CHAPTER 334
On the first day, Arianna pursued every possible lead, resolutely seeking the truth about Selby’s history with his former female student. She contacted all her connections and tapped into every resource she could think of, but by day’s end, she had come up empty.
The weight of her failure pressed heavily on her shoulders, a constant reminder of the stakes involved.
Each unanswered call and unreturned email felt like a personal defeat, a step further away from the truth she desperately needed to uncover.
Xander had brought Ronald on board for the investigation, and although Ronald found some possible leads, they still needed to be confirmed.
Xander stressed the need for caution, reminding everyone that making assumptions without solid proof could result in major problems. His advice replayed in Arianna’s thoughts, a constant reminder of the need to be careful that felt heavier as time passed. She realized that the truth was out there, but the harder she looked, the more it slipped away from her grasp.
By noon the following day, Ronald still hadn’t provided any concrete evidence.
Meanwhile, Xander’s name was trending on social media as public outrage intensified. The hashtags were relentless, each one a reminder of the growing storm surrounding them.
To complicate matters, the SVD Group stated at noon announcing their decision to terminate their contract with Xander.
The news hit Arianna like a punch to the gut; the implications were dire. Without the backing of the SVD Group, their resources would dwindle, and the investigation would stall.
Despite being halfway through the deadline, progress remained stagnant. Arianna set her phone down with a heavy sigh and made her way to the bathroom. She splashed cold water on her face, attempting to clear her thoughts.
The chill of the water was a brief reprieve from the heat of anxiety that had settled in her chest. After drying off, she returned to the living room and sank onto the sofa, her hands trembling slightly as she clenched and unclenched them. The uncertainty gnawed at her, a relentless reminder of the stakes involved.
She understood that this was a battle she couldn’t afford to lose. The only option left was to summon all her strength for a final push to turn the situation around. She needed to act decisively, to find a way to break through the wall of silence that surrounded Selby’s past.
Arianna grabbed her phone, swiftly changed the SIM card, and began typing with fierce concentration. Her thoughts raced as she sent the message, fully aware that this could be her final shot at salvaging everything.
After sending the message, Arianna quickly got up and changed into a pair of loose-fitting joggers and a hoodie. She slipped on a mask, a baseball cap, and a pair of sunglasses, grabbed her bag, and left the apartment.
Hailing a taxi, she directed it toward the estate.
When she arrived, both Grandma King and Aunt Julia looked visibly worried at the sight of her. Before either could speak, Arianna raised her hand and said,
“Please, I really need your help right now. Time is critical, and I’ll explain everything later!”
Hearing the urgency in her voice, Grandma King immediately held back her concerns and nodded firmly.
“Of course, Arianna. Tell me what you need. I’ll do whatever I can to help!”
Aunt Julia echoed the sentiment with a determined expression, ready to jump into action.
Arianna gave them a small, reassuring smile before saying,
I just need to borrow one of the cars from the garage for a little while.
The two women, who had mentally braced themselves for a crisis, were taken aback by her simple request.
“That’s it?” Grandma King asked, bewildered.
She had been prepared to pull every string and mobilize all her connections for Arianna’s sake. A simple car loan wasn’t what she expected.
Aunt Julia, still processing, chimed in,
Didn’t she already gift you that, like, super flashy sports car?"
Arianna couldn’t help but let out a nervous laugh.
“Actually, I was hoping for something a little less conspicuous… you know, just an ordinary car. Something low-key.”
The two women exchanged a glance, still slightly baffled, but nodded in agreement. If Arianna needed it, they wouldn’t hesitate to help.
“This…”
Grandma King and Aunt Julia exchanged confused glances, scratching their heads.
Grandma King tilted her head thoughtfully.
"What type of vehicle do you have in mind, Arianna?"
Arianna let out a sigh and rubbed her forehead.
“It might be easier if we just go look at the garage.”
The two women nodded in agreement.
“Alright, let’s go!”
Together, the trio made their way to the estate’s underground garage.
As they walked past rows of high-end luxury cars, Arianna couldn’t find anything that matched what she had in mind. Sleek supercars, eye-catching convertibles, and exclusive models surrounded her, but none seemed suitable.
Just when she was about to give up, a small, unassuming van parked in the corner caught her eye. The name
"EasyRider" was emblazoned across it.
Her face lit up, and she pointed excitedly.
“That one! I’ll take this one, Grandma King!”
Grandma King blinked in surprise and looked at Aunt Julia, who raised an amused eyebrow.
“You mean my little grocery-getter?” Aunt Julia said with a laugh.
“I didn’t think anyone would ever want to drive that thing, but if it’s you, consider it yours!”
“Thank you!” Arianna replied with a grateful smile.
Back in the house, Aunt Julia retrieved the keys and handed them to Arianna.
Grandma King took Arianna’s hands in hers, her voice soft with concern.
“Arianna, no matter what you and Xander are planning, you must promise to stay safe. If you can’t handle it, remember—I’m always here to support you, no matter what.”
Arianna squeezed her grandmother’s hands in return and gave her a reassuring smile.
“Grandma King, Aunt Julia, don’t worry about anything. Stay away from the internet, ignore the noise, and trust us. We’ll do our best to fix this!”
The two women nodded, watching her with pride and concern as Arianna turned to leave, ready to face whatever awaited her.
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