Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 715

Evelyn was stunned, her expression frozen in shock and bewilderment. It took her a while before she finally snapped out of it.

Her face darkened as she stared at Jayson in disbelief. "Do you even understand what you're saying? She's just one woman among so many in this world. Do you really have to—"

"You didn't react this way when you found out that Dad was seeing another woman." Jayson's blunt interruption cut her off.

In the past, he had often been dragged into his parents' marital strife.

Before he had even turned ten, Evelyn and her husband would get into vicious fights. Yet both came from families that placed great importance on maintaining appearances.

Their marriage had been arranged, and for the sake of their families, they had to present themselves as the perfect, loving couple.

Behind closed doors, however, they were at each other's throats. In public, they wore the masks of a harmonious pair.

Even as a child, Jayson had found it exhausting to watch.

His parents only cared about protecting their own interests, tormenting each other day after day.

Jayson understood how much Evelyn had suffered in her marriage, but that didn't excuse the way she had just spoken. She knew full well her words would wound Ariel, yet she still said them without hesitation.

Despite her own painful past, Evelyn had lost her empathy, bound instead by outdated, suffocating values.

"Jayson Larkin!" Evelyn snapped, her face twisting into a scowl. She clearly hated him dragging up the past she would rather bury.

Jayson, however, had no interest in arguing further. He was already struggling to keep his own pain under control.

He fixed his gaze on her and said flatly, "I won't change my stance. I hope you won't meddle in my affairs. You can try, but it'll be pointless."

She spoke without bitterness or complaint, as though she were describing someone else's life. She didn't dramatize her pain or try to elicit sympathy. But every word was a blade cutting into Jayson's heart.

Ariel glanced at the man sitting beside the bed. He was staring hard at the IV cannula attached to the back of her hand. Yet, Ariel couldn't discern the emotions swirling in his eyes.

Still, she felt them.

Ariel wasn't sure how to deal with Jayson's current state. After all, she hadn't expected he would react like this. "I heard you talking to your mom earlier."

Jayson slowly lifted his gaze to meet hers.

Matter-of-factly, Ariel went on, "No one can say for certain whether my condition will improve or get worse. This whole time, I've been racing against death.

"I've given everything I had. I've accomplished things I couldn't before. I came back to the work I loved and reached several milestones. Apart from not having a child, I don't have many regrets left in this life."