Chapter 14
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“You don’t know?” Betty immediately caught on, her voice sharp with irritation. “I booked a two–day retreat at Quillan’s Peak
for you and Jayson! When I asked him yesterday, he said he’d already given you the tickets.”
Ariel was stunned. Jayson hadn’t mentioned a word to her.
Clearly, he had no intention of going on a trip with her and had simply told Betty what she wanted to hear.
“Grandma, I had something come up, so-”
“It’s the weekend! What could be so urgent? Don’t cover for that brat. Listen to me. Head over there now. I’ve already made all
the arrangements. I’ll give him a push.”
Ariel tried to stop her. “Grandma, actually, Jayson and I-”
“What about you two?” Betty’s tone softened again.
It was obvious that she had no idea that Ariel and Jayson were about to get divorced.
Jayson hadn’t informed his family yet?
Otherwise, why would Betty still be planning a couple’s getaway for them?
Ariel felt a headache coming on.
Betty had unstable blood pressure and a heart condition. Was Jayson waiting for the right moment to ease her into the truth?
If that was the case, then spilling everything now might send Betty into a health crisis. Ariel didn’t want to be responsible for
that.
The divorce papers were already signed anyway. All that was left was making it official. There would be time for Betty to
accept it.
After a moment of careful thought, Ariel said, “It’s nothing, Grandma. I’ll go now. He already told me about it.”
As long as Betty was reassured, that was enough. She had no intention of actually going.
But Betty wasn’t giving her a choice. “I’ll arrange for a car to take you. The driver knows the way. Young couples need fresh experiences! Use this trip to rekindle your bond. Maybe by the end of the year, I’ll have a chubby great–grandchild to hold!”
Her voice was filled with hopeful anticipation.
Betty didn’t even give Ariel a chance to refuse. She hung up and immediately started making arrangements.
Ariel rubbed her forehead, feeling a headache coming on.
She knew exactly what Betty was thinking.
Three years of marriage, and anyone could see that Ariel’s relationship with Jayson had been lukewarm at best.
Especially since, in all that time, there had been no children. For traditional elders, that was hard to accept.
This was why, for the past three years, Ariel had used the excuse of carrying on the Larkin family line to sleep with Jayson during her ovulation period every month.
The rest of the time, he had no interest in touching her.
Jayson was in excellent health. During that one week each month, their routine was set–three times a night. Every time, he lasted until late into the night.
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She could barely keep up with that intensity.
And yet, she had never conceived.
At first, she had thought it was due to an old injury to her uterus that made pregnancy difficult. She had believed that, with
treatment, things would eventually work out.
But now, after her endometrial cancer diagnosis, any hope she had was completely crushed.
Betty worked quickly.
The driver contacted Ariel before long. She gave him a pickup location near a convenience store, carefully avoiding revealing the fact that she and Jayson were already living apart.
She had no idea what Jayson’s plans were regarding their divorce, so she decided to play it safe for now.
On the ride there, Ariel didn’t bother informing Jayson.
She figured if he hadn’t told her about the trip, it meant he had no intention of spending it with her. He probably wasn’t even
going.
So, she might as well go alone for a couple of days to appease Betty. Plus, it’d be a good chance to unwind.
Quillan’s Peak had a high–altitude resort with cozy lodgings, a ski area, and breathtaking views of the sunrise over the
mountains.
After checking in, Ariel pushed her suitcase toward her room, only to freeze at the sight ahead.
Jayson and Nancy had just returned from outside, walking side by side, chatting about something. Nancy’s eyes crinkled in
laughter.
Ariel’s eyes flickered. This scene hit her like a slap in the face.
Jayson’s gaze darkened slightly when he saw her, but his face remained emotionless.
Nancy, on the other hand, smiled, as if she found the whole situation amusing.
Ariel felt a wave of humiliation rise in her chest.
What were they thinking of her right now?
“Jayson, where’s the room key?” Nancy didn’t greet Ariel, nor did she feel the need to.
Jayson handed Nancy the key. She walked straight into the adjacent room, leaving the door open–clearly an invitation for
him to follow.
They were sharing a room?
Jayson turned to Ariel “Grandma told you?”
Ariel’s voice was steady. “Yes.”
“Maybe you should switch rooms.” His gaze was cold like ice.
It was phrased like a suggestion, but the tone was undeniably assertive.
Ariel understood immediately.
He and Nancy were staying right next door. If they wanted to do anything intimate, the idea of her–the still–official wife- being just a wall away must disgust him.
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Ariel came here all the way, but she was the one being inconsiderate.
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