CHAPTER 195
Early the next morning, Arianna woke up feeling refreshed and well-rested. As she began to awaken, she suddenly felt a sharp, intense gaze. Her instincts kicked in, and she opened her eyes wide.
Without fully realizing what she was doing, she instinctively clenched her fist and threw a punch forward.
In an instant, Arianna saw Xander sitting beside her bed, his gaze fixed intently on her. Her reflexive punch landed solidly on his cheek before she could retract it.
Arianna's mind went blank for a moment, and she quickly pulled her hand back, hiding it behind her. Stammering, she said,
“I... I thought you were…”
She paused, realizing she almost said “a threat,” and instead continued,
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to, i was just....”
Xander noticed her reaction and realized that her reflexes were automatic, similar to the protective measures she had previously employed. This insight only intensified his internal conflict.
Noticing Xander’s silence and his slightly pained expression, Arianna began to feel concerned. She hesitantly reached out and gently touched his cheek, her voice filled with worry.
“I'm so sorry. I hope I didn’t hurt you. I’m sorry if I did. It was a reflex—I didn’t mean to.”
Though the punch hadn’t been very forceful, Xander was taken aback by her gentle touch and involuntarily responded,
“It does sting a bit.”
Arianna was momentarily at a loss for words and felt a pang of guilt. She couldn’t help but mutter, “Why didn’t you just move out of the way?”
Xander, being quite capable, could have easily avoided the punch, so why had he allowed it to connect? It seemed odd for someone so resilient to be affected by such a minor blow.
Arianna continued, her voice tinged with a mix of apology and incredulity,
"Tell me, does it hurt a lot?" she asked, and then, almost instinctively, added, "Would you like me to... kiss it better?"
Xander was caught off guard by her words but kept his composure, replying with a faint smirk.
"Yes," he nodded, placing a hand on his cheek. "It does hurt. Could you kiss it better, please?"
He deliberately turned his face toward her and leaned in slightly, making it clear he was waiting for her response.
Arianna blinked, unsure if she was still dreaming, because this situation seemed so surreal. She rubbed her eyes and looked again—Xander was still right there, waiting expectantly.
Swallowing hard, she asked,
“Are you being serious, Xander?”
Xander fixed his gaze on Arianna and replied with a probing question, “Wasn’t that your suggestion? What’s the matter? Did you just say that without meaning it? Are you all talk and no action?”
Arianna’s eyes widened in surprise at his words. “Of course not!” she responded, her voice a mix of indignation and determination.
“I’ll kiss it better, just give me a moment!”
With a firm grip, she seized Xander’s collar and pulled him closer, bringing his face within inches of hers. Even though she was accustomed to seeing him, the proximity made her momentarily lose her composure.
It almost felt like the universe had a special favour for Xander. How could his eyelashes be so long and lush? He never seemed to use any skincare products, yet his skin was flawless and smooth. His features were so strikingly perfect that even the most skilled sculptors couldn’t have captured such beauty.
Arianna couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy as she took in his features up close.
She swallowed nervously, her thoughts momentarily distracted by his allure.
Xander’s gaze softened slightly, and he smirked knowingly. “I see you’re enjoying the view,” he teased as if he could read her mind.
Arianna averted her gaze immediately, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment. “I wasn’t staring at you,” she stammered, trying to salvage the situation. “And I don’t think you’re all that good-looking, anyway!”
As soon as she finished speaking, she mentally berated herself for the clumsy attempt to explain and wished she could take back her words.
Xander's smile widened, and he spoke with an air of amusement,
“Oh, so you weren’t staring at me, and you don’t think I’m attractive at all? Is that what you mean?”
Realizing she had only dug herself deeper, Arianna decided to stay silent.
She took a deep breath, her cheeks reddening, and leaned in to plant a gentle, brief kiss on Xander’s cheek.
“There, all done!” she said, her voice wavering slightly.
Xander simply watched her with an unreadable expression, the silence stretching between them.
Arianna, anxious about the possibility of Xander asking for more, blurted out, “Why were you sitting beside me so early? And hold on a second…”
She finally noticed that Xander didn’t appear to have just woken up; in fact, he looked as though he hadn't slept at all the previous night.
Arianna examined the slight stubble around his jaw and asked, “Did you…stay up all night?”
“Yes,” Xander replied simply.
“Why?” Arianna’s voice lowered, her concern growing. “Were you caught up with work or something?”
“No,” Xander answered, his tone flat.
“Then...” Arianna trailed off, studying his face closely. She noticed the faint frown etched on his brow, indicating something was troubling him. “Is there some problem you’re struggling with?”
Xander met her gaze and said, “Yes.”
Arianna’s curiosity was piqued as she wondered what kind of issue could be so troubling that it kept Xander awake all night.
Arianna’s curiosity was immediately piqued, and she hesitated before offering, “What’s the problem? Maybe if you tell me, I could offer some advice or help.”
Xander’s gaze grew distant, and he fell silent as if she wasn’t meant to know.
Arianna shifted uncomfortably, smoothing her hair. “If you’re struggling to work it out yourself, I’m not sure I’ll be of much assistance. You should probably keep thinking about it. I’ll just go freshen up.”
As she attempted to get out of bed, Xander’s hand shot out and gently but firmly grasped her wrist, pulling her back down.
Surprised, Arianna looked up at him. “What’s wrong?”
Xander parted his lips, but hesitated for a moment before finally saying,
“You…”
