CHAPTER 220
The doctor reassured Ronald, his voice calm and composed. “Just help her sit down, and I’ll take a look.”
Ronald gently guided Arianna to a chair, his hands steady despite his anxiety. The doctor bent down and conducted a quick assessment before offering a relieved smile.
“It’s nothing serious. Her body is simply reacting to the sudden relief after all the stress and anxiety she’s been under. A natural response. Just get her back to her ward and ensure she rests properly.”
Ronald exhaled in relief, wiping the beads of sweat from his brow. “Thank you, Doctor. I’ll make sure she rests.”
...
When Arianna opened her eyes next, soft rays of sunlight streamed into the room, warming the space. She turned her head slightly, letting the sunlight brush against her skin, feeling its comforting warmth.
The quiet atmosphere was soon interrupted by the soft creak of the door and approaching footsteps. She instinctively glanced over, her heart fluttering with anticipation, only to feel a slight pang of disappointment when she saw who had entered—it was her best friend, Rochelle.
Catching the subtle shift in Arianna’s expression, Rochelle raised an eyebrow and teased,
“What, expecting someone else? Am I really that disappointing?”
Arianna quickly masked her emotions and flashed a smile. “Of course not! I’m always happy to see you.”
Rochelle feigned an exaggerated sigh of relief. “Good! I was about to feel seriously underappreciated here.”
She walked over to the bed, adjusted it so Arianna could sit up more comfortably, and tucked a pillow behind her back. Rochelle then examined Arianna’s face closely, her usual playful demeanour giving way to a look of genuine concern.
“How are you doing? Are you okay?”
Arianna smiled softly, her voice reassuring. “I’m fine, honestly. It’s just a scratch.”
But the weight of her words was heavier than she let on. Xander had taken the brunt of the attack meant for her, shielding her from fatal harm. If it hadn’t been for him, she knew she would likely be the one lying unconscious in the ICU, with little hope of waking up anytime soon. The thought sent a shiver down her spine, but she quickly pushed it away, forcing herself to focus on the present.
Rochelle, sensing the worry clouding Arianna’s thoughts, gave her hand a comforting squeeze. “That scum—oops, I mean Xander—has already made it through the worst of it, right? Once he wakes up, everything will be fine. You don’t need to stress yourself out. He’s too stubborn to go down that easily.”
Arianna turned her gaze to Rochelle, her lips curling slightly at the attempt to lift her spirits.
Rochelle smirked, continuing, “Guys like him are just like John—men who stick around to annoy us for centuries.”
Arianna blinked, momentarily speechless at her friend’s bluntness. Yet, as always, Rochelle had her unique way of offering comfort, and soon enough, Arianna found herself smiling, a quiet laugh escaping her.
Then, as a thought crept into her mind, Arianna’s expression shifted slightly. “Hey, Chelle, what happened to Piper?”
At the mention of Piper, Rochelle’s face darkened. That reckless woman had nearly destroyed everything. If Xander hadn’t been there in time to shield Arianna, things could have ended tragically. And to think it was Rochelle herself who had urged Xander to come and pick Arianna up. The guilt still gnawed at her, and the mere thought of Piper enraged her.
“She’s been arrested for assault and attempted murder,” Rochelle replied with a sharp edge to her voice. “She’ll be facing some serious jail time.”
Piper had sealed her fate with her actions.
However, Arianna’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“That still doesn’t make sense. From what I know about Piper, she wouldn’t just snap like that. Her behaviour that night was completely off. She was unusually strong, and her eyes... There was something so unsettling about the way she looked at me. She wasn’t acting like herself.”
Rochelle nodded but then added, “When the police questioned the staff, the bartender and the manager both mentioned she had been coming there to drink a lot recently. My guess? She probably got blackout drunk and lost her mind.”
“Do you think that’s all it was? Just too much alcohol?” Arianna’s voice wavered, still not entirely convinced. Something about the whole situation continued to gnaw at her.
"Could someone’s mental state be that off after drinking too much?" Arianna asked, her tone filled with doubt.
Rochelle raised an eyebrow, sensing the unease in her friend's voice.
“Why? Do you think something else is going on?” she replied, concern creeping into her words.
Arianna paused for a moment, her mind racing as she tried to piece together the strange events of that night. Something still felt wrong, but she couldn’t quite pinpoint what it was. With a deep sigh, she shook her head.
“Maybe I’m just overthinking things.”
Rochelle gave her a reassuring look. “Let it go for now. Don’t stress over Piper. What you need is to get some rest.”
Arianna nodded reluctantly. “You’re right. I’ll try.”
Rochelle let out a soft sigh, her usual energy dimming for a moment. “I swear, I hate hospitals. The smell, the feeling...everything about them. Get well soon, okay? I want to get out of here as much as you do.”
Arianna smiled faintly at her friend’s words, knowing Rochelle meant well. “You and me both. I just hope that from now on, I and the people I care about can stay healthy and never have to come back to a place like this.”
Rochelle smiled back, squeezing Arianna’s hand one last time before standing up. "Let's make that a promise."
