CHAPTER 29
The person entering the room was familiar to her, but it wasn't Xander. It was Xander's grandmother, Grandma King.
"Arianna, you're awake. You really frightened me," she said as she walked over and sat by the bed, gently taking Arianna's hands in hers.
Arianna was momentarily taken aback to see Grandma King. She blinked a few times before regaining her composure.
"Grandma King, I'm sorry to have worried you."
"Thank goodness we found you in time. Otherwise, your life would have been in serious danger," she said, still visibly shaken.
"Are you feeling any discomfort?"
"I feel much better," Arianna reassured her, not wanting to cause further worry. She shifted the topic, asking,
"Grandma King, why are you here?"
Grandma King gently patted Arianna's head, her expression tinged with guilt.
"I asked Xander to take responsibility for you, but I never imagined he would go about it in such a way. I only learned of this yesterday, so I came to see you."
Could it be that Grandma King had coincidentally been there, noticed Arianna's condition, and called the doctor for her?
Arianna couldn't help but laugh at herself bitterly. Despite everything, she had still held onto some hope for Xander.
Observing Arianna's silence, Grandma King assumed she was upset about the situation and quickly interjected,
"Arianna, don't worry. With me by your side, I won't let Xander treat you unfairly like this. I'll ensure he gives you the wedding you deserve, allowing you to proudly take your place as Mrs. King!"
Just then, Xander had finished his call and returned to the bedroom. Upon hearing the conversation, he froze in his tracks, his intense gaze fixed on Arianna.
The notion of proudly becoming Mrs. King felt like a bitter irony to Arianna now. It used to be her dream, but in that moment, it sounded hollow and insincere.
Without hesitation, she spoke up, her voice firm,
"I don't want that."
Nancy was taken aback by Arianna's response, her expression betraying her surprise.
Meanwhile, Xander, standing by the door, narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing Arianna's words and demeanor.
Was she attempting to deceive them once more?
Grandma King knew how much Arianna loved Xander. With their recent remarriage, wouldn't Arianna want to be acknowledged as Mrs. King in public?
Confused, Grandma King asked,
"Arianna, what's holding you back?"
After a pause, Grandma King seemed to figure something out and suggested,
"Are you concerned that Xander may be unwilling, and you don't want to impose on him? Arianna, you'll only end up feeling resentful if you do this to yourself."
Arianna remained silent, struggling to find the right words to convey her thoughts.
Xander had once been her entire world, and she had endured countless hardships for his sake. Grandma King, in her determination, had already decided that Arianna would be her granddaughter-in-law.
But now, Arianna could see things more clearly. She realized how shallow her love for Xander had been, and she was grateful for finally understanding the truth.
"Grandma King, it's not that..." Arianna began, but her voice trailed off as she glanced around the room, her thoughts momentarily interrupted.
Despite Xander's past mistreatment, Grandma King had always treated Arianna with kindness, even going so far as to save her life. Because of this, Arianna didn't want to upset her.
After a moment of consideration, Arianna decided to finish her sentence, explaining,
"Xander and I didn't enter into this marriage willingly. We'll be seeking a divorce soon, so there's no need to make it public."
Grandma King's expression turned anxious.
"Arianna, but you just got married! Why rush into a divorce? I know Xander, that rascal, must have done something wrong, and I'll make sure he learns his lesson. Please don't let it trouble you."
Arianna felt a sense of resignation.
"Grandma King, I'm not upset. Xander and I no longer have any emotional connection. This marriage was only for..."
She hesitated, swallowing the word 'revenge', and continued,
"...for your sake. We didn't want to disappoint you. Besides..."
Before she could finish her sentence, Grandma King interjected,
"But the two of you are married now. Arianna, feelings can be rekindled, so why not give Xander another chance?"
As Grandma King was growing older, she yearned to see Xander settle down and start a family of his own.
Unfortunately, since calling off his wedding two years ago, he had yet to pursue a serious relationship. While Piper was in the picture, Grandma King didn't sense a deeper commitment from Xander.
If it hadn't been for Xander urgently summoning the Kings family's personal doctor to the villa in the dead of night, Grandma King would have remained unaware of his marriage.
Xander had adamantly declared that he would never marry Arianna, yet suddenly, he had tied the knot with her. This revelation led Grandma King to believe that Xander's heart still harbored feelings for Arianna.
Moreover, Grandma King had held Arianna in high regard from the beginning, and she felt remorseful that Arianna couldn't become her granddaughter-in-law two years prior.
Therefore, she was determined to make it a reality this time.
With those words spoken, Grandma King turned her hopeful gaze towards Arianna.
