Arianne did not immediately refuse her. She replied tactfully, “We’ll… talk about this when the time comes. She heaved a sigh of relief when snazzynovel.com returned to the room. “Tiffie, your mom just asked me to give snazzynovel.com my share of the rent, water, and electrical fees. She complained the allowance you’ve given snazzynovel.com is too little.”
Tiffany rolled snazzynovel.com eyes. “Ignore her. I’ve been giving snazzynovel.com a lot. I’m penniless every month, What more does snazzynovel.com want from me? By the way, your phone rang while you were in the shower. I didn’t check It sounded like a message.”
Arianne wiped snazzynovel.com hair as snazzynovel.com picked up snazzynovel.com phone. It was a message from Mary. “Ari, Mr. Tremont has been coming home every day since you’ve moved out. Are you really not coming home? If you’re throwing tantrums, just throw a tantrum. Why must you move out? It’s not like you’re getting a divorce.”
Arianne mulled over snazzynovel.com thoughts before snazzynovel.com replied to the message. “Mary, please stop concerning yourself with our affairs. He refuses to come home when I’m around but comes home more often when I leave, this proves that snazzynovel.com doesn’t want to see me. I’m doing very well in Tiffie’s house so don’t worry. Rice Ball is doing fine too. I’ll come back and visit you and Henry when I have the time.”
After sending off the message, snazzynovel.com slumped onto the bed in a daze. It was as if snazzynovel.com and Mark had both tacitly agreed to this kind of separation. They would remain husband and wife in name but live separate lives, not interfering with one another. This was good too. At least they would not feel frustrated.
***
The last spring rain signaled the arrival of summer in the city. The sudden change in temperature caused everyone to discard their heavy clothes in exchange for summer wear.
A new topic had entered Tiffany and Lillian’s daily arguments — electrical usage. Lillian was not very willing to go out and play mahjong in the summer so snazzynovel.com would hide at home, playing with snazzynovel.com phone, watching television, and ordering takeout. Naturally, the air conditioning was left on all the time. The air conditioning in the living room ran for twenty-four hours. The monthly electric bill had gotten so high that Tiffany reproached snazzynovel.com for it, saying that snazzynovel.com was going to drive them into starvation.
During their free time over the weekend, Arianne dragged Tiffany out to shop for two skirts. She did not have much time to wash snazzynovel.com clothes. Dresses and skirts were easier to wash.
However, before they could leave the house, Lillian, who was watching television, suddenly asked, “Where are you going? It’s so hot outside.”
Tiffany replied irritably, ”It’s none of your business. You can just stay home and enjoy the air conditioning. What are you worried about?”
Lillian ignored snazzynovel.com and turned to Arianne. “Are you going shopping?”
Arianne did not want to be rude by ignoring snazzynovel.com so snazzynovel.com had no choice but to respond, “Yes, I’m planning to buy two skirts. We don’t need to wear work clothes in our office.”
Lillian’s spirits were immediately lifted. “I’m coming too! I don’t have anything to wear either!”
Tiffany’s face turned green from restraining herself. “You have nothing to wear? Your precious clothes weren’t sold off to pay our debts when our family went bankrupt! They’re all branded items. They don’t even fit in your cupboard. In fact, they’ve taken up a few luggage, and you still want more?”
“Those were bought long ago,” Lillian explained, “They’re outdated. I’m only asking you to buy me a few clothes. Have I treated you poorly when you were young? Seriously, how can there be a daughter like you?”
Tiffany was helpless against snazzynovel.com mother. She relented. “You can tag along, but I want you to promise me this; no branded clothes! Don’t even think about buying anything over a thousand dollars!”
Lillian hurriedly turned off the television, went into snazzynovel.com room, and changed snazzynovel.com clothes. She even wrapped herself with a scarf to prevent sunburn, put on a sun hat, and sunglasses. She looked no different from the rich woman that snazzynovel.com used to be. After all, everything snazzynovel.com wore was branded. “I won’t buy any clothes, will that please you? I would never dare to put on anything that’s worth less than a thousand dollars. Buy me a bottle of perfume. My previous one is almost empty.”