Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 703

Janice's remarks instantly shattered the tense silence that surrounded the group.

Jayson immediately turned toward Ariel, staring hard at her slightly pale face. For a fleeting moment, he hoped he had misheard Janice.

As the murmurs died down, Betty and most of the guests were left utterly flabbergasted by what they had just heard.

Katie and Leonard rose to their feet almost simultaneously. "What do you mean? What's wrong with Ari?"

Janice's eyes grew redder as she thought about Ariel's condition. She glared at the Larkins one by one before fixing a frigid gaze on Cecilia, who furrowed her brows.

"Ari hasn't done anything to deserve this from any of you! Especially you, the Larkins—you shouldn't act like you're her benefactors or that it was some tragedy to let her marry into your family. If it weren't for you, maybe she wouldn't have—"

"Jan!" Chad finally snapped out of his daze. Striding forward, he slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her back from the table before she could say more.

Janice was still fuming, especially after Evelyn's pointed remarks. She wanted nothing more than to jab her finger in Evelyn's face and scream about how cold and heartless the woman was.

Chad's expression was grim as he looked at her. "We shouldn't talk about this with so many eyes watching. These are Ari's personal matters. You'll only rub salt into her wounds if you keep going."

He spoke softly, just loud enough for Ariel and Janice to hear. His words were enough to finally rein Janice in.

She turned her eyes to Ariel.

Suddenly, Ariel found herself the focus of countless curious, questioning gazes. The same panic she had felt upon learning she might not have much time left to live seized her chest.

She took a deep breath. A dull throbbing pain rippled through her lower abdomen, her face growing paler as sweat gathered on her forehead.

Jayson's lips pressed into a tight line as he walked toward her. He didn't even notice his hands trembling slightly. Fixing his eyes on her, he asked in a low voice, "What exactly is she talking about?"

He couldn't bring himself to voice the words—what kind of illness had she been diagnosed with? One that could cost her life, as Janice had just claimed?

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