Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 708

"Has the time and date for the surgery been fixed?" Jayson lowered his gaze and swallowed hard.

Liam thought for a moment. "We've already scheduled it. She also happens to have the time to go through with the procedure soon."

Jayson lifted his head and looked at Liam with an intense gaze. "Have you decided which approach you'll be taking?"

By recalling their past interactions, Liam could roughly guess Ariel's stance. "From her point of view, I think she'll want to try to keep her uterus."

"Can you just remove the uterus entirely?"

Jayson's voice cut him off mid-sentence.

Liam widened his eyes and studied Jayson. He immediately noticed the steely determination reflected in the man's gaze. At that moment, it was clear—nothing else in the world mattered to Jayson as much as Ariel.

Liam suddenly understood why Jayson said what he did. Narrowing his eyes, he asked, "Mr. Larkin, are you trying to make the decision for her?"

"Does anything matter more than keeping her alive?" Jayson pressed his fist against the wall as he tried to steady himself. Though his voice was still hoarse, his eyes blazed with resolve. He could not allow any risk that might endanger Ariel's life.

He also fully understood what Liam had told him. If the surgery failed, Ariel might not have much longer to live. With late-stage cancer, she could not afford to take such a gamble.

Jayson hated himself. Why did he have to spend that night with Ariel on the cruise? He was the very reason she had ended up in this condition.

He knew Ariel better than anyone else. She might appear cold and aloof, but deep down, she was soft-hearted.

His fingertip brushed along her brow, down her cheek, and came to rest on her sharp jawline. Jayson's heart ached as he took in how frail she had become.

Why hadn't he noticed sooner? Why hadn't he paid closer attention to her?

Ariel was so thin and weak. Yet, he had assumed she skipped meals because of stress or work. It explained why she seldom wore skirts or dresses anymore. Even on the hottest days, she hid beneath long sleeves and trousers, concealing her increasingly fragile frame.

Jayson lifted her hand and gently rolled up her sleeve. Her wrist was so slender it seemed as if it would snap with the slightest force.

He let out a hollow sigh as the sight robbed him of breath. His chest tightened, his eyes burned.

Pressing her delicate hand against his forehead, Jayson finally broke. Tears spilled over, unstoppable.