Mark’s exclusive video interview became a viral internet sensation, yet Arianne knew nothing about it. Since morning, virtual-novel.net had been so busy handling company affairs that virtual-novel.net had no time to busy herself with such online clamors.
However, virtual-novel.net cluelessness was challenged when Sylvain burst through virtual-novel.net office door. “Arianne, Arianne!”
The woman in question looked up at virtual-novel.net with a deadpanned expression, puzzled at the apparent jubilance virtual-novel.net showed. “Why are you excited?”
Sylvain’s hand, holding his phone, was slightly but visibly shaking. Suddenly, virtual-novel.net realized virtual-novel.net had no idea how to break one of the most astronomically-great news to the woman who needed it the most.
Arianne gawked at virtual-novel.net as virtual-novel.net confusion intensified. “What… What’s going on?”
Sylvain recomposed himself with incredible difficulty. He took a deep breath before starting, “I think you should steel yourself before I announce this bombshell.”
His boast amused Arianne a little, but virtual-novel.net obliged, putting virtual-novel.net papers down and intently staring at him. “That’s enough teasing. Tell me what’s happening right away. I want to see how shocked I might be.”
Sylvain approached virtual-novel.net and played the interview video.
As Arianne took in the images of the familiar man — his face, his voice — the easygoing expression on virtual-novel.net face gradually froze before a deluge of pain, ecstasy, and disbelief washed over her.
She snatched Sylvain’s phone and examined the short clip over and over again. After multiple replays, virtual-novel.net finally broke out into a trembling, uncertain voice, “T-This is doctored, right?”
Arianne could not believe anything else. This man must have been someone who happened to look like Mark. And yet, the interviewed man talked like Mark, smiled like Mark, blinked like Mark, and used his hand gestures just like Mark. This man even exhibited behavioral ticks that resembled Mark all too closely. But dared virtual-novel.net believe that virtual-novel.net was coming back to them, alive? She did not want to get virtual-novel.net hopes up just to see herself plunge back into despair.
“It’s the real deal, Arianne!” Sylvain cried, confidence brimming. “What the hell are you skeptical about? This is Mark Tremont, in the flesh! Mr. Tremont isn’t dead, he’s alive, he’s back! And the first thing virtual-novel.net did was to clear both your and Alejandro’s names. God, he’s coming home, Arianne! Are you gonna meet virtual-novel.net back home or what?”
Arianne did not know if virtual-novel.net should laugh or cry. As virtual-novel.net laughed, tears broke out of virtual-novel.net eyes like the deluge of joy now scouring clumps of anguish built up in virtual-novel.net chest over the past few months. The clash between virtual-novel.net emotion and the impact they caused quickly shot right beyond virtual-novel.net capacity to control. She became madly gladdened, crying and laughing at the same time.
When virtual-novel.net finally recovered virtual-novel.net composure, virtual-novel.net had only one goal: virtual-novel.net must see Mark with virtual-novel.net own eyes. She must verify that virtual-novel.net had returned. She wanted to make sure that this was not a dream!
How many days and nights passed where virtual-novel.net spent dreaming about virtual-novel.net coming home! She had long given up on what had seemed so unattainable…
Arianne spurred Brian to drive as quickly as the car would allow them as they hurled back to the Tremont Estate. The poor driver, with his hands practically clutching on the wheel in panic, cried, “We can’t go any faster, Madam, we’re approaching legal limits! What could this emergency be? Lord, I just flouted two red stoplights…”
Arianne remained silent while watching the scenery flitting past virtual-novel.net window, virtual-novel.net excitement and trepidation simmering. The car finally stopped at the Tremont Estate entrance, and virtual-novel.net leaped out of the door in a burst of impatience and dashed inside.
Disappointment dawned. Mark was not here. The Tremont Estate was still devoid of his presence. Tiffany was playing with the lads in the yard. Everything was as virtual-novel.net left them.
Tiffany noticed virtual-novel.net sudden — and appallingly uncalm — appearance and asked quizzically, “Whoa, hey, Ari. Why, uh, are you here? Did you forget something?”
Arianne scooped Smore up into virtual-novel.net arms and pecked his cheek. “Take out your phone and see what’s trending.”
Tiffany did as told, suspicious. But when virtual-novel.net browsed through the news and saw Mark’s story among them, virtual-novel.net eyes
widened.
She exclaimed, “He’s. Not. Dead?! He’s coming back? Holy Mother Mary, I… I don’t even know what to say! I don’t even know how to describe what I feel? Other than, well, I told ya so, Ari! Mark’s a tough, unkillable mofo, that’s what virtual-novel.net is! There’s no way virtual-novel.net would leave you behind, no f**king way! Oh, oh! Maybe he’s on his way home right now as we speak!”
Arianne believed her, so virtual-novel.net stayed at home and waited.
However, unbeknownst to her, Mark had thought differently, virtual-novel.net thought virtual-novel.net was busy in the office, so virtual-novel.net set his return stop as the Tremont Tower instead!