Mark’s face turned even darker. “That’s what I want to know as well. Do you think I should cut Brian’s salary in half?”Arianne stifled a laugh. “Just ask him what’s going on tomorrow. You’re a man as well, so you should know that men would normally spend most of their time on their relationship at the beginning, so it’s normal for them to neglect their work. It’s not as though Brian has committed the same mistake several times. It isn’t a good idea for you to cut his salary right when he needs it the most. Relax, hurry up and get a nice, hot bath. I’m heading to bed first.”Mark quietly accepted her suggestion. He was not actually going to cut Brian’s salary, but the fact remained that Brian was neglecting his duties recently and Mark needed to sort it out with him.By the time Mark was done bathing, Arianne had already fallen asleep, Smore was on the bed as well in his mother’s embraces, completely cutting him off. Although there was a really big area all for himself, he was still
Brian immediately headed for the door. He was not so silly as to wait until Mark had gone downstairs and given him an earful. Arianne was literally his saviour that day. Mark noticed Brian’s absence when he went downstairs for breakfast and asked, “Where is he? He’s usually early, yet he’s still nowhere to be seen at this hour. Does he not want his job anymore?”Arianne handed Mark a bowl and said, “He was here earlier. I’ve asked him to get the car repaired. He won’t be back today, so you should just stay home and rest. I’ve lectured him for you earlier, so there’s no need for you to trouble yourself and lecture him again. Now, hurry up and eat. Take this medicine after you’re done. I’ve got some matters to take care of at the office today, so I’ll have to go out now. I should be able to come home earlier today. In the meantime, stay here and accompany Smore.”Mark looked at her with a faint smile and said, “Have you actually arranged my entire day’s schedule for me? This is a fir
Arianne contacted Naya straight away after finishing her errands in the afternoon. Unfortunately, she was told that the landlord had become rather desperate, so she had no choice but to bring her trip a day forward and fly tomorrow.She then filed for a week-long leave—one week being Mark’s upper limit on tolerating her absence. Since her flight was tomorrow before noon, she began preparing her suitcases right after managing to coax Smore into sleep.Arianne knew that this trip would be a costly one, so she took Mark's bankcard. The money Will returned to her was in it, along with the allowance Helen had given her. It was situations like these that made her private fund so useful.From his spot on their bed, Mark watched her with a scowl as she busied herself with preparations. “Aren’t you quite eager to leave,” he muttered.She kept her head low and continued packing. “Yeah. Schedule’s a bit tight. I’ve requested a one-week-leave, by the way, so expect me to come home within a wee
Smore was already wide awake. Arianne had, in a sweet gesture, placed the child next to Mark on their bed. When Mark looked, his eyes were met with Smore’s big, watery ones as he muttered, “Mwilk… Want mwilk…”Mark rubbed his face, forced himself to be awake, and carried Smore off the bed with one hand before heading down the stairs to make him some milk. Unfortunately, he had never done this before, and now, he was having trouble figuring out the amount of milk powder alone.He was just about to try filling half of the milk bottle with powder before pouring half a bottle of water when Mary quickly swooped in for the rescue. “Oh, Mr. Tremont! Let me handle this. It will take just a jiffy; you can distract Master Aristotle in the meantime. Now, if you’re in a hurry, you could always go. I’ll help Master Aristotle change first, then.”Mark still looked a little too blue. “I’m not in any hurry. I could go to my office a little while later.”Smore looked around him and started crying o
Alejandro looked up and met Melanie’s gaze. “No, you stay at home and take care of the child. I don’t need you sticking your hand into the business of my company. And the last thing I want is to be dragged into some stupid fight with you while I get all kinds of stress from work. Also, next time? Don’t talk to me with that asinine tone.”Melanie placed their daughter on the couch nearby as though she was ready for a throwdown with Alejandro. “What ‘asinine tone’ did I use? My God, don’t tell me you’re feeling worn out—not when I should be the one who’s sick and tired of all of this first! After all, look at my dear husband being emo over some other woman while neglecting his wife and daughter. How charitable do you expect me to be, huh? Or would you only turn around if I go to Tiffany and tell her to coax you back into your sensibilities?”Alejandro’s expression turned icy. “Enough! Any attempt to get close to her and you’re finished!”The poor baby watched her parents’ altercation
Alejandro drew out a long breath. “I know, alright? But why must Melanie pick a fight with me over a woman I can never have, huh? Sure, it might have been my plan to take back Tiffany for myself, no matter the cost or sacrifice. But I see it so clearly now: everything is moving away and apart. Everything’s developing toward an impossibility. That old scum had cut off my options even before he died, forcing me into this marriage and having a child I didn’t want, and then using them and other things to bind me from doing what I want. Even after death, he traps me with the shares of the company, and now, I can’t cut my ties with the Larks even if I wanted to!” he ranted. “Had it not been for that old bastard, Tiffany and Jackson would not have married! They wouldn’t have a child! And I wouldn’t have been stuck with Melanie! Christ, thanks to him, I’m now trapped into the role of Alejandro Smith…”Jett was surprised to hear something resembling resignation in Alejandro’s diatribe. “Mr. Sm
Alejandro licked the corner of his lips before an indecipherable smile took shape. “Jett, ready the car. We’re heading to the Tremont Enterprise.”He was going to get that contract done—of that, he was certain!Jett thought his ears were deceiving him. “Excuse me, but did you say… Tremont Enterprise? Where Mark Tremont is?” he blurted out. “Aren’t you trying to evade him, sir? Why are you showing up right on his doorstep now?”Alejandro flashed him a sly smile. “There was a legitimate reason in the past to evade him, but now, I have nothing to fear. There’s no need to hide anymore. Let’s go.”Jett glanced at the baby in his arms. “Are we bringing the little miss with us? Is… Is that appropriate?”He waved in dismissal. “Bah, take her with us. It’s not like we have anywhere else to place her.”They reached the Tremont Tower soon enough, and since they did not schedule an appointment beforehand, Alejandro was expectantly barred from entering the premises.Alejandro was not at all perturb
Alejandro understood Mark immediately and chuckled in response. “O-ho, all I know is that Arianne isn’t in the Capital for the time being. Why is the pot, who also spies on me regularly, so mad at the kettle?”He was not wrong. Both Mark and Alejandro had their eyes on each other’s every movement at all times. Mark was not in the mood to refute him or continue giving him attention, so he turned to the document in his hand.Unfortunately, Baby Melissa’s incessant bawls were so shrill and grating that it became a challenge just to stay focused. Frustrated, Mark looked up and snapped, “Can you shut your kid up? I can’t believe someone like you could live long enough to become a father. It’s like God wasn’t watching the world at all!”Alejandro frowned. “Wow, do you kiss your wife with that mouth? What, I can’t be a father too? Even if I don’t deserve to be one, well, I am one now; what are you gonna do about that? Besides, you’re just as ill-deserving of fatherhood, yet here you are!”