Chapter 65 A Chance
"How dare you slap her?" Emma got up in a rage.
Ariadne raised her hand, telling her to remain silent. Cathy put her hand over her mouth, shocked. She couldnt believe her eyes that Ariadne slapped Crystal in front of everyone. Crystal's nostrils flared up with rage and she covered her cheek with her hand. However, she composed her expression and changed it to one of submission. Her eyes welled up, as well. Xander sat, silently.
"Who gave you the right to slap my daughter?" Ariadne yelled.
Crystal looked at Xander helplessly. Xander's gaze was fixed on Ariadne.
"Why are you not saying anything, Mr Blake? She slapped your fiancee." Emma looked at Xander.
He was silently watching the drama, saying nothing.
"Didn't you two come here on your own? Crystal even slapped Autumn to discipline her as an aunt. So, why should I interfere? Ariadne is her mother and has every right to be angry about it. Now, deal with it." Xander said, irritated.
He didn't like that they disobeyed his words and came here without informing him. Crystal's face turned pale as she expected him to defend her.
"What's the big deal with it? I've slapped Crystal countless times. If children become unruly, they must be disciplined. You haven't teach them how to behave, and now you're making a fuss over something so trivial." Emma tried to defend their actions.
She didn't speak harshly because Xander was present.
"Don't Lie... they're..." Mary protested.
"Mama Mary, there's no need to explain anything to anyone." Ariadne cut her off, preventing her from explaining further.
"I know my kids very well. They will never do anything wrong, and if they do, there must be a reason for it." she added and looked at Xander.
"I don't care if people believe them or not. They have their mother with them. They don't need others to believe them." she stated.
Xander frowned.
"Now I understand why they are like this." Emma taunted.
"You will spoil them in this way, Aria." Crystal also added with a concerned tone.
"Produce your own children and discipline them however you want. My kids aren't for your discipline drama." Ariadne said, pointing her finger at Emma and Crystal.
"She would've had a child if you hadn't killed it." Emma stated, glaring at her.
Ariadne smirked, shaking her head.
"Kids, let's go to the garden." Jose said, sensing that the situation would become heated.
"Go with him. I'll join after a while." Ariadne softened her tone as she instructed the kids.
She didn't want them to witness the argument as well. Mary went along with them. Ariadne turned to face Emma when the kids were out of sight.
"So what?" she asked. "They could've produced more. I'm sure Mr. Blake is capable of it." she added.
Xander glared at her.
"Don't bring up the past, Mom." Crystal said.
"Aria, they're Xander's kids. I should get along with them." she added softly, hinting at her relationship with Xander.
"No, thanks. They've a mother. They don't need anyone else. Stay away from them." Ariadne said.
"Why are you enduring this woman, Mr. Blake? Miss Crystal didn't do anything wrong." Cathy interjected.
"I'm not talking to you. I'll come to you, but untill then, keep your mouth shut." Ariadne glared at Cathy, furious.
Mary told her everything she had done.
"How rude. You're still the same."
"And you're just a maid. Remember your place." she pointed a finger at her.
Cathy was taken aback by her words. She had repeatedly insulted Ariadne during her stay at the mansion. However, Ariadne never insulted her back. She expected the same today.
"Ariadne..." Xander stood up, feeling the need to interfere.
"Shut up. This's all your fault. Is this how you care for your kids? By allowing anyone to raise their hands on them?" she yelled as she approached him, pointing her fingers at him.
Everyone gasped at her actions. Xander, on the other hand, looked at her silently.
"You're misunderstanding him. It's not his fault." Crystal said meekly.
"Oh.. please.. just stop this drama already." Ariadne became irritated.
"How dare you disrespect Mr. Blake?" Cathy was fuming with rage.
"Cathy... don't" Xander cut her off.
He could no longer stand the drama. He felt the need to stop it before it got too far.
"Crystal, I think you two should leave now." he said, looking at them.
Crystal's expression was one of hurt. However, she didn't argue and agreed to leave. Xander went with them outside the mansion.
"I see you have grown wings. But keep in mind that you were nothing more than a piece of trash in the past, and it will continue to be so." Cathy stated as they were alone in the living room.
"I don't know why you hate me so much, but I expected you to at least treat the kids well as they are Xander's. But it appeared that I was wrong." Ariadne sighed.
She gave her a chance, but she showed her loyalty to Crystal.
"They're your kids. Miss Crystal's children will be the true heirs of the Blake family. You should leave with your spoiled brats. They've no place here." Cathy spat.
Ariadne chuckled, shaking her head. "You're right."
The kids arrived at the living room, led by Jose and Mary.
"Adrian, Autumn, get ready. We're leaving in a while." Ariadne said, looking at the kids.
The kids nodded and dashed to their rooms. Cathy smirked in triumph.
"No one will leave." Xander said from behind.
They turned to look at him.
"No. This woman wouldn't stay near my kids. Either my kids or this woman will stay here." Ariadne replied firmly.
Xander approached her and stood in front of her.
"She's an old and loyal servant of the Blake family. She has no bad intentions."
"Then keep her. I've no objections." Ariadne replied looking at his eyes before turning and walking inside.
"Ok, fine. Whatever you want. She will not stay here." Xander said quickly, causing Ariadne to stop in her tracks.
She turned around and looked at them, crossing her arms.
"Mr. Blake?" Cathy was stunned.
"I'm sorry, Cathy. Ariadne owns this mansion, and the children don't get along well with you. I've no other choice. I'll send you to Mom." he said.
Cathy's face turned pale. Xander passed her and went over to Ariadne. Cathy glared at her. Ariadne, on the other hand, ignored her and looked at Xander.
"After what had happened, I'll not leave my kids here any longer." she replied.
"Ariadne, you're over reacting. No one will intentionally harm them here. What happened today will never happen again. I'll make sure of it."
"I don't trust you." she said before walking inside to the children's rooms, leaving a frustrated Xander behind.
.....
Ariadne felt nostalgic as she looked around, sitting in the dining table. She had spent two years in this hell, crying and pleading. She shook her head, reflecting on the past.
"Hello, Miss. How are you?" Gigi asked as she placed a glass of juice in front of her.
Ariadne jolted back from her thoughts. She took the glass and smiled at her. Gigi was the only maid who used to treat Ariadne well in the past.
"I'm good, Gigi. How are you?"
"I'm fine too, Madam. Thanks for asking... The kids are adorable," she said, delighted that Ariadne remembered her name.
Ariadne nodded at her before taking a sip of the juice. After some time, the kids arrived with Mary. Xander and Jose had already left.
.
"Why didn't you let me tell Xander everything?" Mary asked as they made their way to the exit.
Ariadne stopped in front of the car and looked at her.
"Mama Mary, when I was a kid, Emma and Crystal used to blame me for everything. I would tell Dad that I was innocent, but he never believed me. Dad began to see me as a spoilt child. I would do anything to please him. But he never noticed. Just one word from Emma and Crystal and I'm a bad girl for him. First dad... then Xander. I couldn't prove my innocence to them as I didn't have proof. It was a terrible feeling." she paused and looked ahead, recalling the past.
"I don't want my kids to feel like that. I have realized that you don't have to explain anything to anyone. Those who believe you, will do it without any evidence, and those who accept you, will do so even if you have done something wrong. It's about understanding and supporting the person." she added and returned her gaze to Mary, her expression serious.
"We aren't going to explain anything to anyone. If he can't believe in and support his own children, he doesn't deserve to be in their lives, because he will never make a good father. I've given him a chance to prove himself as a good father to them. If he wants a place in their lives, he must earn it. He will get nothing just because he's their father."
"He's unaware of Cathy's intentions and believes her to be a good woman. They manipulated the situation and blamed it on the children. She made them make the mess and pretended to be innocent in front of him. It would be difficult for him to see past it." Mary expressed her concerns.
"It's up to him to decide who to believe and support. We don't want anything from him, so there is no reason for us to explain anything to gain his favor." Ariadne said before getting into the car.
..........
"I think the accident was not a mere coincidence. Someone is behind this." Toby said.
Xander summoned him to discuss some matters.
"Zidane is in Purple City. When he visited here last week, he stayed at a different hotel." he added.
Xander frowned, thinking something. "Ariadne lives in Eden Garden." he stated, to which Toby nodded.
"Keep an eye out to see if we can get more information." he instructed.
His phone began to ring and he answered it.
"Sir, Madam dropped off the kids a while ago." the guard informed.
Xander straightened in his seat after hearing this.
"Really?" he was shocked.
He didn't expect her to return the kids because she was furious with him. It appeared that she had reconsidered it.
"Did she say anything?"
"Yes, Sir. She warned us to look after the kids or she would take them back with her."
He hung up the phone and sighed in relief, leaning against the couch. However, his phone began to ring again and this time it was a call from William.
Xander sighed in frustration.