Chapter 23 The Mother-daughter's Plan
"She has two kids. My god!" Emma exclaimed, shocked.
"Are they, by any chance, Xander's?" she asked, frowning.
"No. I don't think so, Mom. She would have used them against me if they were Xander's."
After returning home from the restaurant, Crystal told her mother about her encounter with Ariadne.
"And that old brute, William, would have supported her. That vile man. He couldn't see anything other than Ariadne. God knows what kind of magic that bitch has cast on him." Emma gritted her teeth.
"It doesn't matter whether that old fool likes us or not. We have Xander on our side." Crystal smirked proudly.
William never acknowledged Crystal for Xander. Even after their engagement was announced, he didn't bless them. Xander, too, had stopped visiting his grandfather. After Ariadne left Zavion City, they grew increasingly distant from each other.
"They must be the bastard children of some lowly man." Emma's lips curved into a sinistar smirk. "It's a very good news for us. Any sympathy or attraction Xander may have had for her would be gone now."
"Yeah, Xander was glaring at them coldly at the restaurant. He has already announced our engagement, so our path is clear now." Crystal smiled triumphantly.
"We will be related to the Blakes. You will be Mrs. Blake. The world will be at our feet, and everyone will bow down to us." Emma exclaimed with delight.
"I will show Margaret her place as well. She likes to show her superiority over me. I am just waiting for the right time. Just you wait." Emma chuckled.
"Yes, Mom. All of our dreams will come true. I have waited so long for this day." Crystal's lips curved into a sinister smirk. "But before that, I want to have some fun."
"What fun?" Emma was confused.
"How about we invite Ariadne and her kids to dinner. A family dinner. And Ofcourse, Xander will be there, too. That bitch will feel more humiliated in his presence."
"I am not getting it, Crystal. What is your plan?"
"Mom! How much hate and insult will someone face if they have two children and no one knows about the father? After all, it's a disgrace to bear bastards." Crystal smirked, looking at her mother suggestively.
"Oh, I get your idea. It will be a really entertaining show. I will plan the dinner. Make sure that bitch shows up." Emma immediately began to plan for it.
"Yeah, Mom. Leave it to me. And do you know, that old hag, Mary, is with her? She accompanied Ariadne to Purple City and is now looking after her kids. It will be doubly entertaining to see a thief and a mother of two bastards face the wrath of our respective relatives."
They laughed, picturing Ariadne and her family dealing with the hurtful remarks of their relatives.
.....
"Miss Crystal Miller has come to meet with you, Madam." Linda informed Ariadne over the telephone.
It was the following day, Ariadne was at the office. She was surprised to learn Crystal had came to see her. However, she was well aware that it wouldn't be for a good reason. She recalled Crystal's visit to the mansion five years ago, and what happened afterwards.
"Send her to my office." she instructed Linda.
"Ok, Madam." the call ended.
She knew Crystal was a cunning and dangerous woman. She would do anything to get what she wanted. While Ariadne was more than happy to avoid her, she knew she would have to face her when the time came. She couldnt hide from them all the time.
"Hello, Aria." Crystal greeted Ariadne as she entered her office.
She looked around the office before sitting down in the receiving chair.
"Your office is not bad." she remarked.
"Thank you." Ariadne replied.
"I hope I haven't disturbed you. After all, you are a busy woman."
Crystal always spoke in a dramatic tone, as if she was the female lead in an opera. While others regarded her as a graceful speaker, Ariadne found it irritating.
"Not at all. Now, tell me what I can do for you."
"Oh, you don't have to do anything for me. You have so many responsibilities on your shoulder; managing a company at the office and two children at home. If I ever need help, you know Xander is always there for me." she smirked.
"Then, why are you here?" Ariadne ignored her remark.
She knew Crystal was trying to provoke her.
"Why? Can't I come to meet my little sister?" she leaned back in the chair, checking her orange-painted nails.
Ariadne didn't reply.
"I have come to invite you to dinner." Crystal said, after a pause.
"Dinner?" Ariadne cocked a brow.
"It's a family dinner. A family reunion with all of our close relatives. It's to celebrate my engagement to Xander. You are also a member of our family, so you must attend. Consider it a welcome dinner for yourself."
Ariadne frowned. Crystal was clearly insulting her indirectly.
"Thank you for considering me. But I don't need a welcome dinner. And regarding my family, they live with me. I don't think I can make time for this one." she declined.
"Common Aria, it's just a dinner. You haven't visited the mansion. Dad wants you to pay him a visit." Crystal tried to convince her. "And.... Some of your mother's belongings are still there. I am sure, you would want to bring them along." she added, using the most effective bait.
She was confident that Ariadne would agree if she used this excuse to convince her. Ariadne looked sharply at Crystal. This was something she had wanted for a long time. However, she couldn't visit the mansion. It was an opportunity for her to collect the things her mother had left behind.
"Okay, I will attend."
She knew there was a hidden agenda behind Crystal's invitation, but she was willing to take the risk for her mother's belongings.
"Good. Oh, and don't forget to bring your kids and Mary with you."
"I will see if they can come."
"No, they must come." Crystal blurted out, causing Ariadne to frown.
"I mean, everyone would want to meet your kids. They are adorable. And Mary as well." she composed herself.
"Sure." Ariadne dismissed the subject.
She would never bring Mama Mary or the kids to the dinner. Ariadne suspected they wanted to humiliate them in front of the relatives. She had a lot of experiences in the past.
"Xander and his family will also be present, as he is my fiancé."
"Oh. By the way, I didn't get to congratulate you on your engagement. Congratulations, Crystal!" Ariadne said, smiling.
"Thank you, Aria. I must leave now. See you at the dinner."
Crystal stood up and left the office.
....
"You have a dinner invitation at the Millers, Boss." Jose reminded Xander as they exited the Blake Corporation building and headed towards their car.
"Are you planning to attend?"
Xander furrowed his brows in irritation. The Millers had invited him to dinners on several occasions, but he had only attended a few of them. He had told Crystal to keep him away from such dinners, but she never listened. He was aloof and preferred to spend his free time in privacy.
"Another dinner invitation." he sighed.
His phone rang, and he answered it.
"I have called you to remind you of today's dinner. I hope you didn't forget it." Crystal said on the other end of the phone, causing Xander to look at Jose.
He had indeed forgotten, but Jose reminded him.
"Crystal, I am not going to attend." Xander was straightforward.
"Please, Xander, this is for our engagement. Our relatives will be present. Your mother is also coming." she pleaded.
"Crystal...."
"No, Xander. What will others think if you don't show up? It's for us. Ariadne would be there as well."
"What?" Xander was unaware of it. "Did you invite her too?"
"She is a part of our family, Xander. And she returned after so many years. It will be a family reunion. It will not look good if you don't attend. Please manage this one. In the future, I will not force you."
"Okay." Xander said after a pause, closing his eyes in frustration.
"Really? Thank you. I love you so much." Crystal hung up the phone, elated.
"So, we are going, I guess." Jose said.
Xander glared at him, making him look away.
.
Xander went to his penthouse. He showered and changed into a suit before heading to the Miller Residence.
As their car reached the mansion, it came to a stop at the entrance as another car was blocking the way.
Toby, the driver, blew the horn as the another car didn't move.
"Who the heck stopped the car at the entrance?" Toby gritted his teeth, annoyed.
After a while, when there was still no movement, Xander became irritated as well.
"Go and find out who the hell owns this car." he instructed Jose.
"Yes, Boss." Jose got out of the Rolls-Royce and approached the other car.
"Miss Miller? I am sorry. I thought it was someone else." Jose softened his tone when he noticed Ariadne in the car's passenger seat.
"Hi, Jose." Ariadne smiled at him.
"Miss Miller, can you please clear the way, so our car can enter the mansion?"
Ariadne looked back and saw their car just a few feet away.
"Oh, sorry. Tiara, start the car."
The girl in the driver's seat was shouting at someone on the phone.
"What?" she asked.
"Start the car and park on the side. Other cars are getting stuck at the entrance." Ariadne explained.
"Just five minutes." Tiara looked at Jose and said.
"Miss, we have already waited for a while."
Tiara glared at him. "So what? Wait a little longer."
"Tiara." Ariadne gave her a hard look.
"Okay, okay." she raised her hand.
"I am hanging up the phone right now. But don't think it ends here. I will make your life hell. Just you wait." Tiara shouted angrily at the person on the other end of the phone and hung up.
Jose's eyes widened as he heard the woman's words. Tiara started the car, and Jose returned to theirs.
"That's Miss Ariadne's car." Jose reported to Xander, making him look towards the other car.
"Why did she stop at the entrance?" Toby asked.
"It's the lady who is driving." Jose shook his head, recalling the woman's arrogant attitude. "She was having a heated conversation with someone over the phone."
"Seriously? She couldn't find a place but the entrance!" Toby shook his head before starting the car.
They entered the mansion and parked their car, only to notice Ariadne's car on the other side. Both parties exited the car at the same time. Ariadne was dressed in a long floral dress with a side cut. She left her hair loose. Xander wore his usual black suit. Their gazes locked, and they both took in each other's appearances before Ariadne looked away. However, Xander's gaze didn't leave her. The three men stood there, looking at the two ladies without saying anything.
When they saw the men didn't move from their spot, Ariadne and Tiara headed towards the gate and walked inside the mansion, leaving the three men alone.
"Ah, love at first sight!"
Xander frowned as Toby said those words.