CHAPTER 140
As she stood taking deep breaths, Xander called out, “Are you really going back to the hospital, or is this just an excuse to meet up with that guy while pretending to take care of your brother?”
Arianna let out a bitter laugh. She was amazed she could still find humor in the situation. He wasn't the only one who knew how to use words as weapons.
Arianna turned around and shook her head. "What's wrong, Xander? Are you getting too deep into this act? Have you fallen for me?"
"You better not," she continued. "I can't accept this so-called 'love' of yours. I'll repeat what I've said before: if you find me unbearable, just sign the divorce papers. We can go to the registry anytime."
'Divorce.'
She had wanted a divorce long ago but had compromised to keep up the facade for her little brother's sake.
Xander clenched his fist tightly. When the man she liked finally came into the picture, she was ready to leave her little brother behind. Her only goal was to divorce Xander as soon as possible so she could be with the other man.
Xander’s eyes flared with a fierce red hue, and a menacing aura began to radiate from him. In a flash, his calm demeanor was replaced by a look of pure madness. He strode towards Arianna and seized her arm with a vice-like grip.
Arianna immediately sensed his instability, feeling the dangerous aura he struggled to contain. Without hesitation, she raised her foot and kicked him in the lower body, desperate to escape his grasp.
Arianna couldn’t see Xander’s exact movements, but he deftly avoided her kick and forcefully pushed her onto the large bed behind him. His imposing figure loomed over her, pinning her down with his weight.
Her heart raced, and she trembled as she asked, “What are you planning to do, Xander?”
His dark, brooding face hovered above her, and he let out a chilling laugh. Each word he spoke was infused with a cold menace that sent shivers down her spine.
“I warned you, Arianna. If I ever catch you with someone else, don’t expect me to be gentle.”
“You’ve dismissed my warnings. It seems I’ve been too lenient with you.”
“You want a divorce? Don’t fool yourself into thinking you have any say in this.”
As he spoke, Xander ripped at her clothes with brutal force. The sound of fabric tearing filled the room, and her clothes were destroyed.
Arianna’s skin prickled with goosebumps as the cold air brushed against her exposed body.
Arianna’s realization of Xander’s intentions brought terror to her face. Her attempts to escape grew more desperate; she kicked, shoved, and even bit him, employing every method she could think of.
The inherent strength disparity between men and women was stark, and Xander's fury only amplified his power. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t move him an inch or halt his advance.
“Get away from me, Xander!” Arianna’s voice was filled with shock and rage.
Xander's lips twisted into a cruel smirk.
“Take a good look at who your husband really is, Arianna!”
The pain and humiliation started to overwhelm Arianna, causing tears to pool in her eyes and distort her view. She struggled to conceal her weakness from Xander, pressing her eyelids tightly shut and clamping her teeth onto her lower lip to stifle any cries of distress.
Xander's rage only intensified at her silence. His eyes, already tinged with madness, now burned with an even fiercer intensity. His anger was fueled by her apparent indifference—her calmness in the face of his torment only deepened his fury.
He was consumed by resentment, unable to accept that she could be with another man, seemingly content while he was cast into an abyss of despair. The thought of her finding solace and joy with someone else while he was left to suffer was more than he could bear.
John was right—Xander should never have let Arianna leave two years ago. He should have dragged her down into the abyss with him.
He gripped her tightly, his fingers pressing painfully into her wrists as he looked down at her. He watched as tears streamed from her closed eyes, his gaze filled with a fierce resentment for her vulnerability.
He needed to distance himself from her, to escape the suffocating intensity of the moment. He needed a place to cool down and regain his composure. The overwhelming mixture of anger and frustration had clouded his judgment, and he could no longer bear to be near her. He needed solitude, a sanctuary where he could collect his thoughts and calm the storm raging inside him.
Arianna lost track of time, her sense of reality fading as she lay there, on the edge of despair. Just when she thought she was nearing the end, she felt Xander rise from her and move away.
She heard the sound of running water as he entered the bathroom, taking a shower. Moments later, Xander emerged, his demeanor cold and detached. He dressed meticulously, his movements deliberate and unhurried. Without a glance at Arianna, he strode out with purpose, leaving her behind like a discarded, worn-out object.
