Mark smirked, “Heh… You’re afraid that you might not get a single cent once the results are out, aren’t you?” A wave of panic flashed across Georgina’s eyes. She put on a calm facade and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I never intended on making Jackson take responsibility, but reality has dealt me with a heavy blow. I’m a single mother, raising a child with no income. I have nowhere to go. I don’t want to disrupt his life either. He has refused to marry me and accept me and my baby, so money is the only thing I can get. I know that you’re both very powerful men, but you don’t have to push a weak woman like me around, right?”A thoughtful glint flashed across Mark’s eyes, “We don’t have to, and we won’t. Knowing Jackson, he would have been very generous with the child’s medical fees. You can leave with your son. Once the paternity results are released, you will be compensated appropriately, with not a single cent less. A word of advice — don’t ever show your face in f
Tiffany couldn’t shake the feeling that Jackson was lying to her, “You’re covering up for him. What do you mean by ‘you were not aware’? I’m sure you knew about this. Ari, get a divorce, right now. You can’t get past this!”Arianne nodded in agreement, “I kind of agree. Let’s just get a divorce…”Jackson was lamenting internally, “Enough. Both of you. Don’t start. I’ll speak to Mark myself. Don’t you need to manage your business? You two, stay right here!”“I’m sorry, Ari…” Naya apologized timidly after Jackson had left, “I had no idea that that woman was acquainted with your husband… I even helped carry her baby…”Arianne was feeling strangely delighted over having Mark take all of the blame. She was in a particularly good mood now, “It’s fine. Go back to work. I’m going back to the kitchen…” she replied in a sing-song voice. Naya was under the impression that she was simply putting on a brave front and that deep down, she was feeling extremely hurt. She furrowed her brows and f
Tiffany glared at Mark. Feeling a gaze on him, Mark looked up just as Arianne quickly pushed Tiffany into the kitchen. “Go help out!”Suddenly, Jackson’s phone, which was on the living room’s coffee table, rang. Mark picked it up for him; Summer’s loud voice came through the speaker. “You brat, what did you do with $150,000? I didn’t hear about the company needing funds recently, what did you spend it on? You aren’t up to no good, are you?”Mark pulled the device away from his ear, feeling his eardrums crying a little. “Mrs. West, it’s me, Mark. Jackson’s busy. I know about this. He isn’t spending it unnecessarily, so don’t you worry. He’s not a kid either, and $150,000’s not a lot.”When Summer heard Mark’s voice, her tone became much gentler. “Oh, it’s you, Mark… Sure, I’m at ease with you watching out for him. Isn’t he with Tiffany now? I’m just worried that he’s out with questionable women again. I can’t keep my rein on him usually. You’re his bro, help me out. You’re already marri
Upon receiving the text, Mark deleted it after reading it. Something improper like that did not have a place in his phone…He rolled up his sleeves to help Arianne with the dinnerware. When Arianne saw that he was actually getting to work, she quickly stopped him. “No need to help me. It’s just washing the dishes. You don’t know how to anyway…”Mark spoke seriously, “I can learn. I’m not that dumb. Just leave them to me.”Giving him the benefit of doubt, Arianne allowed him into the kitchen alone, checking in on him occasionally out of worry to make sure that he could really do a good job.The floral fragrance from the shelf spread into the house from the air conditioning. Looking at the overflowing roses at home, Arianne felt speechless. Mark had not listened to her; she had asked him not to send her flowers anymore, but he still sent her a bouquet every day. If this went on, she would run out of space at home to keep them, and the shop did not need that many flowers too.Mark’s phone
Her voice was muted by him.Arianne was unable to get herself out of his grasp. When Mark’s kisses moved to her ear, she blurted, “Are you sure you love me? Or do you just want to do it? Mark, if you really wanted to be together with me, you’d give me time to accept you and accept the past, not force me to do this all the time! For now, I can’t accept that I’m together with someone who caused my dad’s death!”Mark froze. “Will you accept me if I give you time then?”Arianne did not know the answer. If he gave her enough time, would she really be able to accept him and what had happened in the past? She thought that she was most likely unable to do it because every time she saw him, she thought about her father’s wronged death and found it difficult to let go. The person whom she had once thought of as the most important person became the person who caused her to lose everything. How could she let it past?Her silence unnerved Mark. “Speak up! Will you try to accept me if I give you tim
As if seeing through her mind, Mark said, “I can give you time, but not so that you could dismiss me and drag my time along. You have to consider our relationship seriously. If you can’t do it, I’ll just take you back. Don’t ask me to give you up, I can’t.”Arianne felt like something was not right here. She frowned. “This isn’t fair. Either I agree to be with you in the end, or I’ll be forced to go back with you. Don’t I have the right to refuse? If I still can’t do it after consideration, I’ll have to go back with you, regardless—then what was the point of giving me time? To let me persuade myself to be with you? Don’t you think that your request is unreasonable? Normally, shouldn’t it be you giving me time to consider, and if I can’t get it past myself, we’ll go our separate ways?”Mark looked at her and pronounced each word clearly. “That’s right. Me giving you time is only for you to get used to it, to recognize the fact that you won’t be able to leave me. Ever. It’s not for you t
Tiffany was quite astonished. “That works too? They didn’t get a divorce, it’s been years since you saw him, and you don’t even know if he’s dead or alive. Isn’t that too much? If there’s no feelings between them, isn’t it better to get the divorce? They’d both be free then. This, right now, is wasting away your mom’s time… Wow… Alright, I understand. If that’s the situation, we’ll leave your father out of this then.”Jackson was quick to shift the topic. “Since you’re fine, should I arrange it for tomorrow? Stay and keep me company today…”Tiffany glared at him without malice. “I’ve only just gotten back and you’re not letting me go home to my mom? We’ll still meet tomorrow. I’m not staying tonight. Behave!”Surprisingly, Jackson did not insist. “Okay… Go back to spend time with your mom. After tomorrow, it’s going to be ‘our mom’.”In the afternoon, Jackson sent Tiffany home and went to the West’s residence.Summer was home reading a book, carrying her dog. She did not show much of a
Tiffany pinched the inner part of his arm slightly. “My mom is still here. Could you please stop being all clingy?” Lillian said immediately, “It’s fine. Just enjoy your sweet romantic moment. Pretend that I’m not here.” When they reached the West family’s residence, Lillian’s back went stiff. The family residence alone was worth more than a million dollars. She was rather satisfied with her future son-in-law. Summer commanded the servants to clean up the entire estate thoroughly. She even asked the gardener to trim the plants in the garden. Further, she also had her Little Bean changed into an adorable white dress with a bowtie around its neck. When they entered the estate, Little Bean rushed toward Tiffany directly. Surprisingly, she found herself favored by the small animals. She then picked up Little Bean carefully since it was Summer’s pet dog. Summer always adored her pet dog, and she did not dare to be rough with it.Lillian looked at Little Bean and found herself drawn