CHAPTER 155
Arianna was somewhat surprised to see Sheena at the hospital. She hadn't seen her since the Schmidts’ silver wedding anniversary banquet. Then again, they weren't particularly close and had little in common.
Arianna retracted her gaze and started walking away.
But Sheena had already spotted her and immediately called out, “Arianna, is that you?”
Sheena approached quickly.
Arianna had no choice but to stop. She looked at Sheena and spoke in an indifferent tone, “Is something the matter?”
“I didn’t expect to see you here. What happened? Are you feeling unwell?” Sheena asked with a touch of concern, as if they were close friends.
Arianna frowned slightly.
Sheena was an ambitious person, maliciously devious, with underhanded and despicable methods to achieve her goals. Sheena could never accept a view that opposed hers, and Arianna had no desire for unnecessary interaction with her.
“I’m fine,” Arianna said politely but distantly. “I’ll be leaving if there’s nothing else.”
“Hey.” Sheena stepped in front of her, blocking her path. A smile played on her lips as she said, “You don’t have to put your guard up with me, Arianna. I have no intention of doing anything to you. I just…want to say thank you.”
Arianna's eyebrows knitted further in confusion. “Thank me? For what?”
Sheena's smile broadened, her eyes sparkling with an enigmatic expression. "I want to express my gratitude for the part you played in uniting Justin and me. Without your assistance, I would not have had the opportunity to grow so close to him. Therefore, thank you."
"I am unsure of what you mean, Sheena. If that is all, I must return to my brother."
She tried to step around Sheena, but Sheena moved to block her again, her expression shifting to something more serious.
Arianna's eyes narrowed, a spark of defiance igniting within her.
“I’m not afraid of you, Sheena. Whatever you’re planning, it won’t work. Now, if you’ll excuse me.”
She sidestepped Sheena with a determined stride, heading back to the ward where her brother lay. She couldn’t afford to let Sheena's words shake her. She had to stay strong, for herself and for Charlie.
“To be honest, I’m only where I am today thanks to you. If you hadn’t withdrawn the accusation, I’d still be in jail now.”
As Sheena spoke, she placed her hand on her stomach and caressed it gently.
That action…
Arianna had a sudden realization. “Are you pregnant?”
“Yeah.” Pride radiated from Sheena’s eyes.
“The baby is Justin’s. It’s more than two months along now, but the fetus isn’t very stable and there’s a threat of miscarriage. Justin is extremely nervous and insists that I be treated in the hospital.”
No wonder she was spotted in the ward area.
Arianna had withdrawn the accusation against Sheena back then to give her a choice: she could either turn her life around and choose a legitimate path or continue her deceitful ways. Unfortunately, Sheena had chosen the latter.
“You don’t need to thank me,” Arianna said, her voice steady and distant. “This is your life and your choice. It’s not my responsibility.”
Sheena’s face tightened slightly, but she forced a smile. “Why are you being so harsh, Arianna? I know I did some terrible things to you before, but it was because I was forced into it by Piper. There’s no need to hold grudges. We could put the past behind us and support each other moving forward, don’t you think?”
Sheena spoke with earnestness, her eyes reflecting a deep yearning. “Let me be straightforward with you. Justin is entirely focused on me and our baby. He’s promised that if the baby is a boy, he’ll divorce Violet and marry me. From that point on, I’ll be Mrs. Schmidt. With that status, being your friend would be more than enough. I could even offer help if you ever need it.”
Sheena’s tone was laden with sincerity as she continued, “I’m only offering friendship because you once helped me out of a tough situation.”
Arianna listened intently, her expression inscrutable. Gradually, a faint smile curved her lips.
Seeing the smile, Sheena’s eyes brightened with hope. “So, do you agree?”
Arianna met her gaze with a calm, measured look. “You shouldn’t be seeking friendship just because I helped you before.”
Sheena’s smile faltered, her expression shifting from eagerness to confusion. “What do you mean by that?”
Arianna’s smile grew sharper, carrying a hint of mockery. “You’re interested in being friends only because your position is precarious. You’re hoping to leverage me for protection, isn’t that right?”
Her words were blunt, almost brutally honest. Sheena’s face darkened, a flush of embarrassment and anger creeping into her cheeks.
“I have no lingering issues with the Schmidts. As for your own conflicts with them, that’s your problem to handle.”
With those final words, Arianna offered no further explanation. She turned and walked past Sheena with deliberate calmness, her movements graceful and resolute as she left the corridor.
Sheena watched Arianna's retreating figure, her face contorted with irritation.
“How dare she act so high and mighty!” Sheena thought, her anger simmering beneath the surface. In her eyes, Arianna was nothing more than a fallen socialite, unworthy of the attention Sheena had initially extended.
Sheena had offered friendship out of a sense of misplaced benevolence, thinking she was doing Arianna a favor. Little did Arianna realize how fortunate she was!
As soon as Sheena became Mrs. Schmidt, Arianna would be nothing more than a distant memory. Sheena would make sure of it.
Sheena caressed her belly tenderly, her eyes softening with maternal pride.
“My little one,” she whispered, “you must come into this world strong. Once you’re here, Mommy will be Mrs. Schmidt, and we’ll live the life we’ve always dreamed of. We’ll show everyone who doubted us just how wrong they were.”
With a renewed sense of determination, Sheena turned and walked back toward the ward, her steps light and filled with anticipation for the future.
