After a moment, Arianne asked, “What about Rice Ball? How is it?”Without meeting her eyes, Mark simply answered, “Pretty good.”Arianne heaved a sigh of relief. “That’s good. I saw the weather forecast that it’ll be windy and raining recently.” Then, she asked tentatively, “Can… Can you allow Rice Ball into the house? It’s quite stupid. It doesn’t know how to hide from the rain... ”Mark glanced at her. “It’s pretty stupid. It can enter the house as long as it doesn’t come near me.”Mark’s attitude was a lot better compared to before. This was a good sign. Arianne felt relieved since Rice Ball would not have to suffer. Since she had decided to take care of it, she must take responsibility for it.Jackson watched their interaction from the side without saying anything. A nurse came in to perform a routine checkup on Arianne and took her temperature. When she saw Jackson and Tiffany, she could not help chuckling. “Mr. West, I was wondering why you were so generous. I see that it’s for t
After some time, Arianne could not withstand it anymore. “Go back. You must be busy too. You look like you haven’t slept well. I don’t need anyone here. Mary’s coming in a while anyway.”Mark ignored her and took out his phone to occupy himself.She had unintentionally browsed Mark’s phone. There was no form of entertainment in there; everything was work related. Any document in there was packed with words. It hurt her head.After a while, Mary finally came. Arianne breathed a sigh of relief and asked her to come closer to tell her softly, “I need to use the bathroom…”Mary almost choked herself on laughter. “Isn’t sir here for if you need to use the bathroom? You’re husband and wife. What are you afraid of? Did you hold it in, just waiting for me to get here? Why would you do such a thing!”Arianne became flustered and did not dare to look at Mark’s expression. She had whispered it so quietly, but why did Mary not understand her intention and shouted it instead?Perhaps to avoid the a
Arianne thought that the name was familiar. She pondered for a long time while looking at Nina’s pretty face, which was caked with makeup, and finally recalled where she’d heard it. “I know you, you’re Uncle Moran’s daughter.”That was right. She was Charles Moran’s daughter, Nina Moran. When she ate with Charles during the business trip with Mark, the older man had mentioned Nina at the table.Charles and the Tremonts went way back. He was someone Mark respected, somewhat of an elder figure.Nina smiled easily. “Great. The guards at the gate wouldn’t allow me to go in. I could only wait here. I tried calling Mark, but the call didn’t connect. He’s probably busy.”Arianne asked the guard to open the gate while Nina hauled a large suitcase from the trunk without anyone’s help. Arianne thought that it made her like the girl a little more. Nina’s figure was wonderful. She had the proportions of a super model and was half a head taller than Arianne.When they entered the house, Nina left h
When it was time for lunch and Nina had yet to come downstairs, Mary could not help going up to check. She promptly came down with a long face. “Ari, is this Nina Moran girl here to snatch your man? It’s forgivable if she showered in the room, but what’s up with her sleeping on the bed while wrapped in nothing but a towel? In all the years that I’ve worked for the Tremonts, I’ve never met a woman so immodest here! She’s even using sir’s towel! Revolting! I’ll throw everything out after this!”Arianne frowned. She would be lying if she said that she did not mind. Even if it wasn’t Mark’s room, it was still also her personal room. She would definitely mind a stranger using her bathroom and bed, plus sleeping in just a towel. Moreover, she was further repulsed when she recalled Mark wearing that towel. He had used it. Even if it had been washed, it was still…“Mary, wake Nina up for lunch. She needs to get up. Let her sleep in the guest room after lunch. Clean the master bedroom after thi
Nina mumbled an agreement and went to the kitchen for food. After that, she got changed and went out.Mary complained as she cleaned the master bedroom. The moment Arianne lay down, she felt incredibly content. She used to hate sleeping on this bed, but she hadn’t expected to have gotten used to it now.No one knew how long it had been when loud noises came from downstairs. There was the sound of the door being slammed and the click-clack of heels against the floor. Arianne was woken up, with her head feeling like a mess. Unhappy, she checked the time and saw that it was four in the morning…She did not have to guess to know that Nine was back, not that she could say anything. She could not even throw a tantrum. Covering her head, she went back to sleep.She got up at ten the next morning and Mary grumbled to her once she did. “Nina came back at four in the morning and was so drunk, she vomited all the way. Downstairs, the staircase, everywhere. It’s disgusting. Sir will be mad if he f
“It’s windy today. Don’t stand here. Go back and lie down. Ask Mary to send your meal to the room.” Mark went to Arianne and stuffed Rice Ball into her arms.Arianne was stunned once more. He had disallowed her from eating in the room, citing improper manners in the past. Now, he was the first to suggest it.In the heat of the moment, Arianne asked, “Can Rice Ball come into the room? It hasn’t seen me all day, I’m afraid that…”Mark halted his steps slightly. “Don’t ask for too much. If I see it, I’ll throw it away.”His tone was not stern, but rather, casual. There was a ghost of a grin on Arianne. Did he mean that she could bring it in as long as he did not see it?Arianne did not have her dinner in the room out of self-consciousness. It wasn’t like she couldn't move.Nina was chattering at the dining table ceaselessly. “Mark, you’re still the same after so many years. I thought men turn fat and ugly when they reach thirty, but you’re growing the opposite, still as charming as ever e
The door pushed open the next second, and as expected, Mark appeared.Arianne hung her head somewhat guiltily. Her cheeks were flushed from her nervousness, and her heart was beating wildly. Fortunately, Rice Ball didn’t move.Mark seemed to be in a particularly good mood. Although no one else was around, he was still smiling and even asked her, “Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere?”Arianne was so nervous right now, she couldn’t be bothered about the unpleasant things between them. “No, I’m feeling quite good. I think I’m well enough to go back to work tomorrow,” she replied smoothly.Mark became displeased. “Stop joking. You should rest at least a month at home. Don’t go pissing me off in the future. It’s not beneficial to you. Can’t you just… learn how to please me like other women?”Arianne lifted her gaze to meet his. “Like who? Aery Kinsey?”His breathing stagnated, and his face sank. He changed his clothes and ignored her. Arianne always managed to annoy him, anytime an
Arianne suddenly blushed. Why did she suspect that he was referring to something else? Was he making a dirty joke?In order to dispel the strange atmosphere, she opened her mouth and took a bite. With much difficulty, she swallowed the food. “I can’t take another bite. Can you take it away? The fruits will leave a smell in here.”Mark’s eyes slightly glazed over while watching her slightly trembling lips. Then all of a sudden, he leaned over and kissed her on the lips.Arianne could hear her head ringing. What was he doing! They still had many unsolved problems between them. Weren’t enemies supposed to be annoyed at the sight of each other? Why was he kissing her?“Umph… No…” She tried to resist him. As soon as she opened her mouth, he took advantage of it. He pressed his whole body up against her to stop her from struggling. With only a layer of blanket between their bodies, she couldn’t even budge an inch under him. But of course, he didn’t put all his weight on her.She passive