bChapter /bb589 /b

    Jayson’s exnation sounded perfectly reasonable.

    Ariel hesitated for a moment before handing him the car keys. Since he had volunteered to drive, she saw

    no reason to object.

    She started to head for the back seat, but Jayson opened the door to the front passenger seat instead.

    “I’m driving an unfamiliar car,” he said, ncing at her. “You should sit here and make sure I don’t mess

    it up.”

    Ariel frowned slightly. “What, do you think you’ll drive us into a ditch?”

    Leaning casually against the door, Jayson replied, “Who knows? If we do, after attending a public event together, we’d definitely make the headlines tomorrow.”

    Ariel fell silent, realizing he was teasing her.

    She eventually got into the front passenger’s seat.

    Jayson started the engine, smoothly turning the car in the direction they both knew well.

    After a brief contemtion, Ariel spoke. “Thank you for rifying things for me tonight. You were more

    or less a victim in this whole situation. I admit that. But wasn’t it a bit excessive to donate that much

    moneyb?/b”

    Bluum Corp’s official statement alone should have been enough to calm the rumors, and Ariel felt

    Jayson’s extra step had been unnecessary.

    He nced at her, driving in a rxed posture with an air of good humor. “Hmm… and your reason for thinking that?”

    Ariel calmly shared her thoughts. “It feels like a huge favor, one I can’t possibly repay. You could have told me beforehand instead of doing what you did just now. It only makes me feel burdened.”

    She didn’t want to owe him more, not when their rtionship had already ended.

    Jayson chuckled and nodded. “So you see it as a favor you owe me for?”

    Ariel met his gaze steadily. “Given the state of our rtionship, do you really think I can just ept all byour /bhelp without feeling that wayb?/bb” /b

    She continued, “Besides, did you think through the consequences of handling things like this?

    “We’re divorced. But tonight, you made another public statement and a joint donation that reestablishes us as a married couple. Are we going to keep up this act from now onb?/bb” /b

    This was the question that had been nagging at her all evening.

    +15 bBONUS /b

    “Even though things with Nancy didn’t end well, one day you might meet someone new, maybe even remarryb. /bHow are you going to exin this to the public when that timeesb?/bb” /b

    Ariel wasn’t criticizing him–just pointing out an obvious issue that needed serious consideration.

    She had originally hoped Jayson would make a straightforward statement dering the rumors false and announcing his intent to take legal action. That alone would have been enough to stop the gossip,

    and over time, people would forget.

    After all, what mattered most in solving the current situation was Jayson’s attitude. Ariel couldn’t exactly understand what Jayson was trying to achieve through his current approach. Honestly, she

    thought he was overdoing it.

    Had he not thought about the consequences? If he ever decided to date or marry someone else, tonight’s ” love deration” on Bluum Corp’s ount would look like a joke. What would he do then?

    And he hadn’t even posted it on his personal ount, but Bluum Corp’s official page.

    Hands steady on the wheel, Jayson kept his eyes on the road. “You’re thinking pretty far ahead for my

    sake.”

    For some reason, Ariel thought there was something pointed in his tone, a meaning beneath the words. Still, she didn’t think she’d said anything wrong. “They’re real issues. You should take them seriously.b” /b

    Jayson gave her a brief sideways nce. “And how are you so sure I’d ever want to announce a new rtionship, or that I’d be looking to marry someone else?”

    b“/bbYou /bdidn’t bother hiding your affair when we were still married. Do you really think that would change now that you’re legally single?” Ariel shot him a sharp side nce, her voiceced with sarcasm.

    The words left a brief, heavy silence hanging in the air.