Although Arianne disliked using perfume, a woman can’t go without having a bottle of perfume with her, even if she doesn’t use it.Mark choked on the strong scent from the perfume, which he did not like at all, but it beat having to be punched by Arianne if he were to hug her.As they were on the way to the neighbourhood after finishing their lunch, Arianne asked one last time, “Are you sure that there’s nothing going on between you and Saoirse? Nothing will ever happen even in the future? Will you really not be threatened by Shelly into getting together with another woman?”Mark raised one hand in the air. “I swear by it. Are you happy now? There really isn’t anything between us. I will never get together with another woman either.”Mark was the one driving today, so when Arianne saw that he only had one hand on the steering wheel, she immediately said, “Both hands!”Mark glanced at her with a confused expression. “Wouldn’t it be dangerous to have both hands raised? Then let’s wa
Arianne could not, for the life of her, leave Shelly be without a comeuppance for forcing Mark into seeing another woman.She mulled over her options for a while before saying, “You’re invited to enjoy me, but on one condition: you have to stay for the night. Do that, and you’ll have me. If you can’t, though? Oh, well. Your loss. Think wisely… Don’t say I never gave you a chance.”Mark narrowed his eyes as he considered her, a cryptic half-smile hanging on his lips. “You’re rather vindictive, aren’t you? But… I’m happy to oblige. Tonight it is, then. Can’t see why I should be afraid when you’re not,” he teased. “Besides, my aunt is squarely in the wrong here, and there’s not even a shred of doubt of it.”Shelly lied to him. She had promised him to never let Arianne know about his “meeting” with Saoirse, only to betray it. If Mark did nothing in retaliation, he would be setting himself up to an even worse future going forward.They waited for almost two hours before Mary finally ret
It took Shelly a long time to finally calm down, but immediately she perused the landline to call Saoirse.Again, she switched into her alter ego—a soft-spoken, kindly older woman who was just the most pleasant person to be around. “Good evening, Saoirse! Had your dinner?”The young woman on the other side was just as courtly as Shelly was. “Good evening! I’m afraid I haven’t. What about you, Mrs. Leigh? Is there anything I can help you with?”Shelly paused for a moment before cutting to the chase. “As a matter of fact, I do. It’s about your budding relationship with Mark,” she began. “Arianne Wynn has made up yet another excuse to take Mark away for herself again. She even incited him to rebel against me! See, Arianne keeps getting Mark to do her bidding because she’s using their son as her ultimate leverage. This is despite the truth that Mark hasn’t felt any sense of affection for Arianne for a long time already! This whole situation… God, I worry that she’s gonna use more underh
Mary’s rant ended up showing the last piece of the puzzle in Arianne’s head.“She’s trying to carve a unique place for herself in Mark’s life!” she proclaimed. “She wants to prove that only she can provide unique contributions to him, that she alone occupies a status and a niche that no one else in Mark’s circle can fill. That’s why she keeps trying to dictate his life. All of the things she experienced in her life forced her into despair that she ended up channeling her self-worth and reason to live into the child she was denied, thus creating and fomenting an obsession in her mind. Even if we let her do whatever she wants, it won’t sate her. In fact, it’ll only encourage her to up the ante, because what we’re dealing with isn’t just any kind of motherly impulse—it’s a hunger she had suffered for decades, and it’s impossible to fill.“What is it that she really wants? It’s to make the whole world acknowledge that Mark is her son, and as her son, he must obey her every wish as his mo
The couple continued their jest and banters as they went into their bedroom.Arianne was surprised to see Mark’s nightshirt in the room, which was prepared by Mary. The last time he left with no promise of coming back, Mary had washed his clothes and kept them safe. She had thought he was never going to need these clothes again.As though he had read what was in her mind, Mark took up the nightshirt and stated, “I’m going for a quick shower. You… look forward to it on our bed.”It sounded awkward enough that Arianne rolled her eyes. “By the time you’re done, I’ll already be sound asleep.”He suddenly bent forward and breathed in her ear, “You promised me something else today, though. Are you breaking that promise? I’ve never taught you how to lie…”The warmth tickling her ear and the magnetism in his dulcet voice became a double-whammy combination that turned her body into jelly. Immediately, she shoved him toward the direction of the bathroom. “Grr—just go already!”Mark’s exube
Mark left her home to work the first thing in the morning. Arianne, who was so exhausted by his carnal rampage last night, was unable to get up. In the end, she skipped work and slept all the way till afternoon.When she finally woke, Mary served her a mysterious broth-like drink. “Come, dig into this special soup. Lunch’s up after this!”Arianne sniffed it and caught a soft aroma not unlike that found in herbal alternative medicine. “What’s with this soup? It’s giving me this weird vibe…”Mary snickered. “Oh, it’s nothing. Just a soup added with several herbs and spices that is traditionally meant to replenish your energy. No offense, but your body is pretty poo-poo, Ari! Though I think we should do the same thing for Mr. Tremont when he returns, too. It’s just good for the body,” she explained, before adding, “By the way, have you got plans later this evening? If you’re free, I’ll have to pass you the job of watching Smore in my place. I’ve got some business to do later, but I’ll
Arianne was not a guileless fool, nor did she make a habit of willingly sharing her private matters with strangers. “Why ask? Are you so close with Mark that you’re supposed to know about his history already? If yes, then shouldn’t you cut the middleman and ask straight from the horse’s mouth?”Sensing hostility, Saoirse went ahead and took a seat on the couch.“I just can’t wrap my head around this whole thing. I want to learn why the two of you divorced in the first place, and why, even after that, his aunt’s adamant that you get booted from Tremont Enterprise. I can’t get behind why she doesn’t do anything herself and instead tried to talk me into it. I suspect that if it weren’t for the fact that Mr. Tremont was protecting you, she wouldn’t have resorted to asking an outsider like me to meddle, would she? The way I see it, it’s like she’s trying to carry out her wishes without fracturing her relationship with Mark,” she explained. “Here’s the thing, I don’t want to be an unwittin
Saoirse examined her freshly-made manicure nonchalantly. When she spoke, her tone was markedly devoid of the respect she used to reserve for Shelly. “Yea, I’ve talked to her. So? Listen, Mrs. Leigh, don’t ever call me about this ever again. Mr. Tremont never wanted to divorce Mrs. Tremont, did he? Which is why even now, they live as though the divorce never happened. They’re always meeting each other whenever they can. So, why did you ask me to stir up something to get Mrs. Tremont kicked out of the company? Were you trying to get me into trouble? No one crosses Mr. Tremont. What’s a quicker way to incur his wrath than to hurt his lady?“With all due respect, Mrs. Leigh, you’re completely on the wrong side of things here. You yourself knew better than to piss Mr. Tremont off, so you tried to sacrifice me instead. You only see me as a pawn, don’t you? And even if I manage to marry Mr. Tremont in the future, should I be expecting you to concoct some new schemes to kick me away if I don’