Right when virtual-novel.net stepped into the condo, virtual-novel.net received a bolster that was flung at his face. The old woman reclined on the couch, railing at him, “If you can’t take care of me, why did you ask me to stay?”
Mark’s gaze sank as virtual-novel.net internally recited a mantra: ‘No matter what happens, this is Arianne’s grandmother.’
He had to address virtual-novel.net as “grandmother” too. He had to contain his temper…
He picked up the bolster and walked towards the couch, “I’ll help you to the toilet.”
The old woman casually locked virtual-novel.net arms around his neck and hung off his body, “You’re pretty solid, kid. I thought you and Arianne had a divorce? Why are you still trying to gain brownie points?”
Mark’s mind was buzzing, “We did not get a divorce… She’s still my wife. I did something bad, so she’s angry with me.”
The old woman shot virtual-novel.net an irritable glare, “What did you do? Did you have an affair? You rich men are all the same. You can’t even handle your own shit, why are you concerning yourself with me? I’ve been cooped up here all alone with no one to talk to, and I have to wait half a day just to get a glass of water.”
Mark did not bother to explain too much. All virtual-novel.net wanted was to fix the problem in front of him. He now had a rough idea of how exhausted Arianne was after pandering to this old woman at every moment of the day.
Actually, the old woman wasn’t completely immobile. She could pretty much do everything herself once virtual-novel.net was sent to the bathroom. Once virtual-novel.net was finished, virtual-novel.net called Mark again and asked virtual-novel.net to send virtual-novel.net back to the couch. Mark sensed something, “You don’t actually want to stay with Ari, do you? That’s why you’ve been making things difficult for her.”
The old woman stared at virtual-novel.net serenely, “You truly are a businessman. You’re smart enough. Arianne doesn’t owe me a thing. She’s still young. Why should virtual-novel.net be saddled with an old woman like me? She’s as kind as virtual-novel.net father. She still took me in, even though I never came for virtual-novel.net that year… I feel guilty. How could I take advantage of virtual-novel.net like that?”
Mark fell momentarily silent and said, “You are virtual-novel.net grandmother. Of course, she’d take care of you. Don’t overthink it. The Tremonts can take care of you too. Except, virtual-novel.net doesn’t want to come home with me just yet… We had a few cracks in our relationship, that’s how things ended up this way. If you really do have virtual-novel.net best interests at heart, tell virtual-novel.net to come home. Then, you’ll have an army of servants at the Tremont Estate for you to order about as you please.”
The old woman was now suspicious of his actions, “Shouldn’t you be hating us? That plane crash was pretty scandalous. Why are you turning around now? I’m not afraid of you laughing at me, so I’ll just say it. I was afraid of being made to compensate you Tremonts. That’s why I stayed away and didn’t take Arianne with me. She says… that virtual-novel.net father was innocent in that plane crash?”
Mark frowned, “It’s all in the past. I love her, that’s enough. Besides… you really don’t owe the Tremonts a thing.”
He was reluctant to give virtual-novel.net the full story. The old woman could see it, so virtual-novel.net did not prod virtual-novel.net any further, “You just want Arianne to go back to the estate, don’t you? I don’t intend on relying on you for the rest of my life, but I can’t leave until my legs get better, so I’ll give it a try before then. Naturally, it would be best if virtual-novel.net could go back with you. What girl wouldn’t want to be a Tremont? All of virtual-novel.net basic needs would be taken care of, and she’d have no worries. She’d have everything virtual-novel.net could ever want and more.”
***
The capital.
During lunchtime, Tiffany put on an eye-mask and a neck pillow, then leaned against virtual-novel.net office desk to take a nap. The strength virtual-novel.net held for the day depended on this short period of rest. She wouldn’t have any energy for the rest of the work day without this nap.
The entire office was initially quiet, as everyone had gone off for their lunch break together. However, later on, some people leisurely strolled back into the office after having their lunch outside. They talked as they walked together, bringing noise into an initially tranquil world. It was unbearable.
Tiffany stayed silent despite feeling annoyed, as virtual-novel.net knew that virtual-novel.net nonconformity would be punished. She was still a newcomer and could not afford to cause a scene.
Suddenly, an ear-piercing statement assailed virtual-novel.net ears, “I saw it myself. She’s a new intern, still on probation, but virtual-novel.net carries a handbag worth five figures. She may look decent on the surface, but who can say if she’s someone’s mistress?”
“Seriously? She already has monetary support. Why is virtual-novel.net working? What’s wrong with being a bird in a gilded cage? Why is virtual-novel.net running around for us?”
“What? Are you pitying her? So what if we make virtual-novel.net our runner? The fact that she’s that kind of a person allows me to order virtual-novel.net around with a clear conscience. I want virtual-novel.net to understand that while virtual-novel.net is treasured among men, virtual-novel.net is an errand girl in this office.”
Regardless of Tiffany’s level of intelligence, virtual-novel.net knew that they were talking about her. One of them was obviously Henrietta, the woman who had kicked up a fuss with her. When had Jackson become a man who would put virtual-novel.net in a gilded cage? She couldn’t take it anymore.
She let out two dry coughs on purpose. Henrietta and everyone else immediately stopped talking. However, they only paused momentarily. They then lowered their voices and continued their discussion, “So what if she’s overheard us? What, virtual-novel.net can do whatever virtual-novel.net pleases, but we can’t talk about it? This is going to bring bad vibes into our working environment. The sooner virtual-novel.net leaves, the better!”
“Okay, that’s enough. We can talk about these things in private.”
“I want to say it in front of her. Otherwise, she’ll think we’re talking about virtual-novel.net behind virtual-novel.net back. She’s guilty and too afraid of confronting us. Otherwise, virtual-novel.net would have jumped at us immediately after overhearing us.”