CHAPTER 266
As the doctor shared 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.
Xander’s jaw tightened as a flood of worry flashed across his eyes. The thought of something happening to Arianna made his heart clench in fear. He wasn’t one to take chances, especially when it came to her safety.
..............
"Xander..." Arianna's voice was soft, almost pleading, but he didn’t respond, his eyes fixed on something far away, his jaw clenched tight.
She reached out, her fingers trembling slightly as they curled around his hand.
"Xander," she repeated, more firmly this time, her grip tightening as she tried to pull his attention back to her. The warmth of his skin under her touch contrasted with the cold silence he was giving her.
His lips pressed into a thin line, his voice stiff as he commanded,
“Let go.”
Arianna, unphased, leaned in and pressed another soft kiss to his lips.
“Don’t be mad,” she coaxed, her voice gentle and affectionate.
She hesitated for a moment, then dropped her voice to a near-whisper,
“Hubby…”
The atmosphere in the car shifted dramatically. Ronald, seated in the driver’s seat and always loyal to Xander, felt a wave of unease wash over him. It was as if he were intruding on a private moment that he shouldn’t be witnessing.
Xander’s expression was icy, and his voice was sharp and authoritative.
“I said, let go.”
Arianna, however, was not ready to relent. With playful determination, she leaned in closer, her lips almost brushing against his ear as she softly whispered,
“Hubby, darling… sweetheart… Please don’t stay mad at me, okay? Pretty please?”
Ronald cast a cautious glance at the rearview mirror, preparing for Xander’s usual stern response to her antics.
In all his time working for Xander, he had never seen him tolerate even the slightest flirtation. He recalled a female colleague who had attempted a similar tactic after a significant mistake, only to be dismissed without hesitation. Ronald doubted that Arianna’s charms would have any impact—at least, that’s what he thought.
But then, something unexpected happened.
Out of the corner of his eye, Ronald caught the briefest glimpse of something he never thought he’d see on Xander’s face—a barely-there smirk. It was subtle, almost invisible, but it was there.
Ronald blinked, convinced he had imagined it, but then Xander’s voice came, softer now, and much less guarded.
“Alright, one more kiss, and I’ll forgive you.”
Ronald’s mouth nearly fell open in shock.
Without missing a beat, Arianna smiled brightly and leaned in, pressing another kiss to Xander’s lips.
“You’re the best, sweetheart…”
Xander sighed, pinching her nose lightly.
“This is the first and last time,” he said in a mock-stern tone, though his eyes softened as they met hers.
“I won’t stop you from chasing your dreams, but your safety comes first. Always.”
Arianna nodded quickly. “I understand.”
She paused for a moment, her face becoming serious again as she remembered the ordeal.
“About that situation with the madman… I had to negotiate with him, and I ended up giving him ten million. I’m not sure if I’ll get it back. If I don’t, I’ll—”
"The ten million is yours," Xander interrupted, cutting off Arianna before she could finish her thought.
“What?” Arianna blinked in confusion.
“I gave you that card, and everything in it is yours. You don’t need to justify how you use it,” Xander said, his tone casual as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
Arianna’s inner tension eased almost immediately. Xander truly didn’t care how she spent the money he had given her. But then, just as quickly, a frown creased her forehead.
Noticing her change in expression, Xander asked, concerned,
“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”
Arianna sighed, her voice turning playful and a little dramatic.
“I just feel a little heartbroken that I might not get the ten million back,” she admitted with a pout. “If I had known, I would’ve tried to negotiate a better deal with that madman.”
Xander could only stare at her, speechless.
For all the stress he’d gone through worrying about her, seeing her like this now made him feel as if his concern had been wasted.
...
After Arianna returned to their villa, she took her medication and fell into a deep sleep as the painkillers began to work their magic.
By the time she woke up, the sky had already turned dark, and Xander was no longer beside her. She glanced over at the clock on the wall and saw that it was already eight in the evening.
Her eyes caught sight of her phone on the bedside table—Xander must have retrieved it for her. Reaching over, she picked it up and pressed the screen to life. Immediately, a flood of unread message notifications from WhatsApp appeared.
Arianna opened WhatsApp, ready to sift through the unread messages, but her phone suddenly started ringing. She glanced at the screen and saw William’s name flash across the caller ID.
She swiped to answer. “Hello, Mr. Schuck.”
“How are you doing, Arianna?” William’s voice sounded from the other end.
“I hurt my waist, so I’ll be bedridden for about a week, but other than that, I’m alright,” Arianna replied, trying to keep her tone light.
William let out a breath of relief. “I’m glad to hear that. You handled yourself remarkably today, Arianna.”
After a brief pause, he added,
“I also have some news for you. The date of the second round of the competition has been moved to tomorrow. However, due to your exceptional performance during the incident, we’ve decided that you will advance directly to the finals. There’s no need for you to participate in the next round. Focus on your recovery at home.”
Arianna was stunned by the news. She hadn't expected that her actions, which were driven purely by instinct and compassion, would lead to her advancing further in the competition.
Although the news made her happy, she couldn’t help but ask,
“But... won’t that be unfair to the other contestants?”
After all, with only a few spots available, the competition was intense.
