SOMETHING LIKE HATE

"Mr. Xander King," called out the priest,

"Do you take Ms. Arianna Johnson to be your wife, to have and to hold, and to keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, for as long as you both shall live?"

Arianna's smile widened, a soft blush tinting her cheeks pink. Her eyes sparkled with hope as she gazed affectionately at Xander.

".."

Xander's gaze remained fixed pn Arianna, his expression devoid of any emotions. In the pregnant silence that followed, Arianna's smile faltered, anticipation giving way to uncertainty as she awaited his response.

The priest cleared his throat, his eyes fixed on Xander.

"Mr. King," he prompted, his voice tinged with concern.

Xander remained silent, his gaze unwavering as he continued to stare at Arianna, his emotions inscrutable.

The priest's gaze shifted to Arianna for a second, a flicker of nervousness evident in his eyes as he awaited the groom's response.

With a deep breath, he repeated the question, his voice carrying a plea.

"Mr. King, do you take Ms. Arianna Johnson to be your wife?"

Xander's gaze briefly skimmed over the priest and the assembled guests before settling on Arianna, who observed him with a mixture of puzzlement and uncertainty.

Xander's smile, once warm and reassuring, turned icy as he locked eyes with Arianna, his expression a mask of cold detachment.

The change in demeanor was palpable, sending a shiver down the spine of everyone present.

And then, with a cold, unsympathetic tone, Xander delivered his crushing response:

"I don't."

Arianna gasped, her fingers releasing their grip as the bouquet slipped from her grasp and tumbled to the ground.

The crowd erupted into stunned disbelief, their murmurs swirling like a tempest around the shattered dreams of the bride-to-be.

Arianna stood frozen, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief as she stared blankly at Xander.

"Xander w-what are you saying..." she whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the chaos of her thoughts.

They had been inseparable for two years, and when they finally reached the legal age, he proposed to her.

Arianna had always been the apple of Xander's eye—or so she thought.

As she reached out to him, her hand trembling with confusion and hurt, Xander ruthlessly shook it off, his action as cold as ice.

The force of his rejection caught her off guard, causing her to stagger backward, her heart pounding with shock and pain.

"I DO NOT TAKE THIS WOMAN TO BE MY WIFE!" he spat out each word with venom, his tone sharp and cutting.

"There will be no wedding," he declared coldly, his eyes locking with Arianna's as a solitary tear escaped her, tracing a path down her cheek.

Ignoring her emotional turmoil, Xander shifted his attention to the guests and reporters gathered, his voice carrying authority as he continued,

"Moreover, any collaboration between the Kings and Johnsons will be terminated effective immediately."

He stood in silence, observing the chaos that erupted among the guests as the reporters eagerly captured every moment.

This would surely make headlines.

Arianna remained frozen, her senses dulled to the commotion around her. Her gaze remained fixed on Xander, who slowly shifted his attention away from the crowd to meet her eyes.

Their gazes locked, tension thick in the air as Xander's eyes betrayed his feelings of hatred and disdain.

Arianna's throat tightened as she fought back her tears, and reached out to him once more, but he swiftly stepped back, evading her touch.

"Xander..." she began, her voice barely a whisper amidst the clamor.

Xander's gaze lingered on her for a fleeting moment before he turned away, his strides purposeful as he walked off without a backward glance.

Arianna stood rooted to the spot, her heart sinking as she watched him retreat, a whirlwind of emotions churning within her.

Hurt, confusion, and a sense of abandonment washed over her, leaving her feeling lost and alone in the midst of the bustling crowd.

The news of Arianna Johnson's wedding debacle spread like wildfire, casting a dark shadow over the once-pristine reputation of the Johnson family. Headlines in newspapers across the city screamed of scandal and heartbreak:

"Scandal at the Altar: Johnson Family's Daughter Left in Tears"

"Wedding Nightmare: Arianna Johnson Dumped on Her Big Day"

"Public Humiliation: Johnson Heiress Jilted, Reputation in Tatters"

"From Bliss to Betrayal: Arianna Johnson's Wedding Day Disaster"

"Fall from Grace: Johnson Family's Once-Perfect Image Shattered"

The King family had cut all connections with them.

As if that wasn't enough, the Johnson Group's stocks plummeted, projects ground to a halt, and funds disappeared overnight.

Arianna's father paced frantically in his study, the phone slipping from his trembling hands as he received yet another blow to their business.

His voice crackled with frustration as he spoke into the receiver,

Simon Johnson's voice boomed with frustration. "Another deal lost? This can't be happening!" His glare bore into his daughter, accusing and filled with bitterness.

"It's because of you. Damn you..." he spat out, his words heavy with resentment.

Meanwhile, across the room, Arianna's mother seethed with anger, her eyes ablaze with disappointment and fury as she shot daggers at her daughter.

Arianna turned away, unable to withstand the weight of her parents' disappointment. But deep down, she couldn't fathom how it was all her fault.

Her anguished mother unleashed her frustration,

"We've poured our hearts and resources into you for years, yet you've proven to be nothing but a disappointment! You couldn't even hold onto a man! Weren't you attentive enough to Xander's needs? Is that why he publicly denounced your marriage, because you failed to satisfy him? It's a stain on our family's honor!"

Arianna's face drained of color at the onslaught of cutting remarks, her fists clenched with inner turmoil.

She couldn't fathom it.

Their relationship had been filled with love and promise. Xander had pursued her relentlessly, and their bond had seemed unbreakable. The night before their wedding, they shared a tender moment, sealing their commitment with their first kiss.

Arianna had cherished the idea of waiting until after the wedding to share that intimate moment with Xander, to give up her virginity after marriage to him.

Xander had wholeheartedly respected her wishes, his understanding and patience strengthening their bond.

With everything falling into place, Arianna felt like she was living a fairy tale.

But as she grappled with Xander's sudden and ruthless rejection, she couldn't comprehend how their perfect love story had turned so tragically.

TWO DAYS LATER.

THE KINGS GROUP OF INDUSTRIES

Arianna's gaze lingered on the imposing name emblazoned on the entrance building, her resolve steeling as she took a deep breath.

With determination in her heart, she strode towards the entrance, her mind buzzing with questions.

She needed answers. Why had Xander rejected her so mercilessly?

As Arianna approached the entrance to the King Group of Industries, she expected to glide through as she had done countless times before. But as she neared the door, the guard stepped in her path, his expression stern.

"Sorry, ma'am, but I can't let you in," he said, his tone firm.

Arianna's brow furrowed in confusion.

"What? Why not? I've been coming here for the last few years......."

The guard remained unmoved.

"I'm just following orders, ma'am. You'll have to wait."

With a frustrated sigh, Arianna resigned herself to waiting, though she couldn't shake the uneasy feeling creeping over her.

She perched on a bench just outside the building, minutes stretching into agonizing hours as she waited.

The sun beat down mercilessly, its rays scorching her skin. Arianna endured, her face flushed and sweat beading on her brow.

Finally, she spotted someone emerging from the building—it was Xander's assistant.

He approached Arianna with an air of formality, his words cutting through the tense silence.

"Ms. Johnson, Mr. King asked me to relay a message to you. He stated that he's grown weary of your presence and requests that you refrain from returning. He doesn't want to ever see you again"

Arianna's breath caught in her throat, her face draining of color as she struggled to process the hurtful words.

She never expected Xander, the man who once showered her with affection, to deliver such a cruel blow with such ease.

Arianna's gaze fell to the ground, her heart aching with each beat as she tried to shield her hurt from him. Summoning her courage, she closed her eyes briefly, gathering strength before meeting his gaze.

"It's crucial, just a few moments of your time, please..." she pleaded, her voice trembling with emotion.

"I'm sorry, Ms. Johnson, but you must leave," came his firm response, leaving no room for negotiation.

Arianna bit down on her lower lip with such force that it threatened to draw blood. With great effort, she finally managed to find her voice.

"Then, please convey a message to him... for the sake of the memories we've shared over the years..."

But as the words hung in the air, Arianna's resolve wavered.

Memories.

What memories?

There was no warmth left between them anymore...

With a bitter sigh, she amended her request.

"For the sake of our shared history, please implore Xander to extend a gesture of goodwill to the Johnsons. If he considers giving them assistance, I'll honor his wishes and vanish from his life forever."

Tears welled in Arianna's eyes as she added,

"He must understand the dire straits my family is in. They're drowning in debts, and I'm shouldering the blame for everything. No one in my family has spoken to me; they've all deemed me a curse. Please, convey to Xander the gravity of our situation. It's the least he can do after all we've been through together."

Perhaps driven by a desire to sever ties completely, the King Group offered a sum of money to the Johnsons as a gesture of support.

In return, Arianna fulfilled her promise and departed overseas, leaving behind the shattered remnants of their once-promising relationship.