CHAPTER 156
In a dimly lit corner, a woman with a darkened expression stood silently. She forcefully removed her sunglasses, revealing her identity as Piper.
Her initial intention was to confront Sheena, but she had unexpectedly overheard the conversation between Sheena and Arianna.
The events at the Schmidts’ silver wedding anniversary had severely embarrassed Piper and her mother, causing them to lose all social standing. Adding to the humiliation, Sheena had deliberately taunted Piper’s mother, and Piper’s father had foolishly defended Sheena, further aggravating the situation. The once stable Piper family was now in disarray.
Piper had never faced such extreme hardship in her life. Her once stable home had become a battleground, with her mother lashing out in distress and her father, who had always been her rock, now berating her and treating her as a burden. Each day dragged on interminably for Piper.
The root of her misery, she believed, lay with Arianna.
If Arianna hadn’t withdrawn the accusation against Sheena, Sheena wouldn’t have schemed to seduce Piper’s father. The subsequent chaos and the unraveling of her family’s life would never have occurred.
It was all Arianna’s fault.
Piper’s teeth were clenched tightly as she muttered Arianna ’s name, her anger seething as if she were ready to crush her adversary.
Her fury ignited, Piper stormed after Arianna with a resolute stride.
...
Back in the ward, Arianna found Xander still seated. He was engrossed in his laptop, surrounded by a scattered pile of documents on the coffee table. The screen glowed with a series of business reports and emails, revealing that he was absorbed in work.
Arianna guessed that Ronald had been asked to deliver them while she stepped outside for a breather. This further indicated his determination to stay and keep her company.
Arianna took a few deep breaths and muttered to herself, "Pretend he's invisible, pretend he's invisible, pretend he's invisible!"
After mentally chanting this, it seemed to have some effect as she walked past him without glancing his way. After washing her face in the bathroom, she returned to her small bed and lay down.
She figured it was best to sleep and avoid looking at Xander again.
However, it was then that Arianna felt Xander’s gaze on her once more. She glanced over, initially thinking it was an illusion, but this time she met Xander’s dark, penetrating eyes directly.
Arianna was momentarily stunned and blinked rapidly. “Why... why are you looking at me?”
Xander’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his voice was deep. “Are you going to sleep already?”
“Yeah…” Wasn’t it obvious?
Something seemed off about his question. What was he implying by asking that?
Arianna pursed her lips slightly and said,
“Xander, there’s only one small bed in this room meant for the caregiver, and this is where I’ll be sleeping. The bed’s too small for more than one person. If you want to stay, you can use the sofa.”
She was determined to keep her little bed for herself and wasn’t going to let Xander take it!
After a moment, a hint of mischief appeared in Arianna’s eyes as she added with feigned sweetness, “Xander, if you think sleeping on the sofa is too degrading, you can always head back to your villa or hotel suite and sleep in a more comfortable bed there!”
Xander’s lips twitched.
She was clearly doing everything she could to make him leave!
Xander slammed the lid of his laptop shut, pushed it aside, and then stood up.
Arianna raised an eyebrow. Was Xander leaving because he couldn’t handle the embarrassment?
It would be ideal if he did leave; then she could sleep in peace!
However, Xander took slow steps toward her and stood beside the small bed.
His large shadow loomed over Arianna, making her heart race suddenly.
“You…”
Arianna’s first instinct was to sit up, but Xander’s hand pressed firmly on her shoulder, pushing her back onto the bed.
The touch made Arianna shiver uncontrollably. Her eyes widened in terror as she tried to scramble to the other side of the small bed.
Xander’s strong hand grasped her slender wrist and pulled her back with ease. He then climbed into the bed, leaned over, and firmly pinned Arianna beneath him.
Her hands were pressed against either side of her face, and his knees held her feet down, leaving her unable to move. The fear in her eyes began to become more apparent.
“Arianna, you… you j-just promised me that y-y-ou wouldn’t do anything to me!” she stammered.
Xander’s body hovered over her, his dark eyes locked onto hers.
He rarely had a clear view of Arianna’s emotions, but right now, her resistance and raw fear were unmistakable.
The dim light in Xander’s eyes flickered, as though something was squeezing his heart, leaving him breathless.
Arianna, who had always been so bold in his presence, now appeared as a terrified, cornered creature.
Xander closed his eyes, and when he opened them again, all traces of emotion seemed to have vanished.
His lips curved into a cold line. “I won’t do anything to you. Now sleep!”
With that, he lay back down beside her.
Arianna was left speechless and stunned for a moment before she realized that Xander wasn’t planning anything further. Instead, he intended to sleep on the small bed with her, rather than on the sofa!
The bed was already cramped, barely fitting Arianna alone. With Xander’s wide frame added, half of Arianna’s body was pressed against his, and their bodies were in close, intimate contact.
The situation felt too ambiguous and uncomfortable. Arianna was desperate to get up.
Finally, she conceded. She decided she wouldn’t fight him any longer and resolved to sleep on the sofa instead.
As soon as Arianna attempted to move, Xander’s hand tightened around her waist, and his low, menacing voice rumbled from above her.
“If you move again, I can’t guarantee I won’t do anything to you!”
