CHAPTER 9
As the car glided away from the grandeur of the King family's old mansion, Xander's assistant stole a glance at her employer through the rearview mirror, sensing the weight of his emotions.
Summoning her courage, she broached the sensitive topic.
"Mr. King," she began tentatively, "the Johnsons are leveraging public discourse to their advantage.Handling this situation won't be a walk in the park. There's a possibility that Ms. Johnson's might use this to coerce you into marriage. With Grandma King's support, how do you plan to proceed?"
Xander's slender fingers drummed a rhythm on his knee, his dark eyes clouded with a mix of frustration and contempt. With a scoff of disdain, he replied, his voice dripping with mockery,
"Marry her? Not in this lifetime!"
THE JOHNSON'S HOME
Arianna tossed her backpack out from her room's balcony with a sense of finality. Securing the rock climbing gear around her waist, she descended the fixed railing, her movements swift and determined.
As she landed on the ground floor, she scooped up her backpack without a backward glance.
As Arianna strode towards the gates of her family home, her pace quickened with each determined step. The weight of her decision to sever ties with her manipulative parents bore down on her, but she refused to waver.
With a firm resolve, she muttered to herself,
"They'll never change. No matter how many chances I give them, they'll always put their own interests first."
As she reached the imposing gates, she clenched her fists, her voice rising with conviction,
"But not anymore. I won't let them manipulate me again. From now on, I'm taking control of my life."
With each word spoken, Arianna felt a renewed sense of empowerment coursing through her veins as she pushed open the gates and stepped out into the world, ready to forge her own path.
Any lingering traces of affection for her family had been drained by their actions. She vowed to never lift a finger for them again.
With determination fueling her every step, Arianna flagged down a passing taxi, her outstretched arm a beacon of her resolve. Sliding into the backseat, she instructed the driver,
"Airport, please. And make it quick."
As the taxi merged into the flow of traffic, Arianna's mind raced with thoughts of escape.
The rhythmic hum of the engine served as a backdrop to her inner turmoil as she replayed the events that had led her to this moment.
Through the window, the cityscape blurred past, a visual metaphor for the urgency of her departure.
With each passing landmark, Arianna felt a weight lifting from her shoulders, replaced by a sense of liberation.
The journey to the airport felt like a race against time, each mile bringing her closer to freedom. As the terminal came into view, Arianna's heart quickened with anticipation, her determination unyielding as she prepared to embark on a new chapter of her life.
Without her parents.
Without Xander.
Despite the incessant calls from Simon and Margaret, she remained resolute in her decision to cut ties with them.
Just as she was about to switch off her phone to escape the barrage of calls, a new number flashed on the screen.
Arianna's eyes flickered to the caller ID, her fingers hesitating momentarily before answering the call.
"Hello—"
Whatever was said on the other end of the line caused color to drain from Arianna's face, leaving her visibly shaken.
...
Upon her arrival at the hospital, Arianna learned that Charlie Johnson was already undergoing surgery.
Standing outside the operating room, she felt a sense of numbness enveloping her, her mind reeling with shock.
She stood by the door, her gaze fixed on the ominous red light above, its pulsating glow mirroring the erratic beat of her heart.
Unconsciously, she began to rub her hands together, a futile attempt to dispel the overwhelming sense of helplessness that threatened to consume her.
At first, Arianna couldn't shake the suspicion that Simon had fabricated the urgency of Charlie's condition to lure her back. The possibility gnawed at her, adding to the torment of each passing moment.
Time seemed to stretch endlessly, each second dragging on like an eternity. Arianna's heart raced with anxious anticipation, her mind plagued by doubt and uncertainty.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doors to the operating room creaked open. Arianna's breath caught in her throat as she waited anxiously for news of Charlie's condition.
When Charlie was wheeled back to his ward, Simon and Margaret's arrival was delayed. As soon as they entered, they rushed to Charlie's bedside, their faces contorted with anguish.
Tears streamed down their cheeks as they poured out their love and concern for their beloved son, their cries echoing through the sterile hospital room.
Arianna couldn't bring herself to acknowledge Simon and Margaret's presence by her brother's bedside.
Instead, she paced anxiously, her eyes darting to the entrance with each passing moment.
When the doctor finally emerged, Arianna wasted no time in rushing towards him, her heart pounding in her chest. "Doctor, how's my brother?"
The doctor's solemn expression was enough to send a chill down Arianna's spine.
"Ms. Johnson, your brother has been experiencing frequent heart attacks. His condition is grave, and his body is growing weaker by the day. He requires intensive care, or else..."
The doctor's voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging in the air.
Arianna's breath caught in her throat as the weight of the doctor's words sank in.
"He might not live to see his eighteenth birthday..."
The gravity of the situation hit her like a ton of bricks, and Arianna's eyes welled up with tears as she turned to look at her brother, his frail form lying motionless on the hospital bed. The reality of the situation was almost too much to bear.
