CHAPTER 153
Xander sat in silence, his gaze fixed on Arianna as he gracefully sank into the sofa, his long legs crossed with an air of aloof sophistication. His stance radiated a quiet resolve.
Arianna's irritation simmered as she observed him. Her brows knitted tightly, her patience fraying. She moved closer, her voice laced with annoyance. “Xander, I know Grandma wants you here, but you’re not obligated to stay. I can handle it.”
She was acutely aware of his aversion to being pressured, even by his grandmother. If anyone was to endure the weight of this unwelcome obligation, it would be her, not him. Every syllable she spoke was a plea for him to leave, to liberate her from his unwelcome company.
The storm in Xander’s eyes intensified as he finally shattered the silence. His voice, cold and distant, sliced through the tension in the room.
“Do you despise my presence that much?”
Arianna was momentarily stunned by his inquiry. It was so unexpected, dripping with bitterness, that it left her momentarily speechless.
There had been a time when she had ached to see him. During their painful separation two years prior, when she had been banished to a far-off place, his absence had been a constant, gnawing pain in her heart, a reminder of their once joyful days.
Even after returning, she had clung to the hope of rekindling their past. Yet, each time she dared to dream, he shattered those hopes with his icy indifference and unyielding cruelty. The aspirations she nurtured were methodically dismantled, leaving her with the stark reality of his unrelenting presence.
Since their reunion, Xander had consistently misjudged Arianna, launching hurtful accusations and scathing remarks her way. His actions the night before had been particularly vicious, leaving her emotionally wrecked. After enduring such profound mistreatment, why would she still dare to hope for any form of reconciliation?
Arianna was still deeply shaken by the trauma from the night before. The fear and anxiety that gripped her were overwhelming, making it almost impossible for her to focus on anything other than the lingering dread she felt. Her emotions were a tangled mess of confusion, pain, and helplessness.
When she tried to speak, her voice caught in her throat, as though the weight of her fears and past wounds had rendered her mute.
The thoughts swirling in her mind were frantic and disjointed, each one a painful reminder of the torment she had endured. Despite her desperate wish to communicate her feelings and concerns, the words eluded her, leaving her trapped in a storm of unspoken turmoil.
Xander sensed Arianna's anguish and understood the unspoken truth behind her silence. He felt frustrated and angry, realizing her deep-seated bitterness and his inability to help.
In Xander's presence, Arianna felt exposed and vulnerable, as he had a way of breaking down her defences.
Xander's smile, filled with rage, contrasted with any warmth it may have once held. His words were filled with icy fury as if forced through clenched teeth.
"It's a shame," he said venomously, "I really want to see you. I want to see you all the time."
Arianna's heart sank at his words.
The harshness of Xander's voice overshadowed any tenderness his words might have held. What could have been a loving expression turned into something chilling and threatening.
As she looked at Xander, his face obscured by a shadow, Arianna felt herself grow pale. She feared he might explode in anger again, just as he had the night before, ready to inflict pain once more.
Xander seemed to understand her thoughts with unsettling accuracy. A cold, determined glint appeared in his eyes. His hands clenched into fists, and his lips formed a rigid line. The tension emanating from him was palpable, revealing an inner turmoil that was on the verge of breaking free.
He was well aware that he could easily manipulate Arianna’s emotions, pushing her to the brink and causing her to surrender to despair. Yet, a haunting reminder of his grandmother's advice echoed in his mind.
*“If you turn her heart cold, she will become disheartened and give up. She will lose hope and stop fighting.”*
The memory of those words restrained him, a faint glimmer of wisdom cutting through the rage that simmered beneath the surface.
Xander’s grandmother’s advice echoed relentlessly in his mind:
*“If you truly care about her and value the marriage you’ve fought so hard to maintain, you need to reconsider how you treat Arianna moving forward.”*
With this in mind, Xander clenched his eyes shut, struggling to contain the seething rage threatening to erupt. When he finally reopened them, they were steely and unyielding. He fixed his gaze on Arianna with a chilling intensity and said,
“Grandma’s people are watching.”
Arianna blinked, momentarily disoriented by his words.
“What?”
Xander’s voice grew colder, edged with a restrained fury.
“Arianna, adhere to the terms of our agreement and play your role as expected.”
His words, though controlled, carried an undercurrent of suppressed anger, underscoring the seriousness of his command.
As the weight of his words sank in, Arianna’s expression shifted from confusion to realization.
It became evident that Grandma King intervention went far beyond simply instructing Xander to visit Charlie.
Not only had she compelled him to come to the hospital and remain with Arianna, but she had also arranged for surveillance to ensure he genuinely adhered to her demands.
