CHAPTER 111
"Might as well just get lost and never show up again…"
Arianna, who was bent over to change her footwear, froze in place. Her movements halted as she processed Xander's harsh words. For a fleeting moment, she wondered if she was being punished for past misdeeds, stripped of everything she held dear—her family, her brother, and her love.
Ironically, despite feeling lost and desolate, she found herself unconsciously returning to the villa, as if drawn there by the mere presence of Xander.
Unfortunately, the man in front of her was not the Xander she had once loved so dearly, but a demon who wanted nothing more than for her to disappear forever.
Arianna was physically and mentally exhausted. She didn't have the energy to fight Xander anymore. After slipping into her house shoes, she glanced up and caught his gaze.
Only when she straightened up did Xander notice how utterly miserable she appeared.
Her hair and clothes were completely drenched, like a drowned rat. Her face had paled, her eyes were dull, and her entire demeanor conveyed a profound exhaustion after enduring a devastating mental blow.
Xander's frown deepened, the anger simmering in his chest suddenly replaced by concern. Arianna had never looked so defeated since her return, not even at her lowest points before. What could have caused this change in her?
"You—" He began to speak, but Arianna cut him off.
Her voice was devoid of emotion, as cold and distant as a machine. "Let me know what you need, Mr. King. I'll take care of it right away."
Her words silenced him, preventing any hurtful remarks from escaping his lips.
Xander understood perfectly well why she said that, his expression turning grim as a result. He stared at her defiantly, lips pressed tightly together, and after a few seconds of stiffness, he remarked coldly, "First thing you need to do is get rid of this ghostly look. I don't need you getting sick and passing it on to me."
Arianna didn't engage further and simply replied, "Fine."
She walked past him and headed upstairs, not bothering to meet his gaze as she went.
Xander stood rooted in place, observing as Arianna straightened her posture with determination, ascending the stairs one slow step at a time. Despite her efforts to mask her emotions, he noticed her hand trembling slightly as it gripped the staircase railing.
She had been gone for an entire day, only to return in such a state...
A deep frown creased Xander's forehead, his distress palpable in his eyes.
...
Upon reaching the master bedroom, Arianna felt her strength drain away in an instant. She collapsed onto the floor before reaching the bed, unable to sit down.
She hugged her knees tightly, curling up slowly.
A notification pinged from her cell phone. Arianna's eyes moved stiffly as she retrieved the phone and glanced at the screen.
It was a text message from Simon.
[Remember, one million and not a dollar less!]
Attached was a photo of Charlie.
Arianna looked at the photo and saw Charlie lying on the hospital bed. His face was pale, his breathing shallow and labored, and sweat dotted his forehead.
It was evident he was under immense stress.
Arianna's grip tightened around her phone, her eyes losing their sadness.
Now wasn't the moment for her to falter or drown in despair, especially when her brother relied on her!
Arianna shut her eyes briefly, swiftly composed herself, and steadied her stance using the bed for support.
After enduring hours in the rain, her body felt chilled and her head spun slightly. Hastily, she made her way to the bathroom and turned on the hot water.
Despite Xander's harsh words, falling ill was not an option. If she faltered, no one else could be there for Charlie.
Arianna immersed herself in the soothing hot water, waiting until the chill in her body melted away, before allowing her mind to delve into the whirlwind of thoughts.
Charlie would be stable for the next three days, giving her a temporary respite from worry.
Her parents would undoubtedly prioritize safeguarding their financial lifeline until they received the funds.
Margaret's warning not to search for Charlie reinforced their effective concealment of him, showing no fear of her investigation. Arianna couldn't risk it; they might harm Charlie if they caught wind of her probing.
After much contemplation, she concluded there was only one solution: gather one million within three days!
Money posed challenges even for the most resourceful, especially someone like Arianna. Her bank account held less than 10,000, nowhere near one million. Nor did she possess anything valuable to pawn.
When it came to borrowing money, Arianna's first thought went to Rochelle.
But just as quickly, she dismissed the idea.
Rochelle couldn't rely on family either, as her grandfather was no better than Arianna's parents.
Despite being married into wealth, both Arianna and Rochelle found themselves in similarly dire straits—Arianna struggling with poverty, and Rochelle having no funds to spare.
She understood that Rochelle would certainly lend her the money if asked, but it would inevitably cause issues with Rochelle's husband, Jonathan. Arianna didn't want to burden Rochelle in that way.
Left with few options, there was only one other person she knew who could potentially provide such a large sum—Xander.
A deep frown creased Arianna's brow, her unease palpable.
