Lucas didn’t head inside until he’d finished an entire cigarette.

After the car was parked, Nancy turned to Jayson. “The way Mr. Sanderson was looking at her felt tense. Did they have a fight?”

Jayson was looking at his phone. Without even glancing up, he replied, “No idea.”

He was truly cold.

But Nancy smiled, satisfied. She liked this side of Jayson–the version that couldn’t care less about Ariel.

“Do you want to go up?” she asked with a smile, dropping the subject.

Jayson checked his watch. “I’ve got something to handle at the office. I’ll visit your mom another time.”

Nancy didn’t push it. She stepped out of the car and said, “Drive safe.”

“I will. Go on in.”

After seeing Jayson off, Nancy headed upstairs and found Sarah reading. As she sat down, she casually mentioned that Jayson had dropped her off and that they’d bumped into Ariel.

Sarah turned a page and smiled. “As expected, Ariel really takes after that useless mother of hers–pathetic and dumb. They couldn’t even hold on to a man. She’s no threat to you.‘

Nancy paused. “Her mother?”

Sarah set the book down. “Just some dumb and hypocritical woman. She thought a little money gave her the right to play the saint.

“She sponsored me just so everyone would find out about my family situation. It made herself look generous and noble, all to win people over and draw more attention from men.”

Did she think she was saving the world?

Sarah frowned at the memory, but it passed quickly.

Well, times had changed. Even Elena’s daughter couldn’t outshine hers.

Nancy didn’t respond because Ariel was never in her league to begin with.

After a few packed days at work, Ariel finally cleared her schedule and sat down with Katie to finalize the details for Elena’s third death anniversary ceremony.

In past years, they had just gone to the cemetery. This time, they planned something more intimate–a ceremony set up at home for just the family.

Chad and Janice showed up early that morning.

Ariel pulled them aside and lowered her voice. “I haven’t told Grandma about my divorce yet, so don’t let anything

slip. I’m planning to talk to her after today’s ceremony.‘

Chad nodded, understanding the awkward position she was in. He patted her shoulder. “She doesn’t know yet, but will Jayson come?”

Now that they were filing for divorce, Jayson technically had no reason to show up.

But Ariel hadn’t told Katie, and that left her caught in the middle.

She sighed. “I don’t know.”

This wasn’t how she wanted things. Jayson was the one who had cheated. He should be the one cleaning up the

mess.

When Katie came out, she instinctively glanced toward the door. “Is Jayson not here yet?”

Ariel quickly looked down. “Grandma, let’s start on the pastries first.”

A clean deflection.

They needed to prepare the offerings. Elena had always loved Katie’s shortbread cookies, so they’d planned to bake a batch in her memory.

Katie noticed that something was off but went along with it. “Alright. Let’s get to it.”

Janice, always quick to adapt, chimed in brightly, “Katie, I’ll help! I’m great in the kitchen.”

With Katie successfully distracted, Ariel exhaled and rubbed her temples.

Chad asked, “Do you want me to call Jayson?”

Ariel shook her head. She had made her decision. “No need. If he doesn’t come today, I’ll tell Grandma and Uncle Leonard about my divorce after the ceremony.”

It was better to say it straight than keep dancing around it.

Chad agreed.

Later, Ariel got a call from Lucas. He asked her to come outside, saying he was here.

She was a little surprised. She hadn’t actually expected him to show up.

But when she reached the door, her expression darkened in an instant.