Dangerous Love: You Are My One and Only Bride novel Chapter 1711

Arianne had not received a single call from Mark since then, even at the very next day. All she received at most was a midnight text telling her that he could not leave. She felt as though he stood her up.

She went to work, and immediately spotted Sylvain languidly sipping his morning tea in the office. Immediately, she asked, “When is the wedding between you and Robin?”

Hot tea choked Sylvain on cue, leaving him sputtering for a good while before finally regaining composure.

“Gah? Right, our wedding. We’re… still in the middle of planning it. Yeah, stuff like this is always best taken slow, right? So we’re getting ready for everything. Plus, I’ve only got the time to work on that bridal gown design after work,” he fibbed. “I’ve decided to take up your brilliant suggestion and design it myself. Whew, it’s quite exhausting to do things yourself, though!”

His reaction was a little off, but Arianne had no time to dwell on it. Instead, she took her seat and asked, “Have you seen Mark since this morning?”

Sylvain rubbed his nose. “You know, if you wanna know if he’s around or not, you could have just—I dunno—checked if he’s in his office? I don’t know why you’re asking me.”

Arianne turned around and glared at him.

“Uh, he usually arrives around the same time that I’m here, so we kinda meet often right in the parking lot,” he relented. “But I don’t think I’ve seen him yet today. Maybe he came earlier than I did. Or maybe he arrived after.”

He must not be in the office at all, then. Just what in the world was occupying his time?

The days that came after did not change much. Mark’s streak of mysterious disappearances continued, and Arianne never saw him within the office. He at least remembered to dispatch some of his people to send some delicacies and toys to Smore, though—apparently, his son was still on his mind.

On Friday night, Mark instructed Brian to gift Arianne with an evening gown set, along with complementary jewellery and shoes. The driver told her that she was to attend a ball of some kind on Saturday night, which was to be held in a cruise. Since the weather was still a little on the chilly side, and it was going to be held at sea, he reminded her to bring a tippet with her.

Seeing how late the time was, she called Brian. “Um, I might need a bit more time. Is… Is the whole thing about to start? I’m a bit slow in my make-up today…”

“Take it easy, Madam. Just do it at your own pace. The ball isn’t gonna start until it’s night. As soon as we reached the venue before six, we’re good. Mr. Tremont has emphasized that you should be given all the time in the world to get ready. Don’t panic, Madam. I’ll be waiting for you down here.”

Hearing no urgency in his voice, Arianne was finally relieved before returning to meticulously dolling herself up. Once the make-up was completed, she then drew her long, disheveled hair into a simple evening hair bun that was just the perfect style for the dress.

Looking at herself in the mirror, Arianne sighed in satisfaction. It was then that she suddenly remembered that Mary had taken Smore out to play earlier and had not returned yet. She called the old housekeeper, and the moment the call connected, Arianne wasted no time instructing, “I don’t know when this ball is gonna end, Mary, so I might actually be home late tonight. I’ll have to pass the responsibilities to you. Please, be careful while on your way back home.”

Strangely, Mary’s surrounding was unnaturally rambunctious and filled with revelry. The woman even had to raise her voice before replying, “Smore’s already with his father, Ari. ‘Cause we’re both already aboard the cruise! So, come over here with Brian, Madam!”