CHAPTER 165
Arianna rushed to the elevator and repeatedly pressed the button, but it was stuck downstairs and wouldn't be arriving anytime soon. With the reporters closing in fast, she made a swift decision and darted towards the stairwell.
She flew down the stairs, her heart racing as a few reporters managed to gain on her. They reached out to grab her, but she skillfully evaded their attempts.
Reaching the underground parking lot, Arianna sprinted to the luxury car, jumped into the driver’s seat, and started the engine. She floored the accelerator, and the car shot out of the parking lot just as the reporters reached the entrance.
The reporters, frustrated but determined, scrambled into their vehicles and gave chase.
Arianna's car tore down the road as she glanced anxiously at the rearview mirror, where the reporters' cars remained in pursuit.
Arianna spotted a large truck approaching the intersection on her left. Glancing at the traffic lights, she quickly calculated that they would turn red in a few seconds.
With a couple of cars already flanking her and threatening to cut her off, she knew they would soon force her to brake hard.
Arianna checked the traffic light again and saw she had just three seconds before it turned red. Without hesitation, she floored the gas pedal. The car surged forward, darting through the intersection moments before the light changed.
The two cars tried to follow Arianna but were forced to brake hard when the large truck blocked the intersection. The truck finally cleared the way about ten seconds later, but by then, Arianna’s car had disappeared from view.
Arianna continued driving for a while, only relaxing when she checked the rearview mirror and confirmed that the reporters’ vehicles were no longer in sight.
The luxury car proved its worth with impressive horsepower and speed, allowing Arianna to quickly outpace the reporters and leave them far behind. She hadn’t anticipated that the vehicle left by Grandma King would be such a crucial asset.
Despite her relief, Arianna remained cautious. Returning to the hospital wasn’t an option, and she feared that going back to the villa might alarm Grandma King. Weighing her options, Arianna decided there was only one place that guaranteed her safety.
Arianna turned the wheel and headed towards Rochelle's apartment. The security guard let her through without hesitation, recognizing her from previous visits with Rochelle. Arianna parked the car and went upstairs.
At Rochelle’s apartment, the iris scanner recognized her, and the door unlocked smoothly. As Arianna stepped inside, she was taken aback to find a man in nothing but a towel standing in the living room. The unexpected sight made her freeze in her tracks.
For a moment, Arianna wondered if she had entered the wrong apartment.
Arianna’s initial reaction was to turn and leave, but then she took a closer look at the man in front of her.
He wasn't a stranger; it was John, Rochelle’s husband.
Arianna didn’t see John often, and whenever she did, he was always in dark, formal attire with a stern demeanor. Seeing him now in casual wear was a stark contrast that took her a moment to process.
She forced a nervous laugh. “Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were here. I was just looking for Rochelle. If it’s a bad time, I can come back later.”
Rochelle had told Arianna she was welcome to drop by anytime, as she was living alone in the apartment while John was elsewhere.
“No need,” John said, his expression unreadable as he tucked away a small gun.
“I’ll be leaving. Make yourself comfortable.”
Arianna’s eyes widened slightly at the sight of the gun, and a shiver of fear ran through her. John was known for his ruthless nature, and she could easily imagine how dangerous he could be.
John turned and headed toward the bedroom. As Arianna stood uncertainly at the entrance, the bedroom door soon swung open again. John emerged, now dressed in his usual black attire, looking every bit the formidable figure she was familiar with.
Without a word, he headed for the door, slipped on his shoes, and exited the apartment.
John paused and looked at Arianna with a sudden realization. “Did Rochelle let you register your iris in the system?” he asked, referring to his wife.
Arianna nodded. “Yes.”
John’s expression grew stern as he tapped the door lock a few times. “I’ve removed it. Next time, you’ll need to knock.”
With that, he shut the door firmly behind him and walked away.
Arianna stood there, stunned, processing the unexpected turn of events.
John’s obsession with control over Rochelle was unnerving; he wouldn’t even permit anyone else access through the door lock system.
Once John had left, Arianna felt a wave of relief. She quickly slipped off her shoes and entered the apartment.
Making her way to the sofa, she settled down and pulled out her cell phone.
Arianna didn’t need to search far. As soon as she opened GossipNet, her name was all over the trending headlines.
She skimmed through the articles and pieced together the situation.
The commotion started with an interview Simon and Margaret gave that morning. During the interview, they leveled multiple serious accusations against her.
