Chapter 843

The photographer quickly edited and printed a wedding photo, giving copies to Ariel and Jayson. Ariel noticed that Jayson looked surprisingly relaxed in the picture, contrary to her expectations. Jayson then suggested they stay at his other residence since their marital home wasn’t ready, and Ariel agreed without hesitation. As Jayson received an urgent work call, he told Ariel to go ahead and move her belongings to his place while he handled some tasks.
Ariel felt overwhelmed by the reality of living together with Jayson, something she hadn’t anticipated. Toby kindly offered to help her pack, but she declined, explaining she had only a few belongings. They drove smoothly to Jayson’s other residence, a spacious flat near Bluum Corp. Toby left after dropping Ariel off, puzzled by the situation and Jayson’s sudden plans.
Meanwhile, Jayson attended a long meeting but kept thinking about the wedding photo tucked in his pocket. He even took a picture of it with his phone and drafted a social media post announcing their marriage, but hesitated to share it publicly. Instead, he saved it privately, reflecting on their new life. After the meeting, he quickly signed some documents without explaining his late return to Colton, who was curious about the timing of the marriage registration.
Back at the apartment, Ariel unpacked her few belongings with Toby’s help and learned the door code to Jayson’s flat, which coincidentally matched the release date of her U.N2 album. Toby left to assist with other arrangements but remained confused about Jayson’s intentions, especially since they had arrived early at city hall only to find it closed and then hurried off to pick Ariel up from the hospital.
The photographer quickly edited and printed the finest wedding photo right there, handing a copy to each of them with a practiced smile.
Ariel took the picture in her hands and studied it carefully.
They were seated side by side. Contrary to the cold, distant expression she had expected on Jayson’s face, he appeared surprisingly at ease, almost relaxed.
She looked up just in time to see Jayson slip the photograph into his pocket and glance over at her. “The marital home isn’t fully ready yet. Can we stay at my other place for now?”
Without hesitation, Ariel nodded. “Of course, that sounds fine.”
Jayson opened the car door to get in, but just then his phone rang. It was an urgent work call.
As he answered, he looked at Ariel and said, “Go ahead first. Pack your things and move them to my place. I’ve got some things to handle.”
Before Ariel could even ask a question, he shut the door firmly.
Her words caught in her throat. She hadn’t imagined they would actually have to live together.
She had assumed Jayson wouldn’t go that far. At best, they’d maintain a superficial relationship, each living their own private lives. After all, he hadn’t seemed exactly thrilled about her.
Toby spoke up gently, “Mrs. Larkin, I’ll help you pack. If you have a lot, I can arrange someone to assist so you don’t have to worry.”
Ariel felt as if everything was already planned out for her. After a brief pause, she shook her head. “There’s no need. I don’t have much—just some clothes and a few books.”
Back at Sanderson Manor, she barely had a space she could truly call her own. Since moving out for college, her life had been simple and minimalist, so her belongings were few.
Toby pressed the accelerator, and the car smoothly pulled away.
Jayson watched the vehicle disappear down the street. Soon another car arrived to pick him up, and he headed straight to the office for an urgent meeting.
Inside the conference room, the discussions dragged on relentlessly.
Jayson leaned back in his chair, but his attention kept drifting to the wedding photo tucked away in his pocket.
He lowered his gaze, slipped the picture from under the table, and studied the image of himself with Ariel. A faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
For the first time during the meeting, his mind wandered.
He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo of the wedding picture. Almost without thinking, he began drafting a post for his social media. “I’m married.”
But before hitting send, he hesitated, tapping his finger thoughtfully against the screen.
Something felt off. Posting it publicly might come across as showing off. Ariel would probably find it strange.
After some reflection, he decided he still wanted to share it—but only privately. He set the post’s visibility to just himself and quietly pinned it to the top of his feed.
Then, calm and collected, he put away both the phone and the wedding photo.
When the meeting finally ended, Colton approached with some documents to sign. He looked surprised to see Jayson. “Mr. Larkin, didn’t you go to city hall at 8:30 this morning? Why are you back so late?”
Jayson didn’t bother to look up. “Hand me the documents.”
He offered no explanation.
There was still a mountain of work waiting for him today, and he wanted to get it done quickly. Signing the marriage certificate marked the first day of their new life together. He hoped to be home early.
Colton was puzzled. He knew Jayson planned to register the marriage today but wasn’t aware of the exact timing. Discover more novels at.net
Since Jayson had left very early, Colton guessed the city hall might not even have been open yet. He assumed Jayson wanted to get the process over with as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Ariel returned to her small rented apartment to gather her belongings. She had only two suitcases and a small packed box. Toby helped carry everything downstairs and drove her to Jayson’s other residence.
The flat was spacious—nearly 4,000 square feet—and conveniently close to Bluum Corp.
Ariel had never been there before. She looked at Toby awkwardly as he unloaded her luggage.
“Excuse me, what’s the door code?” she asked.
Toby looked surprised. “Mr. Larkin didn’t tell you? It’s 0518.”
Ariel raised an eyebrow, noticing the code matched the release date of her U.N2 album, but she didn’t dwell on it. “Okay, thanks. You can go now.”
Toby had to return to Larkin Manor to assist with other arrangements, so he left.
Once he reached his car, Toby glanced back at the building and scratched his head in confusion.
He had no idea what Jayson was planning. They had arrived at city hall over an hour early, only to find the doors still locked.
Then Jayson received a call and hurried him off to the hospital. To Toby’s surprise, they ended up picking Ariel up from there.
The chapter delicately captures the beginning of a new chapter in Ariel and Jayson’s lives, marked by unexpected closeness and tentative acceptance. Despite the initial uncertainty and the weight of their sudden marriage, there is a subtle warmth growing between them, hinted at through their shared wedding photo and Jayson’s quiet smile. The contrast between their practical arrangements and the emotional undercurrents reflects the complexity of their relationship, where duty and personal feelings intertwine.
As Ariel settles into Jayson’s spacious flat, the physical space symbolizes the uncharted territory they are about to navigate together. The chapter closes with a sense of calm anticipation, leaving readers with a poignant blend of hope and hesitation. It suggests that while their journey may be filled with challenges, there is an unspoken promise of connection and understanding slowly taking root beneath the surface.
The next chapter promises to delve deeper into the complexities of Ariel and Jayson’s new living arrangement, highlighting the subtle tensions and unspoken emotions simmering beneath the surface. As they begin to share a space, readers can expect intimate moments that reveal more about their personalities and the delicate balance they must strike between their past assumptions and present realities. The spacious flat, so different from Ariel’s minimalist lifestyle, will serve as a backdrop for both conflict and connection, stirring feelings of vulnerability and curiosity.
Meanwhile, Jayson’s internal struggle with the public acknowledgment of their marriage hints at a deeper conflict between his private desires and public persona. His hesitation to share the news openly suggests that there are still barriers to overcome, both in his heart and in his world. The involvement of secondary characters like Toby adds layers of intrigue, as their perspectives and actions might influence the course of events in unexpected ways. Readers will be left wondering how these intertwined lives will evolve and what challenges await the newlyweds behind the closed doors of the grand flat.