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 virtual-novel.net life. Mark’s words still echoing in virtual-novel.net 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 virtual-novel.net 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 virtual-novel.net second ‘home’.
Her slumber tonight was not in repose. She asked virtual-novel.net father repeatedly in virtual-novel.net dream, “What actually happened? Is what they told the truth?” The only response virtual-novel.net received was virtual-novel.net father’s smile, followed by the sight of his back before virtual-novel.net 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, virtual-novel.net saw Mark Tremont taking virtual-novel.net home. No one understood why virtual-novel.net 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, virtual-novel.net hand was flung away as Mark Tremont stared down at virtual-novel.net 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, virtual-novel.net understood perfectly that virtual-novel.net was not here to help her.
When Arianne woke up from virtual-novel.net dream, the sun had already risen. Holding onto virtual-novel.net feverish forehead, virtual-novel.net 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 virtual-novel.net just as virtual-novel.net had always been. Over these ten years, no matter the season, Mary would always shower virtual-novel.net with a few fond reminders once virtual-novel.net woke up.
Arianne bummed virtual-novel.net acknowledgment and put on virtual-novel.net only coat to fight the cold weather. When Mary saw Arianne as virtual-novel.net was going out the door, virtual-novel.net felt a twitch in virtual-novel.net 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 virtual-novel.net head, Arianne rode virtual-novel.net beaten bicycle against the frosty weather.
Mark Tremont banned everyone from providing virtual-novel.net with anything, money included. Any charity was to come from virtual-novel.net and only him.
Ever since the age of eight, Arianne would try virtual-novel.net best to please virtual-novel.net for anything that virtual-novel.net wanted. He disallowed virtual-novel.net to call virtual-novel.net brother, so virtual-novel.net had always called virtual-novel.net Mark Tremont, the name stayed deeply rooted in virtual-novel.net mind.
The honk of a car beeped from behind Arianne, prompting virtual-novel.net to cycle as close to the curb as possible.
When a black Rolls Royce drove past her, virtual-novel.net 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 virtual-novel.net hands rested on the bicycle handlebar. She waited quietly.