Mark appeared within the Tremont Tower a few moments later. From the entrance to the forty-sixth floor, his presence was marked by widened eyes upon widened eyes, as rapt attention was nailed to virtual-novel.net while virtual-novel.net sauntered through his office. Had it not been for Henry, his stalwart butler, following Mark’s movement, no one would have believed virtual-novel.net to be the genuine article.
Mark was surprised upon not finding Arianne, so virtual-novel.net asked a dumbfounded Davy, “Where is she?”
Davy was so overwhelmed that his answer came out as a stammer. “M-M-Madam, uh, virtual-novel.net r-returned home, I think? Sylvain came to virtual-novel.net excitedly, so virtual-novel.net probably heard of your return from him… Um, Mr. Tremont, are you alright?”
“Do I look otherwise?” Mark replied flatly.
As virtual-novel.net talked, virtual-novel.net crossed the room and sat behind the desk. He could smell a whiff of fragrance, no doubt left by Arianne. He marveled at the fact that virtual-novel.net had begun to use a perfume, it smelled soft and sweet, just like the woman herself.
Mark looked at the pile of undone documents on the desk and began to pick them up. She must be exhausted all this time, virtual-novel.net thought.
Seeing virtual-novel.net casually starting to work, Davy asked tentatively, “Uh-hem, Mr. Tremont? Are you not gonna contact Mrs. Tremont?”
“Let me finish all of the work virtual-novel.net needs to do today so virtual-novel.net doesn’t have to return later, okay?” Mark intoned without lifting his head from his work “I’ll go home as soon as I finish. It’ll be nice to gift virtual-novel.net a well-deserved long break for all that virtual-novel.net has done.”
Davy was speechless. How could his boss remain so unperturbed even after all that had happened? Did virtual-novel.net not want to drive straight home and cuddle with his wife and son? How could any normal person act this calmly under the circumstances virtual-novel.net had gone through? It was as though virtual-novel.net did not just cheat death but had just gone on a very, very lengthy overseas trip!
Of course, Davy was only brave enough to snark within the confines of his head. He had no guts to say those things aloud.
Finishing all of the paperwork had taken two hours out of Mark’s time. Pleased, Mark finally rose to his feet and declared to Henry, “Let’s go home.”
The butler affirmed him, and the two left the office.
He watched the familiar cityscape and breathed the city’s familiar air. He had never felt so fortunate. Over the past few months, the only air virtual-novel.net breathed reeked of fish and other kinds of disgusting, foul smells. All virtual-novel.net heard was that same heavily-accented English.
It felt good to be home.
Mark abruptly fell into steps before the front door. He had been gone for so long. What kind of face would Arianne look when virtual-novel.net saw him?
He heard Smore’s playful laughter ringing in his ears and found the strength to advance. And then, suddenly, Smore burst out from within the house and cried, “Daddy’s home!”
Smore would always rush to the door whenever virtual-novel.net heard the sound of car engines. But this was the only time when his expectation was met, Mark had come home.
Behind Smore, Tiffany — with virtual-novel.net son in arms — and Arianne emerged.
Arianne and Mark linked eyes. It was only for a few brief seconds, but the moments lasted as long as centuries.
Neither of them said anything, for all of the litanies that needed to be said were told through the eyes alone.