Dead at Heart novel

Chapter 191 Having Jayson accompany Nancy onstage changed the meaning entirely . His status already placed him in the top tier of the elite . Rather than saying he was giving a speech with Nancy , it was more like he was boosting her image . There were many top - tier executives and corporate heads present . Seeing this would almost certainly give Nancy a clear path in her career . Even Chad frowned , then glanced at Ariel beside him . If that really happened , it would be no different from publicly confirming their relationship . Ariel returned his look with a calm gaze .

It didn't matter to her . At this point , how could she not see how much Jayson valued and cherished Nancy ? It no longer came as a surprise . Noticing that Ariel was completely unfazed brought Chad some relief . Nancy tilted her head toward Jayson . " Jayson ? " Jayson glanced at his watch . With a trace of regret in his voice , he replied softly , " I have a call coming in soon . I have to take it . You go ahead . " Nancy looked briefly disappointed . But it made sense . Jayson was always busy . He often took long international calls even in the middle of dinner . It was understandable .

Nancy smiled . " Then could you at least walk me to the stage ? " She gestured down at her heels . " They're too high , and it's a bit slippery . " Jayson lowered his eyes to look and smiled faintly before replying casually , " Of course . " He stood and offered his arm with gentlemanly grace . With a sweet smile , Nancy slipped her hand through his . The two of them walked right past Ariel . Thunderous applause erupted behind them . Ariel watched the scene like an outsider as Jayson escorted Nancy up the stage under the spotlight .

A handsome man and a beautiful woman stood side by side , radiating charm . The students burst into excited cheers . Renee suddenly dashed over and held her phone high , recording from multiple angles . " Good luck , Nancy ! " Perhaps Nancy had heard the shout . She glanced down toward the audience , then turned back and shared a smile with the man behind her . Behind Ariel , some of the guests began whispering in hushed voices . 1/3 Chapter 191 +25 BONUS " Walking her onstage himself ? That's too sweet . This is what it means to lift each other up . " " No one else gets that treatment .

" " Exactly . Mr. Larkin's always been known for being disciplined and rumor - free . But for the right woman , he gives her his full support . That's the kind of man who gives you security . " " If I were a man , I'd like someone like Nancy too . She's beautiful , accomplished , perfect for social settings , and definitely wife material . They're a real power couple . " Chad heard it all . He sneered and muttered to Ariel , " They should really get the ' Most Virtuous Couple ' award . " Ariel said nothing . Now , watching their so - called affection , she felt completely detached .

She had reached a state of inner peace . Onstage , Nancy's theoretical knowledge was impressive , and she spoke with a calm confidence that commanded respect . She carried herself with elegance and poise . Ariel looked up , only to catch sight of Jayson gazing at the stage . There was unmistakable admiration in his eyes . She turned to Chad . " You'll be up next . " Chad nodded . When Nancy finished , Chad stepped up as the final speaker .

He shared fascinating stories from the aerospace field , gave an overview of recent decades of progress , and ended with invaluable career advice for the students . Finally , he introduced the innovative highlights of Faye Technologies ' new project . Ariel glanced around . The audience was clearly captivated . The reaction was nothing short of enthusiastic . As Chad wrapped up , he flipped the presentation to the final slide . Smiling , he said , " And that's it for today . If any of you are interested , feel free to reach out . Faye Tech looks forward to strong collaborations .

" At that instant , the back rows erupted in thunderous applause . However , the front row remained quiet . Jayson stared at the projection screen . The list of project leads for Faye Technologies ' new project included seven names . Chad was at the top , with Ariel listed just below him . Jayson narrowed his eyes thoughtfully . And he wasn't the only one . Zach and Frederick both frowned immediately . Their faces showed clear disbelief , or maybe they thought they had misread . Nancy's smile began to fade the moment she spotted Ariel's name . Confusion and surprise passed through her eyes .

2/3 Chapter 191 +25 BONUS But once the shock wore off , she chuckled inwardly . Why would Ariel's name be included on a key project at Faye Technologies ? Had there been a mistake ? " What's going on ? " Frederick leaned over . " That can't be right , can it ? " Nancy pressed her lips together . Apparently , she wasn't the only one who thought it was absurd . It just didn't add up . Zach glanced at Ariel's profile , then saw Chad step off stage . He was the first to walk over . " Mr. Hockney , this project's tech scope is bigger than I imagined . But ... if I may ask , why is Ms.

Walker listed as one of the project leads ? " The others began to gather . Frederick added , " Mr. Hockney , is this some kind of joke ? " For a project of this magnitude , it was unlikely such an error would occur . Chad , seeing the small crowd forming , pulled Ariel slightly closer and into the center . Raising an eyebrow , he said , " It's not a joke . Ari is indeed one of the project leads . " Frowning , Frederick looked Ariel up and down , then suddenly let out a laugh . " Mr. Hockney , this is a serious project . You're putting a junior employee in a lead position ?

That's a bit much , isn't it ? " Zach gave Ariel a complicated look . He seemed genuinely incredulous . " Well , it seems you and Mr. Hockney share a close bond . He's going all out to support you . Honestly , having a friend like him in your corner is something to envy . " Ariel raised her eyes to meet his . She understood what he was implying . He meant Chad was playing favorites and pulling strings to prop her up . Zach didn't believe for a second that she had actually contributed . Nancy understood the subtext too . She nodded , then said with a professional air , " Mr.

Hockney , I know this project needs investors , but naming a non - specialist as lead could raise doubts . " It might cause people to question Faye Tech's standards and credibility . Perhaps you should reconsider for the sake of the bigger picture , Mr. Hockney . "