CHAPTER 204
The simple phrase, "I do," struck Arianna like a bolt of lightning.
Her mind flashed back to the extravagant wedding that was supposed to happen two years ago. Back then, those two words were what she had longed to hear more than anything. But what followed had been a heartbreaking betrayal.
Now, after everything they had been through, she was finally hearing Xander say those words-but they brought her little comfort. The emotions that had once accompanied them were nowhere to be found.
Arianna would rather never hear "I do" than have it be devoid of meaning.
The pastor then turned to her. "Arianna Johnson, do you take Xander King to be your husband, to live together in matrimony, to love and honour him, to comfort him, and to keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"
Arianna's response was almost robotic, "I do."
The pastor smiled warmly. "The bride and groom may now exchange rings."
Rings?
Arianna hadn't brought a ring because she had only just learned about the wedding ceremony upon arriving at the church.
But then, Ronald appeared from the shadows, as if on cue. He approached with a small tray holding a pair of rings.
Arianna's gaze fell on the rings, and she immediately recognized them. They were the same rings she had once admired in a magazine two years ago. She had loved their design so much that it had made her pause and stare.
It dawned on her then-this hurried wedding was likely just a formality, a way to silence any gossip from the press. Otherwise, why would Xander have been so careless as to recycle the old rings?
Not that it mattered to her anymore. The ring was just a prop in this charade, something to wear temporarily and nothing more.
Xander took the smaller ring, gently lifted Arianna's hand, and slowly slid it onto her finger. He paused for a moment afterwards, his eyes lingering on the ring as it gleamed on her hand.
It was the very same ring he had chosen for their wedding two years ago, but he had never had the chance to place it on her finger back then.
He couldn't explain why he had held on to the rings all this time. Perhaps, deep down, he had always hoped there would come a day when he could finally put that ring on her again.
Xander lifted his hand, signalling for Arianna to proceed.
Arianna's thoughts raced as she reminded herself,
*I'm someone who keeps my promises.*
Without hesitating, she took the man's ring and swiftly slid it onto Xander's ring finger, her actions almost mechanical in their haste.
Her quick, almost dismissive movement didn't escape Xander's notice. A slight frown creased his brow, his instincts telling him that something was off.
Sensing the tension building, Ronald, who had been observing the ceremony closely, quickly signalled to the pastor. The pastor, catching on immediately, spoke up with enthusiasm,
"You may now kiss the bride!"
Without missing a beat, Xander reached out, wrapped his arm around Arianna's slender waist, and pulled her close. He lowered his head and pressed his lips against hers in a kiss meant to seal their vows.
But the kiss barely lasted a second before Arianna gently pushed him away, her tone flat as she asked,
"That's enough, right?"
Xander's expression darkened.
Had she disliked the wedding that much, despite all the effort he had put into making it special?
Had he miscalculated in his attempt to make her happy?
Ronald, feeling the tension rise and sensing that the situation was on the brink of disaster, began to sweat. Desperate to defuse the moment, he clapped his hands together loudly and exclaimed,
"That concludes the ceremony! Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. King! Wishing you both a lifetime of happiness together!"
He continued clapping enthusiastically, almost frantically, hoping to steer the moment back on track.
The pastor, picking up on Ronald's urgency, quickly joined in with applause, his smile broad and supportive.
Meanwhile, Ronald shot a series of urgent, pleading looks at Xander, silently urging him to keep his temper in check. If Xander let his frustration get the better of him now, all the careful planning and effort would be for nothing.
The flash of anger in Xander's eyes was intense but fleeting. He struggled to push it down, forcing his emotions deep inside. When he finally spoke, his voice was tight, betraying the effort it took to remain calm. "It's done. Let's head back to the hotel."
Without waiting for a response, Xander turned on his heel and strode out of the church, leaving Arianna standing there.
She remained still for about half a minute, processing the abrupt end to their ceremony before she slowly followed him outside.
...
When the car pulled up to the hotel entrance, Arianna stepped out, but Xander stayed in his seat, offering no words or glances her way. The moment she was clear of the vehicle, the car sped off, leaving her standing alone.
Arianna had grown accustomed to his volatile moods, and she was past the point of trying to decode his unpredictable behaviour. With a resigned sigh, she turned and made her way into the hotel.
As she stepped into the elevator, the doors were just beginning to close when a voice called out, "Could you hold the elevator, please!"
Arianna quickly pressed the button to reopen the doors. A moment later, a woman entered the elevator, her heels clicking softly on the floor.
The woman's eyes met Arianna's, and a faint smile played on her lips as she greeted her.
"We meet again, Ms. Johnson."
