Chapter 19 It Still Hurts
"I heard the news this morning. You two are finally getting engaged. It's a very good news." Mr. Wright said.
"Thank you. It has been long overdue." Xander approached them.
He rounded the table in the center of the tent and stood opposite Ariadne. However, Ariadne didn't lift her gaze from the table. She felt nervous. Her heartbeat quickened and she felt restless. She had no idea that this news would affect her, even after five years. She tried to remain composed.
"When is the engagement?"
"Next month."
"Great." Mr. Wright smiled.
"Oh, I forgot. Miss Miller, you’re Crystal's sister. You two will soon become family members." Mr. Wright looked at Ariadne, causing her to lift her gaze from the table.
'Family members? We were supposed to be soulmates as we were a married couple. But fate had other plans' she thought in her mind.
"Yes, this's a good news." she smiled at Mr. Wright and looked into Xander's eyes, which were already fixed on her.
"Congratulations, Mr. Blake." Ariadne hoped her inner turmoil did not show on her face.
"Thank you, Miss Miller." Xander nodded curtly.
He looked at her intensely, as if he wanted to know what was going through her mind. They locked eyes for a while before Ariadne looked away.
"Look at this, Xander." Mr. Wright drew his attention to the design lying on the table in front of them.
They engaged in the discussion. However, Ariadne couldn't concentrate. She struggled to get her mind off the news. She assumed Xander and Crystal were married and possibly had children before moving to Zavion City. Even though it hurt her, she had come to accept it. However, when they arrived here, she discovered that Xander was still unmarried. Then why it bothered her now that they were getting engaged was beyond her understanding. She was angry at herself for still feeling something for that arrogant man.
Throughout the discussion, Xander gave her a cold shoulder, displaying his arrogance, while Ariadne also avoided him.
As the discussion came to an end, Ariadne was the first to leave the construction site.
...
"Where to, Madam?" The driver asked as she sat in the back seat of her car.
"To the old mansion of Blake family." Ariadne replied.
Ariadne became absorbed in her thoughts, as the car started. She observed the buildings and streets she had grown up in, as the car drove down the road. Many things had changed in the city over the last five years, but the residential areas remained mostly unchanged. It was mainly the market places that changed, as old buildings were renovated and many new buildings were constructed. She had always adored this city. She remembered telling her friends that she would never leave Zavion City. However, life was unpredictable, and in a twist of fate she had to leave her beloved city.
Five years ago, she chose a different path for herself. It was risky, but she went for it. And she had emerged as a new Ariadne, strong and confident. She thought she had overcome all of her weaknesses and that Xander would no longer affect her in any way. However, it appeared that she was wrong. It was a challenge for her to return to Zavion City and confront the people from her past. Nevertheless, she accepted the challenge and took the most difficult task, which was working with Xander, the same person who had gravely hurt her. She was confident and determined to put him in place and show him that she was no longer the weak and useless Ariadne. However, for the first time since her return, she felt weak and nervous. She was disappointed in herself for showing him her weakness, first in the bar, and now at the construction site.
'No, I will be stronger. I will never show him my weaknesses.' she resolved in her mind.
Her phone rang, jolting her out of her thoughts. She took her phone out of her bag and saw it was a call from Jennifer.
"Hello." She took the call.
"Where are you, Aria?" Jennifer asked immediately.
"I am in the car." Ariadne replied, looking out the window.
"Did you hear the news?"
Ariadne's face hardened as Jennifer asked the question.
"If you are talking about the news of Xander's engagement, then yes." She sighed.
"Are you all right?" Jennifer was concerned. She was aware that Xander Blake still had an effect on Ariadne.
"I am fine, Jennifer. It doesn't matter anymore." Ariadne said, denying the fact.
She would handle it on her own.
"Good. It shouldn't. Those two people don't deserve your attention. By the way, would you like to visit the bar again?" Jennifer asked, still concerned.
She was willing to accompany her friend if she needed to let out her pain.
"No, no." Ariadne shook her head, recalling her last visit to the bar. "I am really fine. Maybe another time. But it will be for fun, not to vent anger or pain."
Both of them laughed. They really overdrank last time.
"Ok, ok. If you say so."
Xander had announced his engagement to Crystal during a press conference the day before. Jennifer was out of town last night, and Ariadne had a habit of not watching news. So, while others had received the news, they were both completely unaware of it. They just heard about it this morning.
...
"Good evening, Grandpa."
"Oh, Aria. I was waiting for you. How are you?" William asked as he sat on the couch in the old mansion's reception area.
"I am good, Grandpa. How is your health currently?" Ariadne approached him and took the seat opposite him.
She came to the old mansion to meet with William.
"Better than your last visit."
Ariadne paid him a visit the same day she returned to Zavion City. She came here first before heading to her suite. After all, she was very close to William and she missed him during her stay in Purple City. She couldn't wait to meet him once she arrived here. However, It was only a visit, and they couldn't talk for long. Ariadne promised to visit again.
"So, will you stay longer today, as promised? I have so much to talk about." William asked.
"Yes, Grandpa, today we will have plenty of time to talk." Ariadne smiled. "I also have something to tell you." She decided to tell him about the kids today.
"I heard about Xander's engagement. He is going to make the biggest mistake of his life." William shook his head in disappointment.
He had long stopped interfering in Xander's affairs. But when Xander didn't marry Crystal even after Ariadne had left, he wondered if he had regretted his choices. However, Xander's sudden engagement announcement proved him wrong.
"Perhaps not, Grandpa. He loves Crystal. They both love each other. It's not a mistake to spend your life with the person you love." Ariadne said, lowering her head.
The words felt like thorns in her throat.
"Love..huh." William shook his head. "Let's not talk about that idiot now. Tell me about yourself. You have got the contract. So, your dream hospital is going to come true." William changed the subject.
Ariadne had told him about the project the previous day.
"Yes, Grandpa, I am very happy about that. I hope everything goes well."
"It will. Don't worry." William paused as a servant brought coffee for them.
"Now that you have succeeded in your life, I am very happy." He grabbed a mug of coffee and gestured for Ariadne to take one. "I believe your decision was right back then. You needed your freedom. Look at how your face glows now. Always be like this." William added, looking affectionately at Ariadne.
"Thank you, Grandpa. Ummm... I have something to tell you." Ariadne cleared her throat.
She was worried about how he would react to learn about the children.
"Have you found somebody in your life? It's good if you have. My grandson is useless anyway." He made a face, causing Ariadne to laugh.
"Yes, I have some special people." She smiled, thinking of her children, before becoming serious.
"But they are not any men. They are ... my children."
"Children?" William furrowed his brows in confusion.
"Grandpa... I was pregnant back then." Ariadne looked at her nails nervously.
William gasped in shock.
"I didn't tell you because I knew you wouldn't have let me leave and would have been worried about me." she explained. "I had Mama Mary with me. I didn't face any difficulties." she added when William didn't respond.
"Grandpa?" Ariadne became concerned as the place fell silent.
"Did you give birth to my great-grandchild?" William finally asked, breaking the shock.
"Yes, Grandpa. They are actually triplets. Two boys and a girl."
"Oh my.. I can't believe what I have just heard. Tell me it's not a dream." William's voice trembled from excitement.
"No Grandpa, this's real. You have three great-grandchildren."
"Where're they?"
"They have gone to school. They may have returned by now. I didn't bring them today. But next time, I will. I promise."
"Yes, please. I would like to see them. How big are they now?" William became excited to see them.
"They are four years older." Ariadne showed him pictures and videos of the children.
"These two have gone after you. And this little man is an exact replica of Xander." William commented as he looked through their photos, tears in his eyes.
Ariadne told him everything, including Alex's surgery.
"Don't worry. He will be able to walk just like his siblings. I will speak with Mr. Wright." William reassured her.
"You Don't have to. I have handled everything." Ariadne didn't want him to take any stress.
"He is my blood, Aria. How can I sit idly. I must do everything I can for him. Don't stop me from doing this."
"I just don't want you to exhaust yourself."
"Don't worry, nothing will happen to me. You have given me the biggest happiness of my life. Even though you keep it hidden from me, I understand why. I am not angry with you."
"Thank you, Grandpa." It was a big relief to Ariadne. She was afraid William would be angry with her for hiding the children from him.
"Does Xander know about them?" William asked.
"Actually, he saw Adrian and Autumn but is unaware that they are his. And he has no idea about Alex either." Ariadne described her encounter with Xander in her office and how he reacted.
"That arrogant fool. How can he call his own children bastards?" William became enraged.
"Let it go, Grandpa. Ummm..... And...please don't tell him anything right now." Ariadne said hesitantly.
"Don't worry. I will not tell him. If you ever want to tell him about the kids, you will be the one." William nodded in understanding.
"Thank you, Grandpa."