Now, who would say no to a vacation? Arianne immediately waved virtual-novel.net phone before chirping, “Well, then! Lemme ask for a half-day break from my Fearless Leader. Relax, I’ll have it settled in one late afternoon. Anything that’s gotta sway things to your favor, I’ll say ‘em. Remember to treat me to a good hearty meal for this!”
—
After virtual-novel.net lunch with Mark, Arianne headed straight to the Smith Estate.
Melanie was tidying Alejandro’s clothes in the bedroom. Every shirt and suit virtual-novel.net had touched was spotless and mint as though it were bought yesterday, stacked in the most orderly row one could imagine. Each of them had a scent, too a faint, but distinct fragrance resembling Melanie herself, refined, prim, fetching, and a little bit mulish deep inside.
“All this is your handiwork?” Arianne exclaimed in shock. Ever since things were official between Mark and her, Arianne had never deigned herself to any of these chores. With virtual-novel.net mind always trained toward developing virtual-novel.net career, domestic chores just never crossed virtual-novel.net mind. Who would have thought that a young woman of standing raised in a privileged family would get virtual-novel.net hands dirty on menial chores, and to do them to such sterling degree made it obvious that Melanie had ample chances to hone virtual-novel.net skill.
Melanie looked up at virtual-novel.net and flashed a smile. “Yea. He really hates it if any of his shirts spots a single wrinkle. Seriously, any furrow in his shirt is a furrow in his eyebrows, and then he’ll nag the ears of the nanny for a bit. In the end, I decided to just come in and do it myself,” virtual-novel.net explained. “He told me virtual-novel.net was going to properly discuss our divorce tonight, so here I am, tidying and sorting his clothes before virtual-novel.net pulls his hair trying to find the shirt virtual-novel.net wants but can’t. You’re free enough to pay me a visit, Arianne? Aren’t you supposed to be busy in the office?”
Arianne did not plan to hide virtual-novel.net intention. She simply dragged a chair over and sat, hoisting Melissa into virtual-novel.net arms to play with her. “It’s Alejandro. He drove to the company to look for me, so here I am, putting a good word for him.”
Stupefaction flickered in Melanie’s eyes. Her plan had always been to talk Mark and Arianne into helping virtual-novel.net case, so virtual-novel.net never expected Arianne to become Alejandro’s spokesperson. A prideful, haughty, arrogant man… stooping to requesting help from someone else? And for something like this?
Words failed Melanie all of a sudden.
Arianne sighed. “Alejandro doesn’t want this divorce to happen, plain and simple. What I think is… I got virtual-novel.net wrong, Melanie. He does have feelings for you. He didn’t just ask me for help over it, virtual-novel.net even talked to Mark about it. Seriously, the fact that virtual-novel.net went to seek counsel from Mark is quite a bombshell for me! I mean, you know how much virtual-novel.net hates anyone with Tremont as their last name… But I’m not gonna dwell on this. You should look at Millie. She’s still so young and virtual-novel.net was raised by you. Do you really have the heart to abandon virtual-novel.net and leave?
“Men are not exactly renowned for their patience. Maybe Millie would even get a horrible spank if virtual-novel.net keeps crying for virtual-novel.net mom, you know? Can you really live with that? I don’t think Alejandro’s beyond salvation, frankly, so maybe you should give virtual-novel.net a chance, in a sense, it’s like giving yourself a chance, too. He’s already trying to mend this, trying to right his wrongs. It was obvious to me the moment virtual-novel.net bought that car for you. Didn’t you notice that too?”
Melanie felt bubbles of ire rising within her. Melissa was an innocent, naïve little angel whose adorable smiles could thaw ice just the thought of leaving virtual-novel.net baby like this was like having a razor pressed into virtual-novel.net heart.
As though Arianne’s argument never crossed virtual-novel.net mind! In fact, Melanie had already decided that virtual-novel.net would wait until virtual-novel.net life alone was stable enough before discussing with Alejandro to take the daughter back for herself. She had wavered between decisions for so long, straddling along the line between two sides until virtual-novel.net chose divorce. Was virtual-novel.net cold? Maybe. But the coldest was not her-it was Alejandro, was it not? A man who would never seem to be warmed by anything virtual-novel.net did. Doubling down on that dogged, deluded clinging to warm his stone-cold heart would only bite Melanie with its frost until virtual-novel.net herself became just as frozen, just as stiff, just as numb.