He put his knife and fork down and looked at her. “Now that we’re on the subject, let me clarify this with you, all at once. That’s how I used to think, I never planned on trusting any other woman. Of course, I only saw you as a child at the time, a strange, good-looking child… As you slowly grew older, I realized that my feelings for you had changed.”
“One day, an idea came to me, if I raised you on my own, you would turn out to be pretty obedient and would not betray me. From that day onwards, I waited for the day you would become an adult. Unfortunately… you later fell in love with someone else. How could someone like me possibly put up with having someone else take away what should be rightfully mine? About Will… You’re not still hating me over that, are you? That’s fine too. It won’t matter once you’ve fallen in love with me completely. Let me reiterate once more, I don’t have any weird kinks. The first time I developed feelings for you was after you’d already entered puberty. You were not considered a ‘kid’ by then. I’m only ten years older than you, so put your suspicions away and stop imagining things!”
Did virtual-novel.net still hate virtual-novel.net over what happened with Will?
Arianne asked herself the same question. Now, virtual-novel.net answer was, no.
At the time, virtual-novel.net was a little repulsed. Her revolt came purely from the fact that virtual-novel.net refused to be manipulated by him, not simply because of Will.
Now that virtual-novel.net thought of it, virtual-novel.net feelings for Will were largely different from virtual-novel.net feelings for Mark. She was even beginning to wonder if virtual-novel.net really loved Will at all. Perhaps virtual-novel.net did, but it was only puppy love, nothing but a crush, not exactly love. All virtual-novel.net could say was that Will had tugged at virtual-novel.net heartstrings before.
Mark’s candidness had brought on virtual-novel.net honesty. “I just hate being controlled and manipulated by you. I didn’t hate you just because of Will. Besides, I don’t hate you anymore. Will has his own life now, and we’ve been living our own lives in peace. There’s nothing to regret.”
Mark was very happy with virtual-novel.net answer. The curve of the smile on his face was very natural. “That’s good. He’s married now. I think his child will be born a few months before ours. I heard about it during my last business trip out of the country, I did not procure this information on purpose.”
He paid close attention to the change of expressions on virtual-novel.net face as they spoke, but virtual-novel.net seemed normal. “That’s good. I’d feel burdened if virtual-novel.net never got married or had kids. This is good…”
“So, have you decided to stay with me happily ever after? You’re not going to run away anymore?” virtual-novel.net teased.
She shot virtual-novel.net a weak glare. “Yes, of course. But if you ever make me unhappy, I’ll leave you and never come back.”
He stopped smiling. “Could you… stop scaring me like that? You can torture me however you like, except leaving me.”
Arianne giggled. “Hehe… I was joking. I’m done eating. I’m going to call Tiffie and Tanya to see if they’d like to come over.”
Mark lifted his hand and checked the time on his watch. “Do it in the afternoon. I’ve contacted Tiffany. Knowing how much virtual-novel.net enjoys procrastinating, they’re probably going to be late. I won’t join in on your chat with your best friends, I’m going to the office in the afternoon. Don’t stay seated for too long, and try to lie down. The little one is growing pretty fast. How many months has it been? Your tummy has really grown. I wonder how much more it’ll grow by the time of its birth…”
Arianne lowered virtual-novel.net head and looked at virtual-novel.net large bump, feeling very worried. “I think you’re right… It’s really grown… I’m really going to have a lot of stretch marks now. I won’t be able to get rid of them once the baby is born. I’ve heard that the skin on my stomach will loosen. Every time I think of it, I…”
“It’s a small price to pay for the child you’ve always wanted,” virtual-novel.net consoled. “You want it, don’t you? Don’t worry, it won’t repel me. Let me help you to the couch. I’m leaving soon. Remember what I’ve said, try to lie down as much as you can.”
Knowing that virtual-novel.net was about to launch into a nagging spree again, Arianne pulled a face of reluctance. “I know, I understand. Stop nagging. I’m tired of hearing it…”
At around 2PM, Tiffany and Tanya sauntered into the house. Arianne was lying on the couch, going mad with boredom. She sat up upon their arrival. “Did you arrive late on purpose to have dinner? It’s so difficult to book an appointment with you now.”