CHAPTER 180
Arianna’s brows furrowed deeply as she replayed the events of the past few days in her mind.
She reviewed each moment meticulously. It all began two days ago when she visited Rochelle’s apartment. That evening, she drank with Rochelle, ended up intoxicated, and slept through until the next morning.
The following day, she contacted her parents, gathered various pieces of evidence, and then faced the press conference.
Throughout all this, she had neither called Xander nor attempted to get in touch with him.
Could it be that Grandma King had somehow learned about her situation and reached out to Xander on her behalf?
The more Arianna thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Unconsciously, she voiced her thoughts aloud.
Xander, hearing this, raised an eyebrow and tapped his long fingers rhythmically on the steering wheel. "It’s not Grandma who got involved. It was all you. You were the one who personally pleaded with me,” he stated, his tone emphasizing the last part.
Arianna was thrown into confusion once more.
Had she been the one to beg Xander?
Her brow furrowed in bewilderment as she tried to recall. She began to wonder if she had somehow lost her memory or if her recollections had been wiped clean, as she had no clear recollection of such an event.
The car pulled up to the villa and came to a stop at the entrance.
Xander unfastened his seatbelt and glanced over at Arianna. Noticing she was still lost in thought, a hint of amusement flickered in his eyes as he leaned closer.
Arianna held her breath as Xander's handsome face drew nearer. Was he about to kiss her again?
Instead, Xander’s hand reached for her seatbelt and with a quick motion, he released it.
A soft blush spread across Arianna’s cheeks as she came back to her senses.
Noticing Xander’s teasing grin, Arianna’s cheeks flushed crimson. She instinctively raised a hand to push him away before quickly exiting the car.
Behind her, Xander's low, rich laugh followed her.
He stepped out of the car and approached her, catching up as he said, “Take your time to think about it.”
…
As Xander and Arianna entered the villa, Grandma King hurried over to them. Ignoring Xander, she enveloped Arianna in a warm embrace.
Her voice was filled with concern and affection. “You’ll be alright, Arianna. You have both me and Xander. We love you dearly!”
Aunt Julia, standing nearby, added warmly, “And I love you very much too, Mrs. King!”
Arianna’s body shook uncontrollably, and a wave of emotion surged through her, causing a lump to form in her throat and her eyes to well up.
Despite enduring harsh words from her parents and the onslaught of aggressive reporters without shedding a tear, a single, heartfelt remark from Grandma King and Aunt Julia overwhelmed her.
It was as if Arianna had discovered a hidden, tender side of herself.
The realization that there were people who truly cared for her and loved her deeply brought her to the brink of tears.
Her eyes reddened, and tears began to spill as she struggled to hold back her emotions.
Everyone craves love, and Arianna is no exception.
She didn’t need the adoration of thousands; she simply wanted at least one person to stand by her side and face the world’s adversities with her.
Unable to hold back, she reached out and embraced Grandma King tightly.
“I want a hug too!” Aunt Julia chimed in, opening her arms and drawing both women into a warm embrace.
Their gestures, though simple, were deeply comforting and filled with warmth.
Xander, observing from a short distance, watched Arianna’s tears flow gently down her cheeks. Without realizing it, his hand moved slightly, as if he was about to reach out.
By the time Xander realized what he had done, his fingertips were already brushing away Arianna’s tears.
Both Arianna and Xander were momentarily stunned.
Arianna’s tear-filled eyes sparkled with an almost ethereal glow. As she gazed at Xander, his reflection was visible in her eyes.
Xander’s fingers tensed slightly before he quickly pulled them back, muttering, “So unattractive!”
The room fell silent.
Without another glance at Arianna, Xander turned and ascended the stairs, his steps purposeful and unhesitating.
Arianna blinked a few times, trying to process the sudden shift.
Xander could have simply averted his gaze if he found Arianna unappealing while she cried. His harsh remark felt unnecessary and cruel.
Grandma King, unable to tolerate Xander’s rudeness, called after him, “You insolent child! Can’t you speak with any decency? If you have nothing kind to say, then keep quiet!”
Xander ascended the stairs without turning back.
Fuming, Grandma King turned to Aunt Julia and grumbled, “Just look at him. I thought he might finally act like a good husband today, but his so-called good nature was short-lived!”
Aunt Julia nodded in agreement. “It’s such a waste of his looks. He should keep quiet—his comments always spoil the mood!”
In a moment like this, Xander should have approached Arianna, offering her a comforting embrace to soothe her distress. Such an act could have significantly mended their relationship.
Arianna couldn’t help but find some amusement in their complaints. It seemed she wasn’t the only one who thought Xander—despite his handsome appearance—would have done well to stay silent.
"Forget about him," Grandma King said gently, brushing away Arianna's tears. "Just ignore what he said. Arianna, go to your room, wash your face, and get some rest. Julia and I will prepare a wonderful meal for you to celebrate your new chapter."
New life.’
She had to continue moving forward and go on with life.
Dwelling on past pain only hinders a fulfilling life. It’s more beneficial to let go of those memories and focus on moving forward.
“Thank you, Grandma King. Thank you, Aunt Julia!”
