Jett went in headstrong as he answered, “I’m… not sure what Madam likes. Shouldn’t you be clearer about that than me?”Alejandro’s face turned eerily dark. “I do know, but… I don’t want to jump to conclusions, which is why I’m asking. In that case, I suppose it’s true then? No wonder she’s so adamant on divorcing me. In the past, no matter how big of an error I made, I neither laid a finger on her, nor wronged her in any way. She’s now asking for a divorce while Mateo has returned so coincidentally. If it were you, what would you think of it?”However, Jett chose to remain silent. He did not think that Melanie was that kind of person, but Alejandro’s assumption was rather logical as well. Hence, he did not know whose side he should be on.When Alejandro realized that he would not receive the answer he wanted from Jett, he stopped asking any further.Finally, Jett was able to heave a sigh of relief. He then helped Alejandro clear out the ashtray that was completely filled.It was 3
‘Divorce, again with the divorce!’Alejandro flung his hand away from her and slammed the door as he left. ‘I get so frustrated every time she brings up the divorce!’Alejandro immediately headed to his office, since it would be more peaceful than staying at home.However, Alejandro still could not calm down even after he arrived at his office. He called out to Jett. “Go tell Mateo that I would like to meet him. If he doesn’t dare meet me in private, something’s definitely wrong with him! I don’t care whether you have to tie him up or whatsoever. ‘Invite’ him over whatever the cost!”Jett was slightly hesitant. “Sir, I don’t think it would be a good idea to bring him over to the office, would it? There are too many eyes around here, so if word gets out to Madam…”Jett’s words had sent Alejandro a reminder. “I must be clouded by anger to not have thought of it myself. Set up the meet at a place then. Also, be discreet about it. I don’t want Melanie to find out about it, at least un
‘Exhausted you say? Melanie did say that as well…’Alejandro extinguished the cigarette in his hands and suddenly leaped up to grab onto Mateo’s collar. “Don’t you dare put that expression on your face as if you know her very well!”Mateo calmly released himself from Alejandro’s grasps. “I don’t know her very well, just a little bit more than you do, that’s all. I came back because of someone, but it’s not her, so you can be rest assured.”This time, Alejandro did not have Jett stop Mateo when he tried to leave. Before Mateo left, he told them that he wouldn’t tell Melanie about their meeting.The next day.Arianne got off work in the afternoon and had intended on inviting Mark to Mateo’s Cantonese restaurant for lunch, but she ended up having to go alone, since he had sudden business to attend to.Unsurprisingly, during the second day of the restaurant’s opening, business was still booming similar to the first day. However, Arianne was lucky that she could be served, so she chos
Arianne was slightly surprised. ‘The woman’s already married and has a child, yet Mateo still came all this way especially for her. Why does he sound like he’s planning to steal the woman?’ However, Arianne did not dare to voice her thoughts, so she could only be as subtle as possible. “She… She’s already married and has a child? In that case… What kind of outcome are you hoping for? Could it be… you’re hoping for her to get a divorce and be with you?”However, Mateo merely shook his head. “I don’t expect her to be with me. In the past, just one look at her was enough to make me want to protect her, yet I kept stopping myself from doing so. I’ve waited for a hug from her for so many years… All I want is just a hug. Do you understand what I’m trying to say?”Arianne heaved a sigh of relief. “Just a hug? That’s easy. Since she’s the light of your life, then I’m sure the two of you know each other. Therefore, since the two of you have known each other for so many years, I’m sure she wou
Mark had never divulged on his past relationships, and he did not intend to let loose a whiff of a clue now. “You said so yourself. How is it plausible that someone like me could ever deign to pine for anyone? As if there’s anyone in this world who’s worthy.”‘As if anyone’s worthy’? What, not even Arianne herself was worthy?!She swung a fist gently at him. “Oh, sorry I’ve asked, then! I forgot that none of us mortals deserve someone as highfalutin and above-it-all as you. Yep, none whosoever deserve your immortal affection; nope, nada, zilch!”Anyone who could read between the lines would hear her offended undertone. Yet, Mark seemed to have committed one of the cardinal sins the male species was sometimes accused of—either their crippling inability to interpret things beyond their literal meaning, or their inclination to feign that inability. “Do refrain from stating the obvious.”Arianne was miffed. “Oh, so even I’m unworthy, then? Someone’s making this seem as if I was the one
“I heard you, Arianne. I’ll talk to him about this with my attitude in check. Then, later, I’ll be eating with you and Tiffany at Teo’s place. I don’t give a damn about what he thinks. I’m gonna go there with my head held high, and I’m gonna let him know myself!”Just like that, Melanie terminated their call, leaving Arianne with her mind dancing on pins and needles. What had she done? She was the one who brought this up, which meant that if a heated altercation between Melanie and Alejandro broke out, part of it was on her.Meanwhile, Melanie wasted not a minute more before driving all the way to Alejandro’s office. Despite it being a weekend, he was working overtime again. The man was renowned for being doggedly focused on his work, which likely stemmed from his troubled life experience in the past. Knowing full well that the survival of the Smith family’s wealth and legacy was on his shoulders, while he still had much to learn and do, Alejandro usually sacrificed his weekends away
Melanie seemed to have read Arianne’s mind. “No, Arianne. This has got nothing to do with you. Even if you kept this a secret from me, I would have found out about this, so don’t think this happened because of you,” she pointed out. “In fact, I’m happy and grateful... You didn’t choose to be biased toward him despite his connection to you. If we really think about this… He’s your brother-in-law, isn’t he? He’s family. I’m not.”Melanie’s analysis of their complex relationship had reached a depth beyond Arianne’s cognizance, and it made her feel pretty ashamed of herself. Frankly, she had never once cared for Alejandro the way a decent sister-in-law was supposed to do, particularly since Mark did not exactly enjoy the warmest of kinship with him. Granted, with a backdrop as charged and tumultuous as that, Arianne felt as though she could never be a good sister-in-law even if she tried.Mateo was always in his restaurant these few days, but at least he was not as busy as he used to be
Mateo’s body immediately stilled. When he whipped his face upward to consider Melanie, his signature practiced grin was completely absent. “How did you… know?”Melanie breathed a quiet sigh. She was relieved; it turned out that Mateo was not pining for her, and yet, she could not help but be simultaneously worried for the path her old friend seemed poised to tread. “Your friend can tell, Teo. And unless I’m mistaken, our reunion in the supermarket wasn’t a coincidence at all, was it? You planned for it. I was never the reason that compelled you to come back; that had always been Arianne,” she said. “You knew Arianne’s my friend, so you used me to help make you closer to her. I don’t mind being used this way, Teo, but I think I should warn you—Mark Tremont’s wife isn’t someone you should set your eyes on. Ever.”He curled his lips into a flitting, pained smile. “I know, I know. I’ve never harbored any funny ideas either, if this helps. But, seriously, how did you piece it together?