CHAPTER 186
"How about this," Xander said, as if an idea had just come to him.
Arianna’s eyes widened slightly, wondering if he was about to offer to lend her the money.
Then, she heard him say, deliberately and clearly, "You can invite Dr. Woods to our home for dinner."
"Our home?" Arianna was taken aback. "You mean here?"
Xander raised an eyebrow. "Why? Is this villa not grand enough to host Dr. Woods?"
"Of course it is," Arianna quickly replied.
The villa was far more extravagant than any upscale restaurant, and she certainly couldn’t find fault with it.
Still, Arianna felt uneasy. "But with Grandma King here, and you too... wouldn’t it be a bit inappropriate for me to invite Dr. Woods over for dinner on my own?"
Xander seemed to have anticipated Arianna's hesitation and replied with a lazy tone,
"Grandma and Aunt Julia will be returning to the mansion for a banquet in a couple of days. They won’t be around for a while. As for me, I’ll be swamped with work and won’t be coming home. So, you’re free to do as you like."
He paused briefly before adding, "And keep in mind, every move you make is under scrutiny now. I have no interest in seeing us splashed across the entertainment news because of some misunderstanding."
Xander’s words were blunt, but Arianna couldn’t argue with them.
Despite his sharp tone, she had to admit that he was right. The last thing she wanted was to end up on the front page of the tabloids again. Being the center of gossip was exhausting enough as it was.
Since Grandma King wouldn't be around and Xander would be occupied with work, Arianna would have the villa to herself. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to invite Alan over for a home-cooked meal and properly express her gratitude.
She nodded, her voice tinged with a hint of appreciation. "Thank you for understanding, Xander. And... thank you for giving me the space."
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Xander's eyes, but his expression remained as cold and distant as ever. "Mm," he responded curtly before turning and heading to the dressing room to change.
Arianna watched his retreating figure, unable to suppress the thought,
*Xander’s in a surprisingly good mood today...*
Was it because of last night
Was this the first time Arianna had such a harmonious conversation with Xander since they got married?
What could have possibly put him in such a good mood?
Inside the dressing room, Xander's phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID while fastening the buttons on his shirt, then calmly switched the phone off without answering.
…
As Xander exited the villa, he spotted Ronald standing by the car, waiting for him.
Ronald promptly opened the rear door as Xander approached. Just as Xander was about to step into the car, he paused, a sudden thought crossing his mind. Glancing sideways at Ronald, he asked, "Did you get anything out of him yet?"
Ronald, knowing exactly what Xander was referring to, answered directly, "Yes, Mr. Cole has confessed everything. He was paid a significant amount to pose as Ms. Johnson’s new husband and testify against her at the press conference."
Xander tapped his finger twice on the car door frame. “So, it was Violet and Piper behind it?”
Though it was phrased as a question, it carried the weight of certainty.
Ronald had been about to deliver that exact information but simply nodded instead.
“Yes. They orchestrated everything, including using Simon and Margaret as their pawns.”
A flicker of disdain crossed Xander’s lips. Simon and Margaret were worthless in their own right.
After finishing his report, Ronald noticed Xander’s gaze lingering on him. Feeling a bit uneasy, he asked softly, “Mr. King, did I…say something wrong?”
Xander’s silence and piercing gaze made Ronald’s skin crawl. He began to second-guess every step he’d taken, desperately trying to pinpoint where he might have gone wrong.
After a thorough review in his mind, Ronald concluded that he had followed Xander’s instructions precisely and said nothing out of line.
Unable to endure Xander’s intense stare any longer, Ronald finally gathered the courage to ask, “Mr. King, what did I do wrong? Please, tell me directly. I’ll correct it immediately!”
After a tense pause, Xander’s voice broke the silence with a single question. “What did you call her?”
Ronald was initially puzzled by the abrupt question but soon had a realization. “Mr. King, I misspoke. I should have referred to her as Mrs. King instead of Ms. Jackson.”
As he said this, Ronald cast a quick glance at Xander, who had a faint smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Ronald quickly looked away and slid into the car.
A deep sigh of relief escaped him as he settled into his seat. The intense stare from Xander had nearly made him believe he had revealed some critical company secret. In reality, it was just a matter of addressing Arianna correctly.
