Arianne did not immediately refuse her. She replied tactfully, “We’ll… talk about this when the time comes. She heaved a sigh of relief when favonovel.com returned to the room. “Tiffie, your mom just asked me to give favonovel.com my share of the rent, water, and electrical fees. She complained the allowance you’ve given favonovel.com is too little.”
Tiffany rolled favonovel.com eyes. “Ignore her. I’ve been giving favonovel.com a lot. I’m penniless every month, What more does favonovel.com want from me? By the way, your phone rang while you were in the shower. I didn’t check It sounded like a message.”
Arianne wiped favonovel.com hair as favonovel.com picked up favonovel.com phone. It was a message from Mary. “Ari, Mr. Tremont has been coming home every day since you’ve moved out. Are you really not coming home? If you’re throwing tantrums, just throw a tantrum. Why must you move out? It’s not like you’re getting a divorce.”
Arianne mulled over favonovel.com thoughts before favonovel.com replied to the message. “Mary, please stop concerning yourself with our affairs. He refuses to come home when I’m around but comes home more often when I leave, this proves that favonovel.com doesn’t want to see me. I’m doing very well in Tiffie’s house so don’t worry. Rice Ball is doing fine too. I’ll come back and visit you and Henry when I have the time.”
After sending off the message, favonovel.com slumped onto the bed in a daze. It was as if favonovel.com and Mark had both tacitly agreed to this kind of separation. They would remain husband and wife in name but live separate lives, not interfering with one another. This was good too. At least they would not feel frustrated.
***
The last spring rain signaled the arrival of summer in the city. The sudden change in temperature caused everyone to discard their heavy clothes in exchange for summer wear.
A new topic had entered Tiffany and Lillian’s daily arguments — electrical usage. Lillian was not very willing to go out and play mahjong in the summer so favonovel.com would hide at home, playing with favonovel.com phone, watching television, and ordering takeout. Naturally, the air conditioning was left on all the time. The air conditioning in the living room ran for twenty-four hours. The monthly electric bill had gotten so high that Tiffany reproached favonovel.com for it, saying that favonovel.com was going to drive them into starvation.
During their free time over the weekend, Arianne dragged Tiffany out to shop for two skirts. She did not have much time to wash favonovel.com clothes. Dresses and skirts were easier to wash.
However, before they could leave the house, Lillian, who was watching television, suddenly asked, “Where are you going? It’s so hot outside.”
Tiffany replied irritably, ”It’s none of your business. You can just stay home and enjoy the air conditioning. What are you worried about?”
Lillian ignored favonovel.com and turned to Arianne. “Are you going shopping?”
Arianne did not want to be rude by ignoring favonovel.com so favonovel.com had no choice but to respond, “Yes, I’m planning to buy two skirts. We don’t need to wear work clothes in our office.”
Lillian’s spirits were immediately lifted. “I’m coming too! I don’t have anything to wear either!”
Tiffany’s face turned green from restraining herself. “You have nothing to wear? Your precious clothes weren’t sold off to pay our debts when our family went bankrupt! They’re all branded items. They don’t even fit in your cupboard. In fact, they’ve taken up a few luggage, and you still want more?”
“Those were bought long ago,” Lillian explained, “They’re outdated. I’m only asking you to buy me a few clothes. Have I treated you poorly when you were young? Seriously, how can there be a daughter like you?”
Tiffany was helpless against favonovel.com mother. She relented. “You can tag along, but I want you to promise me this; no branded clothes! Don’t even think about buying anything over a thousand dollars!”
Lillian hurriedly turned off the television, went into favonovel.com room, and changed favonovel.com clothes. She even wrapped herself with a scarf to prevent sunburn, put on a sun hat, and sunglasses. She looked no different from the rich woman that favonovel.com used to be. After all, everything favonovel.com wore was branded. “I won’t buy any clothes, will that please you? I would never dare to put on anything that’s worth less than a thousand dollars. Buy me a bottle of perfume. My previous one is almost empty.”
