Chapter 55 Informations
The next day, news channels aired photos and videos from Xander's engagement party. However, Xander and Ariadne's dance drew the most attention.
"What sort of nonsense is this?" Crystal was furious.
She immediately called Xander.
"Have you seen the news?" she blurted out as soon as he answered the call.
"What news?" Xander hadn't seen the news because he rarely saw anything other than business-related news.
"From last night. It's all over the news channels and social media."
"About our engagement? What's wrong with that?"
"Nothing is wrong with our engagement. But instead of our engagement, your and Ariadne's dance has become the hot topic. Everyone is making stories out of it as she was your ex-wife. They're even questioning our relationship. Why did you have to dance with her?" Crystal appeared frustrated as she vented her rage.
"You're overreacting, Crystal." Xander said, massaging his temple.
His head was aching from drinking last night. He didn't sleep well either. He had just woken up and realized it was already noon. He wasn't in the mood to worry about any trending news right now.
"Ignore them."
"How can I ignore something so insulting. People are talking nonsense about us." Crystal asked.
Xander felt irritated.
"Jose will deal with the news. Until then, just ignore it. Don't worry about it. I'll talk to you later." he said, not interested in hearing her rant any longer.
"But, Xander..."
Xander ended the call before Crystal could finish.
She clenched her jaw and looked at her phone. She opened her social media page and saw the headline again.
"Xander Blake was having a romantic dance with his ex-wife on his engagement day."
She looked at the photo below it. It was a picture of Xander and Ariadne dancing. Their gazes were locked, with Xander's hands on her waist and Ariadne's on his chest. They looked like a romantic couple. She went to the comment section to read them.
"It appears that the ex-couple still has chemistry together."
"They're looking great together."
"I don't understand, why he divorced her. She's so pretty and gorgeous."
"She's the owner of Autumn Collection. She was a better match for Mr. Blake."
"He appears to still have feelings for her. See the way he looks at her."
"Shut up." Crystal yelled at the phone, furious after reading the comments.
She thew her phone on the bed. After waking up in the morning she was overjoyed. However, her mood changed after she saw the news. She had expected to see herself and Xander making headlines, but Ariadne ruined it.
"You bitch!" she cursed Ariadne.
Her phone suddenly started to ring. When she glanced at the screen, she saw that it was a call from one of her friends, Pamela. She frowned, as she hadn't talked to her in a while. Pamela had helped her in the past, but the girl had not contacted her since. She wasn't someone Crystal hung out with. In fact, no one knew they were friends. She answered the phone.
"Hello, Pamela. How are you? I haven't heard from you in a long time." she said.
"I'm glad you haven't forgotten me." came a sharp reply from the other side.
Crystal cleared her throat and forced a smile.
"How could I forget you? You're a good friend and have helped me a lot." she said in a sweet tone.
"Glad to know. By the way, congratulations on your engagement to Mr. Blake."
"Thank you. I wish I could invite you, but you already know the reason why I didn't. I hope you will not hold it against me." Crystal said nervously.
"Common.. I'm not a child." Pamela laughed.
"But I can at least demand a dinner." she added.
"Sure, anytime."
"This week. I'll tell you the time, date and location." Pamela was quick to reply.
"This week?....it will be difficult for me to make time this week."
"I'm not asking, Crystal. We will meet this week. I've some important information for you..... regarding Ariadne Miller."
Crystal went silent.
"Information about Ariadne!" her eyes lit up. "What information?" she asked.
"Have patience, Crystal. When we meet, I'll tell you everything."
"Ok." Crystal said with a sigh.
Crystal pondered their conversation as Pamela ended the call. She was curious to know what information Pamela had on Ariadne. She was certain that it was something she could use against her. She smirked as her mood improved after speaking with Pamela.
...
(At Pearl)
"I've given the orders, Boss. The news will be taken down shortly." Jose informed.
It was a while after Xander's call with Crystal. He had instructed Jose to deal with the news, which he did immediately.
"Ok." Xander nodded.
It was a holiday, so everyone was at home. Xander was eating his lunch in his penthouse. Jose took a seat at the dining table and began eating with him.
"I've got some information on Miss Ariadne." Jose said after a while.
Xander looked at him as he paused eating.
"We already knew Tiara is working for Mr. George on a one-year contract. I recently learned that, Miss Ariadne has been appointed as CEO of Watson Group for a year." Jose said, causing Xander to frown.
"After a year, they would return to Purple City. All of them, including Miss Ariadne and the kids."
"What?" Xander was visibly shocked.
"Yes, Boss. Tiara said that they're here because one of the children has a health issue." Jose explained.
"It must be the third one. Adrian and Autumn appear healthy." Xander guessed.
He recalled Zidane mentioning the third child's health issues.
"She didn't specify it. She declined to say anything else about the children." Jose informed.
Xander frowned as he thought something.
"Aren't they being very secretive about the third child?" he stated to which Jose nodded in agreement.
"Yes. We had no idea that there's another child until yesterday." Jose paused as he recalled something. "We were in their apartment as well, but there was no sign of the third child. Have they kept him somewhere else?"
Jose doubted that the third child was with his father. However, he didn't express it.
"Gather information about the third child." Xander said.
He became restless after learning that Ariadne would leave Zavion City in a year.
"Ok, Boss."
...
(At Eden Garden)
"I think it's a good deal. We should accept it." Tiara said.
Ariadne sat in her room with Tiara in the evening. She had already told her about Xander's offer.
"It's a good deal, no doubt. But I'm concerned about the people. I want to have less contact with them." Ariadne replied.
"You're already working on a project together. He'll only be a shareholder and will attend important meetings. It's not like you would have to work with him every day. He's a trusted person in terms of business and having him as a shareholder would greatly benefit us."
"I'll think about it." Ariadne sighed.
"Don't worry about it too much. Whatever you decide, we will go with it." Tiara assured her with a smile.
Ariadne smiled back. She felt fortunate to have Mary and Tiara with her. Not only they were helpful, but they always supported her decisions.
"I'll leave now." Tiara hugged Ariadne before leaving for the hospital.
As she was alone in the room, her thoughts wandered back to the engagement party from the previous evening. She frowned when she recalled something. At some point during the party, Aaron approach her to talk. She felt somewhat concerned after hearing his words.
((FLASHBACK))
"Aria."
"Hello, Dad." She smiled at him.
"I.... didn't expect you to attend." he said hesitantly.
Ariadne chuckled.
"I didn't think so either, but I eventually decided to come."
"You're a brave lady." Aaron looked around as he said.
His expression was serious. They were in a corner, away from the crowd. Ariadne frowned, assuming he was looking for Emma and Crystal. They wouldn't like him talking to her.
"If you're afraid of them, you shouldn't have come to me." she stated, looking at him.
Aaron looked at her with a sad expression.
"I'm sorry, Aria. I couldn't do anything for you. It should be you instead of Crystal."
Ariadnde's eyes widened. In the past, Aaron had also begun to support Crystal's relationship with Xander, assuming that they loved each other. She was surprised to hear it from him.
"No dad, I don't want him anymore. Let them be together. I've moved on." she said confidently.
Aaron looked at her affectionately.
"I'm proud of you, Aria... You deserve everything,... and one day you will have it."
"It's time for dinner." a man abruptly announced from the stage, interrupting their conversation.
"I want to discuss something with you." Aaron said with urgency.
"What is it?" Ariadne asked, frowning.
"Not here. I'll meet you later... Don't worry, it's nothing serious. Take care." He squeezed her hands before heading to the dinner tables, leaving her in deep thought.
Though he said it was nothing serious, she can tell by his body language it was.
((END OF FLASHBACK))
"Mommy?" Ariadne was jolted out of her toughts by the voice. She turned and saw Adrian standing at the door.
"Adi? Do you need anything?" she asked.
"No, Mommy. I'm here to speak with you." his expression was serious, which made Ariadne concerned.
"Come here." she extended her hand.
Adrian approached her and sat beside her. He stopped sitting on her lap as he considered himself an older child.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Is Xander Blake our father?" he got straight to the point.
Ariadne's eyes widened.
"How did you know that? Did someone tell you?"
She was stunned and terrified at the same time.
"No. I figured it out as he's your ex-husband."
Ariadne was speechless. She suddenly became anxious, unsure what to say.
"Don't worry, Mommy. I haven't told anyone about this, and I won't. We're all happy together. We don't need him." he said, noticing Ariadne's terrified face.
Ariadne looked at him stunned.
"You're too young to understand this. Mommy is only saving you all from trouble." she explained, trying to make him understand why she had kept them away from their father.
"I know, Mommy. I've a schoolfriend. His stepmother always bullies him." Adrian said.
Ariadne realized Adrian was aware of Xander's relationship with Crystal. He understood more than she had anticipated.
"Oh, baby." she hugged him.
"No one will ever bully you. I would never let that happen."