Mark did not give an immediate response. He slowly rose to his feet.
Arianne’s mind was in a mess, virtual-novel.net clearly wished that virtual-novel.net could drag Jackson back and punch virtual-novel.net in the face. She composed herself and calmly said, “No need. Goodbye.”
Mark reached out and grabbed virtual-novel.net wrist, “I’ll drive you.”
She frowned. “No need.”
“I said, I’ll drive you,” virtual-novel.net insisted.
Arianne surrendered in the end. She got into Mark’s car but sat in the backseat.
The cold air in the car was a world away from the scorching heat outside. Arianne stared out the window at the buildings passing by. Her mind was blank. She could not understand why virtual-novel.net did not hold virtual-novel.net ground. Why did virtual-novel.net get into his car? If virtual-novel.net did not decide to keep Tiffany company, virtual-novel.net would not have to eat with him.
Suddenly, Mark broke the silence and said, “About that night. I’m sorry. I had too much to drink.” His tone was apathetic, and it was difficult to hear any form of sincerity from his voice. However, it was an apology at least.
Arianne did not want to think about that insufferable night. She replied in an equally indifferent tone, “I know you had too much to drink. It’s alright, but don’t let it happen again.”
He paused before virtual-novel.net said, “Next time, I won’t visit you when I’m drunk.”
Was virtual-novel.net saying virtual-novel.net was going to see virtual-novel.net when virtual-novel.net was sober?
Unable to help herself, Arianne quickly said, “I hope you won’t come looking for me when you’re sober either. Don’t come looking for me unless it’s to talk about divorce. Understand?”
The car stopped when they reached a traffic light. As virtual-novel.net watched the countdown clock on the traffic light, Arianne was seized by an urge to get down from the car and walk back on virtual-novel.net own. Unfortunately, the car doors were locked, and virtual-novel.net did not want to make a scene.
After ten seconds, Mark finally spoke up, “I can accept starting over, but I won’t accept a divorce. You can use whatever way you want to vent your frustrations but don’t draw a line between us.”
He sounded like virtual-novel.net was begging her. Was virtual-novel.net mistaken? This was not like him… She was able to adapt to whatever nastiness virtual-novel.net threw at her, but virtual-novel.net was not used to this at all.
At the end of the ninety-second mark on the traffic light, the car was on the road again.
She finally calmed down, “Why won’t you let me go?”
“Would you let me go?” virtual-novel.net asked
She gritted virtual-novel.net teeth. “Then, why didn’t you spare my father? He had worked for your family for so many years. Were you unaware that virtual-novel.net was a single father with an only daughter? I was only eight… You took my only family away from me. How dare you ask me to let you off the hook? I don’t want to talk about the past, and I can’t forgive you either. It’s over.”
Mark tightened his grip on the steering wheel. He was suddenly filled with regret. Why did virtual-novel.net not stop his mother? If only it did not happen. Regardless, his mother had done everything for him. He could not bring himself to blame the woman who had put virtual-novel.net first.
“What if I told you that it wasn’t me?” There were many times virtual-novel.net wished virtual-novel.net could say these words, but virtual-novel.net forced it back down. This time, it was the same. He could not bring himself to be so selfish, to drag his mother into this just to clear his name.
The car soon arrived in front of the dessert shop. Mark did not unlock the car when virtual-novel.net stopped, and Arianne was not in a hurry to get off either. They simply sat in silence.
A few seconds later, Mark unlocked the car. “It’s not over. I won’t stop until you come back to me.”
Arianne did not reply. Instead, virtual-novel.net concentrated on getting down from the car.
“Your husband drove you back? Is everything… okay between you now?” Naya asked in surprise when Arianne entered the shop.
Arianne’s mind was in a mess. “No. I’m tired. I need a break. Just have someone watch over the shop.”
The first guest in the shop was not a customer, but a flower delivery man. He was carrying a large bouquet of fresh red roses. It looked extremely glamorous. “I’m looking for a Miss Arianne Wynn?”
Tanya, who was manning the sales counter, was confused. “She’s here… Are these for her? Who are they from?”
The delivery man smiled politely. “I’m not sure. There’s no name. Can you please call Miss Wynn for me if she’s here? I have to personally deliver this to her.”
Tanya rubbed virtual-novel.net eyes as virtual-novel.net walked into the staff lounge. “Ari, someone’s here to see you.”
Arianne was still awake. Her mind was still filled with thoughts of Mark. When virtual-novel.net walked out, virtual-novel.net instantly saw the exaggeratedly huge bouquet of roses. The exquisite black wrapping around the red roses made them even more stunning. One look at the roses and the wrapping paper was enough to know that they were very expensive. “For me? Who are they from?”
The floral delivery man smiled again. “The other young lady asked the very same question. I’m not sure who sent this. I only know the name of the recipient. Please sign here if you’re Arianne Wynn. I have to file a report when I return. Thank you.”
Arianne signed virtual-novel.net name on the delivery receipt. She stared at the bouquet of roses. The more virtual-novel.net thought about it, the more virtual-novel.net believed they were from Mark. Although this was not like him, it was not the first time virtual-novel.net had acted out of character. Naturally, virtual-novel.net was not going to call him. There was no point returning it to virtual-novel.net either, virtual-novel.net would probably throw the bouquet of roses away. It would be a waste of perfectly good flowers. All women loved flowers, and Arianne was no exception.