CHAPTER 229
Harmony rose gracefully after finishing her sentence, her movements deliberate as she headed towards the door. Just as she reached it, Piper’s quiet, almost childlike voice broke the silence.
"Will you look after my mom?"
Harmony paused, her back still to Piper. Without turning around, she replied, "I'll take care of her. You don’t need to worry about what’s to come."
The words hung in the air—' You don’t need to worry about what’s to come'—and Piper let them sink in. After a moment, she finally whispered,
"I understand."
Harmony’s eyes briefly darkened with something unspoken. She lifted her foot and left the room without another glance back.
…
In the days that followed, Arianna and Xander's health visibly improved, all thanks to Aunt Julia's unwavering care. Both of them were making a physical recovery, responding well to the rest and attention they were receiving.
Arianna, who had sustained only minor injuries, was up and about after just a couple of days. Her resilience, cultivated during her time abroad, enabled her to bounce back faster than anyone had anticipated.
Aunt Julia, always perceptive, noticed that Grandma King had grown accustomed to her presence and care back at the villa.
Recognizing this, Arianna gently suggested that it might be time for Aunt Julia to return to the villa to be with Grandma King.
"I can take care of Xander from here," Arianna insisted, her tone brimming with determination.
Understanding Arianna's intentions, Aunt Julia realized that this was an opportunity for the young couple to spend more time together and rekindle their connection. Moreover, witnessing their growing affection served as a poignant reminder of what she had missed with her own family. Preferring to give them their privacy, she graciously agreed and returned to the villa.
Xander still needed plenty of rest, so he was careful not to exert himself too much.
Ronald usually managed the business on his own during this time, but he would update Xander daily on critical issues that required his input. For now, though, Xander was mostly on the sidelines, focusing on his recovery.
At that moment, Ronald sat by Xander’s bedside, going over the most urgent matters. He quickly and concisely summarized everything to avoid tiring Xander.
Arianna, not wanting to intrude on their discussion, went to the bathroom to rinse off some fruit. When she returned to the room with a small platter, Ronald was already gone.
She glanced around, a bit surprised. “Did Ronald wrap things up so quickly?”
She had noticed that he came in with a rather large stack of files.
Xander gave her a casual look and replied,
“If I have to do everything myself, why am I paying him such a generous salary? His responsibilities should match what he’s being compensated for.”
Typical corporate mindset, Arianna thought. He had a way of making the art of employee management sound so sophisticated as if overworking people was an expectation rather than a flaw.
She rolled her eyes inwardly at his logic but chose not to comment on it. Instead, she approached the bed and held up the fruit tray for him to see. "Which one catches your eye?"
Xander’s eyes drifted over the assortment before he gave a slight nod toward the apple.
Arianna picked up the apple and handed it to him, but he made no move to take it. Instead, he put on a pitiful expression, looking almost faint as he murmured,
"My hands are still a bit too weak."
Oh really? Arianna thought, sceptical. Not even ten minutes ago, she had watched him signing documents with ease and precision, looking anything but fragile. But she decided to play along, sensing the lightheartedness of the moment.
Even though Arianna was well aware that Xander was milking the situation for all it was worth, she couldn’t help but let herself be drawn in by his somewhat playful demeanour. She sighed, feigning exasperation, but a small smile tugged at the corner of her lips.
"Alright, I’ll feed you then."
Placing the fruit tray down on the bedside table, she picked up the apple and settled into the chair beside him. She took a small paring knife and began to peel the apple carefully, each slice of the skin falling away smoothly.
Xander leaned back against the headboard, his eyes resting on her with a soft gaze. He watched her with a mix of amusement and something else—something more profound. He was beginning to understand now why Arianna had once enjoyed being doted on by him. There was a certain joy in watching someone you care about go out of their way for you, even in small gestures like this. It was a simple kind of bliss, one he hadn't appreciated until now.
Arianna made quick work of the apple, peeling it with precision and cutting it into neat, bite-sized quarters. She picked up one of the slices, her hand reaching out to offer it to him when suddenly, the voice from the television broke the comfortable silence.
"Starlight TV is excited to announce a new competition for aspiring news presenters! Contestants will have the chance to win fantastic prizes, with the grand champion securing a position as Starlight TV’s newest anchor! We encourage all aspiring talents to take part..."
The announcement caught Arianna’s attention, her hand pausing mid-air as she turned to glance at the TV. For a moment, she was caught between the words on the screen and the slice of apple in her hand. The competition sounded like a golden opportunity, a rare chance for someone to make a name for themselves in the industry.
Arianna’s eyes were glued to the television, the excitement clear on her face. She became so engrossed in the announcement that she forgot about the apple slice she was holding out for Xander.
Xander noticed her captivation and followed her gaze to the screen, listening to the details of the competition. He then turned his attention back to Arianna, observing her with curiosity. Her enthusiasm was palpable; this was more than just casual interest.
He recalled that Arianna had majored in communications and had worked part-time as a news anchor while she was abroad. It dawned on him that this competition could mean a lot to her.
“Do you want to enter the competition?” Xander asked, breaking the silence.
Arianna snapped back to reality, meeting his eyes. She hesitated only for a moment before nodding, unable to conceal her excitement.
"Yes, I do."
She had dreamed of joining a prestigious network like Starlight TV ever since she graduated from university. It was the kind of opportunity that was rare and highly sought after by aspiring news anchors. Back then, right when she was about to apply, circumstances forced her to go abroad instead. Her plans had been derailed, and she ended up taking whatever odd jobs she could find just to get by, leaving her dream to gather dust.
But that dream had always stayed with her, tucked away in a corner of her heart. Now, hearing about this competition, it felt like a long-lost opportunity was finally coming back around.
