How could Mark not understand what Mary meant between the lines? He pursed his lips before saying, “I’ll be heading out later and won’t be back for lunch. I’ll come home around four in the evening.”Mary hustled out to prepare his clothes for the outing and went to the backyard after that. “Ari, sir is going out shortly and will only be home at four in the evening. Don’t stay in the wind out here. It’s not even a month yet. What if you get other illnesses in the future from being so weak?”Arianne replied in a whisper, “I’ll head inside first. Let Rice Ball in for me after Mark leaves.”Mary nodded and couldn’t help being delighted. It wasn’t for much other than her feeling that Mark was concerned for Arianne. He never told the house staff that he was going out in the past, nor would he inform his return time. Even his dinner at home was an impromptu call back after a spontaneous decision. His anomaly today was obviously for Arianne and Rice Ball’s ‘space’.Just when Mark was prepared
Arianne snorted softly. “It’s a stray cat that I picked up. Mark didn’t allow me to keep it, but I insisted otherwise. After we fought several times, he agreed to allow me to keep it in the yard. I only let it come into the house when he isn’t home.”Tiffany gave her a thumbs up. “You are freaking awesome for having the guts to fight with Mark. I didn’t expect you to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing.”Not wanting to talk about Mark anymore, Arianne changed the subject. “So, what is this about you having a lot to grumble about and your blood boiling at the mention of your mom?”The expression on Tiffany’s face turned bitter and hateful. “I’m so vexed right now. I feel like the rest of my life is bleak if I’m going to live with my mom. It’s too exhausting… I’m working at Jackson’s company right now and also working part-time at night. Even with two incomes, I can’t support my mom. She just can’t get rid of her obsession with luxury goods and her habit of spending frivolously. Not only th
Seeing the clear disgust on Mark’s face, Arianne was secretly flustered. However, she didn’t make any comments. After all, she couldn’t ask everyone to like Rice Ball just because she liked it. She was satisfied with just being able to keep it by her side.Arianne was even more surprised by the fact that Mark had no plans to go out at night. Why would a man who always avoided coming home as much as he could suddenly stay at home so obediently every night now? With Mark around the house, Arianne felt more uncomfortable, and she had even less time to spend with Rice Ball.When she went to bed at night, she suddenly recalled what Tiffany told her during the day and felt her face growing hot.Mark laid next to her, looking at his phone with his back turned to her. The densely packed text on his screen made her head hurt just by looking at it. She even wondered how he managed to stare at it for so long.The phone suddenly rang and startled her. It was Mark’s phone and the display showed
Arianne started changing her clothes before even hanging up the phone. “Find a place and wait for me, I’m coming out now!”She finally received good news after having a bad time. At first, she thought the truth would take forever to come, but ‘Mr. Sloane’ had sent a letter again so soon.She only had one thing in mind and that was to quickly find out what happened back then. As long as her father was innocent, she could justify leaving the Tremont Estate and Mark Tremont. She didn’t want to continue living like a lowlife that was powerless to put up any resistance even when her child was killed...When she arrived at the coffee shop where they agreed to meet, Tiffany retrieved the letter from her bag. Arianne quickly took it and opened it. However, the content of the letter was a huge disappointment to her. ‘No need to find me. You won’t be able to. I won’t be able to provide you with more clues either. I can only tell you that your father was innocent. I have been troubled by this
When Arianne didn’t get his answer, she continued, “What? You have money to fool around outside but don’t have any for your wife?”“I got it.” A hint of a cryptic smile appeared in Mark’s eyes.After hanging up the call, he immediately transferred some money to her on his phone. The smile in his eyes crept to his lips.Aery couldn’t help feeling jealous when she noticed Mark's seemingly great mood after receiving the call. “Mark dear, who was that? You seem really happy after receiving that call…”The smile on Mark’s face instantly reduced as he replied indifferently, “No one in particular.”Helen noticed the situation and whispered, “Aery, aren’t you talking too much? Not even food can stop your mouth?”Aery closed her mouth in annoyance. A woman’s instinct was always very accurate. The person who called Mark just now was definitely not an ordinary person.Arianne looked at the transaction notification on her phone with a slightly conflicted feeling in her heart. She had never
Arianne mumbled unhappily, “I’m not going. Can’t he come if he’s looking for me? Why should I go to him? I’m not the one looking for him!”Mary’s eyes widened. “Ari… isn’t… your rebellious phase a little too late? You’re turning twenty-two this year!”Arianne was rendered speechless for a while. So, in Mary’s eyes, she was going through a phase right now? She was actually exploding in silence, alright? She finally had enough of being oppressed for so many years and wanted to put a stop to that situation, okay?Upon seeing her disobedience, Mary could only report truthfully to Mark. Shortly after that, she came rushing to the backyard again with more urgency than earlier. “Ari, sir said that if you aren’t obedient, then he won’t allow you to keep the cat anymore. He meant what he meant…!”Meant what he meant? Wow. Arianne was both angry and amused. He was always overbearing like this and acting like he was superior to everyone else.She took a deep breath then turned around and wen
Having his sore spot mentioned, Mark threw the wine glass in his hand against the floor. “You like being a servant? Alright, I’ll fulfill your wish. From tomorrow onward, you’ll do whatever the Tremont Estate’s servants do! Now scram!”She left without hesitation and went to Mary’s helper room. The room was occupied by four helpers and had no additional space for her. Arianne could only squeeze in with Mary.She did not regret angering him, however. She would rather sleep in the helpers’ room than lie on the same bed as him. Whenever she saw him, she would think about everything he had done with Aery and Helen.The three of them had torn a gash that would never heal in her heart, and that would remind her each living anguished second.The next day, she went to work in the office as usual and became a ‘part-time’ servant in the Tremont Estate after work.Although Mark had asked the estate’s helpers to not be courteous and make her do what she should, no one dared order her around. After
Arianne pressed her lips together without saying anything. Fatigued, she gradually fell asleep.Not hearing a reply from her, Mary sighed and tucked her in.Almost as if he wanted to see her make a fool out of herself, Mark came home punctually each day after work and stayed in the living room longer than he usually would.In order to avoid seeing him, Arianne mostly stayed away from the living room and only worked in the kitchen and backyard. She would only clean the living room after he went upstairs. It felt nice to stay in each other’s lane without interference.…At the same time, Tiffany was rummaging through her room in her rented home anxiously. “Mom! Did you see my bankcard?”Lillian did not pay attention to her, as she was having snacks in the living room. “No… Find it on your own. You think I’m a thief?”Tiffany turned the whole house over, but she still did not see her bankcard. No one had come to visit them either. Other than Lillian, she had no other guesses. “Mom, be hon