CHAPTER 241
Arianna instinctively shrank back, silently cursing herself for her careless words. She wished she could take it all back—*why had she even mentioned their rocky past?* They were starting over, and she knew better than to bring up old wounds.
Mentally kicking herself, she quickly tried to fix the situation. "Xander, I didn’t mean—"
Before she could finish, Xander interrupted her, his voice soft but firm. "If you plan on leaving with the money... just make sure to take me with you."
Her words faltered, caught in her throat.
She had braced herself for anger, maybe even disappointment, but instead, Xander's response took her by surprise. There was no frustration, no accusation—just a simple, sincere request that warmed her heart.
Since his recovery, Xander had changed in ways Arianna couldn’t quite wrap her head around. His tenderness, his patience, and the way he spoke about starting fresh—it all felt surreal, like a dream she was afraid to wake from. A part of her was still holding back, still uncertain, as if she might stumble and fall back into the past.
But at that moment, she felt a sense of calm wash over her.
A wave of emotion welled up inside her, so overwhelming that it left her struggling for words. She wanted to say something to convey how much his actions meant to her, how deeply touched she was—but everything she thought of seemed inadequate.
Instead, she acted on impulse, leaning forward and pressing her lips against his in a soft, tender kiss.
Words might fail her, but her actions wouldn’t. It was the first time since they had gotten married that she had kissed him of her own free will, a kiss that came from her heart.
Though they had shared other intimate moments before, this kiss felt different—it made her cheeks flush with warmth, and the blush crept to the tips of her ears.
Without another word, she quickly unlocked the car, opened the door, and stepped out. Before she could lose her nerve, she hurried into the hospital, leaving Xander with a quiet smile lingering on his lips.
Xander was left momentarily stunned. He stood frozen for a few seconds, fingers lightly brushing over his lips where Arianna's kiss still lingered. The warmth of her touch hadn’t faded, and he found himself smiling without realizing it.
After taking a moment to savour the memory, he finally snapped back to reality, restarted the car, and smoothly drove away.
...
Arianna hurried down the hospital corridor as if something was chasing her, her heart racing the entire way. When she finally reached Charlie’s room, she quietly slipped inside, shut the door behind her, and leaned against it to catch her breath.
Her pulse gradually calmed, and she glanced down at the black card still in her hand. A soft, unbidden smile appeared on her face.
Even though she knew she wouldn’t likely need to use Xander’s money, the card had a much deeper significance—it symbolized the end of their past struggles and the beginning of something new.
Arianna walked over to Charlie’s bedside, gently sitting down. With a soft voice, she said,
“Can you see this, Charlie? Your brother-in-law gave me this card. He just… handed over everything he has to me.”
Her eyes sparkled with a newfound brightness as she spoke, her emotions barely contained.
“I used to tell you that Xander and I had a perfect marriage, even though that wasn’t entirely true. But now, I think I can finally say it without any doubt. When you wake up, you’ll see it for yourself—Xander and I are genuinely happy together.”
She paused for a moment, her smile softening as she reflected on how far they had come.
“After everything that happened, especially when he called off the wedding two years ago, I never thought I’d get another chance to be with him. But somehow, life gave me that second chance, and I’m going to hold onto it with everything I have.”
Arianna gently placed the card into her purse, then turned her attention back to Charlie, holding his hand tenderly.
“I’ve entered a news anchor competition, Charlie. I just passed the interview phase. You know how much it’s been my dream to become an anchor. If you can, I hope you’ll open your eyes and watch me win it!”
Her voice softened as she continued, “I believe everyone has a chance to bounce back in life. Look at me—I’m in a happy marriage now, and I’m about to chase my dream career. If you wake up… everything will be perfect.”
She squeezed his hand, her voice filled with hope. “You won’t let me down, right, Charlie?”
Just as the words left her lips, an unexpected response came from behind.
“He won’t.”
Startled, Arianna immediately glanced at Charlie but quickly realized it wasn’t him. The voice wasn’t his—it was unmistakably Alan’s.
She turned around, and sure enough, there he was, standing by the door with a warm smile on his face.
