Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 765

Ariel turned her head away and raised her hand to wipe her tears. Just then, she noticed something on her finger.

Looking closer, she realized it was the wedding ring she had taken off a long time ago.

The moment she saw it, countless memories from the past came flooding back. For a brief moment, a distant, nostalgic look softened her eyes.

Jayson noticed her reaction. "Back then, I never got to put the ring on your finger myself. Several years have passed in the blink of an eye. Ari, let's not take off our rings anymore, alright?"

Ariel stared at the ring, her emotions a tangled mess.

She had thought about many things while Jayson was still in a coma. When she saw the ring on her finger now, she no longer felt opposed to the idea of keeping it.

Yet, her thoughts weren't really about the ring at all.

Ariel had always been someone who bottled up her feelings. She never knew how to properly vent her frustration or disappointment.

Earlier, Jayson had caught her off guard and moved her to tears with his words—words that struck the most vulnerable part of her heart.

Growing up, Ariel had rarely known anyone who chose to stay by her side no matter what. Morgan had given all his love and attention to Lori, while Lucas' affection always came with strings attached.

So Ariel once believed that having a child of her own would finally give her the unbreakable bond she longed for. She thought she and her child would always be on the same team.

Yet here was Jayson—the man she had nearly cut ties with—standing by her so steadfastly.

Ariel couldn't help but think about how strange and unpredictable life could be. Things rarely turned out the way one expected.

"Why are you crying?" Jayson moved to the side where she had turned her head. His heart ached at the sight of tears streaming down her cheeks.

He reached out and gently wiped the tears from her chin. "You can test me if you want. See if I'm worthy enough. I'll take on the challenge. How about that?"

Ariel pushed his hands away and brushed her fingers over the diamond ring on her finger. "You're unusually patient, aren't you?"

Jayson didn't mind being pushed away. He leaned forward, cupped her cheeks in both hands, and tenderly wiped away the rest of her tears with his thumbs.

"You should focus on resting and getting better. Even though the incision from the surgery was small, your health had already taken a toll after being sick for so long. Once you're better, I'll share some good news with you."

"What good news?"

"I can't tell you yet. Now's not the right time."

Ariel was speechless. She felt like ignoring him altogether.

Ariel stayed in the hospital for another week while they ran tests to ensure her recovery was stable.

When her wound was fully healed, she was finally discharged.

Jayson's recovery would take longer, but he had improved enough to move around on his own. He decided to get discharged the same day so they could leave together.

Ariel didn't ask Katie or Leonard to pick her up. She was mostly fine now, just needed more rest.

Arthur came by to pack Jayson's belongings. Although Jayson could stand and walk, the wounds on his back and his fractured ribs still required time to heal.

Curiously, the man who had been walking just fine days ago suddenly claimed he couldn't walk and insisted on using a wheelchair.

Ariel was startled. "What happened? Shouldn't you check with the doctor before getting discharged so soon?"

Jayson clutched his chest and looked at her. "I'll probably need someone to look after me for a while. You know, I even need help getting out of bed."

Ariel raised a brow. "So?"

Jayson met her gaze, calm and steady. "Aren't you going to take responsibility and take care of me? I'm going back to our marital home. I'll feel more at ease with you around."