CHAPTER 151
As they continued their conversation, Arianna and Alan approached the door of the ward.
Arianna raised her hand, ready to push the door open, when she caught sight of a slender figure moving past the corner of her eye.
For a moment, she thought she might have been mistaken, but when she turned her head and saw the figure approaching, her eyes widened in shock.
It was unmistakably Xander.
Standing just a few steps away, Xander's dark eyes locked onto Arianna's with a cold, unreadable expression on his face.
Arianna's heart raced. Why was he here?
Could Xander be here to cause trouble again?
Arianna’s mind instantly flashed back to his harshness from the previous night, and the vivid memory made her face go pale.
A shiver ran down her spine, and she felt goosebumps spread across her skin.
Alan, noticing her sudden distress, turned to her with concern. “Arianna, are you okay? Do you feel unwell?”
Alan’s voice seemed to draw Xander’s attention. Xander slowly lifted his gaze from Arianna and his dark eyes moved deliberately, locking onto Alan’s face.
Enormous waves of fury seemed to churn in Xander’s eyes.
Arianna noticed the change in Xander’s gaze and felt a shiver of fear. Knowing his capacity for anger, she worried that he might lash out at Alan, especially if he suspected an affair.
Without a moment’s hesitation, Arianna stepped in front of Alan, spreading her arms wide to protect him.
Alan had been a crucial support for Charlie and had helped her immensely, and Arianna would not let Xander’s wrath endanger him. Her conflicts with Xander should not put an innocent person at risk.
Xander watched Arianna’s determined stance, feeling as if a dagger had been driven into his heart.
There was a time when Arianna had shielded him with the same resolve.
Yet now, the one she was protecting was another man, and that man was protecting against him.
He remembered how Arianna had once thrown herself into his arms, her small frame shielding him from a deadly threat.
Why did it seem like that memory was slipping away from him, no matter how hard he tried to hold onto it? It felt as though his grasp on the past was slipping through his fingers.
His hands tightened into fists at his sides, veins bulging as he struggled to hold onto his fading memories. Despite his best efforts, those recollections continued to slip away, becoming an indistinct blur.
He longed to rush over, to remove the man he saw as an intruder and then take Arianna away, imprisoning her where she could only be with him and look only at him.
Such an act would have been easy for him, almost effortless.
Yet, despite how simple it would be, he found himself completely paralyzed, unable to move or act in that moment.
He understood that taking such drastic action would only drive Arianna further away from him.
Yet, hadn't he already lost her? Was there any difference now?
…
As Arianna observed Xander’s clenched fists, she braced herself for a confrontation but then saw him abruptly lift his long legs and turn to leave.
She had steeled herself for a fierce encounter, but instead, Xander simply walked away.
Stunned, AriInna watched his retreating figure with disbelief, noting how his body seemed to sway slightly as if he might collapse.
Arianna blinked, trying to see more clearly, but when she looked again, Xander’s back was upright, and his stride was brisk and firm. The swaying she had perceived earlier was merely a trick of her imagination.
It was expected. A man as infuriatingly proud as Xander would never display such vulnerability. His expression remained as stoic as it had been when the masked kidnapper had threatened him with a gun.
Nonetheless, Arianna remained puzzled by his sudden departure.
She had distinctly sensed Xander’s murderous intent moments earlier…
As her mind raced through these thoughts, Xander’s calm voice broke through her contemplation.
“Do you know that man, Arianna?”
Arianna’s mind jolted back to the present as she turned to face Alan. Her mouth almost formed the words, “He’s my husband.”
However, just as those words were about to escape her lips, she caught herself. Although Xander was legally her husband, their marriage was a mere formality. She had no intention of being associated with him in any way that might suggest she was leveraging her status for personal gain.
The corners of Arianna’s mouth twitched slightly as she said,
“A stranger.”
Her voice was soft, but Xander’s keen ears picked it up clearly. His footsteps faltered for a brief moment before he quickened his pace and disappeared down the corridor.
After stepping into the elevator, Xander's eyes burned with hostility as he slammed his fist against the steel wall of the cabin.
...
Alan glanced at Arianna's face, noticing that she wore the same troubled expression she had the previous night when she received a phone call.
He inferred that the striking yet menacing man they had just encountered was likely the "annoying person" Arianna had mentioned.
Respecting boundaries and avoiding intrusion into personal matters, Alan set aside his curiosity and swiftly shifted the topic. "Let's head in and see your brother."
“Alright.” Arianna managed a relaxed smile.
Alan's considerate nature made him easy to get along with. He respected boundaries and never made anyone feel uncomfortable, which Arianna appreciated greatly.
Since Charlie was still unconscious, Alan examined him and provided Arianna with some important instructions. After a brief check, he prepared to leave.
Arianna offered to accompany him downstairs, but Alan gently refused. “You should stay here with Charlie. I’ll head down on my own.”
With that, Alan straightened up and exited the ward.
He took out his phone, called for his driver, and requested the car be made ready. Then, he proceeded to the elevator, pressing the call button as he waited.
