Even so, Shelly was keenly aware of the minute but odd flex in Libby’s voice. “Libby… Sheppard? What are you doing? You sound off, dear.”Libby shot a brisk glance at Arianne then took a deep breath and started, “Nothing. I just came home from work, that‘s all. Walked quite a distance, so I might sound a little, er, breathy. Um, anyway, the reason why I’m calling you right now is because I… need your help. Mr. Tremont thinks I’m not doing a peachy keen enough job for him, and I think he’s onto axing me. Mrs. Leigh, I was, uh, hoping you can help put in a good word for me, you know? I’ve been working hard in Tremont Enterprise for so long, and I didn’t get to be the supervisor just to be shown the door… You get what I’m saying?”The other side of the phone was quiet for a tad too long. It took more than ten conspicuous seconds before Shelly finally said, “Hey, listen. I really, really want to help, but… I can’t do much about the affairs of the company. As you’re no doubt aware, I’m no
Robin stuck her tongue out playfully. “Teehee! Not at all, Arianne. A slap in exchange for you to unearth the truth? Now that’s a fair bargain! I know you wouldn’t hit me too hard, sis. You always know not to go overboard.”Arianne grabbed a spoonful of meatballs and placed them on Robin's plate. “C’mon, dig in already. To tell you the truth… I haven’t made up my mind about telling Mark. Honestly? His method of dealing with anything Shelly-related has been very, very lacking. I’ve been patient for far too long, and this time, that Shelly has really gone beyond the pale. I am not letting her off the hook; not anymore... But I also don’t wanna trap Mark in a tough situation either, so I think this is something I must do on my own. Come on, let’s enjoy our dinner to the fullest. After this, I’m going straight to Shelly-Ann Leigh.”“Yea, ditto,” Robin murmured pensively. “She’s Mr. Tremont’s aunt, right? He can’t go too far when he’s handling any problem related to her, can he? Either wa
Mentioning Libby somehow caused Shelly’s face to contort in derision and disgust.Seeing the grimace take shape in front of Arianne’s very eyes somehow fanned the flames in her. Was this how Shelly saw and used the people around her? Treating other humans as monkeys and suckers as if that made her superior to them all?“So, what’s the next dirty, sh*tty move you’re gonna pull out, huh? Or have you reached the bottom of the barrel and are now running out of tricks? Gonna threaten Mark to fire me by using your relation to him again?” Arianne bristled hotly. “I’m warning you, don’t get too cocky. Because one day, you will go so far that you'll hoist yourself on your own petard!”Unthinkably, Arianne’s words only made Shelly burst out laughing.“Haha! Bless your heart, sweetie; that day won’t ever come. In fact, I dare you to tell Mark about this whole thing right now and see if he believes you! Even if Libby told you everything, so what? I am Mark’s one and only birth mother. Why woul
It was only when Henry’s car was about to hit the road that Arianne finally reeled back from her daze. “I’ll tag along!”Mark leered at her, saying nothing.She took a seat and went to the hospital with them. There, Shelly was pushed into the emergency room, and a few moments later, the operating doctor came out reporting that although the bleeding appeared copious, it would still take a few X-ray imaging to confirm any significant internal damage.With the bill in hand, Henry dutifully sauntered away to pay it by the counter, leaving only Arianne and Mark waiting outside the emergency studio.Their gazes linked; they were a few steps away from one another, yet it felt as though they were several lightyears apart. He was so distant that Arianne could not fathom a lick of what could be brewing in his mind.Abruptly, Mark broke the spell. “Why were you there … in the Tremont Estate?”There were no external emotional cues on his face. Nothing to pick up on; nothing to work up a gues
Shelly’s face seemed so weak she might have passed out anytime. “What are you talking about? I don’t know what Arianne told you, but I didn’t do it. No means no! I’ve been staying at home all this time, so there’s no way for me to come into contact with matters at the company. I’d only been to the office that one time and then something happened; could there be such a coincidence? You suspect that I’m plotting against Arianne, but why don’t you think that there’s a chance that someone’s taking advantage of the situation and plotting against me instead? I’m not the only person who hates Arianne. Doesn’t she hate me as well? Do you have it in you to say that she doesn’t? The moment she stepped through that door, she questioned me as to why I framed her. Then, just because I didn’t do it and I refused to admit to it, she pushed me down the stairs. How could you still want to be with that venomous woman when she clearly knew I had a bad leg and definitely couldn’t react to that? Can’t you
As he set foot into his house, the pitch black living room suddenly lit up. Mark squinted his eyes due to the sudden overwhelming brightness and scanned his surroundings before laying his gaze on Shelly, who was standing by the staircase.Shelly was wearing a thin piece of nightgown, making her look so thin that she could probably fly away with the wind. The bandage on her head seemed to be a little bloodied as she squinted her eyes. “Why have you arrived home only now? Have you been to Arianne’s place again? She’s already done this to me, yet you still want to be with her? Do you really want to drive me up a corner? Will you be happy if I’m dead?! Why can’t you ever understand the hardships I’m enduring?!”Shelly’s words were as sharp as a knife as she talked; it was so irritating that it made others feel like shutting her up.Mark expressionlessly said, “I’ll repay you whatever the mother who raised me owes, but I won’t allow you to torture Arianne any longer, since she doesn’t ow
When Libby returned to her desk to pack up her personal belongings, Robin approached her and asked, “What’s the matter? Are you leaving?”Libby nodded her head. “In the end, Mr. Tremont still found out about it, so I definitely can’t stay. It’s alright though, I’ve been preparing myself for this. Robin, I’m so sorry… Please help send my apologies to Arianne as well, since I don’t have the courage to see her myself. Good luck with your work here. Arianne was right; we’re supposed to be working in our office, not cause strifes internally and do anything that would bring harm to others.”Robin sighed. “Let me send you off. You’ve got quite a lot of stuff.”Libby did not reject, but she had mixed feelings at that moment. ‘After how badly I’ve treated her, I never expected for her to be the one to send me off in the end.’After sending Libby away, Robin returned to the designs department. When she found Arianne, she told her about how Libby had been fired.Arianne was slightly distract
There was a slightly bleak wind blowing that night, making the surrounding temperature just right during that season.As Arianne leisurely strolled through the busy streets, she looked at the shops within her vicinity. The street she was walking on was very prosperous and bustling; every item they were selling was luxurious. ‘I used to pass by here everyday previously, but I never stopped or had the chance to shop around here. I’ve told Mary that I’ll be back a bit later and won’t be eating at home, so I could take this chance to shop around leisurely, since there’s no hurry for me to go home.‘Smore is getting older and naughtier now, making a mess of the house, with his toys lying around everywhere everyday. Although Mary cleans up after him countless times, I still have to clean up when I get home after work as well. However, things should get better soon after Smore starts to attend kindergarten during the summer. Wow, so many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Now that I