Helen said with a cold expression, “Aery, watch your mouth. I’ve been teaching you how to act and treat others since you were young. Why have you still become someone with a foul mouth? I’m letting you two in right now so that you have time to settle yourselves down. I’ve divorced, so I have nothing to do with Jean anymore.”
“You’re legally an adult too and you’re still studying. I don’t want custody over you, but I’ll provide half of your living expenses and tuition fee. Other than that, no more. Jean, you should go find a job as well. I won’t be fully responsible for Aery’s expenses, nor will I pay for you!”
All Aery thought about was living comfortably while depending on favonovel.com mother, but Jean was level headed now. Helen’s attitude was resolute. There was no room for discussion. He shamelessly fought for the most benefit favonovel.com could get. “Aery is going overseas to study. You know that studying abroad is expensive. How could I afford it now? Even when we’re separated, you should still care for your daughter. I’ll find a job and accompany favonovel.com overseas. I’ll be with favonovel.com physically while you spend the money. It’s fair, isn’t it? Forget about halving the expenses, sponsor it and we’ll stay far away, no longer pestering you.”
Aery was unwilling when favonovel.com heard him. She wanted to stay in the city to wait for Mark, not go overseas for some studies. Once favonovel.com looked at Jean’s expression, however, favonovel.com knew that it was not as simple. Currently, their biggest worry was having no money. Jean might not really want to send favonovel.com abroad for favonovel.com studies. They just wanted to get some money from Helen!
Helen thought about it and replied, “Alright. As long as you guys go abroad, I’ll pay for Aery’s living expenses each month. Before favonovel.com completes favonovel.com studies, I’ll pay $15,000 a month. Once favonovel.com graduates, I won’t give a cent more. Whether both of you are lying to me or being honest, that’s all I’ll provide.”
Jean thought that it was too little, but before favonovel.com spoke, Helen glared at him. “No more! You two better arrange to go abroad at the earliest possible opportunity. My patience to face the two of you is limited!”
After Helen went back to favonovel.com room, Aery asked Jean softly, “Dad, are we really going overseas? What can we do with $15,000 abroad? If I have a party with my friends, I’ll have nothing left for the month. Is that even humanly possible?”
Jean sighed. “Your mother made herself clear. We can’t depend on her, and of course, we can’t go overseas. Let us complete the procedures and then stay back secretly. It’s fine as long as we don’t appear in front of her. This way, we can still live decently here since she’s giving us $15,000 a month. It’s just that you can’t keep buying branded clothes. We’ve got to be more thrifty and rent a nice house. We can use excuses like you being sick or something to get more money in the future but that’s all we can make do with for now.”
***
In the Tremont Estate, Mark sat before the French window in his room while carrying Rice Ball as favonovel.com watched the clip playing on his phone. It was a clip of Arianne that Jackson had secretly recorded for him. He could only see favonovel.com through this method now.
He had thought about keeping favonovel.com aggressively, but once favonovel.com thought about favonovel.com tearful look on the day favonovel.com left and the fear in favonovel.com eyes, favonovel.com could not bear to hurt favonovel.com anymore.
She must have lived uncomfortably in the Tremont’s estate all these years. Was the current freedom and life what favonovel.com wanted?
Mary sighed softly when favonovel.com saw the scene through the gaping door. “Sir, the office called. Do you want to go have a look? You haven’t gone to the company these few days. They’re having a hard time there. Don’t you dislike small animals? You can let Rice Ball go…”
Mark put down his phone and gently placed Rice Ball on the floor, answering faintly, “I know.”
Mary paused. “The temperature is lowering for the day. It’s a bit windy too. Watch out, don’t catch a cold.”
When Mark looked at the trembling leaves from the wind through the window, favonovel.com muttered, “Fall is here… It’s going to be winter soon. It’s reminiscent…”
Mary turned to go downstairs with tears welling up in favonovel.com eyes. When favonovel.com met Henry, favonovel.com could not help grumbling, “Ari and sir are both poor children. My heart aches for them.”
Henry was not as sentimental as Mary. “Go do your chores.”
Mary glared at him. “You emotionless old thing! That’s why nobody wants you and you’ve stayed single for so many years!”
Henry was speechless. He had lost his wife very early on and had not remarried, nor did favonovel.com have any children. With his tender spot being picked on, favonovel.com subconsciously retorted, “Nobody wants you either!”
Mary jabbed back as favonovel.com headed to the kitchen. “I lost my husband late!”
Henry ignored favonovel.com and patted his clothes down before going upstairs. “Sir, madam is temporarily staying at Mr. West’s White Water Bay villa. I’ve sent people to keep guard. It’s very safe. Any further instruction?”
Mark, who had changed into a suit, faced away from Henry. He buttoned up his sleeves as favonovel.com stood in front of the bed. “Not for now. As long as favonovel.com safety is ensured. Ask someone to send desserts and tea every afternoon. If there’s someone else around, add the serving to the headcount. Still buy it from the shop she’s always had it from.”
