CHAPTER 203
Despite Xander’s unexpected warmth, Arianna found herself increasingly anxious. His behaviour was unpredictable, swinging from affectionate to distant, and it left her emotions in turmoil.
As Xander helped Arianna into both heels and then looked up at her, he noticed the confusion etched on her face.
“Is something wrong? Did I do something wrong with the shoes?”
Arianna snapped out of her daze, realizing she couldn’t voice her concerns to him. Instead, she forced a smile and said, “No, you did perfectly. Thank you.”
“Let’s go,” Xander said, rising to his feet and taking her hand.
They left the room together.
…
After a half-hour drive, their car arrived at a stunningly designed church. The structure was adorned in hues of blue and white, blending harmoniously with the sky and the sea.
It was the very church Arianna had admired for years.
She never imagined her first visit would be to attend someone else’s wedding.
A long red carpet stretched from the entrance of the church, flanked by colourful balloons and vibrant pink roses, creating a breathtakingly beautiful setting.
Xander and Arianna walked down the red carpet and entered the church, only to be met with an unsettling silence and an eerily empty interior.
Arianna looked around, her brow furrowed in confusion. “Did we arrive too early? Or perhaps we’re at the wrong church?”
Xander's eyes locked with hers, his expression serious and unwavering. “We’re right on time. This is the correct church.”
Arianna looked around, bewildered. “But where is everyone? Where are the bride and groom? And the guests?”
Xander turned to her, his expression calm but resolute. “The bride and groom are us.”
Arianna’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Wait, are we here for our wedding?”
Xander nodded, his voice steady. “Yes, it’s our wedding.”
Arianna stood frozen, trying to process the revelation. Her mind raced as she struggled to make sense of the situation. After a stunned silence that stretched for more than ten seconds, she finally spoke, her voice trembling slightly. “I don’t understand… is this… like a long-overdue wedding we never had?”
It suddenly made sense why everything seemed so perfectly aligned with her earlier fantasies.
“Yes,” Xander confirmed.
Arianna, still bewildered, asked, “Is this… what Grandma wanted?”
It was the only reason that came to her mind.
‘Grandma...’
A fleeting look of dissatisfaction crossed Xander’s face, but he quickly masked it. He then spoke with firm resolve, “This is what I want!”
Arianna’s hand flew to her mouth in disbelief, her eyes widening as if in shock.
............
In a small, nearby prayer room, Ronald, who had been hiding in anticipation, pumped his fist in excitement upon hearing Xander’s declaration. Whispering to himself, he said, “Yes!”
Ronald was thrilled by Xander’s heartfelt confession. The joy he felt was akin to witnessing his child maturing into a responsible adult. This was exactly how things should be—direct and honest. The days of brooding and silence were over!
His early morning efforts to prepare the decorations had not been in vain. His boss, Mr. King, had finally embraced his true self, and now he was about to bring his beloved home!
..........
The simplicity of Xander’s words sent a shiver down Arianna’s spine and made her heart race uncontrollably.
Swallowing hard, she mustered the courage to ask, “Why… did you want to make up for this wedding?”
She looked Xander directly in the eye, waiting for his answer with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation.
Arianna’s eyes were wide and luminous, reminiscent of the most radiant stars in the night sky. They had once been Xander’s favourite feature about her. The sparkle and vibrancy in her eyes had often made his heart skip a beat.
Xander found himself momentarily mesmerized.
Swallowing hard, he finally spoke, his voice catching slightly. “I’m arranging this wedding because…”
‘…I want to make things right and start anew with you.’ Those words seemed so straightforward but felt difficult for him to articulate.
Xander’s lips pressed together as he struggled to find the right words. He eventually said, “…we’ve announced our marriage publicly. It’s only fitting that we have this long-overdue wedding to prevent any unfounded speculation from the media.”
As he spoke, Arianna’s racing heart gradually began to settle.
It was clear that Xander’s reason was not what she had hoped for.
At that moment, a question she had previously kept to herself resurfaced in her mind: ‘Am I still the person Xander once loved?’ She was relieved she hadn’t asked, as the answer might have been disheartening.
In the nearby prayer room, Ronald’s face fell in dismay upon hearing Xander’s explanation. He clutched his chest in disappointment, feeling that the praise he had been ready to bestow was now unwarranted.
The atmosphere, so perfect for a heartfelt confession, had been squandered with a lacklustre excuse.
Despite her disappointment, Arianna forced a smile and looked at Xander. “Let’s proceed then.”
She was determined to go through with the ceremony, having promised herself to maintain her role as Mrs. King, no matter the circumstances.
Xander was puzzled as he noticed Arianna’s subdued demeanour. Despite being in the very church and on the very island she had once dreamed of for their wedding, she seemed less than enthusiastic. Could it be that the solemn atmosphere was not as fulfilling as he had anticipated?
Had he misunderstood her preferences? Perhaps she wanted a grand wedding, one that would be a public spectacle with numerous distinguished guests. Initially, he had thought she preferred a more private affair, but if she truly desired a more elaborate celebration, he was willing to make that happen.
As this realization struck him, he leaned closer and whispered, “If you want, I can arrange an even more splendid wedding.”
Arianna was taken aback. When had she ever expressed a desire for a grand wedding?
If their love was genuine and they were getting married because of it, she would be content regardless of the scale of the ceremony. A lavish event felt meaningless if it was merely to fulfil an obligation or tick a box. Performing in front of a large crowd would be tiresome and insincere.
“No, this is fine,” Arianna said, forcing a smile. “Let’s proceed with the ceremony.”
She reached out and linked her arm with Xander’s.
Xander’s gaze narrowed slightly, but he chose not to comment further. Instead, he took her arm and walked with her towards the altar.
The pastor appeared, ready to officiate the wedding.
“Xander King, do you take Arianna Johnson to be your wife, to share your life with her, to love and honour her, to comfort her in sickness and in health, and to remain faithful to her for as long as you both shall live?”
Xander’s eyes met Arianna’s with a deep intensity. After a moment of contemplation, he responded clearly,
“I do.”
