CHAPTER 176
Arianna’s long, curly lashes fluttered, and her dark eyes moved slowly as she turned to face Xander.
His expression had grown increasingly cold, his thin lips pressed into a tight line. He radiated a menacing aura as if he were a spectre emerging from the depths of hell.
Finally, he addressed Simon. “Is that so?”
Simon’s eyes brightened with hope. It seemed Xander had accepted his words, and he eagerly added,
“Yes, Mr. King. I swear I’m speaking the truth. I’ve come forward today to expose Arianna because her actions are unbearable!”
Arianna’s heart plummeted into a void of despair. After everything, did Xander still believe the accusations against her?
Xander's intense gaze shifted to Arianna. He looked deeply into her eyes, remaining silent as he studied her for a few moments before extending his hand toward her.
Just as Arianna began to wonder what was happening, Xander's hand enveloped hers.
His warm palm settled over her hand with a deliberate touch, and he gently lifted her face so she could be seen by everyone in the room. With all eyes on them, he carefully and firmly intertwined his fingers with hers.
The room filled with the sound of camera shutters clicking away.
The live broadcast's comment section erupted in confusion, with viewers bombarding the feed with question marks.
Some expressed concern and posted messages like: [Don’t be fooled, Xander! Get out of there!]
Arianna was completely taken aback, her mind going blank as if all thoughts had vanished. In her stunned state, she could only stand there, bewildered, and let Xander hold her hand.
Xander raised his eyebrows slightly.
Though the gesture was simple, it carried an unexpectedly powerful presence that caused the photographers to hesitate, their shutters clicking to a halt. The room fell into a profound silence.
Xander's lips parted, and his voice, smooth and melodic, cut through the quiet as he said,
“Good afternoon, everyone,” Xander began, his voice steady and resonant, drawing the room’s attention. He paused for a moment, letting his gaze sweep over the crowd before continuing,
“Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Xander King, and I have the distinct honour of being Arianna’s newlywed husband.”
His tone was firm, yet there was a hint of pride as he spoke. The way he emphasized the words "newlywed husband" left no room for doubt, ensuring everyone understood the gravity of his declaration.
The audience was left in utter shock as if time had momentarily stopped.
The live broadcast cut out abruptly, leaving only a black screen.
Was Xander the so-called disfigured, disabled, and unremarkable wealthy husband Arianna had just married?
How could this be possible?
Mr. Cole seemed like a far better match by any measure!
Despite their surprise at Xander’s undeniable charisma, the reporters pressed on, driven by the need for news and site traffic.
“Mr King, if you are indeed Ms Johnson’s newlywed husband, why are Mr and Mrs Johnson unaware of having a son-in-law like you? Why did they recognize Mr. Cole as their son-in-law instead?”
“Do you still yearn for your previous relationship with Ms. Johnson and have been deceived by her words, as her father suggested earlier? Is that why you’ve come here pretending to be her husband and trying to clear her name?”
Xander merely smirked, as though he had heard the most amusing joke.
Without wasting time on further discussion, he pulled out an item from his pocket and projected it onto the large screen, just as Arianna had done earlier.
When the reporters saw what appeared on the screen, their shock was palpable, and they gasped in disbelief.
The marriage certificate, emblazoned with the government’s seal, displayed the names Xander King and Arianna Johnson as the groom and bride, respectively.
This certificate was definitive proof of their marriage.
Everyone was stunned, and Arianna was even more so.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at the marriage certificate projected on the screen. When they got married, she had only signed a document and never visited any official government office, so she had never seen the certificate herself.
She had assumed that no official marriage certificate existed, given how much Xander disliked her. The revelation that they had one came as a complete shock.
Mr Cole’s face twisted in anger, but he made one final attempt.
“Don’t believe them, every one! I’m Arianna’s real husband. That marriage certificate must be a forgery!”
Xander’s dark eyes rested coldly on Mr. Cole, and the mere intensity of his gaze made Mr. Cole shiver, causing him to instinctively take a few steps back.
Xander exuded an intimidating aura.
“Lies can never become truth, and truth can never be a lie,” Xander said slowly. He then turned to the reporters. “Feel free to verify the certificate with government records. You’ll discover who Arianna’s real husband is.”
Mr Cole was instantly at a loss for words.
He had assumed that Xander might be as false as he was. After all, he had been told that Arianna’s husband was someone who couldn’t be publicly identified, so Xander couldn’t possibly be him. He believed that as long as he was convincing enough, Xander’s claims would falter.
However, Xander’s confident assertion and the presentation of the marriage certificate made it clear that he and Arianna were indeed a legitimate couple with an official marriage.
Mr. Cole’s face reddened, and he was rendered speechless.
