Jayson lifted his gaze and looked at Ariel. His eyes showed no emotion.

A thought occurred to Ariel at that moment.

Sarah was also staying at this hospital.

This place was the registration area for patients undergoing liver transplant operations.

Now that Nancy and Jayson were here…

Nancy merely glanced at Ariel and then went to the registration counter. Ariel could hear very clearly when the staff member mentioned the time and details for Sarah’s operation.

It was the exact date Leonard was initially scheduled to have the operation! Sarah had taken Leonard’s spot to go for the liver transplant operation!

Ariel’s chest heaved with anger. She turned around and strode toward the pair.

“Jayson Larkin, my uncle was supposed to go for the operation first.” Ariel tried her best to control her volume. She stared at Jayson with a piercing gaze.

Jayson fixed his gaze on her. He had a calm look in his eyes.

Before he could say anything, Nancy pursed her lips and said, ‘‘We’re at a hospital. This isn’t a marketplace where you can claim things however you like. We all have to wait for the news or announcements from the hospital.”

“Announcements from the hospital?”

Ariel stared stonily at Nancy. She snapped, “How long has your mom been staying at this hospital? Yet, she’s been scheduled to undergo the operation before my uncle does? Did you think you’d have the chance to say these things to me if it weren’t for Jayson’s help?”

Nancy knitted her brows. Her face darkened.

“Who does she think she is to talk to me this way?” she grumbled inwardly.

Ariel took a glance at the medical report Nancy was holding.

It was cirrhosis. Sarah had liver cirrhosis, and the cause was found to be long–term, excessive drinking.

Her life was not in any danger at the moment. Yet, Sarah was taking away a precious, life–saving opportunity from Leonard, who was a patient with late–stage liver cancer.

“Ariel, stop being so emotional. It won’t help you solve your problems.” Nancy lifted her chin. Her eyes reflected her dissatisfaction.

She walked toward Ariel. “The rules have been stated clearly. Regardless of the process, the outcome was that my mom had been arranged to undergo the operation before your uncle. So, stop being unreasonable.”

Ariel’s eyes were devoid of warmth.

She had decided not to hold back anymore the moment Nancy stepped forward and said those things.

Ariel threw a heavy slap across Nancy’s face.

Nancy was caught completely off guard. She raised her hand and felt around her cheek. She turned around and stared at Ariel in utter bewilderment.

She never thought Ariel would actually do something like this. Moreover, they were in a public space.

Jayson’s expression cracked a little. He strode toward Nancy and supported her by holding her arm.

Nancy stumbled forward and leaned against his chest. She had a grim look on her face. Someone like her, who had always remained proud and dignified, had never suffered such humiliation.

Jayson circled his arms around Nancy. He cast Ariel an icy gaze.

Frankly, he was surprised Ariel had lashed out at Nancy. However, those emotions merely appeared briefly in his eyes before disappearing altogether.

The onlookers were staring at those three curiously as they murmured amongst themselves.

Nancy had a frigid look on her face. Her eyes blazed with fury. She asked, “Jayson, can I report this to the authorities?”

It seemed like things were about to get out of hand.

Nancy had indeed been treated quite harshly.

Jayson looked at her for a bit. Then, he turned his gaze toward Ariel, who had clearly calmed down.

His eyes were unreadable as Jayson spoke to Nancy. “You should head back first.”

Nancy’s lips were pressed into a thin line. She managed to calm herself down fairly quickly, thinking about the elegant, ladylike image she usually had. Nancy decided not to press the matter any further.

Before she left, Nancy shot Ariel a glare. She knew very well that Jayson would help her get back at Ariel this time. Ariel had destroyed the final shred of patience he had for her.

Ariel did not regret her actions. Nancy was trying to take away a precious opportunity from Leonard, and Ariel would not allow it. She could not be bothered if Jayson would punish her for what she had done earlier.

“You shouldn’t have hit her.” Jayson stared at her with those dark eyes. His voice was cold and distant, but he radiated an overwhelming presence despite not shouting at all.

Ariel could not help but think that Jayson must have felt terribly sorry for Nancy. He was probably trying to think of a way to punish her in Nancy’s stead.

Ariel smiled slightly. “What’s done is done. What do you think we should do now, Mr. Larkin?”

Jayson stared at Ariel for a while without a word. Suddenly, he lifted his hand and swept back a few strands of hair that fell over Ariel’s cheeks.

His voice was frigid, even though his movements were gentle.

“Ariel, I’ll meet you at the courthouse on Monday at 9:00 am.”