CHAPTER 265
“Brian! Are you okay? We were so scared!” The mother gasped at the sight of the blood.
“Oh no, you’re hurt. We need to get you to the hospital!”
Without wasting another second, the father scooped up the boy in his arms and ran out of the room, his wife following closely behind.
The mother, overwhelmed with concern for her child’s injury, hurriedly thanked Arianna without even glancing at her. She then quickly followed her husband, who had already rushed out with their son in his arms.
As the police ensured everything was under control and turned their attention to the scene, the surge of adrenaline that had sustained Arianna during the crisis began to fade. The strength she had summoned seemed to vanish all at once, and her legs buckled beneath her.
Just as she was about to collapse, a steady arm caught her in time.
"Are you alright, Ari?" a familiar, gentle voice asked.
Arianna looked up to see Harmony's worried face. She smiled weakly.
"Um, I just. I just feel a bit faint."
"Let’s get you out of here. It’s too hectic," Harmony replied, her voice full of concern. She wrapped her arm around Arianna, supporting her carefully as they made their way out of the studio and into a quiet lounge nearby.
Harmony helped Arianna settle onto a sofa, noticing how pale she still looked.
“Just rest here for a while. I’ll get you some hot water.”
“Thanks,” Arianna murmured as Harmony left the room.
Leaning back on the sofa, Arianna closed her eyes, trying to relax as her strength slowly returned.
However, the pain in her waist, where the madman had kicked her, was becoming more intense. It throbbed sharply now, and she could feel cold sweat forming on her forehead.
The kick had been powerful, and she was starting to worry that it might have done more damage than she initially thought. She knew she needed to see a doctor.
Arianna instinctively reached for her phone, only to remember that she had dropped it somewhere in the chaos of the studio earlier. Sighing in frustration, she tried to stand up but winced in pain as the movement sent sharp stabs through her waist as if needles were piercing her side.
Realizing it was too painful to move, she decided to stay put for the moment and let the pain subside.
When Harmony returned, Arianna planned to borrow her phone to make the call.
About five minutes later, footsteps echoed outside the door. Expecting Harmony, Arianna looked up—only to see Xander walking in instead.
Arianna’s eyes widened slightly, wondering if the pain was making her imagine things. But there he was, Xander, crossing the room in just a few long strides, his normally confident and controlled presence replaced with palpable worry. His face was tight with concern, his eyes scanning her as if to ensure she was truly okay. He dropped to one knee beside her, his breath slightly ragged from either rushing or panic—maybe both.
"Arianna..." he breathed softly.
Gently, yet urgently, he cupped her face in his large hand, his thumb brushing over her cheek in a tender, almost desperate motion. His voice, usually so steady, trembled slightly as he spoke,
“Are you okay? Tell me.”
His dark eyes searched hers, filled with such anxiety that it startled her. He looked like he was holding himself together by a thread, ready to unravel if she said the wrong thing. His fingers, warm but trembling, lingered on her skin, as if afraid that letting go would mean losing her.
Only Xander had a voice that could sound both soothing and urgent all at once.
Arianna blinked, snapping back to reality. She took in the sight of him—he must have rushed here, his breath still heavy, his eyes flooded with concern and panic. It was clear he’d come straight to her the moment he heard she was in danger.
Forcing a small smile, Arianna tried to reassure him, not wanting him to worry. “I’m fine.”
But her weak smile faltered as pain creased her brow, and her response wasn’t convincing. Xander’s expression darkened with concern. His voice firmed. “Where are you hurt? Tell me, or I’ll find out myself.”
Knowing there was no point hiding it, Arianna confessed.
“My waist... I was kicked.”
Xander’s jaw tightened, his eyes momentarily closing as he struggled to contain his anger. He exhaled slowly, then opened his eyes and spoke with calm determination,
“We’re going to the hospital. Now.”
“Okay,” she agreed softly.
With great care, Xander helped her sit up, then turned his back to her, guiding her arms around his shoulders. Gently, he lifted her as if she weighed nothing, carrying her out of the room without hesitation.
...........
Harmony walked back with a cup of warm water, only to pause in her tracks when she saw the lounge door ajar. Her gaze lifted, and there was Xander, carrying Arianna on his back as he stepped out.
He had arrived so fast...
Considering the distance between Xander's office and the TV station, he must have rushed over the moment he heard what had happened.
The situation had unfolded so suddenly that no news outlet could have reported the specific names involved. Yet Xander had still come, without knowing for sure who had been caught in the ordeal—simply because he knew Arianna worked at the station and could be in danger.
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Harmony’s eyes as she continued walking toward them.
But Xander didn’t so much as glance her way. He walked right past her, his focus entirely on Arianna. Whether he hadn’t noticed Harmony or simply didn’t care was unclear.
Harmony stood there, momentarily frozen, watching them disappear down the hallway. Her grip on the cup tightened gradually as she stared at the space they had just occupied.
But after a few moments, she regained her composure. A slow, calculated smile crept across her lips as if nothing had changed.
..........
At the hospital, Xander insisted that the doctor conduct a thorough examination on Arianna, despite her insistence that only her waist was in pain.
After completing the tests, the doctor confirmed that her injury was confined to her waist, but it was more severe than she had let on—it was a bone injury rather than something minor.
As the doctor relayed the diagnosis, Arianna couldn’t help but notice how Xander's expression darkened, his usually calm demeanour shifting as concern etched deeper into his features.
