Tiffany was starting to get a bad feeling creeping up on her. “Are you suggesting… that he had a change of heart? But I’ve always thought—I mean, he’s always been pretty damn loyal, right?” she wondered aloud before adding, “Hey, look, even if there’s nothing between the two of you, and you can’t work in his company anymore, you still have your café, remember? You’re not exactly unemployed or in need of welfare assistance. You’ll definitely be capable of raising Smore. Besides, you’re uber-talented, Ari. There are gonna be lotsa companies who want you to be in their team, you can count on it! If I were you, I’d never worry. But ultimately, I think you should at least ask him and, well, see if he has really lost interest. If it’s true, you can start packing up and skedaddle outta’ there instead of wasting your precious youth with him, and get yourself a better man to marry.”
Jackson, with teas on a tray, walked in at the right moment and caught his wife’s last few words. “What are you girls on about? Who’s marrying?”
Tiffany was just about to launch into another epic tirade when Arianne stopped her with a look, before taking a sip of her tea. “Nothing. Just your typical small talks.”
Tiffany was never good at keeping her mouth shut, and the longer she had to keep it down in her throat, the more distressed she became. In the end, she resorted to the most roundabout way she could come up with asking Jackson. “Say, do you think Mark’s been acting a lil’ too bizarre lately? Ya know… If he’s got a new gal pal?”
Jackson glanced at Arianne for a second before answering, “I don’t think so? Well, he told me he had recently welcomed a bevy of new models, and… that’s about it. He hasn’t gotten close to any one of ‘em… Look, don’t overthink about these things, ok? A guy might find himself loving another woman one day and I’ll buy it, but bruh, I won’t believe you if you told me Mark’s that guy. He’s only ever loved one woman all these years, and that’s Ariane right there. I’m sure as hell you gals already know that.”
Arianne murmured, “And Aery Kinsey?”
Jackson grimaced in embarrassment. “That was a show meant to make you jealous, though? Why are you counting that? And I thought he’s explained the whole deal to you already.”
It was still a very sore subject to Arianne, and she was very much against talking about it. Hence, she kept quiet.
By the evening, Arianne and Smore were ready to go home. It was then that Mark suddenly called her, and she dawdled for a second or two before finally answering him, “Hello?”
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