CHAPTER 100
"What did I say? Did I say something? I... I feel so drunk. I can't remember anything. Ugh, my head is pounding. I need to lie down..."
She even let out a small burp while speaking and attempted to walk away.
Xander, however, seemed to have caught on to her intentions. His large hand grasped her wrist firmly, guiding her forcefully against the shoe cabinet in the hallway.
He pressed his palms against either side of her waist, effectively trapping her in front of him.
Xander showed no intention of letting her go as his intense gaze bore into her face. The next words he uttered were distinct and his pronunciation precise.
"You forbade me from bringing another woman here and threw quite a tantrum. Are you jealous, Mrs. King?"
Jealousy...
Arianna's black pupils contracted suddenly, her fingers pressing firmly against the shoe cabinet's door.
She exerted considerable effort to conceal the panic rising in her eyes, forcing a composed expression.
Then, she flashed a sweet smile at Xander and unexpectedly wrapped her arms around his neck, leaning close to whisper into his ear.
Her voice was seductively gentle. "You're right, I'm jealous."
Xander's tall, imposing frame tensed momentarily, an unusual gleam flickering in his eyes.
Arianna hesitated for a brief moment before adding sharply, "Maybe in your dreams!"
Taking advantage of his temporary confusion, she shoved Xander with all her strength and swiftly bolted upstairs.
Xander staggered back two steps, stunned by the sudden force. When he regained his composure and looked up, Arianna had already disappeared from his view, her footsteps echoing faintly up the staircase.
Arianna rushed back to the master bedroom, swiftly closed the door, and turned the lock with a trembling hand. Leaning against the solid wood, she pressed her palm over her racing heart.
Her emotions were dangerously close to spilling out in front of Xander just now. She took deep breaths, focusing on steadying herself, while her ears strained to catch any sound from outside. Only after ensuring that Xander hadn't pursued her did she begin to feel a sense of relief.
It took nearly ten minutes of concentrated effort before Arianna finally managed to regain her composure.
Arianna stared at the discarded nightdress on the bedroom floor, a wave of revulsion washing over her once more. With a grimace, she picked it up and promptly tossed it into the trash can. Grabbing an air freshener, she sprayed the entire room liberally, banishing any lingering traces of Tiana's presence.
Determined to erase every reminder of that unsettling incident, she even changed the bedsheets, ensuring everything felt fresh and clean before finally allowing herself to lie down.
As she lay there, Arianna couldn't shake off the events of the night. Her mind raced, analyzing Xander’s motives behind his actions. Suddenly, a realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, causing her to sit up abruptly on the bed.
Had Xander's actions not been intended to repulse her, but rather to test whether she still harbored feelings for him through the use of other women?
To gauge whether she still harbored feelings for him?
The thought sent a chill down her spine. She pondered over every interaction, every gesture he made, searching for clues that might confirm or refute her newfound suspicion. It was a disturbing revelation, one that left Arianna grappling with conflicting emotions and uncertainties about her own feelings toward Xander.
Moreover, she found herself easily provoked into revealing her true thoughts, especially on such a significant day.
Was that the reason he questioned her about her feelings of anger and jealousy?
Despite her denial, her behavior betrayed her true emotions.
But why did he feel the need to test her?
She pondered whether she had been vigilant enough during that time and concluded affirmatively. She had consciously avoided interactions with him as much as possible and steered clear of any entanglements.
Was Xander attempting to assert his charm after feeling slighted by her avoidance and apparent disregard?
It wasn't that Arianna was unwilling to entertain positive interpretations, but rather, she was hesitant due to past experiences. How thick-skinned did she have to become to shield herself from further pain?
After pondering the matter several times, she remained convinced that Xander harbored no benevolent intentions, regardless of his motives!
Thankfully... Thankfully, Arianna had managed to regain her composure.
