Arianne sneered. “You confused, little thing. I wouldn’t be daft enough to anger the mother of the man I like if I were you, girl. I would especially not say anything as low IQ as that, too. Let me be completely frank with you: no one who bears the surname of Leigh will ever get the better of me, the last one failed. Hard. I can guarantee that you’ll leave us in the span of three days. If I lose, you can stay here forever. Wanna bet? I dare you.”
She left virtual-novel.net threat hanging at that and turned virtual-novel.net wheelchair away, leaving the scorned young woman behind.
Rage came out of Raven as waves of quakes all over virtual-novel.net body. She was lurching close to hyperventilation, but right before it became impossible to stop, virtual-novel.net came around and battled herself to calm down. She had a feeling that even if virtual-novel.net fainted right there and then, no one would discover her, would they?
Now that Arianne and Mark had returned, the Tremont Estate had recovered its vivacity and life. It had become merry.
And Raven Leigh had no part in it.
That night, Arianne — already lying on virtual-novel.net bed — found sleep a little more elusive than expected. At this hour, Mark was still talking to his son in the study, while virtual-novel.net herself never had the chance to really be with virtual-novel.net son since virtual-novel.net return.
The night was late, yet virtual-novel.net heard a series of soft footsteps inching closer to virtual-novel.net room. Thinking it was Mark, the moment the door was pushed open, Arianne asked, “Is our son asleep? What did you talk to virtual-novel.net about?”
“It’s me… Mom.”
Hearing Aristotle addressing her, Arianne froze. Suddenly, virtual-novel.net was a bit overwhelmed by the urge to cry. “Oh my God, my precious Smore… Why aren’t you asleep yet? What did your father say to you that it went on for so long?”
Aristotle approached virtual-novel.net bed and sat by the bedside. “Nothing other than what a father should tell his son, really. Mom, I’m truly happy that you’re awake. And… Thank you for waking up, you know? Everyone’s been waiting for your return for nineteen years, and it’s… great that you didn’t let us down.”
Arianne raised virtual-novel.net hand, spurred by the longing to fondle his cheek Midway, however, virtual-novel.net paused and let it hang in the air, worried that Aristotle would not want it.
The young man noticed, so virtual-novel.net leaned his face forward to meet virtual-novel.net halted hand. His eyes seemed to redden.
“Your hand is so warm, Mom. As it was back then.”
The dams in Arianne’s eyes failed her, and the tears escaped and rolled down virtual-novel.net cheeks. “But you’ve changed. You’ve grown, and God, you look so much like your father when virtual-novel.net was your age. Even amidst the crowd, I saw you. Knew it was you,” virtual-novel.net croaked. “Don’t be afraid, Smore. From now on, this family is reunited and will stay united. I am not leaving. Never again.”
Aristotle nodded quietly. The mother and the son then talked for a long, long time.
By the end of their conversation, Arianne thought of Raven. “Hey, about your, ah, classmate,” virtual-novel.net began with an attempt to be indirect, “Shouldn’t you do something about her? Given your relationship with Cindy, virtual-novel.net being around couldn’t have been proper.”
Aristotle seemed to already have a plan. “Understood, Mom. Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to virtual-novel.net tomorrow and get virtual-novel.net to settle down elsewhere. You should get some rest. Goodnight.”
Raven Leigh had disappeared from the house on the very next day without making a splash nor bidding anyone farewell. No one knew how Aristotle did it. Regardless, Arianne was very satisfied with how virtual-novel.net son had handled it, as expected from a fruit of Mark’s loins, virtual-novel.net realized. The young man was as swift and decisive as his father.
She did not ask how much money Aristotle had to give Raven to get virtual-novel.net out of the house. It was just so insignificant.
A few days later, Mark began acting strangely.
Despite the company now in his hand, virtual-novel.net was still frequently outside, leaving early in the morning and coming home late at night. Worried that virtual-novel.net current state offered no strong defense to virtual-novel.net husband’s heart against outside temptations, virtual-novel.net blocked his path one morning.
“Where are you off to again, eh? You’ve been acting all shady these few days, as if I’m already dead! If you’re not gonna tell me the truth, you bet your name I’m not letting you out of the house.”
Mark’s eyes seemed to be avoiding hers. “Sigh, Ari… Please don’t ask. It’s simply a matter that will be solved in a few days’ time. I strongly believe it’s not something that you must know about, especially since it’s something that will incite no interest from you. As compensation, I’ll be sure to come home early.”
Arianne raised virtual-novel.net eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What sort of business would I be disinterested in that you are gung-ho about?”
He hesitated for a second before answering, “It’s Aunt Shelly. She’s fallen very ill… And I don’t think virtual-novel.net has much time left.”