CHAPTER 7
Arianna's attempt to find solace in sleep was abruptly interrupted by a sharp knock on her door, followed by the urgent voice of the maid.
"Ms. Johnson, there's an emergency. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson require your immediate presence downstairs."
Arianna's lips curled into a disdainful smirk as she responded dismissively,
"What now?"
"Yes Ms. Johnon, please hurry!" the maid's voice insisted.
"Fine," Arianna replied curtly.
As Arianna descended the staircase, a heavy weight settled in her chest, dragging her steps. Entering the living room, she found Margaret standing, her expression expectant.
"What's the emergency, Father?" Arianna's voice carried a hint of weariness as she spoke.
"I wasn't feeling well and was just about to lie down for a rest."
Margaret's gaze bore into Simon as she uttered a single command,
"Show her."
With a sense of urgency, Simon grabbed the iPad and thrust it towards Arianna, his voice tinged with excitement.
"Anna, is this true? Were you with Xander last night? Are you two getting back together?"
Arianna's eyes reluctantly flicked to the screen, where a glossy magazine headline screamed out at her:
"Breaking news! Xander King, heir to the King Group, caught in a secret rendezvous with ex-girlfriend Arianna Johnson – the same woman he left at the altar two years ago!"
The words struck Arianna like a physical blow, her heart sinking as the weight of the revelation settled upon her shoulders.
As they huddled around the pixelated video, Arianna watched in silence as Xander stormed out of the hotel room, followed by her own disheveled figure emerging moments later.
Before Arianna could gather her thoughts to respond, Margaret interjected anxiously, her words laced with desperation.
"Ari, we can't endure another round of suffering like before! Now that your relationship with Xander is splashed across the headlines, surely he'll have some responsibility towards you, won't he?"
Arianna remained transfixed on the screen, her mind racing as she processed the implications of the video.
"Well?" Simon's impatient voice shattered the silence, his eyes burning with anticipation.
Slowly, Arianna lifted her gaze, her expression unreadable as she turned to face Simon and Margaret.
"Father, are you truly asking me what occurred?" Arianna's tone was icy, her words calculated.
"Let me clarify: nothing happened."
Simon's facade wavered, but he persisted, his greed overriding any semblance of concern for his daughter.
"What nonsense are you spouting? Clearly, something transpired between you and Xander," he insisted, a devious grin creeping across his lips.
"Perhaps we can turn this to our advantage..."
Margaret's eyes gleamed with avarice as she nodded in agreement, eager to exploit the situation for their own gain.
Arianna's stare hardened as she endured her father's scheming words, her patience wearing thin. Unable to contain herself any longer, she interjected sharply.
"Enough, Father! You of all people know exactly what happened last night!"
Simon's expression feigned innocence, but his eyes betrayed a flicker of recognition, a glimmer of guilt lurking beneath the surface.
"What are you talking about?"
Instead, she took decisive action, striding purposefully towards Tommy, who stood nearby.
Without a word, she seized his hand and dragged him towards Simon, a silent challenge in her eyes.
"When I was attacked, I managed to scratch the assailant's right hand!" Arianna exclaimed, pointing to the scratch marks on Tommy's hand.
"Father, you orchestrated this entire ordeal, didn't you? You sent Tommy to incapacitate me with chloroform, and somehow I ended up in bed with Xander. Do I really need to spell it out for you?"
Realizing that his elaborate scheme had been exposed, Simon's facade of composure shattered, replaced by a simmering rage.
Yet, in a shameless display of manipulation, he brazenly confessed,
Simon's admission hung heavy in the air, his defiance unyielding as he brazenly confessed to orchestrating the scheme.
"Yes, I did it! And what of it?" His voice dripped with contempt as he continued, his accusations cutting deep.
"If it weren't for your constant disobedience, none of this would be necessary. You've lived a life of privilege since childhood, and now that our family faces adversity, it's time for you to repay your debts! Besides, let's not forget who's truly to blame for our current predicament. If Xander hadn't abandoned you at the altar, for reasons known only to him, our business would still be flourishing with the support of the Kings."
Arianna's heart shattered at her father's callous words, the sting of betrayal piercing her to the core.
"I can't believe you, Father," she whispered, her voice trembling with a mix of disbelief and anguish.
"How could you do this to me? I'm your own flesh and blood, your daughter."
"Enough, Arianna," Simon retorted coldly, his tone dripping with authority.
"I am your father, and I can do as I please with you."
With a dismissive wave of his hand, Simon issued a directive to Arianna.
"Go upstairs immediately and change into something presentable. We're going to meet the Kings and demand justice!"
Turning his attention to Tommy, Simon's eyes gleamed with greedy ambition, the fire of opportunity burning bright within him.
"Inform every media outlet within reach," he commanded with a fervor that bordered on fanaticism.
"Ensure they are all present to document our righteous quest for justice. If the Kings dare to shirk their responsibility, we'll unleash a storm of publicity so fierce that it will reverberate across the globe! Their pristine reputation will be shattered, their every flaw laid bare for the world to see. Let them feel the weight of their arrogance, for we shall not rest until they are held accountable for their sons actions!"
As Arianna absorbed her parents' audacious words, a surge of indignation coursed through her veins, causing her fists to clench tightly.
The faint outline of her veins began to emerge against her skin, a physical manifestation of the turmoil raging within her.
These were her parents, the ones who should have protected and cared for her, yet all they saw was profit and wealth.
They treated their pets with more compassion than they did their own daughter, dismissing her feelings and thoughts as inconsequential.
A profound sense of disappointment washed over Arianna, overshadowing any other emotion she might have felt.
"Well, what are you waiting for? Go change!" Margaret's sharp voice pierced the silence, breaking Arianna's reverie.
With a resigned sigh, Arianna muttered to herself,
"FINE!"
