CHAPTER 233
Arianna’s sweet, crisp voice caused Xander's Adam’s apple to bob noticeably. His eyes darkened slightly, and when he spoke, his voice was a little rougher than before.
"What else?"
Typical, she thought. Men were always so predictable, always wanting a bit more. Suppressing an eye roll, Arianna kept her smile in place, though her teeth were practically clenched behind it. She leaned in, planting a big, dramatic kiss on his cheek.
Then, channelling every overly dramatic TV character she could think of, she tilted her head and cooed,
"Oh, come on, Honey. Pretty please?" Her voice was saccharine sweet, and she made a face internally, feeling a bit ridiculous.
Xander’s lips twitched in amusement. He reached out and gave her cheek a playful squeeze. His voice was husky as he finally relented,
"You win, Arianna."
He knew he was putty in her hands when she acted like that. In reality, he could never say no to her, not when she put in the effort to be charming, even if it was just for fun. He’d gladly guide her with the resume or do something as outlandish as plucking stars from the sky if that’s what she wanted.
Arianna didn’t want to give him the chance to change his mind. She quickly placed the laptop in his lap and grinned,
"All yours, Hubby!"
Xander squeezed her cheek a bit more firmly this time, reminding her who was in charge here. If he weren't injured, he might have found a more creative way to handle her teasing. But for now, he just sighed, pushing aside the urge to do anything more. He took a deep breath and focused on the resume in front of him, determined to give it his all.
...........
A week had passed.
Xander’s condition had been improving daily, thanks to his youthful resilience. He was nearly fully recovered, and after a final examination by the doctor, he was given the green light to be discharged that very day. He would only need to come back periodically for follow-up check-ups.
Arianna could have left the hospital much earlier, but she chose to stay and take care of Xander, deciding they would leave together once he was ready. Before heading out, the two made a stop to visit Charlie.
Charlie hadn't woken up yet, but his condition had been steadily improving since they started the new treatment plan the doctor had suggested.
Arianna looked at her brother lying there and let out a wistful sigh. "It would be so wonderful if Charlie could wake up and come home with us today."
Xander wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her close in a comforting gesture.
"He'll wake up. He knows you’re waiting for him."
'Just like I did,' Xander thought. He had fought his way back to consciousness for the woman he loved, refusing to let go.
"Yeah," Arianna agreed softly, a small glimmer of hope in her eyes.
With that, Xander guided her out of the room, his arm still around her waist. What they didn’t notice as they walked out was Charlie’s fingers twitching slightly, as if he sensed their presence.
Outside, Ronald was already standing by the car, ready to receive them. As they approached, he stepped forward with a bright smile.
"Welcome back to the land of the healthy, Mr. and Mrs. King! Congratulations on your recovery and discharge!"
Arianna let out a small laugh. "Thank you, Ronald!" she replied warmly.
Love might have been the reason, or maybe it wasn't, but Arianna’s smile was so radiant that it left Ronald momentarily stunned. He found himself grinning like a fool and managed to stammer,
“No need to thank me.”
A moment later, he felt the icy weight of Xander's stare boring into him. The silly grin on Ronald’s face froze instantly, fear snapping him back to reality. He quickly looked away and opened the door to the backseat, saying,
“Please, step in, Mr. and Mrs. King!”
Xander, ever the protective husband, placed his hand above Arianna’s head to shield it as she got into the car. After ensuring she was safely inside, he slid in beside her.
Ronald exhaled deeply, relieved as the oppressive weight of Xander's possessive glare lifted. His boss's intense protectiveness was enough to send shivers down anyone's spine.
After closing the door, Ronald walked around to the driver’s seat. Just as he was about to get in, a figure to his left caught his eye. For a split second, he thought he recognized her—Harmony Jackson?
He snapped his head around instinctively to get a better look, but there was no one there.
He blinked a few times, confirming that the figure had indeed vanished. He chalked it up to his imagination, probably spurred by the stress of nearly incurring his boss's wrath. After all, Harmony was supposed to be abroad. There was no way she could be there.
He shook off the strange feeling and continued toward the driver's seat. Settling in, he started the engine and drove away from the hospital.
At eight o’clock that evening, the audition list for the competition was finally released.
With Xander’s invaluable guidance, Arianna's resume had just the right touch to stand out, helping her clear the first hurdle. She received the notification that she had been selected for the final interview, scheduled for the following day.
The next morning, Grandma King, ever supportive, instructed Aunt Julia to prepare a hearty, confidence-boosting breakfast for Arianna.
After breakfast, Xander took it upon himself to drive her to the entrance of the television station.
As the car came to a halt, Arianna took a deep breath and unfastened her seat belt. She was about to open the door when Xander caught her wrist, pulling her back slightly. Leaning in, he pressed a kiss to her lips, then murmured, "I'm looking forward to hearing your good news."
Most people would offer simple good luck or words of encouragement, but Xander’s remark was strikingly confident as if he already knew she was going to succeed.
Arianna couldn't help but ask, "Are you that sure about me?"
She wasn’t entirely confident in passing the interview, but hearing his words...
Xander looked at her with unwavering conviction. "I have no doubt my wife will get first place."
His confidence in her eased her nerves, and she felt a surge of determination fill her.
Arianna leaned in and kissed him back, a glint of resolve in her eyes. "Alright, my dear husband. I won't let you down. I'll bring home that first place!"
