Ethan relished in the ecstasy of revenge as he watched the conflicting emotions dancing on Mark’s face. “If you don’t want this letter to fall on Arianne’s lap, then, stay out of my business. That land is mine and no one else. If you so much as let Tiffany know what I’ve done, you can bet Arianne will know about your matter as well.”Mark closed his eyes and inhaled deeply, steeling himself against the emotions rioting in his chest. He would never reveal the truth regarding the plane crash. He would rather shoulder it alone than to expose his mother. After all, his fervid impression of his mother being a reasonable and kind woman lay in the depth of his heart. He would not taint one of the last few pure impressions he had of her.“What happens after you get that land and Tiffany? How long are you going to hold that letter against me?”Ethan sneered. “Would you believe me if I say this will end with both of us enjoying our life peacefully with our most treasured women by our sides as we
Mark extended his hand in her direction and beckoned her over. “Come here.”Arianne obeyed him obediently. It felt as though all the barriers between them had disappeared.He pulled her to him, seating her on his lap before he rested his chin on her shoulders. He inhaled her scent, allowing it to soothe the turmoil in his mind. “Ari, do you truly wish to leave me?”This was the first time Arianne had heard him referring to her as Ari while he was sober. It made her nervous for some reason. Her palms began to sweat, and her body stiffened. She stammered, “W-w-why are you asking me that right now? Y-you’re acting really weird!”He responded by tightening his arms around her, it was almost as though he was worried she would run away. “I want to know.”Arianne turned the question over and over in her head. She had always wanted to leave him, right? However, why was it so difficult for her to answer the question now?As though he could sense Arianne’s dilemma, he did not persist with the qu
What fueled Arianne’s dallying had less to do with it being a hard choice and more to do with Mark’s sudden change of outlook in the matter. It was enough to make her second-guess herself and wonder if she had taken her conclusion too far. Could it be that reconciliation was possible? Were there indeed sound reasons to look the other way for Ethan?Ultimately, this was a private matter between Tiffany and Ethan; the last thing Arianne wanted was for it to spark an argument between her and Mark.“Alright, I’ll mull it over,” she relented, before adding, “You know, if it was meant to end this way, then you shouldn’t have told me anything in the first place. I mean, how do you expect me to pretend I know nothing now? Gosh! Anyway, it’s getting late, and I wanna go home. You coming?”Mark was never the kind to spend the night in his office, and now that she had come to him personally, it threw his only reason to do so out of the window. “Let’s go.”Meanwhile, inside a hospital ward, a fati
Lilian produced the title deed for her daughter to see. “This, right here, pertains to a plot of land your grandfather owns. It’s super-valuable right now, and guess who wants it? None other than Mark Tremont himself, and he’s coming to sign the agreement today! How do you expect me not to be chipper? Thank god we forgot about that piece of land, which is still legally your grandpa’s, and that we didn’t list it as one of our assets when we declared bankruptcy. Now, if you’d excuse me — Mommy’s got several places to be to carry on with the procedures. Tata!”Tiffany was bewildered. For a while, she could not collect herself at the thought that Mark had his eyes on a plot, which, of course, automatically affirmed its value, that belonged to her family. It was very darn near a dream come true, especially when it could very well be their ticket out of poverty!After Tiffany had sluggishly washed herself up, Ethan had called her to inform her that he was on his way home from the hospital.T
“Mary, I’m heading to the office,” Arianne said and left. She was going to go crazy if she stayed at home any longer.When Mary heard that she was going to the office, her first thought was that Arianne was going to Eric’s company. “It’s so hot and all you think about is going out to earn money? Is sir being stingy with you? No way!”Arianne said helplessly, “I’m going to find Mark Tremont, your master! Not to work. Besides, I don’t plan to go back to Eric’s company anymore.” She had thought about doing something else. She felt bored after working in the design industry for so long.Upon hearing this, Mary finally relented. “Sure, have Henry send you. The weather is too hot.”…Henry sent Arianne to Tremont Tower, and she arrived at the forty-sixth floor without any hiccup. Ellie knew that she did not like following Mark’s rules of changing out of her shoes so she did not offer Arianne the disposable slippers and only greeted her, “Madam.”Arianne nodded in reply, opening the door afte
“I didn’t expect you to be so efficient. This is for the best. I can propose to Tiffany as soon as possible.”Mark was not at all interested if Ethan was going to get married or not. “Sign the transfer agreement now. I don’t have time for a chat.”Ethan leisurely signed his name on the document and looked up as he asked, “If I get married, as my elder brother, you’ll be there, right?”“Don’t cross the line!” Mark stared at him dead in the eyes.Ethan shrugged as he smiled meaningfully. “Am I? I asked you to give me everything related to the Tremonts, but since you’re reluctant, I don’t want to force you either. I can have everything by depending on myself. However, it also won’t do me any harm if I announce that I’m a Tremont as well. In fact, it would be advantageous to me. You won’t disagree, right? After all, you’ve told Arianne everything I’ve done. How you explain yourself and how sticky a situation it is for you has nothing to do with me. You have to act like we have a close rela
Watching the bubbly and chattering children, Arianne could not help chuckling. “I didn’t expect you to be so popular among the kids. I thought they’d be afraid of you.”Mark was not wearing a suit today. He was suitably dressed in white short-sleeved sportswear and a pair of light violet sunglasses. Compared to how sharp he looked in his suit and leather shoes, he looked gentler and more casual now. He bent down to carry a little girl around four years of age and asked Brian to retrieve what was in the trunk.As if knowing what would come out from the trunk, the children’s cheer grew louder. “Mr. Tremont, did you bring us books and toys again?! And yummy snacks! We wish you’d come every day. Madam says that it hasn’t been a month since you last came so you won’t be coming so soon. I can’t believe you’re here!”Arianne was surprised. She did not expect that Mark frequently visited the orphanage. It seemed like his donation and kindness were not only for show. He was really practicing wh
The little boy suddenly cried, perhaps, frightened by Mark’s gentle pinch.Arianne instinctively took the child into her arms. “Hush, baby, hush. Who’s the best baby…”The little child stopped crying immediately, but there was still a sad pout on his face, and his eyes were red.Mark asked softly against Arianne’s ears, “Why don’t we adopt a child?”Arianne glanced at him. This was not the first time he had mentioned this. She pretended not to hear him. She said to the director, “There’s no need for thanks as long as these little angels are well taken care of.”After spending the entire morning in the orphanage, Arianne and Mark politely rejected the director’s invitation for lunch.During their journey back to the Tremont Estate, Arianne was thinking about the feeling of the baby boy in her arms. The child was so soft and cute that her heart felt as though it was going to melt.Mark seemed privy to her thoughts as he asked, “Are you sure you don’t want to adopt a child? I can see you’