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Chapter 84
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Dead at Heart Chapter 85
The location tag on Ariel's post showed that she was at a hotel in Halread, and Betty saw it.Ariel wasn't sure how she should answer that question. "We are attending the same function."She didn't elaborate on whether or not they had come together. After all, she had indeed not known Jayson was coming previously.Besides, he came here with Nancy. Naturally, she shouldn't let Betty know about that.Betty's smile broadened. "That's great. You two should spend a few more days there. Take it as a vacation. It'll help deepen your bond."Ariel smiled and said nothing.Betty didn't know that with Nancy there, Jayson wouldn't have the time to "deepen their bond" with her. She didn't even know which room he was staying in."Where's Jayson? I don't see him."Ariel pondered briefly before saying, "He's still socializing with the other guests and may not be back so early."Betty frowned. She huffed, "He's always socializing. It's not like he'll lose anything if he doesn't attend the func
Dead at Heart Chapter 86
Nancy was taken aback but didn't show it.After all, Carlos had met the most brilliant minds from all over the country. It wasn't surprising that he'd have high standards.Still, who could he be talking about?Chad barely contained his laughter.Age wasn't the only factor.The drone that Nancy helped develop was, at most, a form of entertainment for drone enthusiasts. It wasn't even in the same league as the reconnaissance and strike drone Ariel developed.But, of course, Ariel was already considered a genius among geniuses.Carlos noticed the teasing look in Chad's eyes and cast him an icy stare.Chad shrugged. Why was Carlos taking it out on him? He wasn't the one who shoved Ariel into a life of marriage."I know I do indeed have to continue my efforts." Nancy quickly collected her thoughts and humbly agreed with Carlos.She understood what Carlos was trying to imply.As of now, her achievements weren't up to his standards, so, naturally, it wasn't the right time to reques
Dead at Heart Chapter 87
Ariel's mind went blank for some time.Jayson's breath was tinged with alcohol as his lips grazed against hers. She couldn't even put up a fight against him, not until she felt him trying to part her lips.Shaken back into her senses, she shoved him aside and moved away from him. As she straightened out her disheveled pajamas, her eyes turned cold. "Jayson, you're drunk. I'm not Nancy."Jayson opened his eyes upon the impact. He kept his gaze fixed on her displeased expression as his soulful eyes regained clarity. He then frowned.He certainly didn't see that coming, especially Ariel's taut expression.Looking around, he sat upright, kneading his temples. In a raspy voice, he asked, "What time is it?"Ariel's heart was still racing. It'd been some time since they were last so close to each other, and it made her feel uncomfortable. Besides, given their current situation, it was inappropriate.At that moment, the repulsion and annoyance she'd felt when they pressured her to chang
Dead at Heart Chapter 88
Ariel calmly replied, "I threw it away."Lucas stared at her and realized she was expressionless. He then said, "Well, so be it. I'll get you a new one."Ariel paused before saying, "There's no need to. I don't need one."She would be lying to say his actions didn't hurt her pride. Lucas was never one to humiliate her like that. He could well afford an accessory, yet he dismissed her with a free gift.Lucas narrowed his eyes. He gave Ariel a diamond necklace because he hadn't taken her side previously. He thought she would overlook that if he appeased her. However, he was starting to get annoyed that she wouldn't let it drop."Since when have you become so absent-minded? You've always kept my gifts to you securely. Ari, if you want something else instead, just tell me. You don't have to behave like this."He didn't believe that Ariel would throw away the necklace. She had always treasured everything he gave her. Even if it was something he bought from a thrift store, she had neve
Dead at Heart Chapter 89
Ariel was already at the airport. She checked in her luggage before replying, "About 4:30 pm."Jayson fell silent for a moment. "I see. Wait for me when you reach. I'll give you a ride back to the city."Ariel thought that he must be calling only because Betty urged him to.Because of the incident last night, she was hesitant.Jayson sensed it and smiled knowingly. "Grandma told me to."At the mention of Betty, Ariel frowned. "When are you going to tell Grandma about it?""Jayson, we're boarding now." Nancy's voice suddenly came through the receiver, followed by a dead tone.Jayson ended the call. Ariel wasn't even sure if he'd heard her.He seemed unruffled about what happened last night.If she wasn't mistaken, judging from the announcement she heard on his side, it seemed they were on the same flight as her.Ariel had a sudden urge to laugh.He was with Nancy, so how could he give her a ride back to the city?She didn't allow herself to linger on that thought.The trip
Dead at Heart Chapter 90
In the afternoon, Chad called. "Earlier today, my old man pretended to show concern about the progress of the projects under Faye Tech. He's actually just curious about the topic you're interested in after making a comeback. Well, you should compile your data and send it to him. He surely can't refrain from himself after reading them."It was a good opportunity to break the ice. Ariel could now show Carlos her level of expertise, so he could forgive her.She was nervous, of course. She had been about to take the test to enroll for a graduate degree under Carlos. But alas, to save Lucas, she was sent off to the Larkin family as part of the deal and had her dream cut short.Without hesitation, she emailed her proposal to Carlos.It was almost 8:00 pm when she finally received his call. Her fingers curled into a fist as she answered it.There was silence on the other end of the receiver.Some time later, she heard a snort. Carlos snapped, "Have you lost your ability to speak now? Wh
Dead at Heart Chapter 91
The call went unanswered for a long time.It was only about 8:00 pm. Betty was a mischievous old soul. She liked to watch dramas and scroll through the reels on social media. She shouldn't already be asleep.Ariel called the landline instead.One of the household staff answered it. "Mrs. Larkin, Mrs. Larkin Senior is feeling under the weather these couple of days and is now resting. She didn't have much of an appetite today."Ariel couldn't help worrying. "What's wrong? Is it her blood pressure?""The family doctor came to have a look. He said Mrs. Larkin Senior is having a cold and her blood pressure is fluctuating. Mrs. Larkin, are you free to drop by today? Mrs. Larkin Senior doesn't really listen to us…"Ariel hesitated.It wasn't appropriate for her to ignore Betty after learning about her condition. Besides, Betty had been nice to her. In every sense, she should visit Betty.She hummed in acknowledgment. "I'll be right there."After freshening up, she headed for Larkin M
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
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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
