CHAPTER 213
The soft chime from Arianna's phone snapped her back to reality. She glanced at the screen and saw a new WhatsApp message from Rochelle.
“I've landed. See you soon, babe.”
Arianna smiled to herself. She’d spent the last few hours caught up in thoughts about Xander, lost in a swirl of emotions. That man was certainly a magnet for trouble.
Shaking off the lingering tension, she stood up and prepared to meet Rochelle.
...
At the bar, Rochelle was already perched on a stool when Arianna walked in. She waved energetically from across the room, her vibrant personality impossible to miss.
"Ari! Over here!"
Arianna returned her smile, making her way over to the bar.
Rochelle didn’t waste any time. As soon as Arianna sat down, she pushed a brightly coloured cocktail toward her.
“They’ve got a new drink. Give it a try—it’s pretty interesting.”
Arianna took a curious sip. The drink started sweet and refreshing, but quickly gave way to an unexpected tang, a bitter, almost sour undertone. She wrinkled her nose slightly at the contrast.
"It's... different," Arianna remarked, contemplating the unusual aftertaste.
Rochelle chuckled knowingly. “The bartender said it’s the kind of drink you only appreciate after you've been through a bit in life.”
Arianna set the glass down, shaking her head with a wry smile. “In that case, I'd rather remain oblivious.”
Rochelle grinned. “I hear you on that.”
Who wouldn’t prefer to stay innocent and carefree, untouched by the weight of life’s challenges?
“Alright, enough small talk,” Rochelle leaned in, her voice turning more serious. Her sharp eyes locked onto Arianna.
“Now spill it. What’s going on with you and that jerk?”
Arianna felt a familiar knot of anxiety tighten in her chest at the mention of Xander. Not ready to dive in right away, she grabbed the cocktail, tipping her head back as she downed the entire drink in one go.
It burned going down, but she welcomed the distraction, even if only for a moment.
............
Rochelle and Arianna were so wrapped up in their chatter that they completely overlooked the dishevelled figure of Piper slumped at the far end of the round bar. Once a picture of elegance, she now resembled a ghost of her former self, her hair a tangled mess and her clothes a wrinkled disgrace, a mere shadow of the woman she had once been.
Piper’s life had unravelled into a chaotic mess after Xander’s family, the King Group, cut all ties with her father’s business, the Schmidt Group. Her father, already simmering with disdain for both his wife and daughter, finally lost it.
Encouraged by Sheena’s relentless prodding, he had tossed both Piper and her mother, Violet, out of their home. In desperation, Violet took Piper to her own parents' house, but despite their previous affection for their granddaughter, they now turned their backs on her, terrified of the fallout from the Schmidts' disgrace.
With no refuge left, Violet had to settle for a cramped apartment. For Piper, who had once basked in luxury, adapting to such a meagre lifestyle was an insurmountable challenge.
Their finances dwindled rapidly, and Violet spent her days either weeping or storming back to the Schmidt estate, pleading for reentry.
Initially, Piper tried to soothe her, begging her to stop, but after endless arguments, she surrendered, allowing her mother to wallow in despair. It was simpler that way—out of sight, out of mind.
Piper sought refuge in alcohol. Night after night, she drifted through bars, drowning her sorrows in a haze that almost convinced her she was still the beloved daughter of the Schmidts and that Xander still held her in his heart.
But tonight, that fragile illusion shattered.
Amidst her fog, Piper caught a familiar voice. At first, she brushed it off, but curiosity gnawed at her. She lifted her head, her bleary gaze scanning the dimly lit bar, and then she spotted her—Arianna.
The instant her gaze fell upon Arianna, a jolt of recognition surged through her. Piper could spot Arianna in any crowd, at any moment. Even if that woman were reduced to mere dust, Piper would still identify her amidst the remnants.
Piper's breath caught as she caught fragments of Arianna's chat with Rochelle. A fierce anger ignited within her, sharp and searing. The jealousy she had been nursing for months began to bubble up, twisting her insides.
Every word that slipped from Arianna's lips felt like a knife, reopening old wounds. How could she sit there, so blissfully unaware, while Piper's world crumbled around her?
Her fingers clenched around her glass as the fury intensified, cutting through the fog of alcohol. This was utterly unjust. Arianna was the architect of Piper's downfall—she and Xander. And here was Piper, a mere shadow in the corner of a bar, while Arianna pranced through life as if nothing had ever gone wrong.
That bitter realization only fanned the flames within Piper, solidifying her determination. She was far from finished with Arianna.
Piper was taken aback by the extent of Xander's devotion to Arianna.
The lengths he had gone to were remarkable—standing by Arianna during her hospital ordeal, caring for her younger brother Charlie, and even planning a romantic escape to a cherished spot for their wedding. He had given Arianna the ceremony she had always dreamed of and had even discussed starting a family with her.
Every ounce of love Xander had poured into Arianna was something Piper believed should have been hers. She had imagined a future where Xander, moved by her presence, would ultimately choose her above all else. They would marry, raise children, and create a joyful life together.
But now, all of that had been stolen by Arianna’s return.
The burden of that loss was nearly too much to bear. Arianna hadn't just snatched away the future Piper had dreamed of with Xander; she had also left Piper drowning in disgrace. Expelled from her once beloved home, her father had turned into a cold, unfeeling presence, while her mother spiralled deeper into madness.
Gone were the days of luxury—now, she was merely a ghost of who she used to be, a discarded soul trampled by those who once adored her.
This drastic fall from grace to a life of shame and poverty left Piper feeling completely forsaken and crushed. Her world had shattered, and the echoes of her past life were now nothing but a haunting, bitter reminder.
