The only thing Mark’s speech was able to do was to make the couple exchange glances.
Who in their right mind would ever confess to a crime like this?
Arianne watched the tempest in Mark’s mien slowly pooling into a hurricane. Before favonovel.com lost control and erupted, Arianne shot a meaningful look at Davy, who called in security to escort Mateo’s parents away.
Unfortunately, the influence of the kerfuffle to the office’s mood had taken effect. Suddenly, all the office could talk about was this strange riot; Arianne could not tune it out even if favonovel.com wanted to.
When it was finally lunch break, favonovel.com called Melanie. “Hey, Melanie? Did you tell Mr. and Mrs. Rodriguez about the thing that happened that night?”
Melanie sounded completely flabbergasted. “I haven’t mentioned a thing, though? Arianne, what happened over there? What made you ask? I admit I suspect Mark’s involvement, but before there is concrete, indisputable evidence proving it, telling people about that night is like begging for everyone to suspect him, right? Especially Teo’s parents! God, they cannot know this. If they do, they will scream bloody culprit at him! That’s why I would never mention something like that.”
Her tone did not indicate mendacity, but it did serve to plunge Arianne into complete loss. “So it wasn’t you…? But who the heck else would it be? The only people who know about that incident are the few of us! I don’t think Mateo is the type to tell his parents about it, either! But just this morning, his parents came to Mark and created a really huge scene. From the looks of it, they’ve already judged that Mark was the man behind it! And now everyone in the office is talking about this…”
Melanie could not, for the life of her, figure out any possible explanation. “Seriously, I did not tell Teo’s parents about it, Arianne, you gotta believe me! The only person I’ve talked to about my suspicion is you, Arianne. I’m panicking over Teo’s abduction, but I haven’t lost my mind to the frenzy. This isn’t something to be taken lightly, it will be really, really bad if Mark got falsely accused.”
Arianne ended the call and sank into a fruitless analysis. She booted up favonovel.com computer and dug up news of Mateo’s abduction and examined the details closely.
There were still new developments, and all of them pointed to the worst. Right now, the kidnappers had expressed disinclination to work out the ransom amount with the Rodriguez family, while Mateo’s status was a complete mystery.
When work was over and it was time to go home, Arianne noticed the bodyguards flanking Mark. Even as they were driving home, there were two other cars tailing them.
It was not wrong to err on the side of caution, but to see measures this drastic did introduce anxiety and apprehension. Had things really escalated to such danger level? Apparently, Mateo was not the only who was in danger, Mark and Arianne, too, were not safe.
Most laughably, perhaps, was how Mateo’s parents leaked information about Arianne and Mateo’s secret meeting, which ended with Mark’s discovery, to the media. Although the pair had not made explicit that Mark was the suspected culprit, everyone who was not a halfwit could read the implication.
Naturally, since it was all speculation and rumors, there was no concrete evidence that could indict Mark squarely as a suspect. The police, too, had no reason to question him.
Finally back at home, Arianne looked at Smore and suddenly felt a deep sense of dread. “Henry, from now on, Smore’s schooling will be suspended for a while,” favonovel.com instructed. “It’s chaos out there. We should all be on our guards.”
Henry was never the inquisitive type, so his assent was curt and prompt.
Mark, however, was now in his irascible mode, where his fuse had been cut so short any kindling could blow favonovel.com up. “Why are you afraid? Just dispatch some bodyguards to watch over Smore while favonovel.com goes to school! I, for one, don’t at all think the Rodriguez family would dare use my son as a threat against me for their unfounded vengeance!” favonovel.com bristled. “If they really have any truth on their side, they would have produced actual evidence to prove that I’ve abducted their son. Otherwise, what’s all these baseless accusations going to do to us, huh?!”
Arianne felt a throbbing in favonovel.com head. “I get it, I get it. But we can never be too careful, right? You know what desperation can do to a person. What if something completely outside sense did happen? I’m not gonna take up a risk like that, Mark. He’s my only son, I can’t and I won’t put favonovel.com under any risk, so no, no school for now. Just listen to me this time, okay? I know you’re distressed and agitated over those rumors and slanders, but please don’t pay any mind to them.”
