bChapter /b16

bTrue /bto his bwords/bb, /bJayson had switched rooms. It was bobvious /bthey must have bspent /bthe night btogether/bb, /bseeing as they left btogether /bso early.

Ariel bsuddenly /bfelt nauseous. She bquickly /bavoided the btwo /band retreated back into her room, rushing into bthe /bbathroom in an

attempt to throw upb–/bbut nothing came up.

Her appetite had been poortelyb–/bperhaps her condition was worse than she had imagined.

A chill ran through her as Ariel stared at her weary reflection in the mirror. She realized how fragile humans bwere/b.

She bcould /bonly be thankful she hadn’t reached a point of no return before she snapped out of it. She still had time to find herself again.

Ariel decided to redo her makeup to freshen herself up. Just as she had the guesthouse to arrange for a ride down the mountain, she received a call from her grandmother, Katie.

Katie was a stern and serious woman. After her husband’s early passingb, /bshe poured all her energy into raising her children.

She grew even more withdrawn after the passing of Ariel’s mother, Elena Walker. But she was always particrly concerned

about Ariel.

“Hello, Grandmab?/bb” /bAriel picked up the call after clearing her throat, making sure she didn’t sound off.

“Have byou /bhad breakfast?” Katie asked, concerned.

Ariel felt a warmth in her heart. “I’m eating now. Did you miss me?”

Katie chuckled heartily. “It’s nothing important. I happened to have knitted a scarf for you and Jayson each recentlyb. /bThe

weather’s getting colder, and they’ll keep your hands warm.

“When are byou /bfree toe pick them up? bYou /bcan alsoe home for a meal–I’ll make you some sweet and bsour ribs/bb./b”

Ariel lowered her gaze and said, “You don’t have to go through all that trouble, Grandma.”

“This is different. bI /bknow that marrying binto /bthat kind of family might not be easy for byou/b. I can’t do bmuch /bto helpb, /bbbut /bI can do what little I can band /btake good care of Jayson. If he has any ounce of conscience, he would also treat you well, bdon’t /bbyou /b

thinkb?/bb” /bKatie saidb. /b

bAriel’s /beyes welled up, and she quickly wiped at the corner of her eyes. “He has been bpretty /bbusy btely/b. bMaybe-/bb” /b

Katie askedb, /bb“/bbSurely /bhe has time for a meal. How about byou /bmake some time bto /be over in the next bcouple /bof bdays/bb?/bb” /b

bIt /bhad been some time since shest saw Ariel and Jayson, and she missed them dearly.

Ariel considered for a moment before agreeing bto /bit. b“/bAlright, I’ll btry/b.”

She bfigured /bbthat /bbgiven /bbtheir /bsituation, it would be better for Jayson to talk bto /bKatie babout /btheir bdivorce/b. It would bgive /bthem a bchance /bbto /bbpart /bbon /bbgood /bterms.

In bthe /bbeyes /bbof /beldersb, /bbeven /bthe bbiggest /bissues had bto /bhave a reason behind them.

Ariel didn’t want bKatie /bbto /bbeventually /bfind bout /bbabout /bJayson’s cheating, as it would hurt her bhealth/b. It bwould /bbbe /bbbetter /btoe bup /bwith ba /bbreason/bb, /bto say bthat /bbthey /bweren’t bpatible/bb, /bwhich bled /bbto /bbtheir /bdivorce.

This matter bwould /bbrequire /bhim to meet bup /bwith bKatie/b.

After some hesitationb, /bbAriel /bgot bup /bband /bwalked bout /bbof /bher broom/b. As she neared bJayson’s /bbroom/b, bshe /bbnoticed /bbthe /bdoor was slightly bajar/b.

bJust /bas she bwas /bbabout /bbto /bbknock/bb, /bshe caught a glimpse bof /bbwhat /bwas happening inside through bthe /bcrackb. /b

Nancy bwas /bon btiptoes /bas she wrapped her arms baround /bbJayson’s /bbneck/b. He had his arms loosely around her waist, his head tilted bas /bif they were kissing.

Ariel’s gaze flickered baway/bb, /bstunned.

bSomeone /bbshoved /bher away in an instant. Her head bspun /bas she nearly lost her bnce.

“Do byou /bhave no shame? Why are byou /bspying on someone else’s privacyb?/b” Renee yelled as she appeared bout /bbof /bbnowhere/bb. /bHer

face was twisted in anger as she red at Ariel, as if Ariel hadmitted some unforgivable crime.

Themotion startled bJayson /band Nancyb, /bband /bthey both hurried out of the room.

bNancy /bwas frowning for once, pursing her lips as she cast an annoyed nce at Ariel.

“Did you enjoy the showb?/bb” /bbJayson /bwore a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. bHis /bcold gaze weighed heavily down on Ariel, making it hard to breathe.

He was angry. Even though he hadn’t said anything else, she bcould /bfeel the weight of his disapproval.

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