Dead at Heart (Ariel and Jayson) novel Chapter 843

"Ms. Walker. Ms. Ariel Walker."

Ariel felt a push on her shoulder. Her heavy eyelids flew open, and the busy emergency room hallway came into focus.

Her hand still had an IV line, though the fluid in the bag was nearly gone.

A nurse looked down at her. "Ms. Ariel Walker, right? The infusion is nearly done. I'll take the needle out now."

Ariel rubbed her eyes and nodded.

She had suddenly spiked a fever last night. She had plans with the Larkins to go to the city hall at 10:00 am to register their marriage, but she felt awful, so she came early for an IV drip. Since she arrived early, she was done by 9:30 am and still had time to make it.

The nurse bent down to help.

Not far away, the wail of a siren suddenly pierced the air. An ambulance was approaching, likely responding to a car accident. The nurse's expression instantly changed as the head nurse called her away.

Ariel was left alone, feeling speechless.

She tilted her head to check the IV bag. Thankfully, there was still some fluid left. Someone would probably come to help her take out the needle.

Watching the fluid level nearing empty, Ariel grew anxious.

She was about to get up to find someone when a figure suddenly appeared before her, blocking both her path and the light.

One hand gently pressed her shoulder. "Sit."

Ariel looked up and saw a familiar face.

His features were calm and composed. He glanced at her from the corner of his eye and asked, "You're sick?"

Ariel was surprised to see Jayson here, especially since they had been intimate just a few days ago, and that encounter hadn't ended entirely pleasantly.

Facing Jayson's unreadable expression, she clenched her hands before saying, "Just a cold. And you? Why are you here?"

After all, they weren't that close, so she made small talk to ease the awkwardness.

Jayson crouched beside her and glanced at her hand. His brow furrowed subtly. "Visiting a friend."

Ariel's eyes widened in realization.

It was a coincidence, and on the very day she was supposed to marry him.

"Are you afraid of pain?" he asked without looking up.

Her mind answered yes almost immediately, but her lips said, "Not really."

Their families were acquainted, but she hadn't had much interaction with him personally. Suddenly sleeping with him and rushing into a marriage felt… really awkward.

Jayson remained silent, and Ariel didn't know what to say. The entire ride passed in silence.

Toby drove straight to the city hall without using GPS, as if he knew the route by heart.

When they arrived, Jayson opened his eyes and got out immediately.

Ariel wondered if he had been pretending to sleep but still followed him quickly.

Jayson seemed to know the process well. After signing the marriage certificate, they went straight to taking wedding pictures outside the city hall.

"Come a little closer and give me a smile," the photographer said.

Ariel knew Jayson was being forced into this. There was no way he could smile naturally.

As expected, his voice was cool and distant as he said, "Just take the picture."

Ariel didn't dare look at him, feeling a twinge of guilt.

If it weren't for the reporters cornering her, she knew the Sanderson family would never have the leverage to connect with the Larkin family. Jayson would have married someone of his own social standing and not her.