CHAPTER 150
Rochelle’s life and youth were slipping away as she sought revenge against John.
At the mere mention of John, the smile vanished from Rochelle’s face.
"Arianna, John owes me two lives, and he has to pay for that. He’s fortunate that all I’m doing is ensuring he dies without children.
"As for me, I died the day they did. My future was buried with them."
The eerie calmness in her voice as she spoke those words was enough to evoke a deep sense of sorrow in anyone who heard it.
Arianna opened her mouth to speak but found herself at a loss for words.
It is always challenging to truly understand another's pain if one has not walked the same path. That was the case for Arianna with Rochelle.
If Rochelle were ever told to let go of her hatred, she would likely choose to end her life rather than start anew. In her mind, she had already lived long enough.
Hatred was her sole reason to keep going.
…
Rochelle drove Arianna to the hospital and dropped her off at the entrance.
Arianna asked, "Would you like to come in and see Charlie?"
Rochelle glanced at the hospital and shook her head. “I’m a bringer of bad luck. I don’t want to bring any misfortune to Charlie. Just let him know that I’ll visit him once he’s recovered and out of the hospital.”
“Chelle…” Arianna said, feeling a pang of sadness.
“Go on. I’ll be heading back soon,” Rochelle cut in, not letting Arianna continue.
“Alright. Drive safely.” Arianna stepped out of the car.
As she watched Rochelle drive away, Arianna turned to head into the hospital but was startled by a car pulling up and stopping right in front of her.
The back seat door opened, and Alan stepped out, greeting her with a soft smile. "Arianna."
Arianna smiled back. "What a coincidence. I just got here too."
Alan approached her, his dark eyes studying her face. He frowned slightly.
"You don't look well. Are you alright?"
Instinctively, Arianna lowered her eyes and used her hair to partially cover her face.
She had applied makeup to hide her pale complexion and wore high-collared clothes, but Alan's keen eye still noticed something was off.
She forced a smile and said, "I'm fine, just didn't get much sleep last night. Let's go find Charlie's attending doctor. I've already set up an appointment, and he's waiting for us."
Alan noticed her evasiveness but chose to nod and go along with her. "Alright, let's head in."
...
Meanwhile, at the villa, Grandma King entered the master bedroom carrying some medicine, only to find the bed empty, the blankets tossed aside. Xander was nowhere in sight.
She checked the bathroom and the changing room, but he was not there either.
When she reached the bottom of the stairs, she called Julia over to inquire about Xander's whereabouts. Julia responded,
"I saw him leave the house about five minutes ago."
Julia, clearly concerned, added, "I'm not sure if he's completely sober yet, and he left after hardly any rest. Where do you think he could be rushing off to?"
Grandma King understood immediately and smiled. "Where else? He's gone to find his wife, of course!"
Julia looked doubtful. "Do you think so?"
"Oh, honestly!" Grandma King said, giving Julia a look of exasperation. "Haven't you picked up any of my wisdom after all these years by my side?"
Julia remained silent.
As Grandma King walked into the kitchen, she muttered to herself,
"If Xander and Arianna have a child, who will take care of the baby if I'm no longer around? I'd be worried if it were you, considering you don't seem to have much sense!"
Julia was just as speechless as before.
Given the ongoing turmoil between Xander and Arianna, there was no clear indication of any positive progress. The threat of divorce still loomed large, so why worry about who would raise potential children?
Julia pouted, thinking, ‘Aren’t you overthinking things a bit too much right now, Grandma King?’
…
In the doctor’s office at the hospital, Arianna introduced Alan to Charlie’s attending physician. She then took a seat to quietly listen to their discussion.
Arianna didn’t grasp the technical jargon they were using, but Alan spoke with a distinctive professionalism that prompted frequent nods from the attending physician. Arianna’s hope began to rise as she observed the positive reaction.
The doctor had previously shown a sense of helplessness when discussing Charlie's condition, but the treatment plan from the little saint seemed to have made a significant impact.
Noticing that their cups had emptied, Arianna quietly stood up, collected the cups, and went to refill them with warm water. She then returned and handed the cups to Alan and the doctor.
Alan took a sip from his cup and looked at Arianna with a soft smile. “Thank you,” he said warmly.
“No need for thanks,” Arianna replied softly.
The discussion wrapped up after about an hour. The attending doctor stood up and extended his hand to Alan, clasping it with both of his own. His voice brimmed with enthusiasm as he said, Dr. Woods, please convey to Saint John how impressed I am with his plan. He truly deserves recognition as a protégé of Professor Louie. If there’s anything further needed, don’t hesitate to reach out to me!”
Alan returned the smile and nodded. “I’ll make sure to pass along your message.”
Turning to Arianna, the attending doctor beamed widely. “Ms. Johnson, I’m surprised you managed to find the little saint. You can be confident now about Charlie’s treatment.”
Those words acted as a soothing balm for Arianna’s anxiety, instantly easing her worries. She couldn’t help but smile and respond, “Thank you. Charlie is relying on everyone’s support.”
As they left the office, Alan asked, “Which ward is your brother in? I’d like to visit him.”
Arianna, assuming he intended to assess Charlie's condition or something similar, quickly directed him. “It’s this way.”
They made their way towards the ward.
Just as they neared it, Alan remarked, “I came in such a rush that I didn’t have time to bring a gift for him. I hope he won’t mind.”
Alan looked at her with a touch of amusement. “Oh, I see. Well, if you think so, then I guess I’ve already given him something valuable.”
Arianna nodded, her smile widening. “Yes, this treatment plan is a rare and significant gift. It’s exactly what Charlie needs.”
Alan chuckled softly. “I’m glad you think so. But if there’s anything specific Charlie likes, just let me know. I’d be happy to bring it next time.”
“Sure,” Arianna replied, feeling reassured. “I’ll let you know if there’s anything he might like. For now, let’s go see him.”
With that, they continued toward the ward, both feeling a bit more hopeful about Charlie’s treatment.
