CHAPTER 279
That simple word felt like a small stone breaking the surface of a still lake, sending ripples through Arianna’s heart.
She gave Xander a soft smile, her dark eyes meeting his, and nodded earnestly.
“Okay. I’ll try to rely on you more from now on.”
Then, with a teasing glint in her eye, she added, “Just don’t complain when I become too much to handle.”
Xander chuckled, clearly entertained by her playful remark, and ruffled her hair affectionately.
“You can be as much trouble as you want.”
Ronald, who was driving, had to stifle a groan as he nearly mixed up the brake and the gas. These lovebirds were testing his patience!
‘Ugh, couples! Just wait till I get my time off and meet the girl my mom’s been nagging me about. Maybe I’ll start a trend of banning public displays of affection!’
...
Back at the villa, Xander walked inside, still holding Arianna close. They noticed the lights were still on in the living room, and both exchanged a puzzled glance. Arianna was the first to speak,
“It’s late. Is Aunt Julia still binging her shows?”
Aunt Julia had always been a die-hard fan of romantic dramas, often staying up late to catch up on episodes.
As they kicked off their shoes and made their way toward the living room, they discovered that not only was Aunt Julia awake, but so was Xander’s grandmother, Grandma King.
Instead of watching TV, they were seated on the couch, heads resting together, both wearing reading glasses. They were laughing at something on their phones, completely oblivious to Xander and Arianna's return.
Arianna’s curiosity piqued. She cleared her throat softly and asked, “Grandma King, Aunt Julia, what’s so funny?”
Grandma King and Aunt Julia lifted their heads at the same time. The moment the elderly woman spotted Arianna, her face lit up with delight, and she gave her an enthusiastic thumbs-up.
“Arianna, you’re back! You were incredible tonight! Brilliant!”
Aunt Julia eagerly nodded along. “I have to say, Mrs. King, you gave those shameless folks the smackdown they deserved! People are singing your praises all over GossipNet, and Mr. Schuck and Harmony are getting roasted!”
So that’s what they were glued to…
Arianna hadn’t had the chance to check GossipNet herself, but it was clear her actions tonight had turned the tide. Not only had she restored her reputation, but she had also reclaimed her rightful place. In every sense, it was a triumphant comeback.
"That’s my granddaughter-in-law!” Grandma King said proudly,
“But next time you face something like this, don’t keep it to yourself. You must tell me! I may be old, but I’m still more than capable. I won’t let anyone walk all over you!”
Arianna smiled warmly. “It’s nothing to worry about, Grandma King. If I can handle it on my own, I will. But if it gets to be too much, I’ll come to you.”
The old lady, knowing Arianna was trying to ease her worry, still beamed and said,
“Alright, I’ll hold you to that.”
Then, her eyes drifted to Xander, who was standing by Arianna’s side. She gave him a satisfied look and teased,
“You scamp. At least you had the sense to come rushing back to protect your wife. I’ll let you off the hook this time—no lecture.”
Xander’s mouth twitched slightly, too weary to argue. By now, he had accepted his place at the bottom of the family hierarchy.
Grandma King’s attention shifted back to Arianna, her gaze landing on her waist. Her expression turned worried as she asked,
“Are you fully healed from your injury, Arianna? Everything okay?”
"Yes, Grandma, I'm feeling much better now. You don't have to worry," Arianna quickly assured her.
"But... there won't be any long-term effects, right?"
"Long-term effects?" Arianna blinked, a bit confused.
"The injury is completely healed. No lingering issues," she added.
The elderly woman sighed and explained,
"That's not what I meant, dear. I'm asking if it will, you know... impact your ability to have kids in the future..."
Arianna's face turned bright red. She glanced nervously at Xander and whispered,
"Grandma, that's not related at all."
It was her waist that was hurt, not her abdomen...
"You still need to be careful!" the old lady insisted, her worry unwavering.
"What if I call my doctor to come over tomorrow? They can do a full checkup, and while they're at it, they can prescribe some medicine to help strengthen your body..."
Arianna quickly understood what this was really about. The old lady was eager for a grandchild, and the 'strengthening medicine' was part of her plan to make sure Arianna was in perfect shape for it.
She vividly remembered the so-called 'medicine' Grandma King had given her before. It might have had some health benefits, but the intense, restless side effects were anything but pleasant. The thought of going through that again made her shudder.
Not wanting to outright refuse the old lady, Arianna shot a desperate look at Xander, silently asking for his help.
Xander caught her eye, fully aware of her unspoken request. However, instead of jumping in, he just smirked, licked his lips, and pretended not to notice.
Arianna knew Xander was teasing her on purpose. Frustrated, she reached around to gently tug at his collar with her fingers, mouthing the words,
"Please help me."
Xander chuckled softly, clearly enjoying himself, and replied lazily,
"There's no need for that, Grandma. Arianna's all better now, and there's nothing to worry about regarding any future complications."
He paused, letting the moment hang for a second before adding,
"As for the rest...."
Xander didn’t bother finishing his sentence. Instead, he effortlessly scooped Arianna into his arms. Before she could even react, he was already making his way toward the stairs.
Arianna’s eyes widened in shock as she felt herself lifted off the ground. Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around his neck for balance.
From behind them, Grandma King’s voice called out,
“Hold on a minute! I wasn’t done talking to Arianna! Where are you two going?”
Xander paused briefly, glancing over his shoulder.
“Well, Grandma, you’ve been asking for a grandchild, right? I’m just taking her upstairs to start working on that.”
Arianna’s face turned a deep shade of red, completely unprepared for Xander’s bold statement.
Grandma King’s concerned look melted away into a mischievous grin. “Oh, in that case, go ahead! Just make sure you both get some resafterwardsrd!”
With a smile, Xander continued his way up the stairs, carrying Arianna.
As they disappeared from view, Grandma King folded her hands together and murmured,
“Oh God, please send your blessings so they’ll have a happy, healthy baby soon. I’d love to meet my great-grandchild before I join you up there.”
After saying her quiet prayer, she noticed Aunt Julia frowning at her phone, her expression tense. Curious, Grandma King asked,
“What’s got you so worked up, Julia?”
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