Arianne gasped from the pain. Just as she was about to pick herself up, a pristine pair of high quality custom-made leather shoes appeared before her eyes. Mark Tremont’s apathetic voice came from above her head.
“You have two minutes.”
Arianne looked up into his deep orb eyes and carefully probed. “Can you… let them go now?”
She did not catch the disappointment that flashed across the bottom of his eyes. What he wished to hear was not this.
“You’re wasting my time if that’s all you had to say after chasing after my car so recklessly.”
Mark Tremont went back to the car without a pause after speaking. His forceful slam of the car door frightened Brian.
“Cancel my return ticket for next week. I’ll take over the overseas branch myself.”
Brian Pearce was hesitant. “Sir… You won’t be able to come back for at least three years then… Are you sure you want to cancel it?”
“Do what I say!” Mark Tr

Finally digesting this information, Arianne Wynn was actually more nervous now than when she was on the call. She darted downstairs.
“Mama Mary, please give the house a good cleaning…”
Mary was surprised since Arianne was usually not bothered with such matters.
“What’s up, Ari?”
Arianne could not pinpoint if she was feeling happy or scared. “He’s… coming back.”
Mary was bewildered for a moment, before realizing who Arianne was referring to. Grinning with her eyes. “Really? Sir is coming back? That’s great. You guys haven’t seen each other since being married three years ago. It’s good news that he’s coming back. I’ll have the house cleaned thoroughly. Don’t you worry.”
Returning to her room, Arianne tidied up the messy sketches scattered all around. She was working in a fashion design company having just passed her probation. She was usually busy and her room was a reflection of that. Mary dared not mindlessly clean her room as she had no idea how to organize her sketches. Now that Mark Tremont was coming back, Arianne did not want him to see her messy side.
…
On the day of Mark Tremont’s return, Arianne had specifically asked Butler Henry for his flight time and went to the airport with a sufficient amount of time to wait for him.
He had left during the frigid winter, the season was the same for when he was coming back… Arianne felt like these three years had been a dream, passing in the blink of an eye.
Amidst the bustling crowd, Arianne caught the outstanding tall figure right away. Just like three years ago, he was still eye-catching and poised. She was, however, stunned when she saw the woman hooked around his arms – he did not come back alone…
When Mark Tremont and the woman came close, Arianne could hear their whispers. “Mark dear, keep me company at the hotel tonight okay? I’m scared of being alone…”
“We’ll see.” His answer was cold yet it exuded his rare patience.
Arianne impulsively felt the urge to run away. Right before she turned around, Mark Tremont’s gaze fell on her. It was without surprise, his gaze was without emotions. He merely asked, “Why’ve you come?”
Arianne was caught at a loss. It was as if he was saying that she was unnecessary.
“I… I…”
Unable to form a sentence, she could not even say that she was here to pick up her friend. He would see through her lies easily, for she had no friends at all.
Mark Tremont ignored her and spoke softly to the woman beside him, “Be good, go back to the hotel first.”
The woman was young, bubbling with youth. She wore a white fur coat paired with playful high-heeled boots, her gaze and smile demanded attention. Her exuberance was a stark contrast against Arianne’s gloom.
“Okay. You’ve gotta come and be my company tonight, okay…” The woman took a curious glance at Arianne.
Mark Tremont tugged a smile. When the woman was some distance away from the crowd, he recovered to his distant character and headed outside.
Arianne tailed behind him without a sound. Brian Pearce was waiting outside. When they got into the car, both were silent as well. Arianne had no right to ask who the woman was, not like Mark Tremont would explain who she was.
When they were nearing the Tremont Estate, Arianne spoke up, “When can Tiffany come back?”
Mark Tremont’s attention was on his mobile phone as his long fingers danced across the screen. He was replying to text messages, specifically that woman’s text messages.
“I’ve said, it depends on how you act.” He looked annoyed, as if speaking another word to her would revolt him. 
Arianne dared not ask any more questions, habitually keeping quiet.
Mark Tremont was still on his phone and replying to texts during dinner. Arianne had no appetite, dropping the cutlery after a few mouthfuls.
“I… have to work overtime tonight. See you.”
She did not want to be a sore thumb nor an obstacle that stopped him from going to see that woman.
Mark Tremont did not raise his head but he looked quite displeased. “What company asks their employee to work overtime when they’ve taken leave? Do they still want to be in business?”

Mark Tremont got up and left in disgust. “You’re not qualified to negotiate with me!”
The room door was slammed closed, the loud bang sent shivers through Arianne. For the first time in ten years, she felt like her world had collapsed.
Mark Tremont’s enraged words echoed in her ears, truly frightening her. Arianne tried her best to call Tiffany but for the entire afternoon, but the only reply she received was the busy-line tone.
Arianne panicked. Could Mark Tremont have forced them away?
She clenched her jaws and went to his room. This was her first time entering directly without knocking.
The room was smoky. Mark Tremont was still seated on the chair in front of the French window but this time, he had his back facing her. The ashtray beside him was brimming with cigarette butts and ash. His back was laced with a sense of melancholy.
“Please… don’t do anything to them. It’s my fault. I k

Arianne gasped from the pain. Just as she was about to pick herself up, a pristine pair of high quality custom-made leather shoes appeared before her eyes. Mark Tremont’s apathetic voice came from above her head.
“You have two minutes.”
Arianne looked up into his deep orb eyes and carefully probed. “Can you… let them go now?”
She did not catch the disappointment that flashed across the bottom of his eyes. What he wished to hear was not this.
“You’re wasting my time if that’s all you had to say after chasing after my car so recklessly.”
Mark Tremont went back to the car without a pause after speaking. His forceful slam of the car door frightened Brian.
“Cancel my return ticket for next week. I’ll take over the overseas branch myself.”
Brian Pearce was hesitant. “Sir… You won’t be able to come back for at least three years then… Are you sure you want to cancel it?”
“Do what I say!” Mark Tremont’s lips were pressed into a thin line as he closed his eyes and rested against the seat.
Ariann

Chapter 24 Three Years