Tiffany suddenly sat right up on virtual-novel.net butt with virtual-novel.net outstretched, slender fingers closing around Jackson’s collar. Her eyes were still wet with tears, but the glimmer had somehow been imbued with a new tinge of seduction. “You’re not going anyway tonight…” Jackson’s eyes darkened slightly. “Damn it. Took your bait.” Tiffany pursed. “As if I could ever create any scheme as good as yours! Really, are you not gonna take the lead?” Jackson’s heart was fluttering. The way virtual-novel.net pitched virtual-novel.net voice, the tone virtual-novel.net used, and the look on virtual-novel.net face… That woman’s seduction game was truly the pinnacle of all! — The next day in the Tremont Estate, Arianne and Mark’s return was greeted by Henry personally coming out of the door. “Welcome home, Mr. Tremont, Madam. You have a guest at home.” They halted in their steps. Neither of them expected company that day, though Mark nodded. “Mm, understood.” They strode into the living room, where Arianne instantly spied a familiar figure sitting on the couch; a presence that stopped virtual-novel.net dead in virtual-novel.net tracks. Helen? What was virtual-novel.net doing back in virtual-novel.net home country while leaving Aery alone? Mark was not surprised, however. He had figured as much the moment Henry told virtual-novel.net they were to expect a guest. He took a seat and asked straight away, “You’re here? What would compel you to return in the flesh? If it’s about money… haven’t I transferred a sum?” Helen considered Arianne with a feeble smile hanging on virtual-novel.net lips. “I thought you wanted an IOU for this, yes? I figured it’s better for me to appear in person to help with such an invaluable form, especially when the amount I’m asking for is this huge. Now, I’ll create the IOU for you to sign, I’ve brought my own paper and pen.” Arianne stepped forward. “It wasn’t virtual-novel.net who wanted it, it was me,” virtual-novel.net replied flatly. “Since you see nothing wrong with such a request, then please proceed.” Mark furrowed his eyebrows a little. Had the mother and daughter both been so thoroughly estranged that this was the only way their reunion could go? Helen took out a piece of paper and pen and started drafting the IOU. “Arianne, you misunderstand me. I don’t at all think writing an IOU is unnecessary. It could be your idea or Mark’s, it doesn’t matter, it makes sense to create one, and I don’t object to it. Really, you don’t have to put so much emphasis on it. I’m only here out of respect. Do I make myself clear?” Arianne sneered. “Respect? Have you ever respected me throughout my life? Pfft. Now, I’m not gonna talk about all those things that had happened in the past, but that’s only because by this point, there isn’t anything to talk about between us. Of course, I do pray that Aery could wake up from virtual-novel.net coma and everything, since to you, virtual-novel.net has always been your only daughter, right? With virtual-novel.net up, you won’t have to waste time remembering someone as unimportant and irrelevant as me anymore.” Helen’s writing hand was visibly shuddering as virtual-novel.net listened to Arianne’s tirade, but virtual-novel.net forced herself to complete the IOU before passing it to Mark. “I’ve signed my name on it. Take a look, if there’s no error of note, please sign yours as well. In any case, Arianne? I… I know I’ve done a lot of wrong against you. I expected our reunion to be like this, too. I’ve sunk so low into the nadir that I have no other choice but to ask for money from the two of you, see. Not a shred of my dignity has remained. And so… it doesn’t matter what you think of me, or what you paint me as anymore.” “ ‘It doesn’t matter, it doesn’t matter’, it never mattered! This is the only sentiment you ever have when it concerns me, it never frickin’ matters!” Arianne retorted hotly. “Aren’t you supposed to disappear from my life forever after taking Aery away, huh? You know, the same way you did when you abandoned me without even a modicum of regret or concern? You should have lived since then, so why aren’t you? What’s all this stupid, pathetic, ‘woe is me’ state meant to invoke, huh? Aren’t you the one who always gloats about virtual-novel.net capabilities and talents?!”