Tiffany called virtual-novel.net around noon. “Ari, Will still needs a bit more cash on his end. Are you going to sell the house? It’s fine if you can’t. I think we should be careful with this. What if Mark finds out? You’re not the only one who’s scared. So am I.”
Arianne sighed. “I’ll do it. I can sell it, as long as virtual-novel.net gets past this obstacle. Mark paid a lot of money for me to renovate Wynn Mansion. Now, I’ve used the money that Helen gave me to help Will. I can’t let Mark find out about this. I’ll look at the house this afternoon and get an agent to sell it, then have it sold as soon as possible. Did you say anything to Will?”
“No,” Tiffany answered. “But he’s getting suspicious. He has asked me where I got the money from, so I lied and said that I asked Jackson. He asked to thank Jackson, and I was so scared. I somehow managed to trick him. He has gathered quite a lot on his end too, so I think we’ll get over this once you’ve sold that house. Don’t worry. I won’t let Jackson find out about this either.”
Arianne went online after the call to check on the location of the house, which was worth quite a sum. At the end of the work day, virtual-novel.net went to a real estate agency and put the house on sale. The price was lower than other houses, as this was a rushed sale.
The house was sold in less than a few days. She signed the agreement with the new house owner behind Mark’s back and let out a sigh of relief once escrow was Closed. She gave the money to Tiffany immediately after receiving it so that virtual-novel.net could transfer it to Will in virtual-novel.net place.
Mark had been busy during this time and didn’t have time to be suspicious. Besides, virtual-novel.net had taken extra care to keep this from him, so it didn’t seem like anything would leak out. As time passed, virtual-novel.net gradually put the matter at the back of virtual-novel.net mind.
She received a message from Will more than a month later: ‘I know you gave me that money. Tiffie refused to say, but I know… Thank you for helping me. I’ll pay you back once business picks up. I wouldn’t have gotten through this easily if it wasn’t for you.’
Will seemed so sure. She wanted to deny it, but virtual-novel.net couldn’t find any way to persuade him. Hence, virtual-novel.net had no choice but to confess: ‘Mm, don’t worry about it. We were once friends anyway.’
Will didn’t reply. Arianne regretted using the word “once”. Were they not friends anymore? That word was rather hurtful…
Just as virtual-novel.net was in a daze, Mark suddenly walked towards virtual-novel.net with Aristotle in his arms. “Why are you staring into space? It’s almost Smore’s bedtime.”
She instinctively pressed the phone against virtual-novel.net chest as a hint of panic flashed across virtual-novel.net face. It made Mark’s gaze sink. He handed Aristotle over to virtual-novel.net with a deadpan look on his face. “I don’t check your phone, you know.”
She realized that virtual-novel.net had a lapse of character and forced a smile. “That’s not it… You’re overthinking. There’s nothing on my phone. I’m going to put Smore to bed.”
Mark nodded, turned around and went into the study. He sat quietly for a moment, then pulled out his phone and called Jackson. “You mentioned that Will’s company was in dire straits before and that virtual-novel.net needed money to turn things around, right? Tiffany lent virtual-novel.net some money, but do you think Arianne would have done the same?”
“I don’t think so?” Jackson replied hesitantly. “Tiffany’s been asking me for allowance money lately, so I asked virtual-novel.net what the money was for. Then, virtual-novel.net told me that it was for Will. I suspected Arianne’s participation at the time, so I asked Tiffany and virtual-novel.net denied it resolutely. She even added that Arianne’s relationship with Will was so awkward that virtual-novel.net would never have asked virtual-novel.net for money. Why are you asking this all of a sudden?”
Mark fell silent for two seconds, then said, “She was sending a message to someone behind my back, and when I approached her, virtual-novel.net panicked and hid virtual-novel.net phone screen away, afraid that I’d see. Besides… I’ve noticed that virtual-novel.net would go out behind my back from time to time, and it’s not to the office… Tell me, why won’t virtual-novel.net tell me, unless she’s feeling guilty?”