CHAPTER 212
"Grandma, I..." Arianna's voice faltered, uncertainty gripping her.
When Xander had first shown such blatant disdain for her, treating her with a coldness that chilled her to the bone, Arianna had lost all hope. She’d resigned herself to the belief that there was no saving their relationship. It had seemed like things would only get worse, but recently, Xander’s behaviour had shifted unpredictably. His hot-and-cold demeanour confused her to no end, leaving her caught between despair and hope.
Grandma King noticed Arianna’s hesitation and chose not to push her further. Instead, she spoke softly, yet with conviction.
Arianna, you might be uncertain about your feelings at this moment, but I can assure you of one thing—I have an understanding of what Xander feels.
Grandma King didn’t mince words. “He cares about you. More than you think.”
Arianna’s heart skipped a beat, and her immediate reaction was to reject the idea. “That can’t be true…”
If Xander had any affection for her, why would he have treated her so harshly? Why would he constantly push her away, making her feel insignificant and humiliated?
All she had seen in his eyes was indifference—maybe even anger.
“Why not?” Grandma King’s voice suddenly became firm, filled with conviction.
“He may have his faults, but Xander wouldn’t have made your marriage public if he didn’t feel something for you. I can assure you, I didn’t pressure him into that.”
Aunt Julia, who had been quietly listening, nodded in agreement.
“That’s right. The Grandma King even gave him an out. She told Xander that if he didn’t feel anything for you, he could go ahead and file for a divorce. But what did he do? He made your marriage official and public! That doesn’t sound like a man who doesn’t care about you, does it?”
Arianna’s mind spun at the revelation. Grandma King had offered Xander a way out of the marriage. And he had chosen not to take it?
Arianna’s heart skipped a beat, her curiosity piqued. She couldn’t stop herself from softly asking, “Grandma, when did you talk to him about this?”
Without missing a beat, Aunt Julia chimed in,
“There was a night when Xander came home completely drunk, and Grandma King looked after him until morning. The next day, she sat him down and told him that maybe a divorce would be better for both of you—so you could each find some peace and stop wasting each other’s time.”
Grandma King nodded, her expression sombre.
“After I spoke with him, do you know what he did? He went straight to the hospital and stayed with you. Now, why would he do that if he didn’t care, Arianna?”
Aunt Julia picked up where the old lady left off, eager to share more. “That’s right! And do you remember the time we brought food to you at the hospital? It was Xander who called us and asked us to come.”
Arianna blinked in surprise, her mind racing as she absorbed the unexpected revelations.
“He… did that?”
She had never considered that the aloof, often distant man she had been living with could have been acting out of concern for her. The Xander she had seen—cold, detached, indifferent—suddenly felt like a stranger to the man they were describing.
Grandma King sighed gently, her tone filled with understanding.
“Arianna, Xander’s not the easiest person to figure out. He hides so much behind that tough exterior of his, and when he does open his mouth, well, he can be harsh. Believe me, even I’ve wanted to give him a good smack for some of the things he says! But the truth is, he’s like that because he doesn’t know how to express himself properly. He’s a man who holds everything in, and I’m sure that deep down, he doesn’t mean half of what comes out of his mouth.”
The old lady leaned forward, her gaze warm but firm.
“If, and I say if, you still have a place for him in your heart, Arianna, then I hope you’ll consider giving him a real chance. Not to see him as the man he pretends to be, but as the man he is beneath all that stubbornness.”
Arianna remained silent, her mind swirling with everything Grandma King and Aunt Julia had shared.
Could it be true?
Could Xander, the man she thought despised her, actually care more than he let on?
Arianna was lost in deep thought as soon as the call ended, the words from Grandma King and Aunt Julia swirling in her mind, refusing to settle.
That drunken night they mentioned—was it the same one when Xander had forced himself on her? Did he drink himself into a stupor afterwards?
And then, he had appeared at the hospital out of nowhere, claiming Grandma King had sent him. She had even permitted him to end their marriage, yet instead of pursuing a divorce, he chose to announce their marriage to the world at that press conference, tying her fate to his.
On Barrkjaer Island, he had also declared bluntly that divorce wasn’t part of his plan.
It dawned on Arianna that all those decisions—revealing their relationship, staying by her side—were things he had done on his own. They weren't because Grandma King had pressured him, as he often implied.
Could it be that Xander had been using his grandmother as an excuse, hiding his true feelings behind her?
Could Xander care about her—maybe even have feelings for her—just like Grandma King had suggested?
The realization hit Arianna hard, leaving her stunned and speechless for what felt like an eternity. The pieces of the puzzle didn’t quite fit with the image she had painted of Xander in her mind.
But then, the memory of their past came rushing back, grounding her thoughts. Two years ago, she had been so sure of his feelings, so confident in the love she thought they shared.
Then, in an instant, he had turned cold, leaving her without so much as an explanation, abandoning her when she needed him most.
Her heart tightened as doubt crept back in. Could she trust her instincts this time, or was she setting herself up for the same heartbreak again?
What was going on in Xander’s mind? She couldn’t be sure, not yet. Not until she had more answers.
