Upon hearing that, Mark was apprehensive. “He’s just been released from prison. Eating and living costs would be a problem, how could he possibly have the money to leave the country? Those parcels he sent to Helen came from an address in the country. Even if the parcels could be explained, his goal is Helen. He knows that Helen is in the country. Why did he leave the country? Isn’t that strange? Are you certain?”Henry shook his head. “There’s no mistake. I’ve found records of him leaving the country, just a few days ago.”Mark stroked his chin. “Did he escape overseas because he knows that I’m looking for him? It would be difficult to trace him if he’s not in the country. I wonder he found the money to leave the country? Plane tickets to Country X would be too expensive for him at this time. There are tons of people who would hit a man when he’s down. Who would possibly loan him the money after everything that’s happened to him? It wouldn’t be a small amount if you consider his dail
Aery leaned against the head of the bed and protested. “What are you doing? My leg hurts. Can’t you be gentle? Am I your daughter?”“If you work with an outsider, you’re no daughter of mine!” Helen snapped icily, “Answer me, did you give money to your dad?”Aery averted her gaze. “N-no… Why do you ask? I didn’t speak to him at all. We haven’t seen each other for a long time now, how can I possibly give him money? Will you calm down?”Helen refused to believe it. She pulled Aery’s wallet out. “You card. All I need to do is check your account, and I’ll know. You better reconsider. Are you going to come clean or do you want to go through your accounts before I deal with you?”Aery instantly looked like a deflated balloon. “It… It was me. Yes, I gave him money. I pitied him, okay? He just got out of jail and has no money for food. I only gave him the money you usually give me for my daily expenses and allowance. I saved the money, I have a right to spend it the way I want, don’t I? He’
Aery gritted her teeth and growled, “No, I’m not going! My foot still hurts so I need to stay here for recovery! If you wanna leave, fine by me, but as for me? I’ll stay. I hurt myself in an attempt to save Smore, right? Mark and Arianne can’t turn me away!”Helen, in a fit of rage, raised her hand, ready for another wallop. Aery quickly cowered, wrapping her head with her arms—a response that convinced Helen to push back her impulse. “Hey, Aery, if Arianne manages to piece out the truth about your injury—that you deliberately fell off the stairs while taking Smore with you—I swear, she’ll tear the life out of you!”Aery froze. Her lips thinned as she stared at her mother with wide eyes filled with fear. She knew better than to deflect Helen’s accusation with sophistry, especially since the latter had made it clear that she had already seen through Aery’s scheme. To her mother, the girl’s guile was as see-through as a toddler’s lie.Aery’s reaction was the last fuel to Helen’s fire.
Aery put just as much force in her voice when she rebuffed, “No! I’m not going! You wanna leave? Leave on your own!”Exasperated, Helen grabbed the closest clothing article her hand could reach and hurl it at Aery’s face. “Goddamn it, Aery, I’m telling Ariane and Mark about everything you have done!”“You know what? I don’t think you will,” the girl mustered enough bravado and defied. “To rat me out is to implicate yourself as guilty by association, which means you’ll lose what little dignity you have left to see Arianne. Isn’t your dream to have Arianne forgive you for abandoning her in the past? You’ll have no chance to make that dream come true if you tell her what I did. She’ll hate you just as much as she hates me.”Helen drew a deep breath and scoffed scornfully. “Well, well, you’re at least spot-on about that. Yes, I’m scared. But it doesn’t mean I don’t know how some people commit the same sin over and over again, Aery. Nor am I stupid enough to sabotage my reconciliation wi
Helen made sure her emotions were in-check before climbing up the stairs, this time for Arianne.Arianne was just about to fall asleep when quick rapping on her door stopped her. Groggily, she opened it and stared right at Helen before asking, “What’s the matter?”Helen appeared transfixed on the woman for a second too long, her eyes grave. Then, a quiet current of yearning broke through her gaze, and she finally said, “I’m leaving, Arianne. We’re flying tonight. Jean… He isn’t going to trouble you anymore. I also don’t know when the two of us will meet again in the future, so until then, promise me that you, Mark, and Smore will live happily forever.”Hearing her words chased away at least half of Arianne’s bleariness. “Why so sudden? And in the middle of the night, no less! Can’t you wait until tomorrow?”‘But if we wait until tomorrow, who knows what could happen?’ Helen countered in her mind. Outwardly, however, she merely replied, “It’s alright. We have to leave sooner or late
The next morning came, and Arianne went to work with a well-adjusted mindset.It was in her nature to do that. No matter how spoiled her mood was during the day before, the effects only lasted for a night, tops. She was indisposed to trapping herself with negative feelings for far longer than the problematic issue warranted.The first thing that greeted her in the office was Sylvain, who wore one of his most mopey looks ever. “What the heck, Sylvain? It’s a bit too early for that look… Couldn’t wake?” she teased.Sylvain leaned against the back of the office chair with his “kill me please” expression. “Oh, worse than that, ma’am. It’s way, waaaaaaay worse.”Arianne guessed. “Gosh, has a calamity has befallen your relationship with Robin?”“Bruh, would it kill you to generate positive thoughts for me?” Sylvain reparteed sourly. “I’ll have you know that ever since I met her mom that one time, Robin’s mom ceased being a problem for quite a while. I even get to go out on dates with Ro
It was lunch break. Despite her reluctance, Arianne was dragged away by Sylvain to the restaurant his mother had picked.The destination alone was enough to clue Arianne in about who his mother should be. It was a high-end fine diner, the sort of place where a meal could burn through a hole in an average person's wallet. To choose a place like this meant Sylvain’s mother lived a pretty comfortable life after her second marriage, which made her abandoning young Sylvain even more baffling.Sylvain and Arianne arrived first. Ten minutes of waiting later, Sylvain’s mother finally came, along with a hard-hitting first impression.She looked like a rich housewife who had gotten used to a life of privileges and comfort. An air of shrewdness followed her, probably emanating from her cream-colored business suit designed by an international household name, her permed, wavy curls, and a pair of gilded-rimmed glasses. Whether it was intended as a fashion accessory or for actual sight-corrective
Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room changed, making Arianne feel extremely uncomfortable. She knew that arriving with Sylvain would cause an awkward situation but she never thought that it would be this awkward. Breathing alone felt like a huge effort for her.Sylvain’s mother seemed completely fine on the surface. When the dishes were served, she chatted with Sylvain over daily household things. She even mentioned that she would introduce him to his stepfather’s daughter one day so that they could get to know each other. Sylvain suddenly put down his knife and fork and icily replied, “No need. I do not need to establish any form of relationship with your current family. No need to put in the effort. I have no interest in your husband or stepdaughter, nor you.”Sylvain’s mother finally displayed a sense of awkwardness, probably because Arianne, an outsider, was around. “Syl, don’t be so crass. It’s normal for you to feel conflicted now. I will wait until you feel calmer.”Sylvain c