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
Arianne looked at the rain through the kitchen’s glass. She could empathize with Tiffany. They were both driven to the end of their ropes…“Tiffie, where are you? I’ll come look for you now,” Arianne said as she left her chores and headed out with an umbrella.“I’m at the convenience store downstairs of my house. I came out with just my phone. I don’t even have a jacket on. It’s freezing… I don’t want to go back and see my mom. I can’t stand the sight of her face right now.” Tiffany’s voice was laced with a sob. Arianne, who had gone to the door, turned back promptly when she heard that Tiffany had no jacket on. “Okay. I’ll bring you some clothes. Stay there and wait for me. Don’t move!”Right as she said that, Arianne slipped and fell on the floor when she was going up the staircase. Her lower abdomen hit the step and her umbrella fell to one side.Despite the pain, she picked herself up, grabbed a jacket, and rushed out. The gale was strong, and it was raining cats and dogs. The low
“Ari, why are you bleeding?”Arianne followed Tiffany’s gaze downward, but her vision was already blurry and she was beginning to hear buzzing instead of voices.Vaguely aware of her surroundings, Tiffany hailed a cab and sent her to the hospital. A few medical staff appeared in front of her, looking anxious as they pushed her into the emergency ward.She was conscious, aware that she was being laid on the operation theater, but she felt no pain nor could she speak.Tiffany paced outside the emergency ward in a state of nerves. After a while, a nurse opened the door of the emergency ward and walked out. “Are you the patient’s family? The patient is over fatigued after her miscarriage and is now suffering from blood loss due to trauma. She needs surgery. Please put in your signature if you’re her family!”Tiffany was stupefied. “I… I’m her friend. I’m not a family member.”The nurse said hurriedly, “Then call her family! The surgery can only be done with a signature. She can’t wait any
“What’s the situation?” Mark asked.“We’re doing our best right now. When Mrs. Tremont was sent in… she was bleeding quite badly. It must have been severe. Don’t worry, Mr. Tremont, your wife will be fine.”The nurse spoke with caution. After all, the person standing in front of her was no ordinary man.“How did this happen?” The emotions that his tone contained were too complex, causing the nurse to blanch from fright.“I… I’m not sure… Doctor’s initial diagnosis is over fatigue after miscarriage and a trauma, causing heavy blood loss… Her doctor should have advised that a good rest is needed after the miscarriage, right? Why did…”Mark sank down on the chair limply. “Save… Saver her for me… As long as she lives, anything is fine…”He had only wanted her to give in. Why would she rather torment herself to this state and insist on fighting him?Tiffany thought that it was strange. “Over fatigue? Ari did work after a few days out of the hospital, but she was in the office and her job is
Mark took the check from Brian and threw it at the men. “Fill in however much you want.”The men were afraid at first, but when Mark told them to fill in whatever they wanted, they thought that he was a cowardly employer who used money to solve his problems. Pleased with themselves, they filled the check with what they thought was an astronomical sum of money. “We’re not cheating you,” they boasted, “Aside from damage costs, there are also fees for the mental damage on our end. It’s not an exaggeration.”Mark curved his lips into a smirk. “You should put in a higher sum because there’s also… medical fees. Put that in too.”Before the men could figure out what he had meant, they were dragged away by a bodyguard.Brian draped the coat that he had brought along around Mark’s body. “Sir, your car is damaged. I’ve had someone tow it away and brought another one for you.”Mark nodded. “I don’t know how many red lights I ran past, take care of it.”Brian glanced at the emergency room. “