Chapter b13 /b

Nancy had a drone pilot certification, so controlling it was effortless for her.

She won round after round of cheers. She was really confident and outstanding.

No wonder Jayson had fallen for her at first sight. A woman like her certainly had the charm to captivate men.

Objectively speaking, Ariel had to admit that Nancy had a certain charm. She was gentle, poised, and had been raised with

care since childhood.

Being smart, ambitious, and undeniably beautiful, she naturally became the center of attention wherever she went.

But everything Nancy had was stolen.

Nancy’s mother, Sarah Moore, had once been friends with Elena. Sarah hade from an underprivileged background. Back then, Elena had paid her tuition and helped her through graduate school.

But in the endb, /bSarah had stolen the academic paper Elena had spent two years painstakingly researching and published it under her own name.

She had trampled over Elena to climb the ranks and change her social status. After getting pregnant, she moved abroad and married a wealthy man there.

Now, Nancy was dazzling and untouchable. She didn’t have to lift a finger, and everything meant for Ariel was effortlessly

hers.

Ariel’s gaze darkened, a bitter sense of irony settling over her.

Nancy’s performance was impressive. As soon as she stepped off the stage, reporters swarmed in, eager to interview her and

Jayson.

Ariel happened to be standing in the middle of the crowd. As the reporters rushed pastb, /bshe was shoved multiple times.

A nobody like her didn’t even have the chance to step aside. Stumbling, she felt a sharp pain in her ankle but managed to steady herself.

Then he heard a reporter ask, “The vibe between you two feels different. Are wedding bells around the cornerb?/bb” /b

Ariel instinctively looked up.

Jayson had his arm protectively around Nancyb, /bshielding her from the press. His sharp features held an unmistakable authority. “Please don’t touch her.”

The female reporters practically swooned.

b“/bbMr. /bLarkin, you treat bMs. /bStanton so well! Are you two nning to bget /bmarried? You’re a perfect matchb!/bb” /b

bFor /ba moment, bAriel /bthought Jayson’s bgaze /bflickered toward her.

She bwasn’t /bbsure /bwhat it meant. Was he warning her to stay in her ceb? /b

Ariel clenched her teeth against the sharp pain in her ankleb. /bA dull ache spread through her abdomen as well, making her stomach feel tight and bheavy/b. She bit her lip and forced herself to standb, /bready to leave.

bJust /bthen, a hand grabbed her arm.

She looked up and met Perry’s wary beyes/b.

b“/bWhat bdo /bbyou /bthink byou’re /bbdoing/bb? /bYou bbetter /bbnot /bmake a sceneb. /bIt’s just an interview. bDon’t /bgo smearing bNancy’s /bname and

making things awkward for everyone.”

Ariel bfroze/b. Then, realization dawned.

Did he really think she’d rush overb, /bbreak them up, and start spouting nonsense in front of the cameras?

Her pale face turned cold, and she yanked her arm free with force. Her eyes were icy, sharp enough to pierce through him.

She didn’t even bother to bsay /ba single word to Perryb. /bShe just turned and walked awayb. /bHer slender figure looked stubborn.

bPerry /bstood there, stunned.

He watched her leave for a long moment, then nced down at his hand that she had just pped away.

The softness of her skin remained on his skin, making his throat inexplicably dry.

bBut /bthat look in Ariel’s eyes was pure disgust.

For the past three yearsb, /bAriel had always been amodating to Jayson’s friends. She had been easygoing and eager to please.

bBut /bnow? For a split second, he felt like he didn’t know her at all.

Was he seeing things? Or had Ariel finally lost her mind?

“What are you staring at? You lookpletely entranced.b” /bMatt walked over and gave him a pat.

Perry shook himself out of his daze, furrowing his brows. He clenched his fingers slightly. b“/bNothing. Let’s go.”

bThat /bbwas /bprobably just Ariel’s new trick.

Ariel retrieved a small bottle of unmarked pills from her bag and swallowed one dry. The bitter taste made bher /bbfrown/b.

As the pain in her lower abdomen intensified, she could only curl up slowly to endure it.

Thankfully, she hadn’t driven today. She sent Chad a quick message before leaving the bvenue/b.

bThe /bdomestic medication was losing its effectiveness on her. She needed targeted drugs bfrom /babroad to stabilize her bcondition/b.

After confirming her prescription with her doctor, she took another painkiller and buried herself under bthe /bbnkets/b.

She slept through the night and into the next afternoon.

What finally bwoke /bher was the urgent ringing of her phoneb. /b

She nced bat /bthe screen and saw Betty callingb. /bbAfter /bmaking bsure /bher voice bdidn’t /bsound weakb, /bshe banswered/bb, /bb“/bbYes/b, bGrandma/bb?/bb” /b

Betty bsounded /bcheerful. b“/bbAri/b, how bwas /bbyour /bday at Quin’s Peak with bJayson/bb?/bb” /b

b“/bQuin’s Peakb?/bb” /bbAriel /bbwas /bbconfused/b.

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