Arianne sneered. “You confused, little thing. I wouldn’t be daft enough to anger the mother of the man I like if I were you, girl. I would especially not say anything as low IQ as that, too. Let me be completely frank with you: no one who bears the surname of Leigh will ever get the better of me, the last one failed. Hard. I can guarantee that you’ll leave us in the span of three days. If I lose, you can stay here forever. Wanna bet? I dare you.”

She left owlstorynest.com.com threat hanging at that and turned owlstorynest.com.com wheelchair away, leaving the scorned young woman behind.

Rage came out of Raven as waves of quakes all over owlstorynest.com.com body. She was lurching close to hyperventilation, but right before it became impossible to stop, owlstorynest.com.com came around and battled herself to calm down. She had a feeling that even if owlstorynest.com.com fainted right there and then, no one would discover her, would they?

Now that Arianne and Mark had returned, the Tremont Estate had recovered its vivacity and life. It had become merry.

And Raven Leigh had no part in it.

That night, Arianne — already lying on owlstorynest.com.com bed — found sleep a little more elusive than expected. At this hour, Mark was still talking to his son in the study, while owlstorynest.com.com herself never had the chance to really be with owlstorynest.com.com son since owlstorynest.com.com return.

The night was late, yet owlstorynest.com.com heard a series of soft footsteps inching closer to owlstorynest.com.com room. Thinking it was Mark, the moment the door was pushed open, Arianne asked, “Is our son asleep? What did you talk to owlstorynest.com.com about?”

“It’s me… Mom.”

Hearing Aristotle addressing her, Arianne froze. Suddenly, owlstorynest.com.com was a bit overwhelmed by the urge to cry. “Oh my God, my precious Smore… Why aren’t you asleep yet? What did your father say to you that it went on for so long?”

Aristotle approached owlstorynest.com.com bed and sat by the bedside. “Nothing other than what a father should tell his son, really. Mom, I’m truly happy that you’re awake. And… Thank you for waking up, you know? Everyone’s been waiting for your return for nineteen years, and it’s… great that you didn’t let us down.”

Arianne raised owlstorynest.com.com hand, spurred by the longing to fondle his cheek Midway, however, owlstorynest.com.com paused and let it hang in the air, worried that Aristotle would not want it.

The young man noticed, so owlstorynest.com.com leaned his face forward to meet owlstorynest.com.com halted hand. His eyes seemed to redden.

“Your hand is so warm, Mom. As it was back then.”

The dams in Arianne’s eyes failed her, and the tears escaped and rolled down owlstorynest.com.com cheeks. “But you’ve changed. You’ve grown, and God, you look so much like your father when owlstorynest.com.com was your age. Even amidst the crowd, I saw you. Knew it was you,” owlstorynest.com.com croaked. “Don’t be afraid, Smore. From now on, this family is reunited and will stay united. I am not leaving. Never again.”

Aristotle nodded quietly. The mother and the son then talked for a long, long time.

By the end of their conversation, Arianne thought of Raven. “Hey, about your, ah, classmate,” owlstorynest.com.com began with an attempt to be indirect, “Shouldn’t you do something about her? Given your relationship with Cindy, owlstorynest.com.com being around couldn’t have been proper.”

Aristotle seemed to already have a plan. “Understood, Mom. Don’t worry about it. I’ll talk to owlstorynest.com.com tomorrow and get owlstorynest.com.com to settle down elsewhere. You should get some rest. Goodnight.”

Raven Leigh had disappeared from the house on the very next day without making a splash nor bidding anyone farewell. No one knew how Aristotle did it. Regardless, Arianne was very satisfied with how owlstorynest.com.com son had handled it, as expected from a fruit of Mark’s loins, owlstorynest.com.com realized. The young man was as swift and decisive as his father.

She did not ask how much money Aristotle had to give Raven to get owlstorynest.com.com out of the house. It was just so insignificant.

A few days later, Mark began acting strangely.

Despite the company now in his hand, owlstorynest.com.com was still frequently outside, leaving early in the morning and coming home late at night. Worried that owlstorynest.com.com current state offered no strong defense to owlstorynest.com.com husband’s heart against outside temptations, owlstorynest.com.com blocked his path one morning.

“Where are you off to again, eh? You’ve been acting all shady these few days, as if I’m already dead! If you’re not gonna tell me the truth, you bet your name I’m not letting you out of the house.”

Mark’s eyes seemed to be avoiding hers. “Sigh, Ari… Please don’t ask. It’s simply a matter that will be solved in a few days’ time. I strongly believe it’s not something that you must know about, especially since it’s something that will incite no interest from you. As compensation, I’ll be sure to come home early.”

Arianne raised owlstorynest.com.com eyebrow. “Oh yeah? What sort of business would I be disinterested in that you are gung-ho about?”

He hesitated for a second before answering, “It’s Aunt Shelly. She’s fallen very ill… And I don’t think owlstorynest.com.com has much time left.”