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’
Arianne immediately paused in mid-action.“Are you for real? Do you only see with your eyes and avoid using your damn head?” she snapped. “Ever heard of two-faced fakers? Or are you doubting my character already? Or maybe you think I’m being overdramatic and raging over a nothingburger!”“What? No, man! That was a genuine question; c’mon, don’t be pissed, please,” he replied quickly. “It’s just that… what I saw from my interaction with her and what you told me combined show a downright terrifying character. She acts like she’s chummy with you in public, but in the shadows? She schemes against you and plots your doom! You know, before you came, she struck a conversation with me, and there wasn’t a single line throughout when she mentioned anything bad about you. It had been heaps of praises after praises, and at one point, she even lamented about the divorce between you and Mr. Tremont. She was acting so convincing that, I admit, I almost tipped over into believing her.”Arianne was
Arianne’s tone was as cold as steel. “‘Senior’? You mean the senior of the Tremont family, which by the way, I’m no longer a member of? What’s that got to do with me?” she sneered. “I had respected you and bent over backward for you on so many, many occasions back then that, now, if you’re trying to guilt-trip me on an imaginary inadequacy, you can call that off already. It’s not gonna work. Besides, if we’re tracking records, then you were the one who never cared for me at all, weren’t you? But, of course, we’re not in-laws anymore, so you should probably drop the whole ‘respect your elder!’ angle while we’re in a professional setting. Remember, this is a company gathering—it isn’t a private tea between you and me to air grievances. Let’s have some class, shall we, Mrs. Leigh?”Arianne was practically expelling breaths when she enunciated “Mrs. Leigh” for emphasis. Shelly had no interest in preserving Arianne’s dignity and reputation, so Arianne had no obligation to hold back punches