Nancy didn’t want Ariel’s scent or any trace of her left on Jayson, his things, or in his personal space.

Jayson didn’t refuse.

He glanced up through the rearview mirror and saw the slender figure who had just reached the bus stop.

Ariel’s body wobbled slightly–maybe low blood sugar–and she had to steady herself by leaning against the nearby billboard.

She looked unwell.

Jayson’s eyes stayed cold and indifferent, but he said, “Stop.”

Nancy and Renee both turned to look.

Renee was the first to notice Ariel’s condition. Guessing what Jayson was thinking, she grumbled, “Jay, don’t get tricked. She’s just upset about being kicked out of the car and putting on an act. Don’t pay attention. If you do, you’re falling right into her trap.”

She hurriedly urged Jayson to leave.

Nancy glanced back and smirked.

Ariel’s tricks just kept piling up. She couldn’t achieve anything and kept desperately throwing herself at a man who didn’t love her. It was honestly pretty pathetic.

Jayson looked back in the rearview mirror, thoughtful for a moment.

Renee got annoyed and tried to grab his sleeve to get his attention. But she accidentally bumped Nancy’s arm.

Nancy quietly gasped.

Renee panicked. “Nancy, did I hurt you?”

Jayson immediately turned to look at her. “What’s wrong?”

Noticing how much he cared for her, she smiled softly. “It’s nothing. I bumped my wrist yesterday when checking parts at work. It’s much better now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

“It was late. I didn’t want to worry you.” Nancy shook her head.

Jayson pressed his lips together and then said to Toby, “Go to the hospital.”

He no longer cared for Ariel.

Nancy couldn’t help but let out a quiet, happy smile at his concern.

As Ariel steadied herself against the billboard, her lips were slightly pale.

She heard the roar of the car in the distance and turned to glance that way.

Jayson’s car sped away, leaving behind a cloud of exhaust fumes that seemed to engulf her. He seemed to be in a hurry.

But she didn’t care what was going on with them. She sat down to rest for a while.

The cold crept in relentlessly, making her shiver. When her Uber arrived, she headed home.

With the federal holiday approaching, the company was basically shutting down soon.

This year was different, though. Now that Ariel was getting a divorce, she didn’t have to spend the holiday at Larkin Manor. She could go home and be with Katie and Leonard.

The family was small, and Elena was no longer around. It would be quieter.

After thinking it over, Ariel decided to take Katie and Leonard out to celebrate the holiday.

She asked Janice for suggestions on places in Eldoria suitable for elderly relaxation and entertainment. Janice quickly sent her a long list.

After filtering through the options, Ariel settled on a hot spring resort.

They offered fancy dinner services. The resort was in a mountain area outside the city, with a scenic zone and nightly bonfires. It was a popular choice for people wanting a festive holiday getaway.

It was convenient, low–effort, and more fun.

Ariel booked a room for herself and reserved a large suite for Katie and Leonard, with the option to dine indoors.

When she told them about it, Katie was excited and happy to get a chance to unwind.

ether

On Tuesday, the day before the holiday, as Ariel made her way up the mountain, she debated whether to tell Jayson she wouldn’t be returning to Larkin Manor.

She looked at his name in her contacts. In the end, she put her phone away.

Jayson would figure out on his own that she wasn’t coming back this year. He’d surely come up with some excuse to brush Betty off.