Chapter 10 Sleep Upstairs

Arianne Wynn had pins and needles at once. Was he no longer on a business trip? Why was he suddenly back? Fear emerged from within. In hindsight, luckily she did not go ice-skating with Tiffany. She was only unfortunate that her bicycle chain popped off… Heading to the bathroom, Arianne felt uneasy when she showered, knowing that he would surely look for her. She caught a lean shadow on the couch from the corner of her eyes when she came out of the bathroom and passed by the living room. He was wearing light grey loungewear, looking more casual than in his usual full suit attire, as it made him look less icy. – Except his eyes were still distant when he looked up at Arianne. “Come over here.” Letting her head hang down, Arianne moved to stand straight beside him. “You’re back.” “…Cold?” He had wanted to question why she was home late, but his query became one singular word when he saw the cracked wound on her hand. Slightly dumbfounded, Arianne dared not look at him. “Um… It’s fine…” Mark Tremont picked up the steaming black tea on the coffee table and passed it to her without much thought. There was no change in his expression. “Don’t come home so late next time.” Arianne did not take the tea. This was the first time Mark Tremont was not unhappy about her coming home late and he did not even ask for an explanation. Mark Tremont’s eyes shifted up to her again. All it took was his cold gaze for her to accept the tea and gulp it down. The black tea was not scalding hot but the tip of Arianne’s tongue felt tender for chugging the liquid. It was only when she had finished drinking that she belatedly realized that it was his cup she had drunk from. “Uh… I’ll clean it for you…” Before he said anything, Arianne scurried off to the kitchen holding the cup that was still warm to the touch. Mark Tremont’s gaze darkened a little while his appealing thin lips pressed into a displeased line. Was she really this scared of him? When the cup was carefully rinsed for the umpteenth time, Mary closed the tap and teased, “Ari, what are you doing? The cup’s gonna peel from your washing!” Snapping out of her daze, Arianne held the cup with caution. “Nothing… I’ll send it to him now.” “Go along, quickly,” Mary urged. Arianne did not feel brave enough to actually go. Mark Tremont would certainly not use a cup she had used, but he did not say that he did not want it back. She was apprehensive about catching sight of the repulsion in his eyes again… A slight frown formed between Mark Tremont’s brows, when he watched the girl who took her sweet time exiting the kitchen. The fitting white sweater Arianne wore hugged her thin form perfectly – had she never eaten a full meal before? Presenting herself in front of him, Mark Tremont heard her quivering soft voice ask, “Do… do you want tea? Should I change the cup?” His strong skeletal hand grabbed the cup from her hands and poured himself a cup of black tea. Their hands formed a stark contrast, one was fair and smooth while another had seen better days. “In the future, get Henry to send you to school. Don’t embarrass the Tremonts.” Arianne was yet to feel warm and fuzzy from the first half of Mark Tremont’s words, then a bucket of ice cold water soaked her thoroughly with his final words. She thought she knew him well enough and had already come mentally prepared… Yet he was only worried about her being a disgrace. “You’re blocking the light,” Mark Tremont stated abruptly as he looked down at his magazine. Arianne looked up at the lamp that was above their heads. How could she be blocking the light? Pondering, she thought that he must have meant that she was an offense to his eyes. She turned to leave quietly but was stopped by his words. “I didn’t ask you to leave.” She turned around once more and sat down on the couch, placing her as far away as possible from Mark Tremont, as she saw him picking up the cup of tea and taking a sip. There was nothing unnatural about his expression, he was actually fine with the fact that she had just used his cup! The scene last night in his room replayed itself in Arianne’s mind again and she felt her cheeks heating up. “Sleep in the upstairs room from tonight onward.” He had no idea what she was thinking about.