Arianne didn’t speak. She cautiously walked down the stairs and into the dining room. Mark looked at virtual-novel.net coldly. “You need someone to invite you to eat? Have I never taught you the rules?”
She sat down and started eating all by herself since virtual-novel.net was famished anyway. Besides, virtual-novel.net was certain that Mark wouldn’t do anything to virtual-novel.net in front of Helen. After all, virtual-novel.net still had that perfect image to maintain in front of others. Putting on a sour face was probably the most virtual-novel.net would do.
Helen looked at Arianne with a motherly gaze. “Mark, I am extremely grateful for all the care you have given to Ari in the past. As a mother, I can’t help but feel ashamed.”
Aery couldn’t continue watching the show. Before Mark could speak, virtual-novel.net interrupted, “Mark dear, you‘re such a nice person. To think that you could take in the daughter of an enemy and feed virtual-novel.net for a few decades.”
The expression on Helen’s face turned dark as virtual-novel.net tried virtual-novel.net best to suppress virtual-novel.net anger. “Shut up.”
Aery put on an innocent look. “Am I right, mom? Big sis is really lucky.”
Arianne’s hands froze. She couldn’t even swallow the food in virtual-novel.net mouth. This Aery Kinsey always seemed to be able to pick a good moment to disgust her.
Mark closed his eyes to wipe away the anger in his eyes. He then got up and said, “Enjoy your meal. I’m done. We’ll continue our talk later in the study room.”
Helen stood up and smiled at him. “Sure, thank you.”
Mark stomped his way upstairs in silence, naturally out of his anger toward Arianne.
After Mark left, Arianne felt more comfortable eating instead. Without any hesitation, Aery shot a look of disgust at her. “Seems like Mark dear is only feeding you enough to survive instead of pampering you like a high class lady. You eat like a starving ghost, it’s no wonder Mark dear isn’t attracted to you and finds you annoying. A woman like you will never be worthy of standing beside virtual-novel.net in public.”
Helen quietly hissed at her. “Shut up! I have warned you many times already, don’t…”
Before Helen even finished speaking, Arianne decided that virtual-novel.net had enough of virtual-novel.net ‘superficial care’. She said matter- of-factly, “Isn’t that why Mark keeps you around? Well, am I right, Aery? If virtual-novel.net had a perfect wife, a mistress like you wouldn’t even have any place to stand.”
Aery was fuming from getting scolded by Helen and taunted by Arianne. Feeling aggrieved, virtual-novel.net stormed upstairs to find Mark in the study room.
Helen and Arianne were left alone at the dining table. Helen let virtual-novel.net fervent gaze fall on Arianne, but the latter was disgusted. She could neither bear it nor have the desire to face it, so virtual-novel.net set virtual-novel.net cutlery down decisively. “Mrs. Kinsey, please take your time and enjoy the rest of your meal.”
The word ‘Mrs. Kinsey’ pierced into Helen’s heart like a needle. “Ari…”
Arianne ignored Helen because virtual-novel.net had no interest in seeing virtual-novel.net crocodile tears. She had no need for maternal love that came too late, especially if it was to make up for virtual-novel.net wrongdoings in the past.
It was around three in the afternoon when Helen and Aery were finally leaving.
When Arianne heard the commotion outside, virtual-novel.net felt irritated for some reason. Then all of a sudden, virtual-novel.net heard Helen’s voice. “Let me bid my farewell to Arianne. She didn’t look so good, I’m guessing virtual-novel.net must be feeling unwell.”
Arianne frowned then held virtual-novel.net breath. In the next moment, someone knocked on virtual-novel.net bedroom door. She flipped over and pretended to not hear it. Nevertheless, the door was still pushed open.