CHAPTER 296
Zach and Harmony exchanged a glance, wondering if it could be John arriving—or perhaps Xander returning out of concern?
The door opened, but instead of John or Xander, a waitress entered. She approached Harmony respectfully, holding out a small paper bag.
“Ms. Jackson, this ointment is for you.”
Ointment?
Harmony accepted the bag and peeked inside, finding an ointment specifically for treating scratches.
The only ones who knew about her scratched hand were herself, Zach, and Xander.
Did Xander arrange for this to be sent, even though he’d left without a word?
Zach chuckled, “See, I knew it. Xander may act all tough, but he’s not one to just ignore you. He didn’t say much, but he still made sure you had what you needed. It’s obvious he cares, even if he hides it.”
Harmony looked at the ointment with a soft smile. The earlier disappointment and sadness were gone.
Taking a sip of his tea, Zach added,
“Honestly, I think Xander’s feelings for you run deeper than anything he had with Arianna. If you hadn’t been away so long, he probably wouldn’t have ended up with her, no matter how much she tried or how often his grandmother pushed him. With you around, there might never have been room in his heart for anyone else. Shame, really…”
'Shame?'
Harmony gazed at the ointment in her hand, her eyes darkening as emotions stirred within.
Xander should’ve stayed and applied it himself—that would have been perfect. But she knew, deep down, that the day would come. He would eventually turn to her, leave Arianna behind, and finally be hers. Because what belonged to her would always find its way back.
Xander was meant to be hers. He always had been, and he always would be.
...
Arianna lay in bed, waiting for Xander to return, but she couldn’t shake an uneasy feeling. She shifted from one side to the other, but no position felt comfortable.
Grabbing her phone, she tried to distract herself by scrolling through some gossip or watching a show, but she couldn’t focus on anything.
Finally, she got up, slipped on a light jacket, and made her way downstairs, hoping a warm glass of milk would help settle her nerves.
She wandered into the kitchen, took out a bottle of milk, and poured herself a glass. After warming it briefly in the microwave, she started sipping it as she walked back out.
Then, from the corner of her eye, she noticed the door to Aunt Julia’s room opening.
Arianna thought maybe Aunt Julia was getting up for water or a midnight snack, just as she had. But to her surprise, Aunt Julia walked straight toward Grandma King’s room.
Glancing at the clock, Arianna noted it was quite late; Grandma King had gone to bed hours ago. Why would Aunt Julia be heading there now?
Could Grandma King be unwell?
Arianna knew that in recent years, Grandma King had occasionally dealt with illnesses due to her age. Concerned, she immediately hurried over to check on the older woman.
As she reached the doorway, Arianna was about to step inside when she overheard Aunt Julia saying,
“Grandma King, you asked me to look into Harmony’s recent return. I’ve uncovered some information.”
That name—*Harmony*—rang out, and Arianna paused mid-step, her lifted foot slowly lowering as she chose to stand just outside, listening from behind the wall.
Arianna’s heart raced. She hadn’t expected Grandma King to be investigating Harmony.
From what Rochelle had told her, Grandma King had always thought well of Harmony since she was a child. Why would she suddenly look into Harmony’s return to the country?
Arianna sensed that there was more going on, a feeling settling over her as she tightened her grip on the glass.
Grandma King’s voice was clear as she responded,
“Go on.”
Aunt Julia continued, “Harmony came back much earlier than we realized. Interestingly enough, she returned on the exact day Xander and Arianna flew back from Barrkjaer Island. They were on the same flight.”
Arianna felt a wave of unease as Grandma King took in this information.
Xander and Arianna had planned a peaceful vacation on Barrkjaer Island, but the trip back home was tense and uncomfortable, even captured in photos that showed them clearly at odds with one another.
And Harmony… had returned at the same time?
Grandma King rubbed her temples as a slight headache crept in from the weight of everything going on.
“Go on.”
Aunt Julia nodded and continued, “Since Harmony came back, she’s had a fair amount of interaction with Mrs. King and even... met privately with Mr. King.”
Met Xander privately?
Even though Grandma King had harboured her suspicions, hearing this confirmed it, and her headache grew stronger.
“I was careless,” she muttered.
“She stayed so under the radar while abroad that I didn't think she’d return with such boldness. For her to reappear so openly in front of Xander and Arianna…”
Grandma King couldn’t help a short, bitter laugh. “She’s bolder than I realized. I arranged her departure years ago and even set her up comfortably, but her intentions still turned dark. It seems I underestimated her.”
*Arranged her departure…*
Arianna’s eyes widened as her pulse quickened, her breath coming quicker. The true reason for Harmony’s sudden relocation abroad was Grandma King's decision…
From Grandma King’s words, it became clear that Harmony had likely been sent away from the country, offered a life of prosperity abroad on the condition that she neither returned nor approached Xander again.
Yet, Harmony had returned of her own accord and even met with Xander in private.
Grandma King wouldn’t have taken such drastic steps without reason, suggesting she must have disapproved of Harmony. It seemed likely that Xander and Harmony, who had been close since childhood, had developed deeper feelings, only for Grandma King to step in and break them apart before their relationship could truly blossom.
Moreover, Harmony’s visit to Barrkjaer Island before her return to the country supported the idea that she and Xander had possibly reconnected there. Perhaps their old bond had reignited, and that was why Harmony had come back, so determined to reclaim her place in his life.
Arianna bit her lip, her face paling as her mind raced with these troubling thoughts.
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