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Chapter 59
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Dead at Heart 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 lost lately!"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 tr
Dead at Heart Chapter 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 was completely insignificant compared 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 explained 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
Dead at Heart 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 be coming 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 he come back? Questions bombarded her mind.Now that they were getting divorced, sharing a bed under such circumstances fe
Dead at Heart Chapter 63
"Up to you. Just make sure you explain 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 been complaining about his lack 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 discomfort 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 glanced 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 humili
Dead at Heart 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-in-law, 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 glanced 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 glance. 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 p
Dead at Heart Chapter 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. The latter 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 glanced 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. The latter 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
Dead at Heart 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 blacklist the two of them."Ariel shook had head and said, "Jayson protects Nancy. If he finds out what you did, he'll come after Faye Tech. "Frankly, Faye Tech isn't in a position to go head-to-head with Bluum Corp. There's no point in stirring trouble over something personal."There were plenty of top-tier
Dead at Heart Chapter 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-down 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. The latter 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
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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
