CHAPTER 189
Despite the facts being laid out before her, Piper stubbornly refused to accept the truth. Ronald knew it was pointless to continue the argument.
After all, you can’t wake someone who is determined to stay asleep.
Just then, the elevator doors opened, and the security team arrived on the floor. Ronald didn’t hesitate; he shoved Piper toward them. “Escort her out.”
“Right away, sir.”
The security guards flanked Piper, grabbing her firmly by both arms as they ignored her shrieks and struggles. With practised efficiency, they hauled her off the premises.
“Let me go! You don’t know who I am!” She yelled for them to stop, but their expressions remained emotionless as they efficiently escorted her out, ignoring her frantic attempts to break free.
As her protests faded down the hallway, Ronald sighed in relief, rubbing his ears. He returned to his desk and settled back into his chair.
But as he glanced toward the CEO’s office, a flicker of curiosity lingered in his mind. He couldn’t help but wonder who the mysterious ‘her’ was that Xander and Piper had been arguing about.
Could someone hold sway over his boss?
Ronald mentally sifted through the women who had crossed paths with Xander over the years. One face in particular surfaced in his thoughts, and he suddenly froze. Could that be the ‘her’ they were referring to?
A chill ran down his spine. He had just been celebrating the progress between Xander and Arianna, but had he been rooting for the wrong couple all along?
…
For the next three days, Xander didn’t return to the villa. As for Grandma King, she had indeed left for the old mansion with Aunt Julia for a banquet, just as Xander had mentioned.
The ‘old mansion’ was the King family’s ancestral home, situated in the City.
The family was vast, with Grandpa King having four siblings. The family’s tradition dictated that the most capable and promising member would become the heir, regardless of birth order. Grandpa King had secured his position as the heir through sheer talent and determination, despite being the third eldest.
His business acumen led to rapid growth in the family’s wealth and influence. Eventually, he married Nancy (Grandma King), a daughter of one of the City’s elite families, and settled there to be with her. However, the family maintained strong ties to their roots, returning to the old mansion regularly.
Arianna stood by as Grandma King and Aunt Julia prepared to leave for the old mansion. She wished them a safe journey and watched the car pull away, but she didn’t immediately return inside.
She had plans to meet Alan later, intending to review the final treatment plan at the hospital.
With that in mind, Arianna made her way over to the luxury car waiting for her.
To maintain the dignity of her role as ‘Mrs. King,’ Arianna needed to be mindful of her image whenever she left the house. As such, she was expected to use the luxury car that Grandma King had gifted her.
Arianna opened the car door, slipped into the driver’s seat, started the engine, and smoothly drove off.
…
After finalizing the treatment plan, Arianna walked out of the office with Dr. Woods. She turned to face him, a thoughtful expression on her face.
“Dr. Woods,” she began, pausing to gather her words. “Do you have any plans for tomorrow?”
Alan stopped and met her gaze, his warm smile reflecting his curiosity. “I don’t. What’s up?”
Arianna’s smile widened as she explained, “I’ve been meaning to thank you properly. I owe you a meal for all your help remember. I’d love to treat you to dinner.”
Alan’s eyes brightened with genuine curiosity. “A meal? That sounds delightful. But truly, there’s no need for you to go out of your way to thank me.”
“No, I insist,” Arianna replied with a firm smile. “Remember, I promised.”
"Are you sure?" Alam asked, a small smile playing on his lips.
Arianna nodded earnestly. “It’s the least I can do.”
Alan considered her offer for a moment, then replied with a grin, “How about you pick the place, and I’ll make sure to be there on time.”
“Sounds perfect,” Arianna said, pleased.
She accompanied him to the hospital’s entrance, their conversation light and cheerful. “I’ll text you the details later. Looking forward to it!”
“Likewise,” Alan responded, his smile genuine. “See you tomorrow, Arianna.”
“See you then, Dr. Woods,” she said, waving as they parted ways.
The driver eased the car forward as Alan settled into the back seat.
He watched Arianna’s figure through the rearview mirror, observing as she gradually faded from view until she was entirely out of sight. Only then did he shift his gaze away.
After a moment of contemplation, Alan leaned forward slightly and spoke to the driver. “Martin, could you arrange for a bouquet to be delivered tomorrow?”
Martin, surprised by the request, quickly regained his composure and asked, “Of course, Dr Woods. Any particular type of flowers?”
Alan gazed out of the window, his eyes narrowing slightly as if he were trying to remember something. After a brief pause, he replied, “Pink roses.”
…
The villa was quiet and empty. Instead of returning home, Arianna spent the night at the hospital, keeping Charlie company.
"Charlie, just hold on a little longer. I promise you’ll get better," Arianna whispered, holding his hand.
"You’ll soon be receiving treatment from Saint John."
She waited anxiously for him to open his eyes. Once he was well, she could finally bring him home.
The next morning, Arianna rose early to bathe Charlie and massage his limbs to ease any tension. After a simple breakfast, she drove out of the hospital.
She had invited Alan for dinner that evening and planned to showcase all the cooking skills she had honed over the years to show her appreciation.
Arianna had planned her menu the night before. For dishes she wasn’t fully confident about, she had sent a message to Aunt Julia on WeTalk, who enthusiastically guided her under the impression that she was cooking for Xander.
She drove to a grocery store in a large shopping mall, filled her cart with top-quality ingredients, and returned to the villa. Arianna changed into comfortable home attire and went downstairs to begin preparing the meal.
Some dishes could wait, but the double-stewed soup needed to be boiled for a long time to achieve its rich flavour. After setting the soup to simmer on low heat, Arianna took the opportunity to tidy up and clean the villa.
At around four in the afternoon, Arianna sent Alan a message on WeTalk with the villa’s address.
Alan quickly replied: [Got it, see you soon. :)]
He even added a smiley face emoji.
Arianna expected Alan around 7:30, so by six o’clock, she headed to the kitchen to begin cooking.
Her movements were quick and efficient as she prepared each dish. When she glanced at the clock, it was already ten minutes past seven.
Arianna left the kitchen, went upstairs, and changed into a more formal dress. She tidied her hair and checked her appearance in the full-length mirror to ensure she looked presentable. Satisfied, she headed back downstairs.
As she reached the ground floor, she heard a car outside and raised an eyebrow, noting that Alan had arrived earlier than expected.
She adjusted her outfit one last time and walked to the door.
But when she opened it, the person standing there wasn’t Alan. It was Xander.
