Chapter 2 Deeply Rooted

Arianne was too scared to resist. This had happened countless times in the past.

“Sir, it’s meal time.”

Butler Henry’s voice rang from outside the room, sounding like a savior that had just come from the heavens to rescue Arianne.

Butler Henry had served the Tremonts for decades and had watched Mark Tremont grow up, thus Butler Henry carried some significance to the latter.

“I see,” Mark Tremont replied casually.

Arianne Wynn opened the door immediately, fleeing for her life. Mark’s words still echoing in her mind.

“You’re turning eighteen in another half of a month?”

His question shattered the peace within her. She was well aware of what turning eighteen meant.

Mark Tremont left the house after the meal, giving Arianne a sense of relief as she drifted to sleep on the small bed in the storeroom. She had lived here in the storeroom for ten years. To a certain extent, the Tremont Estate was her second ‘home’.

Her slumber tonight was not in repose. She asked her father repeatedly in her dream, “What actually happened? Is what they told the truth?” The only response she received was her father’s smile, followed by the sight of his back before he boarded the plane.

The crash killed all seventeen passengers aboard the Tremonts’ private jet, including Mark Tremont’s parents.

The media extensively reported that the accident was due to the pilot’s mistake, however, rumor has it that the pilot was drunk before flying the aircraft.

Arianne Wynn’s father, Zachary Wynn, was the Tremonts’ private pilot. He was labeled the public enemy, even long after his death in the aviation crash.

Toward the end of Arianne’s dream, she saw Mark Tremont taking her home. No one understood why he would take care of the sinner’s daughter.

Eight-year-old Arianne was brought into the Tremont Estate while holding onto Mark Tremont’s hand. Back then, Arianne had naively thought as both of them were orphans, perhaps this was his sincere kindness.

However, once the doors shut, her hand was flung away as Mark Tremont stared down at her icily.

“Your father is dead. You shall repay for his sins.”

The hatred that enveloped eighteen-year-old Mark Tremont nearly devoured Arianne. From that moment onward, she understood perfectly that he was not here to help her…

When Arianne woke up from her dream, the sun had already risen. Holding onto her feverish forehead, she watched the falling snowflakes outside through the tiny window in the storeroom. “It’s snowing huh…” She said with a faint smile.

“Ari, bundle up. It’s going to be cold today since it’s snowing. Don’t you catch a cold with that petite body of yours.”

Mary was concerned for her just as she had always been. Over these ten years, no matter the season, Mary would always shower her with a few fond reminders once she woke up.

Arianne hummed her acknowledgment and put on her only coat to fight the cold weather. When Mary saw Arianne as she was going out the door, she felt a twitch in her nose.

“Ari… ask for some money from sir and buy some new clothes. You’ve had this for years. Girls like you should be spending at this age. Look at you…”

With a stubborn shake of her head, Arianne rode her beaten bicycle against the frosty weather.

Mark Tremont banned everyone from providing her with anything, money included. Any charity was to come from him and only him.

Ever since the age of eight, Arianne would try her best to please him for anything that she wanted. He disallowed her to call him brother, so she had always called him Mark Tremont… the name stayed deeply rooted in her mind.

The honk of a car beeped from behind Arianne, prompting her to cycle as close to the curb as possible. When a black Rolls Royce drove past her, she met eyes with Mark Tremont through the half-opened car window. The exchange was brief, the car zooming past afterward.

All of a sudden, the vehicle stopped in front of her. Subconsciously, Arianne stopped as well, supporting herself with one leg on the road while both of her hands rested on the bicycle handlebar. She waited quietly.