CHAPTER 299
Aunt Julia handed Arianna the insulated lunch box with a smile. "Be sure to hold it carefully. Mr. King woke up early this morning just to prepare it for you. Have a great day at work."
Arianna’s heart swelled with warmth as she took the lunch box from Aunt Julia, feeling a wave of appreciation for Xander’s thoughtfulness. She got into the car, feeling a newfound sense of peace after the previous night.
Xander’s actions had reassured her—whatever doubts she had were now gone.
He had been dedicated to their relationship, and his love for her was clear.
Harmony’s advances were nothing more than one-sided attempts, and Arianna had no reason to fear her presence anymore. As long as she held Xander’s heart, no one could come between them.
The car pulled up to the entrance of the studio, and Arianna stepped out, heading toward the building with a renewed sense of confidence.
As she entered the elevator, she was caught off guard when someone stepped in right behind her. She glanced up, only to meet the gaze of a woman she knew all too well—Harmony, standing there with a soft, almost innocent-looking expression on her face.
Harmony seemed to always be lurking around.
Arianna, however, was in a good mood that day and had no intention of letting Harmony disrupt it. The last thing she wanted was for that woman to ruin her positive outlook.
Harmony, of course, had timed it perfectly, waiting for Arianna to arrive. She wanted to see the exhaustion in Arianna’s eyes, knowing she’d been up all night, consumed by worry.
After Rochelle had caused a scene the day before, Harmony had learned that Rochelle had been digging into her past with Xander. Since Rochelle knew about their history, it was almost certain she would share the details with Arianna.
When Arianna had texted Xander during his tea session, asking him to come home, Harmony felt certain that Arianna was beginning to question their relationship.
It was at that point Harmony decided to send Xander the text and post the photo on WeTalk, all in the hopes of getting under Arianna’s skin. She wanted Arianna to feel the same pain and anxiety she had endured—sleep-deprived and unsettled.
However, when Harmony saw Arianna’s face, she was taken aback. There wasn’t a hint of fatigue or weariness. Arianna looked unusually radiant, her complexion glowing with a fresh, dewy look that seemed to captivate anyone who looked her way.
Harmony's eyes narrowed in disbelief. Could Arianna have hidden the signs of exhaustion with makeup?
She stared at Arianna for a few moments, but what she saw made her stomach drop.
It was clear now—there was no makeup, no concealer. Arianna’s skin was flawless and naturally glowing, almost as if she had just stepped out of a spa. Her face had a natural flush to it, her features soft and unblemished.
Harmony’s smile faltered.
Had Arianna not seen the photo she’d posted or the message she had sent the night before? Perhaps she had missed it once, but it seemed unlikely she would continue to overlook it.
All Harmony needed was one more chance to make sure Arianna couldn’t ignore it.
Harmony winced, a slight grimace crossing her face as she reached into her bag to retrieve the tube of ointment. Her grip was unsteady, and the tube slipped from her hand, falling to the floor with a soft thud.
By some coincidence, it landed right at Arianna’s feet, and she couldn’t help but notice it immediately.
Arianna’s eyes flicked down to the ointment, recognition flickering in her expression. It was unmistakably the same one she had seen the day before—the one Xander had brought for Harmony.
“Ah, my hand is still throbbing, I can’t hold on to anything,” Harmony mumbled to herself with a dramatic sigh, slowly bending down to pick up the tube.
She unscrewed the cap with exaggerated care, squeezing a small amount of ointment onto her fingertips.
“I’m lucky to have someone who takes care of me. This ointment works wonders—so cool and soothing as it touches the skin, and the pain just vanishes.”
Arianna’s lips twitched a cold, knowing glint in her eyes as she watched the performance. Harmony’s antics were starting to wear thin, but Arianna wasn’t about to let her get the last word.
She set her lunch box down and, with deliberate calm, reached up and slid the hair tie from her wrist, holding it between her teeth. With practised ease, she pulled her hair back into a sleek, high ponytail, revealing the smooth curve of her neck. Her movements were graceful, yet the exposed skin at the nape of her neck revealed a faint, dark mark—evidence of Xander’s tender care just the night before.
It was a silent, pointed reminder, and Arianna’s gaze remained steady, refusing to let Harmony's provocations shake her.
Arianna’s hair had concealed the mark on her neck earlier, but as she tied it into a high ponytail, the dark red mark became unmistakably visible.
Harmony's gaze froze, her breath catching as she saw the mark. It was as if a punch had landed in her chest.
She had been certain that the doubts she planted would torment Arianna, leaving her spiralling through a night of insecurities. But the reality was something far different—Arianna seemed to have shared an intimate moment with Xander, one that no amount of her scheming could erase.
Harmony’s hand tightened unconsciously, but she forced a smile, pretending not to notice the mark.
Arianna, however, caught the flicker of surprise in Harmony’s eyes and couldn’t help but smirk. With quiet satisfaction, she opened WeTalk, tapped on Xander’s chat, and sent him a voice message.
"Hey, love. I’m about to eat the breakfast you made for me. You’re the best. Love you."
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
