CHAPTER 34
Xander fixed Arianna with a penetrating stare, his tone sharp.
“Tell her. Did I bully you?”
He was clearly issuing a threat.
In an instant, a flicker of terror danced in Arianna’s eyes. She whispered timidly,
“Grandma, it’s not like that… Xander didn’t bully me…”
As the words left her lips, Arianna sounded on the verge of tears.
Her vulnerable demeanor only fueled Grandma King's fury.
"Unbelievable. You dare to threaten her right in front of me! Today, I won't let you off the hook. You wretched scoundrel!"
Once again, Grandma King brandished her cane, striking Xander's back even harder than before.
Xander was left utterly speechless, unable to retaliate against his own grandmother's wrath. He could only endure her scolding in silence.
Glancing sideways at Arianna, he noticed a flicker of satisfaction dancing in her eyes.
Despite her pitiful appearance, there was a hint of cunning behind her gaze. It seemed she had successfully exacted her revenge.
However, Arianna's demeanor reminded him of the woman she used to be two years ago.
As Grandma King finally grew tired from her scolding, she leaned heavily on her cane, panting for breath.
Yet, even in her exhaustion, she remained protective of Arianna, like a mother hen guarding her chicks. With a final warning directed at Xander, she declared,
“Try bullying Arianna again while I'm around, and you'll have me to answer to!”
Grandma King had delivered quite a scolding, and Xander could feel the ache in his back from her cane. He grumbled,
“Grandma, don’t you care that you're hurting your own grandson?”
“You're my grandson, but Arianna's my granddaughter-in-law!” she replied firmly, her protective instincts for Arianna evident in her tone.
Xander rolled his eyes in disbelief.
His gaze shifted from Grandma King to Arianna, who was sitting on the bed. Despite the tension in the room, she looked calm and composed. Xander opened his mouth to say something but ultimately decided against it, turning to leave instead.
Watching him go Grandma King chuckled to herself. She settled herself by Arianna's side, taking her hands gently.
“Arianna, are you still upset? If you are, I can go give him another piece of my mind.”
"Grandma King, thank you," Arianna replied sincerely.
Even though Grandma King was old, she was not blind. How could she not tell that Arianna was acting just now?
Not only did Grandma King not expose Arianna, but she also taught Xander a lesson in front of her.
Grandma King was obviously helping her vent her anger.
However, things were different now. Their relationship couldn't be repaired by simple anger relief anymore.
Even though Grandma King had often played the peacemaker in the past whenever Xander upset Arianna, it wasn't as simple this time.
Their bond was fractured, and no amount of mediation could mend it completely.
Grandma King's intervention had a singular purpose: to alleviate the mounting frustration within Arianna and safeguard her from nurturing any lingering resentment towards Xander.
She held onto the hope that by doing so, Arianna would be dissuaded from pursuing the divorce she so ardently desired.
Still, there had been a permanent shift in the dynamics between Xander and Arianna. Their unbreakable bond was severely fractured, and not only for brief outbursts of rage.
Arianna spent the next two days recuperating in bed under the attentive care of Grandma King. Gradually, Arianna's spirits lifted, buoyed by Grandma King's nurturing presence.
When the doctor came for a check-up, Grandma King visibly relaxed upon hearing that Arianna was on the path to recovery without any complications.
Concerned about Arianna's lost weight, Grandma King immediately insisted on arranging a feast to replenish her strength. Despite Arianna's protests, Grandma King hurried off to organize the meal, leaving Arianna chuckling at her grandmother's boundless energy.
Watching Grandma King bustling around, Arianna couldn't help but marvel at her grandmother's vitality, seemingly unfazed by her age.
