CHAPTER 222
The room was enveloped in a peaceful silence. Xander lay against the headboard, his face still pale, his lips colorless and drawn. His eyes were closed, and she couldn't tell if he had fallen into a deep sleep from exhaustion or was merely resting.
Arianna's steps softened, almost instinctively, not wanting to disturb him if he was asleep. Ronald, sensing her hesitance, helped her over to the chair beside the bed. She sat down quietly, her eyes never leaving Xander’s face.
Seeing that Xander was still resting, Ronald whispered, "I’ll leave you to keep Mr. King company. Call if you need anything."
"Thank you," she replied softly.
With that, Ronald tiptoed out of the room, closing the door with a delicate touch to avoid making any noise.
The room fell silent again, save for the faint sound of Xander’s breathing. Arianna sat there, taking in the sight of him, so different from the powerful, confident man she was used to. He seemed almost vulnerable in his sleep, and she felt an unexpected wave of protectiveness wash over her.
Arianna watched Xander intently, noticing how faint and shallow his breaths were. His chest barely moved with each inhale, and without the steady beeping of the heart monitor beside her, she might have started to panic, wondering if he was even breathing at all. The memory of his farewell in her dream replayed in her mind, a haunting image that sent a chill down her spine.
The thought of losing him had been a fear so deep that it threatened to shatter her every time she considered it. If he hadn't pulled through, if he had stayed in a coma like Charlie, she wasn’t sure she could bear the weight of that sorrow.
With a tentative motion, she slowly extended her hand and placed it lightly on top of his. His skin was still cool to the touch, though there was a hint of warmth that hadn't been there when he was in the intensive care unit. It was a small but significant sign, a confirmation that he was indeed alive, fighting his way back to her.
Feeling a wave of relief wash over her, Arianna allowed her heartbeat to settle, finding a sense of calmness that she hadn’t felt since the incident. She began to pull her hand away gently, careful not to disturb him, but just as she moved, she felt a slight squeeze. His fingers closed around hers, holding on just like he had when they were in the intensive care unit.
Her breath caught in her throat, and she froze in place, hardly daring to move. She looked up at Xander's face, half expecting to see his eyes open, but he remained still, his grip on her hand the only sign of his awareness.
Arianna decided not to pull away. Instead, she slid her chair closer to the bed, letting his hand stay wrapped around hers, finding a small comfort in that silent connection between them.
As she sat there, lost in her thoughts, a figure appeared at the door to the ward. The door wasn’t latched, allowing the newcomer to quietly push it open halfway. The woman stood there, her eyes scanning the room until they landed on Xander lying on the bed, his hand intertwined with Arianna’s.
Her gaze lingered on the two of them, observing the scene that radiated tenderness and intimacy. There was something undeniably loving in the way Arianna held his hand, in the way she sat there so quietly by his side, and it was a sight that seemed to stir a mixture of emotions in the woman at the door.
The woman stood at the door for what felt like an eternity, silently watching the scene unfold before her. She appeared poised to step inside, her hand already reaching toward the doorframe when she noticed a flicker of movement from Xander. His brow furrowed ever so slightly, and he began to stir, slowly opening his eyes.
Her foot hesitated in mid-air, and she froze, unsure of whether to proceed or retreat.
Xander’s vision was blurry at first, the world around him still settling into focus as he came out of the fog of unconsciousness. There was a sensation in his hand, something warm and familiar. As his senses gradually returned, he realized he was holding onto someone’s hand. His gaze finally cleared, and the first thing he saw was Arianna sitting beside him.
Their eyes locked, a mixture of surprise and uncertainty passing between them.
Arianna hadn’t expected him to wake up so suddenly. The sight of his open eyes caught her off guard, and for a brief moment, her mind went completely blank. She struggled to find the right words, but nothing seemed appropriate. In her flustered state, she ended up blurting out, "It’s you... You were holding my hand..."
As soon as the words left her lips, she wanted to disappear. Of all the things she could have said, that was what she went with? She mentally chastised herself, wishing she could somehow take it back.
Xander’s expression was a mix of bewilderment and mild amusement. His lips twitched as though he couldn’t decide whether to chuckle or roll his eyes. With a voice that was still rough from disuse, he replied, “Is that the first thing you say to me after all this time? After everything?”
He wasn’t expecting her to break down in tears or throw herself into his arms, but surely there were better ways to start a conversation after waking up from such an ordeal.
Arianna could feel the heat rising to her cheeks, a blush of embarrassment at her awkwardness. She knew she had stumbled right out of the gate, and there was no way to pretend otherwise. Her mind was still reeling from everything that had happened, from the fear of losing him to the relief of seeing him awake, and it left her at a loss for words.
After an excruciating silence that felt like hours but was only a few seconds, she finally managed to say something that had been weighing on her heart. "Thank you for saving me, Xander."
Her voice was soft, lacking its usual confidence, but the sincerity behind her words was unmistakable. It was an admission, an acknowledgement of the gravity of what he had done for her. And in that simple statement, there was a world of unspoken emotions that they both understood.
