Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 775

Alicia noticed the bright smile on Janice's face. She beamed as she held out the carefully chosen gifts, waiting for Janice to accept them.

But her words cut into Janice's heart like a knife.

Janice subconsciously glanced at Wade, who stood just behind Alicia. It turned out he had forgotten her birthday. Somehow, it had ended up with Alicia preparing a gift on Wade's behalf.

Even after a while, Janice still didn't reach out to take the gifts.

Alicia looked puzzled and slightly embarrassed. Glancing around awkwardly, she asked in a soft voice, "Do you not like them?"

Wade immediately sensed Alicia's discomfort. After all, she had gone to the trouble of picking out those gifts, and Janice's hesitation was making things awkward.

He looked at Janice. "Allie spent a lot of time choosing those. You should take them. She even prepared one on my behalf."

Moreover, he didn't want Alicia to feel embarrassed in front of everyone.

Ariel frowned slightly. To her, Wade's words sounded like he was more concerned about Alicia's feelings than Janice's. Janice couldn't possibly not notice the subtle nuance in his remarks.

Wade didn't even notice how disappointed she was that he'd forgotten her birthday. Still, since he'd spoken up and Alicia had offered the gifts in good faith, Janice didn't want to make the situation any more awkward than it already was.

Lowering her head, she finally accepted the gifts. "Thank you."

Alicia breathed a quiet sigh of relief. She glanced over her shoulder at Wade and smiled proudly, as if to show off that she had handled things perfectly.

"I'm glad you like them," she said.

Her words were directed at Janice, but her gaze lingered on Wade.

Janice nodded awkwardly.

There were many people attending today's meeting, and Janice wasn't so naive as to miss what this scene looked like to them. Alicia had bought a gift for Wade's fiancee in his place. That alone said enough about how little Wade cared for her personal affairs.

Janice felt distinctly embarrassed by the fact that the matter was now public knowledge among so many observers.

Ariel glanced at Janice with concern. She knew Janice well—pure-hearted, innocent, sometimes impulsive, but never malicious. For all her wild and clumsy antics, Janice had never done anything improper or reckless.

And yet, in moments like this, she was helpless against someone like Alicia—soft-spoken, poised, and disarmingly kind.

While Ariel was deep in thought, Elsie approached, irritation written across her face. "Why haven't you said hi to me at all?"

Ariel met Elsie's gaze. "Do we really need to, considering how often we see each other?"

Elsie pouted and plopped down beside Ariel. "Of course. Otherwise, how would people know that we're close?"

Ariel raised a brow.

The exchange caught Janice's attention. She quickly turned her head and stared at Elsie.

Something about their conversation struck her as odd. Clinging to Ariel's arm, Janice said defensively, "You and Ari are close? Ari and I have been besties for years. Of course she'll take care of me first."