A Beauty With Multiple Masks

With that thought, he quit arguing with Malorie and simply reminded Arielle, “Just be careful.” Then he turned back to Malorie and began chatting with her about Shandie.

Without a word, Arielle picked up the basket beside the door and headed out.

She had barely taken a few steps before she remembered she would need a few tools for digging and turned back to obtain them.

However, as she approached the front door, she overheard the conversation between Malorie and Henrick coming from within the house.

“Mom, you never used to treat Shandie this way. What’s up with you now?” came Henrick’s puzzled voice.

D

Hearing that, Arielle stopped in her tracks unwittingly and quietly shifted to a blind spot where no one would notice her.

Malorie let out a long sigh. “I hated that high and mighty mother of hers, and I hate her as well! You’re my precious son, whom I had worked so hard to raise and send to university in Jadeborough. You’d finally made it! Yet, that woman forced you into a matrilocal marriage, and you were silly enough to go behind my back and agree to it! Even though you’ve now gained full control of the Moore family, I still can’t stomach this humiliation! If that b*tch hadn’t died, I would still be a joke in everyone’s eyes till this day!”

“Mom, this is all in the past. What’s the point of bringing it up now? Besides, Arielle is nothing like her mother. She’s a very sweet and obedient girl.”

on the surface, but her

this. With the way you spoke to her

only hope so! It’s either you’re right, or you’ve really

their conversation from the front porch, Arielle could not help being

would have thought this old woman possesses such sharp observational skills? She’s practically seen through me! I must be more careful from now

mind about going

barely an acre wide, there

some thought, she figured she could whip up

gathered the vegetables that she needed,

happened to spot the little

in her tracks, she called

a moment’s hesitation, the boy remained rooted in his spot as

went toward him. Bending down before him, she greeted him in a friendly manner, “Hello! Is your

nod, he

assured him, “You don’t have to be afraid of me.

“No. I don’t need you. I already have a