Dead at Heart novel

Chapter 832 Jayson carefully wakes Ariel from a deep sleep in their car but decides not to disturb her, instead covering her with a blanket and driving calmly to their marital home. He has been living at Larkin Manor for weeks, but after some family discussions, he agreed to let Betty and others spend more time with Claire, who has grown close to Renee, who now spends more time caring for her. The manor is bustling with wedding preparations for the next day. Noticing Ariel's exhaustion, Jayson carries her gently into their home, tending to her with quiet tenderness as she remains asleep.

He reflects on how hard Ariel has been working lately, often staying up late on video calls, and wishes he could postpone the wedding to let her rest. After making her comfortable, he checks his phone before settling down for the night. The next morning, Ariel is jolted awake by a call from Evelyn, reminding her that the makeup team is arriving soon. She wakes late for her wedding day and frets about oversleeping, while Jayson remains relaxed and jokingly takes the blame for the delay. Despite her tiredness, Ariel quickly gets up to prepare for the busy day ahead.

As Ariel showers and dresses, the living room fills with people and the makeup team arrives, composed of top professionals. Ariel is surprised to learn that her hair and makeup will take about two hours, potentially making them late for the ceremony. She expresses concern to Jayson, who remains unfazed and insists the guests can wait, leaving Ariel feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. While the makeup artists begin their work, Ariel decides to try to rest a bit during the process, hoping to conserve energy for the long day of wedding events that lie ahead.

Chapter 833 Jayson hesitated to wake Ariel. Instead, he carefully draped a thin blanket over her sleeping form and eased the car forward, maintaining a calm, steady speed as they headed toward their marital home. For several weeks now, he had been residing at Larkin Manor. Betty and the others had opposed the idea of him bringing Claire back to the marital home and staying there permanently. They wanted more time with Claire themselves, hoping to be part of her daily life. After some discussion, Jayson had finally agreed to their wishes.

Interestingly enough, Claire had developed a close bond with Renee. Lately, Renee had cut down on her outings, choosing instead to stay home and devote her attention to caring for and playing with Claire. With the wedding scheduled for the very next day, Larkin Manor was alive with activity. Preparations buzzed through every corner of the grand estate, from floral arrangements to seating plans. Noticing how utterly exhausted Ariel looked, Jayson decided it would be better to take her straight to their marital home, where she could finally get a restful night's sleep.

Even after they arrived, Ariel remained motionless, still lost in slumber. Jayson climbed out of the car and walked over to her side. He opened the door gently and slipped her arm around his neck, lifting her carefully into his arms. Ariel's eyes fluttered open for just a moment. Looking down at her peaceful face, Jayson whispered softly, "It's okay. We're home now. You can go back to sleep." She nestled closer against his chest, eyes closing once more as she surrendered to rest. Carrying her up the stairs, Jayson moved with quiet tenderness.

He placed her gently on the bed, removed her shoes and thick coat with delicate care, and adjusted the pillow beneath her head to make her comfortable. Then, he sat down on the edge of the bed, his gaze fixed on her sleeping form. He had witnessed firsthand how hard Ariel had pushed herself over the past weeks. Every time they connected through video calls, she was still hunched over her laptop, typing away deep into the night. Her dedication had been unwavering.

If it weren't for the wedding scheduled for tomorrow, Jayson might have considered postponing the event just to let her rest and recover. After a moment of quiet reflection, he tucked the blanket snugly around her and pulled out his phone to check an important app. - The next morning, Ariel's sleep was broken by the sharp ringing of her phone. Evelyn's firm voice came through the speaker. "It's almost time. The makeup team is on their way. They'll handle your hair and makeup. You need to get up now." Ariel bolted upright, suddenly remembering what day it was.

The clock showed it was already past 7:00 a.m. - far later than most brides would wake on their wedding day, when preparations usually started early. Nᴇw ɴovel chaptᴇrs are published on Fɪnd-Novel.net She turned to glare at the man still lying beside her, his arm lazily draped over her waist. Jayson propped himself up on one elbow, meeting her gaze. "No need to rush. The ceremony can wait." Despite feeling every bit as tired as she looked, Ariel refused to let herself linger. They had a long day ahead, greeting guests and managing countless details.

She leapt out of bed and hurried toward the bathroom. "Why didn't you wake me earlier? What if the guests find out the bride overslept on her wedding day?" she grumbled, barely containing her frustration. Jayson chuckled softly at her flustered expression, the corners of his eyes crinkling with amusement. "Just blame me. Tell everyone I was the one who overslept." Ariel poked her head out from behind the bathroom door, shooting him another sharp look before closing it firmly. Jayson didn't waste time lounging in bed any longer.

He got up, straightened the sheets, and checked the time on his phone. After running through a quick mental checklist to confirm that everything was proceeding as planned, he made his way downstairs. By the time Ariel finished her shower and dressed, it was nearly 8:00 a.m. When she descended, over ten people were already gathered in the living room. Her wedding dress had been carefully placed in the room, hanging pristinely, and the jewelry she would wear was laid out neatly on a nearby table.

The makeup team was composed of highly skilled artists, professionals who usually worked with top celebrities. This was Ariel's first experience receiving such expert attention. Sitting primly before the dressing table, she glanced at the clock. "How long will it take to finish my hair and makeup?" she asked. "About two hours, if we work efficiently," one of the artists replied. Ariel was momentarily speechless. She understood that special occasion makeup required time, but finishing only by 10:00 a.m. risked making them late for the venue.

She turned toward Jayson, who was relaxed on the couch, still scrolling through his phone. "You're still on your phone? We don't have much time. What if we're late?" Jayson raised his eyebrows and slipped his phone away. "The guests can wait." Ariel fell silent, her mind racing. Could they really be this calm about their own wedding? Her exhaustion had been mounting for days. She didn't even want to think too hard anymore. Just sitting there felt draining. As the makeup artists began their work, Ariel decided she might as well try to catch a quick nap during the process.

The chapter gently captures the quiet moments of vulnerability and care between Jayson and Ariel amidst the whirlwind of wedding preparations. Despite the pressures and exhaustion that weigh heavily on Ariel, Jayson's tender actions and calm demeanor provide a steady anchor, reminding her that they are in this journey together. Their shared fatigue and the bustling environment around them underscore the emotional complexity of love and commitment, where patience and understanding become as crucial as the grand celebrations themselves.

Ariel's fatigue and Jayson's unruffled demeanor set the stage for subtle clashes of priorities and emotions, hinting at the challenges they may face in balancing the demands of the day with their own needs. The presence of so many people and the whirlwind of preparations promise moments of both warmth and strain, as relationships and expectations come into sharper focus. Meanwhile, the quiet moments between Ariel and Jayson suggest deeper undercurrents in their relationship that might be explored further.

As Ariel tries to navigate the pressures of the day, her interactions with Jayson and those around her could reveal vulnerabilities and strengths, testing their connection in unexpected ways. Readers can anticipate an intimate portrayal of how love and duty intertwine, with the potential for both tender and tense encounters as the ceremony draws near.