Chapter 371
Jackson was in his 80s, but his voice still carried loud and clear. The second he asked the question, the air around them seemed to go still for just a second.
People from all around turned to look in their direction. Their eyes eventually landed on Jayson with growing suspicion.
The looks he received were filled with shock.
Jayson, however, didn’t seem the least bit caught off guard. He casually tapped the back of Jackson’s chair. “My wife?”
Even Ariel was taken aback by the sudden question.
Why would Jackson bring that up out of nowhere?
Even if she hadn’t signed that confidentiality clause in their divorce agreement, she had no intention of exposing their past marriage. She frowned, and a shadow of irritation crossed her eyes.
As she glanced up, she met Jayson’s gaze across the room.
He looked at her, almost like it was accidental. But something about that look made her fingers curl instinctively into a fist.
She hated this. Hated being dragged into the spotlight without warning.
But Jayson didn’t hold the stare. He looked away just as quickly and turned his attention back to Jackson with a smile, waiting calmly for what came next.
Jackson narrowed his eyes. “Didn’t you get married recently?”
Even Liam raised his head at that. He looked at Jayson, clearly not expecting a bombshell like that.
The surrounding guests were all stunned. “Mr. Larkin is married?”
“Since when?”
“Is his wife here tonight? Is it someone we know?”
Jayson didn’t flinch. He glanced back at Jackson and chuckled. “Well, I’d be happy if you could tell me where exactly this wife of mine is.”
That comment was clearly a joke. Or perhaps a denial.
Jackson’s expression stiffened. He instinctively looked over at Betty.
She did not look pleased. She gave Jayson a disappointed stare, then abruptly turned around and walked off.
What a waste of a perfectly set stage.
Before heading over to check on Betty, Renee raised an eyebrow with a small smile, then glanced at Ariel. She simply gave a “told you so” shrug.
Ariel thought Jayson’s answer was perfectly reasonable. Thankfully, he hadn’t spelled it out..
If he had, every conversation about her from now on would have revolved around Jayson, and that was the last thing she wanted.
Jayson’s attitude made it clear he had no intention of letting anyone dig deeper into the subject. Any further and it
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would lead straight to someone else’s scandal, so he shut it down.
Matt and Perry had both been caught off guard by Jackson’s sudden question.
+25 BONUS
Matt recovered the quickest. He slung an arm around Jayson’s shoulders and gave a quick glance toward Betty as she left the room.
Smiling, he addressed the guests, “Everyone, just take it as a lighthearted joke. Mr. Larkin would love nothing more than a loving wife and kids, but he’s in a different phase of life right now…”
He knew exactly how to work a crowd. He said just enough and left just enough unsaid.
And what he left out let everyone fill in the blanks however they liked.
That kind of vague answer could apply to just about anything. But to those listening in, it landed differently.
Sure enough, the ones who had been listening just moments ago all chuckled in sudden understanding. “We get it.
“Sounds like Mr. Larkin’s next phase is just around the corner.”
Perry looked at Jayson, then glanced at Ariel, who was clearly keeping her distance. This wasn’t the outcome he had hoped for. Since Jayson didn’t admit it, would Ariel see that as humiliating?
This time, Jayson didn’t respond to anyone’s questions.
Ariel let out a cold, unsurprised laugh, like an outsider with nothing to do with it all.
How considerate of them to go to such lengths just to save Nancy’s pride.
Liam happened to catch that fleeting expression on her face, and it made him think. He leaned over and whispered in Jackson’s ear, “Grandpa, this is Mr. Larkin’s personal business. We should stay out of it.”
Jackson frowned slightly, a complicated look flickering in his eyes. He glanced at Jayson but didn’t say anything
more.
After all, Jayson had denied it himself.
Jayson didn’t seem bothered in the slightest. He continued chatting politely with the guests coming up to greet
him.
Ariel didn’t look his way again. She definitely didn’t head to the main table to sit with him. Even Rachel couldn’t stop her. By the time she turned around, Ariel was already seated somewhere else.
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