Chapter 52 Chapter 53
Shortly after the car took off, Marlie instructed the driver to take them shopping.
Spark had no alternative since he had requested this outing, or maybe he was merely entertaining her because of Chad.
When Marlie found a moment, she contacted her partner, arranging a meeting at the mall.
Within thirty minutes of their arrival, Mark also arrived at the mall. It seemed as if Spark knew that Marlie had invited Mark, as he refused to leave her side even for a minute.
"Ah, so that's why you constantly cling to her like a ghost! Are you two partners, or perhaps I should say, boyfriend and girlfriend?"Spark murmured to himself.
Mark questioned Marlie, his face filled with curiosity upon seeing her with Spark. "Why is he here? Why didn't you inform me of your company? What are you doing with him?"
"He knows my true identity!" Marlie disclosed the news to Mark, who stared at her in utter shock. However, his gaze alone could not erase the fact that Spark knew the entire truth.
"Hey, brat, continue with your tedious shopping while I become better acquainted with your boyfriend!" Spark ordered, which Marlie refused to obey.
Nevertheless, she had originally gone to the Mall for that very purpose, so she signaled to Mark and continued her shopping. Mark took his seat a little closer to Spark.
Both men locked eyes, waiting for the other to initiate a conversation. For a minute, they remained silent, observing one another intently.
Since Spark was aware of the truth, Mark had a question for him, and he asked before he could stop himself... "Why didn't you inform Chad since you know her real identity?"
Spark, with a smile, responded with a shrug. "For the fun of it!" After his remark, he laughed heartily.
However, Mark remains skeptical and suspects that Spark has a hidden agenda for keeping the secret. "You hold a different motive," Mark asserts, shifting his gaze towards Marlie picking her attire.
"And what might that be...?" Spark inquires, feigning ignorance regarding his concealed intentions.
"I am uncertain," Mark retorts, and Spark chuckles. If Mark possessed no knowledge, why did he insinuate that he harbored ulterior motives?
"It is because the love of your life perished, and her sister replaced her by her husband's side, who happens to be your closest friend. Yet, you opted to remain silent as if it were of no importance. " Spark's countenance darkens in reaction to Mark's words. Must he be reminded that Charlie is no longer alive?
Mark continued, expressing his suspicion, "You either hold animosity towards Chad or affection for Marlie."
"Yes, indeed, I harbor a concealed motive," Spark admits. His composure seems to wane. "Nevertheless, I shall not disclose it to you!"
"Very well, you may keep it to yourself, but there is one matter I require clarification on," Mark asserts.
"And what makes you think I will tell you anything ?" Spark retorted.
"I shall inform you of an impending event that will occur in less than 3 minutes," Mark captures Spark's attention.
"And what might that be?!" Spark inquired, but Mark insisted, "First, answer my question,"
"And what the fuck might that question be?" Spark spat, he was starting to feel irritated by Mark.
"Did Chad love Marlie before this moment? Or, in simpler terms, is Marlie the love of his life?" Mark poses his question, his gaze still fixed upon Marlie.
"Are you jealous?" Spark questions his lips coiling into a smirk.
"I will tell you one truth: I am not her boyfriend, okay. So, reveal the truth now," Mark clarifies.
Spark displays surprise upon hearing this, his countenance clearly reflecting his shock.
He chuckled at the truth that Mark had just unveiled. If Mark is not Marlie's boyfriend, then there is no harm in disclosing the truth. Perhaps it is to prevent a future conflict between Mark and Chad over Marlie.
"Yes, that fool has loved her for quite a long time ... and he continues to do so stupidly," Spark said each word with disdain. It seemed his brother's liking of Marlie was a bitter medicine he couldn't accept. Because Marlie was in trouble.
Mark is taken aback by Spark's confirmation. So whatever he had suspected was right.
"Was Marlie the reason her sister terminated her marriage?" Mark asks in shock, causing Spark to frown at his words. He had answered his initial query, so why would he raise another? That was not part of the agreement.
"Is that what is set to occur within the next 2 minutes?" Spark asks with anger.
"Marlie is releasing the divorce papers. She is exposing it," Mark reveals.
"Say that again!" Spark was now on his feet.
" Is she insane or something? Did none of you consider it the perfect opportunity to remove her from his life?" Spark asks completely annoyed with their ignorance.
"It would actually work in her favor. I have some friends at the broadcasting stations who will air it even if you try to threaten them!" Mark replied confidently.
"And do you honestly believe that Angelina's father hasn't prepared for that? Sure, for a few minutes, it may seem like it's in your favor, but he will turn the situation around and hurl insults and taunts at Charlie!" Spark vented out his frustration.
"Angelina's father...?" Mark asked, stunned.
"Even if he doesn't, those witches won't stay silent," Spark informed Mark.
"So, what do we do now...?" Mark inquired.
"You're not simply asking me for help, are you? That brat is just a big chest without a brain. She only knows how to follow her emotions without thinking about how her actions always affect innocent people. Does she not care about Charlie's reputation?" Spark questioned, raising an eyebrow in anger.
"We're talking about Charlie's reputation here, and you used to love her..." Mark attempted to convince Spark.
"You know what, spare me that nonsense from now on, okay? If both of you are sensible enough to care about her reputation, you wouldn't have started all this stupid hassle." Spark brushed it off and reached for his phone, dialing a friend's number.
"All of a sudden, I've become the godfather to someone," Spark murmured before speaking on the phone with a reporter.
"I will send you some instructions and our location. You have to be here in exactly 10 minutes." As a man of few words he ended the call and scoffed at Mark in disbelief.
Meanwhile, Chad had gone to the company, and as he entered his office, David followed suit to provide him with an update.
"Sir, and also..." David paused, finding it difficult to break the bad news to Chad.
Chad looked at him confused by his reaction.
"And also what?" Chad asked.
"The stock prices are rapidly dropping due to the scandal yesterday. It's as if the whole world is hoping for your downfall. And the comments..." David tried to convey the negative feedback people were giving about Chad.
"Call for an emergency board meeting." Chad interrupted David with his decision. Regardless of what he does, the negative comments will still linger. Now, his focus is on ensuring the company doesn't face more crises.
Back at the mall, Marlie had finished her shopping and approached Spark and Mark, noticing the tension on their faces.
"Did someone die?" Marlie wondered.
"You're about to die," Spark blurted out in anger. The nerve of her to ask that. Marlie looked at Spark with a glare.
"We made a mistake that could have severe consequences if we don't find a solution!" Mark delivered the bad news to her.
But Spark couldn't wait to point out her mistake.
"Your density and small-mindedness are going to damage Charlie's reputation! Do you even have any sense of shame?!" Spark spat out. His frustration was growing rapidly.
Marlie glared at him more, suppressing her desire to slap Spark's face. However, she knew it wasn't the right time.
She needed to identify the problem and come up with a solution. Mark had just informed her of the problem without further explanation.
Frustration caused Marlie to blurt out, "What am I supposed to do now?"
Anticipation filled her as she anxiously gazed at Mark, who struggled to disclose the delicate task of sharing the solution with her, knowing it may not be well received.
"There is only one way," he finally uttered.
Mark struggled to convey the message to the seemingly irrational Marlie, so Spark had to break the silence. "You have to be pregnant."
Regardless of his choice of words, it appeared Marlie consistently misunderstood him.
"WHAT?" She's asked in shock.
"You heard me right!" Spark said coldly to her. She only knows how to cause trouble but not how to resolve it.
"What do you mean I have to be pregnant? With whom? Chad? Are you crazy? Do you expect me to sleep with him? Are you..." Marlie ranted on, her frustration reaching its peak.
Mark attempted to intervene and clarify that the situation did not involve such actions, but Marlie was in no state to listen to him until he loudly exclaimed, "It's just a pretense!"
Marlie became quiet. A moment of clarity enveloped Marlie as she grasped the meaning of their conversation.
Spark scoffed at Marlie unbelievably, stating, "I think that's what you actually want to do. Don't pretend in front of me."
She glared at Spark in disbelief, his accusation taking her by surprise.
"What?!" she asked in astonishment.
"Yes, I think you're immensely eager to sleep with him!" Spark concluded with an aggravating scoff.
Marlie had had enough of Spark. Determined to attack Spark, Marlie lunged forward, but Mark swiftly intercepted, preventing her from reaching her target.
Why wouldn't she when Spark was continuously annoying her with, "You are so desperate!" Spark continued.
Realizing Marlie's fury could not be contained, Mark intervened, attempting to calm her down. He requested Marlie to change her attire and add a touch of elegance to her appearance for their plan to be believable.
Marlie snatched the clothes and shoes and hastened towards the changing room, trying to outrun her mounting anger before Spark could push her over the edge.
As soon as Marlie disappeared from view, Mark spoke up,
"You know, we could have easily utilized the divorce date to clear up everything instead of subjecting her to tasks she dislikes."
"It's her punishment!" Spark uttered with conviction.