CHAPTER 161
Grandma King beamed with approval.
“That’s more like it. A husband should treat his wife well!”
Arianna began to wonder if Grandma King was playing both sides. It seemed she was now favoring Xander…
With everyone’s eyes on her, Arianna had no choice but to keep up the pretense.
She opened her mouth, maintained her sweet demeanor, and ate the food Xander offered her.
He served her several dishes in a row, and as Arianna ate, she noticed something strange.
She disliked ginger and usually avoided any dish containing it. However, the food Xander gave her was free of ginger, making her wonder if it was a mere coincidence or if he had done it deliberately.
It was probably just a coincidence.
Arianna's appetite was modest, and she quickly felt full after just a few dishes and a few bites of rice. It wasn’t long before she set down her cutlery.
Xander watched her intently from the side, his dark eyes fixed on her face.
Arianna felt his gaze and looked puzzled. Was she not allowed to eat so little? She truly couldn’t manage another bite.
Xander put down his cutlery and extended his long fingers toward her.
Just as Arianna was about to ask him what he was doing, his fingertips gently touched her lips and removed a stray grain of rice.
Arianna's cheeks flushed slightly as she watched Xander.
In the next moment, Xander casually popped the grain of rice into his mouth.
Arianna’s eyes widened, and her heart began to race.
Had she really just seen Xander eat that grain of rice without a hint of disgust?
On the other side, Grandma King and Aunt Julia struggled to contain their smiles.
Grandma King chuckled, “See, Aunt Julia? Spending time together like this really helps, doesn’t it? The more they interact, the closer they’ll become.”
Aunt Julia agreed enthusiastically.
“Absolutely. When I first married, my husband’s habits drove me crazy, but over time, we became inseparable. It’s vital for newlyweds to nurture their bond and be affectionate with each other!”
As someone who spent a lot of time online, she added, “The internet often mentions that couples with strong relationships act as if they have no hands. I never really understood that until now, seeing Mr. and Mrs. King today!”
They fed each other with such intimacy, as if their hands were unnecessary.
Aunt Julia also realized why Grandma King had requested such a lavish lunch for their hospital visit after taking a phone call that morning.
If Aunt Julia’s guess was correct, it must have been Xander who made the call.
It seemed that Xander had finally made up his mind. He wanted to build a strong relationship with Arianna and share a happy future together.
This way, Grandma King could rest easy, knowing there was still hope for Xander to have a family of his own.
Arianna’s cheeks flushed with heat as she overheard Grandma King and Aunt Julia’s playful banter.
There was no genuine relationship between her and Xander—everything was a charade and merely a performance.
Yet, it wasn’t as if she and Xander had never shared moments of closeness.
Feeding each other and sharing food reminded her sharply of their past, when they were in love two years ago. Those were the memories she seemed to be reliving.
Xander had once been so attentive that she became accustomed to his care, passing off foods she disliked to him, asking him to pour her water, and even requesting that he bring the glass to her lips whenever she was thirsty.
In the middle of the night, whenever Arianna had a sudden craving, she would call Xander and tell him what she wanted. He would search the entire city to find it and bring it to her.
Such memories were numerous, and even a single recollection could make her heart ache deeply.
Arianna wondered if she wouldn’t be in so much pain if Xander hadn’t been so incredibly kind. She might not cling so desperately to those memories or feel overwhelmed by his current pretense of affection.
But was Xander’s past kindness genuine, or was it just a facade with no real feelings behind it?
Arianna had often pondered this deep in her heart.
"Ari, Xander!" Grandma King called out, taking Arianna's hand in one hand and Xander's in the other. She then placed Xander's hand gently on top of Arianna's.
"I’m so glad to see you two like this. I hope you'll always find happiness together. Promise me, will you?"
Grandma King’s gaze was filled with a hopeful intensity.
Xander’s hand closed around Arianna’s, his large palm enveloping hers. He met Grandma King’s eager eyes and said, “Of course.”
As Xander spoke, Arianna’s heart fluttered, and she looked up at him. Her eyes locked with his dark, solemn ones, where she noticed a familiar softness that echoed their past.
Arianna's heart raced, unsure if Xander's response was part of an act or genuinely heartfelt.
Grandma King, noticing Arianna’s hesitation, turned her attention to her with a gentle yet coaxing tone.
"Promise me, Arianna."
Jolted from her thoughts, Arianna met Grandma King ’s gaze. Unsure if her promise was just a facade or something more sincere, she found herself saying, "Okay."
Grandma King’s face lit up with happiness immediately.
Arianna's heart raced, unsure if Xander's response was part of an act or genuinely heartfelt.
Xander cast his eyes downward, a subtle smile curling at the corners of his lips.ander cast his eyes downward, a subtle smile curling at the corners of his lips.
