Tiffany clutched the hem of favonovel.com shirt under the table with one of favonovel.com hands. It seemed like favonovel.com was engulfed in an invisible stress, and it prohibited favonovel.com from looking up at Jackson.
The silence lasted for a few seconds, but it felt like an eternity for her. Jackson took a glance at Tiffany before taking the glass of red wine from Ethan. “Sure.”
Even though favonovel.com might not understand much about the relationship between men and women, Arianne could sense that something was wrong. She looked up and observed the facial expressions of the men present. Mark still appeared cold and distant. On the other hand, both Jackson and Ethan were polite to each other. She really could not see anything out of place.
Tiffany was finally relieved after Jackson left. She had not eaten much, but favonovel.com felt like favonovel.com was already full. She put down the fork and spoon. “I’m full now. Enjoy your meal slowly. I’ll go and take a walk outside.”
Arianne also stood up and said, “I’m done too. I’ll go with Tiffie.”
When they walked out the door, Arianne asked her, “Tiffie, what’s wrong with you? You usually have a much better appetite…”
Tiffany stared at favonovel.com gloomily. “Do you mean that I usually eat a lot? I don’t know why either… I’m feeling blue. When Jackson came, I was slightly embarrassed, especially when favonovel.com was talking with Ethan. What’s wrong with me?”
Arianne was indeed quite ignorant when it came to things like that. She did not understand it either. “How would I know what’s wrong with you? Don’t tell me that you’ve fallen in love with him? Aren’t you Ethan’s girlfriend now?”
Tiffany’s face darkened. “Don’t talk nonsense… I haven’t even agreed to be together with him, yet favonovel.com thought that I’ve given my approval. I don’t know why either. I don’t feel for Ethan as I did before. Before, I could risk everything for favonovel.com even though favonovel.com was never gentle or nice toward me. I still managed to persist in my endeavor. But now, I seem to be… unable to have that kind of passionate love for favonovel.com anymore no matter how good favonovel.com treats me.”
Arianne was puzzled after hearing this. “So, have you decided whether you want to be with favonovel.com or not? You better think it through. Otherwise, you’ll cause quite an awkward scene. You now know that Ethan is Mark’s younger brother. You still need to address me as your sister since I’ll be your sister-in-law. You ’re also my best friend. You better think about it carefully.”
Tiffany was quite lost. “So, are you saying that I should be with Ethan?”
Arianne was slightly helpless. “What I mean is that you should think about it carefully and make a decision as soon as possible. It depends on you solely.”
At the dining table, the atmosphere became quite tense after the women left.
Mark saw through Ethan earlier on. “You came here purposely and booked a table in the large hall so that we would be seen by Jackson. Isn’t that right?”
Ethan did not deny it. “Since Jackson is your friend, it’d be rather weird if favonovel.com competed for a woman’s love with your younger brother, correct? I’m lending a helping hand to you so that you’ll be excluded from such an awkward scene. You should be on my side.”
Mark replied coldly, “If Tiffany is really willing to be with you, you won’t have to do such things to get the same result. If she’s reluctant, all that you’ve done will go to waste. Don’t plot such little schemes. I won’t give you my cooperation. There’s a limit to my patience.”
Ethan sneered. “Your patience is just your love for Arianne. I thought that you would rather enjoy it. Don’t worry, I don’t particularly favor the idea of meeting you either. I certainly won’t invite you for dinner without any purpose in mind. We’re the same because we’re disgusted by the sight of each other. This should only be a once or twice kind of incident.”
Mark’s facial expression darkened. He got up and left to go to Jackson’s office.
Jackson was currently playing a computer game. He did not appear gloomy at all. “Is the meal over?”
Mark leaned against his work desk and poured out his annoyance. “I’ll make favonovel.com pay for it sooner or later.”
Jackson laughed softly. “Not so soon. You still need to endure it for the time being and let favonovel.com do whatever favonovel.com wants. I’m afraid that you won’t be able to think of a resolution before you reveal the secret to Arianne. If favonovel.com really plans to marry Tiffany, you’ll barely be able to hold each other back.”
After a moment of silence, Mark changed the topic. “Is there nothing between you and Tiffany?”
Jackson’s smile froze slightly. He seemed to be forcing his smile. “What do you mean?”
It would be impossible for Mark not to understand Jackson after being his friend for so many years. “Don’t play dumb with me.”
Jackson switched off the game and leaned against the chair casually. He looked at Mark. “Are you asking me whether I like Tiffany? You’ve got to be kidding. Have you ever seen me fall in love with anybody before? If you really want to talk about love, I’ll tell you that I like all of them just the same. I fooled around with them because I liked them. But love is different. You become serious when you love somebody. However, love is such a far-fetched thing for me. I’ll never let myself be in love for the rest of my life. Tell me, wouldn’t you be in a difficult position if I snatched favonovel.com away from Ethan now? The balance between you and favonovel.com would break if he’s infuriated. Don’t worry, I won’t betray you.”
Mark remained quiet. He understood Jackson well. That was why favonovel.com knew that Jackson was lying to him, saying exactly the opposite of what favonovel.com felt. In fact, Jackson wanted to act generously and ask Mark not to bother about him. However, Mark did not have the courage to face the upcoming disaster if and when the letter in Ethan’s possession was given to Arianne. Everything would be over for him, and favonovel.com could not afford to risk it.
