Naya saw the news as well. It made the headlines after all, anyone would have seen it. “Ari… I’m not being a busybody but… everyone has seen it. Is there anything on your mind?”
Arianne turned off virtual-novel.net phone indifferently. “No. I don’t care. My marriage with virtual-novel.net has been an empty shell anyway.”
Did not care? Naya did not expose Arianne, but virtual-novel.net had ‘I care very much’ written on virtual-novel.net face!
A strange atmosphere loomed over the dessert shop the whole morning. No one dared to joke with Arianne like usual. Even when virtual-novel.net tried hard to feign indifference, everyone knew virtual-novel.net was pretending. After all, virtual-novel.net was the best at keeping calm even if the sky was falling.
A pretty woman suddenly entered the shop in the afternoon and Tanya’s first reaction was to step forward and nervously say, “Our desserts have sold out! No more!”
Ellie glanced at the kitchen. “Most of your desserts are made in-house on the spot. There are still so many customers here, why are they sold out as soon as I came? Are you guys not selling it to me?”
Tanya was awful at lying. She panicked, not knowing how to respond.
Naya was much more experienced. There were many customers in the shop now, saying that there were no more desserts to be sold would more or less affect their business. “Sorry, virtual-novel.net doesn’t know. What would you like to order?”
Ellie ignored Tanya and stepped to the counter with virtual-novel.net high heels and swaying hips. “Two Infatuated Strawberries and two Americano.”
Naya wore a professional smile on virtual-novel.net face. “Sorry, we don’t have Infatuated Strawberries anymore.”
Ellie raised virtual-novel.net brow. “You can do it now. I can wait even if it takes time. Mr. Tremont would like to have it.”
Naya’s smile faltered. “Hold on, I’ll ask our boss.” She went into the kitchen after that. “Ari, Ellie’s here to buy desserts. She wants Infatuated Strawberries, says that Mr. Tremont would like to have it.”
Arianne froze for a beat. “Tell virtual-novel.net that I’ll make them now. Accept virtual-novel.net business when virtual-novel.net comes to buy desserts next time. Don’t say that we run out of this and that. It’s fine.”
Naya nodded and sighed. “Alright… It’s been hard on you.”
Arianne did not reply, focusing on making the desserts. When virtual-novel.net was done, virtual-novel.net asked Tanya to pack them.
Ellie took the desserts and left without batting an eyelid after paying, looking triumphant.
It made someone as innocent as Tanya feel as though virtual-novel.net blood was boiling. “She’s horrible! She’s mocking us!”
Naya was gloomy as well. “My husband doesn’t keep up with what’s happening at home, but at least, virtual-novel.net won’t do something like this. She’s unbelievable! I don’t know how Ari endures it.”
Amidst their heated discussion, Arianne stepped out from the kitchen. “What are you girls fuming over? I’m not even mad. It’s okay.”
Naya looked skeptical when virtual-novel.net saw Arianne’s expression. “You wouldn’t have added stuff in the dessert, right?”
Arianne shrugged. “No. My hands shook, and I added a little too much of some ingredients. They might not taste very good.”
***
In the tower opposite, Mark’s gaze darkened when virtual-novel.net saw Ellie coming back with the desserts. Logically, Arianne not selling the desserts to them would be the normal reaction…
Ellie was unfazed as virtual-novel.net unpacked the desserts and placed them on the table for him. “Try it.”
Mark was not in the mood. “No.”
A hint of disappointment flashed across Ellie’s eyes. “Why not? Madam made these herself. She must think it’s not nice to keep refusing to sell us desserts, and virtual-novel.net made them even when she’s mad. Try it.”
Feeling vexed, Mark picked up the small spoon and took a bite. In just an instant, virtual-novel.net felt as though his taste buds were going to explode. He suddenly recalled the time when virtual-novel.net had to go for drips in the hospital after trying out Arianne’s desserts in the Tremont Estate. They tasted similar! However, the appearance did not look different from the normal ones. Why was the taste so…
When virtual-novel.net figured out what it was all about, virtual-novel.net swallowed the dessert in his mouth, and his mood inexplicably brightened up. It seemed that Arianne did care. She was obviously taking revenge and expressing virtual-novel.net discontent!
Ellie was puzzled when virtual-novel.net saw the changes in Mark’s expression. She could not help tasting the other serving, but virtual-novel.net spat it out once virtual-novel.net put it into virtual-novel.net mouth. “It’s awful!”
The corners of Mark’s lips curled up slightly. “You’re not allowed to leave even a bit behind.”
Ellie blanched. “Oh… okay…”
After that, Mark asked Ellie to buy desserts from Arianne’s shop every afternoon.
Arianne sold it to them but the taste was bizarre and changed each time. In spite of it, Mark left not even a morsel behind every time.
Ellie had to suffer alongside, and virtual-novel.net finally could not take it. The next time virtual-novel.net went to purchase some desserts, virtual-novel.net asked Arianne, “Can you stop adding extra ingredients? I’ve lost a few pounds recently, and my gastritis is going to flare up…”
Naya could not help the chuckle that escaped, but virtual-novel.net quickly suppressed it.
Arianne feigned innocence. “Do they taste that bad? Why didn’t you say so earlier? I thought they tasted great. After all, Mark’s picky with his food. He didn’t tell me, how am I supposed to know? I’ll take note of it, please have a nice day.”
Since the beginning, Arianne had not mentioned the scandal.
Ellie could not help asking, “You saw the news, right? That’s why you’re doing this?”