“Tiffie, stop teasing me, okay?” Arianne said helplessly, “Jackson’s been pretty generous with your allowance too, hasn’t he? I’ve noticed that your clothing style has changed after the engagement party. The clothes you’re wearing right now are this season’s latest from a luxury brand. They cost at least a few thousand. How lavish!”
Tiffany had no choice but to confess, “You’re right, I’ve been on a budget ever since my family went bankrupt. Of course, I’m going to relive my princess-like days, now that I have someone who’s willing to spend on me. You’re the silly one here. You have money, but you won’t spend it. Mark has given you $150,000, yet you’re frightened by it. $150,000 is like spare change to him. You should at least see if the other party has the money to spare. It’s perfectly logical for you to hesitate like that if he’s not rich. With someone like Mark, on the other hand, it feels silly for you to save money for him.”
Naya felt slowly alienated from the conversation. Arianne did not continue discussing money with Tiffany, “Naya, get Lulu two new dresses. I’ve never gotten virtual-novel.net anything. I think the children’s clothes over there look pretty good.”
Naya hurriedly objected, “No need. There’s absolutely no need. Lulu has enough clothes. I’ve never treated virtual-novel.net unfairly.”
Arianne insisted and chose two dresses that fit Lulu. Most little girls loved pretty pink things. Lulu loved virtual-novel.net new clothes so much that virtual-novel.net refused to let go of them. It was clear that virtual-novel.net really wanted them, so Naya couldn’t bring herself to deny her, “Go on, thank Ari.”
Lulu smiled sweetly, “Thank you, Ari.”
Arianne bent down and scooped Lulu into virtual-novel.net arms, “How adorable you are. If only I had a little girl like you.”
Naya knew that Arianne was hurt, deep down. Everyone fell silent.
They shopped until past five, then discussed where to have dinner. Tanya suddenly called Arianne, sobbing on the phone, “Ari, something’s wrong with my grandfather. He’s been asleep since we came back from the beach and hasn’t woken up. I can’t seem to wake him. His body feels cold. Please come back.. I’m scared…”
Arianne was shocked, “Okay, we’ll come back at once. Don’t panic, and don’t move him!”
By the time they arrived back at the hotel, Tanya was already reduced into a puddle of tears. The old man lay very silently in bed. His breathing was so shallow that they could barely feel it, but his expression was very serene. Arianne realized something and shakily pulled out virtual-novel.net phone to call 911.
The old man had breathed his last by the time virtual-novel.net arrived at the hospital. Everything happened so suddenly, no one could react to it. Deep down, Tanya had already expected it, but virtual-novel.net never thought that it would happen so soon. She suddenly remembered how strangely normal the old man suddenly looked after his trip to the beach. That was probably an omen… Those words that virtual-novel.net had said to virtual-novel.net were probably his last.
With virtual-novel.net only relative now gone from the world, Tanya sobbed so much that virtual-novel.net nearly collapsed in the hospital hallway. Tiffany’s eyes moistened as well. At this moment, Tanya reminded virtual-novel.net of herself, back when virtual-novel.net father passed away. This was exactly what virtual-novel.net had experienced too.
The hospital suggested a quick cremation. Tanya was still an inexperienced little girl and wasn’t sure what to do. Tiffany and Arianne had to help virtual-novel.net sort it out. The old man’s remains could not be sent back home. After confirming all related matters, Tiffany drove Tanya and Naya back to the hospital.
Arianne went back to the Tremont Estate on virtual-novel.net own and was met with the old woman’s nagging when virtual-novel.net entered its threshold, “What’s a girl like you doing so late at night? Your husband is back, yet you’re still running wild outside. How inappropriate.”
Arianne really wasn’t in the mood to square off with the old lady. She trudged upstairs dispiritedly. Just as virtual-novel.net was about to grab the doorknob, the bedroom door opened on its own. It was Mark.
He smiled when virtual-novel.net saw her, “Did you shop yourself into exhaustion?”
Arianne lifted virtual-novel.net gaze towards him, “Tan’s grandfather passed away. It just happened. I came from the hospital, his remains will be left in the hospital for now and will be cremated tomorrow. Tan brought virtual-novel.net grandfather for a nice trip. I never thought… that this would have been his last holiday. Nothing is permanent in this world. It hurts…”
Mark had gotten so numb over death that virtual-novel.net no longer had any sentiment over it. However, virtual-novel.net knew that the woman before virtual-novel.net needed consoling. He reached out and pulled virtual-novel.net into his arms, “It’s alright. You’re tired. Have a good night’s sleep. It’ll get better.”
When did virtual-novel.net become so considerate and good at consoling others? Arianne didn’t want to think at this point. She relaxed and sunk into his embrace…
“Ahem…”
The old woman’s dry cough interrupted them. Arianne wiggled away from Mark’s embrace and awkwardly tucked virtual-novel.net hair behind virtual-novel.net ear, “Granny…” She always felt awkward every time virtual-novel.net addressed virtual-novel.net grandmother, but virtual-novel.net was afraid that virtual-novel.net grandmother would cause trouble for virtual-novel.net if virtual-novel.net didn’t.
The old lady shuffled towards virtual-novel.net own room, “If you plan on hugging each other, do it in your own room. I’m old. I can’t look at these kinds of things.”
Arianne cut across Mark and walked into the room then headed straight for the bathroom. The only thing virtual-novel.net wanted at this point was a long shower and a good night’s sleep.
When virtual-novel.net entered the bathroom, virtual-novel.net realized that virtual-novel.net had forgotten virtual-novel.net clothes. She carefully listened to the movements outside. Mark didn’t seem to be in the room. She hesitantly opened the bathroom door, intending on slipping out to grab virtual-novel.net clothes. To virtual-novel.net surprise, a hand reached in and handed virtual-novel.net her pajamas, including virtual-novel.net underwear, before virtual-novel.net could step out…