"Lucas!"

A woman's excited voice shattered Ariel's thoughts.

Before she could react, the woman brushed past her and threw herself straight into Lucas' broad chest. He caught her out of habit, letting her cling to him without resistance.

"Do you know how long I've been waiting for you? If you weren't released soon, my dad was going to force me into an arranged marriage!"

Lucas studied the woman's face while responding to her eager kiss. A smirk played at his lips. "Are you that desperate? Tell your driver to step out for a moment. I'll give your dad a grand gift."

The woman pouted playfully but clung to him. "Don't be naughty! My dad wants me to bring you home. He said he wants to meet you. He even planned a welcome-back dinner."

Ariel felt like her feet were nailed to the ground. She stared blankly at the scene before her.

The delayed sting of embarrassment and helplessness set in.

The Lucas she had known—the one who had always been gentle and thoughtful and who had centered his world around her—felt like nothing more than a dream from the past ten years.

A dull pain began to stir in her stomach.

It was as if a knife from the past had traveled through time and struck her all over again.

"Ari, I don't want to be a Sanderson. I don't want to be your brother. Will you marry me when you grow up?"

His warm voice echoed in her mind, making Ariel momentarily dizzy.

"Watch out!"

A sharp voice jolted Ariel back to reality. She turned in time to see a motorcycle speeding toward Lucas and that woman.

Without hesitation, Lucas pulled the woman into his arms, shielding her completely.

Meanwhile, Ariel stumbled back, covering her face in a panic. In her haste, she twisted her ankle.

"Are you…" Lucas turned to look at her. His deep gaze flickered with scrutiny and a hint of panic.

"I'm fine." Before the tears could fall, Ariel turned and ran.

The woman tilted her head curiously. "Who was that?"

Lucas hesitated for a moment before pinching her chin and kissing her lightly. "Looked like someone I used to know."

Someone he used to know…

The person he grew up with for over a decade and the one he once promised to marry was just someone he used to know.

Ariel hurried back to her car. Clutching her aching stomach, she leaned against the steering wheel and gasped for breath. Cold sweat broke out in layers across her skin.

She couldn't tell if the pain in her chest was worse or the illness that was eating away at her.

Her thoughts were cut off by the sudden ringing of her phone.

She glanced at the screen. It was Colton.

…

At Bluum Corp, Colton frowned as he received the document Ariel had sent.

They worked in the same building. What was she trying to pull? Was this her way of getting Jayson's attention, since she wasn't allowed near the CEO's office?

How childish.

Annoyed, Colton marched straight to the PR department only to be told that Ariel wasn't in today.

The day was already hectic. He frowned deeper and called Ariel. "Ms. Walker, I don't know what game you're playing, but get back to the office immediately."

Ariel's eyes darkened.

This must be about Jayson. Had he already seen the divorce papers and wanted to talk?

That was the only possibility she could think of.

Without hesitation, she turned the car around and headed straight for Bluum Corp.

When Colton saw Ariel rushing in, his suspicions were confirmed. She hadn't changed—still seeking special attention from Jayson. Colton could barely hide the mockery on his face.

"Where is he?" Ariel's face was pale.

She still needed to pick up her medication from the hospital. She was still considering her treatment. Once she started chemotherapy, it would be hard to hide from her grandmother, Katie Taylor, and uncle, Leonard Walker.

"This is Bluum Corp, Ms. Walker. You expect Mr. Larkin to come down personally just to see you?" Colton's tone was all business. "He has something for you to handle."

"Is it about the div—"

"There was some negative press surrounding Ms. Stanton's birthday celebration last night. People are questioning whether she stole someone else's man. Ms. Stanton isn't just anyone. She's about to become the face of Bluum Corp's key project. We can't afford any scandals tarnishing her image.

"Mr. Larkin requested that you handle it. Make sure Ms. Stanton's name is cleared and shut down the rumors."

Ariel froze.

She pressed her pale lips together. "Is this Jayson's order?"

"Yes."

Colton had never liked Ariel. Sure, she was competent and dedicated to her work, but she had forced her way into marriage through underhanded means.

Women like her disgusted him.

"Mr. Larkin said you're not to leave until the situation is under control. Remember, Bluum Corp doesn't keep useless employees."

Ariel had always known that Jayson didn't care about her. But she hadn't expected that he'd pull something like this even on the brink of divorce.

He actually asked her, his rightful wife, to silence rumors about his mistress that were nothing but the truth.

A surge of anger stabbed deep into Ariel's chest. The pain in her stomach flared again, forcing her to grip the desk for support. Her gaze landed on the employee badge on her desk.

She picked it up and wrapped the lanyard around it.

"Bluum Corp may not keep useless employees, but I'm not the right person for this job." Her voice was calm as she placed the badge back on the table. "I resign."

She had submitted her resignation after she had printed out the divorce papers last night.

Maybe the paperwork hadn't reached Jayson yet. But Ariel wasn't going to handle this matter, not today, not ever.

"Don't come to me for anything regarding Nancy from now on. Please have Mr. Larkin assign someone else. Bluum Corp is big enough. I'm sure it can manage without me."

For a split second, Colton was stunned.

Ariel was resigning? Was she really willing to walk away from the only job that kept her close to Jayson? Or was this just another tactic to make him chase after her?

Colton turned and headed back to the top floor.

Jayson's schedule was packed. He was about to meet with Mason Fletcher, CEO of Stratos Technologies.

"Mr. Larkin, here's the Stratos contract for your review."

Jayson skimmed the document. "How's the PR department handling the Nancy situation?"

Colton hesitated. "Ms. Walker… she…"

"Speak."

"Ms. Walker said she can't handle this matter. She submitted her resignation. Said not to come to her with anything regarding Ms. Stanton from now on."

Jayson's hand paused mid-page as he flipped through the contract. He looked up, his deep eyes devoid of warmth.

"She came in today to submit it?"

"No, she was actually on leave today. I called her in. HR said she submitted her resignation yesterday."

"On leave?" Jayson didn't ask about the resignation, but he asked about the leave.

Colton had no idea what Jayson was thinking. "Must've been something important. She hasn't taken a single day off in three years."

Jayson knew that.

Ariel always seemed distant, like she kept people at arm's length. But when it came to work, she was meticulous, sharp, and relentless.

That was why she had climbed to the position of PR manager in less than two years.

If she had taken leave and was resigning, then something was definitely off.

Jayson lowered his gaze, lost in thought.

A moment later, his expression turned ice-cold, and he abruptly stood up.

"Approve her resignation after she takes care of the Nancy situation. If she can't handle it, let her consider the consequences when word gets out."

Colton was caught off guard.

Jayson should've been glad to see Ariel leave Bluum Corp. So why wasn't he letting her go?

It didn't make sense.

"By the way, Mr. Larkin, I have a file from Ms. Walker."

Jayson's phone rang. Without looking up, he waved a hand dismissively. "Handle it like the rest."

And that meant ignoring it.

Over the years, Ariel had sent plenty of things—clothes, ties, cufflinks, and handmade gifts. She had even handcrafted a drone model to match Bluum Corp's latest tech project.

But Jayson had never so much as glanced at any of it. They all sat untouched in one of his office cabinets, gathering dust.

Only when he was in a hurry and needed something did they ever get used.

Colton, unfazed, tossed the unopened file into the cabinet. He thought that all of Ariel's scheming was just a complete waste of effort.

After finishing up her work, Ariel received a call from Colton. He repeated Jayson's message word for word.

Ariel immediately understood what Jayson was trying to do.

Nancy's relationship with him was, without a doubt, an affair. She had rightfully earned the title of homewrecker.

Having Ariel handle this mess was a preemptive move. If anyone ever dug up the past, they would see that Ariel, Jayson's rightful wife, had "cleared" Nancy's name. That way, Nancy wouldn't be labeled a homewrecker and could avoid scrutiny and criticism.

Jayson was truly pulling out all the stops for Nancy.

As for Jayson's "consider the consequences", it was nothing more than a warning.

If she refused to handle the matter, leaving Bluum Corp wouldn't mean a fresh start. No company would dare take her in. He had the power to cut off her livelihood.

For three years, she had done everything a wife should do. From the day she married him, she had severed ties with her past without hesitation, only to be repaid with nothing but indifference.

She was exhausted.

Ariel curled her lips into a mocking smile and said calmly, "I'm taking sick leave. If you force me to work while ill, that's a violation of labor laws. I'll see you in court."

She was already divorcing him and resigning. Why should she care if Jayson was happy or not?

After work, Ariel got into her car and saw a text from her father, Morgan Sanderson. "Lucas is out. We're having a family dinner. Are you coming?"

Though it was phrased as a question, Ariel knew full well that Morgan didn't want her there. To him, she was nothing more than a defiant daughter.

Back then, her relationship with Lucas had been a disgrace in Morgan's eyes. He saw it as an act of shamelessness. If not for her value as a bargaining chip in marrying into a powerful family like the Larkins, he would have cut ties with her and cast her out.

But the dinner was to celebrate Lucas' return. He had once been the most important person in her life.

Ariel hesitated, then touched up her makeup. She needed to look presentable. Then, without another thought, she drove straight to Sanderson Manor.

If not for Lucas, she would have had no reason to stay in touch with the Sanderson family.

When she arrived, the household staff eyed her strangely. One even frowned. "Why are you here, Ms. Walker?"

Ariel ignored them. This hadn't been her home for years. Even the household staff looked down on her and made it clear she wasn't welcome.

"Ariel?"

Lori Sanderson came down the stairs. Her expression was cold as she snapped at Ariel. "You really have no shame. Lucas just got back, and you're already here to cling to him? Do you enjoy ruining everyone's mood?"

Lori was Morgan's illegitimate daughter. She and Ariel shared the same birth year, month, and day. Yet, here she was, standing tall as the rightful daughter, throwing insults like she owned the place.

"Well, if you have any shame, why not move out of my mom's house? Let's see just how noble you really are," Ariel retorted coolly.

This house was bought years ago by her mother, Elena Walker, using the money from selling her paintings at a high price.

Yet now, Morgan was living here with his current wife, Teresa Fuller, and Lori. Lori was enjoying the very things Elena had left behind, and she had the audacity to act superior?

"You…"

Lori's face twisted with anger, but then something seemed to click. Her lips curled into a smirk as she said mockingly, "Let's see if you'll still be so smug in a minute."

"Who is this?" A sweet, curious voice cut through the tension.

Hearing the commotion, a couple emerged from the living room, leaning close to each other.

Lucas' girlfriend, Wendy Johnstone, caught sight of Ariel's face and instinctively tugged on Lucas' sleeve. "She's gorgeous."

Lucas flicked a glance at Ariel, but his eyes barely lingered before shifting right back to Wendy. His hand slid down her waist. "She's my other sister. What, are you jealous because of her?"

Wendy blushed and playfully swatted his chest before turning to Ariel with a bright smile. "I didn't know Lucas had two sisters. What's your name?"

Ariel stared at the scene, momentarily at a loss. She hadn't expected Lucas to bring his girlfriend home.

Since he was bringing Wendy to meet the family, it was clear he was serious about her.

The Lucas who once wanted to marry Ariel and was willing to give up everything for her was gone.

Now, he saw her no differently than he did Lori.

Her throat tightened. "Ariel Walker," she replied.

Wendy paused in surprise, her expression thoughtful. Then, she asked a question that made both Ariel and the Sandersons uncomfortable. "Why aren't you a Sanderson?"

Ariel said nothing.

Wendy didn't seem fazed. She smiled confidently and said, "I'm Wendy Johnstone. You can call me Wendy."

"She's going to be your sister-in-law," Lucas added casually.

This time, he finally looked at Ariel. "I've found someone I truly want to be with. Treat her as family."