CHAPTER 15
Arianna struggled against Xander's firm hold, her heart pounding with fear and desperation. She could feel the weight of his body pressing down on hers, trapping her beneath him.
"Xander, please," Arianna pleaded, her voice trembling with fear and desperation.
"Let me go."
But Xander's grip only tightened, his stormy eyes filled with accusation.
"You think I'll just let you go?" Xander's voice was laced with disdain as his fingers forcefully pressed against her lips, stifling any protest.
"You must face the consequences of your deceit."
With a cruel smile, he forced her to meet his gaze. "Don't pretend you don't want this? Your dream has finally come true," he taunted.
"So why do you resist?"
Before she could respond, his lips crashed down upon hers, stealing her words and leaving her feeling trapped and powerless.
Sex could be a beautiful expression of love between two people, but in this moment, it was nothing more than a tool of Xander's vengeance and humiliation.
Arianna fought against his advances with all her strength. However, Xander's training and physical prowess made him a formidable opponent, overpowering her efforts to break free.
Arianna's struggles proved futile against Xander's overpowering strength.
She gazed up at the man she once loved, the man who used to cherish and protect her with every fiber of his being.
The man who once cherished her every smile and was devastated by her slightest pain.
How had they reached this point? How had love turned into such bitter animosity?
Two years ago, Arianna had made the agonizing decision to leave, fearing that their relationship would lead to exactly this outcome.
She couldn't bear the thought of their beautiful memories being tainted by hurt and resentment. Yet here they were, facing each other once more, only to find themselves locked in a vicious cycle of pain and hatred.
In the heat of the moment, Xander's kisses were relentless, consuming Arianna's senses.
Her hands remained pinned above her head, rendering her powerless against his fervor.
Each kiss felt like a desperate attempt to cling to something slipping away, as if his very existence depended on it.
But then, amidst the intensity, Arianna's tears betrayed her silent agony.
Xander felt the wetness on his cheeks, and he paused, his gaze softening as he looked down at her. She lay there, pale and motionless, her tear-streaked face a silent plea for mercy.
Suddenly, the fury in his eyes dissipated, replaced by a tumult of conflicting emotions.
Xander's frustration boiled over as he watched Arianna lying there, seemingly defeated yet still managing to stir up emotions within him.
How did she still manage to get under is skin!
The thought irritated him.
How dare she provoke him with such a pitiful expression after all she had done?
Did she truly believe that he would forgive her as easily as he had in the past?
With clenched fists and a heavy heart, Xander's features twisted into a mask of gloom. It felt like an eternity passed, or perhaps only moments, before he finally lashed out, striking the space beside Arianna's cheek with a forceful blow.
"Arianna, you truly disgust me!" His voice echoed with bitterness and resentment, a stark contrast to the vulnerability he saw in her tear-streaked face.
He rose from the bed, towering over her with a gaze filled with disdain. His warning cut through the air like a chilling wind, his tone icy and merciless.
"Don't delude yourself into thinking this is an easy way out. I'll consider covering your brother's medical expenses once you learn how to fulfill your duties to me."
With those final words hanging in the air, he turned on his heel and strode out of the room, the sound of the door slamming shut echoing in Arianna's ears, leaving her alone in the suffocating silence.
***************
Xander did not return for the next few days.
However, she knew exactly what he was doing and with whom. Arianna found herself inadvertently drawn into the whirlwind of gossip surrounding him.
Each day seemed to bring a new headline splashed across glossy magazines and entertainment pages.
One day, it was rumors of Xander lavishing Piper with diamond jewelry, followed by whispers of him touring luxury villas with her the next. And just when the buzz started to die down, the news broke of Xander surprising her with a brand new luxury car, fueling the gossip mill once again.
Arianna couldn't escape the constant reminders of Xander's lavish lifestyle and extravagant gestures towards Piper, each headline serving as a painful reminder of the life she was now entangled in.
As Arianna set aside the newspaper, another bitter article about Xander and Piper's escapades in some luxury hotel, she rose from her seat and made her way to the window. Staring out at the world beyond, a single tear traced its path down her cheek.
Her lifelong dream had been to marry the man she loved, but she never imagined it would turn into such a nightmare.
This marriage was nothing more than Xander's twisted revenge, fueled by his intense hatred for her. He was in love with Piper, and it was clear that she was the one he truly desired.
But Arianna had long accepted the harsh reality that Xander would never care for her. She had let go of any hope of finding love or happiness in their marriage.
Despite Xander's broken promise to pay Charlie's medical bills, Arianna refused to beg him for help. With her parents also out of the question, she knew she had to take matters into her own hands.
Rummaging through her belongings, she unearthed a small box containing a precious jade bracelet. It was a family heirloom, but desperate times called for desperate measures.
Arianna resolved to sell it to raise funds for Charlie's treatment, with the intention of reclaiming it once their financial situation improved.
After paying off a portion of Charlie's bill at the hospital, Arianna emerged from the building, only to be met by a group of intimidating men blocking her path. Their menacing presence sent a shiver down her spine, and she braced herself for whatever was to come.
