CHAPTER 211
Rochelle’s opinion of Xander had shifted somewhat after he spoke at the press conference in support of Arianna.
While Arianna hadn’t completely sorted out her feelings for him, Rochelle, who had always been protective of her friend, was willing to back off if Xander was genuinely trying to make things work.
All Rochelle wanted was for Arianna to be happy, and if that meant standing by Xander, then she would stand by her friend’s decision, no matter what.
But was this the happiness Arianna had been hoping for?
Arianna stared at her phone, unsure how to respond to Rochelle. The truth was, she didn’t know what to make of her relationship with Xander anymore. It was like a tangled knot in her heart, and the more she tried to unravel it, the tighter it became. Each attempt to understand her emotions only left her more confused.
Rochelle, being the impatient person she was, didn’t wait long before sending another message.
[You’re taking too long to reply! Let’s just talk in person. I’ll be on a flight in an hour and should land in the Capital by 10. Drinks are on me!]
Arianna smiled faintly at the message and quickly typed a response: [Sounds good. See you then.]
She sighed with relief. Maybe talking things through with Rochelle would help her make sense of the mess in her heart. Sometimes it took an outsider to see things clearly—someone not tangled in the emotional web.
After replying, Arianna got up, heading to the bathroom to wash her face and clear her mind. The cool water helped ground her, but her thoughts remained a whirlwind.
Once she felt a little more refreshed, she wandered downstairs to the kitchen. Her stomach was empty, so she made herself a quick bowl of noodles.
As she sat at the table eating, her phone rang again. She assumed it was Rochelle, perhaps with a last-minute update, but when she glanced at the screen, she saw it was Xander's grandmother.
Ever since the press conference, Xander’s grandmother had been keeping a watchful eye on things. She wasn’t particularly tech-savvy, but she had started using GossipNet to monitor any news involving Arianna and Xander.
Whenever she saw unkind comments or hurtful gossip about the couple, she would put on her reading glasses and attempt to fire off replies, though her typing was slow and clumsy.
Her protectiveness over Arianna had only grown stronger, and Arianna knew that every call from her now carried that familiar warmth and concern.
Arianna figured Xander’s grandmother had probably seen the trending news and called to check on the situation. Setting her fork down, she quickly patted her cheeks to bring some colour to them before answering the video call.
“Hi, Grandma King,” Arianna greeted gently.
The familiar faces of Grandma King and Aunt Julia appeared on the screen, and as expected, the first thing Grandma King did was scrutinize her, scanning Arianna’s face for any sign of distress. When the older woman seemed satisfied that nothing was amiss, she let out a soft sigh of relief.
But her expression quickly shifted from concern to anger, and she huffed.
“That rascal Xander! Has he been giving you trouble while I’ve been away? Don’t worry, sweetheart, when I get back, I’ll set him straight! You can count on that!”
In most families, the elders would usually take the side of their children or grandchildren during any disputes. But Grandma King had always been fiercely protective of Arianna.
From the beginning, she had never hesitated to scold Xander whenever there was the slightest sign of friction between the two of them. To anyone unaware of their dynamic, it would seem like Arianna was Grandma King’s actual granddaughter, not Xander.
A wave of warmth filled Arianna's heart. She smiled softly and said,
“Thank you, Grandma. But really, Xander hasn’t done anything to upset me. What’s going around on the internet is... well, it's not true. Xander and I are fine. He took me on a vacation recently, and he even arranged a long-overdue wedding ceremony in the church I’ve always dreamed about.”
Arianna’s voice softened at the memory, though she couldn't help but feel the sting of the recent coldness between them. Despite the troubles they were facing, she wanted to spare Grandma King any more worry.
“Well, that doesn’t sound like the Xander everyone is gossiping about,” Grandma King replied, her tone more relaxed now.
“But if anything changes, you tell me right away. I’ll still have words with that boy when I’m back, just in case.”
Arianna laughed lightly, feeling grateful for the unwavering support.
To make everything seem more believable, Arianna scrolled through her phone and found a recent picture Xander had taken of the two of them. She sent it to Grandma King via WeTalk.
“Look, Grandma,” she said, trying to sound lighthearted. “Xander and I are fine. Don’t pay attention to what’s being said online.”
But this time, instead of her usual warm smile and quick reassurance, Grandma King’s face remained serious. After a brief silence, she leaned closer to the screen, her eyes sharp and discerning.
“Arianna,” she began in a measured tone, “I know that you and Xander care deeply about me. You’ve both always gone out of your way to keep me from worrying and to make me happy. But I’ve lived long enough to recognize when something’s genuine and when it’s just for show.”
Arianna’s heart sank. She pressed her lips together, suddenly feeling the weight of the words. Grandma King wasn’t easily fooled, and deep down, Arianna had known this charade wouldn’t last forever.
“I’m sorry, Grandma,” Arianna whispered, guilt tugging at her.
Lying had been harder than she thought. With each attempt to paint a rosy picture, the burden of keeping up appearances grew heavier, especially when it came to deceiving someone as dear as Grandma King.
The old lady’s tone softened as she continued, “Arianna, I’m not saying this to make you feel bad. I just want the best for both of you. More than anything, I want to see you happy.”
She paused for a moment, her gaze steady, before she asked gently, “Tell me, sweetheart, what do you feel about Xander right now? Are you truly against the idea of being with him?”
It was the same question Arianna had dodged earlier when Rochelle asked her.
Now, hearing it from Grandma King made her heart twist even more. The truth had been eluding her, and she still wasn’t sure how to answer. Could she face her feelings?
Staring at the screen, Arianna’s mind swirled in confusion. The silence stretched between them, and once again, she found herself unable to give a clear answer.
