CHAPTER 117
Arianna's lips tightened involuntarily as her eyes shifted towards Xander.
Xander happened to glance up at her, locking eyes with her in a moment of intensity. His gaze was icy, sending a shiver down her spine.
She couldn't shake the feeling that Xander's cold stare was because he had recognized her.
“I believe you’re mistaken, Mr. Summer,”
Felix interjected, unable to hold his tongue.
“Mr. King is no different from the rest of us. He’s known for his ruthless nature, and he particularly dislikes those who try to ingratiate themselves with him.”
With that, he offered a suggestion to Arianna.
“In my opinion, it’d be more useful for you to kneel down and beg Mr. King!”
The others burst into laughter.
Xander stood up from the sofa, reached out for the cue that an attendant passed to him. He held it in his hand and swung it casually, as if he was doing a warm-up.
The red wine that had just been opened on the coffee table was immediately swept to the ground.
The glass bottle fell onto the ground with a shatter. Pin-drop silence immediately befell the once boisterous room.
Xander then swiped the cue again, pointing it toward Felix’s face.
A strong gust of wind blew at Felix, causing his eyes to widen in shock. He instinctively lowered his head and bent over, barely managing to avoid the stick.
His knees turned limp, and he fell to the ground.
Zach looked down condescendingly at Felix’s pitiful expression and said with a sneer, “I told you to be gentle to beautiful women.”
Felix finally realized what was going on.
No wonder Zach was so interested in that little dancer and was so verbally protective of her. It turned out not to be Zach who was interested in her, but…Xander!
After finally figuring it out, he broke into a cold sweat, recalling his earlier actions and words. He closed his mouth immediately, afraid to say anything further.
Even if Felix had the courage of a hundred men, he would never dare to touch someone that Xander fancied.
However, he wondered just who on earth that woman could be, and why she managed to capture Xander’s eye!
“My buddy Xan will have his time to shine now!” Zach turned into Xander’s little fanboy and shouted, “Good luck, Xan. Wooooo! You can do it!”
Xander was disgusted by Zach’s actions and shot a cold look at the latter.
“Shut up.”
After uttering those two words, Xander walked to the pool table. His play was markedly different from Arianna’s meticulous approach. He effortlessly struck the balls, pocketing one after another in quick succession.
Before anyone could fully register his movements, he had already pocketed one ball, then another, and followed with two more. Each shot was precise and calculated, landing perfectly into the pocket.
Arianna wasn’t the least bit surprised by his skill. She knew his abilities all too well.
He was certainly capable of pocketing the fifth ball as well.
Arianna's palms were already slightly sweaty, her grip on the cue beginning to falter. She could already envision the humiliating outcome awaiting her if she lost.
Should she heed Zach's suggestion and try to be coy or offer a kiss to persuade Xander to take it easy on her?
The thought made her stomach turn. While such gestures might have been acceptable during their happier times together, knowing Xander's true nature now made the idea utterly repulsive to her. She couldn't bring herself to stoop so low.
Arianna pondered Felix’s suggestion to kneel down and plead with Xander.
Whether or not it would actually sway Xander was beside the point. Despite learning to adapt over the past two years, there was no way she could lower herself before him. Maintaining that sliver of self-respect meant more to her than anything else, even her life.
Her inner turmoil etched deep lines of concern across her forehead, her lips pressed tightly together as unspoken words tangled in her throat, unable to find voice.
Arianna was so consumed by her thoughts that she failed to notice the way Xander was observing her. A glint of anticipation flickered in his eyes, revealing a subtle yet keen interest.
After what seemed like an eternity, Arianna's complexion paled slightly, but she remained steadfastly silent.
Xander's smile turned cold and calculating. He had given her numerous chances to speak up, yet she chose silence. It appeared she was more inclined to frequent such places, clad in provocative attire, dancing, flirting, and imbibing with other men, than to engage with him directly.
She often claimed he despised her, yet the truth was, perhaps she harbored even greater disdain toward him. Upon realizing she couldn't gain anything from him, she distanced herself, avoided his gaze, and refused to meet him halfway.
"You're quite something, Arianna. What a stellar personality you have!"
If that was her stance, why would Xander extend any kindness to her?
A chill settled over Xander's handsome features. He leaned over, adjusted the angle and force of his cue, aimed meticulously at the ball, and struck it decisively.
The cue ball collided with its target, sending it on a flawless path, deftly maneuvering past various obstacles and rolling inexorably toward the far-right pocket.
The outcome seemed assured by its trajectory. Some of the young men had already begun to cheer prematurely.
Arianna closed her eyes instinctively, unwilling to confront the inevitable outcome as the target ball neared the pocket.
It spelled the end for her.
That day might well be her final one on this earth, and she feared she wouldn't be able to save Charlie either...
The two siblings would likely only reunite in heaven.
Maybe that was okay.
If there was life after death, Arianna hoped she and Charlie could be reborn into a loving family, where they could once again be siblings together.
