Dead at Heart novel

Chapter 852 The long journey from Kalyndra to Nacledra took nearly thirteen hours, testing both Ariel and Jayson's endurance. Ariel was quietly impressed by Jayson's stamina, as he drove without showing any signs of fatigue and went along with her spontaneous ideas to explore new places. During the trip, a playful moment arose when Jayson noticed Ariel hadn't eaten the fruit they packed. She admitted she had thrown it away because it tasted terrible, though she tried to cover it up by saying it was very sweet.

Jayson revealed the fruit was called Dumbyr, joking that eating it made people smarter, but Ariel later discovered it was actually a slang term for low-quality, artificially flavored fruit sold to tourists. Upon arriving in Nacledra at 4 a.m., they checked into a quiet seaside villa with a spacious bedroom and a large window. Despite sharing a bed for several days due to Jayson's broken bed at home, nothing had progressed between them romantically. However, Ariel sensed a new closeness between them, built from their shared experiences on the road.

Jayson had even tried activities he usually avoided, showing a willingness to go along with her plans, which made Ariel feel more relaxed around him. After settling in, Ariel took a shower while Jayson worked quietly on his laptop. Though it was early morning, he showed no signs of tiredness. When she asked if he was going to sleep, he told her to go ahead, which was the response she hoped for. Ariel decided to sleep first to avoid overthinking their situation, but despite her exhaustion, she found it hard to fall asleep.

Suddenly, she felt Jayson's presence beside her, and nervousness washed over her as she recalled that previous times sharing a bed had been accidental and clouded by drugs. Now fully awake, she cautiously opened her eyes, expecting to see him lying in his usual position. Chapter 853 The journey from Kalyndra to Nacledra stretched on for nearly thirteen hours, a long haul that tested endurance more than anything else. Ariel found herself quietly impressed by Jayson's remarkable stamina. After so many hours behind the wheel with barely a break, he showed no signs of weariness.

Whenever she suggested stopping to explore a new place, he simply nodded and went along without complaint or hesitation. At one point, Jayson noticed Ariel hadn't brought along the small bag of fruit they had initially packed. Raising an eyebrow, he asked with a teasing tone, "Did you eat them all?" Ariel blushed slightly, feeling a bit awkward. The truth was, she'd thrown the fruit away because it tasted terrible. Avoiding eye contact, she glanced out the window and replied, "Yeah, they were really sweet.

You missed out." In reality, the fruits had been overwhelmingly sugary, with an artificial flavor so strong it felt like an assault on her taste buds. Jayson drummed his fingers lightly on the steering wheel. "Do you even know what those fruits were called?" Turning to face him, Ariel asked, "You do?" She made a mental note to steer clear of that fruit next time. He tilted his head with a smirk. "They're called Dumbyr." Ariel frowned, puzzled. "What does that mean?" Jayson flicked on some music and said with a grin, "They say if you eat Dumbyr, you get smarter.

Looking at you now, maybe it worked." Something about his words felt off, but she couldn't quite put her finger on it. Later, when they stopped at a roadside rest area, Ariel pulled out her phone and searched for the fruit's name. The truth she uncovered left her speechless. Dumbyr was a slang term for low-quality fruit, often coated with sugar and artificial coloring, sold to unsuspecting tourists as a delicacy. She suddenly wished she could retrieve that bag from the trash just to throw it back in Jayson's face. Despite that minor annoyance, the rest of the trip was relatively smooth.

When they finally reached Nacledra, the clock read 4:00 a.m., and the sky was still cloaked in darkness. Jayson drove straight to a seaside villa, secluded and far from the nearest neighbors, offering a quiet refuge. After checking in, Ariel was utterly drained. The staff was attentive, helping them carry all their luggage inside with a professionalism that made her feel instantly welcome. She longed to take a quick shower and collapse into bed, but upon inspecting the villa, she discovered it was a two-story place with only one spacious bedroom, featuring a stunning floor-to-ceiling window.

Since Jayson's own bed had broken, they'd been sharing a bed for days now, but nothing had really progressed between them. Still, this time, Ariel sensed something different. The closeness they'd developed over these past few days alone on the road had quietly pulled them closer, as if they'd naturally slipped into the rhythm of a real couple. Jayson had done things with her that were unusual for him-sampling street food, wandering artisan markets, stopping at popular sights. These weren't activities he typically enjoyed, yet he never showed impatience, always going along with her plans.

Ariel couldn't even remember when she first allowed herself to relax around him. She scratched her head, trying to steady her thoughts. Gathering fresh clothes, she headed to the shower. When she emerged, she found Jayson seated on the couch by the large window on the second floor, absorbed in his laptop. His focus on work was evident. Though it was nearly dawn, he looked far from tired. Ariel didn't want to disturb him. Instead, she whispered softly, "Aren't you going to sleep?" Without glancing up, he replied, "You go ahead." That was the answer she had been hoping for.

Sharing a bed felt oddly tense, so she decided to sleep first to avoid overthinking everything. She slipped beneath the covers quickly. Even though the long car ride had exhausted her, a strange energy kept her awake, making sleep elusive. Suddenly, she felt the mattress dip beside her. Jayson's presence was unmistakably close. Ariel squeezed her eyes shut tightly, afraid to open them. Though they'd shared a bed before, it had been accidental and clouded by the effects of drugs. Her memories of that night were hazy at best. Now, fully conscious, a wave of nervousness washed over her.

She'd never felt this way at home. Jayson remained still after lying down, his breathing slow and steady. She thought to herself that he must be truly tired. It would be strange if he didn't fall asleep. Only then did she cautiously open her eyes and turn toward him. She expected to see him lying flat on his back, just as he usually did when they were at home. The quiet intimacy of sharing the bed, so different from their previous encounters, marked a subtle but meaningful shift in Ariel and Jayson's relationship.

The long journey and the days spent together had woven a delicate thread of closeness between them, one that neither had forced but naturally embraced. Despite the lingering tension and unspoken feelings, there was a newfound comfort in simply being near each other, a silent acknowledgment of the bond growing stronger with each passing moment. As Ariel lay awake beside Jayson, her swirling thoughts mirrored the complexity of their connection-hope, nervousness, and a tender anticipation of what might come next.

The chapter closes on this fragile cusp, capturing the emotional vulnerability and quiet yearning that define their evolving story. It is a moment suspended in time, rich with possibility and the promise of deeper understanding. As the night deepens in the secluded villa, the quiet tension between Ariel and Jayson becomes almost palpable. The familiar yet unspoken feelings that have been simmering beneath the surface during their long journey now seem ready to break through, but how will they navigate this delicate moment?

Readers will be drawn into the quiet intensity of this night, wondering what truths will surface when the barriers between them finally begin to fall away.