Not everyone in their industry would appreciate Ariel’s intelligence and talent. When personal interests were at stake, some people inevitably revealed their darker, greedier sides.

    Ariel understood exactly what Chad meant. Without wasting any time, she decided to speak with Jayson.

    She had just reached the ground floor and was heading toward her car when she spotted a Bentley parked by the roadside.

    Lucas stepped out, his expression hard as stone. The moment he saw her, he strode forward and grabbed

    her wrist.

    “You’ve been drawing too much attentiontely. First, you nearly lost your life. Now your reputation’s in shambles. The situation’s tricky. You should avoid public appearances for now,” he said sharply, already dragging her toward his car, as if her earlier act of hanging up on him didn’t matter.

    “Lucas! Let go of me!” Ariel snapped, her expression turning icy as she yanked her wrist free.

    Each time she saw him, Lucas seemed more out of control. He had never been this domineering before. (1)

    Lucas turned back to her, eyes dark. “You still haven’t given up, have you?”

    He stepped closer, his voice low and cutting. “Don’t you see it? Everything that’s happened–it’s all because of Jayson. I’m the only one who truly cares for you. Do you honestly think he gives a damn about

    byou/b?”

    His brows drew together, his voiceced with resentment. “You rushed to find a new man the moment I

    was sentenced to prison. If you’d just waited for me, you wouldn’t be in this mess.” (1)

    Lucas still hated her for abandoning him back then. They had grown up together, inseparable for years. To him, Ariel’s quick marriage to Jayson after his imprisonment felt like a betrayal, as if she’d been eager to tie herself to Jayson all along. 1

    Ariel drew in a steady breath, her face void of emotion. “Wait for you? Why should I? We’re siblings, Lucas. Nothing more. You really need to snap out of this delusion.”

    Her patience with his disrespect was wearing thin. He treated her like she was his possession, as if her life wasn’t her own.

    Lucas had once been kind to her, and she felt she’d already repaid that kindness many times over.

    He stared at her, a faint twitch pulling at his brows. He told himself not to take her words to heart, though a dark frown creased his forehead as he stepped forward again.

    “bIf /byou’d left him sooner, none of this would’ve happened,” Lucas said coldly. “He doesn’t love you, and you know it. Ariel, you should be able to tell which of us truly wants the best for you. I’m the only one who

    can fix this for you.”

    Whatever warmth had lingered in Ariel’s eyes vanished. She turned to walk past him, but stopped when

    she spotted Jayson approaching.

    He walked toward her, his expression unreadable. Lucas‘ mocking smirk didn’t go unnoticed, but Jayson ignored him. His calm gazended on Ariel as he spoke evenly. “I came to retrieve the car. Do you have the keys?”

    Ariel hadn’t expected Jayson toe in person.

    She had no intention of wasting another second on Lucas. Since she needed to discuss matters with

    Jayson anyway, she replied, “They’re in my office. Come with me.”

    Without sparing Lucas a nce, she turned and headed back into the building.

    As Jayson moved past him, Lucas tilted his head, wearing a sardonic smile. “You’re awfully generous, Mr.

    Larkin. Still willing to forgive Ari after what she did to you back then?

    “I get it, though. After I was sent to prison, she needed someone to depend on. Feelings didn’t matter. But tell me, are you doing this out of charity, Mr. Larkin?”

    Jayson stopped and turned to Lucas, smiling faintly. “She doesn’t belong to anyone, nor does she need to

    rely on someone else to survive. You may be close to her, Mr. Sanderson, but she chose to marry someone

    else without hesitation. Perhaps your rtionship isn’t as strong as you think it is.” 3