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Chapter 73
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Dead at Heart Chapter 74
Ariel could not figure out the reason. She blurted out next, "You'll be paying for the new place?"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-known 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 stopped coming 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-Aunt 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
Dead at Heart Chapter 75
The Quimby family had thrown a grand, lavish party. Numerous guests had shown up to celebrate the occasion.The Quimby family was also a well-known, prestigious family. Moreover, they shared relations 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 accepted 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 bri
Dead at Heart 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 be completely 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 display 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
Dead at Heart 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. Our company will cover the expenses," Chad declared confidently.His words seemed to have gotten rid of all of Janice's negative emotions and frustrations. "Roger that! You can relax and
Dead at Heart 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 food later. I'll bring you some local treats when I come 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 re
Dead at Heart Chapter 79
Matt noticed it as soon as Ariel left the restaurant. "Why is she leaving already?"Jayson turned his head slightly and glanced at her table. He saw that the plate of food he ordered remained completely 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-esteem. She was upset about Jayson treating her so unfairly, and she could not bring herself to stay there any longer.Nancy glanced 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 plans. "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 w
Dead at Heart 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 flatly."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 glanced 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 might complain 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 playing. I'll be back in a while."Nancy's expression softened a little. "Alr
Dead at Heart 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 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 placed 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 someon
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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
