Without warning, a woman’s voice faintly sounded from Mark Tremont’s office. “Hmph! You said that you’re not free, yet you aren’t even busy! I saw a bag I like – no, a bag that I love! Buy it for me, okay?”Arianne Wynn’s breath was caught in her throat, like someone was choking her.She did not hear if Mark Tremont said anything back. Soon enough, the woman came out. Upon meeting eyes, Arianne was astonished as it was the same woman whom she saw at the airport.Her gaze did not linger on the woman’s triumphant face, but her eyes stayed fixated on the high heels the woman wore. Mark Tremont prohibited everyone from disturbing the peace and quiet of this level yet he had allowed this woman here with high heels.“It’s you again. What business do you have with my dear Mark? I don’t know what past you have with Mark, but I don’t like you and from now on, I will resent you. After we came back from abroad, I see you every time I look for my dear Mark. I hate it.” The woman spoke in a tone t
“No, I’ll leave immediately.” Arianne answered shortly.Just as she turned around, a pen flew past her ear and smashed against the office door. Ink leaked from the crack of the pen and stained the floor.Throwing things meant that Mark Tremont was furious. Arianne dared not move, although she was slightly shaken. She wanted to restrain her fear toward him but she was unable to…“Come here!” Mark Tremont’s voice was laced with anger. To Arianne, it was the forewarning of a life threatening situation.Her hesitation lasted for only two seconds before she turned to go toward him with her hands clutching the hem of her clothes and looked cautiously at him.Mark Tremont tugged her close to him and wrapped his arm tight around her waist to prevent her from moving. His voice was piercing and icy cold. “What did you call me? Does making such a clear distinction mean that you’re changing how you address me at home?”Once he was reminded that she would rather stand for more than two hours outsid
The elevator stopped on the seventh floor. An overwhelming intimidation urged Simon Donn to look up at the man who entered the elevator, while he instinctively moved towards the corner.The elevator door closed briefly. The man suddenly launched a kick at Simon Donn’s lower abdomen. His tone was gentle but undoubtedly threatening.“Don’t think of laying a finger on those you shouldn’t!”The harsh kick caused Simon Donn to bend down, hugging his stomach feeling bewildered. “Who are you?”“Arianne Wynn’s husband!”…When Arianne returned and stepped into the hall of the Tremont Estate, her immediate reaction was to check if Mark Tremont was back.Mary was amused by her cautious manner as she chuckled. “Sir’s not back yet!”Arianne breathed out in relief. “He said that he’s coming back for dinner tonight…”Logically, he should have returned home earlier than she had.Coming out of the shower, Arianne saw that Mark Tremont was already seated at the dining hall. His hair was damp and change
Arianne Wynn held her breath, suddenly realizing that her wish to end her current predicament was nothing but a dream. He was already being merciful by sparing her a lifetime to make up for her sin, she had no right to choose…“I’ll go to sleep in the guest room.” This was her last form of resistance.“Try take another step!”Mark Tremont’s threat was bitterly cold, feeling like the freezing wind outside had gushed right into her heart.She halted her stride and kept quiet, waiting for him to continue.After a period of dead silence, his thin lips parted to speak again.“You want to leave so badly? Okay, I’ll fulfill your wish! On the premise that… you bear me a child!”A child? He wanted her to give birth to a child? A child that belonged to them?Arianne Wynn was suddenly reminded of the past when her mother left for another man without reservations or consideration for her. The taunting and insults that she faced since she was a child were still vivid in her mind.Having a child was
Waking up the next day, Arianne Wynn went straight to the office without having breakfast. A huge stack of documents had appeared mysteriously on her desk, causing Arianne to frown.“Whose are these?”Someone spoke in a whisper from the side, “Mr. Donn assigned them to you. Have you offended him? He’s tossed almost everything in the department to you. You most probably have to work overtime today…”Arianne said nothing, having already guessed this was his spiteful revenge for yesterday's rejection and embarrassment, and sat down to work accordingly.She received a text message during lunch that read, “I’m Aery Kinsey’s mother. Let’s meet. I’ll wait for you at Mocha café.”Rummaging through her memory, Arianne did not remember the name Aery Kinsey, so she replied, “I don’t know an Aery Kinsey.”She received another text briefly. “It suffices that I know you. See you there.”For no particular reason, the face of the woman whom Mark Tremont brought along to the airport popped out in Arian
Returning to the office, Arianne ignored the churning coming from within her stomach. Her mind was preoccupied with the sight of Helen Cameran’s face. Never would she have thought that her long-lost mother would appear in her life like this. She did not know whether she was enraged or disgusted, but she experienced a tidal wave of emotions within her.Since it had been so many years, Arianne looked different. Helen Cameran was unable to recognize her, however, she could distinguish her! Her face had long etched itself deep in her memory.There was something she did not understand.Helen Cameran had left when she was six years old. Even if she had immediately remarried, Aery Kinsey would have to be seven years younger than her regardless. It did not look like Aery Kinsey was underage…If she were not her biological daughter, yet Helen Cameran could care for her so devotedly as a stepmother, then what was Arianne to her... Was Aery Kinsey her biological daughter?!“Arianne Wynn, do you p
“I’ve already told you. Look for Mark Tremont if you want me to leave. I have no say in this. Also, I’m telling you explicitly right now – I won’t leave! Mark Tremont is my husband, we’re married!”After her outcry, Arianne ran into the snow. Two trails of tears ran down her cheeks. To meet her mother like this, they may as well not have met at all.She did not know how far she had walked when a car honk rang behind her.Thinking that it was Helen Cameran, she ignored it. When the car drove by her, Brian Pearce’s head popped out from the window.“Madam, hop in.”Arianne subconsciously wiped the tears that had long dried on her face and looked over to the back seat, vaguely catching sight of Mark Tremont’s well formed outline.She felt her frozen self gradually regaining warmth after getting into the car. Upon a moment of hesitation, she asked, “You knew that Aery Kinsey is my younger half-sister right? Is this also your revenge?”“You can assume so if you want,” Mark Tremont replied.D
Arianne froze before she slowly turned to face him, wrapping her arms around his neck.Focusing on the man so close to her, she told herself repeatedly that she could leave once she became pregnant and gave birth to a child. In spite of it, she was unable to make her next move. Not thinking straight, she said dumbly, “Your hair is still damp…”In the next second, Arianne’s soft lips were sealed. Their senses melded in the serene night as their breathing eventually became labored.Accidentally meeting Mark Tremont’s deep eyes, eyes that Arianne usually failed to decipher were currently glazed with intimacy. He was consumed with desire…This time, Arianne no longer thought about escaping. Her hands went to rest on his chest, the warmth emanating to her palms felt familiar. It was the same feeling that day his hand held hers as a young girl. It was familiar and warm yet foreign and distant…She was inexplicably afraid, afraid that he would suddenly remember she had lost her chastity three