A Ruling Passion – Chapter 1613

Shelly was a little hurt by her son’s distance, however small it might be. “Mark, my dear, I only did what I know best! She’s just no good for you, don’t you understand? You can marry anyone else in the world, literally anyone! So, why this hyper-fixation on this woman alone?” she admonished. “I, for one, cannot buy into that idealistic notion that a woman who suffered would harbor nothing against you or the Tremonts. There is no way she holds no grudges or hate, son, and one day, mark my word, she will act on them and hurt you had. Divorcing her is the wisest way, because now, you’ve opened yourself up for a better, more suitable spouse. Don’t fret, boy. What you’re experiencing is only temporary pain, and it’ll be gone before you know it.”

Mark’s eyebrows were tightly knitted in the middle. “I see, is that how it’s like to you? That pain is temporary and flitting? Just because you lack the capacity to let go of hate, doesn’t mean everyone else is incapable of it, but more critically, whether she’s a suitable spouse for me or not was never your call to make. But, of course, your wish has come true. She left me. She gave Tremont Enterprise back to me. And she took my son away from me. Are you laughing yet?”

“What—? She can leave however she wants, but she cannot take Smore away from us! How dare she?!” Shelly erupted instinctively. “If you wage a battle for custody, I’m sure she’ll have zero chances of winning, Mark! Smore is a member of the Tremont family. We cannot let her take him away from where he belongs!”

Mark put out the cigarette prematurely in exasperation. “Would you just quit it? Have you got no self-restraint? She put her life on the line to bring our son to this world! On what f**king grounds do I have to rob him away from her?! Even if I engaged in a battle for custody, she already has a plan to win. She’ll rat your crime out to the court and have you incarcerated, get it? Don’t, for once, underestimate the woman who grew up alongside me,” he snapped. “I’ll be forthcoming with you. I just came here to warn you not to mess with her ever again. From the way I see it, you’re having no trouble living on your own, after all. So, from now on, my personal assistant will be sending you an allowance every month without fail. You can use it to hire a caretaker if you please, or don’t, since you’ve proven yourself more than capable of solving petty hassles in life all on your own. Whatever you choose to do, though, I see that there’s no need for your troubles to ever come to me. So, if there’s nothing left that you want to talk to me about, then I’m leaving. You’re on your own.”

It took the slamming of her door to shake Shelly out of her shock. Mark had left her a s abruptly as he had come. Now, the only proof she had of his presence was the smell of nicotine still wafting in the air.