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Chapter 32
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Dead at Heart 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 opportunity to shine.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-row seat was now occupied by Nancy. Jayson sat beside her, leisurely sipping his tea. He barely spared Ariel a glance
Dead at Heart 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 glanced 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 w
Dead at Heart 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 exclaime
Dead at Heart 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 glanced 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!"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.Eve
Dead at Heart Chapter 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-being meant nothing to him.Ariel glanced 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 glance 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 Nan
Dead at Heart 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 cabinet 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 particular 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 placed beside his black, grey, and white ones.It was hard to miss those pops of color.Now, the vibrant colors were gone from the shoe cabinet. It became dull.Georgia approached to take his suit jacket. "Welcome back, sir."Jayson closed the cabinet door and asked, "Where are her slippers?"Georgia glanced at the cabinet and replied, "Mrs. Larkin came by and told me
Dead at Heart Chapter 39
When Ariel heard the words "Mr. Larkin's girlfriend", she paused for a moment.So he was capable of acknowledging a relationship at work.He could make his love known, let Nancy move freely within the company, and give her the security of being seen as someone official.In Jayson's eyes, it seemed Nancy was the only one worthy of that.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-site 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 access the confidential sample room, view manufacturing processes and 3D modeling blueprints, and even participate in key production projects.Tom quickly explained, "Don't worry, Ms. Swanson. Ms. Stanton is more than c
Dead at Heart Chapter 40
Future Mrs. Larkin?So the whole company had already acknowledged Nancy's status.Back when Ariel was devoted to Jayson, he—and everyone around him—assumed she was trying to create a misunderstanding about their relationship. 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 was completely innocent. How could he be married?"He would be denying the existence of his wife in doing so. What kind of man would completely disregard his wife like that?So it must've been just a rumor.Ariel lowered her gaze.So it had been Jayson who cl
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Dead at Heart Chapter 100
Ariel held Janice back. She calmly looked at Frederick. "We're here representing Mr. Hockney.""Since when has Mr. Hockney become so negligent, so much so that he'd send the likes of you to attend an event like this, which is vital for networking?" 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 explain 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 Quinton laid 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 jus
Dead at Heart 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 drink last 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 raspy last night. As for when he left…"Grandma, tell the kitchen staff not to prepare breakfast for Jayson.
Dead at Heart Chapter 98
Jayson calmly withdrew his hand and glanced 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 n
Dead at Heart Chapter 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 impeccable. He cast Renee a warning glare.Intimidated, Renee withdrew her hand. She knew the relationship 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
Dead at Heart Chapter 96
Ariel also had a bit more peace of mind.She accompanied Leonard for lunch. At the same time, she recovered from the discomfort 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 her computer."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 your company. You'll see him when you go down."Ariel kneaded her throbbing temples. If it weren't for Betty's orders, Jayson would never come 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 A
Dead at Heart Chapter 95
Jayson spoke in a business-like 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 elaborate 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 dollars, just for Nancy and her family.Ariel had once thought of relocating Leonard to a better ro
Dead at Heart 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 dollars.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 explained, "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 income from her hotel due to its poor management. Ariel had always been the one paying the fees. She used up almost all of the income she earned from working as
Dead at Heart Chapter 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 circulate 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."
Dead at Heart 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.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."Arie
