Dakota stared at her and said, "Really? Don't lie to me. I asked because I care about you, or else I wouldn't have nagged at you."
"Okay."
Ariah had kept the divorce a secret for a long time. Therefore, nobody, including the Myers Family and the Hudson Family, knew about it.
However, why would her mother suddenly think of asking these questions? Ariah couldn't take it anymore and wiped her mouth with a piece of tissue, after which she asked, "Mom, was it because you have heard someone gossip about me?"
Dakota wanted to speak, but the words were swallowed back when she opened her mouth, and she could only stammer at the end.
For this reason, she was sure that her mother must have heard something from someone else.
"Mom, what is it you want to know," she inquired directly, or else Dakota would continue beating around the bush.
"I-1 heard something about you and Jimmy from Lindsey," Dakota replied hesitantly.
Ariah frowned. "What did she tell you?"
"She said that both of you... are divorced," Dakota said while observing her daughter's emotions.
With a sneer, Ariah said, "She didn't want to marry Jimmy in the past, but why does she keep paying attention to our marriage? What does she mean by that?"
"Calm down. I wasn't hinting at anything. Lindsey didn't mean anything else, either. She just heard it from her friend. Don't get so angry."
As she saw red, she barked, "Mom, I am your daughter, but why are you on her side now?"
"Of course you are my daughter, and I was just telling the truth. Lindsey also got to know it from other people, and she was shy to express her concern, so she wanted me to ask you whenever I am free... Don't blame her," Dakota explained hurriedly.
Upon taking two deep breaths, Ariah said, "Since Lindsey wasn't sure if it's true, then I shall tell you that everything's just a rumor. Only I know what's been going on."
Seeing that she was really angry, Dakota quickly changed the topic. "O-Okay. I trust you. Let's not talk about this. Drink the soup first while it's still warm."
Ariah did not have the mood to eat or drink anymore. Following a casual chat, Dakota said, "Rest well. I shall not disturb you any longer. I'll come and visit you tomorrow."
Upon hearing that, she nodded in agreement. "Okay, Mom. Drive safe."
"Alright. See you."
"Hold on."
"Yes?"
"Give me a hundred dollars, please. My wallet is not with me."
Dakota was a little shocked.
After sending off her mother, Ariah lay back on the bed. As drowsiness befell, her eyelids began to twitch, and she slowly fell asleep.
She slept like a log, but the dream had been an unpleasant one. In the dream, she was entangled with something. The murderous psycho wearing a clown mask then appeared before her. Before she could fully register the fear, she heard Kierra crying for help...
There were several times that Ariah was almost awakened by the shock, but she just could not open her eyes.
When light slowly flowed into her eyes, she saw a nurse checking the room. She asked for the time in a daze and was told that it was not even seven o'clock yet.
Gradually, Ariah gained full consciousness and inquired the nurse, "Did someone come to see me last night?"
"I don't think so."
"What do you mean by that?"
Ariah couldn't sit still any longer. If she didn't see Jimmy, she definitely wouldn't be able to sleep well today.
Thinking of this, she took her purse and went out. She had never been to his unit, but she had a vague idea of the location.
However, as soon as she left the neighborhood, she met someone familiar at the entrance of the neighborhood.
It was a colleague of Jimmy, a police officer named David Gray.
Upon seeing her, he waved at her from afar, "Ariah!"
"Why are you here?" She was stunned.
"I'm here to look for you!"
"Oh, what is it for?"
David was drenched in sweat, and it seemed that he had just rushed from somewhere else. "The nurse in the hospital said that you had left. I knew that you must have returned home, which is why I am here now."
Ariah then raised her eyebrows. "Why are you in such a hurry to find me?"
"It's Jimmy who asked me to come!"
Jimmy? Ariah immediately asked, "What did Jimmy want you to tell me?"
"He wanted you to know that he would not have time to go to the hospital to accompany you these two days, so he hoped that you would take good care of yourself. Don't call him because his cell phone can't get through. He also hoped that you could go back to stay with him. Your residence is no longer safe."
Without noticing Ariah's shocked expression, he continued, "I'll go up with you. Quickly pack your clothes, and I'll take you there."
After pondering for a moment, she nodded and said, "Come with me."
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