Silence fell over the scene.

Ariel gave Matt a cool glance, while Perry eyed her and stepped in to say, “I don’t think Ms. Walker needs to handle something like that.”

This was something the waiters should be doing.

Both Chad and Ariel immediately understood what Matt was implying. He’d just praised Nancy as a top elite bound for a clear future, and now he was asking Ariel to do something menial.

His words sent a clear message that she was not on the same level as Nancy.

Ariel knew that the bed–climbing and forced–marriage scandal had incited the group’s hatred for her. To them, she was someone who needed to atone for her sins.

Matt patted his forehead and said, “Oh, I didn’t mean anything by it. I thought that since Ms. Walker was a housewife for three years, she’d be more used to doing that.‘

Ariel couldn’t help but glance at Jayson. He had to know how little regard his people had for her, but he’d never cared about her feelings. Just like now, he was indifferently watching from the sidelines and never thought of her as his wife.

Her lips tugged in a cold sneer as she coldly replied, “If you have trouble with your hands, perhaps I can assist.”

The smile on Matt’s face froze. He hadn’t expected Ariel to fire back like that, and it seemed she wasn’t the same docile lady from before.

Ignoring the drastic change in his expression, Ariel turned her head, only to lock eyes with Jayson across the table.

He was already watching her, and for a split second, there was almost a smirk flickering in his usually cold gaze. It was gone in a blink.

Ariel was stunned. Why had Jayson just smiled at her?

In all the years they’d lived together, she could barely count the times he’d smiled at her. His thoughts remained as inscrutable as ever.

It was Chad who finally broke the awkward silence. He shot Matt a look and said, “What would you like, Mr. Crosby? I’ll grill it for you.”

Matt snapped back to reality and instantly lost interest when Ariel wasn’t playing along. There was no way he’d actually let Chad lower himself like that. “I was just joking, Mr. Hockney.”

Anyone could tell that Chad was defending Ariel, and perhaps, a little too much.

Nancy frowned. Could Chad have had feelings for Ariel?

Perry turned his gaze on Chad and tried to read something between the lines. It was just too much for Chad and Ariel’s employee–employer relationship.

Sensing the attention, Chad raised his glass toward Perry with a casual nod.

Ariel didn’t notice. She turned to Freya, who’d been eating in focused silence, and passed her a skewer of grilled

mushrooms.

Ariel was the obsemant kind who always noticed what others liked.”

Freya looked up a

her cheeks puffed with food. Then she said sweetly, “Thank you, Ms. Walker.”

Ariel gave her a soft smile. “You’re welcome.”

Watching the

two interact, Renee’s frown deepened with each second. Then, she slammed her can of soda on the table and declared, “I’ve lost my appetite!”

The can’s impact against the metal tray was startling, sending soda flying in all directions. Unexpectedly, flames flared, accompanied by a sudden rush of fire.

Positioned nearest the grill, Ariel had barely a moment to register the flames surging in her direction.

Just then, a pale, bony hand reached out and seized the rim of the grill tray. In one swift, decisive movement, it pulled the tray back, and the fire recoiled instantly.

Nancy gasped. “Jayson! Are your hands okay?”

Ariel snapped out of her daze and looked over to see Jayson frowning. After tossing the scorched tray aside, he curled his fingers slightly; the tips were clearly reddened from the heat.

She froze.

Had Jayson just been concerned that she might burn from the flames?