Dead at Heart

Ariel Walker marries Jayson Larkin to save her adoptive brother. For three years, their marriage is kept a loveless, passionless secret.

On the day she's diagnosed with a terminal illness, her husband sets off fireworks with his mistress to celebrate. When her adoptive brother is released from prison, he announces that the woman in his arms is the love of his life!

Ariel decides to stop waiting when she sees the usually cold, stoic men boldly declare their love for other women. She gets a divorce, quits her job, and severs ties with her family…

She picks up the pieces of her dream and goes from being a scorned housewife to a technological expert!

One day, her secret identity and terminal illness are exposed.

Her unruly adoptive brother comes to her with red-rimmed eyes. "Ari, can you call me your brother again?"

The usually cold, ruthless Jasyon goes insane. "I'll give you my life to make up for what I've done, honey! Don't leave me…"

Their love is too little, too late. Ariel has long since stopped caring…

"I'm sorry, Ms. Walker. You've missed the best window for surgery."

Ariel Walker stood frozen, holding the lab report confirming her endometrial cancer. It took her a long time to gather herself before dialing Colton Zeller, her husband Jayson Larkin's secretary.

The phone rang for ages before Colton finally picked up. His tone was as lazy as ever. "Yes, Mrs. Larkin?"

Ariel curled her stiff fingers into a fist. "Where's Jayson? I need to talk to him."

"Mr. Larkin is unavailable."

"Can you at least pass him the phone?"

Before Colton could answer, a soft voice came through the receiver. "Jayson, what's with all the secrecy? What's the big surprise?"

"Look up."

Ariel heard the familiar, deep voice that held a tenderness she would never receive.

The next moment, Colton hung up the phone.

At the same time, a thunderous explosion echoed across the harbor. Ariel lifted her head, her face drained of color.

Beautiful fireworks burst into the night sky, painting the darkness with dazzling streaks of color, just like in fairy tales.

Outside the hospital, a crowd had gathered.

"Did you hear? The CEO of Bluum Corp, Mr. Larkin, spent over 20 million dollars on this firework show for his girlfriend's birthday!"

"It's Nancy Stanton we're talking about! An Arcadia Tech PhD! Every top company in the country is fighting to hire her. She's smart, gorgeous, comes from an elite family, and her boyfriend is rich and ridiculously hot!"

"No wonder Mr. Larkin adores her. A woman like that is a status symbol."

Ariel stared at the brilliant fireworks for a long time before her fingers slowly loosened. The lab report slipped from her grasp, fluttering to the ground.

She turned and walked away.

…

Jayson returned home in the early hours to find Ariel sitting alone in the dark living room.

He flipped on the light, frowning. "Why aren't you asleep?"

She looked up at him. His jacket was