CHAPTER 152
As the elevator ascended, the floor numbers on the display shifted methodically. The elevator finally reached its destination with a soft ding, and the doors slid open.
Alan looked up, and his gaze met with a pair of intensely dark eyes. Xander, tall and imposing, leaned casually against the elevator’s steel wall, his hands resting in his pockets. The aura he radiated was so commanding that it seemed to push back anyone who dared approach.
Alan’s eyes lingered on Xander, noting the man’s cold, unchanging expression.
Xander gave Alan a brief, indifferent glance before stepping out of the elevator with deliberate, unhurried movements.
Alan paused for a moment, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. Nevertheless, he shook off the feeling and stepped into the elevator.
With a soft hum, the elevator doors slid shut, and the elevator descended steadily until it reached the ground floor. Alan emerged from the elevator and made his way outside to where his car was parked. The vehicle, sleek and polished, awaited him at the hospital entrance.
Alan settled into the back seat, and for a moment, he sat in thoughtful silence. His gaze drifted through the window, focusing on the direction of Charlie’s ward.
The driver, keenly aware of the unusual mood, glanced back through the rearview mirror and addressed Alan with respectful curiosity.
“Shall we head back to the hotel, Dr. Woods?”
Alan sat silently in the back seat, his fingers absently rubbing his forehead as if trying to clear away the weariness that had settled in. His gaze remained distant, reflecting on the encounter with the stranger in the elevator.
The unsettling aura of the man exuded left a lingering impression, making Alan question whether he should have stayed a bit longer to ensure Arianna’s safety.
The driver, noticing Alan's fatigue and preoccupation, took a moment to speak up.
“Dr. Woods, you barely got any rest last night, and today hasn’t been much better. You need to get some sleep. Should I take you back to the hotel?”
Alan’s silence stretched for what felt like an eternity. His thoughts wrestled between the duty of checking on Arianna and the pressing need for rest. Finally, he exhaled slowly, his decision evident in his weary tone.
“Yes, go ahead and take me back.”
As the car began its journey away from the hospital, Alan’s mind continued to drift, unsure if he had made the right choice. The unease about leaving Arianna unmonitored, combined with his exhaustion, created a heavy burden that he would have to carry until he could see her again.
............
Xander lingered outside the ward, his expression a mixture of irritation and internal struggle. His lips were pressed into a thin line, and his eyes betrayed a deep-seated self-disgust. Despite having already left the hospital and settled into his car, his feet had inexplicably brought him back, driven by a compulsion he could not fully suppress.
How dare she call him a stranger!
He wrestled with his emotions, torn between the impulse to confront the situation and the reality of his actions. Arianna was still his wife, and he couldn’t accept the thought of her being involved with another man, especially someone like Alan. The idea that a stranger might occupy a significant place in her life enraged him.
In his mind, the solution seemed simple: it should be Alan, not him, who was pushed out of their lives. The notion of Arianna moving on, potentially remarrying, was unbearable. He saw her return to the country as a deliberate act of defiance against him, an affront he was determined not to tolerate.
Xander's thoughts churned with dark resolve. He refused to let Arianna divorce him and pursue another relationship without facing the consequences of her actions. He was determined to make sure she understood the gravity of provoking him and challenging his control.
Arianna had just emerged from the bathroom, her hands still damp from washing an apple. She was about to take her first bite when Xander suddenly burst through the door. The shock of his unexpected reappearance caused her to gasp, and the apple slipped from her grasp, falling to the floor.
"Xan...."
The fruit rolled across the room, coming to a stop at Xander's feet.
Arianna instinctively took a step back. Knowing Xander's volatile nature, she was certain he hadn't returned just to make peace.
The tension in the room was palpable, and she braced herself for another confrontation, fully expecting him to be there to confront or accuse her once again.
He seemed determined to make her suffer!
Arianna’s gaze involuntarily drifted to Charlie, who lay unconscious on the bed. She said,
“This is a hospital ward, Xander. Charlie needs peace. If you want to talk, we can find somewhere else.”
Xander’s eyes narrowed as he studied her.
Without saying a word, he moved towards the bed.
Arianna’s heart raced. Was he aiming his anger at Charlie now?
“Xander, you—” Her attempt to protest was cut off by Xander’s icy interruption.
“I came to see Charlie.”
Arianna was taken aback. Why would Xander suddenly show such consideration?
He had never shown any interest in Charlie since their marriage.
As she watched Xander approach the bed, it became clear that his sole focus was on Charlie. He did nothing more than observe him quietly.
Arianna furrowed her brow, a sudden realization dawning on her. “Did Grandma send you here?”
Earlier, when Arianna returned, the nurse had mentioned that a man claiming to be her husband had visited the previous night. It now seemed evident that Xander’s repeated visits were likely at Grandma King's behest.
Arianna’s voice, though controlled, carried a note of restrained anger. “You’ve seen Charlie, so you’ve done what you came for. I’ll inform Grandma that you visited. You can leave now.”
Xander’s eyes flickered from Charlie ’s pale face to Arianna’s irritated expression. After a few moments of silent scrutiny, he turned and walked toward the sofa, choosing to sit down rather than leave the ward.
Arianna, taken aback by his unexpected action, fixed him with a sharp gaze.
“Xander, what are you doing?"
"I'm staying" came his blunt response
"What? You're not seriously planning to stay here and keep watch over him as well?” Her voice was tinged with frustration and disbelief.
