CHAPTER 163
Was Xander informing her of his schedule? Was he… sharing that detail with her?
Arianna stared at him, stunned, trying to confirm if the statement was meant for her. But before she could react, Xander had already turned and walked away.
Ronald quickly nodded at Arianna and hurried after his boss.
Arianna remained rooted to the spot, blinking in confusion. Although she didn’t see Xander’s expression, Ronald, as Xander’s assistant, would likely know his schedule.
There was probably no need for Xander to share that with Ronald. Besides Charlie, who was unconscious, the only person present was Arianna. It seemed… very possible that Xander was speaking to her.
Xander couldn’t have been muttering that to himself, could he?
He had never shared his itinerary with her since their marriage, and this was the first time he had done so.
The small spark that had flickered out in Arianna’s heart was reignited with new intensity.
Xander must have had pressing business to attend to, forcing him to leave for a trip immediately. If his reasons weren’t so urgent, he might have stayed longer.
Was that truly the case?
Unfortunately, she hadn’t had the opportunity to ask her question. If she had, she wouldn’t be left with so many uncertainties.
For now, all she could do was wait for his return and then find a chance to ask him directly and get some clarity.
.........
Ronald remained silent even after they were in the car.
If he heard correctly, his boss had voluntarily shared his schedule with Arianna. Ronald had never anticipated witnessing such a momentous change.
Had the stern CEO really transformed into a doting husband in an instant?
Just days ago, Ronald had been deeply concerned when he saw Xander furiously pursuing Arianna's taxi.
His anxiety had been so overwhelming that he lost sleep and even experienced some hair loss. He feared a major confrontation between them and a bleak outcome. To his astonishment, the situation had taken a nearly fairy-tale-like turn...
It seemed like a true reward for enduring such distress.
Ronald was buoyed by the thought that Xander’s rekindled relationship with Arianna could make his own life smoother.
If his boss had a harmonious marriage, things would certainly be easier for him as well!
Feeling upbeat, Ronald began driving and switched on a song.
‘I don’t know why I’m feeling so bold,
‘But when you love someone, you give it your all,
‘I wanna shout to the world that I can’t let you go’
…
At the Schmidt residence, the landline rang. Violet answered gracefully, “Hello.”
Piper, setting her teacup down, leaned forward with anticipation and asked quietly,
“Mommy, did Detective Leadon call you?”
Violet nodded in response.
Penelope’s eyes brightened with curiosity.
“Did Detective Leadon find out who Arianna’s husband is?”
“Shh.” Violet placed a finger over her lips and signaled Piper to stay quiet while she continued her conversation with Detective Leadon.
A few minutes later, Violet set the receiver down.
Piper, unable to contain her impatience, grabbed her mother’s arm and asked,
“What’s the news, Mommy?”
Violet shook her head, a frown creasing her forehead. “He hasn’t been able to identify Arianna’s husband.”
“What?” Piper’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“How can that be? Detective Leadon is renowned for his success in uncovering anything!”
Violet had spent a substantial amount to hire him, convinced of his capabilities.
Violet sighed thoughtfully. “It seems Arianna’s husband must be someone very elusive.”
Piper’s face tightened with frustration.
“What do we do now, Mommy? If we can’t uncover who he is, we can’t prove her marriage. Our plans for the future are at risk.”
“That’s not the end of the road,” Violet said with a sly smile. “Even if we can’t uncover his identity, we can always fabricate one.”
“Fabricate one?” Piper frowned. “Creating a fake husband would be too easy to disprove. Arianna would reject it outright and deny everything.”
Violet looked at Piper with a mix of exasperation and disappointment. “Don’t worry. I have a few strategies to ensure she can’t refute it.”
Piper felt a wave of relief upon hearing Violet’s plan. Despite Violet’s track record of success, it had been her underestimation of Arianna that led to their current predicament.
Piper held her mother in high regard.
“What’s your plan, Mommy?”
Violet’s lips curved into a cunning smile as she whispered her strategy into Piper’s ear.
After hearing the details, Piper couldn’t help but beam with admiration. “That’s brilliant, Mommy! By doing this, we’ll not only discredit Arianna but also manage to stay out of the mess ourselves!”
“Of course,” Violet said with a hint of pride.
“Arianna’s downfall isn’t worth my personal effort.”
“But…” Piper hesitated, her brow furrowing.
“Are you certain the person you mentioned will agree to this?”
“Without a doubt,” Violet replied confidently.
“Greedy individuals are the easiest to manipulate. They're like starving dogs—wave a reward in front of them, and they'll do whatever you want.”
She chuckled darkly. “We’ll make sure Arianna a experiences the sting of betrayal and the humiliation from those she trusts the most.”
Piper joined in the laughter. “You’re spot on, Mommy!”
Violet then picked up the phone and dialed Detective Leadon. As soon as he answered, she said, “Listen closely and follow my instructions precisely…”
