Chapter 712

Chapter 713
+25 BONUS
“The feelings I had for Lucas, whether it was familial love or otherwise, I never carried them into our marriage.” Ariel’s voice was calm, almost detached.
Since Jayson already knew nearly everything, she didn’t want him to continue misunderstanding, thinking she had been longing for Lucas during their three years together. At the very least, she wanted to clear the air.
Jayson’s eyelashes fluttered. His eyes reddened as he gazed at her.
Ariel closed her eyes. “Jayson, I truly loved you back then.”
During those three years, she had been completely devoted to him. However, Ariel was never someone who openly expressed her true feelings.
That single sentence was enough to send waves of emotion crashing over Jayson. His heart ached unbearably. All those years Ariel had loved him, he had only misunderstood her.
Ariel was completely spent. After making that last remark, she closed her eyes to rest.
Jayson was left sitting there processing the overwhelming emotions surging through him.
His ears rang. His eyes grew redder as he took in Ariel’s pale complexion.
Lowering his head, he took several deep breaths. For a moment, he thought he might die from the weight of her words. Years of bitterness and insecurity, all the doubts that had eaten away at him, vanished in an instant.
Just hearing her say that was enough.
Jayson felt as though he had been pulled from the shadows into the light.
He stayed at her side for a long time as she slept soundly, unwilling to leave even for a moment. The thought of her cancer was a ticking time bomb in his heart. Each reminder tormented him anew.
At last, he stood, tucked her in, and stepped outside to take a call.
Arthur had left to take care of other errands.
Jayson walked to the smoking area. He had bought a pack of cigarettes. His fingers trembled slightly as he opened the box and lit one.
This was the only way he could ease the storm inside him, even just a little. Newest update provided by
“Meet with the hospital director and every staff member involved,” he instructed over the phone. “Investigate everyone–the directors, nurses, cleaners, even the security personnel. I want solid evidence.”
Jayson’s chest tightened with self–loathing as Liam’s recount of what had happened replayed in his mind. It felt as though he himself had endured that pain and despair, magnified a millionfold.
He would not tolerate it.
He knew very well whom Ariel suspected, but they couldn’t strike back based on suspicion alone.
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Chapter 713
Jayson could not afford recklessness. Ariel needed him now more than ever.
Others might fail to uncover the truth, but not him. He would crush the one behind this completely.
When the call ended, Jayson sat hunched on a bench, dazed.
+25 BONUS
The cigarette burned down to his fingers, singeing his skin. He didn’t even flinch. Only when the thought of Ariel being alone struck him did he snap out of it.
He stubbed out the cigarette and strode quickly back to her ward.
On the way, his phone rang. Arthur’s voice came through. “Mr. Larkin, I’ve spoken with Mrs. Larkin’s grandmother and uncle. They’re calmer now. Mrs. Larkin doesn’t have to worry. I convinced Mrs. Walker Senior to wait until tomorrow to visit her.”
“Alright. Thank you for your hard work.”
Jayson knew he wasn’t the only one on the brink of collapse. Katie needed to be reassured, too. If she came now and saw Ariel in such a frail state, it might trigger another attack. And Ariel would never want her family to see her like this.
Jayson had to take all of that into consideration for Ariel.
When he reached the ward’s floor, he noticed Evelyn standing before the door. It seemed she had just arrived.
Hearing footsteps, Evelyn glanced over her shoulder. Her eyes widened at the sight of her son. Jayson’s face bore exhaustion and grief–an expression Evelyn had never seen on him before. She was his mother, yet in all these years, she had never seen her capable, strong son look so broken.