CHAPTER 154
It was no wonder Xander’s rage was so palpable, as if he were ready to tear her apart at any moment.
Arianna had never anticipated that Grandma King’s influence would stretch beyond the villa, extending even into the hospital. The old adage that the elderly often possess the most wisdom proved true in this case.
The thought of facing Xander alone was terrifying to her, but she knew that if Grandma King’s observer noticed any discrepancy in her behavior, Xander’s retribution would be swift and merciless. Just the thought of his potential reaction sent a shiver down her spine.
After a moment of deliberation, Arianna gathered her resolve. She took a deep breath, approached Xander, and in a voice barely above a whisper, said,
“Alright. I’ll play along, but you have to promise not to… not to hurt me.”
Xander's gaze settled on Arianna, who instinctively straightened up, her eyes sharpening with alertness. Her reaction seemed to irk him, and he responded with a sneer of disdain.
“You overestimate your importance, Arianna.”
His contemptuous tone cut deep, yet it was the best outcome she could have hoped for at that moment. Arianna’s smile was strained, and though her words were restrained, the resentment simmered just below the surface.
Realizing further discussion would be futile, she opted for silence. With a final, resigned glance at Xander, she walked briskly to the bedside. She pulled out a chair with a deliberate, almost mechanical motion, and sat down, the weight of her resignation evident in her posture.
Arianna resolved to ignore Xander’s presence and focus solely on Charlie. If Xander chose to stay, she would treat him as though he was invisible.
Used to the routine of reading to Charlie each night, she reached for the book she had left on the bedside table and began where she had paused. Her voice was a gentle murmur, filling the room with a familiar rhythm.
Despite her efforts to remain absorbed in her reading, she couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. At first, she dismissed it as paranoia, but the sensation intensified, prompting her to glance toward the sofa.
There, Xander was seated, absorbed in a newspaper he had evidently picked up. His posture was relaxed, his gaze fixed on the paper in his hands. The way his eyes barely flickered in her direction suggested he was deliberately avoiding direct eye contact, though Arianna couldn't help but feel the weight of his presence lingering.
Arianna's frown deepened as she tried to block out Xander’s presence and refocus on her reading. Despite her efforts to immerse herself in the book, the intense sensation of being watched persisted.
The sense of his gaze was so palpable that she found herself lifting her head once again to check.
By then, Xander had set aside his newspaper, which lay neatly folded on the coffee table. He now rested his head on his hand, scrolling through his phone with an air of casual detachment. The change in his posture only heightened her unease.
Arianna wondered if she was being overly sensitive. Was the constant feeling of being watched a result of her stress or simply a byproduct of her restless night? She struggled to discern whether her nerves were frayed from lack of sleep or if Xander’s presence was genuinely unsettling her.
Arianna instinctively rubbed her temples, trying to clear her mind and refocus on her reading. She immersed herself in the book, hoping to escape the unsettling feeling of being watched.
Yet, just moments after resuming, the oppressive weight of Xander's gaze returned. She glanced up, catching him in the act. Despite his seemingly relaxed posture, with his eyes on his phone and fingers tapping away, his gaze was unmistakably fixed on her.
Caught off guard, Arianna’s confusion deepened. Xander’s posture remained unchanged, but the intensity of his stare was impossible to ignore. Finally, he lifted his gaze from the screen and locked eyes with her. His dark eyes, piercing and unwavering, met hers with an almost accusing clarity. His voice, though calm, carried an edge of irritation as he said, “You claimed you didn’t want to see me, Arianna. So why do you keep glancing at me?”
Arianna stumbled for words, her mind racing. “I... I wasn’t... I didn’t...” She struggled to form a coherent response, her attempts to deflect falling short under the weight of his direct question.
Arianna's words faltered at the mere utterance of "I," unable to find a plausible excuse. The idea of admitting she felt his constant gaze on her was far too uncomfortable.
Xander's eyes narrowed slightly, his curiosity piqued. “You what?” His tone was laced with a mix of skepticism and intrigue.
Unable to meet his intense stare, Arianna looked away, her guilt palpable. “It’s a bit stuffy in here. I’m just going to step outside for a moment.”
Without waiting for a reply, she hurried out of the ward, her heart pounding in her chest.
In the corridor, Arianna pressed her palms against the cool windowpane, using the chill of the glass to help ground herself. She inhaled deeply, savoring the crisp, fresh air as it filled her lungs, each breath helping to slow her pounding heartbeat. Her tense muscles gradually relaxed as the rhythmic rise and fall of her chest steadied her nerves. As she prepared to reenter the ward, her gaze caught sight of a figure approaching in the distance. The familiar shape brought a rush of recognition, pulling her attention sharply away from her previous concerns.
