The baby had to be left in Mary’s care once the group reached the hotel, as Arianne and Mark were needed to walk around and greet their guests.
Arianne’s recovery from pregnancy was quite stunning. Today, she wore a gorgeous white dress adorned with a few artistic splashes of black; it was body-hugging enough to display every perk and curve of her contour. Were Mary, holding her baby, not been tailing Arianne in every step, no one would have suspected that she had just recently given birth.
Most of the guests were magnates and personnel from various businesses, and none were familiar to Arianne. Either way, she understood the implicative looks nestled in the eyes that followed her.
Mark’s wedding with Arianne had boasted no spectacular pomp. Even though the marriage was publicized, people still could not help but wonder why the wife of the famous Mr.Tremont would have so little attention and pomp. Now that the baby was born, however, suddenly, the family threw a pompous party in the baby’s honor.
Arianne couldn't care less about what they thought. With her arm hooked around Mark’s, they toured the venue, her with a practiced grin plastered on her face. When her duty was done, she was quick to run to her friends.
Tiffany and Tanya had long arrived; Jackson and Eric, as well. Of course, with Eric came his girlfriend, Vicky. But even as the men gathered aside to talk shops while the women formed their group, chatting about the latest fashion trend, Vicky was notable for sticking close to Eric at all times rather than joining the girls.
Tiffany dashed forward as soon as her eyes fell upon Arianne. She swooped the baby into her arms from Mary’s and began to praise him. “See? I told you, if you shower him with a little bit of love, he’ll turn into a smol but handsome boy! He’s unexpectedly darker than his parents, sure, but those facial features — oh, they’re identical to Mark’s! The mold’s been set, Ari! So, what’s little sweetie’s name? Have you picked one yet?”
The subject of the boy’s naming reminded Arianne of its ridiculous backstory. Right after her delivery, while still resting in the hospital ward, Mark had asked if she would like to name the child. The thing was, the child’s name must immediately be known post-delivery for birth certificate purposes. In other words, the baby’s name was already set, and Arianne never had the chance to choose.
It seemed that Mark was only asking her because he worried that if he did not, she might think ill of a naming process without the mother’s input. When Arianne turned out to be too exhausted to brainstorm a name — surprising no one — she had told Mark to do it himself. And thus, only today, her son’s name was revealed to her: Aristotle Tremont
Tremont — that was the family name inherited from Mark. Then there was Aristotle, the name of the renowned ancient Greek philosopher and polymath whose laudable achievements made him a shining star unsurpassed by many. But more importantly, Arianne’s name was hidden in it, too.
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