CHAPTER 158
"Are you even human, Justin? If that child in her womb is yours, what about Piper? Did you really threaten her just because of that woman?"
Violet, seething with rage, tried to lunge at Justin once more, intent on confronting him head-on. But before she could reach him, Justin delivered a brutal kick that sent her sprawling to the ground. Unable to rise, Violet lay there helpless.
"Mommy!" Piper rushed to her side, desperately trying to assist her.
Justin looked down at the mother and daughter with a scornful expression. His voice was icy as he continued,
“The mess you two have caused is what’s enraged Xander. Our business partners are pulling out, and the company is in serious trouble, all because of your constant meddling.
“Here’s a warning: if you want to stay in this house, you’d better stay out of my way. Otherwise, I’ll file for divorce, and both of you can leave.”
With that final, harsh statement, Justin turned and walked away without glancing back.
Piper helped Violet to the sofa and quickly instructed a servant to fetch an ice pack. She tried to wipe away Violet’s tears, but they kept flowing so rapidly that it was impossible to keep up.
"Mommy, don’t cry!” Piper said through gritted teeth, her voice filled with frustration. “Didn’t you always tell me that crying won’t solve anything?”
Tears wouldn’t change a man whose feelings had already shifted; if anything, they’d just make him more irritable.
Violet knew this well, but she couldn’t reconcile the fact that her husband, who had always been so devoted to her, would now treat her with such disregard.
It was well-known that Violet's family had a higher standing than the Schmidts when she married Justin, and that his current position was largely due to her family’s support.
Noticing Violet was lost in her thoughts, Piper shook her shoulder, forcing her to focus. “Mommy, do you understand who’s behind all this trouble for our family?”
“Who else could it be but that woman, Sheena?”
The mere mention of Sheena made Violet seethe with anger, her desire to exact revenge almost palpable.
“No, it’s Arianna who’s behind this!” Piper revealed, recounting everything she had witnessed and heard at the hospital.
Violet was taken aback. “Are you… Are you sure about this?”
Could someone like Arianna, who had been so publicly shamed, really orchestrate all this?
“It’s true!” Piper insisted through gritted teeth.
“We’ve been underestimating her, and that’s why she was able to exploit us. If we had seen it coming, our plan at the silver wedding anniversary would have succeeded. Dad wouldn’t have been swayed by Sheena, and I’d be Xander’s wife now!”
“You’re right…”
As Violet reflected on the events, her anger intensified.
“That wretched Arianna has a truly malicious heart. She didn’t just break you and Xander apart—she’s shattered our entire family!”
“Yes, you’re finally seeing it, Mommy!” Piper said with a sense of satisfaction. “We can’t let Arianna continue living her life without consequences!”
Violet wiped away her tears, took a few steadying breaths, and said with determination, “I’m not going to let her get away with this.”
She grabbed the ice pack from the servant and placed it on her eyelids. The coldness immediately cleared her mind, and her face hardened into a steely, resolute expression.
“Arianna is already married, yet she’s still involved with Xander. Imagine the fallout if both her husband and Xander found out about her affair.”
Piper grinned at Violet’s words. “Exactly, Mommy. When they find out, both her husband and Xander will tear her apart!”
Violet’s lips curled into a sneer. “I’ll have someone investigate who Arianna’s husband is. Her downfall is imminent!”
She picked up the phone and made a call.
.........
Early the next morning, Arianna woke up naturally, having had no dreams throughout the night. She stretched lazily without opening her eyes.
As she continued to stretch, she sensed something was amiss and finally opened her eyes to check beside her.
The bed was empty; she was alone.
Confused, she blinked and wondered if Xander’s presence the night before had been just a figment of her imagination.
Had Xander left?
Before Arianna could fully savor the relief, the ward door swung open, and in walked Xander, dressed in casual sportswear.
She had overlooked the fact that Xander had a routine of working out each morning. He must have gone out for his exercise earlier, making her earlier sense of relief premature.
With nothing to say to him, Arianna turned away, got out of bed, and headed to the bathroom to freshen up.
Although Arianna’s face remained neutral, Xander noticed a subtle shift in her demeanor, causing his lips to tighten slightly.
Despite his efforts to keep her close, there was a noticeable distance between them, and they seemed worlds apart emotionally.
Xander watched her retreating figure for a moment, then picked up the phone and dialed a number.
When Arianna emerged from the bathroom, she found Xander seated on the sofa, engrossed in his laptop and sifting through documents.
The morning sunlight streamed through the window, casting a warm glow on his focused and attractive face. Despite the view being undeniably pleasing, Arianna had no interest in admiring his looks at that moment.
Instead, she felt a growing frustration. She had assumed Xander would be busy with work at the company daily, and she had hoped his responsibilities would limit his time spent at hospital.
However, judging by his current setup, it seemed Xander had practically relocated his entire office to the ward, indicating he had no intention of leaving.
Arianna felt a pang of confusion. She understood Xander’s commitment was due to his concern for Grandma King, but he had never been this attentive when they were at the villa before.
He was supposed to be so busy with work that he hardly ever returned to the villa. Why, then, was he now displaying such unwavering devotion?
