Chapter 729

Chapter 730
Jayson didn’t leave right away. He leaned against the car door and pulled a pack of cigarettes from the console.
He had never been much of a smoker, but the stress had been relentless lately, and this felt like the only way to take the edge off.
Especially in front of Ariel, he had to hold himself together. He had to look like the one keeping her safe. If he acted like everything was falling apart, Ariel would only feel even more pressure.
After all, who wouldn’t be afraid of cancer? He didn’t want his own breakdown to make her think she couldn’t be cured and sink into even greater fear.
He stayed there for a long time until his legs started to go numb.
Her health was shaky now, and he still hadn’t earned Katie’s and Leonard’s forgiveness. He couldn’t just cling to Ariel all the time.
He couldn’t sleep even if he went back, so he just made do with a night in the car.
As long as he was close, if anything happened to Ariel, he could be there in seconds. And staying near her gave him a sliver of peace too.
Still, he moved the car farther down the street so she wouldn’t feel pressured if she noticed.
After a shower, Ariel sat down with Katie. She understood Katie’s protectiveness, but…
“Grandma, there’s something you should know.”
She took Katie’s hand and pulled her onto the couch. “Jayson was the one who hired that doctor who treated Uncle Leo. Uncle Leo’s healthy now partly because of him.”
Ariel wouldn’t hide this from Katie. It was the truth, after all.
So she said her piece and left it there. Whatever Katie chose to think about Jayson after that wasn’t her place to interfere.
It was a debt of gratitude. Ariel wasn’t about to act like Jayson owed it to them.
Katie was surprised. “I thought you arranged that.”
Ariel shook her head. “He flew the doctor back here. Otherwise, Uncle Leo never would’ve gotten an appointment.”
Katie frowned. “So now we owe him.”
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Chapter 730
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Ariel leaned gently against her shoulder. “What I’m saying is, the past is the past. You can’t measure every little thing. Let’s just treat it calmly without letting old grudges ruin the present, okay?”
She didn’t want Katie or Leonard trapped in what had already happened. The past couldn’t be undone.
Ariel had brushed close to death and had come to terms with many things.
Katie looked at her. “Ari, do you still have feelings for him?”
Ariel froze, then gave a small smile. “That’s probably a question better saved for when I’m healthy again.”
Katie’s heart ached. She pulled Ariel into her arms.
If she could trade her own life for Ariel’s recovery, she would in a heartbeat.
The next morning, when Katie went out for a walk, she spotted Jayson’s car parked a little way down the street.
Through the window she saw him slouched in the driver’s seat, brow furrowed even in sleep. It was an uncomfortable kind of rest.
It was obvious he had been keeping watch all along. He had parked this far away on purpose, not trying to make a show of it for them.
Katie thought of Ariel’s words.
She didn’t really understand the younger generation’s affairs. Though she had her complaints about Jayson, and even knowing he had helped find the doctor, she chose not to interfere. After all, a person’s true nature could only be revealed with time.
She sighed and walked on.
If possible, she wanted Ariel to have someone she could depend on.
Jayson didn’t sleep long. His head felt heavy when he woke. He rubbed his eyes, then pulled out his phone and sent a text to Ariel.
“Are you awake?”
A few seconds later, Ariel replied, “No.”
Only then did Jayson glance through the car window at the window to Ariel’s room. Once he was sure she was all right, he let out a faint breath of relief.
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Chapter 730
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Then he typed again. “By the way, Ms. Walker, kindly accept my follow request on Instagram.
Thanks.”
He sent it, then opened the app and followed her.
Only after that did he start the car and head back to the marital home. He needed a shower and a change of clothes. He had bigger matters to deal with today.
Cecilia wasn’t going to walk away from yesterday unscathed. He had plenty of cards left to play.
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