Chapter 5

Spencer hung up the phone and began to get dressed.

Ariana, still basking in the afterglow of extreme pleasure, lay on the bed lazily. She watched as he pulled up his pants and put on his shirt, covering his well-defined abs.

As he dressed, he said, "Jojo's brother was in a car accident. I'm going to check on him. If it's serious, help me contact the hospital. On second thought, come with me."

Ariana didn't move.

Spencer was already buttoning his shirt. He turned back to stare at her with a frown. "Why aren't you moving?"

"I don't think it's my duty to help your…" She paused, searching for the right word. Then, she continued, "Why should I help your mistress' brother?"

Spencer shot back at her coldly, "You're a doctor. It's your duty to save lives. Don't be so heartless, Ariana."

Ariana let out a mocking laugh. How ridiculous and ironic this was.

Spencer demanded his lawfully wedded wife to help the brother of his mistress. Moreover, he insisted that it was her duty and told her not to be heartless.

How could she have been so blind back then?

Spencer suddenly climbed onto the bed and propped himself above her with his hands on her sides. He looked down at her and bit her earlobe lightly.

"Were you not satisfied with my service just now?"

…

20 minutes later, Spencer drove Ariana to the scene. Her brother had only suffered minor scrapes and had already been taken away by an ambulance.

Joanne stood alone by the roadside. When she saw Spencer get out of the car, she rushed into his arms. It was only then that she noticed Ariana. A hint of dissatisfaction appeared on her tear-streaked face.

"Spence, why is she also here?" Joanne asked.

Ariana casually swept her hair back because a few strands were stuck inside her coat, itching her neck.

Joanne noticed the long trail of hickeys on her neck and behind her ears.

And these were just the visible ones. What about the parts of her body that were obscured? Ariana was definitely showing off and doing it on purpose!

Jealousy spread like a raging fire in Joanne's heart. She let go of Spencer and tugged at his sleeve pitifully as she looked up at him with tearful eyes. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble again, but I was so scared…"

Spencer's expression visibly softened. "It's okay. Don't be afraid. I'll handle it."

Watching them being lovey-dovey, Ariana couldn't help but speak up, "Can I leave now, Mr. Ulrich?"

Spencer glanced at her, then turned back to Joanne. "I'll take you home first."

"I'm scared." Joanne clung to his arm. "Don't leave me, please. Stay with me tonight, okay?"

Spencer agreed. He looked at Ariana and said, "You can go home now."

Ariana stared at him for a few seconds, saying nothing. Then, she turned to leave.

Spencer instinctively took a step forward, but Joanne clung to his arm and shook it while sobbing to monopolize his attention. "I was so scared, Spence…"

He said a few soothing words perfunctorily. By the time he looked up again, Ariana's elegant figure had disappeared from his sight.

…

Exhausted from the night's ordeal, Ariana almost couldn't get up the next day. During the morning meeting in the hospital, she stifled the urge to yawn by pressing her lips together tightly.

Jensen, who was sitting next to her, nudged her and stealthily slipped something into her hand.

Ariana took it. When the medical director wasn't looking, she quickly popped it into her mouth.

It was her favorite chocolate ganache. The sweet and fragrant confection melted in her mouth instantly. After the meeting, Jensen got his hands on a cup of hot coffee from somewhere and gave it to her.

"What have you been up to last night? You look so tired," Jensen remarked.

Ariana sipped her coffee and read her patients' charts. Without looking up, she replied, "I watched a ridiculous farce. It was quite amusing."

Jensen leaned closer. "What farce?"

Ariana closed the file and replied blandly, "I forgot after sleeping."

A nurse called for Jensen, and he instantly reverted to his composed and serious demeanor reserved for other people. "I'm coming."

He turned to Ariana and patted her head gently while reminding her, "Make sure to eat well. You seem to have lost weight."

Before she could swat his hand away, he left in quick strides.

With a smile on her face, Ariana shook her head at Jensen's antics. She then went on her rounds and performed surgeries.

She was busy with work until almost noon when she noticed about six missed calls on her phone. They were all from Kieran and Winifred.

Ariana decided that she should call them back.

As soon as the call connected, Kieran began to berate her, saying, "Are you trying to drive me to an early death? I told you to help me secure that project. Did you not take my words seriously?"

Of course, Ariana had no idea what was going on. But from Kieran's words, she gathered that he didn't manage to secure the project he had his eye on.

She said, "Dad, there are gains and losses in business. Isn't this a normal thing?"

"Spencer is my son-in-law! Yet, I can't even secure a project from his subsidiary. I've become the laughingstock in the business world! Do you have any idea how humiliated I am right now?" Kieran screeched over the phone.

There was the sound of someone else taking the phone, and Winifred's voice came on, "Ari, your father and I work so hard for you. We only have you. All this will be yours in the future."

Ariana said, "But I don't need you to work so hard—"

"Nonsense!" Kieran snatched the phone back. "I demand an explanation for this. Go find Spencer and deal with this right now!"

"Why don't you do it yourself?" Ariana retorted.

"Ariana!" Kieran was enraged. "Are you biting the hand that fed you now? Will you go or not? Do you want all your grandfather's efforts to go down the drain? And what about your grandmother? She'd be rolling in her grave!"

The call ended abruptly, and the room fell silent again. Ariana took a deep breath and removed her white coat. During her lunch break, she went to Spencer's company.

Since it was almost lunchtime, the receptionists were a bit lax. They were chatting amongst themselves, and Ariana overheard them.

According to them, Joanne had gotten out of Spencer's car that morning.

Ariana wondered if they had been together the whole night and whether Spencer had slept with Joanne.

When she reached the top floor, she saw Joanne right as she exited the elevator.

She was sitting at her desk, and Spencer was standing next to her. He was speaking to her in a hushed and gentle voice. She would occasionally cover her mouth and giggle. Then, she would blink at Spencer in a cute and playful way like an innocent little girl.

From the side, Joanne's face overlapped with another familiar face in Ariana's memory.

Ariana cleared her throat softly, and both of them looked up at the same time.

A frown appeared on Spencer's forehead as soon as he spotted her. "What are you doing here? Is there something you need?"

"Let's talk in your office. It's important," Ariana said.

Joanne stood up abruptly. Her face was a little pale as she bit her lip nervously. "I'll leave…"

Spencer stopped her. "Where are you going? It's not like there's anything between us that you can't know. You can stay and listen."

"Don't say that." Joanne tugged at his sleeve, staring at him with innocent eyes. "Ari may not agree."

Ariana couldn't hold back anymore and rebuked harshly, "Who are you calling Ari?"