CHAPTER 207
Ronald stood quietly at a distance, concealed in the shadows, observing the peaceful scene unfolding before him. He let out a sigh of relief. It seemed Xander was much more adept at Plan B—letting his actions speak louder than his words.
If Xander could maintain this momentum, perhaps everything would finally fall into place.
…
Arianna’s mood had lightened significantly after her meal. She glanced over at Xander as he settled the bill, a small, genuine smile tugging at her lips.
"Thank you for dinner, Mr. King," she said sincerely. It felt only right to express her gratitude after such a nice evening.
Xander responded with a silent smile, offering no words.
As they stepped outside, the sky was ablaze with the hues of sunset. The colours reflected off the ocean, and Arianna was instantly captivated. She rushed toward the balcony, her eyes wide with wonder.
"Wow, it’s stunning!" she exclaimed, her breath catching at the sight.
She quickly pulled out her phone, capturing the magnificent scene before her. After a few shots of the view, she realized she wanted a picture of herself with the sunset. But trying to take a selfie wouldn’t do the moment justice.
With the sun dipping lower, she turned to Xander without thinking too much about it and asked, "Xander, could you take a picture of me with the sunset?"
There was a soft, hopeful tone to her voice as she looked at him, her eyes reflecting the fading light.
Xander paused, his gaze lingering on her as the golden rays of the sun framed her face. With a slight smile, he nodded and took the phone from her.
"Sure," he replied, his voice low and warm, carrying the same gentle glow as the sunset.
Arianna was just about to pose when, much to her surprise, Xander wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. Before she had a chance to object, he raised the phone and snapped a picture of the two of them with the setting sun in the background.
Arianna blinked, caught off guard and unsure of how to respond.
She had wanted a picture of herself *with* the sunset, not *with him* in it! But before she could say anything, the sun had already vanished below the horizon, leaving only a faint afterglow.
It was too late to capture the perfect solo shot she’d hoped for. Instead, she now had an unexpected photo of the two of them.
Xander handed her phone back, raising an eyebrow when he noticed her surprised expression.
"Happy with the picture?"
What was she supposed to say?
Forcing a smile, Arianna nodded. "Yeah… thrilled."
"Good," he said with a slight smirk. "Let’s head back."
…
Later that night, after a warm shower and a simple skincare routine, Arianna slipped into bed. She made her usual call to the caregiver and, once the call ended, leaned back against the pillows, reaching for her phone. She tapped into the photo album, eager to revisit the pictures she’d taken earlier.
She swiped through the sunset photos, each one more vibrant than the last. The fiery reds and soft pinks reflected perfectly off the ocean’s surface, creating breathtaking images. Then, she reached the final one—the unanticipated selfie with Xander.
She hadn’t paid much attention to it earlier, her mind too preoccupied with frustration. But now, looking at it closely, she realized how beautiful the shot was.
In the photo, Arianna had a genuine, bright smile—her eyes crinkled in happiness, while Xander, standing beside her, wore a small, subtle grin. His usual stern expression had softened, and for the first time in a while, there was a hint of warmth on his face.
Considering they were dressed in formal wear, Arianna in her white sundress and Xander in his crisp suit, the photo almost looked like an impromptu wedding picture.
The way he smiled in that photo reminded her of him from years before—back when everything between them had been simpler, lighter. There had been a time when Xander smiled like that all the time, his charm effortless and captivating. She remembered how those smiles used to make her heart race.
But that version of Xander seemed so distant now, almost a stranger compared to the man he had become.
Her finger traced the outline of his face on the screen, gently brushing over his eyes and brow, as if trying to reach out to that version of him—the one filled with tenderness and affection.
At that moment, Xander walked out of the bathroom, a towel draped over his shoulders. His gaze landed on Arianna, and he paused, noticing her absentmindedly touching the photo. Something in her small, wistful gesture seemed to stir something deep within him, sending a ripple through his chest—a memory of a time when things were different when they were different.
Perhaps Xander could entertain Ronald's second suggestion. The thought of having children had never really crossed his mind before, despite his grandmother’s nagging. Her reminders always seemed to go in one ear and out the other. But now, as the idea resurfaced, an unexpected image formed in his head—of a chubby baby.
The child had her eyes.
Her laughter.
Even her expression when she got upset.
Xander had never been particularly fond of children, finding them more of a hassle than anything else. But the thought of a child—*their* child—made the idea somehow... tolerable. Maybe even appealing.
Arianna, meanwhile, sensed Xander’s lingering gaze. Startled, she quickly looked down and instinctively turned off her phone screen. The last thing she wanted was for him to see her staring at the photo of them together and get the wrong idea.
Xander casually tossed the towel onto the sofa and walked over to the bed, sitting down next to her. His proximity made Arianna uneasy. She couldn’t quite meet his gaze, a feeling of guilt creeping into her chest as she tried to sound calm. “I’m really tired. I think I’ll just head to bed now,” she said quickly, shifting her body under the covers as if that would dismiss any further conversation.
But before she could fully lie down, Xander’s hand shot out, firmly gripping her wrist, halting her movement.
Arianna’s heart skipped a beat as she looked at him in confusion. “What’s going on?” she asked, her voice softer now, unsure.
Xander’s intense gaze met hers, and his voice was low, steady, and impossibly magnetic as he spoke,
“This is our first night together as husband and wife.”
She blinked, momentarily lost. “And?”
The unspoken meaning behind his words suddenly dawned on her.
