Matt left to take Nancy home, while Perry stayed behind to help smooth things over at the scene.
As for the live stream, they would have to wait and see how things unfolded before taking any action.
Ariel wasn’t concerned about how they would clean up the mess. Betty hadn’t let go of her hand since the moment they left, so Ariel couldn’t very well pull away. She just silently followed her into the car.
When they arrived at Larkin Manor, Jayson got out first and walked around to open the car door for Ariel.
He looked at her, calm and composed.
Sometimes, Ariel had to admire this about him. Even in moments like these, he could still keep a straight face and put on an act.
She got out and followed Betty into the house.
Betty didn’t seem angry at all. In fact, she looked rather satisfied with how Jayson had handled things earlier. “It was a mess back at the hotel. We didn’t even get to eat. Dinner’s ready here. Let’s sit down and eat first before we talk.”
Ariel glanced toward the dining room. Sure enough, everything was already set up like they had been expected.
“Okay.” Jayson went to sit down first.
Ariel knew Betty had something to say, so she quietly took a seat and waited.
Betty looked at the two of them, sitting at separate ends of the table, and couldn’t help but sigh. “Jayson, make it clear to Ari. Some people and some things have nothing to do with you. Or if they do, you’ll take care of it.”
Jayson looked up at her.
But before he could respond, Ariel cut in, “Grandma, it doesn’t matter.”
She knew Jayson would try to smooth things over with Betty by pretending to compromise. She didn’t feel like watching him put on a show, so she shut the whole thing down before it even started
The faster they moved past this, the better.
Ariel was also sending a message. She hoped Betty would understand that there was no point tying together two people who felt nothing for each other.
Jayson finally turned to look at her. Her expression was blank. She was telling Betty that she didn’t care and this didn’t need to be turned into a big deal.
He leaned back slowly in his chair and tapped his fingers against the table. “Grandma, I agree with whatever Ari says.”
Betty couldn’t make sense of these two.
Ariel didn’t seem to care that the public was trying to tie Jayson to Nancy. Was it because she trusted that nothing was going on? Or did she just not care anymore?
And Jayson’s demeanor seemed to be saying that if Ariel wanted him to fix it, he would. And if she said it didn’t matter, then he would just shield Nancy.
Watching the way both of them sat there like spectators in their own story, Betty felt an ache in her chest.
Feeling she owed Ariel, she gently took her hand and said, “I only recognize you as my granddaughter–in–law. No matter what happens, you’ll always be the lady of the Larkin family. I won’t let Jayson or anyone treat you unfairly.”
She meant every word.
1/3
Chapter 437
+25 BONUS
As for Nancy, she was never going to get into the Larkin family, and she would have no chance to stir up trouble.
Ariel understood how deeply the older generation clung to the idea of marriage. It was practically written into their bones.
Since she couldn’t tell her about the divorce, she didn’t bother arging. She just nodded. “Don’t worry about it, Grandma. I’m fine. I’m going to wash my hands.”
She didn’t even want to stay in this conversation. She was cold, indifferent, and unbothered.
Betty could see it clearly. And that only made, her feel worse.
There was something very wrong between those two.
As soon as Ariel left the room, Betty’s face turned cold as she looked at Jayson. “Ari’s always been calm and well–mannered. She may say she doesn’t care, but I’m warning you, Nancy needs to back off. Don’t make me step in to get rid of her.”
Jayson poured Betty a glass of water, then poured another and set it in front of Ariel’s seat. Only then did he ask, “Didn’t you set up the whole trap today? What’s left for you to handle?”
Of course, Betty knew that Jayson had everything crystal clear in his mind. “Nancy had the nerve to book out a hotel under the Larkin family name to throw you a birthday party. You think I wouldn’t hear about it?
“You told me that you wouldn’t be coming home. Did you really think I wouldn’t figure out you were going to her event? If she dares to pull something like this at our venue, why on earth should I give her any respect?”
2/3
