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Chapter 40
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Dead at Heart Chapter 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 uncomfortable with his attitude.Just when she was about to snap back, reminding him that they were
Dead at Heart 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 glanced 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 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
Dead at Heart 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 place.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 everyth
Dead at Heart Chapter 44
By the time Ariel reached the marital home, it was nearly 9:00 pm. The evening rush hour had delayed 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 cabinet 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 barely communicated, 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 offe
Dead at Heart Chapter 45
After saying that, Jayson loosened his tie and headed straight for the shower.He didn't even glance at Ariel as he walked past her. It was as if even a fleeting glance 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 show
Dead at Heart Chapter 46
Actually, Jayson had already noticed that Ariel was on edge beside him; she kept sneaking glances 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 w
Dead at Heart Chapter 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't come 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-in-law 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 embarrassi
Dead at Heart 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 gaze landing on her. There was no doubt the latter 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 place.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 should come by Sanderson Manor for dinner sometime."Jayson didn't respond as his expression remained dark
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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
