CHAPTER 147
Surprise flickered in John's usually composed eyes, but he soon wrapped his long arms around Rochelle's slender waist and kissed her back passionately.
Rochelle didn’t resist; instead, she responded eagerly. Her fingers tangled in his hair before moving to the back of his neck, knowing it was his sensitive spot.
As expected, she felt his breath quicken. His hands roamed her back, and his grip on her tightened.
As John's body temperature rose and his desire intensified, Rochelle opened her indulgent eyes and moved her red lips to his ear. Her voice was husky, tinged with lust, and she spoke clearly,
“I want you to spend your entire life not being able to get what you want.”
This was her answer to his earlier question.
Having said that, Rochelle pushed him away forcefully. Caught off guard, John stumbled back a few steps, his defences down.
Though his eyes retained that dark glow, his expression had returned to its usual aloofness, even if his aura had not fully settled.
Rochelle savoured the moment, her smile widening.
"That girl probably hasn't gone far. I can call her back for you if you want. Or... you can take your pick from the many women here."
Adjusting the hem of her skirt nonchalantly, she turned on her high heels and began to walk away.
Pausing as she passed him, a thought struck her. She glanced sideways at John's cold face and offered a pointed reminder.
"Oh, and remember to use protection. If you get caught in their trap, it’s a hassle for me to have to clean up the mess."
John’s eyes flashed with quiet anger, but he maintained his composed demeanour. He cast her a sideways glance.
Rochelle blew him a mischievous kiss. “See you next time, Hubby,” she teased, walking away with her head held high.
John’s bodyguards arrived belatedly, ready to ask if he wanted them to handle the situation. However, upon seeing the striking figure of his young wife retreating, they thought better of it.
They knew all too well that if they asked the question, they might end up being the ones who needed handling.
.........
At the villa.
Grandma King sat by the bed, watching Xander, who was sleeping fitfully. She took a towel and gently wiped the sweat from his forehead, sighing repeatedly.
Aunt Julia, standing nearby, couldn’t help but ask, “What’s going on?”
Grandma King narrowed her eyes at her and sighed deeply.
“I’m worried, Julia.”
“Worried?” Aunt Julia echoed, puzzled.
“What’s there to worry about? Xander just drank a bit too much. He’ll be fine after some rest.”
Grandma King shook her head. “I don’t believe a word that idiot Zach said. Do you?”
When Zach brought Xander back, he claimed that Xander had just drunk too much at a gathering. The scene seemed to be nothing more than a typical overindulgence.
Aunt Julia, puzzled and concerned, asked,
“Well yes. He did seem a bit tipsy to me.”
Grandma King sighed deeply and shook her head, her face lined with worry.
“It’s not just about drinking too much. Xander’s condition is more serious than Zach let on. There’s something more troubling happening here, and I fear it’s not just the alcohol.”
"I don't understand" Julia replied puzzled
Grandma King looked at the naive Aunt Julia and couldn’t help but remark,
“You are younger than me, but your mind isn’t nearly as sharp. You’re like those people on the news who get duped into buying all sorts of bogus health products.”
Aunt Julia pouted, feeling aggrieved. “Old Madam, I wouldn’t be deceived, alright!”
Grandma King, clearly frustrated, shifted the topic.
“Think about this—when has Xander ever gotten so drunk that he ended up completely passed out?”
Aunt Julia’s eyes widened as she realized the gravity of the situation.
“You’re right. Xander has always been extremely cautious, especially since the kidnapping. This kind of behaviour is completely out of character for him…”
Aunt Julia’s expression darkened as she recalled,
“Now that I think about it, this isn’t the first time he has acted like this. It was around two years ago, right after Arianna left the City following their broken engagement.”
Grandma King nodded, her eyes clouded with memory.
"Precisely. He was the one who called off the engagement and instructed her never to come back, yet he ended up drinking himself into a daze. I know Xander well, but this situation leaves me puzzled.”
Aunt Julia sighed heavily, her brow furrowed with confusion. “It’s puzzling. If he genuinely cared about her, why would he have ended the engagement? Yet, if he didn’t care, why did he seem so devastated back then?”
“Grandma King, do you think he has feelings for her or not?”
Grandma King was about to answer when Xander’s sudden movement halted her.
In his dazed state, Xander reached out and firmly grasped Grandma King’s wrist. His eyes remained closed, but his lips formed her name in a faint whisper.
“Arianna.”
Both Grandma King and Aunt Julia were stunned into silence. They exchanged bewildered glances, each realizing the gravity of Xander’s murmured confession.
It seemed… they had their answer.
........
Early the next morning, the sun streamed through the window slats, filling the room with a warm, golden glow.
Xander slowly opened his eyes, wincing at the persistent discomfort of a hangover. He lifted a hand to his temples, rubbing them gently as he tried to clear his foggy mind. As his senses returned, he took in his surroundings.
He was in the villa, in the master bedroom he once shared with Arianna.
Turning his head, he noticed someone seated in a chair beside the bed. Wrapped in a blanket, the figure was asleep, having stayed by his side throughout the night.
A faint glimmer of hope flickered in Xander’s eyes as he took in the scene before him.
He allowed his gaze to drift slowly up the blanket, only to be met with the sight of Grandma King’s familiar face. The small spark of expectation dimmed, replaced by a resigned disappointment.
Grandma King, accustomed to light slumber, stirred at the sound of his movement. She straightened up, her voice laced with concern,
“You’re awake?”
“Yeah,” Xander replied, his voice rough from sleep. “Grandma, why didn’t you go back to your room?”
Grandma King huffed, “Do you think I didn’t want to? It’s not like I had much of a choice when you kept holding my hand, making sure I stayed by your side. At my age, having to stay up all night is hardly ideal!”
“Sorry,” Xander said, his tone softening. “I’m fine now, Grandma. You should head back to your room and get some rest.”
“I’m not going anywhere just yet. There’s something we need to discuss.”
Grandma King stood up from the chair and settled beside Xander on the bed. She extended three fingers in front of his face, wiggling them slightly. “How many fingers am I holding up?”
Rather than responding to her question, Xander asked, “Is that really what you wanted to talk about, Grandma?”
“Stop dodging the issue and answer me!” Grandma King’s tone was firm and commanding.
“Three,” Xander replied, his voice still rough from sleep.
“Well then, it looks like you’re clear-headed now.” She shifted her gaze to him with a serious expression. “Do you realize that you held onto my hand all night and kept calling for Arianna?”
Xander’s eyes flickered with a momentary shadow.
“I’ve always believed that alcohol reveals the truth,” she continued, her voice steady.
“So if Arianna is still in your heart, then why did you end the engagement two years ago? Why did you have to be so cold-hearted afterwards?”
