CHAPTER 333
Xander’s dark eyes were fixed on Arianna, his gaze intense and unwavering. After a few moments, he reached out, placing his hand gently over hers.
Arianna instinctively wanted to pull her hand away, but her body didn’t respond as she intended.
Xander opened his mouth to speak, his tone unwavering and composed,
"Are you serious?"
Arianna felt the weight of his words settle in the pit of her stomach. She lowered her gaze, her fingers nervously tracing the edge of the table.
Her lips pressed together in a thin line, her mind racing, but the words she needed to say seemed stuck in her throat. She kept her gaze fixed downward, unable to meet his eyes as the room felt suffocating still.
“Yes, I am,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Xander’s expression remained unreadable, his eyes intense but devoid of emotion. He studied her, his gaze piercing through the silence.
After a long moment, his voice broke the tension, calm yet firm.
"Look at me and tell me that."
Arianna’s heart skipped a beat. Slowly, she raised her head, her eyes locking with his. The coldness in his gaze made her stomach tighten, but she couldn’t look away.
Despite the certainty in her heart, a part of her still fought against the decision, unwilling to accept the finality of it.
Arianna shut her eyes for a moment, drawing in a deep breath to regain her composure.
When she opened her eyes, she met his dark gaze, but as she opened her mouth to speak, the words she had planned--let’s get a divorce—choked in her throat. They didn’t come out.
She felt a rush of frustration at her hesitation. She had made her decision already, so why was she struggling so much?
She tried to speak again, but Xander, almost as if anticipating her thoughts, spoke first.
“You have three days.”
Arianna’s eyes widened slightly as Xander’s words sank in, and for a moment, she was uncertain of his meaning.
"Hold on, are you suggesting that I need to clear my name in only three days?" she asked, her voice laced with confusion and doubt.
Xander met her gaze, his eyes soft yet unwavering.
"Yes," he said, his tone steady yet carrying a subtle sense of urgency.
“Public opinion peaks within three days. Once that window passes, it becomes much harder to change the narrative. By then, whatever people believe will be cemented in their minds, and no amount of evidence will be enough to reverse it.”
He was right, she realized.
Time was running out, and if she didn’t act fast, the damage would be done. Public perception would become reality, and they might never be able to clear her name.
Arianna felt a mixture of emotions stirred within her—appreciation for Xander’s concern, but also an undercurrent of frustration.
He had already sacrificed so much for her.
“What if I can’t uncover the truth before it’s too late, Xander?” she questioned, her voice trembling as the dread of not succeeding began to overwhelm her.
She knew how much Xander had already sacrificed—his reputation, his company, his peace of mind—all of it had taken a hit because of her. People turned against him, blaming him for every problem that arose, and the stress was increasing with each moment that went by.
Arianna wasn’t afraid of losing herself, but she couldn’t bear the thought of losing everything Xander had worked for. She’d never feared taking risks for herself, but now, the stakes were much higher. And the fear of dragging him down with her left a pit in her stomach.
Arianna was initially taken aback by Xander’s sudden statement, but soon, it became clear what he meant.
“You want me to gather evidence in three days to clear my name?”
“Exactly.” Xander’s gaze softened, his eyes searching hers.
"But..."
“Public opinion peaks quickly. If we don't act fast, the damage will be done, and no matter what changes after, it might be too late to reverse it.”
Arianna knew he was right.
When it came to public perception, time was critical. If they didn’t clarify things soon, the narrative would become set in stone, and there would be little chance of altering it.
She felt a mix of gratitude and guilt.
Xander was making immense sacrifices and dedicating so much to her, yet she found herself struggling to match his unwavering commitment.
“What if I can’t find the truth within three days, Xander?” she asked quietly.
It was already bad enough for him—his reputation had taken a serious hit because of her, the online backlash against him was harsh, and his company was on the brink of disaster.
She could handle herself, but the thought of putting Xander’s future on the line terrified her. Even though she had always been fearless in her own life, this felt like something she couldn’t risk.
Xander’s lips curved into a teasing smile, his voice low but filled with warmth.
“Guess I’ll have to pay the price—huge compensation, resign from everything, and live quietly at home while you take care of me.”
“Xander!” She frowned, her voice firm. “I’m not joking around.”
She couldn’t take this lightly. Betting everything on a chance wasn’t something she could do.
"Arianna," Xander's smile faded slightly, but his gaze softened with warmth.
"Do you remember when you managed to turn everything around during your first live stream? You made an incredible comeback just because I believed in you."
Focus on creating another miracle for us rather than worrying about holding me back or severing our connection.
He stood up, walked to her side, gently pulled her to her feet, and wrapped her in a comforting embrace.
"Xander, I…" She hesitated, still frowning.
Before she could finish, he placed a finger gently over her lips.
"Do your best, Arianna."
At that moment, Arianna’s desire for a divorce completely evaporated.
Love had that kind of power. Just looking at Xander and hearing his words was enough to melt away her doubts and give her the strength to move forward.
It was clear he wasn’t ready to give up on her, despite the world’s harsh judgment.
Arianna took a steadying breath and looked up at him, the uncertainty in her eyes replaced by a new-found determination.
"Xander, I won’t let you lose everything."
Xander’s smile widened at her resolve, and he chuckled softly.
"Okay."
She wrapped her arms tightly around him, finding solace in his embrace. Despite her initial thoughts of wanting a divorce, the idea of losing him was far more painful than she had imagined.
But Xander had already made his choice, rejecting the idea completely. That simple fact, that they could still stand together, made Arianna feel as though she had rediscovered the happiness she thought she had lost.
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