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Dead at Heart Chapter 4
Ariel froze.She pressed her pale lips together. "Is this Jayson's order?""Yes."Colton had never liked Ariel. Sure, she was competent 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 flared again, forcing her to grip the desk for support. Her gaze landed on the employee badge on her desk.She picked it up and wrapped the lanyard around it."Bluum Corp may not keep useless employees, but I'm not the right person for this job." Her voice was calm a
Dead at Heart Chapter 5
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 relationship 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 be labeled 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. No company 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 rep
Dead at Heart Chapter 6
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 the last 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 for last night? She's a highly sought-after aerospace engineering PhD in the corporate world. What do you have to compete 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
Dead at Heart Chapter 7
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.
Dead at Heart Chapter 8
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 recommendation 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 overcome 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 pu
Dead at Heart Chapter 9
Nancy didn't seem to notice Ariel. She smiled gently at Renee and said, "You can call me whatever you want, Renee."Jayson glanced 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 repu
Dead at Heart Chapter 10
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 glanced at Jayson. He didn't comment on the earlier scene, figuring it was best not to make Nancy upset. After all, it was hard to comment 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 Na
Dead at Heart Chapter 11
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 and composed as she accepted the attention bestowed upon her.Confident and poised, she was the perfect picture of grace. To everyone, she was already seen as the future lady of the company.Ariel was taken aback.Jayson's office, a place 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 rema
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Dead at Heart Chapter 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 glance as he strode upstairs.That look he'd given her just now was hard to read, but it left her uneasy. When was he planning to tell Betty about the divorce?Renee pouted. "Jay's lost his appetite? Then I'm done too."She left to play 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
Dead at Heart Chapter 29
Evelyn's tone was laced with disdain. "You don't come 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 Jayson lately, had some class, at least.Her family background wasn't up to the Larkin family's standards either, but at least she was well-educated. That was something Ariel could never compete 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 diffic
Dead at Heart 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 just competing 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 this late?"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 wonderful lady. If you
Dead at Heart Chapter 27
Ariel felt her chest squeezing tightly. She was both shocked and a little in disbelief.It wasn't until a long while later 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 glance at Ariel before turning to the side to answer the call. His tone was obviously softer and gentler when he spoke. "Okay, I'm coming 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 available 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
Dead at Heart 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."You're thinking too much, Mr. Larkin," Ariel said, relaxing a little before completely calming down.Jayson just looked at her as the cogs turned in his head. "You seem to like addressing me as 'Mr. Larkin' lately."Ariel hurriedly stuffed the test report into the folder and asked, "Is there a reason why you came looking for me?"She didn't explain 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 si
Dead at Heart 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 accepted that motherhood was no longer a concern.Howard could understand how Ariel felt. He asked, "When do you plan to start chemotherapy? I recommend 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 out with a temporary conservative treatment plan, 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 and composed she was, when faced with death, she
Dead at Heart Chapter 24
Ariel checked the time as she left the neighborhood—it 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 exhausted lately. She needed to consult the doctor again for a new treatment plan.Ariel rested for a moment before driving away.As soon as she left, Renee walked down from upstairs. She wasn't planning 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 insulated lunch boxes to the Larkin Manor.Renee stepped forward while humming happily. "Let me deliver them instea
Dead at Heart 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 becoming increasingly ir
Dead at Heart 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 would compel 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 it comes to hooking up with men, she's quite experienced."Perry frowned and glanced 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 had come from a strong background and had top-tier abilities.Logically, someone from Ariel's level shouldn't have had the opportunity to connect with him."Jayson?" Mat
