CHAPTER 27
The manager braced himself for a reprimand, so Xander's unexpected question left him momentarily stunned.
"Answer me!" Xander demanded impatiently.
The manager, startled into alertness, quickly gathered his thoughts. Despite his confusion, he replied truthfully,
"Mr. King, Ms. Johnson pawned the jade bracelet."
Indeed, she had been willing to part with such a meaningful jade bracelet for the sake of money.
Xander's eyes blazed with intensity. Though his voice remained calm, his presence was imposing.
"When did she do this?" he asked, his tone leaving no room for evasion.
The manager answered, "The day before yesterday."
The timeline caught Xander off guard. He was taken aback and asked the manager again for confirmation,
"She pawned it two days ago?"
"Yes, Mr. King. I can show you the receipt."
The manager quickly instructed a staff member to retrieve the receipt and then presented it to Xander with a respectful gesture.
The date on the receipt was clear: the jade bracelet had indeed been pawned two days ago.
Xander had promised Arianna he would cover Charlie's medical bills that day.
However, after their wedding night, Xander's anger towards Arianna led him to withhold the funds, wanting to assert his control over the situation.
Xander waited all day for Arianna to apologize, but that apology never came. Instead, Ronald informed him that Charlie's overdue medical bills had been settled.
Xander knew that Arianna and the Johnson family couldn't possibly have come up with that kind of money on their own; if they could, they wouldn't have resorted to manipulating him.
So, where had the money come from?
Later, Xander received a call from Zach, informing him that Arianna was seen with another man at Dark Room. Furious, Xander jumped to the conclusion that she had used money from those dubious encounters to pay Charlie's medical bill.
His anger drove him to confront her that night, convinced of her betrayal.
But now, as he held the pawn receipt, a troubling new thought emerged.
Had the medical bill been paid with the money from pawning the jade bracelet?
Had he completely misjudged the situation that night?
Xander's heart sank as doubt crept in. Had he misunderstood Arianna all along?
If Arianna hadn't betrayed him, Xander wondered, why hadn't she explained herself when she had the chance? Instead, she had uttered those hurtful, repulsive words.
Xander, usually adept at reading people, found himself unable to discern whether Arianna's words had been genuine or deceitful.
Closing his eyes to regain his composure, Xander took a deep breath before turning to Ronald.
"I need to know why Arianna was at Dark Room the other night," he commanded, his voice steady but filled with underlying tension.
Finally, something substantial for him to handle. Ronald nodded and replied,
“Of course, Mr. King!”
Piper’s expression darkened at hearing this. She never imagined that the jade bracelet she coveted, yet couldn't obtain, belonged to Arianna!
Since Arianna's return, she had been constantly near Xander, a presence that Piper found increasingly intolerable.
But Xander was hers! Piper had been by his side for over two years and was determined to marry him and become Mrs. King. She would never allow Arianna to influence Xander and disrupt her plans.
Piper's mind churned with resolve—she would ensure that bit*h Arianna, wouldn't sway Xander away from her.
Even though the bracelet had once belonged to Arianna, Piper was certain that Xander would give it to her if she asked for it.
Just as she was certain Xander himself would be hers in the end.
Piper flashed what she believed was her most enchanting smile, then pouted and pleaded coquettishly,
"Xander, I really love this bracelet. Why don't we buy it? Since Arianna pawned it, she must need the money. Let's offer her a bit more—I'm sure she'll agree!"
At that moment, Piper's desire for the bracelet was secondary. Her true aim was to assert her dominance.
She could already imagine Arianna's reaction upon learning that Xander had bought her precious bracelet and given it to Piper. The thought was delightfully satisfying.
Xander glanced at the manager and instructed,
"Wrap it up."
The manager was taken aback by how indulged Piper was, but he didn't dare protest. He carefully wrapped the jade bracelet, placed the receipt in the bag, and handed it over neatly packaged.
With both hands, the manager politely presented the bag to Piper.
Piper's satisfaction was evident as she held her head high, eagerly reaching out to take the bag.
"Who said it's for her?" Xander's detached voice cut through the air, accompanied by a disdainful glance directed at the manager.
The manager trembled, immediately grasping Xander's meaning. Without hesitation, he passed the bag to Ronald.
Piper's eyes widened in disbelief. Had Xander not purchased the bracelet for her?
"Xander..." Her voice betrayed a hint of confusion and disappointment.
