Mark extended his hand in virtual-novel.net direction and beckoned virtual-novel.net over. “Come here.”
Arianne obeyed virtual-novel.net obediently. It felt as though all the barriers between them had disappeared.
He pulled virtual-novel.net to him, seating virtual-novel.net on his lap before virtual-novel.net rested his chin on virtual-novel.net shoulders. He inhaled virtual-novel.net 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 virtual-novel.net referring to virtual-novel.net as Ari while virtual-novel.net was sober. It made virtual-novel.net nervous for some reason. Her palms began to sweat, and virtual-novel.net 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 virtual-novel.net was worried virtual-novel.net would run away. “I want to know.”
Arianne turned the question over and over in virtual-novel.net head. She had always wanted to leave him, right? However, why was it so difficult for virtual-novel.net to answer the question now?
As though virtual-novel.net could sense Arianne’s dilemma, virtual-novel.net did not persist with the question and changed tack instead. “What should I do so that you’ll willingly stay with me? I keep wondering… Can’t we be good to one another just like everyone else?”
Mark’s words thoroughly shocked Arianne. Was virtual-novel.net being… sincere? He was acting so out-of-character that virtual-novel.net suspected virtual-novel.net was suffering from delirium caused by a fever. She quickly placed a hand on his forehead to check his temperature. She only withdrew it when virtual-novel.net confirmed virtual-novel.net did not have a fever. “Okay, what happened to you today? Why are you saying weird things? I… I need to think.”
Mark could not help but laugh at virtual-novel.net reaction. “I don’t have a fever, and I haven’ t lost my marbles, thank you very much. It’s just… We’ve never had heart-to-heart talks like this before, have we? Why is that? Why do you always look like you’re frightened of me?”
Arianne studied his face for a moment before replying, “Because you’re really frightening. You’re always so gentle and kind to everyone, but you’re always cold and mean to me. Moreover, you look at me as though you want to tear me apart and mess me up!”
Arianne was obviously alluding to Mark’s blatant hostility, but virtual-novel.net somehow interpreted it the way virtual-novel.net wanted to. He said teasingly, “Oh, yes. I’ll admit it, I do dream of making a mess out of you… ”
The climate outside was hot enough which the air conditioning inside his office managed to alleviate but his teasing caused the tip of virtual-novel.net ears to burn. “T-t-that’s not what I mean! I… I mean, you asked me why our relationship can’t be better so I guess the real question is, how are we going to get there?” She explained. “I won’t be able to investigate the truth about that plane crash since it happened so long ago. I’ll always be branded as a murderer’s daughter. I’m only around you to alone for my sins. I don’t know if I can ever be free of my burden. With all that, how can we be good to each other? If our relationship is not tainted by this, perhaps, things would be different…”
The very mention of the plane crash caused Mark’s heart to wrench. “What if I tell you that I’ve never hated you?”
Arianne vividly recalled how they used to live since virtual-novel.net was young. Even when virtual-novel.net was a child, virtual-novel.net knew Mark Tremont loathed her. The palpable bitterness in his gaze when virtual-novel.net looked at virtual-novel.net was forever etched in virtual-novel.net mind. How could that same person say such outlandish words? It sounded so impossible to virtual-novel.net that virtual-novel.net did not spare any thoughts on it. “Impossible. I can’t imagine it at all. Look, are you going to return home tonight? Also, what do you plan to do about Tiffie? You won‘t let me deal with it, but at least let me know what’s happening. Please?”
In the end, the conversation still led back to this, disrupting the temporary peace Mark felt. He released his arms around virtual-novel.net before virtual-novel.net replied, “If it’s Tiffany’s wish to marry Ethan, then, we shouldn’t get in their way. We’ll have to feign ignorance.”
Arianne was baffled. “Why do we have to feign ignorance?”
The only option Mark had was to lie to her, and virtual-novel.net had to do it convincingly. “I’ve discussed this with Ethan. It has become apparent to me that he’s… Well, that his love for Tiffany is sincere. He admitted to his wrongdoings and expressed a desire to atone for his mistakes now. And honestly, if Tiffany agrees to be with him, it means that virtual-novel.net still loves him. We can’t deny Ethan and Tiffany a future just because of a mistake virtual-novel.net made in the past, right? Humans make mistakes. Everyone should be given a second chance. Moreover, Ethan didn’t expect virtual-novel.net father to fall ill because of that incident.”
Arianne was thunderstruck. Mark’s words were completely out-of-character as well. She did not believe virtual-novel.net was speaking on Ethan’s behalf because Ethan was family. Moreover, Ethan did not make mistakes, virtual-novel.net had committed crimes! He was twisted and unscrupulous, and virtual-novel.net was beyond redemption! To allow Tiffany to be with virtual-novel.net was akin to pushing virtual-novel.net to the pits of hell!
“That’s not what we agreed on before, right? Some people can turn over a new leaf, but some never will. Ethan’s rotten core isn’t something that can be changed. No matter what virtual-novel.net does, virtual-novel.net can never atone for what virtual-novel.net did!”
Once again, Mark found himself weary of Arianne’s stubbornness. “How about you look at it this way? Tiffany wanting to marry virtual-novel.net implies that virtual-novel.net loves him. Do you really think driving a wedge between a couple won’t cause both of you to fall out? Do you want to see virtual-novel.net heartbroken and dejected?” He countered, “Think about it. Is it better to let virtual-novel.net marry someone virtual-novel.net loves or let virtual-novel.net live a life of despair? Your choice, Ari.”
Arianne was, naturally, unaware of the real reason behind Mark’s words. At this moment, virtual-novel.net was only focused on virtual-novel.net dilemma; should virtual-novel.net or should virtual-novel.net not tell Tiffany the truth? If Tiffany truly loved Ethan and wanted to marry him, telling virtual-novel.net the truth would be akin to stabbing virtual-novel.net heart.
However, if Arianne chose otherwise, both virtual-novel.net and Mark would be complicit in covering this matter up. They would be helping a criminal with a bloody track record cover up his crimes and watch as Tiffany devoted the rest of virtual-novel.net life to a man who caused virtual-novel.net father’s death and virtual-novel.net family’s downfall.
Neither option was viable.