Chapter 3

“I need to take this,” Jayceon said softly, turning away and heading briskly toward the elevators.

His voice was low, almost tender, as he answered the call, “Be good. Knock it off.”

That gentle, coaxing tone struck Arabella like a sudden blow to her chest.

She couldn’t hold back any longer. Slipping into the restroom, she let the tears fall freely, her heart aching with a mix of confusion and pain.

So this was the side of him she rarely saw—patient, kind, and gentle.

She had known Jayceon for twenty-five years, yet never once had he spoken to her in this way.

After a long moment, once her sobs had subsided and her breathing steadied, Arabella carefully reapplied her makeup, hoping to mask the evidence of her tears.

She returned to the hospital room, trying to appear composed.

Kayla immediately sensed something was wrong. She gently sent Roderick out of the room and beckoned Arabella closer.

When Arabella approached, Kayla’s voice was soft but concerned. “Bella, did you and Jay have a fight?”

Arabella lowered her gaze and shook her head slowly. “No, Mom. We’re fine.”

Just then, Roderick reentered the ward, accompanied by Jayceon.

Kayla’s face brightened when she saw him. “Jay, you’re so busy with work. You really didn’t have to come.”

Jayceon placed the nutrition supplements he’d brought on the bedside table. “I contacted a leading heart specialist for you, Mom. We’ll arrange a full checkup before you’re discharged.”

Roderick looked at Jayceon with admiration shining in his eyes. “You’re so thoughtful. You’ve supported us all these years. We owe you more than words can say.”

Jayceon moved closer to the bedside, his gaze lingering on Arabella’s red, swollen eyes. “We’re family. No thanks needed.”

Arabella stood, instinctively wanting to give up her seat to him, but he gently pressed her back down. “I’ll stand.”

Watching Jayceon warmly interact with her parents, Arabella felt a pang of sadness and looked away.

Three years earlier, the Palmer family had faced bankruptcy, drowning in debt.

Despite the immense pressure, Jayceon had stepped in—paying off their debts, settling her parents’ affairs, sending her brother to a private school, and marrying her as he had promised.

Back then, she had naively believed that he must harbor some feelings for her.

But after they married, Arabella once overheard Jayceon speaking with his father. It was then she grasped the truth—his marriage to her had been a calculated decision.

Jayceon had told his father that in business, reputation and integrity were everything.

Helping the Palmers in their time of need would bring him both fame and profit.

And he had been right.

His marriage to her had bolstered the Melendez Group’s reputation, bringing significant advantages.

But to him, marrying Arabella was a second choice, a strategic compromise born of necessity.

As soon as his first love returned, he rushed back to her side.

He was overjoyed to have a son with her, completely disregarding the wife he already had.

Arabella’s face paled at the painful realization.

Kayla’s heart ached for her daughter. She urged Jayceon to take Arabella home to rest.

The ride back was silent, the weight of unspoken emotions hanging heavily between them.

When they reached the elevators, Jayceon gently took Arabella’s arm. “You look awful. Didn’t sleep well last night?”

Arabella forced a bitter smile.

He had reunited with his first love and their son, missing their third wedding anniversary in the process.

Yet he assumed her bad mood was simply due to lack of sleep.

His actions revealed how differently he treated the woman he truly loved compared to her.

And she had been a fool not to see it until now.

Quietly, she pulled her arm free. “You go ahead. I want to walk a bit.”

As the elevator arrived, she turned toward another one.

But Jayceon caught her arm again, guiding her into his elevator. “I booked dinner at your favorite place tonight.”

She nodded without enthusiasm.

As others joined them in the elevator, Jayceon pulled her closer, holding her gently.

He looked down at the silent woman in his arms, his brow furrowed.

Since the day he met her, Arabella had always been lively, affectionate, eager to be near him.

Now, she was so quiet, distant.

When they stepped out, Arabella refused to let Jayceon take her home.

After parting ways, she went straight to a law firm.

Paying thirty dollars an hour, she had divorce papers drawn up.

That evening at seven, Arabella arrived at the restaurant.

Jayceon politely pulled out her chair.

She sat quietly, watching him order.

Dressed in a black business suit paired with a matching black shirt, Jayceon looked sharp and composed—not dull, but refined and poised.

The Melendez family had groomed him from childhood to be their heir, blessing him with a prestigious background, excellent education, and polished manners.

In all the twenty-five years she’d known him, Arabella had never heard him lose his temper or utter a curse.

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