CHAPTER 74
Piper's friends continued their barrage of rude remarks, prompting a few stifled yawns from Arianna. However, she maintained a serene smile, choosing not to dignify their words with a response. To her, they were nothing more than pesky flies buzzing around, easily ignored.
Observing Arianna's composed reaction, Piper felt a surge of frustration coursing through her veins, her fists clenching in anger. "Come on, let's go," she muttered through gritted teeth, her voice tinged with irritation.
"But Piper, we were just getting started," one of her friends protested, unwilling to leave the scene.
Piper shot them a glare, her patience wearing thin. "Forget it. Arianna's not worth our time."
As they stormed off in a huff, Piper seethed inwardly, determined to show Arianna the consequences of her indifference once the opportunity arose.
Arianna's phone suddenly vibrated, signaling a message from Rochelle on WeChat. With a curious glance, she opened the message.
"How's the battlefield?" Rochelle's message read.
Arianna quickly typed a response. "Everything seems to be under control for now. But it's hard to gauge the situation just yet."
Another message popped up from Rochelle. "I heard your ex is also in attendance. The mother-daughter duo seems quite ambitious. Be careful," Rochelle warned.
Arianna sighed inwardly, grateful for Rochelle's vigilance. "Thanks, love. Kisses," she typed before putting her phone away.
Glancing around the room, Arianna scanned the crowd, searching for any sign of Xander's arrival. It wouldn't be surprising if he showed up; after all, he and Piper were in a relationship. It was only natural for him to attend his future in-laws' anniversary celebration.
However, Arianna remained indifferent to whether Xander came or not, her focus squarely set on unraveling the true motive behind this silver wedding anniversary party orchestrated by Violet and Piper.
As a commotion erupted at the entrance, Arianna turned her attention towards the source.
And there he was—Xander, making his grand entrance.
Dressed impeccably in a tailored suit, Xander's tall, commanding figure exuded an aura of confidence. His sharp features and chiseled jawline accentuated his undeniable attractiveness, drawing the admiration of onlookers from every angle.
"Xander, darling, you've arrived," Piper called out, her voice dripping with affection.
Moving with the elegance of a butterfly, Piper glided across the room to Xander's side. Her posture and demeanor made it clear to everyone present that Xander belonged to her.
Having been the subject of ridicule in their social circles, especially after rumors spread about her losing Xander's affection, Piper felt an overwhelming need to reassert her dominance and position. This event was the perfect opportunity to do so, with Xander's presence serving as her ultimate validation.
Her hand subtly but possessively rested on Xander's arm, a silent declaration of their connection.
Piper then turned her attention toward Arianna, who stood not far away, watching the scene unfold. Piper's smile was faint but loaded with meaning, a calculated blend of triumph and condescension aimed squarely at her former rival.
She was determined to silence the skeptics and assert her position by his side.
Especially...
A subtle smile played on Piper's lips as she cast a fleeting glance towards Arianna, who stood nearby, her presence not escaping Piper's notice.
However, Arianna wasn't even glancing in their direction; her attention was fixed elsewhere, much to Piper's annoyance.
Damn it!
Piper gritted her teeth in frustration.
In reality, Arianna had briefly acknowledged their presence before shifting her gaze. As she turned, something interesting caught her eye.
With a smile, Arianna decided to follow the intriguing scene unfolding before her.
Later, Arianna returned to the dining hall. The room was now filled with even more people, including high-ranking officials and influential figures. It was clear that this party was truly a grand affair.
Most of the guests were gathered around Xander and Piper, showering the couple with praise and attention.
Arianna snorted softly and picked up a glass of juice, savoring it slowly.
Suddenly, a passing server accidentally bumped into her. He immediately apologized, “Miss, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to.”
Arianna replied indifferently, “It’s fine.”
The server nodded and left with the tray in his hand.
Watching his figure retreat, Arianna chuckled to herself. When he bumped into her, he had discreetly taken her phone.
It seemed the mother-daughter duo's show was about to begin.
Arianna was genuinely curious to see what they were plotting this time, and she felt a surge of excitement.
She finished her juice in one gulp, set the glass aside, and quietly followed the server.
Arianna trailed behind the waiter at a safe distance, making sure her footsteps were light and silent. The server remained oblivious to her presence, allowing Arianna to follow him to the end of the corridor.
When he finally stopped, he glanced around cautiously. Once he was certain no one was watching, he took out the phone.
Arianna watched as he swiftly unlocked her phone and began typing something. She couldn't fathom how he knew her password, but she observed him intently.
