bChapter /bb17 /b

bAriel /bclenched her fists and replied calmlyb, /bb“/bbNo /bone exactly enjoys stumbling bupon /bsomething like bthat/bb, /bbjust /bbso /bbyou /bbknow/bb./b”

bShe /bdidn’t bfeel /bthe need bto /bexin further.

Jayson fixed an intense gaze on her, his expression unreadable.

b“/bbYou’re /bjust making excuses. You would’ve never admitted it if I hadn’t caught you!” Renee stared at bher /bwith an busatory /bgaze. “How annoying. This is a guesthouse, everything’s taken care of. We don’t even need you here, so why bdid /bbyou /bfollow

me bup/bb?/bb” /b

bFor /bthe past three years, she often went to Jayson’s ce whenever she wanted to escape Evelyn’s nagging bon /bweekends or bduring /bholidays. Ariel would always look after her like a dutiful mother.

Having gotten used to that dynamic, Renee instinctively thought Ariel was using the excuse of looking after her bto /bdeliberately pick fights with everyone.

“What’s going bon/bb?/bb” /bWendy and Lucas also stepped bout /bone after the other.

He nced at Ariel, who was left fending for herself, and chuckled. “Why is the mood so tense, Mr. Larkinb?/bb” /b

Although Renee was young, she knew how to read the room. Upon realizing that Lucas was technically Ariel’s brotherb, /bshe pouted but kept quiet.

However, Ariel could tell that Lucas was giving them a way bout /bto move on from this situation.

Nancy didn’tment but turned to Wendy. “Let’s go grab a bite.”

bWendy/bb, /buninterested in the drama, left with Nancy.

Lucas smiledzily, as if he did not notice how awkward it was for Ariel. “You can handle your family matters first, bMr. /bLarkin. I’ll go apany my girlfriend for now.”

He didn’t even mind that Jayson was parading around with his mistress, choosing to stay out bof it /blike an outsider.

Renee was about toment more when Jayson cast a brief nce over. Frightenedb, /bshe immediately bset /bboff/b. 1

Ariel’s gaze remained trained on Lucas‘ back.

“What are you looking at?” Jayson’s indifferent tone snapped her back into realityb. /bShe looked bup /bband /bbmet /bhis emotionless gaze. He said, “Let’s talk.b” /b

b“/bI bwasn’t /bspying,” Ariel calmly said.

b“/bbOkay/b. bGive /bme byour /bphoneb./bb” /bJayson seemed to believe her.

bAriel /bbfrowned/bb. /b“bWhat /bforb?/bb” /b

bJayson /bbriefly nced at her before reaching bout /bbto /btake her phone from her bhand/bb. /bHe btapped /bbon /bbthe /bcamera icon and bwent /bbinto /bbher /bphoto bgallery/b.

Ariel’s face fell. Even bher /bbtone /bwas bshaky /bwhen she basked /bin bsurprise/bb, /bb“/bbYou /bbsuspected /bbI /bwas bsecretly /bbtaking /bbphotos /bof byou/bb?/bb” /b

bShe /bbcouldn’t /bbhelp /bbbut /bbwonder /bif bJayson /bwas btrying /bbto /binsult herb. /b

He made bsure /bbthere /bbwasn’t /banything bsuspicious /bbin /bbthe /bbgallery /bbbefore /bbreturning /bbthe /bbphone /bbto /bbAriel/b. He coldly blooked /bbat /bher and bspoke /bin ba /bbtone /bbthat /bbleft /bbno /bbroom /bfor bargument/b. b“/bbYou /bbeven /bbhired /bbpaparazzi /bbto /bbtake /bbphotos /bbof /bus in bbed /bbthree /bbyears /bbago/bb. /bbWho /bknows bwhat /bbelse /bbyou’d /bbdo/bb, /bbMrs. /bbLarkin/bb?/bb” /b

She knew that Jayson was still bitter about what had happened three years ago. He always believed that she was the one who had shamelessly climbed into his bed while he was drunk, bringing in the paparazzi to expose that incident and pressuring him into marriage.

No matter how Ariel tried to exin, it all felt futile. She had no evidence to convince him otherwise.

“I’m surprised you’re still concerned that your rtionship with Nancy would be even more high–profile,” she said after

calming down gradually.

Jayson nced at her and replied, “She’s different. Her reputation would be tarnished if such photos got leaked.”

It was clear that he was drawing aparison between Ariel and Nancy. Ariel had hired paparazzi to capture btheir /bintimate

moments while he would protect Nancy’s reputation.

Jayson had no intention of listening to her exnations. He cast a brief nce at her before turning to leave.

Ariel chuckled bitterly: As she rounded the corner, she saw Lucas leaning against the wall, smoking. She wondered bif /bhe had

overheard much.

He looked up and asked, “Were you wronged?b” /b

Surprised, Ariel suddenly felt as if the old Lucas was back.

He flicked the ash from his cigarette and casually chatted with her bfor /bthe first time since getting out bof /bprison. b“/bI’ve taken over the branch of Wendy’s father’spany. Latelyb, /bI’ve been working on a project with Jayson’spany.b” /b

b“/bbSo/bb?/bb” /bAriel suddenly asked calmly.

Lucas watched her closely, finding that she had changed. She had once been soft and meek, but now she was sharp and

assertivei. /i

b“/bbDon’t /bupset him,” he replied nonchntly. 1