Brian took Aristotle away when they arrived. This was Shelly-Ann’s first trip to a beauty parlor since virtual-novel.net return to the country. She applied for a card with ease, it was clear that virtual-novel.net had done a lot of beauty maintenance when virtual-novel.net lived outside of the country too.
Shelly-Ann frowned when they entered the private room. “Did you have barbecue this afternoon? The smell is a little strong.”
Arianne felt awkward. “Yes…” Her entire body was covered with the smell of a barbecue grill. It was a stark contrast to Shelly-Ann’s body fragrance. The barbecue grill smell on Arianne wasn’t bad. It was just that… virtual-novel.net smelled like food.
When the pair lay down for their facial, Shelly-Ann suddenly asked, “How long have you been with Mark?”
Arianne was shocked. Didn’t Mark mention that? However, virtual-novel.net had to answer, “We’ve lived together for more than ten years, but if you consider when we really started living together… It’s been a few years.”
Shelly-Ann paused then said, “I can tell that virtual-novel.net really loves you.”
Arianne didn’t answer. This was so obvious, how should virtual-novel.net frame virtual-novel.net answer in a way that didn’t make virtual-novel.net look smug?
Having received no reply, Shelly-Ann asked, “You love virtual-novel.net too, don’t you? Your father would still be alive if it weren’t for his mother. How did you manage to fall for him, considering the circumstances?”
Arianne’s heart thumped. She instinctively opened virtual-novel.net eyes and stared at the esthetician who was massaging virtual-novel.net face. How could virtual-novel.net answer a question like that so easily? And in front of outsiders, to boot. This was an extremely private matter. It was clear that Mark did not have any reservations against Shelly-Ann. She knew everything from the moment virtual-novel.net arrived.
“Mark didn’t tell me that,” Shelly-Ann calmly explained, as if virtual-novel.net could read Arianne’s mind. “I guessed it on my own. I kind of knew what happened when I received news of his mother’s death. It was inevitable.”
Inevitable? What did virtual-novel.net mean by that? Arianne couldn’t understand it. The current situation was inappropriate, so virtual-novel.net couldn’t probe any further.
After emerging from the beauty parlor, Shelly-Ann suddenly eyed Arianne and said, “I refuse to believe that you don’t resent Mark at all. Since you hate him, why did you choose to be with him, get married, and have his son?”
Arianne was about to explain when Brian returned with Aristotle. Then, the group climbed into the car. Everything seemed fine on the surface, but a seed had been planted in Arianne’s heart. A seed that was taking root and growing wantonly. Did Shelly -Ann suspect virtual-novel.net of staying by Mark’s side for untoward intentions? This wouldn’t be the first time. She would have ignored virtual-novel.net if virtual-novel.net were some unrelated nobody. Unfortunately, virtual-novel.net was an aunt whom Mark respected.
When they arrived back at Tremont Estate, Shelly-Ann took Aristotle and summoned Mark to the study. Apparently, it was to discuss company matters.
Arianne was left all alone in the living room, like an outsider.
At night, in the bedroom during bedtime, when virtual-novel.net and Mark were all alone, virtual-novel.net carefully said, “I don’t think your aunt likes me very much.”