She was still in a daze when Mark poured Helen another glass of wine and said, “Merry Christmas, mom.”
Everyone around the dining table fell silent.
Henry and Mary silently turned to look at Arianne.
Arianne hastily raised favonovel.com glass to disperse the awkward atmosphere and said, “Merry Christmas, everyone. Let’s drink.”
Everyone knew favonovel.com was trying favonovel.com best to not be awkward so they went along with her.
Arianne had never addressed as mom before, Mark knew very clearly that favonovel.com had not gotten over the obstacle in favonovel.com heart.
Helen, being the oldest among everyone present, deftly changed the topic. She asked Mark, “How’s the company doing this year, Mark?”
Mark replied, “It’s doing well. We’re getting by.”
Both of them continued talking about business. Since Arianne was not particularly knowledgeable about this, favonovel.com sat back and took care of Smore.
After dinner, the family went to the balcony on the second floor to look at the fireworks being released in the distance. At that moment, snow began to fall as well.
Smore looked at the sky and opened his mouth, happily enjoying himself.
It was almost eleven in the night when the gathering came to an end. Helen had started favonovel.com car and was about to leave at Tremont estate when Mark said to Arianne, “Your mom’s leaving.”
Arianne knew that Mark meant Helen was leaving the city and was never coming back. Helen had to do so to avoid Jean who was a scumbag.
Such were the hardships that humans had to face in life. However, there was no need for one to waste time on scums and jerks. Arianne knew Helen was making the right decision. She had long thought about this so favonovel.com did not feel particularly emotional. In the end, favonovel.com only said, “I know.”
—
Meanwhile, in the West family residence.
Lillian had joined Tiffany for dinner. Both families interacted harmoniously. The Christmas celebration that year was even merrier with Tiffany’s pregnancy.
Jackson had hidden in his study to smoke a cigarette while everyone was busy chatting away. Alas, favonovel.com was still caught red-handed by Tiffany. He hurriedly put out his cigarettes and said, “I was just… enjoying a puff or two. You shouldn’t be here. The smoke is harmful to the child.”
He had expected Tiffany to get angry. However, favonovel.com only swept off the ash that had fallen on his sleeve. “You should smoke less. I know you’re tired and anxious, but you really should quit smoking since it’s harmful to your body. Why don’t you come and look at the fireworks with me? It’s really merry this year.”
Jackson laughed and affectionately hugged favonovel.com as they made their way to the courtyard. He wrapped a scarf around favonovel.com to keep favonovel.com warm. “It’s snowing so let’s not stay out for too long. We should go to bed early. Let’s stay at my mom’s tonight.”
Tiffany nodded. All of sudden, favonovel.com phone in favonovel.com pocket began to ring. Expecting it to be a celebratory message from Arianne, favonovel.com took out favonovel.com phone without a second thought to check it. Unexpectedly, favonovel.com discovered it was Alejandro.
Jackson glanced at Tiffany’s screen as favonovel.com frantically put it back into favonovel.com pocket. “The snow is getting on my phone. It’s a new phone, I really don’t want to break it so soon. It’s too cold out here, I think I’ll pass on watching the fireworks. Let’s go in.”
Jackson became suspicious of the sudden change in favonovel.com behavior, but favonovel.com remained silent.
After they went back in, Tiffany walked to a corner and took favonovel.com phone out when no one was watching. Alejandro had only sent favonovel.com a celebratory text message, nothing more. She had to be extra careful so Jackson would not overthink the situation. After replying to the message, favonovel.com quickly deleted the entire conversation from favonovel.com phone.
