CHAPTER 225
Both Arianna and Xander turned toward the door as it suddenly swung open.
In came Xander's grandmother, Grandma King, with Aunt Margaret right behind her, both looking deeply concerned.
Arianna and Xander exchanged a quick, surprised glance. They had made every effort to keep the incident under wraps, and Xander had ensured that no information about their injuries leaked to the media. How could Grandma King have possibly found out?
Arianna was the first to break the silence, trying to mask her worry. “Grandma, what brings you here?”
Grandma King marched straight to Arianna’s side, her eyes scanning Arianna from head to toe as if to assure herself that Arianna was indeed all in one piece. Her gaze then shifted to Xander, noting his pale complexion and the weariness etched on his face. A mixture of relief and frustration appeared in her eyes, but her voice carried a sharp edge of concern.
“How could you two keep something this serious from me?” she scolded, her voice trembling slightly.
“Did you think I wouldn’t find out? Do you have any idea how I felt when I heard about this from an old friend of mine who works here at the hospital? Were you planning on keeping this from me forever?”
Grandma King had received a call from the hospital director, an old friend, two nights ago, informing her of their conditions. She had nearly fainted from shock, her mind racing with all the terrible possibilities. If anything had happened to her grandson or granddaughter-in-law, she didn't know how she could go on.
Despite her stern words, Arianna could hear the undercurrent of fear and worry in her grandmother's voice. It softened her heart, and she immediately reached out to wrap her arms around Grandma King in a comforting hug.
“I’m sorry, Grandma,” Arianna said gently.
“We didn't want to worry you unnecessarily. We're okay now. We're going to be fine.”
Xander also leaned forward, taking his grandmother's hand in his own. He spoke softly, trying to reassure her,
"We're both alright now, Grandma. There’s no need to worry anymore."
Grandma King sighed heavily, looking at both of them with a mixture of relief and lingering concern. She squeezed Xander's hand, her stern expression softening slightly as she glanced between him and Arianna.
Grandma King took several deep breaths to steady herself, her worried gaze shifting from Arianna to Xander, and back again. Only then did she allow herself to relax, the tension in her shoulders easing slightly.
Aunt Margaret, who had been hovering nearby with equal concern, added,
“Mr. King, Mrs. King… Please, don’t keep such things from us in the future. You have no idea how anxious Grandma King was when we got the news. She was praying the entire flight here, and we came straight to the hospital as soon as we landed. She hasn't even sipped water since we arrived.”
Hearing this, Arianna immediately guided Grandma King over to the sofa on the other side of the room.
"Come, Grandma, please have a seat and rest." She moved to pour her a glass of water, but Aunt Margaret gently intervened.
“Mrs King, you’re still recovering yourself. Please, take it easy. I'll take care of it,” she insisted, then placed a bouquet of fresh lilies she had been carrying on the coffee table. She quickly made her way to the small kitchenette in the room to fetch some water.
In a few moments, Aunt Margaret returned with three glasses of water. She handed one to Grandma King, another to Arianna, and the last to Xander.
Grandma King took a large sip, the warm water soothing her frayed nerves. "You two had me worried sick," she murmured, the edge in her voice softened by a wave of relief.
Arianna also took a few sips of her water, feeling a bit more settled. As she placed the cup down, her eyes were drawn to the bouquet of lilies now adorning the coffee table. There was something curious about them that caught her attention.
Sensing Arianna's curiosity, Aunt Margaret explained, “We found these lilies on the floor right outside the ward. They seemed to be meant for Mr. King since there was a card with his name on it, so I thought it was best to bring them inside.”
Arianna’s brow furrowed slightly. “Did you see who left them there?” she asked, her curiosity piqued.
Aunt Margaret shook her head. “No, we didn’t see anyone around when we arrived. The flowers were just lying there.”
Grandma King reached for the card nestled within the bouquet. She pulled it out and examined it closely. The card simply read,
"For Xander," without any signature or note of explanation. A sense of mystery hung in the air, leaving them to wonder who the anonymous visitor could have been.
The bouquet was simple yet elegant, the lilies freshly cut and fragrant, adding a touch of grace to the otherwise sterile hospital room. Whoever had brought them had slipped away quietly, leaving only the flowers and the enigmatic note behind.
Grandma King examined the card again, a puzzled look crossing her face. "I wonder who could have left these flowers? Oddly, they didn't sign their name."
She had only learned of Xander’s condition from her friend, the hospital director, and as far as she knew, the information was kept private. The only others who might be aware were Xander’s close friends, like Jonathan and Zachary.
Given their personalities, however, it seemed unlikely that either of them would show up with a bouquet. They were more the type to bring snacks or some other practical item rather than something as delicate as lilies. It seemed more in line with what a woman might do when visiting someone in the hospital...
Arianna considered this, and a hint of irritation crept into her voice. "Perhaps it's one of Mr. King's...close female acquaintances."
The way she said "Mr. King" was a deliberate choice. She often resorted to the more formal title when she was annoyed or when Xander had done something to get under her skin.
Xander noticed her tone and couldn't help but smirk. He knew that whenever Arianna called him "Mr. King," she was either upset with him or teasing him in some way.
In the past, hearing her call him would have ruffled his feathers, but over time, he'd come to find a strange sort of charm in it. It was her way of drawing a line, setting a boundary that he often found himself eager to cross.
Arianna glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, noting the smirk on his face. The fact that he seemed to find the situation amusing rather than feeling any sort of remorse only irked her more. Was he genuinely pleased to have a harem of female admirers?
During their two years apart, she had been alone, not entertaining the company of any other man. Yet it seemed like Xander had no shortage of female companionship. The thought of him being surrounded by a carousel of women while she was left wondering where they stood made her feel a sting of resentment.
