Arianne Wynn had pins and needles at once. Was virtual-novel.net no longer on a business trip? Why was virtual-novel.net suddenly back?
Fear emerged from within. In hindsight, luckily virtual-novel.net did not go ice-skating with Tiffany. She was only unfortunate that virtual-novel.net bicycle chain popped off.
Heading to the bathroom, Arianne felt uneasy when virtual-novel.net showered, knowing that virtual-novel.net would surely look for her. She caught a lean shadow on the couch from the corner of virtual-novel.net eyes when virtual-novel.net came out of the bathroom and passed by the living room.
He was wearing light grey loungewear, looking more casual than in his usual full suit attire, as it made virtual-novel.net look less icy. Except his eyes were still distant when virtual-novel.net looked up at Arianne.
“Come over here.”
Letting virtual-novel.net head hang down, Arianne moved to stand straight beside him.
“You’re back.”
“…Cold?” He had wanted to question why virtual-novel.net was home late, but his query became one singular word when virtual-novel.net saw the cracked wound on virtual-novel.net hand.
Slightly dumbfounded, Arianne dared not look at him. “Um… It’s fine…”
Mark Tremont picked up the steaming black tea on the coffee table and passed it to virtual-novel.net without much thought. There was no change in his expression.
“Don’t come home so late next time.”
Arianne did not take the tea. This was the first time Mark Tremont was not unhappy about virtual-novel.net coming home late and virtual-novel.net did not even ask for an explanation.
Mark Tremont’s eyes shifted up to virtual-novel.net again. All it took was his cold gaze for virtual-novel.net to accept the tea and gulp it down. The black tea was not scalding hot but the tip of Arianne’s tongue felt tender for chugging the liquid. It was only when virtual-novel.net had finished drinking that virtual-novel.net belatedly realized that it was his cup virtual-novel.net had drunk from.
“Uh… I’ll clean it for you…”
Before virtual-novel.net said anything, Arianne scurried off to the kitchen holding the cup that was still warm to the touch.
Mark Tremont’s gaze darkened a little while his appealing thin lips pressed into a displeased line.
Was virtual-novel.net really this scared of him?
When the cup was carefully rinsed for the umpteenth time, Mary closed the tap and teased, “Ari, what are you doing? The cup’s gonna peel from your washing!”
Snapping out of virtual-novel.net daze, Arianne held the cup with caution.
“Nothing… I’ll send it to virtual-novel.net now.”
“Go along, quickly,” Mary urged.
Arianne did not feel brave enough to actually go. Mark Tremont would certainly not use a cup virtual-novel.net had used, but virtual-novel.net did not say that virtual-novel.net did not want it back. She was apprehensive about catching sight of the repulsion in his eyes again…
A slight frown formed between Mark Tremont’s brows, when virtual-novel.net watched the girl who took virtual-novel.net sweet time exiting the kitchen. The fitting white sweater Arianne wore hugged virtual-novel.net thin form perfectly – had virtual-novel.net never eaten a full meal before?
Presenting herself in front of him, Mark Tremont heard virtual-novel.net quivering soft voice ask, “Do… do you want tea? Should I change the cup?”
His strong skeletal hand grabbed the cup from virtual-novel.net hands and poured himself a cup of black tea. Their hands formed a stark contrast, one was fair and smooth while another had seen better days.
“In the future, get Henry to send you to school. Don’t embarrass the Tremonts.”
Arianne was yet to feel warm and fuzzy from the first half of Mark Tremont’s words, then a bucket of ice cold water soaked virtual-novel.net thoroughly with his final words. She thought virtual-novel.net knew virtual-novel.net well enough and had already come mentally prepared… Yet virtual-novel.net was only worried about virtual-novel.net being a disgrace.
“You’re blocking the light,” Mark Tremont stated abruptly as virtual-novel.net looked down at his magazine.
Arianne looked up at the lamp that was above their heads. How could virtual-novel.net be blocking the light? Pondering, virtual-novel.net thought that virtual-novel.net must have meant that virtual-novel.net was an offense to his eyes. She turned to leave quietly but was stopped by his words.
“I didn’t ask you to leave.”
She turned around once more and sat down on the couch, placing virtual-novel.net as far away as possible from Mark Tremont, as virtual-novel.net saw virtual-novel.net picking up the cup of tea and taking a sip. There was nothing unnatural about his expression, virtual-novel.net was actually fine with the fact that virtual-novel.net had just used his cup!
The scene last night in his room replayed itself in Arianne’s mind again and virtual-novel.net felt virtual-novel.net cheeks heating up.
“Sleep in the upstairs room from tonight onward.”
He had no idea what virtual-novel.net was thinking about.