Tiffany had been lectured so much that she had already gotten used to it. She plugged her ears with her fingers and said, “Didn’t you always like my character? Otherwise, why didn’t you find yourself someone who’s well-behaved? Didn’t you say you like me?” Without waiting for Jackson’s reply, she rambled on, “Anyway, do you think Tanya and Jett are only married because of her pregnancy? In this time and age, it’s quite common for accidental pregnancies to end up being aborted. Jett’s not from a wealthy family so it’s not like he’s in need of an heir. I wonder what’s going on with them? I’m slightly worried that Tanya’s alone in the hospital.”Jackson was not interested in the matter so he made his way into the kitchen after he said, “We’ve already done what we can, the rest has nothing to do with us. You should stay out of their business.”Tiffany pursed her lips and silently waited for Jackson to finish cooking.When he was done, she wolfed down her food. Then, she began to yawn. S
Jett raised his slightly stiff hand and gently patted Tanya’s back. “Other than the child, you still have me. It doesn’t matter why we got married, we’re already married anyway. There’s no need for you to put on a strong front. You can call me anytime you have a problem. I’ll answer your calls from now on. I’ll get you something to eat. Stay in the hospital and have a good rest. I’ll be back tomorrow morning.”Tanya nodded and watched Jett leave. Suddenly, all her fears seemed to have vanished. She felt much more relaxed knowing he would be by her side....After taking care of Tanya, Jett rushed back to the Smith’s estate. It was late at night, and he did not expect anyone to be awake. Contrary to his expectation, Alejandro was awake.“Where did you go?” Alejandro asked.Jett knew lying would be futile so he decided to be honest. “Tanya fell and is currently in the hospital. I went to see her when I heard the news. I might have to take care of her for the next few days.”Alejand
Alejandro no longer said anything. He reached out and switched the light in the room off. He turned to the side as he lay on the bed, his back facing Melanie.Melanie pulled the covers and got into bed as well. The bed smelled of him, arousing her. As a result, she had difficulties falling asleep. She knew he only tolerated her because of the marriage alliance between their families. Sometimes it felt like he was sincerely nice to her even if he had no feelings for her. She tentatively reached out and wrapped her arms around his waist. At least, she now had permission to get close to him.“Don’t touch me,” Alejandro suddenly snapped icily.Melanie stiffened. She turned her back on him, annoyed. She really did not know how long her feelings for him would last if he continued acting that way. Perhaps, it would disappear one day, and she would finally give up and leave him. All of a sudden, she felt movements from behind her. He pulled her into his arms, and before she could react, he
“Are you… still in love with Jackson?”Tanya lifted her eyes and looked at Jett in astonishment. “Huh?”“Nothing,” Jett replied, thinking that she did not hear him.She was just about to speak when Jett got up to clean the lunchbox that she had just eaten from. Honestly, she was not entirely sure if she was ever in love with Jackson. When one was looking through a veil of jealousy, everything was covered in falsehood. All she wanted now was to have a smooth delivery and live out the rest of her life in peace. Life was good now. She did not need anything else....Tiffany was not the kind of person who could keep a secret. It did not take long before Arianne found out about Tanya’s condition as well.Tiffany sounded confused on the phone. “Things were so great between the three of us. Now, just looking at each other feels awkward. If I really did hold a grudge against her, I would’ve hung up when I received her call. At that time, it would’ve been a disaster. Thank goodness I didn
After finding a seat, Will said, “I called Tiffie. As expected, I got a scolding from her. Her temper is still the same. She’s married with a baby on the way, and she’s still the same. However, that’s probably why she’s so carefree as well. Life is a lot easier when you have a big heart.”Arianne felt more comfortable now that they had a topic of conversation. “That’s right, I agree. Tiffie is very lucky. Jackson loves her very much and obeys her every command. Have you been doing well, living outside the country? Did you consider returning to expand your business?”Will shook his head. “I wasn’t used to it in the beginning, but I was forced to get used to it. I’ve laid out my foundation there so it won’t be easy to return. Look, this restaurant is still the same. Doesn’t it feel nostalgic?”Arianne surveyed her surroundings and nodded. “That’s right. It hasn’t changed at all. It still looks the same. Hopefully, the dishes still taste the same.”Will suddenly noticed a red swelling
The after-lunch crowd was filing back into the office at this time. Arianne could not and would not tolerate being made into a joke in front of so many people. Her expression darkened as she said, “Mrs. Ottoman-Sivan, please watch your mouth. I’m a woman with moral integrity, and I’m not afraid of your verbal attacks. You, on the other hand, are humiliating yourself by causing a scene. Would I have allowed him to pick me up from my office if there’s something going on between us? Please use your brain!”Helga sneered and said, “The more public it is, the fishier it seems! You shouldn’t have met in the first place!”Arianne really did not want to continue arguing with Will’s wife, especially with everyone staring at them in shock. “Whatever. Carry on with your delusion then. I have to return to work. Please excuse me.” She marched straight into the building as soon as she finished speaking.Helga did not run after her nor bar her way. Instead, she ran off in a huff.When Arianne ret
Davy had overheard the conversation. He carefully picked up the documents on the floor and said, “Alright, I’ll get to it immediately…”Mark left the office after leaving his instructions and headed straight for Arianne’s office. He sent her a message when he arrived at her office building. “I’m at the entrance. Come down.”Arianne rushed to the window when she received the message and confirmed that Mark had arrived. She panicked. He found out about it so soon? She was slightly afraid of meeting him at that moment. The thought of his angry face terrified her. However, she knew she could not hide from him forever. When she returned home, they would inevitably fight anyway. She had no choice but to ask Mr. Yaleman for the day off before going downstairs.Robin cheered her on before she left. “Don’t be scared, Arianne. You didn’t do anything wrong. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”When she arrived outside Mark’s car, she took a deep breath before she opened the door and climbed into
Arianne remained silent. She did not expect Will’s wife to be so aggressive. Not only did his wife humiliate her by causing a big scene, but she even went to Mark’s office to do it. Arianne felt pity for Will. He was such a gentle and elegant man, and yet, he married such an unreasonable and uncouth woman. Moreover, she was not the woman he loved. It seemed like the burden on Will’s shoulders was much heavier than she had imagined.Mark exploded in anger when he saw Arianne keeping quiet. “Say something! What does your silence mean? An admission of guilt?! I’m only in my early thirties, I don’t want to die in anger because of you!”Arianne helplessly said, “What do you want me to say? I’ve said what needs to be said. It’s really just an innocent meal. He asked me out as a friend to catch up. What would you have me do? He’s a nice guy, I can’t find it in me to reject him. As for the past, shouldn’t we face it openly? Running away or hiding only makes us look guilty. I’ve not done anyt
Arianne had not heard that name for so long, she had to reel back in bemusement for a few seconds before finally remembering her face.Shelly-Ann Leigh… She must have spent all those years in the mental institution, right? God knows if the woman’s hair was now grey and white all over.When someone was near death, one could stand to forgive all of the history between them—even the dark ones, even if the ledger was brimming—for good. So, Arianne replied, “I’ll go with you. No matter what happened, she’s still your mother.”Mark did not expect that answer from her at all. In his surprise, he bent down and left a kiss on her lips. “I knew I picked the right woman as my wife. I thought you wouldn’t agree to let me accompany her for the last of her days…”Arianne replied nothing. She was not so obtuse that she would try to win over a woman whose days were numbered. No matter how much of an a**hole Shelly was, Arianne was still the one who came out on top. That victory was all she needed.
Arianne sneered. “You confused, little thing. I wouldn’t be daft enough to anger the mother of the man I like if I were you, girl. I would especially not say anything as low IQ as that, too. Let me be completely frank with you: no one who bears the surname of Leigh will ever get the better of me—the last one failed. Hard. I can guarantee that you’ll leave us in the span of three days. If I lose, you can stay here forever. Wanna bet? I dare you.”She left her threat hanging at that and turned her wheelchair away, leaving the scorned young woman behind.Rage came out of Raven as waves of quakes all over her body. She was lurching close to hyperventilation, but right before it became impossible to stop, she came around and battled herself to calm down. She had a feeling that even if she fainted right there and then, no one would discover her, would they?Now that Arianne and Mark had returned, the Tremont Estate had recovered its vivacity and life. It had become merry.And Raven Leigh
Melissa was the type who always pushed things to go as festive as logically possible. She leaped to her feet and raised her cup, “Yo, everyone! Let’s toast to Cindy becoming my cousin-in-law!”The crowd answered enthusiastically with their cups in the air and a roar—except Raven, who remained seated. “I have a sickly constitution. I can’t drink. I’m sorry.”Her smile was so mechanical, her face too ashen. Something flickered in Arianne’s eyes before she replied, “Sure.”After the revelry faded, Arianne steered her wheelchair to the courtyard. The outward appearance of the Tremont Estate seemed to have frozen in time, which was why being here made her feel so… safe.Of course, that was despite Henry and Mary’s passing. In the end, time passed and things changed, characters and objects came and went, and all these missing years left lingering regrets in their wake.Arianne espied the silhouette standing alone at a distance and approached her, sighing, “Nothing beats being home.”Ra
Arianne grabbed the two beauties by the hands and smiled. “Thank you! Gosh, to me… it’s like you two have grown older in the blink of an eye! How gorgeous the two of you are! Cindy, where’s your brother? Plato hasn’t come home yet?”Mentioning the name of her dear brother made Cynthia pout. “He said he was coming home half a month ago—that’s what he said. Who knows what he’s actually doing, though? Anyway, who cares about that no-good. He’s always like this anyway. Oh, um, the weather is quite hot. We should probably get inside.”Arianne nodded and shot a brief, uneasy look at Aristotle. Not once did he look like he wanted to talk to her… Could the boy be counting his grievances in his mind? Mark and Arianne had stayed in Switzerland for so long; life must have been hard for him all alone.It took until she reached the living room to finally notice Raven. “Millie, is this your younger sister?”Melissa quickly sprung to correct her. “What? Noooo. This is Ares’ classmate or something
Aristotle’s entire being stilled.He had waited for this news for nineteen years. As time passed, the flames died little by little, the heart grew more numb, until the very thought of it was no different from a pipe dream. But today, news of it coming true reached him and plunged him into a torrent of feelings.A long while later, he finally muttered under his breath, “When… When will they be back?”Jackson closed the distance between them and gave the young man a light, comforting pat on the shoulders. “Not so soon, I bet; not when your mother has just woken up and is in need of some time to recover. She did sleep for nineteen years, you know. So maybe after she’s recuperated enough for a while…” he answered. “We’ve waited for nineteen years for this, right? What’s waiting for just a little bit more compared to that? The most important thing for you to do is to manage the company to the best of your abilities. That’s the way to not disappoint your father’s expectation.”Aristotle
Cynthia had never had a relationship before, so she did not know what love was. However, one thing was for certain. She loved the feeling of being with Aristotle and how he had protected her since they were kids. Even though Aristotle had become a little domineering and “naughty”, she was not taken aback by him. Instead, she even felt a little moved, which was amazing.It wasn’t known how they ended up in bed, with their breaths synchronized. Apart from the final step, they had done just about everything else that could be done.Just as they were about to hit the final step, Aristotle suddenly stopped and helped pull the covers over Cynthia. “Let’s sleep, good night.”Cynthia was still lost in a daze from before. She did not know why Aristotle had suddenly stopped, nor did she have the courage to ask him. She had struggled for so long before having persuaded herself to go with the flow…The next day, when Cynthia woke up, Aristotle had already long gone to his company.She took a
Cynthia heard what Aristotle said, but her hands did not stop doing what they were doing. Her head was in a complete mess. “There’s no… no need. I’ll be able to be done with these now. Go ahead and get some sleep first. By the way, where am I sleeping tonight? There are so many rooms here, I’ll ask Agnes to help me clear one up.”Aristotle walked up to her and squatted. He grabbed onto her arm with one hand while the other closed the luggage. “Just sleep with me here and stop tidying already.”Cynthia suspected that she might have misheard. She took a look at the big bed behind him in a daze and suddenly felt her palm, which was held by him, burning up. “Y… You’re kidding, aren’t you, Ares? Although we used to sleep with each other a lot when we were kids, we’re all grown ups now, so wouldn’t that be a little inappropriate?”Aristotle said with a straight face, “I wasn't joking.”Cynthia panicked a little and recalled Melissa’s words once again. ‘Would Ares, whom I’ve known for so
Melissa knew that Aristotle had kissed Cynthia, so she knew what was going on. Hence, she very naturally boasted, “Of course, they’ve been engaged to each other since they were born. Coincidentally, the both of them felt the same way about each other as they grew up, so wouldn’t this make it even better? From the way I see it, your illness isn’t going to recover for the rest of your life and the both of them are probably going to have to wait until Cindy graduates before they get married. So, you’d be better off moving back to France as early as possible. Don’t worry, you’ve saved Aristotle’s life before, so he wouldn’t be stingy with you financially.”Raven wanted to control the unhappiness she had in her heart very much, but her emotions refused to follow her will. Hence, she fiercely struggled to wring free from Melissa’s grasp. Melissa was startled for a moment. “Are you crazy?”After that, Raven regained her senses and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry… I was a little unwell just n
‘You’re not that worried?’ Melissa was so furious that she laughed. “Am I the only one who’s being worried for nothing? I thought you loved my brother, didn’t you? The man you’ve been dreaming of every day has returned from France but brought a woman with him, yet you’re actually not that worried? Let’s put aside your parents’ intentions for a moment. Do you dare to say that you don’t love him? I’m only helping you because you’re my best friend, so could you not be so relaxed, as if I’m helping you for no reason?”Cynthia shook her head and lowered her volume as she said, “He… might have confessed to me. We also… did that already. So, I think he doesn’t feel that way towards Raven. It’s purely because she saved his life once. I trust that Ares will be able to handle the situation properly.”Melissa’s eyes opened wide. “What? He’s only returned for a few days, yet the two of you have already had sex? That fast?! I never knew it, but you’ve really got it in you!”Cynthia’s face flushe