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Dead at Heart Chapter 4
Ariel froze.She pressed her pale lips together. "Is this Jayson's order?""Yes."Colton had never liked Ariel. Sure, she was competent and dedicated to her work, but she had forced her way into marriage through underhanded means.Women like her disgusted him."Mr. Larkin said you're not to leave until the situation is under control. Remember, Bluum Corp doesn't keep useless employees."Ariel had always known that Jayson didn't care about her. But she hadn't expected that he'd pull something like this even on the brink of divorce.He actually asked her, his rightful wife, to silence rumors about his mistress that were nothing but the truth.A surge of anger stabbed deep into Ariel's chest. The pain in her stomach flared again, forcing her to grip the desk for support. Her gaze landed on the employee badge on her desk.She picked it up and wrapped the lanyard around it."Bluum Corp may not keep useless employees, but I'm not the right person for this job." Her voice was calm a
Dead at Heart Chapter 5
After finishing up her work, Ariel received a call from Colton. He repeated Jayson's message word for word.Ariel immediately understood what Jayson was trying to do.Nancy's relationship with him was, without a doubt, an affair. She had rightfully earned the title of homewrecker.Having Ariel handle this mess was a preemptive move. If anyone ever dug up the past, they would see that Ariel, Jayson's rightful wife, had "cleared" Nancy's name. That way, Nancy wouldn't be labeled a homewrecker and could avoid scrutiny and criticism.Jayson was truly pulling out all the stops for Nancy.As for Jayson's "consider the consequences", it was nothing more than a warning.If she refused to handle the matter, leaving Bluum Corp wouldn't mean a fresh start. No company would dare take her in. He had the power to cut off her livelihood.For three years, she had done everything a wife should do. From the day she married him, she had severed ties with her past without hesitation, only to be rep
Dead at Heart Chapter 6
Ariel met Lucas' gaze. He was watching her with a faint smile, as if waiting for her to squirm.She clenched her fists, letting go of the last shred of hope she'd been holding onto.Meeting his gaze head-on, she said exactly what he wanted to hear. "Sure, family. Nice to meet you, Wendy."Wendy's smile deepened. She clung to Lucas' waist, nuzzling into him.Lucas paused for a moment. His eyes flickered toward Ariel before he lowered his head and pulled Wendy closer, leading her into the living room."Who are you trying to impress?" Lori walked up with a sneer. "Lucas wouldn't look twice at a married woman like you now."And that Ms. Stanton Mr. Larkin threw a birthday celebration for last night? She's a highly sought-after aerospace engineering PhD in the corporate world. What do you have to compete with that?"You're just some housewife whose only skills are cooking and keeping a bed warm. What's wrong? Afraid of getting kicked to the curb, so now you're suddenly trying to cozy
Dead at Heart Chapter 7
The next morning, the Larkins' housekeeper, Lily Hill, arrived with Jayson's younger sister, Renee Larkin.The 17-year-old had a striking figure and a sharp attitude. The moment she walked in, she tossed her bag onto the couch."Where's Ariel Walker?" She blinked up at Jayson.Jayson finished adjusting his tie and shot her a look. "Don't be so disrespectful."Renee pouted. "You don't even like her. Why should I respect her?"Her mother, Evelyn Cavell, always said Ariel had married above her station. She should be grateful to them and serve them without question. What was the term again? A glorified maid?Jayson saw right through her. "Alright, what do you want this time?" His voice was cold.Renee's eyes darted mischievously. "Jay, you're busy today, right?""Why do you want to know?""Mom's at a fashion show, Dad's overseas, and Grandma isn't well. No one can make it to my parent-teacher meeting."Can you ask Ariel to go? She spends your money and doesn't do anything anyway.
Dead at Heart Chapter 8
If Ariel had stayed on the path she originally wanted, she would have ended up in aerospace engineering.Drones were among the most important technological advancements of the era. They were used in military operations, civilian industries, and agriculture.The only reason she had gotten a glowing recommendation to the research institute back then was because of her own achievements.She designed and oversaw the development of U.N, a reconnaissance and strike drone that featured long-range capabilities, heavy payload capacity, high speed, and automated operation.Ariel's breakthroughs had overcome key technological barriers, and the drone was now actively deployed in military operations.In the aerospace field, it was considered top-tier.But marriage had cost Ariel everything. Now, she was physically and mentally wrecked, staring down a cancer diagnosis at a young age, with no idea how much time she had left.Yet, if nothing else, she had learned one thing. One should always pu
Dead at Heart Chapter 9
Nancy didn't seem to notice Ariel. She smiled gently at Renee and said, "You can call me whatever you want, Renee."Jayson glanced up, irritation clear in his eyes. "What are you doing here?"Ariel met his cold gaze and understood immediately. He had misunderstood something.Sure enough, Jayson's friend, Matt Crosby, noticed Ariel and scoffed. "Ms. Walker, quite the skill you've got. You've managed to track Jayson all the way to our private gathering spot. We're all respectable people here. Don't you feel awkward?"What else could Ariel be here for?To catch Jayson in the act, of course."It's kind of pathetic, isn't it? You know Jayson doesn't like you," Matt continued, shaking his head, acting as if he had everything figured out.After Ariel had slept with Jayson, she arranged for reporters to secretly take photos. If Jayson hadn't stopped it in time, the Larkin family's reputation would have been ruined.In Jayson's friends' eyes, she was a woman who used her purity and repu
Dead at Heart Chapter 10
When Jayson returned, his face was as cold as ever. Nancy immediately knew that he had argued with Ariel. Jayson's irritation with Ariel was evident.Renee, however, seemed distracted. "Jay, did she say anything to you? Like talking bad about me or anything?"Jayson lifted his gaze to her. "What did you do to make her upset?""Nothing." Renee pouted as she sipped her juice. "I'm not that free!"Perry walked in and glanced at Jayson. He didn't comment on the earlier scene, figuring it was best not to make Nancy upset. After all, it was hard to comment on the situation when another woman had thrown herself at her man.Matt scoffed. "Why ask Renee? Ariel was out of line. She followed you here. She should know better than to make a scene when she's got no leverage."Perry lit a cigarette. "From the looks of it, even if you file for divorce, she'll still cling to you. Jayson, you better be prepared for that."Jayson remained silent, his expression unchanged as he poured coffee for Na
Dead at Heart Chapter 11
As Nancy stepped out of Jayson's office, the secretaries in the office approached her with great respect."Ms. Stanton, Mr. Larkin is waiting for you in the restaurant. He said the driver will take you there as soon as you're ready."Another secretary said, "This is the coffee Mr. Larkin prepared for you to enjoy on your way."Nancy smiled gently, her expression calm and composed as she accepted the attention bestowed upon her.Confident and poised, she was the perfect picture of grace. To everyone, she was already seen as the future lady of the company.Ariel was taken aback.Jayson's office, a place full of confidential files, was essentially his private domain. Yet, he allowed Nancy to treat it like a lounge. How attentive and considerate.At home, however, even his study had been off-limits to Ariel for the past three years.Love and indifference were so obvious that no confirmation was needed."Ms. Walker, please step aside. You're blocking Ms. Stanton's way," Colton rema
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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
