Future Mrs. Larkin?

So the whole company had already acknowledged Nancy’s status.

Back when Ariel was devoted to Jayson, he–and everyone around him–assumed she was trying to create a misunderstanding about their relationship. Because of this, he never spoke to her at work.

But with Nancy, he made it official. Both personally and publicly.

Ariel didn’t respond to Tom’s words, but Janice couldn’t take it anymore. She said, “But I’ve heard that Mr. Larkin is already married.”

Tom froze.

It took him a long pause before he replied, “That’s just a rumor. There was talk that Ms. Stanton was a mistress. Bluum Corp’s PR department didn’t handle it well, so Mr. Larkin cleared things up himself. He stated publicly that Ms. Stanton was completely innocent. How could he be married?”

He would be denying the existence of his wife in doing so. What kind of man would completely disregard his wife like that?

So it must’ve been just a rumor.

Ariel lowered her gaze.

7

So it had been Jayson who cleared things up. He hadn’t wanted Nancy to suffer even a little.

But she, his actual wife, should endure it all. Because to him, she had no right or courage to cause a scene.

Janice was fuming. “If Mr. Larkin cares about Ms. Stanton so much, why aren’t they married yet? Is it because he can’t?”

Tom smiled and began to open up. “As you can see, Ms. Stanton’s a career woman, not someone who wants to be tied down as a housewife. From what I’ve heard, it’s because she’s not ready yet.”

That made sense to Ariel.

Jayson cared so much about Nancy. If she wanted marriage, he would’ve had the divorce done and dusted ages ago. Ariel didn’t have to bring up divorce herself.

Janice looked over at Ariel, her eyes filled with concern. She truly sympathized with Ariel.

Ariel gently squeezed her hand and shook her head. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”

The papers were signed. One last step, and she and Jayson would be complete strangers.

Janice, as much as she wanted to publicly call Nancy out for being a mistress, had to swallow the urge for Ariel’s sake.

She scratched her head in frustration. She really wasn’t in the mood to continue the inspection. “I’ll go get the car. Once you’re done, meet me at the front entrance, then we’ll go home.”

She was afraid she might have a heart attack if she stayed.

Ariel nodded and replied calmly,

“Okay.”

After the materials were finalized, Tom suggested Ariel stay behind and review the details with Nancy.

She declined, saying she had work back at the office, and left.

As she waited for the elevator doors to open and was about to step inside, she unexpectedly saw Jayson standing inside.

He stood tall and straight. His deep gaze flicked toward her before he coldly averted his eyes.

To anyone looking, there was no sign they had ever been married.

He truly had made distancing himself a part of his very nature.

Still, Ariel didn’t flinch. She stepped in and stood quietly behind him.

She hadn’t expected Jayson to show up at Nexura Solutions. But then again, Nancy was there. Of course he’d come for her.

Jayson seemed to have no desire to interact with Ariel. He was busy texting on his phone.

Standing behind him, Ariel glanced at the elevator screen to check what floor they were on. By chance, she caught sight of the message on his phone.

It was from someone saved under the name “babe“.

“Just a little headache. You don’t have to come. I’m probably just tired from staying up all night with you.”

Ariel quickly looked away.

Of course she knew exactly who this “babe” was. And what else could keep them up all night?

Their relationship seemed a lot more intimate than she’d imagined.

Suddenly, Jayson put his phone away and asked, “Are you feeling better?”

It was directed at Ariel.

Ariel was surprised.

Jayson turned slightly to face her. His eyes were calm, with no hint of emotion, like it was nothing more than an offhand question.

ཇ འ འཆ ཆ བ རཇ

So he did remember when she fainted from the fever.

But he had only asked because Nancy had mentioned her headache. It triggered a faint memory of her collapse.

He was concerned about Nancy, and Ariel was just a passing thought. He never really cared about her. Only Nancy mattered.

“I’m fine,” Ariel replied coolly.

“Good,” Jayson said differently. But this time, he held her gaze a little longer than expected.

Ariel didn’t take the opportunity to make a point, and that seemed to catch him off guard.

Jayson’s eyes lingered on her, steady and direct. Ariel frowned. “Is there something else, Mr. Larkin?”

“Not calling me ‘honey‘ anymore?”