Though Ariel hadn’t expected this turn of events, it made perfect sense.

How could Jayson miss the opportunity of using such an important banquet to further elevate Nancy’s status?

But…

“Sorry, Chad. I’ve wasted your efforts.” Ariel felt that the tensions between her, Jayson, and Nancy had made Chad’s efforts futile.

Introducing her to others would be beneficial for Faye Technologies, but Jayson hadn’t given her the

to shine.

opportunity

Chad frowned. “It’s fine. My seat’s next to Mr. Pearce, so we’ll have a chance to talk. There’ll be plenty more opportunities to get to know the other big shots.”

However, just as they were about to take their seats, a staff member approached Ariel.

“Sorry, Ms. Walker. There’s been a change in the guest list. Your seat has been moved to the second row. I hope you don’t mind.”

Ariel raised her eyes and saw that her original first–row seat was now occupied by Nancy. Jayson sat beside her, leisurely sipping his tea. He barely spared Ariel a glance.

Jayson could give her seat to Nancy without a second thought or a hint of guilt.

བ༔ ༠ཅ རྫ ཛམ འའ འ ན ཅ ཟ རྟེན ལ འ ཇཛ

Ariel met the staff member’s apologetic gaze and replied, “It’s fine.”

Chad was still engaged with some important figures in the front, so he was unaware of the situation.

Ariel didn’t want to cause a scene as well.

Moreover, Chad’s position in the first row was secured due to his own qualifications, as well as the fact that Carlos was a highly respected member of the aerospace research institute. He had earned his spot.

As for her? She was just an unknown nobody brought by Chad.

Jayson had made it clear he wanted to elevate Nancy. With his status, no one would dare to defy him.

In comparison, Ariel was just a small fry at Chad’s company. Naturally, they would choose to offend her rather than Jayson.

Ariel couldn’t quite place her feelings about the situation.

She’d

away.

spent an entire day preparing to engage with someone like Jonathan. Now that opportunity had slipped

As Ariel sat down, she noticed Matt at the table with her.

Matt glanced up from his phone, briefly scanning Ariel’s dress, which was similar to Nancy’s. He let out a sardonic scoff, then turned his attention back to his phone.

He found the situation quite intriguing. Ariel hadn’t come to disrupt Jayson and Nancy. She was there to join them. They were wearing matching outfits, and Ariel just so happened to wear something in the same color scheme.

How amusing.

Ariel didn’t care about what Matt was thinking. She ignored him completely.

When the lights dimmed, Ariel got up to head to the restroom.

The interior was uncomfortably cold, and she began to feel unwell. A subtle warmth spread across her forehead, and a sharp pain started to throb in her abdomen. She felt light–headed and needed to find a quiet place to rest.

As she approached the restroom door, she ran into Perry unexpectedly.

Ariel, still feeling unwell, brushed presence.

st him without acknowledging his

But as she walked by, a sudden sharp pain in her lower abdomen made her stumble slightly.

Perry was quick to react. He reached out instinctively to hold her arm. “Are you feeling unwell?”

Without hesitation, Ariel pulled her and said coldly, “Thank you.”

Law

Noticing her rejection, Perry pressed his lips together and glanced at her. “Do you have a problem with me?”

Was she ignoring him completely now?

Ariel looked him in the eye. “Yes, I don’t like any of you.!!

Her response was blunt.

Perry froze for a moment, taken aback by her directness.

He didn’t snap out of it even after Ariel had long disappeared from view. Then, a deep voice broke through his thoughts from his phone. “Did you offend her?”

It was only then that Perry’s awareness returned. “Maybe.”

He suddenly remembered how unfriendly he had been toward Ariel in the past.

Back then, she didn’t seem to mind.

But now, she seemed like a completely different person. No longer gentle and approachable, she had become cold and distant, indifferent to anyone she considered unimportant.

Perry felt a strange discomfort that he couldn’t quite shake.

The voice on the phone said, “Well, you deserve it.”

After Chad finished dealing with the people greeting him, he realized Ariel’s seat had been swapped for Nancy’s.

Nancy was already comfortably seated and chatting happily with Jonathan. Even if he was displeased, it wouldn’t be appropriate to interrupt and show his frustration.

Chad couldn’t find Ariel anywhere, so he tried calling her, but she didn’t answer.

Worried, he was about to ask the staff members to find her when Perry returned and absentmindedly said, “She went to the restroom.”

2/3

Only then did Chad breathe a sigh of relief.

Matt, however, raised an eyebrow and leaned toward Jayson. “Don’t you think Mr. Hockney’s concern for Ariel is a bit unusual? It doesn’t seem like just a simple superior–subordinate relationship.”

Jayson’s deep gaze was emotionless, as if he didn’t care at all.

Perry, though, unexpectedly said, “She’s not that kind of person.”

Matt shrugged. “True. She’s been obsessing over Jayson for years. Even if the world ended, she wouldn’t leave him.