CHAPTER 293
Rochelle gently asked, “What do you think you’ll do?”
Arianna stared at her soup, lost in thought. The mix of emotions and new information felt overwhelming, making it hard for her to think clearly. She hadn’t fully absorbed everything she’d learned, and figuring out her next move seemed impossible.
Her feelings for Xander complicated things even more, each thought pulling at her heartstrings. She was too emotionally involved to make a quick choice.
Rochelle noticed Arianna’s quietness but didn’t push her. She understood the struggle; she had once been in love too. Love could make moments feel limitless when everything was great, but it also brought deep hurt when things got shaky. She was all too familiar with that feeling.
Without saying anything, Rochelle got up and sat next to Arianna on the couch, opening her arms.
“Come here. If you need a hug, I’m right here.”
Arianna leaned into Rochelle, finding solace in her friend’s embrace. She held on tightly, thankful for the comfort that offered a brief escape from the chaos around her.
…
Meanwhile, as Harmony stepped out of the station, her sad expression and watery eyes disappeared almost immediately. She called for a taxi and climbed in.
“Good evening, Miss. Where to?” the driver inquired politely.
Harmony gave a slight smirk, her voice flat.
“Just drive around for a bit.”
"Alright," the driver replied, merging into the steady flow of traffic.
Harmony seethed as she replayed the scene in her mind, the memory of Rochelle’s humiliation burning into her thoughts. Rochelle had the nerve to confront her, to make a scene with everyone watching—and Arianna just stood there, silently condoning it all.
Her jaw clenched tightly.
How dare they both stand against her so brazenly.
Harmony waited until the car was moving smoothly through the city lights before pulling out her phone. She dialled quickly, her expression shifting from feigned innocence to something sharper. The call was answered almost immediately.
“Zac…” she purred, her voice soft and deliberate.
A voice on the other end spoke briefly, and Harmony’s lips curved upward.
“Okay,” she replied, almost in a whisper. She ended the call and slipped her phone back into her bag, a thoughtful gleam flickering in her eyes.
Her gaze shifted to her right hand, the one Rochelle had gripped so forcefully. For a moment, she held it up to the light, studying the slight red marks left from the encounter. Slowly, her grin widened—a cold, calculating smile that didn’t reach her eyes.
She raised her left hand, curling her long, manicured nails like claws. Without a hint of hesitation, she pressed them into the pale skin of her right hand and dragged them down deliberately, leaving five raw, crimson scratches across her knuckles and wrist.
She hissed at the sting, but the pain only seemed to thrill her, deepening her smile. Her eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she studied the self-inflicted wounds. They were precisely what she needed.
After a final glance at her handiwork, Harmony instructed the driver, “Take me to The Riverwalk Hotel.”
The driver nodded, glancing briefly in the rearview mirror, but Harmony’s focus was elsewhere. She leaned back, her grin widening as she imagined her next move, already savouring the chaos she intended to unfold.
Meanwhile, at the Riverwalk, Xander was wrapping up a business dinner with an important client introduced by Zach. Their discussions stretched into the late evening, with the meeting finally concluding around ten o’clock.
After seeing their business partner off, Ronald was about to step out and bring the car around when Zach caught his arm. He gave Xander a friendly slap on the shoulder and said,
“Xander, you’ve been so buried in work lately we hardly ever see you!” Zach said, shaking his head with a smirk.
“You’ve bailed on John and me more than a few times. I finally caught you tonight—don’t even think about slipping away now.”
Xander glanced down at his watch, one eyebrow arched.
“I’m not sure I can—”
“Oh, come on,” Zach interrupted with a playful grin.
“I’m just looking out for you, you know? Working nonstop isn’t good for anyone. You need to unwind and take a break now and then! Let’s head up for some tea—the perfect way to clear our heads after all the drinks tonight. I even gave Jon a ring; he’ll be here soon.”
‘Take a break.’
Those same words echoed the ones Arianna had been leaving for him in her recent WeTalk messages.
Besides, it had been a while since he’d had the chance to just relax with Zach and John.
After a brief pause, Xander nodded.
“Alright.”
Leaving the VIP room, Xander and Zach strolled toward the elevators, aiming for the high-end tea lounge on the hotel’s top floor, a spot they frequented.
Zach pressed the button for the top floor, and as the elevator doors started to close, they heard someone call from outside,
“Mind holding it, please?”
Quick to react, Zach reached out and hit the ‘door open’ button.
The elevator doors slid open again, and a figure stepped in. She began softly,
“Thank y—”
Before she could finish, Zach recognized her and interrupted with a surprised smile.
“Well, if it isn’t you, Bunny.”
Harmony looked up, and a spark of recognition crossed her eyes. Her gaze lingered on Zach first, then moved to Xander with a soft, pleased smile.
“Zach, Xan—what a small world.”
Zach chuckled. “Are you here for dinner?”
She nodded, letting a casual smile play across her lips.
“Yeah, today was my first day at work, so I treated myself. Ate a bit too much, honestly, so I thought I’d go up and have some tea to settle down.”
Zach tilted his head, giving her a curious look.
“All by yourself? I guess that makes sense, though—you just got back, and we’re probably the only familiar faces around. We’re heading up for tea ourselves. Why don’t you join us? A little celebration for your first day.”
Harmony’s smile deepened. “If you’re sure you don’t mind, I’d love to join.”
Harmony's gaze shifted, her lashes fluttering as her eyes settled on Xander. He looked back at her, giving her a brief, polite smile before lowering his focus to his phone, fingers scrolling casually. Though his expression was unreadable, Harmony felt a rush of satisfaction at the small gesture.
Inside, her heart skipped, a quiet thrill spreading as she moved a little closer, positioning herself beside him. She stood there, silently revelling in the moment, a slight, triumphant smile tugging at her lips as she watched him. The sense of victory was undeniable—she was with him, even if just for a moment, and that was enough.
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