CHAPTER 202
Xander led Arianna to the hotel’s restaurant for dinner. It was a luxurious five-star dining venue often featured in travel guides, and Arianna had once mentioned her desire to dine there. The setting felt strangely familiar, mirroring the honeymoon she had dreamed of.
As the evening wore on, Arianna couldn't shake the sensation that Xander's vacation plans seemed to echo the very honeymoon she had envisioned for herself. The thought made her wonder if Xander had deliberately chosen this destination as a belated romantic gesture.
Lost in her musings, Arianna found herself staring at Xander, her fork suspended in mid-air until his voice broke through her reverie.
"Eat your food," Xander said in a low, commanding tone.
After a brief pause, he added with a mischievous edge, "If you want to gaze at me, you'll have to wait until we're back in the room. Then you can look all you want."
Arianna's face flushed with embarrassment. "I... I wasn’t—"
"Sure, you weren’t," Xander teased, clearly enjoying her discomfort.
Arianna fell silent, knowing that any attempt to explain would only make things worse. She lowered her gaze and resumed eating, feeling her cheeks grow warmer with each passing second.
After they finished their meal, Xander and Arianna left the restaurant. As they walked, Arianna remembered that neither of them had packed any luggage for the trip. She turned to Xander and asked,
"Should we head to the mall and pick up some clothes?"
Wearing the same outfit continuously wasn’t an option.
Xander nodded in agreement. “Sure.”
A sudden concern crossed Arianna's mind, and she hesitated. “But the expenses here must be quite high, right? I’m not sure I’ll be able to afford much. Do you know if there are any more budget-friendly stores around?”
Xander remained silent, leaving Arianna to wonder about the costs and the choices they might need to make.
Noticing Xander's silence, Arianna felt a pang of embarrassment. She quickly composed herself, reminding herself that financial struggles weren't something to be ashamed of. After all, being poor wasn’t a crime.
"Forget it. I’m feeling a bit tired. Maybe we should head back to the room," Arianna suggested.
Xander took her hand and started leading her toward the stairs. “We’ll get what we need delivered.”
His easy solution highlighted how different their lives were.
...
After a refreshing shower, Arianna emerged from the bathroom in her pyjamas. Xander stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, engaged in a phone conversation with Ronald, likely discussing work matters. To avoid interrupting, Arianna quietly moved to the bed, where she began texting the caregiver to ensure everything was fine with Charlie.
Once she had confirmed all was well, she browsed through her phone until fatigue began to overtake her. Her eyes grew heavy, and she drifted toward sleep.
Xander concluded his call and turned to find Arianna already dozing off. A soft smile spread across his face as he observed her relaxed state.
Quietly, he approached her, his long arms carefully lifting her. He gently laid her down on the bed, then settled beside her. He gazed at her peaceful face for a moment before leaning in to press a tender kiss on her lips. "Good night and sweet dreams," he whispered.
With a contented sigh, Xander pulled out his phone and composed a text: [Proceed as planned.] He hit ‘sen,’ and then settled in beside Arianna, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.
........
The next morning, Arianna woke up to the calming sound of waves hitting the beach. Slowly, she opened her eyes and wrapped herself in the cosy blanket before sitting up and looking out the window at the vast ocean stretching out before her.
“Hey, you’re awake?” Xander’s voice interrupted her thoughts as he walked out of the bathroom. He nodded toward the sofa. “Your clothes are over there. Get ready; we have to leave soon.”
Arianna was momentarily stunned by his abruptness. “Is there something we need to do today?”
“Yes,” Xander replied curtly, heading towards the dressing room.
Arianna blinked in confusion. They were supposed to be on vacation, weren’t they? Why did it seem like there was a strict schedule?
She slipped out of bed, made her way to the bathroom for a quick wash, and then approached the sofa. There, a box awaited her. Curious, she opened it to find a pristine white dress inside—although it resembled more of a wedding gown than something one might wear casually.
Was there a mix-up with the clothes, or was Xander planning something unusual?
As Arianna puzzled over the dress, Xander emerged from the dressing room, impeccably dressed in a formal suit. He glanced at her, noting that she hadn’t yet changed. A hint of impatience crossed his face.
“Aren’t you going to get changed?”
“Well, no…” Arianna finally managed to speak. “Why are we dressed like this, Xander? Are we heading to some kind of formal event or a wedding?”
Simple, comfortable attire seemed much more appropriate for sightseeing, but Xander’s formality suggested otherwise.
Xander’s gaze locked with hers as he answered, “It’s a wedding.”
The explanation made sense now.
The island was renowned as a special place for weddings. Perhaps Xander’s so-called vacation was actually to attend a friend’s wedding. Arianna’s role as Mrs Barker likely made her the plus-one for this event.
“Oh, I see,” Arianna responded, her confusion fading.
She took the dress from the box and considered putting it on right then, but noticed Xander still standing there. Realizing the situation, she quickly turned and headed for the bathroom. “I’ll be out in five minutes!” she called over her shoulder.
Inside the bathroom, she changed swiftly into the dress and emerged a few minutes later. Unfortunately, the hem of the gown was a bit long, causing her to lift it slightly as she walked.
Xander looked her over and gestured towards the sofa. “Come here.”
Arianna approached and noticed another box resting on the sofa. Xander opened it with a deliberate motion, revealing a pair of dazzling crystal high heels adorned with diamonds. They caught the light beautifully, sparkling with every angle.
“Sit,” Xander instructed.
Arianna complied, sitting down as directed. She extended her hand to take the heels, but Xander was quicker. He knelt gracefully in front of her and gently reached for her left ankle, preparing to help her put on the shoes.
Arianna instinctively pulled her feet back. “I… I can manage it myself!”
She didn’t want to trouble Xander.
But Xander gently but firmly guided her foot back towards him. “Hold still,” he said in a calm, composed tone.
He reached for one of the heels with his other hand and carefully placed it on her foot, the motion slightly awkward yet deliberate.
Arianna watched in a daze as the scene unfolded before her. Her breathing grew uneven, and she couldn’t shake the sense that something was off.
Since Xander had made their marriage public at the press conference, his behaviour had taken on an odd quality. Instead of the sharp, cutting remarks that used to characterize their interactions, he was now displaying a gentler side, reminiscent of the more considerate version of him from their earlier days together.
