Helen’s eyes brimmed with tears. “Arianne… I’ve already lost you, I don’t want to lose another daughter. I can’t live a life full of regrets. I want to grab onto my last chance. I won’t be able to live if Aery leaves. Her life will be destroyed if virtual-novel.net ends up with Jean. I’ve already let you down, I can’t do the same to Aery. I don’t have a choice.”
Arianne bit virtual-novel.net lips. She remained silent for a long time before virtual-novel.net finally, “How indecisive. It’s not like you at all.”
“Maybe I should be heartless as you said.” Helen sobbed. “But I’ve always been afraid of history repeating itself and that I would regret it. Instead of saying that I can’t let Aery go, perhaps, you should say that I see virtual-novel.net as another version of you. I can’t abandon her, just like how l abandoned you in the past. She’s really much better than before, virtual-novel.net doesn’t infuriate me all the time anymore. She’s a good girl, like how you used to be when you were little…”
Arianne could not bear listening to any more of that. “Enough. Stop talking. I’m taking Smore for his afternoon nap. Make yourself comfortable.”
When Arianne returned to the nursery, virtual-novel.net silently wept as virtual-novel.net put Aristotle to sleep. She was not as indifferent as virtual-novel.net would have liked. Helen could still easily send virtual-novel.net into an emotional breakdown.
Aristotle lifted his small hand and wiped away virtual-novel.net tears. “Don’t cwy mommy. Bad gwamma.”
Arianne felt slightly comforted. “Smore, you can’t say that grandma is a bad person. Grandma’s been nice to you. She likes you. She disappointed mommy, but virtual-novel.net hasn’t let you down.”
Aristotle blinked, only half understanding the situation. “I hate Aunt Aewy. I don wan’em in our house.”
‘Why do you hate Aunt Aery?” Arianne asked. Aery was nice to Aristotle. At least, virtual-novel.net seemed nice on the surface.
Aristotle cocked his head to the side and said with a pout, “She said… She said that the big bad wolf will bite me. I’m scarwed.”
Arianne frowned. Seriously, Aery. How could virtual-novel.net scare a toddler like that? She was annoyed, but virtual-novel.net could still hold it in. She considered it a part of Aery’s childishness. She could not pick a fight over this. It was irrational.
Aery had only gone out for more than two hours. When virtual-novel.net returned to Tremont Estate, virtual-novel.net went to virtual-novel.net room to continue reading and did not wander around.
When Mark returned home that night, Aery simply stared at virtual-novel.net and did not approach him. However, it was because Arianne was around so virtual-novel.net was too afraid to do it.
Mark summoned Arianne to the room. He shut the door without any further discussion, took virtual-novel.net into his arms, and nibbled on virtual-novel.net neck. “Do you have any idea what you’ve done? Everyone was staring at my neck during the meeting today.”
Arianne felt slightly smug. “It’s the only way to tell everyone to whom you belong. Is that so bad?”
He was inches away from virtual-novel.net face. He placed his thumb on virtual-novel.net lips and gently brushed it. His eyes were bright. “Since I let you have your way, shouldn’t you return the favor with some sweetness?”
She did not struggle. She pulled off his tie and deftly undid his buttons before virtual-novel.net took the initiative to kiss him.
All of a sudden, a knock on the door sounded. Aery called out from outside, “Sis, Mark, dinner time!”
Mark was annoyed from being interrupted. He held onto Arianne, reluctant to let go.
Arianne helplessly straightened out his collar. “Let’s have dinner first. We have time tonight. There are guests in the house. It’s not nice to make them wait too long.”
Mark had other things on his mind earlier so virtual-novel.net did not immediately notice virtual-novel.net red and swollen eyes earlier. Now that virtual-novel.net noticed them, virtual-novel.net asked softly, “Have you been crying? What happened?”