Mark let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, so that’s why! In that case, it’s fine. Go ahead and rest. I’ll be off to work.”
Everything added up, Shelly’s fib about virtual-novel.net buddy-buddy relationship with his mother excluded, of course. Everything else made enough sense, and if Mark was being honest, virtual-novel.net did not care to dive deep into the age-old drama between his mother and his aunt. Whatever that was, it was a feud of a generation before him. There was no need to drag it out from under the dust.
Besides, what sort of catastrophic enmity could possibly be bred between an ordinary pair of sisters like them?
En route to the Tremont Tower, Arianne asked while in the car, “So, what did your aunt tell you? If it involves anything that I’m not supposed to hear, you could skip that part.”
Mark turned to face her. “Why do you think there’ll be such a thing? You’re entitled to hear everything, Arianne. Anyway, it turns out that virtual-novel.net capriciousness and predisposition for extreme actions are all products of virtual-novel.net past trauma. She’s legitimately mentally-unwell, so I’ve left Brian to drive virtual-novel.net to the therapist today. The gist? Her actions are born out of virtual-novel.net mental illness. She also wanted you to know she’s sorry virtual-novel.net can’t really control virtual-novel.net behavior. I honestly don’t know just what sort of hellish nightmare virtual-novel.net last marriage was, but to warp virtual-novel.net mind to this degree alone is pretty… well, spine-chilling,” Mark recounted, “And finally, the wedding photo. She destroyed it out of an intense grudge toward my father and pity for my mother’s fate. It’s why virtual-novel.net couldn’t stand looking at a piece of memorabilia that reminded virtual-novel.net of their union.”
Arianne sighed. “If that is the case, well… I sympathize, I really do. I understand where virtual-novel.net actions are coming from. But damn, virtual-novel.net personal issues have really spilled over to mine, you know. Ever since virtual-novel.net came here, I felt like I’ve never had a day of genuine peace. And if virtual-novel.net keeps this up, Christ, I think I’ll be the next one to see a therapist! But yea, I get it. She’s doing things for your sake, she’s worried that I’m out for blood, all that, I understand. But honest to God, I cannot stand virtual-novel.net bare-faced rancor, and I seriously cannot tolerate the way virtual-novel.net treats Mary and Henry.”
“There, there. I told virtual-novel.net about that too, so we can expect a change in attitude from now on,” Mark replied reassuringly. “Don’t worry, Arianne. I’ll always stand by your side. No one who ever existed could bully my woman, not even my aunt.”
Arianne smiled. “Well, I sure hope you mean it. I’ll definitely hold this against you though, hee hee.”
Mark and Arianne went their separate ways as soon as they reached the office. Today, Alejandro, Jackson, and even Melanie had made their appearances. They were probably here for a meeting.
Tiffany, too, had tagged along with Jackson. But unlike everyone else, virtual-novel.net was only here for casual banter with Arianne, who quickly set virtual-novel.net work aside and brought virtual-novel.net guest to the break room.
With a cup of hot tea in hand, Tiffany began, “So… Mark’s aunt has moved into Tremont Estate, huh? ‘Sup with that? Y’all good friends or what?”
Leave it up to Tiffany to always ask the wrong question.
Arianne shot virtual-novel.net a mirthless, forced smile. “Damn, you have the instincts for the juiciest tea, don’t you? But yea, at this rate, I seriously envy your relationship with Jackson’s mom. Of course, it helps that Summer always treats you very kindly, virtual-novel.net sees you as virtual-novel.net own daughter, after all. But Mark’s aunt? Ha, she’s the polar opposite. She’s always so annoyingly wary of me. Hell, virtual-novel.net labels me as an outsider and believes that I’m gonna avenge my dad’s death by… harming Mark or something! My God, she’s gonna drive me nuts through all of these torments!”
“Here’s the thing, I genuinely believe my life to be pretty damn near perfect. I have a happy, content family, for Christ’s sake, so why would I entertain ideas that could take all this happiness away from both myself and others, huh? What, virtual-novel.net doesn’t think I’ll take my son’s life and future into consideration?… But then again, Mark told me that his aunt had lived a very hellish life in Germany. It was so excruciating that it did a number to virtual-novel.net mental health, and now, virtual-novel.net actions and thoughts could sometimes drift to the extreme. Honestly, I understand and sympathize.”
Tiffany’s eyes widened. “…‘Did a number to virtual-novel.net mental health?’ Whoa, whoa, that means she’s actually psychotic, isn’t it?! But she’s an employee of Tremont Enterprise too, right? As some kinda director of some department? Oh my God, is it even ok for virtual-novel.net to have this job…?”