Chapter 21 Family
"How evil! He did it intentionally. That jerk!" Ariadne couldn't stop cursing Xander, sitting in the backseat on the way to the kids' school.
She gave the design to Mr. Potter and left Blake Corporation without wasting any time. Mary had earlier informed her that she had gone to the hospital, leaving the kids alone at the program.
"My kids must be disappointed." She murmured as she looked at her wristwatch.
"Don't worry, Madam. We can get there before the program ends." her driver assured her.
...
Autumn and Adrian looked through the audience several times but couldn't find their mother. Autumn was disappointed that her mother was not present during her performance. Adrian's final match was next, so he prepared.
"And now it's time for the chess championship. We have two finalists here: Henry Wade and Adrian Miller. Let's welcome our two little champions, who defeated everyone to reach today's final."
Two boys entered the stage.
"It's Miss Ariadne's son." Jose whispered into Xander's ear, who was already looking at the child.
"Autumn and Adrian. Both children look like their mother. And both are talented kids." He added.
However, Xander remained silent, observing the boy. He had a serious expression on his face, while the other boy was smiling, looking towards the crowd. Adrian looked through the crowd and it dawned on Xander that he was looking for his mother. An uneasy feeling rose within him. He remembered how Autumn looked at the audience after her performance as well. Adrian's gaze fell on Xander. He stared at him for a moment before looking away.
'Both siblings have different temperaments.' he thought in his mind.
The two kids took their seats at the chessboard set up on the stage. They began playing. Xander observed the boy's every expression. He was entirely focused on the game. After a while, Adrian won the game. However, his expression was cold, and he showed no excitement when his name was announced as the winner. He simply nodded with a polite smile.
"He is a very mature kid." Jose exclaimed, looking at the child's calm composer.
Xander's full attention was on the boy, who searched the audience once more before leaving the stage. Xander lowered his head, feeling odd.
...
Ariadne's car arrived at the school and she hurriedly got out.
"It's Mr. Blake's car." Her driver commented, causing her to come to a halt in her tracks.
She turned and saw the black Rolls-Royce.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, Madam. I know the plate number. It belongs to him." the deriver pointed at the number plate.
Ariadne became perplexed as to why Xander's car was at her kids' school. Nonetheless, she headed towards the auditorium where the program was taking place.
"Has the program ended?" She asked a guard.
"No, Madam. It's still going on." The guard informed her.
"Ok..ummm... is Mr. Blake here?" She asked.
"Yes, Madam. He's the chief guest."
"Oh, thank you."
She walked past the guard, stunned to learn the news. She bacame enraged that Xander intentionally gave her extra work so that she couldn't attend the program on time, while he himself came here as the chief guest.
'What a shameless jerk!'
She gritted her teeth. However, she was also worried that her kids would be near him. She walked faster.
...
The performances and competitions came to an end. It was time to award the winners.
"Now, the winners will be announced. Our chief guest, Mr. Blake, will present them with the award. All participants, please form a line." the host instructed the students.
The principal requested Xander to take his place on the stage, next to a table full of medals, where he would present the students with their awards. All of the participants formed a line. The two siblings stood together. Autumn's face reflected her excitement, while the boy stood with a stoic expression. Autumn looked at Xander but didn't smile this time and turned away. Jose smiled as he watched the scene from his seat. All of the children waved at their parents, making the two kids sad.
Autumn continued to look through the crowd, sad, until her face suddenly lit up. She smiled broadly and waved her hands, delighted. She had finally spotted her mother. Her eyes welled up. When Xander saw the little girl's tears, his heart tightened. He felt suffocated. He followed her gaze and noticed Ariadne waving at her, emotional. Autumn whispered something into her brother's ear, and he looked at his mother as well. His face lit up with a big smile. For the first time, Xander saw emotion on the boy's face. The scene also made Jose emotional. Xander looked away. He began presenting the awards to the children as the host announced their names.
"The winner of the dance competition is....Autumn Miller."
"Yeee." The little girl jumped with delight.
She smiled as she ran to Xander to collect her prize. Ariadne covered her mouth as she watched the scene. Autumn was about to receive an award from her father. She clapped for her child, tears welling up in her eyes.
"You are a graceful dancer." Xander remarked, while handing Autumn the medal.
"Thank you." she smiled.
As Xander looked into Autumn's eyes, he noticed that her eyes were blue. Ariadne's eyes were dark brown. Xander clenched his jaw as he realized she got her eye color from her father. The girl moved forward as the next child stood in front of him. He continued untill Adrian appeared in front of him.
"You are a genius kid." He handed him the award.
"Thank you." Adrian said politely before turning to his mother and showing her the medal with a big smile.
Ariadne applauded for him. Ariadne and Xander exchanged glances for a moment before both looked away.
After the awards were given to all of the winners, the children ran to their parents. The principal approached Xander.
"The program is over. Thank you for accepting our invitation, Mr. Blake." the principal said.
"It's my pleasure..." Xander nodded. "I need to leave now."
"Oh...ok. Thank you again for coming? But, before you leave, we have something for you." the principal gestured to someone, and a man arrived with a big flower bouquet and a gift. "This's a small gift from our students for you."
"Thank you." Xander looked at Jose, who took the bouquet and gift from the man.
He said his goodbyes to the principal and went to his car. As he sat in the backseat, he looked out the car window at Ariadne, who was talking to her two children with a big smile. The kids looked overjoyed. Xander could tell they were very close as a family, just by looking at them. He watched them silently.
"I think you should not assign Miss Ariadne that task today." Jose exclaimed, noticing the scene.
Xander glared at him.
"Sorry, Boss. I just..." he lowered his head.
However, Xander didn't say anything. He felt upset but didn't know why. Even though he felt bad for the kids, his arrogant self refused to admit guilt. After one final glance, he raised the glass in his window and told Jose to leave. He had a complicated expression on his face.
.
"Mommy, you are late. You promised to attend, but you didn't come to see my performance." Autumn pouted angrily.
"I got caught up in some work. I am sorry, baby. I promise to make up for this." Ariadne said but the girl didn't budge.
"Please?" she added with a pout.
"Ok. You have to take us to a theme park." Autumn said, crossing her hands.
"As you wish." Ariadne kissed her cheek and she smiled.
Adrian didn't complain to his mother and stood calmly beside them.
"Are you too, angry with me?" Ariadne looked at him.
"No, Mommy. It's more than enough that you came." Adrian was more matured than her sister and understood a lot more.
"Oh, you are very sweet." She hugged him.
"Mommy, isn't our chief guest the same man who visited your office that day." Adrian asked as they broke the hug.
Adrian had a good memory. While Autumn had forgotten their last encounter, Adrian remembered it.
"Yes, he's." Ariadne cleared her throat.
She didn't expect Adrian to remember Xander.
"Is he your new boss?"
"No..... We are just business partners."
Adrian nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
"Mommy, those are my friends." Autumn said, looking over to where her friends were standing with their parents. "Let's go there." she said excitedly.
Ariadne gave her a knowing look.
"I will not compare people again, Mommy. But they really want to meet you. I also met with their parents." Autumn pouted.
Ariadne nodded, and the three of them went to meet Autumn's friends.
"Hey, this is my mommy." Autumn introduced Ariadne to her friends.
"Wow... your mommy is really very beautiful."
They all looked at Ariadne in awe. Ariadne greeted everyone and talked with the parents. Everyone congratulated Autumn and Adrian for winning the competition. After a while, all of the students began leaving for home with their parents.
"Where are we going now, Mommy?" Autumn asked as they settled into the backseat of their car.
"To the hospital dear... I am sure, you two would like to show Alex your medals, don't you?"
Ariadne smiled as the kids bacame ecstatic to meet their youngest brother. It had been several days since the two kids last saw Alex. They would meet him every few days. They drove to the hospital. When they arrived, Mary was with Alex in his room.
"Alex." Autumn dashed towards Alex as soon as she entered the room.
"I missed you, Alex." Autumn said, hugging him.
After all Alex was her favorite brother.
"I missed you too, Autumn.... and you too, Adrian." Alex said, looking at Adrian.
"How are you doing, Alex?" Adrian asked like a responsible big brother.
"I am doing well. Show me your medals." Alex said excitedly.
They both showed Alex their medals. Alex had also won several medals at his previous school. The three children always performed well, whatever they did. Because of his surgery, Alex would be unable to attend school for at least a year. He would be homeschooled as Ariadne didn't want to waste his one year.
Ariadne joined Mary on the couch, while the kids engaged in their adventurous conversation. Ariadne smiled, looking at her family.
She wished that her family would always be like this.... Happy.