CHAPTER 28
"Who said it's for her?" Xander's detached voice cut through the air, accompanied by a disdainful glance directed at the manager.
The manager trembled, immediately grasping Xander's meaning. Without hesitation, he passed the bag to Ronald.
Piper's eyes widened in disbelief. Had Xander not purchased the bracelet for her?
"Xander..." Her voice betrayed a hint of confusion and disappointment.
However, it remained unclear whether Xander heard her or chose to ignore her entirely, but he strode away swiftly, his steps purposeful.
Ronald hurriedly trailed behind Xander as they exited the store.
Only Piper remained standing there, her complexion pale and her expression one of bewilderment, utterly dumbfounded by what had just transpired.
************
Ronald proved to be exceptionally efficient at his job, quickly uncovering the truth of what had transpired. He even retrieved the surveillance footage from the private room.
In a succinct report, Ronald briefed Xander on the situation and handed him his phone.
Xander stared at the phone for a moment before slowly reaching out to take it, his slender fingers pressing play on the surveillance footage.
While they couldn't capture Arianna and Harrold's conversation, it became clear that Arianna hadn't engaged in any inappropriate behavior.
Xander realized then that he had misunderstood her all along...
Despite his typically keen perception, Xander's mind was clouded with rage in that moment, rendering him unable to grasp the situation logically.
As the realization struck him, Xander's fists clenched tightly, the veins on his hand visibly pulsing.
Was it truly a failure to recognize the truth, or was it his lingering distrust of Arianna due to her past actions two years ago?
Xander sighed heavily, the weight of uncertainty pressing down on him. He lacked the clarity to answer these questions.
Memories flooded back of how he had treated Arianna that night, leaving her alone in the room without a second thought.
He couldn't shake the worry that gnawed at him now, wondering if she was alright...
When clarity finally returned to him, Xander found himself unconsciously dialing Arianna's number.
Despite his initial intention to hang up, he found himself unable to move his fingers.
Furrowing his brow, Xander noticed that Arianna hadn't picked up despite several attempts.
Was something truly amiss?
Xander's narrowed gaze held a hint of concern as he issued a command,
"Find out Arianna's current whereabouts."
**********
In the grand estate, Arianna felt as though she was encased in ice. A chill permeated her entire being, causing her to tremble uncontrollably.
Simultaneously, she was wracked with a piercing pain in her abdomen, as if thousands of needles were piercing her skin. It was agonizing, making it difficult for her to draw breath.
Just as she feared she couldn't endure any longer, she sensed someone approaching.
Their voice called out to her with urgency, followed by the sound of a phone call being made.
Before long, she felt herself enveloped in a comforting embrace, a warm blanket draped over her trembling form, offering some respite from the biting cold.
After a considerable length of time, a physician arrived and administered acupuncture treatment to Arianna's arms.
The pain eased slightly, prompting Arianna to weakly open her heavy eyelids.
She longed to glimpse the identity of the person embracing her, but her vision remained blurred, unable to discern more than a vague silhouette.
As the effects of the medication gradually took hold, Arianna felt the intensity of her pain diminish.
Yet, a heavy drowsiness descended upon her, rendering her unable to fight off the overwhelming urge to succumb to unconsciousness.
Before she knew it, darkness enveloped her, and Arianna slipped into unconsciousness.
When she finally regained consciousness, it was already the following day.
Her long, curly lashes fluttered gently as Arianna slowly opened her eyes, her gaze drifting upwards to the ceiling as she lay in a daze.
It took her a few moments to piece together the events of the previous day.
Arianna's thoughts raced as she realized the gravity of her situation—she had come perilously close to losing her life. But who had come to her rescue?
She remembered seeing a silhouette, one that bore a striking resemblance to Xander's. Had he returned to the villa and saved her?
Suddenly, the sound of approaching footsteps drew Arianna's attention, causing her heart to skip a beat. Subconsciously, she turned her head to catch a glimpse of the person entering the room.
