CHAPTER 102
Arianna’s irate demeanor replayed in his mind, along with the moment she finally admitted she was Mrs. King. It was such a vivid scene, as if he had been transported back to the past.
As he thought about that, the corners of his lips curled up unknowingly.
Late into the night, the clock on the wall quietly pointed to midnight. Xander snapped out of his reminiscing and got up to leave the study.
The villa was silent, and he could hear his own footsteps clearly as he walked slowly toward the master bedroom.
Standing in front of the door, Xander stretched out his hand and tried to open it, only to find it locked. He frowned slightly and turned around to fetch the key. Once he unlocked the door, he saw the dim light inside from the warm yellow glow of a bedside lamp.
Arianna's petite body lay on the bed, her breathing even as she slept soundly.
Xander stepped in, subconsciously slowing his movements to avoid waking her. From the corner of his eye, he noticed the nightdress discarded in the trash can, which brought a bright glimmer to his eyes.
He walked to the bed and looked down, locking his gaze on Arianna's delicate face. The innocence she exuded in sleep could easily evoke feelings of pity from anyone who saw her.
That was why he had once been so deeply captivated by her. He loved her uncontrollably, to the point where even his grandmother, who had raised him, was astonished that someone as seemingly heartless as him could feel such profound affection.
It wasn’t just his grandmother who was surprised—he himself could never quite understand it.
For him, ‘love’ was a luxury he could hardly afford. He knew he needed to remain calm and measured, but he found himself foolishly drawn to her like a moth to a flame. Despite his clear-headedness, he watched himself slowly sink into the abyss of his feelings for her.
He had once believed she felt the same way about him, but in the end, everything Arianna did to him was utterly merciless.
An agonizing pain flickered in Xander’s eyes, and he closed them while clenching his hands tightly. The blue veins on the back of his hands pulsed, and his breathing became strained and labored.
Over the past two years, that familiar sense of torment would resurface without warning, torturing and breaking him down piece by piece.
It took him about ten minutes to forcefully suppress the pain. His breathing gradually steadied, and when he opened his eyes again, they were bloodshot, making for a ghastly sight.
In that moment, he had an overwhelming urge to take out Arianna’s heart and examine it. He wanted to know if she ever truly had feelings for him.
Maybe just a little?
As the night deepened, a cold wind blew in from outside, causing the curtains to flutter in the breeze.
A low whisper escaped Arianna’s lips. Her red lips parted slightly as she murmured,
"Xander..."
Her voice was so soft that, with the wind blowing in, Xander couldn’t be sure if he was hearing things or if Arianna had truly called out his name in her sleep.
He trembled uncontrollably, unable to believe what he thought he heard. Bending down, he leaned his handsome face closer to Arianna’s, wanting to hear her more clearly.
His face was very close to Arianna’s, and his dark eyes focused intently on her lips. He watched as her lips moved again, and he heard her murmur once more,
“Xander…”
Arianna really was calling out Xander’s name…
It felt as if a huge boulder had been thrown into the lake of Xander’s heart, causing a storm of raging waves. His lips opened gently of their own volition, and he responded in a very low voice,
“Yes, I’m here.”
Just like before, his answer whenever she called him was always, “I’m here.”
The next second, however, Arianna’s whispering voice suddenly turned cold and angry.
“Go away!”
As she said that, her hands moved in tandem with her words, pushing forward and shoving Xander away.
Arianna didn’t have much strength while asleep, but Xander’s body was still pushed back. He staggered a couple of steps, only regaining his balance by placing his hands on the bedside table.
It felt as though a basin of cold water had extinguished the embers of hope that had just started to burn.
If Arianna could say such things even in her sleep, it was clear she never really had any genuine feelings toward him.
Xander clenched his hands tightly.
He knew exactly how to handle his relationship with Arianna. Keeping her around would do him no good.
He ought to do what he did two years ago—tell her to disappear from his sight and vanish from his world, leaving no trace behind.
That way, he wouldn't have his emotions stirred by her again, nor would he have to endure the pain she caused.
The solution was clear and he could act decisively. The rationale was sound, but when he looked at her, he found himself unable to follow through.
Zach had asked him if he had fallen in love with Arianna again.
He wanted to ask himself, ‘Did I fall in love with her again? Or…have I always been in love with her?’
He could never let go of what happened between them two years ago.
With Arianna, however, it seemed even more difficult for him to let go.
Despite being hated, resented, and hurt, he still wanted to keep her in his sight.
His self-disgust was palpable.
Xander’s lips twisted into a bitter smile. He stumbled, turned on his heel, and made his way slowly out of the room.
Unaware of the tears welling up in Arianna’s eyes and streaming down her cheeks, he left.
Her voice, already strained and barely audible, whispered after him, “Please, Xander...
“I lied. Don’t leave...
“What did I do wrong?
“If I change, will you stop hating me?”
