CHAPTER 187
Ronald let out a deep breath of relief. Just moments earlier, he had been on the verge of panic. Xander had given him a look so intense that Ronald feared he had accidentally revealed some top-secret company information. But in the end, it was just about how he addressed Arianna.
Strangely enough, Xander had never seemed to mind when Ronald called Arianna by her maiden name in the past. But now, Xander couldn’t tolerate it. Maybe it had something to do with Xander’s recent heroic act of saving her, which seemed to have brought the two closer together.
Ronald couldn’t help but feel genuinely happy for them. Good heavens! He was delighted to see them finally coming together as a real couple!
The car pulled up to the entrance of the King Group.
Xander had barely stepped out of the vehicle when a slim figure suddenly dashed toward him, attempting to grab his arm. However, he sidestepped effortlessly, causing the person to clutch at nothing but air and stumble to the ground.
Xander glanced down at the woman with icy detachment.
Piper glanced up at Xander with a sorrowful expression, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Xander, I’ve been trying to reach you all day.”
Her voice trembled slightly as she continued, “But when I got here, the security guards stopped me at the entrance. They said I needed an appointment—an appointment, Xander! As if I’m just some stranger! Can you believe that?”
She huffed dramatically, trying to clutch his arm. “You need to fire those guards. They don’t know who I am, or they wouldn’t have dared to treat me this way!”
Ronald had also exited the car and struggled to keep a straight face as he listened to her whining.
Piper had always been a spoiled rich girl with little sense, making her comment about the guards’ “don't know who I am” all the more ironic.
Ronald stepped closer to Xander and quietly asked, “Mr. King, should I handle this?”
They were at the company entrance, after all, and allowing Piper to make a scene there wouldn’t reflect well on anyone.
Noticing Xander’s silence and the cold expression on his face, Piper’s confidence wavered. The warmth and indulgence he used to show her were gone, replaced by a frigid stare. Feeling her heart tighten with fear, she quickly adjusted her tone, her bravado fading. “Xander, I… I just need to talk to you. Can you give me a moment?”
Xander’s lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. “Alright.”
Piper’s face lit up with hope. She was certain that Xander’s resolve would crumble once she turned on the waterworks. All she had to do was admit her mistake, throw in some sweet talk, and Xander would forgive her like he always did. It had worked so many times before, and she was confident it would work again.
…
Once they reached the CEO’s office, Xander entered first, with Piper trailing behind. As she debated the best way to start her tears and pleading, Xander’s cold, detached voice cut through her thoughts. “You have five minutes.”
The sharp edge in Xander's voice jolted Piper, yanking her out of her daze. Her chest tightened, and her lips quivered as she fought to keep her composure. A wave of desperation washed over her, and tears brimmed in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. She took a hesitant step closer to him, her voice barely above a whisper but laced with urgency. “Five minutes… Xander, please, don’t be so cold. What I need to say…it’s important. It’s not something that can be rushed—I need more than just five minutes. Please--.”
“Four minutes.”
The rehearsed words she had prepared seemed to choke her. Piper realized the gravity of Xander's cold demeanour; if she didn’t use her remaining time wisely, he would have no qualms about escorting her out.
Earlier that morning, her father, Justin, had informed her that the King Group had decided to sever all ties with the Schmidt Group. The Schmidts were counting on her, and she had no choice but to be sincere.
Piper wiped away her tears and began, “Xander, I’m here to apologize for the trouble I caused. I was the one who made things difficult for Arianna, and I had no intention of dragging you into this mess. I genuinely didn’t know you and Arianna were married.”
She had learned from her mother that admitting faults and showing genuine regret were the most effective ways to gain sympathy from someone like Xander. Additionally, shifting some of the blame onto Arianna was part of her approach.
Her mother theorized that there must have been significant reasons for Xander and Arianna’s marriage to be kept hidden, suggesting that Arianna might have used manipulative tactics to force Xander into making their marriage public. To her, it seemed their supposed affection was merely a facade.
“Xander, I acted out because Arianna targeted us first. She was jealous of our relationship and colluded with Sheena to seduce my father, which led to chaos in my family. We’re falling apart, and all I wanted was to get some revenge!”
“Don’t be deceived by Arianna,” Piper continued desperately. “She’s not as innocent as she seems. Her plans are ruthless.”
Xander’s gaze fixed on her with a slight, emotionless smile. The chill in his eyes made it clear that her words had little effect.
His expression remained impassive, and Piper felt as if her words were simply vanishing into the air. He glanced at his watch and stated coldly, “Your five minutes are up.”
It was a direct and unmistakable command for her to leave.
Piper’s eyes widened in disbelief. Despite her earnest attempts to explain, he remained unresponsive and indifferent. It felt as though he had completely dismissed her.
“Xander, how could you treat me like this?” she pleaded, her voice cracking. “You promised you’d always look out for me. How can you do this?”
Xander gave a soft, derisive laugh. “If it weren’t for 'her', do you think you’d still be standing here?”
The force of his words made Piper stagger back as if struck by an emotional blow.
