Dead at Heart のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

"I'm sorry, Ms. Walker. You've missed the best window for surgery."Ariel Walker stood frozen, holding the lab report confirming her endometrial cancer. It took her a long time to gather herself before dialing Colton Zeller, her husband Jayson Larkin's secretary.The phone rang for ages before Colton finally picked up. His tone was as lazy as ever. "Yes, Mrs. Larkin?"Ariel curled her stiff fingers into a fist. "Where's Jayson? I need to talk to him.""Mr. Larkin is unavailable.""Can you at least pass him the phone?"Before Colton could answer, a soft voice came through the receiver. "Jayson, what's with all the secrecy? What's the big surprise?""Look up."Ariel heard the familiar, deep voice that held a tenderness she would never receive.The next moment, Colton hung up the phone.At the same time, a thunderous explosion echoed across the harbor. Ariel lifted her head, her face drained of color.Beautiful fireworks burst into the night sky, painting the darkness with dazz

"Lucas!"A woman's excited voice shattered Ariel's thoughts.Before she could react, the woman brushed past her and threw herself straight into Lucas' broad chest. He caught her out of habit, letting her cling to him without resistance."Do you know how long I've been waiting for you? If you weren't released soon, my dad was going to force me into an arranged marriage!"Lucas studied the woman's face while responding to her eager kiss. A smirk played at his lips. "Are you that desperate? Tell your driver to step out for a moment. I'll give your dad a grand gift."The woman pouted playfully but clung to him. "Don't be naughty! My dad wants me to bring you home. He said he wants to meet you. He even planned a welcome-back dinner."Ariel felt like her feet were nailed to the ground. She stared blankly at the scene before her.The delayed sting of embarrassment and helplessness set in.The Lucas she had known—the one who had always been gentle and thoughtful and who had centered hi

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

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.

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