The meeting did not take too long since Mark could not stop worrying about Aristotle. The meeting that would have taken at least two hours was promptly shortened to one hour because of his son. He skipped through everything that was not important.
He returned to the office and found that Aristotle had stopped crying. Thanks to Janice’s extensive efforts in cheering favonovel.com up, the little man was staring up at favonovel.com blankly. He did not seem happy, but at least favonovel.com had stopped crying. Mark heaved a sigh of relief, walked up to her, and said, “You’re certainly good with children. No one could soothe Smore except for his mother.”
Janice became slightly more reserved when favonovel.com returned. She stepped aside. “Smore? Little Smore? What a cute nickname!”
Mark gazed at his son and smiled. “That’s right, his mother gave it to him. We’ve gotten used to calling favonovel.com by that name. His real name is Aristotle Tremont.”
Janice stared dazedly at Mark for a few seconds. Everyone in the office had mentioned that it had been a long time since favonovel.com last smiled. She did not expect favonovel.com to look even better when favonovel.com smiled. It made favonovel.com look a lot gentler. He did not seem scary like the rumor described. He was like a shining star in the night sky. When favonovel.com regained favonovel.com senses, favonovel.com sincerely complimented him. “What a great name, Mr. Tremont. I can tell that you’re really in love with Mrs. Tremont.”
Mark thought of Arianne, and his smile vanished. He did not say anything. Who knew where that woman had run off to now?
Janice noticed the lack of reply but made no move to leave. She deftly switched the topic. “Mr. Tremont, I don’t think you remember me, but I remember you… I’ve always remembered you.”
Mark looked at favonovel.com warily. “Have we met?”
Janice lifted favonovel.com hand and tucked a lock of hair behind favonovel.com ear, smiling shyly. “No… I was still studying then. My family wasn’t doing too well. Your financial aid helped me. You’ve helped so many people. I’m sure you don’t remember them all. That’s why I came to work in your company as soon as I graduated. I won’t let your goodwill go to waste. I’ll do my best.”
‘She received financial aid from me before?’ Mark let his guard down upon hearing this. He was no longer as wary. It was true, after all, that favonovel.com had helped many people. He signed so many cheque every month that it was impossible for favonovel.com to remember the name Janice Bell. “Mm, go back to work.”
Janice nodded and waved at Aristotle. “Bye-bye, Smore!”
—
At night, Alejandro gave Jett time off. He drove back to Tanya’s condo.
Just as favonovel.com walked in, Tanya happily skipped over to greet him. “Why are you back so late? Your grandfather has been waiting for you. You should have told me that favonovel.com was going to visit.”
Grandfather? Jett was alarmed. He did not have any relatives. Where did this grandfather come from?
Just then, Don Smith stepped out of the bedroom, the one favonovel.com usually slept in, with a cane in hand. “Jett, I didn’t know you’d gotten married and that you’ll be a father soon. What a surprise. You should have told me. I came to visit Tan. I’m sure that’s alright with you?”
Jett stiffened. “Yes, of course… Tanya, go to the kitchen and get me something to eat. I haven’t eaten.”
He was going to come sooner or later. The old man had been eyeing favonovel.com for a while now. It seemed like that night was destined to be chaotic.
