Betty hesitated for a moment, then her voice sank a little. Ari, don’t worry. I won’t let anyone treat you unfairly. If anything ever upsets you, just tell me. I’ll handle it. As far as I’m concerned, you’re my granddaughter–in–law. No one else.”

Ariel understood exactly what she meant.

It was Betty’s way of offering reassurance while also making her stance perfectly clear.

Some things couldn’t be laid bare.

Ariel lowered her gaze. “Thank you, Grandma.”

Because of the agreement, she couldn’t tell Betty about the divorce. All she could do was vaguely acknowledge her goodwill.

At the very least, she was keeping her end of the deal with Jayson.

Betty asked if she was still at the hospital.

Ariel answered honestly, saying she had been there in the morning.

Only then did Betty seem relieved.

Once the call ended, Ariel pinched the bridge of her nose.

She had no idea what Jayson had told Betty about Nancy. But Betty was far too sharp. Once she knew about Nancy’s presence, she would no doubt have someone look into it.

Sooner or later, Betty would find out just how far Jayson had gone for Nancy. Not only did he give her free rein at Bluum Corp, but he’d also prepared to launch Veyo Solutions for her.

With all that, there was no way their relationship could be brushed off as simple.

But that was Jayson’s problem to solve.

Given how protective he was of Nancy, he would surely figure out a way to spin it.

Ariel stopped thinking about it. She got up to make lunch.

It wasn’t until now that she truly began living for herself. She devoted all her time and energy to her own life.

She actually enjoyed this seemingly uneventful but emotionally fulfilling routine. No more living in someone else’s orbit, compromising, and sacrificing in silence.

Just after 4:00 pm, she received another call from a landline.

She answered.

“Hello, is this Mr. Jayson Larkin’s family? There are some inpatient documents we need a signature on. Would you be able to come in today?”

Ariel was crouched beside her gardenias, checking the leaves. She replied lightly, “I’m not.”

There was a brief pause on the other end. The person double–checked the information before saying again,” Weren’t you the one who spent the day caring for Mr. Larkin? Aren’t you his wife?”

་་་

Ariel gently poured water onto the soil, then replied evenly “No. You’ll want to call his girlfriend.”

She hung up without waiting for a response.

They had obviously mistaken her for Nancy. Nancy had been at the hospital all day. She must’ve stepped out during this gap.

Still, it was odd that the hospital called her number in the first place.

Ariel frowned.

She glanced at her phone.

Over the years, her number had been tied to so many of Jayson’s daily affairs. No wonder the hospital still had her listed as his contact.

She thought it over for a moment, then decided to change her number tomorrow. It would mark a fresh start.

That evening, Ariel spoke with Lesley and finalized the schedule for her first round of pre–surgery chemotherapy.

As fate would have it, the slot was for tomorrow. And the hospital only had availability in the morning

After some discussion, Ariel–moved it to the earliest available time.

Before bed, she organized all the paperwork needed for her divorce appointment the next morning. She only went to shower and sleep after making sure nothing was missing