CHAPTER 221
In another ward, Xander slowly opened his heavy eyelids. It had been so long since he had seen light that it took him a moment to adjust, his eyes narrowing against the brightness. After blinking a few times, he finally managed to keep them open.
“Mr. King, you’re awake!”
The sound of joyful weeping filled the room, and before Xander could react, a man rushed toward him, throwing himself onto the bed. He hugged Xander as though they were long-lost lovers, sobbing loudly, “Oh, thank God, Mr. King! I thought I’d lose you! I don’t know what I would’ve done if you had died!”
Xander looked down at the sight before him—Ronald, clinging to him with tears streaming down his face and snot dribbling from his nose. It was enough to make him wish he had stayed unconscious. For a brief moment, he seriously considered the idea that dying might have been the better option.
Taking a deep breath, he summoned what little strength he had to mutter, “Get. Away.”
Ronald, however, took the reprimand as a sign of affection. Beaming through his tears, he stood up straight and wiped his face. “Mr. King, you can scold me all you want! It’s a good sign if you’re yelling at me! Go ahead, vent as much as you like!”
Xander closed his eyes, wishing for a moment of peace as his head began to throb. The last thing he wanted after waking up was Ronald. He had hoped the first person he'd see would be Arianna. After all, it had been her voice that had pulled him back from the darkness.
But instead, here was Ronald—a constant reminder of just how wrong things could go.
Ignoring Ronald’s ridiculous display of loyalty, Xander scanned the room, his heart sinking when he realized that Arianna wasn’t there. His brows furrowed in frustration.
“Have you been here the whole time?” he asked, his voice laced with irritation.
Ronald puffed out his chest, eager to prove himself. “Sir! I haven’t left your side for a second! I’ve been right here, watching over you the entire time!”
Xander sighed inwardly, already regretting his question. "Of course you have," he muttered, feeling a wave of disappointment.
Xander’s expression darkened instantly.
Was all the crying he thought he had heard during his coma from Ronald? And did that include the desperate plea of, ‘I’ll never mention divorce to you again, and I’m willing to give you a baby’?
His mood soured further at the thought.
Ronald, noticing the deepening scowl on Xander’s face, nearly went into a panic. “Mr. King, are you feeling worse? Are you seeing the light at the end of the tunnel or something? I...I’ll get a doctor right away!”
If there was anything that could bring Xander back from the brink, it was his irritation with Ronald.
Xander shut his eyes, trying to gather his patience. After a deep breath, he finally muttered, “I’m fine.”
He hesitated for a moment before asking, his voice tinged with an uncharacteristic vulnerability, “Where’s Arianna? Where is she?”
Xander had only allowed himself to pass out once he was sure Arianna was safe. Her condition must have been stable; otherwise, why wasn’t she here? Even on the edge of death, did he not deserve just a little bit of her concern?
“Miss King? She’s in another ward. I think she’s awake now. I’ll go let her know you’re up.”
Ronald quickly exited the room, closing the door behind him with unusual gentleness.
…
At the hospital entrance, a woman stepped out of a sleek car, a bouquet of white lilies in her hand. She was dressed in a perfectly tailored light-blue dress that highlighted her graceful figure. Her long, jet-black hair cascaded down her back, contrasting beautifully with her porcelain skin.
As she walked through the hospital corridors, her striking appearance turned heads and drew whispers.
She approached the nurse's station with a warm smile and asked softly, "Hello, could you tell me which ward Mr. Xander King is in?"
The young nurse behind the counter was momentarily stunned by the woman’s radiant smile. It took her a few seconds to recover before she quickly replied, “Let me check that for you.”
The nurse quickly scanned through the computer and found the information. "Room 203," she informed the woman, who responded with a polite smile and a nod.
"Thank you," the woman said before heading down the hallway toward Xander's ward, her steps deliberate and graceful.
Meanwhile, in Arianna’s hospital room, Ronald came rushing in, barely able to contain his excitement. "Mr. King is awake!" he announced, his voice a mix of relief and joy.
Arianna felt her heart skip a beat as the words sank in. The heaviness that had been pressing down on her since the incident seemed to lift, and a faint glimmer of hope sparked in her eyes. Xander was awake. He was going to be alright.
"I... I need to see him," she said, hurriedly tossing the blanket aside as she attempted to get out of bed. However, in her haste, she inadvertently pulled on her wound, eliciting a sharp gasp of pain.
Rochelle watched the scene unfold with a mix of concern and mild exasperation. "Easy there," she said with a sigh, shaking her head. "He's not going anywhere, you know."
Despite her words, Rochelle moved closer to offer support, helping Arianna carefully swing her legs over the side of the bed.
Arianna looked up at her friend with a grateful smile. "Thank you," she said softly. Then, after a moment’s hesitation, she asked, "Would you like to come with me to see Xander?"
“I think I’ll pass,” Rochelle declined without hesitation. “Xander might’ve redeemed himself a bit, but he’s still got a lot to prove before he's off my blacklist. Maybe if he becomes the husband you deserve, I’ll consider letting him treat me to a meal.”
She paused before adding with a smirk, “Now, you focus on getting better. Next time I visit, I want to see you up and lively, got it?”
Arianna nodded. "Got it."
Rochelle then turned to Ronald, who was still standing awkwardly by the door. She raised an eyebrow and commanded in an almost regal tone, "Well? Be a gentleman and help your boss’s lady up, will you?"
Ronald found himself instinctively responding to the commanding aura Rochelle exuded. Without a moment's hesitation, he moved forward, offering his arm to Arianna in a supportive yet respectful manner, barely stopping short of addressing her with some royal honorific.
“See you, Ari,” Rochelle said with a playful smirk before slipping on her sunglasses and strutting away on her high heels.
As he watched Rochelle walk off, Ronald couldn't help but be in awe. There was beauty, and then there was the kind of presence Rochelle had—an almost regal, commanding air that seemed to demand respect and admiration. It was no wonder that even someone as notorious as John couldn't seem to keep her under control.
Shaking off his thoughts, Ronald refocused on his task and guided Arianna towards Xander’s ward. With each step they took closer to the room, Arianna’s heartbeat quickened. The reality of seeing him again, awake and alert, filled her with an unexpected mix of emotions. Relief and excitement were mingled with a sudden nervousness that she couldn't quite explain.
By the time they reached the door, she found herself halting abruptly.
"Is something wrong, Mrs. King?" Ronald asked, looking at her with concern.
Arianna couldn’t quite pinpoint what was happening within her. The joy of knowing Xander was awake was undeniable, yet the prospect of facing him stirred a tumult of uncertainty. Perhaps it was the fear of the unknown, the vulnerability of confronting emotions she hadn't fully processed.
She took a couple of deep, steadying breaths, willing her racing heart to calm. Gathering her resolve, she finally stepped forward, gently pushing the door open as she entered.
