Nancy even dared to take it all the way to a proposal. She truly had o shame at all.
Jayson didn’t argue. He simply asked, “So, are you satisfied with how things turned out today?”
Betty let out a cold snort. “From now on, your marriage to Ari is a publicly acknowledged fact. No matter what’s going on between you and Nancy, she’s done. She’s a public disgrace now. Se’s been coasting on the title of future Mrs. Larkin long enough. She brought all of this on herself.”
After tonight, Nancy’s reputation in their circle would be completely ruined.
Jayson was well aware of that. He didn’t say a word, showing no intention of going against Betty. His posture was even relaxed.
By the time Ariel returned, the grandmother and grandson had already talked things through.
She wasn’t curious about how the rest would be handled either.
Truth was, everyone in the Larkin family knew about Nancy. Tonight was just the first time it had turned into a direct confrontation.
Ariel knew Betty hadn’t needed to expose the truth like this. After all, old–money families cared deeply about appearances. It must have been rage that pushed her over the edge.
Even though the one at fault was Jayson, Betty, as his grandmother, had chosen to abandon propriety to protect Ariel. And the latter had no choice but to accept the favor.
Some things were better left unsaid even when understood clearly.
Eventually, the maid brought out a cake.
Betty wanted to give them some space, hoping they would use this as a chance to thaw the ice between them. So she made her
exit first.
Ariel didn’t move. The flickering candlelight danced across Jayson’s face from across the table.
In the end, it turned out she was the one spending his birthday with him.
She found it laughable.
If she had refused to come here tonight, it would have made Betty think she was angry with Jayson. That would lead to even more headaches. Ariel didn’t have the patience for that. It was best to deal with it all now and get it over with.
Jayson, on the other hand, didn’t seem rattled by the chaos earlier
Ariel knew him well enough. Even if the sky came crashing down, he could still find a way to handle it. Very few things could ever shake his composure.
It wasn’t that he didn’t care about Nancy. It was more like he already had a plan.
Jayson stared at the flickering candlelight for a long moment before leaning in and softly blowing it out. He was just going through the motions.
Just as the flame died, Ariel looked at him. “Tell Grandma I’ve got something to do. I’m heading out.”
She didn’t plan on staying a second longer and had no intention of sharing the cake.
The candle was out. That was enough.
The only reason she had come was because Betty had insisted. There was no way she was going to stay overnight.
Jayson didn’t argue. He stood and said evenly, “I’ll come with you if you leave on your own, Grandma won’t let it go.”
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Chapter 438
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That was true.
Ariel didn’t respond.
Jayson asked the maid to let Betty know they were leaving, then followed Ariel outside.
The moon was pale and cold. Ariel walked ahead, her pace brisk. Jayson trailed behind her, keeping a steady six–foot distance.
Neither of them said a word, let alone talked about how to handle the fallout now that their relationship had been exposed.
Since Ariel had come in Betty’s car, she needed to leave the area in jayson’s.
“Just drop me off somewhere I can catch a cab. Thanks.” Ariel wouldn’t make things hard for herself. She climbed into the front passenger seat efficiently.
She had no intention of sitting in the back with Jayson.
He didn’t call the driver. Under Ariel’s confused gaze, he got in on the driver’s side. “I’ll take you home. What’s your address?”
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