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."

Ariel met Lucas' gaze. He was watching her with a faint smile, as if waiting for her to squirm.

She clenched her fists, letting go of the last shred of hope she'd been holding onto.

Meeting his gaze head-on, she said exactly what he wanted to hear. "Sure, family. Nice to meet you, Wendy."

Wendy's smile deepened. She clung to Lucas' waist, nuzzling into him.

Lucas paused for a moment. His eyes flickered toward Ariel before he lowered his head and pulled Wendy closer, leading her into the living room.

"Who are you trying to impress?" Lori walked up with a sneer. "Lucas wouldn't look twice at a married woman like you now.

"And that Ms. Stanton Mr. Larkin threw a birthday celebration for last night? She's a highly sought-after aerospace engineering PhD in the corporate world. What do you have to compete with that?

"You're just some housewife whose only skills are cooking and keeping a bed warm. What's wrong? Afraid of getting kicked to the curb, so now you're suddenly trying to cozy up to us?"

Everyone was just waiting for her miserable marriage to fall apart.

Ariel's chest tightened, but she simply set down the gift bag in her hand. "Don't worry. However my life turns out, it won't have anything to do with the Sandersons. After all, my last name is Walker."

Without looking back, she turned and left.

Staying would only be miserable for everyone here.

"She left?"

Morgan stepped out from the side hall just in time to see Ariel's retreating figure. His face darkened.

Lori snapped out of her daze and huffed, "Dad, did you see that attitude? She doesn't care about this family, and she sure as hell doesn't care about you. I'm sure Mr. Larkin's going to dump her sooner or later."

After three years, Morgan could tell that Ariel had never managed to win Jayson's heart.

The only time he'd gained anything from the Larkin name through Ariel was right after the wedding.

After that, no matter how many times he tried to use the connection for business deals, he was met with indifference. Jayson never once gave him the slightest consideration as his father-in-law.

And whose fault was that?

If Ariel had even the slightest ability to keep Jayson in line, things wouldn't have turned out this way. To Morgan, she was just a useless pawn.

Morgan's expression darkened. He glanced at Lori. "You're not a kid anymore. Ariel's useless. I can get you some face time with Mr. Larkin."

Lori immediately understood his implication.

Her face stiffened, and out of reflex, her gaze drifted toward Lucas. He was smirking playfully as he held a grape between his teeth, feeding it to Wendy.

She bit her lip, a flicker of resentment flashing in her eyes.

…

Ariel rented a two-bedroom apartment, fully furnished and ready to move in. She signed a one-year lease. The location was perfect. It was just a mile from the hospital she frequented.

By the time she got back from Sanderson Manor, her head was throbbing. But she didn't forget to block Jayson on WhatsApp.

She kept his number in case he needed to contact her about finalizing the divorce at the courthouse.

Now, all she had to do was get through the 30-day cooling-off period.

Setting her phone aside, she took a shower and collapsed onto her bed, falling asleep almost instantly.

…

Meanwhile, Jayson returned to the villa and found that the foyer was dark.

No matter how late it was, Ariel always left a lamp on. She'd greet him with a gentle smile, take his coat, and set out his fresh clothes for the night.

He rarely came home, but on certain nights every month, he returned to fulfill his "duties".

Out of habit, he reached to hand off his coat, but his hand met empty air. Frowning, he glanced around.

Was Ariel throwing a tantrum?

He headed upstairs and pushed open the master bedroom door. He'd expected her to be curled up in bed, silently protesting by pretending to be asleep. But the bed was empty.

The whole house was dark and quiet.

Ariel hadn't come home.

Earlier, Colton had reported Ariel's stance on the Nancy situation. She had even gone so far as to defy him, ready to take it to court.

And now…

Jayson loosened his tie, a faint smirk playing at his lips.

She'd learned to run away from home?

But he didn't think it was a big deal. Maybe a little time alone would help her think straight.