin Senior, you look so happy and radiant today.¡± At the sound of that voice, Ariel instinctively clenched her fists. She cast a frosty nce at the neer. Cecilia had dressed in a demure, elegant outfit that elders would surely approve of. Carrying an expensive gift, she approached Betty with a bright smile. She instantly stole the spotlight from Ariel. Betty recognized her at once. ¡°Ms. Pryce?¡± Cecilia beamed. ¡°I¡¯m so d you remember me. I came today to wish you a happy birthday. I wish you good health and endless happiness.¡± Inside 702 Chapter 702 Janice scrunched up her face the instant she saw Cecilia. She whispered to Ariel, ¡°She¡¯s acting as if she¡¯s Mrs. Larkin Senior¡¯s granddaughter¨Cinw instead. What¡¯s she doinging over to the table reserved for the Larkins?¡± Ariel pressed her lips into a thin line. She still hadn¡¯t found anything concrete about what had happened to her at the hospital. Naturally, it was impossible for Ariel to treat Cecilia the same way she treated others. Katie could tell at first nce that Cecilia wasn¡¯t as friendly or harmless as she appeared. Jayson looked at Cecilia expressionlessly. He didn¡¯t make any effort to greet or wee her. Betty nodded. ¡°Thank you for your kind words.¡± She motioned for a staff member to take the gift from Cecilia, but she didn¡¯t continue the conversation. Instead, she had Ariel sit down beside her and gently patted the back of her hand. Then she turned to Katie. ¡°I¡¯m so d I get to see all these lovely faces today. To tell you the truth, it doesn¡¯t matter to me anymore how much longer I have left in this life. My biggest wish is for Ari and Jayson to support each other and live a happy life together. And also¡­¡± Betty¡¯s eyes crinkled as she smiled. ¡°It would be wonderful if they could give me a great¨Cgrandchild this year. Wouldn¡¯t it be lovely to have a new member join our family?¡± Cecilia sensed the lukewarm response from Betty. She wasn¡¯t anxious or flustered about it. With a polite smile on her face, she stood quietly to the side. Katie didn¡¯tment on Betty¡¯s words. It was pointless, especially now that Ariel had already divorced Jayson. Evelyn stayed silent as well. With Betty present, it wasn¡¯t her ce to say anything. Suddenly, Cecilia eximed, ¡°A new member in the family? Didn¡¯t Ms. Walker just have an abortion to remove the child she had with Mr. Larkin? Did none of you know about that?¡± Cecilia didn¡¯t bother lowering her voice. Guests nearby immediately turned their heads toward her. Jayson¡¯s eyes went icy. Without hesitation, he gave his next instruction. ¡°Call security. Have her escorted out.¡± Meanwhile, Ariel fixed Cecilia with an intense gaze. In that moment, she became certain Cecilia had yed a role in the incident that led to the abortion. Betty¡¯s face twisted in shock. ¡°What do you mean by that?¡± Evelyn shot to her feet. ¡°What on earth happened?¡± Katie and Leonard widened their eyes in disbelief. +15 BONUS Before the security guards arrived, Cecilia tilted her head at Jayson, who was clearly agitated. She turned to the crowd and replied in a feigned tone of surprise. ¡°None of you knew? It seems Ms. Walker didn¡¯t want to keep the child she conceived with Mr. Larkin. The Larkins were finally going to have a new member join the family after so long, yet Ms. Walker secretly terminated the pregnancy without telling anyone?¡± Betty¡¯s breathing grew rapid and uneven from the shock. The guests whispered among themselves, stunned by Cecilia¡¯s words. Evelyn¡¯s expression hardened. She scowled at Ariel, her voice sharp with fury. ¡°What have you done? That was Jayson¡¯s child! Do you think you can handle the consequences if Betty suffers an attack because of your reckless decision? It¡¯s her birthday today!¡± She twisted the situation, making it sound as though Ariel was the one who had ruined the joyous asion with her actions. ¡°Mom, why are you believing the words of a stranger?¡± Jayson stepped forward, positioning himself protectively in front of Ariel. Despite the frigid look on his face, it was clear he intended to defend her. ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? find?novel Betty clutched her chest. ¡°Ari, please tell me it¡¯s not true.¡± Ariel¡¯s jaw ached from how tightly she was clenching it. She knew Betty needed an answer, but how could she bring herself to speak? Janice could see they were all intent on branding Ariel a sinner and pinning the me on her. Her eyes turned red as she rushed forward and mmed her hand on the table. ¡°None of you have the right to me her! Do you think she wanted something like this to happen? She¡¯s sick! It¡¯s an illness that could cost her life!¡± 2 Inside 703 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?¡± 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¨Cyou shouldn¡¯t act like you¡¯re her benefactors or that it was some tragedy to let her marry into your family. If 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¨Cwhat kind of illness had she been diagnosed with? One that could cost her life, as Janice had just imed? This update is avable on FindN()vel 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. ¡°Mom, let¡¯s talk somewhere more private.¡± Leonard, ever the cool¨Cheaded 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¨Cthe 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 Inside 704 Evelyn also instructed a staff member to prepare the lounge. After that, the group headed over. Most of them were still confused about what they had just heard and needed rification. Upon noticing what was happening, Janice hurriedly wiped her tears and pulled free from Chad¡¯s grip. ¡°I¡¯m going too.¡± The Larkins were clearly going to me and judge Ariel for everything. This time, Chad didn¡¯t try to stop her. Since Ariel and Jayson had decided to end their rtionship, there was no longer any need for Chad and Janice to be courteous or sensitive about the matter. Ariel didn¡¯t have much backing to begin with. Chad and Janice were the only ones left who could stand by her. Jayson held Ariel¡¯s wrist silently. She could feel how cold his fingers were. Just as Ariel¡¯s group was leaving the hall, Matt and the others noticed their movements. They watched from a distance, confused. Before Matt could think further, Lucas arrived at the hall. He had stopped by because he knew Ariel would be here today. Spotting Matt, Lucas went up to greet him. ¡°Mr. Crosby, aren¡¯t Mr. Larkin and Ariel here yet?¡± Matt nced at him, then pointed toward a corridor. ¡°They just went that way. Looks like they¡¯re tied up with something.¡± Lucas followed his line of sight. He hadn¡¯t told Wendy he would be here today. He figured he should settle matters one at a time and have a proper conversation with Ariel first. Meanwhile, inside the lounge, everyone turned their eyes toward Ariel. Several voices rang out at once. ¡°Ari, what¡¯s wrong with your health?¡± ¡°You should exin about the abortion now, right?¡± Evelyn pressed. ¡°Ari, I¡¯m not trying to me you. I just hope you¡¯ll tell us what really happened,¡± Betty said. She had calmed down, but she was still deeply concerned since it involved the continuation of the Larkin family¡¯s lineage. Jayson, however, had a different reaction. His temples throbbed as he finally lifted his head. ¡°I hope all of you can be mindful of your tone. She¡¯s not a tool whose only purpose is to produce an heir, nor does she have to exin herself about this. ¡°If you¡¯re only here to me and criticize her, then it¡¯s best you stop asking questions.¡± Find the newest release on find{n}ovel Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat at his words. Even Janice was stunned. She had thought Jayson would at least let 173 424 Evelyn and Betty reproach Ariel, since he too must have been upset about losing their child. She never expected to hear these words from him instead. Though Jayson hadn¡¯t mentioned names, Evelyn knew very well he was speaking to her. Her expression darkened, but there wasn¡¯t much she could do. Jayson had always been blunt and straightforward. Ariel realized Jayson was giving her the chance not to speak. She wasn¡¯t obligated to answer. But whether it was the physical pain or the mental burden, she had carried it alone for too long. It was impossible to keep the truth hidden forever. Ariel drew in a deep breath. Jayson¡¯s gaze lingered on her. He could feel the tension in her clenched fist, yet her back remained straight. She looked like someone who had endured countless hardships but still refused to bow. Her eyes, slightly reddened, held a calm determination. Jayson subconsciously held his breath, a heavy sense of foreboding settling over him. He stared at Ariel¨Cat once fragile like a child and yet stubbornly strong¨Cas she looked at Katie and Leonard. ¡°I¡­ have cancer. And I¡¯ve known about it for quite some time.¡± The room fell into a suffocating silence. Jayson felt as if a heavy blow had struck his head. His expression froze, his face drained of color. It was as though thousands of needles pierced his body all at once, the pain sharp and unbearable. His ears rang. His heart felt like it might stop beating altogether. For a fleeting moment, Jayson desperately wished he had heard her wrong. Inside 705 The sudden silence was suffocating, heavy with agony. Ariel had finally spoken about the suffering she had been enduring. Katie¡¯s and Leonard¡¯s faces turned pale at her words. Not wanting to see them so devastated, Ariel forced a wry smile. ¡°I have endometrial cancer. But don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ve been receiving proper treatment and consulting an experienced doctor. I¡¯ll¡­ I¡¯ll do my best to make a full recovery.¡± Somehow, her steady voice eased the tension in the room, if only slightly. Betty, still stunned, sank onto the couch, unable to react. Evelyn furrowed her brows in disbelief. Endometrial cancer meant Ariel might struggle to conceive in the future. Jayson¡¯s face was as white as a sheet. His lips moved, but no words came out at first. After a long pause, he finally managed to speak. ¡°When did you find out?¡± 1 Ariel met his gaze and noticed his eyes were red. To her surprise, beneath the calm mask of the man who always seemed invincible, she saw raw despair and misery. Jayson¡¯s grip on her wrist remained firm despite his hand trembling with fear. His heart felt as though it were bleeding. Ignoring the waves of pain coursing through her, Ariel answered, ¡°It was around the time Nancy returned to the country. I was diagnosed on the day you helped celebrate her birthday. Jayson shuddered. His lips turned pale, and his eyes went nk, as though thest shred of hope in him had just been crushed. What had he been doing then? He hadn¡¯t been by her side. That exined why Ariel hadn¡¯t told him anything. She must have been deeply disappointed¨Cdisappointed enough to give up on relying on him altogether. The world around Jayson grew dull and distant. His vision dimmed, and his ears rang. Even he couldn¡¯t forgive himself. Janice sniffled softly as she watched Ariel exin everything so calmly. She knew what Ariel had been forced to endure. She hated everyone who had hurt her, regardless of the reason. Katie¡¯s eyes brimmed with tears. She wanted to hug Ariel, but all she could do was sob. ¡°Don¡¯t worry. I¡¯ll stay by your side through this. With how advanced medicine is today, I¡¯m sure the doctors will cure you.¡± Even Leonard was shaken. The always¨Celegant gentleman¡¯s eyes glistened with tears. He was a cancer patient himself and knew all too well how grueling the treatments could be. Back then, he had Ariel and Katie to care for him and keep himpany. But who did Ariel have? Jayson¨Cher husband of several years¨Chad beenpletely unaware of her condition. For Katie, who had already lost Elena at a young age, the revtion that Ariel was also battling cancer was a Chapter 705 N?w ?ovel chapt?rs are published on FindN0vel crushing blow. After offering words offort, Katie felt her chest tighten. Her blood pressure was ring up. ¡°Grandma!¡± Ariel cried out in rm. Chad immediately stepped forward to steady Katie. ¡°Jan, we should take Mrs. Walker Senior to the hospital,¡± he urged. Janice snapped out of her daze, and the room quickly descended into chaos. As Chad ushered Katie from the room, Ariel felt a cold wave of panic wash over her, leaving her forehead mmy. She couldn¡¯t help but question whether telling the truth now had been the right choice. Katie was rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, Ariel could hardly stand. A sudden, stabbing pain wracked her body, making her stagger. Jayson finally snapped out of his daze. His lips were pale as he noticed her faltering. Without hesitation, he scooped her into his arms and hurried out. Evelyn, however, couldn¡¯t leave. She turned to Betty, who still sat in a daze, then stayed behind to handle the guests and the event. As Lucas came down the corridor, he saw Jayson striding toward him with Ariel cradled in his arms, her face twisted in pain. Lucas¡® heart sank. But Jayson didn¡¯t stop. His strides were long and urgent. He deliberately avoided the path through the main hall. He wouldn¡¯t allow the guests to see Ariel so weak and vulnerable. Inside 706 Jayson carried Ariel in his arms and left through one of the side entrances. Sweat glistened on his forehead, and the corners of his eyes were red. Once inside the car, Jayson held Ariel tightly. The fear of losing her overwhelmed him. He rested his chin on her head, his trembling hand stroking her back. In a low, broken voice, he murmured, ¡°You¡¯ll be fine¡­ The doctors will cure you¡­ I¡¯m sorry. It¡¯s all my fault¡­¡± Arthur dared not say a word. After receiving Jayson¡¯s instructions on which hospital to head to, he mmed on the elerator and sped away. Ariel couldn¡¯t understand why the pain was so much worse this time. It was so unbearable that all she wanted was to curl into a ball. She could hear Jayson¡¯s despair in every word. She parted her lips, but no sound came out. All she could do was bite down hard and shut her eyes. ¡°Hurry!¡± Jayson barked, his voice hoarse with anxiety. His heart clenched when he noticed Ariel biting her lip until it bled. Quickly, he slid his hand against her mouth, pried her lips open, and let her bite down on his hand instead. 1 Drifting in and out of consciousness, Ariel opened her eyes. She saw Jayson lowering his head, those usually clear, emotionless eyes clouded with unbearable torment. Hisshes were wet. A teardrop slid down andnded on her cheek. Ariel¡¯s heart skipped a beat, and a bitter feeling welled within her. Had she imagined it? Someone like Jayson- she thought¨Cwould never shed tears over something like this. But the pain she had endured alone all this time surged back, raw and unrelenting. Overwhelmed, she bit down hard on his hand, so much so that she tasted blood. (1) Still, Jayson didn¡¯t pull away. He only held her tighter, his frantic heartbeat pounding against her. Suddenly, her storm of emotions ebbed away. She stopped biting down on his hand. Ariel closed her eyes and said nothing for the rest of the trip. Atst, they reached the hospital. Jayson swept Ariel into his arms again and rushed inside. As luck would have it, they ran straight into Liam, who had juste downstairs after performing surgery. The moment Liam spotted them, his expression hardened. He strode toward Jayson. ¡°Follow me.¡± Jayson, nearly unraveling, struggled to process everything. Mechanically, he said, ¡°She has cancer, and she¡¯s in a lot of pain. Is there any way to help her?¡± Liam could see how desperate he was. He also knew Jayson well. Among the elite, Jayson stood out for his sharp mind, talent, and ruthless decisiveness. But now, that same man was panicking helplessly. Liam met his gaze with calm steadiness. ¡°Leave her to me. I¡¯m Ariel¡¯s attending physician.¡± Those words snapped Jayson from his daze. He stared at Liam for a long moment before letting out a bitter, self- mocking smile. Find the newest release on find?novel Even Liam knew more about Ariel than he did. What kind of husband had he been? He was simply pathetic and despicable. Liam led him into a room, and Jayson gently set Ariel on the bed. Though unconscious, Ariel¡¯s brows were furrowed in pain. Jayson refused to step aside. Liam didn¡¯t press him. He bent forward and examined her carefully. ¡°She¡¯s been sick for quite a while. Her condition is critical. It¡¯ste¨Cstage cancer, and she¡¯s been enduring it alone all this time.¡± Jayson took in Ariel¡¯s pale face. It took every ounce of strength to voice the question. ¡°She¡¯s suffered a lot¡­ hasn¡¯t she?¡± Liam didn¡¯t even look up. ¡°That¡¯s right.¡± Then his eyes flicked to Jayson. ¡°She nearly required a hysterectomy. As for losing the baby, her body simply couldn¡¯t sustain the pregnancy. She was the one most devastated by it. Yet you resented her. Isn¡¯t that right, Mr. Larkin?¡± 2 Jayson¡¯s lips pressed into a thin, trembling line. His eyes burned hot. Liam paused before continuing, his tone sharp. ¡°It wasn¡¯t her choice to end the pregnancy. Something happened that day. Someone targeted her and orchestrated the incident that led to the abortion. And when she was grieving¡­ even you med her.¡± 6 Inside 707 The room buzzed with movement. Medical staff came and went, but to Jayson, the only sound that rang clearly was his own heartbeat. Liam calmly recounted the events as someone who had witnessed them from the sidelines. He didn¡¯t need to exaggerate¨Cevery detail was enough to make Jayson¡¯s hair stand on end. Jayson¡¯s face was deathly pale. Something within him was crumbling, reflected starkly in his eyes. ¡°She was forced into many things,¡± Liam said evenly. ¡°Even if Ariel had chosen the abortion, you had no right to me her. It was her life on the line. She had no choice if she wanted to live.¡± Jayson had been there that day, waiting outside the operating room, though his mind had been clouded by misunderstandings. Judging by Janice¡¯s remarks, Liam could already piece together Jayson¡¯s attitude. Jayson and Ariel had even gone so far as to part ways because of it. Yet, the truth was in¨CAriel had been the greatest victim. She had suffered both physically and mentally, despite doing nothing wrong. As a doctor, Liam knew he shouldn¡¯t let himself empathize too much. But he couldn¡¯t help it. Ariel had endured far too much alone. ¡°She never told me anything,¡± Jayson muttered, his voice hollow, as though struck by a hammer. ¡°That doesn¡¯t surprise me,¡± Liam replied matter¨Cof¨Cfactly. ¡°She was deeply hurt and depressed. Your attitude would naturally determine whether she felt safe enough to confide in you.¡± Ariel had been lost and helpless back then. She couldn¡¯t possibly have the strength or energy to deal with Jayson¡¯s emotions and resentment. What could Ariel even possibly do in that situation? Jayson felt as if all his strength had been drained from his body. He wasn¡¯t even sure what kind of expression he should have on his face. He braced himself against the wall, struggling even to breathe. Lowering his gaze, he clutched his chest and rasped, ¡°Does she¡­ have a good chance of recovery?¡± His voice was raw, almost breaking. The child, he would investigateter. Someone had orchestrated that tragedy, and he would uncover the truth. But for now, all that mattered was Ariel. Jayson knew Liam¡¯s words were true. He couldn¡¯t forgive himself for what he had said to Ariel, for how he had. treated her in her darkest moments. The thought of it tore at him, piece by piece. Back then, Ariel must have felt utterly helpless¨Cforced to carry his anger when she had neededfort most. Jayson couldn¡¯t begin to fathom the weight of that pain. Jayson felt like he might suffocate as he pictured Ariel having to swallow her true thoughts and emotions. Why, he now realized, had Ariel ever needed to justify herself to him? Why had she been forced to swallow her grief just so he could process his resentment? Content originallyes from FindN()vel Liam¡¯s tone grew clinical again. ¡°Because the abortion was induced by external factors, her uterus suffered damage. Even if we adjust the treatment n, her chances of recovery are reduced. You need to be prepared for that.¡± ¡°Is there a high chance the surgery might fail?¡± ¡°The sess rate is about 20% if you insist on preserving her uterus,¡± Liam replied frankly. ¡°There¡¯s a high probability of failure. And if it fails, the cancer will spread faster, cutting her life short.¡± ¡°But if her uterus is removed¡­¡± Liam¡¯s gaze sharpened,nding on the man before him, who looked ready to break. ¡°That is, without question, the safest choice.¡± Liam himself felt conflicted. With Ariel¡¯s earlier condition, his treatment n could have preserved her uterus and perhaps even left her the chance to conceive. But the incident had worsened her illness beyond repair. The cruel truth hit Jayson like a blow. His eyes widened, hisposure shattering under the weight of it. Liam fell silent. He knew very well how grave this was for most men. For a woman to suffer a chronic illness with little chance of recovery, and to lose her ability to bear children¨Cit was a bitter fate. And in this world, only a rare few men would overlook all of that and wish for nothing more than their wives¡® health. Inside 708 ¡°Has the time and date for the surgery been fixed?¡± Jayson lowered his gaze and swallowed hard. Liam thought for a moment. ¡°We¡¯ve already scheduled it. She also happens to have the time to go through with the procedure soon.¡± Jayson lifted his head and looked at Liam with an intense gaze. ¡°Have you decided which approach you¡¯ll be taking?¡± This update is avable on f?ndnovel By recalling their past interactions, Liam could roughly guess Ariel¡¯s stance. ¡°From her point of view, I think she¡¯ll want to try to keep her uterus.¡± ¡°Can you just remove the uterus entirely?¡± 1 Jayson¡¯s voice cut him off mid¨Csentence. Liam widened his eyes and studied Jayson. He immediately noticed the steely determination reflected in the man¡¯s gaze. At that moment, it was clear¨Cnothing else in the world mattered to Jayson as much as Ariel. Liam suddenly understood why Jayson said what he did. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, ¡°Mr. Larkin, are you trying to make the decision for her?¡± ¡°Does anything matter more than keeping her alive?¡± Jayson pressed his fist against the wall as he tried to steady himself. Though his voice was still hoarse, his eyes zed with resolve. He could not allow any risk that might endanger Ariel¡¯s life. He also fully understood what Liam had told him. If the surgery failed, Ariel might not have much longer to live. Withte¨Cstage cancer, she could not afford to take such a gamble. Jayson hated himself. Why did he have to spend that night with Ariel on the cruise? He was the very reason she had ended up in this condition. He knew Ariel better than anyone else. She might appear cold and aloof, but deep down, she was soft¨Chearted. She didn¡¯t have much family and had grown up craving love and attention. In her eyes, the only true bond she could rely on was with a child of her own. Jayson knew how much Ariel longed to be a mother. She might choose to keep her uterus, clinging to the hope of conceiving again someday. Liam stared at him, bewildered. The head of the Larkin family, a man burdened with the duty of producing an heir, chose to disregard it entirely. Jayson closed his eyes briefly before speaking. ¡°I¡¯ll try to talk to her. Dr. Spencer, please give her your professional advice¨Cthe approach you believe is best for her case. And regardless of her response, will you also let me know?¡± After a moment, Liam nodded. ¡°Yes, of course.¡± He then connected Ariel to an IV drip and quietly left the room. Jayson curled his fingers into fists before sitting on the edge of Ariel¡¯s bed. Finally, he didn¡¯t have to hold back. He reached out and gently traced the shape of her brows and her sunken cheeks. His fingertip brushed along her brow, down her cheek, and came to rest on her sharp jawline. Jayson¡¯s heart ached as he took in how frail she had be. Why hadn¡¯t he noticed sooner? Why hadn¡¯t he paid closer attention to her? Ariel was so thin and weak. Yet, he had assumed she skipped meals because of stress or work. It exined why she seldom wore skirts or dresses anymore. Even on the hottest days, she hid beneath long sleeves and trousers, concealing her increasingly fragile frame. Jayson lifted her hand and gently rolled up her sleeve. Her wrist was so slender it seemed as if it would snap with the slightest force. He let out a hollow sigh as the sight robbed him of breath. His chest tightened, his eyes burned. Pressing her delicate hand against his forehead, Jayson finally broke. Tears spilled over, unstoppable. Inside 709 Ariel was slowly regaining consciousness. She felt the back of her hand was wet. Her lower abdomen no longer hurt as much. Familiar with both her condition and these sudden attacks, Ariel could tell they had probably given her a shot of painkillers. She turned her head and met Jayson¡¯s reddened eyes. When he noticed she was awake, Jayson opened his mouth but no sound came out. He swallowed before finally asking in a gentle voice, ¡°Do you feel better now? Does it still hurt?¡± Ariel shook her head. Her gaze shifted to the hand Jayson was holding. She realized the dampness on the back of her hand came from his tears. ¡°I¡¯m alright.¡± Jayson stiffened at her response¨Cthe same words she always used no matter the situation. He could not imagine how she had endured such awful, painful moments all on her own. Ariel had stayed strong, facing everything in silence. Even Katie and Leonard didn¡¯t know about her illness. Ariel neverined about her hardships or struggles. When she tried to pull her hand away, Jayson only tightened his grip. Restlessness crept over her. He had never acted this way before. ¡°You¡¯ve been enduring everything alone for so long. Weren¡¯t those days unbearable?¡± Jayson whispered as he slowly wiped the tears from the back of her hand. Ariel thought for a moment. ¡°At first, yes. But gradually it became easier to bear. Life goes on. Telling more people about it won¡¯t change the fact that I have cancer.¡± It would only make those who cared about her anxious and sleepless, just like her. She preferred to tell them only when her final treatment n was decided. That way, she could minimize how long they worried and avoid wasting her own energy managing their emotions. After all, she was already exhausted. Ariel wasn¡¯t perfect, but she had always tried to be rational in everything she did. She was an adult capable of handling her own affairs. There was no need to burden others. ¡°You needed me, though. Isn¡¯t that right?¡± Jayson asked quietly. (1) Ariel blinked several times before answering calmly, ¡°I did. But you were with another woman then. Should I really have hoped you would care about me or show me sympathy if I told you about my condition back then?¡± Those were her honest thoughts over the past year. If Jayson truly had an affair, could she have made him stay by confessing she had cancer and little time left? Wouldn¡¯t that have been pointless? It would have been no different from asking a man who loved someone else to remain with her out of pity. Ariel never wanted that. Even though she now knew the truth behind those incidents, the emotions she had felt back then were real. She wasn¡¯t omniscient. More often than not, she relied on her instincts. Whenever she thought Jayson might be helping her, he always managed to crush that hope with his coldness. Most of the time, she couldn¡¯t guess or predict his actions. He never exined himself, and she could never see through his walls. So the only thing she could do was avoid humiliating herself further. Ariel wasn¡¯t ming Jayson as she spoke¨Cjust voicing her thoughts. But to Jayson, her words were knives to the heart. He could picture how helpless she must have felt back then. He realized the conclusions she had drawn and the walls she had built were nothing more than self¨Cprotection. He was the reason she had fortified her heart. Jayson drew in a long breath, trying to suppress the terrible ache within him. ¡°I¡¯m sorry.¡± 11 There was nothing else he could say or do at that moment except apologize. Ariel nced at her other hand, the one connected to the IV. The fluid bag was nearly empty. ¡°You don¡¯t have to feel guilty about my illness. It wasn¡¯t your fault. I even kept it from my grandma and uncle. I wanted it to remain a secret. That was entirely my choice.¡± Fresh chapters posted on find?novel She could see the guilt tormenting him, but she had no intention of making him suffer more. A wave of emotions surged through Jayson. He looked at her with reddened eyes, filled with sorrow and regret. ¡°Also¡­¡± Ariel, looking haggard but resolute, fixed her gaze on him. ¡°I was ready to care for the child since it came to me. You knew how much I loved children. And it was a life connected to me by blood. I was never someone who would rashly decide to give up something so precious.¡± 9 The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!