CHAPTER 278
Arianna blinked, muttering in disbelief,
"You....What... How... Why are you..."
Before she could finish, the car door opened, and Xander’s long legs stepped out. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her into his embrace and shielding her from the cold wind.
"We can either talk inside the car or stand out here and enjoy the breeze. Your choice," he teased, his tone calm.
Snapping back to reality, Arianna quickly scanned the area. Xander’s striking appearance and commanding presence had caught everyone’s attention. A few guests hadn’t left yet, and she noticed people glancing in their direction, some even raising their phones to snap pictures.
"Car!" Arianna muttered, bending down and slipping into the vehicle. She grabbed Xander's arm and tugged him in after her.
Whether it was intentional or not, Xander tumbled slightly, his body pressing close to hers. His dark eyes locked onto her, their faces inches apart. His voice dropped, teasing,
"Mrs. King, you seem eager. Missed me that much, did you?"
Arianna’s eyes widened, flustered. That wasn’t what she intended at all!
Arianna’s cheeks flushed deeply as she shot Xander an irritated glare. There was no point in trying to explain herself, so she turned her head and addressed Ronald, who was sitting in the driver’s seat.
“Drive, Ronald. Let’s get out of here first.”
Ronald tried to hide his amusement, nodding as he replied,
“Of course, Mrs. King.”
The car smoothly merged into the traffic, and only after a few moments did Arianna finally let out a relieved breath, glad to see no one else was around.
Xander, noticing her reaction, raised an eyebrow. “What’s the issue? We’re married, not sneaking around like some scandalous affair. Worried about being photographed?”
“It’s not that,” Arianna replied, meeting his gaze.
“You know how much attention you attract. I don’t want all the focus shifting from the awards dinner to you.”
"Ah, I see,” Xander teased, brushing a finger playfully against her nose.
“You don’t want me to steal the spotlight.”
Arianna shook her head slightly. “No, its not that. It's just that I’ve had enough of being stepped on by others.”
“I’m not here to play nice with people who don’t deserve it.”
Her tone was firm, unwavering. Arianna wasn’t someone to forgive easily if she was disrespected or hurt.
Her kindness was selective, given only to those who treated her well. She knew that in the world they lived in, being too soft often led to being walked all over. And she wasn’t about to let that happen again.
When Xander saw the spark in Arianna’s eyes, he couldn’t help but think of the messages he’d read about the unfair treatment she had faced abroad. A sharp, piercing pain settled in his chest as if countless needles were pricking his heart.
Those experiences had hardened her once-soft heart.
She had been so carefree once, like a little princess…
"Why didn’t you tell me about any of this?" Xander’s voice dropped to a low, concerned tone as his dark eyes locked intently on hers.
If he hadn’t picked up on the subtle changes in her demeanour, he might have been too late in understanding what was going on.
Arianna rubbed her nose awkwardly.
"Well… you’ve been busy, right? You’ve got this huge project going, and I didn’t want to bother you with my issues. Besides, I can handle it on my own. I can’t always rely on you for everything."
She was used to handling things alone. In certain situations, the only person she could count on was herself.
But as soon as she said it, she realized how inappropriate it sounded.
Xander seemed to read her mind. His gaze deepened, and he spoke softly but firmly,
"Arianna, you don’t have to face things alone anymore. I’m here. You can rely on me."
He paused for a moment, his expression growing even more serious. "And I’m hoping you’ll want to rely on me too."
Though they had grown closer, Xander knew that there was still a thin wall she kept between them, keeping him from fully breaking through to her heart.
"Ari …"
Arianna’s heart skipped a beat.
During the sweetest moments of their past relationship, Xander used to call her by that name in the most affectionate, clingy way.
Since Arianna had returned, though, he hadn’t called her that again—until now.
It was the first time since she’d come back.
She couldn’t help but wonder if she could truly depend on Xander for everything in the future.
The fact that Xander had rushed back in the middle of an important project to be with her showed just how concerned he was. That had to be proof of his sincerity toward her, right?
Arianna lowered her gaze, a flicker of light crossing her eyes before she looked up at him again. In a soft, almost hesitant voice, she asked,
"Xander, will you… will you always stand by me?"
Her cautiousness wasn’t because she didn’t trust him—it was a defence mechanism her heart had built over time.
She had been abandoned by Xander once before, and that wound had left her afraid to ever ask him directly about it. That one door, deep in her mind, remained shut. No matter how much she tried, she couldn’t help but seek reassurance, trying to build her sense of security little by little.
Xander’s intense gaze caught the anxiousness hidden behind her words. His lips pressed together, a pang of guilt washing over him.
In the end, it was his failure to show her she could trust him completely.
He gently stroked her hair, his voice deep and rough as he softly promised,
“Always."
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