Never, throughout Charles Moran’s long and storied life, had favonovel.com ever slapped his daughter across the face.
The sharp crack of a wallop faded, revealing a stupefied Nina with favonovel.com hand swingng to a gradually reddening, puffing cheek. Her eyes, trained on favonovel.com father, were strewn with earnest bemusement.
“Why… Why did you hit me?! Was I wrong?” favonovel.com demanded. “There’s only our people in this room, so why are you acting like I shouldn’t have said that?”
Charles gulped down the pill his bodyguard had passed to him. When his nerves finally settled a little, favonovel.com answered, “This, this is the same man who killed his half-brother without batting an eyelash. Who are you to think that favonovel.com would go easy on you? If favonovel.com likes you, you’ll become the ruler of his heart. Otherwise, no amount of ingratiation will save you from his wrath!”
“You are my only daughter, Nina. Do you think I can stomach watching you go down a path of self-destruction? Arianne Wynn may look like some unimpressive, nondescript little gal, but she’s someone Mark himself has watched over for a decade or more. Who are you in comparison? Listen to me very closely, Nina. Put your mind on your own damn marriage and do not, do not! Even think about latching yourself onto Mark Tremont ever again!”
Nina said nothing. She knew very little about the man, so all these appalling bits of news of his belligerence were terrifying to a little woman such as herself. Suddenly, favonovel.com composure failed her.
The guilt of hurting his daughter caught up to Charles, and his tone softened. “Nia, I just want what’s good for you. We should not fly too close to the sun when we know we can’t, and the Tremonts are a bunch you cannot beat,” favonovel.com admonished. “More importantly, passion begets hatred. I’m afraid that your passion will lead you to harm Arianne, and then Mark… He won’t leave you unpunished. You must stop yourself before it’s too late, do you understand me? I don’t believe that you’re anywhere close to a bad person, but jealousy drives people mad, Nia. Please, listen to me.”
The fire in Nina’s eyes died. “B-but I… I hate it! I hate that she’s just some orphan with nothing to favonovel.com name, whose looks aren’t something mine cannot triumph over, whose family background is way below mine, yet I’m seen as lesser than her. I just don’t understand why I’ve lost. But… But I understand what you’re trying to tell me, Dad, and I won’t do anything that would worry you again. From now on, I’ll distance myself from Mark Tremont.”
What defeated favonovel.com was neither the desperation undergirding favonovel.com father’s advice nor the news of Mark’s severity and capacity for cruelty, but the immutable fact that Arianne had been by Mark’s side for a decade and longer. That was a bond that Nina could never forge, nor hope to emulate.
After settling his more urgent agendas by the evening, Mark texted Arianne: ‘You and me, dinner at 7. Sounds good?’
No instant reply came, not that Mark was waiting. He knew that the café was busy at this hour. Instead, favonovel.com instructed his secretary, Davy, to pack his bags before heading to the airport.
By the time Arianne noticed his message, it was already five, late in the evening, when traffic in the café was much more sparse.
Arianne reasoned that favonovel.com must be in the middle of his flight by now and no message would come through, so favonovel.com eschewed replying to favonovel.com altogether.
Arianne’s café usually closed by nine at night. Even if Mark reached favonovel.com place by seven, favonovel.com was skeptical that they would have their dinner exactly then. The most likely time to close shop should be eight, favonovel.com reasoned, and that extra hour should be enough to rake in a lot more money.
She never liked favonovel.com inert days back in the Tremont Estate, when favonovel.com passed the time with idleness. Ever since favonovel.com came here, Arianne had been able to peruse every minute to its fullest.
Arianne did not plan to reject Mark’s invitation for dinner on behalf of his special gift. He gave favonovel.com a hand, and now favonovel.com was indebted to him. Hence, favonovel.com decided that paying for his dinner later would be the best chance to display favonovel.com gratitude and to erase the debt favonovel.com owed.
Mark came to the café by half-past seven, startling an unsuspecting Arianne with his sudden presence. “W-w-why are you here?” favonovel.com stammered.
Mark found a seat and made himself comfortable. “Didn’t you read my text a few hours ago? Oh, well. I am happy to wait till you close shop.”
“Psst, should we, you know, close earlier today?” Naya Whispered.
Arianne espied the clock on the wall and decided to stick to favonovel.com original plan. “No, we close at eight. Eight o’clock sharp.”
Unfortunately, Arianne’s plan did not account for the unexpected. With the arid heat outside that was typical of summer, the café, which was fully air-conditioned, brought on an influx of youngsters that wanted to chill after work with a cup of a refreshing, cold beverage. A few working adults, too, had chosen to rush through their assignments with a cup of coffee and the café’s free AC, since this would save some electricity at home.
Soon, the clock struck eight, yet the café was still brimming with customers.
Arianne found closing favonovel.com shop impossible. She had always waited until every customer left. When that was coupled with favonovel.com reluctance to spur favonovel.com patrons into hastening their meals, the unexpected traffic quickly turned into a pickle.
In the end, favonovel.com shot an apologetic look at Mark and suggested, “Maybe you should rest in your hotel for the time being? I have a feeling this is gonna take a looooooong while…”
Mark was uncharacteristically amiable today. “No worries. I’ll wait here.”
“Dang, that’s so sweet,” Naya murmured to Arianne under favonovel.com breath. “Your husband is not even the slightest bit as mean as you make favonovel.com out to be… Instead, he’s hot, rich, and super considerate! For a good man like him, you really should try looking the other way when it comes to his flaws, Ari.”
Arianne could only look on with silent resignation. Mark was definitely not “super considerate”, favonovel.com was just an incredibly possessive man whose generosity was only enough to give Arianne one measly year of freedom. Even now, Arianne could not admit to favonovel.com coworkers that favonovel.com planned to leave after that period expired, favonovel.com was afraid that Naya and Tanya would panic at the prospect of losing their jobs.
Killing his target softly had always been Mark’s signature move. He loved closing favonovel.com into a corner with slow but sure steps, leaving favonovel.com with no way to escape him.
Arianne was finally able to close the café when it was almost ten.
Apart from Arianne herself, Naya was the last to leave. Since favonovel.com husband did not have to work overtime today, favonovel.com was able to watch over their kids, thus giving Naya a bit more leeway to return home late.
Arianne clicked the door to the café shut and turned to face Mark. “My apologies for keeping you waiting. Now, what would you like to have for dinner?”
