Chapter 9 Mark Tremont Is Back

When they submitted the assignment, the tutor wore a deriding smirk looking at her drawing. “You drew Mark Tremont huh? You usually act reserved, but now it seems that you’re just like most girls. A few of them drew him as well but yours is the best. You have a photo? Share it.” The tutor was a woman nearing her thirties. Unmarried, ill-tempered, and infatuated with Mark Tremont, she babbled about him with the other students every day. Arianne Wynn shook her head. “I don’t have a photo…” The tutor’s face fell. “But you drew him so well? All based on imagination? Have you met him in person? Be a good sport, show me the photo. Your drawing… it looks like he’s just sitting around at home? The internet doesn’t have photos like this. Where did you get it from?” Tiffany Lane could no longer hold herself back. “What’s the fuss now? She’s said that she’s got no photo, that’s it. Her drawing skills have always been great, don’t you know your own students?” Faced against students of significant family backgrounds and power like Tiffany Lane, the tutor would always think twice before acting. “Alright, alright. I know she’s under your wing. I don’t want no photo, okay?” “How did you do it? You’ve never met Mark Tremont, have you? I’ve seen him once, in a banquet. I thought that you were different from the others. I see that you fantasize about the nation’s ideal man too, hehe…” Tiffany asked Arianne after class. Habitually quiet, Arianne had no fantasy for Mark Tremont. What could she be imagining when they stayed under the same roof every day? She could draw him perfectly because that was how deeply rooted he was in her mind. She could probably never escape from the dread that he brought to her entire life. “Ari, I heard that Mark Tremont is coming to our campus event this year. It’s not strange though. He’s contributed a lot to the school. It’s reasonable that the school invites him,” Tiffany spoke having long been accustomed to Arianne’s reticence. The campus event was held every semester before the campus proceeded winter and summer breaks. It was nothing but some boring programs and a talk the school arranged. There were twenty-one more days until the campus event. Mark Tremont would already be back from his business trip then. “Ari, we don’t have any classes in the afternoon. Let’s hang out. I’ll take you ice-skating. There’s a new ice-skating rink. The ski field is too far away, I’ll take you there during the holidays,” Tiffany quickly suggested when she saw that Arianne was packing her things, looking like she was about to leave. There was a frown between Arianne’s brows. She was worried about Mark Tremont coming home out of the blue again. If she was caught not home once more, she did not think that she would be forgiven so easily. “What do you say? Let’s go huh, let’s go.” Tiffany swung her arm in a cutesy manner. Arianne shook her head helplessly. “Can’t go, I need to go home.” Tiffany clung to her arm stubbornly. “Why are you hurrying home every day? Is your family that strict? Is your brother going to bite you?” “Mm.” Arianne made a hum. Mark Tremont would actually swallow her whole. Tiffany Lane was speechless, incredibly curious about her brother. Witnessing how serious Arianne was, however, she could only let go of her arm and let her leave, not wanting to put her in a dilemma. Leaving the campus, Arianne’s bicycle chain popped off suddenly before she even made it halfway through her journey. She did not know how to fix it, only able to plod on and push the bicycle. Heavy snow fell again. Her hands, which were not taken care of, were already cracked from the cold, while her cheeks were flushed red from the icy gale. The sky had darkened when Arianne arrived home. The nightfall enveloped the Tremont Estate’s lavish outline yet was unable to conceal its magnificence. Mark Tremont cherished peace and quiet, so the location was fairly far from the Southline University. However, without a bike to ride, Arianne had suffered. Entering the door, Mary hauled her into the nanny's room and warmed her up by switching on the heater. “What’s up with you? Why are you back so late and freezing cold too? If you find it hard to talk to sir, I’ll go on your behalf. You don’t even have any thicker clothes.” Arianne Wynn rubbed her hands that were numb from the cold together and replied faintly, “He’s given me money. I didn’t spend it.” She would have felt wrongly to have spent that money… Mary poked her forehead grudgingly. “He’s given you money, you refuse to use it. What are you being stubborn about? So many years have passed since that incident. Sir isn’t treating you badly, why are you the one dwelling instead? Sir’s back today and you’re back so late again. He’ll surely be after you!” Mark Tremont’s back?!