The pair arrived outside Mark’s office and found a very idle Davy seemingly bored out of his wits. When he noticed them, his eyes shone. “Hello! You’re finally here, Madam!”
Arianne flashed him a coy smile. “Whoa. That’s not the kinda expression people make when everything’s going well, is it? Don’t worry, I’m here to save the day.”
The situation inside the office, however, shocked her. Smore was neither bawling nor throwing tantrums. Instead, he was perched in his father’s arm as the latter focused on his work. The little boy had somehow seized a pen and was having a lot of fun playing with it with his dewy eyes twinkling with alacrity as he babbled unintelligibly to himself.
The reality flew in the face of the baby-screaming chaos Arianne had in mind. While she stared in surprise, Mary supplied from the side. “Oh, hello, Madam. I just changed Master Aristotle’s diaper, and all is well. Go ahead and do whatever you like. There is nothing to worry about here. Turns out, Mr. Tremont and I are more than enough to handle the little fella. Just look at him! Master Aristotle is exceptionally well-behaved today—no tantrums, no tears. Heck, it’s probably better if he doesn’t see you! It might get his screaming fit started… That settles it, then! Off you go! Don’t go near him! Peace is too valuable. No one here wants it gone!”
Before Arianne could say anything, Mary shoved her out of the office. She was given no chance to mention her breasts being a bit too full of milk and that she wanted Smore to relieve some of it.
Tiffany snickered. “Oopsie, who knew that he could take care of kids just as well, too? You’re not missed by anymore, honey. Hell, your son doesn’t seem to need you!”
Arianne sighed. “Fine. I don’t care, then. Come on, Tiffie, let’s go shopping.”
Several miles away from them in the city, in a rented apartment unit, Tanya read, then re-read her conversation with Arianne, her anxiety gnawing. Arianne knew about her pregnancy. And she would not brook this.
Tanya had always regarded Arianne as a dangerous character. That woman’s meek, kindly exterior belied her shrewdness and swiftness in action.
Tanya’s morning sickness had exacerbated lately, depriving her of the reprieve of food and sleep. She had initially planned to complete a pregnancy test in the hospital early the next morning before making her next move, but Arianne and Tiffany’s action forced her to bring the plan forward.
A simple pregnancy test required very little time. Soon, the report was in Tanya’s hands, its conclusion causing her heart to sink so low that she wondered if her stomach had swallowed it.
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