CHAPTER 190
Arianna blinked a few times, unsure if her eyes were playing tricks on her.
The man moved closer with every confident stride, his strikingly handsome face coming into clear view.
"Xander …" Arianna’s eyes widened in surprise. "I thought you said you wouldn’t be back for a few days?"
Xander’s dark eyes locked onto hers, his expression as unreadable as his calm tone.
“The meeting got cancelled at the last minute, so I figured I’d come back home. Surely, I'm allowed to come back and rest in my own home, am I not?"
"Ah…" Arianna quickly shook her head, her voice laced with nervousness. "No, of course, you can, Xander. It’s just… well… I… I invited Dr. Woods over for dinner tonight. I wasn’t expecting you back so soon, so it caught me off guard, that’s all."
A flicker of surprise crossed Xander’s eyes.
"What a coincidence."
Was it a coincidence? Of all the days he could have chosen to come home, why did it have to be today?
Arianna was just about to speak when the sound of another car pulling into the driveway caught her attention. She and Xander turned simultaneously, their eyes following the sleek vehicle as it came to a smooth stop.
The rear door opened and out stepped Alan, a bouquet of pink roses cradled in his hand, their soft petals vivid against the evening light. Xander’s gaze shifted to the flowers, his expression momentarily unreadable before a hint of amusement tugged at the corners of his lips, the subtle gesture not lost on Arianna.
Xander shifted his gaze to Arianna, his expression unreadable as he said,
"Your guest has arrived. You should go and greet him." His tone was deceptively casual, but there was an underlying edge that made sure everyone present caught his words.
The subtle command in Xander’s voice sent a shiver down Arianna’s spine, but she quickly brushed it off as she focused on the situation at hand. With Alan now standing just a few feet away, she pushed aside her suspicions about the timing of Xander’s return. Taking a deep breath, she composed herself and turned to Alan with a warm, welcoming smile.
"Dr. Woods, I'm so glad you could make it."
Alan's steps faltered just for a moment when he caught sight of Xander’s imposing figure, but he quickly masked his surprise. Offering a polite smile in return, he replied,
"Of course, Arianna. I wouldn’t miss it."
Xander cleared his throat at that exact moment and added with a hint of playfulness in his voice, "Aren't you going to introduce us properly, darling? After all, it’s not every day I get to meet your esteemed guest."
His eyes glinted with a mix of amusement and something else that Arianna couldn’t quite place.
The word ‘darling’ sent a shiver down Arianna’s spine, but she forced herself to remain calm.
"Dr. Woods, this is my…husband, Xander King. Sorry for not mentioning it before."
Alan nodded with a polite smile. "No need to apologize."
Arianna then turned to Xander, still feeling slightly awkward.
"Honey, this is Dr. Woods."
Xander’s lips curled ever so slightly as his sharp gaze locked onto Alan. He extended his hand with a smooth, almost calculated gesture, saying,
“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Dr. Woods. My wife speaks highly of you. She’s mentioned more than once how grateful she is for everything you’ve done.”
Alan stepped forward, meeting Xander’s handshake with a firm grip. "I’m just fulfilling my duty, Mr. King. Arianna is a wonderful person, and I’m simply doing my best to ensure her brother receives the best care possible.".”
The exchange between the two men was outwardly polite, even cordial, but the underlying tension was palpable. Arianna, standing just a few steps away, could sense the unspoken challenge between them—each man testing the waters, sizing up the other.
Their handshake, though seemingly friendly, carried a weight that belied the simple act. It was as if an invisible battle was taking place, with neither man willing to yield ground.
The subtle undercurrent of hostility between Xander and Alan sent a shiver down Arianna’s spine. She couldn’t shake the feeling that this encounter was far from coincidental.
Was it possible that Xander had a hidden agenda for insisting she invite Alan over for dinner?
And why had he chosen this particular evening to return home unannounced?
An uneasy silence hung in the air as the two men released their grip, their eyes still locked in what felt like a silent duel. Arianna, sensing the growing tension, forced a smile and quickly interjected, hoping to diffuse the situation before it escalated.
“Please, Dr. Woods, come inside and make yourself comfortable,” she urged, her voice laced with a hint of anxiety.
She led the way into the villa, all the while trying to suppress the gnawing worry that something might go wrong. As they walked, she couldn’t help but glance back at Xander, her suspicions growing.
There was an intensity in his demeanour that made her uneasy, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he had orchestrated this entire evening with a purpose she had yet to understand.
"Yes, please do come inside, Dr. Woods," Xander echoed with a polite insistence.
Alan’s fingers tightened around the bouquet of roses, though he maintained a calm and composed exterior. His eyes met Xander’s with steady resolve as he replied,
“Of course.”
Alan took a deliberate step forward, his demeanour unshaken despite the underlying tension, and made his way into the house.
