Ariel Walker wakes up groggy in a busy emergency room, still hooked to an IV drip. She had come early for treatment due to a sudden fever before her planned marriage registration with the Larkins. As the nurse is called away to an emergency, Ariel feels anxious and alone, watching the IV fluid run low. Just as she considers seeking help, Jayson appears unexpectedly, placing a hand on her shoulder and telling her to sit.
Their encounter is tense, recalling their recent intimate but strained meeting. Jayson quietly asks if she is afraid of pain and offers to remove the IV needle himself. Despite her uncertainty, Ariel allows him to do it, surprised by his skilled and painless touch. Afterward, Jayson suggests giving her a ride to city hall for their marriage registration, which Ariel accepts.
In the car, the atmosphere is heavy with silence. Ariel notices Jayson’s subtle care as he slows his pace for her and the familiar scent of his cologne stirs memories of their night together. Despite their families’ connection, their relationship feels awkward and distant, making the rushed marriage feel uncomfortable for Ariel.
At city hall, Jayson efficiently handles the paperwork and photo session, remaining cool and detached. Ariel senses his reluctance to engage naturally, feeling guilt over the circumstances that forced their union. She reflects that without the pressure from reporters and the Sanderson family’s leverage, Jayson would have likely married within his own social circle, not her.
Chapter 843
“Ms. Walker. Ms. Ariel Walker.”
A gentle push on her shoulder stirred Ariel from her groggy state. Her heavy eyelids snapped open, revealing the bustling emergency room corridor around her.
Her hand still bore the IV line, though the fluid bag was nearly empty.
A nurse leaned over, peering down at her. “Ariel Walker, right? The infusion’s almost finished. I’ll take the needle out now.”
Ariel rubbed her tired eyes and gave a small nod.
She had woken up with a sudden fever the previous night. Though she had plans with the Larkins to register their marriage at city hall at ten in the morning, she’d felt too unwell to wait. So, she came early for an IV drip. Arriving ahead of schedule meant the treatment was done by 9:30, leaving her enough time to make it to the appointment.
The nurse bent down to carefully assist her.
Suddenly, the shrill wail of a siren cut through the air. An ambulance was speeding toward the hospital, likely rushing to a car accident. The nurse’s face shifted instantly as the head nurse called her away to attend to the emergency.
Ariel was left alone, feeling a bit lost and speechless.
She tilted her head to glance at the IV bag. Fortunately, there was still a little fluid left. Surely, someone would come back soon to help remove the needle.
As the fluid level dropped closer to empty, a wave of anxiety crept over her.
Just as she was about to get up and look for help, a shadow suddenly appeared in front of her, blocking both her path and the light.
A hand rested gently on her shoulder. “Sit.”
Looking up, Ariel recognized the calm, composed face before her.
He glanced at her sideways and asked quietly, “You’re sick?”
It was Jayson. Seeing him here caught her off guard—especially since they had been intimate only a few days ago, and that encounter hadn’t ended on the best terms.
She clenched her fists, trying to steady herself against the awkwardness in his unreadable expression. “Just a cold. And you? What brings you here?”
They weren’t close, so she kept the conversation light to ease the tension.
Jayson crouched beside her and glanced at her hand. His brow furrowed slightly. “Visiting a friend.”
Ariel’s eyes widened as realization dawned on her.
It was an odd coincidence, especially on the very day they were supposed to get married.
“Are you afraid of pain?” he asked without looking up.
Her mind screamed “yes” immediately, but her lips only parted to say, “Not really.”
Jayson gave her a faint, assessing look. “I’ll take the needle out. Don’t move.”
Though unsure of his skills, Ariel didn’t protest. After all, they barely knew each other.
Nervousness fluttered inside her, but Jayson ignored the emotion in her eyes. His movements were quick and precise as he removed the needle and pressed a piece of tape over the spot.
To her surprise, she felt no pain, and there was no bleeding.
He released her shoulder, stood up, and checked his watch. “I’m done visiting my friend. We should head to city hall. Want a ride?”
Since they’d met here, Ariel nodded.
Jayson glanced at her pale face, then began walking ahead.
She noticed his pace had slowed, making it easier for her to keep up.
His car was parked just outside the entrance, engine humming softly. Toby was already inside, waiting.
Ariel thought to herself that the driver must be perceptive, having anticipated everything in advance.
Once inside the car, Jayson remained silent, closing his eyes to rest.
Ariel sat beside him, inhaling the subtle scent of fir that clung to his cologne. It was delicate and refined, just like that night.
She shifted uneasily in her seat.
Though their families were acquainted, she hadn’t spent much time with him personally. Suddenly sleeping with him and rushing into marriage felt… incredibly awkward.
Jayson stayed quiet, and Ariel found herself at a loss for words. The entire drive passed in heavy silence.
Toby navigated straight to city hall without using GPS, as if he knew the route by heart.
When they arrived, Jayson opened his eyes and stepped out immediately.
Ariel wondered if he had been pretending to sleep but followed him quickly nonetheless.
Jayson seemed well-versed in the procedure. After signing the marriage certificate, they moved outside for wedding photos.
“Come a little closer and give me a smile,” the photographer instructed.
Ariel knew Jayson was only humoring the request. There was no way he could force a natural smile.
As expected, his voice was cool and distant. “Just take the picture.”
She didn’t dare meet his gaze, feeling a pang of guilt.
If it weren’t for the reporters cornering her, the Sanderson family would never have had the leverage to connect with the Larkins. Jayson would have married someone from his own social circle, not her.
The quiet moments shared between Ariel and Jayson in the hospital and during their drive to city hall reveal a fragile connection forged under the weight of circumstance rather than affection. Despite the tension and unspoken emotions lingering between them, there is an underlying current of reluctant understanding, a tentative bridge between two lives intertwined by family expectations and public scrutiny. Ariel’s vulnerability and Jayson’s composed demeanor contrast sharply, yet together they navigate the awkwardness of their situation with a silent, mutual endurance.
As they stand side by side for the wedding photos, the distance between them feels palpable, marked by the absence of warmth and genuine smiles. Yet beneath the cool exterior, both carry the weight of their choices and the roles they must play. This chapter delicately captures the complexity of their relationship—caught between obligation and the faint hope that, perhaps, in time, something more authentic might emerge from the shadows of their forced union.
Next chapter promises to delve deeper into the complex emotions simmering beneath Ariel and Jayson’s strained relationship. As they officially become husband and wife, the lingering awkwardness and unspoken tensions between them are bound to surface, challenging their ability to navigate this new chapter together. The quiet moments shared in the car and the stiff formality at city hall hint at unresolved feelings and secrets that could complicate their union.
Meanwhile, the shadow of external pressures looms large, with the Sanderson family’s influence and the relentless scrutiny of the reporters adding layers of conflict to their already fragile bond. Readers can anticipate an exploration of how Ariel and Jayson will confront these forces—whether they will find common ground or drift further apart. The next chapter may reveal subtle shifts in their dynamic, testing their resilience and forcing them to confront what they truly want from each other and their future.