Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 661

Ariel loved children. How could she possibly give up on this baby?

"Do you think I owe you an explanation?" she asked.

Lowering her gaze, she brushed her hand over her stomach. "You never consider my thoughts before acting. So why should I consult you about my decision?"

Jayson's tension spiked. He stared at her. "But this is my baby too."

"That's exactly why I don't want it."

Ariel looked him squarely in the eyes. This was one of the rare times she was truly biting. Her expression was utterly cold, as if this had nothing to do with her.

"Jayson, this is the consequence of everything you've done. I won't let a child be born into an unhealthy home."

Although this was an excuse she had no choice but to make for her cancer, it was still a fact.

Wasn't this cause and effect?

He didn't want her to get pregnant, so he gave her medicine to prevent it. Now he wanted her to have the child, so she must obey? Why should everything be dictated by his will?

"Does this have anything to do with Lucas not marrying Wendy?" Jayson suddenly asked as he looked at her.

Lucas backed out of his marriage, and suddenly, Ariel, who had always loved children, didn't want his baby.

Ariel clenched her fists. His words cut. "You—"

"Let's go home." Jayson cut her off abruptly, restarting the car. He didn't want to hear any more words that would pierce his heart.

The joy he felt when he first learned of the pregnancy had turned to an ache that seemed to hollow him out.

Ariel knew that he understood how determined she was, so she stayed silent.

Jayson drove them back to their neighborhood. After going upstairs, he followed her to the door.

"This is my home," Ariel said, looking back. She was chasing him away.

He lowered his head and pressed her hand to the fingerprint scanner. The door opened.

"Ariel, give me some time, and give yourself some time too. What if you acted out of anger toward me and ended up regretting it? This is a living being in your body."

Beyond that…

He wasn't even sure if Ariel was rejecting this baby because Lucas wasn't marrying Wendy. After all, the timing was too coincidental, and all the lingering pain from past years still throbbed faintly in his mind.

Even if she said she didn't love Lucas anymore, the sting remained.

He couldn't fathom any reason why Ariel—someone who adored children—would want to give up on the baby.

The only possibility before him seemed glaringly obvious, but he refused to let himself lean toward that thought.

He refused to let anyone else be the reason, even if it meant believing Ariel hated him.

Feeling the warmth in his palm, she gently pulled her hand back. "You're overthinking. I'm not doing this because of you, Jayson. Don't put yourself at the center of everything."

Jayson felt like his heart had been pierced.