CHAPTER 199
After a brief pause, Ronald couldn't help but wink playfully. “You know, Mr. King, it’d be even better if you took her on a trip and came back with a future little Mr. King. That way, Mrs. King won’t be thinking about divorce all the time.”
“You…” Xander's voice dropped, cold and menacing.
Ronald’s heart skipped a beat as panic flashed in his eyes. ‘Oh no, I’ve gone too far this time and touched on a sensitive subject!’
But then, to his utter surprise, Xander’s tone shifted, “…are pretty sharp. Your bonus this month will be doubled.”
It was the first time Ronald had ever felt such sudden elation after a moment of sheer dread!
Unable to contain his excitement, Ronald immediately responded, “Thank you, Mr. King! I’m eternally grateful!”
Xander, now indifferent to Ronald's outburst, turned his attention back to business and ordered, “Postpone all of next week’s work.”
Ronald’s words might have been blunt, but they hit the mark. Xander couldn’t deny the truth in them.
He recalled how Arianna had always had a penchant for grand gestures and elaborate surprises. He remembered the time he proposed to her, following Zach’s suggestion to use drones to spell out the proposal in the sky. The sheer joy and excitement on Arianna’s face had been unforgettable.
Women seemed to cherish those kinds of gestures—a sense of ceremony, as they often called it.
...
Arianna assumed that Xander would vanish for at least two weeks after leaving the villa, just as he had in the past. But to her surprise, he returned after only a couple of hours.
Xander walked in with purposeful strides, not pausing for even a moment as he headed straight upstairs. A few minutes later, he came back down, his expression unreadable, and made a beeline for Arianna.
Before she could react, Xander firmly grasped her wrist and began leading her toward the door.
Arianna was caught off guard, confusion evident in her voice as she asked,
“Where are you taking me, Xander?”
Xander didn’t respond. Instead, he led her out of the villa and straight to the car parked outside. He opened the passenger door, shielding her head with his hand as he gently but firmly guided her inside.
After closing the door, he swiftly moved to the driver’s seat, got in, and started the engine. Without another word, he pressed down on the gas pedal, and the car sped off, leaving the villa behind.
Arianna’s mind raced as she tried to figure out what Xander was planning. There was something different about him—an intensity that she hadn’t seen in a long time.
Arianna couldn’t help but steal a glance at Xander from the corner of her eye. “Did something happen?” she asked cautiously.
Xander remained silent, his focus solely on the road ahead.
Arianna frowned in frustration. “Where are you taking me?”
Finally, Xander turned his head slightly, his expression serious as he replied, “You’ll know when we get there.”
After a brief pause, he added with a hint of sarcasm, “And don’t worry, I’m not planning to sell you off. Not that you’d fetch much of a price anyway.”
Arianna’s temper flared at his remark.
*Would it kill him to speak nicely for once?*
She was so irritated that she decided it wasn’t worth trying to get another word out of him.
Talking to Xander was like willingly shaving years off her life.
As the car continued its journey, Arianna noticed that they weren’t heading into the city but rather deeper into the quiet, winding roads of the suburbs. A creeping sense of unease settled over her.
*What exactly is he planning? If he’s not going to sell me, is he planning to bury me in the middle of nowhere?*
The drive seemed endless, but after about an hour and a half, the car finally came to a stop. Arianna looked around in confusion and surprise when she realized where they were—parked in front of the airport.
She stared blankly at the terminal.
*Why on earth did Xander bring me to the airport?*
Her mind raced with possibilities, but none of them made sense. It wasn’t as if his grandmother was flying in today. What could this possibly be about?
Before she could piece together any sort of logical explanation, Xander had already exited the car and was rounding the vehicle to her side. He opened the door, unfastened her seatbelt with swift, practised motions, and then grasped her wrist firmly, pulling her out of the car.
Without saying a word, he led her into the bustling airport. Arianna's confusion only deepened as they navigated the crowded space. Xander didn’t slow down until they reached a particular spot in the terminal. Once there, he abruptly let go of her wrist.
“Wait here,” he instructed, his tone leaving no room for argument.
Before Arianna could question him further, Xander had already turned on his heel and was striding away.
Her first instinct was to chase after him.
“Xander, where are you going—” she called out, but her words were cut off when she suddenly collided with someone.
The impact sent the person’s ID card and plane ticket fluttering out of their hands and scattering onto the floor. Arianna quickly knelt to help retrieve the fallen items, mumbling apologies as her mind swirled with uncertainty about what Xander was really up to.
“Oh, I’m so sorry!” Arianna quickly apologized, her voice filled with concern.
“It’s alright,” the stranger replied.
The woman’s voice was incredibly soothing, like a gentle stream flowing through a peaceful forest. It had a melody to it that made Arianna pause, struck by how pleasant it was to listen to.
Curiosity got the better of her, and Arianna looked up.
What she saw took her breath away—a woman with an exquisitely delicate face, framed by soft, loose waves of hair that cascaded down her shoulders. The simplicity of the style only enhanced her natural beauty, giving her an ethereal, almost otherworldly presence.
Arianna had encountered plenty of attractive people in her life. Xander, of course, set the standard for men, while her friend Rochelle was the benchmark for female beauty.
Yet, this woman had something entirely different—an understated allure that captivated Arianna at first glance.
There was a purity and grace in her appearance that was almost enchanting, making the world around them seem to fade into a serene silence.
It was the kind of beauty one might associate with a first love—the kind that leaves a lasting impression long after the moment has passed.
Realizing she had been staring, Arianna quickly averted her gaze, embarrassed by her lack of manners. She bent down to gather the woman’s fallen ID card and plane ticket, handing them back with a sincere apology.
“I’m sorry about that. I hope you’re not hurt?”
“Not at all,” the woman assured her with a warm smile.
Her delicate fingers brushed a stray lock of hair behind her ear as she reached out to accept the items Arianna handed over.
“Thank you, Ms. Johnson.”
Arianna blinked in surprise, her heart skipping a beat.
