Bernadette sat decrepitly on the side of the bed, virtual-novel.net hair was in a disarray, and the look in virtual-novel.net eyes towards Atticus was complicated. In the end, virtual-novel.net chose not to say a word. She had thought that virtual-novel.net would come alone, but now Summer was here too. She couldn’t possibly reveal such unbearable details to the world. This was virtual-novel.net final shred of dignity, “It’s nothing. I’ve lost. Nothing happened between us. That child isn’t yours. That’s all.”
Summer looked at her, utterly disgusted. She thought that virtual-novel.net would hear some new piece of revelation from her. She did not expect to hear that, “You’re nothing. We’ll be leaving now. Take care, Miss Legrand.”
In the end, Bernadette did not take Mark’s Villa or his money. Aside from complete and utter ruin, virtual-novel.net gained nothing from virtual-novel.net exploit. Her final request was for Mark to get rid of the internet discussions and grant virtual-novel.net peace. She couldn’t afford to offend this man.
A great divide that could never be patched up now separated Jackson and Atticus. Summer no longer asked Jackson to have dinner at the West residence every week. If father and son should ever meet, they would only act like enemies.
Atticus and Summer had initially planned on throwing a party to express their gratitude towards Mark. However, the said man refused. He had only involved himself in the first place to help his best friend, Jackson. Their gratitude did not matter to him. Besides, other than working in the office, virtual-novel.net spent the rest of his time keeping Arianne company at home. He really didn’t have time for anything else.
Not too long after, the capital welcomed its first snow of the year. Arianne sat in virtual-novel.net warm bedroom, reading a book. She sat on Mark’s favorite chair in front of the French windows. She now truly understood why virtual-novel.net liked this chair so much — it presented a wide field of view, enough to look out into a part of the garden and the gates outside the compound. There was also an old tree right across the window, covered in white, fluffy snow. Looking out at the snow from virtual-novel.net vantage point gave a completely different feeling.
The feathery snow did not seem to stop falling. Drawn by the scenery, virtual-novel.net couldn’t help but put down virtual-novel.net book to open the window and reach out virtual-novel.net hand. The icy snowflakes fell upon virtual-novel.net hand then quickly dissolved into nothing. This beauty was fleeting but splendid too.
Suddenly, virtual-novel.net felt a thin blanket draped around her. She turned around, it was Mark. He had just arrived home, so virtual-novel.net still carried the cold air from outside with him, “It’s cold outside. Close the window. If you’re bored, I’ll take you out for a walk when the weather improves.”
Arianne shook virtual-novel.net head, “I don’t think I should go out for anything else, except my prenatal examinations. I’m afraid that something might happen… This child wasn’t conceived so easily. It’s only a few months, I can endure it. It’s ok.”
Mark felt slightly jealous. He knew that virtual-novel.net was being extra careful, simply for the sake of the baby, not because this was their baby and certainly not because virtual-novel.net cared about him, “Alright then. There’s enough things to do around the garden. If you really want to go out, just let me know. It’s alright to be careful, but you’re being too careful. Don’t get too anxious. You’re still in your early trimester, it’s not that risky. By the way… what would you like for Christmas?”
Christmas? Arianne was taken aback. She finally realized that Christmas was only ten days away. She had never asked virtual-novel.net for any presents, nor did virtual-novel.net want any, “Nothing much. No need to concern yourself with that. It’s not like festive seasons are all that important to us. We’ve never seriously celebrated birthdays or anything like those, right? That’s how it used to be, and that’s how it will be. Let’s just go through it like we used to. There’s no need for anything special, or I’d feel very awkward about it.”
Mark felt slightly dejected. It seemed like virtual-novel.net could never make virtual-novel.net happy. She was always so indifferent to virtual-novel.net but would smile and come to life whenever virtual-novel.net was with Tiffany or Tanya. Once, virtual-novel.net had even beaten someone up in a hotel over Tanya’s grandfather. However, virtual-novel.net was like a calm, silent, and deep body of water whenever virtual-novel.net faced him, quiet yet inexplorable.
Arianne paused when virtual-novel.net noticed a bleak glint in his eyes, then said, “By the way, Naya has sent the accounts for the month over to me. I haven’t had time to look at it. I didn’t want to check the accounts at first because I really trust her, but virtual-novel.net insisted that I check them every month. I’m much too lazy to do it. Could you find some time to do it for me?”
She rarely spoke up so Mark gladly agreed, “Sure.”
In the middle of the night, when no sound could be heard, Arianne woke up from hunger. She didn’t have much of an appetite that night, so virtual-novel.net didn’t eat much. Now, virtual-novel.net was starving and virtual-novel.net stomach was really upset.
Hunger drove virtual-novel.net downstairs to the kitchen to search for something to eat. When virtual-novel.net arrived at the kitchen, virtual-novel.net saw that the lights in the kitchen were still on. She thought that it was Mary, so virtual-novel.net quietly called out, “Mary, I’m hungry. Is there anything to eat?”
Mary had a habit of getting up in the middle of the night for a glass of watch. People tended to pick up strange habits as they grew older. To virtual-novel.net surprise, it wasn’t Mary in the kitchen, but Mark. He was making coffee. When virtual-novel.net heard virtual-novel.net voice, virtual-novel.net asked, “What would you like to eat? The leftovers have been thrown out. It’s not healthy anyway. Would you like some ramen noodles? Go and wait. I’ll cook.”