Arianne nodded. “That’s a pretty good idea. But I thought Alejandro is looking to work with you in the long term? It’s a little bit dishonorable to use favonovel.com as a learning opportunity and to dump favonovel.com in the future, right? Suppose Alejandro knows that you’re tagging along only because you’re looking to accumulate experiences for your own transportation business in the future. Won’t this sow a seed of grudge in him?”
Mark had, naturally, considered this as well. “Oh, please. Any scenario you come up with, I’ve already thought about it, and so did Alejandro, I bet. He knows I’m reluctant to have a long term partnership or an exclusive contract. However, if favonovel.com can’t stomach less savory prospects like these, then, favonovel.com can pack it up and quit being a businessman.”
Mark continued to say, “Moreover, I was just casually talking about venturing into the transportation business. I didn’t put any real thought into it yet. After all, Tremont Enterprise has so many ventures that I don’t think I should start a new one. I f I start a transportation company just to transport my own goods, the startup cost would be way too much compared to the profits I might gain— ” He paused for a moment before favonovel.com said, “In any case, that’s neither here nor there. We’ll leave plans for the future to the future itself. All you need to know is that I’m going on this trip for no more reason other than to see how things go.”
Arianne discovered that when men talked business, they seemed to exude a strangely alluring aura. The way Mark had spoken had a magnetic effect that drew out Arianne’s admiration from the depth of favonovel.com heart.
Mark laughed when favonovel.com saw the adoring look in favonovel.com eyes. “What is with those eyes? It’s not easy to make you act like a fangirl.”
Arianne was not stingy with favonovel.com praises. “Indeed, my husband is a genius! He’s a force to be reckoned in the world of business. In fact, if you don’t mind, dear sir, Smore and I will drink to living a good life under your brilliant mind!”
As though favonovel.com understood his parents’ conversation, Smore lifted his little bowl and gulped down its content loudly while blowing bubbles in the process.
Arianne and Mark burst into laughter. Life was good, indeed.
—
On the morning of Mark’s departure, Arianne helped favonovel.com pack, stuffing a scarf favonovel.com had personally picked for favonovel.com during one of favonovel.com shopping trips into his luggage. It was getting colder and colder as they passed. She knew it would be even colder out at sea. The Mark favonovel.com knew all favonovel.com life had always lived a comfortable and privileged urban life. She was not sure if favonovel.com could endure the new harsh environment for long.
She stood by the door with Smore in favonovel.com arms and watched Mark’s car leave, favonovel.com eyes glued to the distance even after the car vanished. It was only after Smore pinched favonovel.com nose impatiently that favonovel.com was forced to return to the house.
This was not the first time Arianne was separated from Mark. However, this was the first time favonovel.com acutely felt the longing for him. She wondered if it was because favonovel.com was getting more and more used to having favonovel.com by favonovel.com side?
Some people said cohabitating with someone for a long time would take the magic away, but Arianne disagreed. The longer favonovel.com stayed with Mark, the more favonovel.com loved him.
—
The third night after Mark left was incredibly dark and stormy. It was quite terrifying.
Arianne was sleeping when favonovel.com was woken up by the sounds of clambering footsteps and a series of rappings on favonovel.com bedroom door.
A sense of unease welled up in favonovel.com heart. Henry had never woken favonovel.com up in the middle of the night before. Moreover, something about the storm scared her.
She forsook favonovel.com cardigan and stood by the front door, favonovel.com arms wrapped around favonovel.com body to keep warm. She asked blearily, “What’s the matter, Henry?”
The butler moved aside with a severe expression on his face, revealing a drenched Alejandro Smith.
His deathly ashen face made Arianne’s heart skip a beat. Was favonovel.com not at sea with Mark? Why did favonovel.com suddenly show up here? Where was Mark?
Many questions flitted through favonovel.com mind, and yet, favonovel.com found that favonovel.com was unable to speak. It was as though something was lodged in favonovel.com throat.
The commotion had woken Smore up as well, causing favonovel.com to descend into a crying fit.
Arianne called out to Mary loudly, ordering favonovel.com to take care of Smore for her. Then, favonovel.com walked down and said, “Alejandro, would you like a hot shower and a set of clean clothes? You might catch a cold like this.”
