CHAPTER 361
Harmony stood frozen, her eyes fixed on the spot where the car had disappeared down the road. She replayed the scene over and over in her mind, unable to reconcile the Xander she knew with the man who had just wrapped his arms around Arianna so tenderly.
Xander had always been distant, a man of cold reserve who kept everyone at arm’s length.
His aloof demeanor made him seem untouchable and impenetrable. Yet, with Arianna, he was someone else entirely. The way he touched her—gentle, affectionate, unguarded—felt like a mockery of everything Harmony thought she understood about him.
Her nails bit into her palms as her hands curled into fists.
He should never have treated Arianna like that. That warmth, that vulnerability—those were supposed to be hers. And he should never have treated her, Harmony, with such indifference.
A wave of fury surged within her as the truth began to settle. She had gone about it all wrong.
Competing with Arianna at work, trying to outshine her in front of Xander, had done nothing but backfire. With every failed scheme, every plotted humiliation, Arianna had only grown stronger. Worse, those very obstacles had brought her and Xander closer.
It was infuriating. Harmony’s carefully laid plans had turned into stepping stones for Arianna, cementing her place at Xander’s side. She had unknowingly played a part in strengthening the bond between them, and now she was forced to watch as the happiness she coveted slipped further from her grasp.
Her breathing quickened as anger bubbled to the surface. She wouldn’t stand for it.
She couldn’t stand for it.
Xander’s affection for Arianna wasn’t just undeserved; it was a betrayal, a cruel twist of fate. Harmony couldn’t let it continue.
Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she made a silent vow. She wouldn’t let this be the end. Arianna might have Xander’s attention now, but Harmony wasn’t finished. She wouldn’t lose—not like this.
Harmony had no choice but to confront her own failures. She couldn’t ignore the undeniable truth—she had miscalculated at every turn, and it was no wonder Xander was so disillusioned with her. In that moment of reflection, even she felt a pang of regret for the choices she had made.
It wasn’t supposed to unfold this way.
Her schemes, her strategies—they should have placed her at Xander’s side, not driven him closer to Arianna. Yet, despite the crushing weight of her failures, Harmony refused to succumb to despair. To her, failure was merely the prelude to success, and she had learned far too much over the years to give up now.
No, she wouldn’t crumble. Not yet.
Arianna had vulnerabilities—weak spots that could be exploited. Harmony still had one final trump card, a move so devastating that it would ensure Arianna’s downfall.
Harmony’s lips curved into a sinister smile as she flagged down a taxi. Sliding into the back seat, she gave the driver an address that was far from her apartment hotel. She had no intention of retreating to lick her wounds.
This was just the beginning. Arianna’s victory would be short-lived, and Harmony would see to it that Xander finally realized who truly deserved to stand by his side.
..........
As Arianna settled into the passenger seat, she couldn’t help but notice that Xander was driving a different car than usual.
Her eyes wandered to the logo on the steering wheel—it was an ordinary Volkswagen. The simple design seemed completely out of character for Xander, who was known for his preference for sleek sports cars, luxury sedans, or top-of-the-line SUVs.
Curiosity got the better of her, and she asked, “This isn’t your car, is it?”
“No, it’s not,” Xander replied smoothly.
At the red light, he braked and shifted into neutral, turning his attention to her with a faint smirk. “Why don’t you guess whose it is?”
Arianna furrowed her brows, puzzled. Xander’s circle was full of affluent individuals who wouldn’t typically be caught driving such an unassuming vehicle. “Where’s your car?” she pressed.
He didn’t answer directly, his expression teasing. “Come on, take a guess.”
Her mind raced through the possibilities. Maybe it was a company car, or perhaps it belonged to one of his employees—or even Ronald. She decided to voice her thoughts, her tone tinged with curiosity.
“It must be a company car… or Ronald’s, right?”
The light turned green, and Xander smoothly shifted gears, his hand firm on the wheel as he accelerated. His gaze remained on the road, but there was a teasing lilt in his voice as he remarked,
“Nope. None of those guesses are right. Try again.”
Arianna huffed, crossing her arms. “How am I supposed to guess something so random?” she muttered. She glanced sideways at him, noticing the faint curve of his lips and the glimmer of amusement in his eyes. He was enjoying this far too much.
She pouted, throwing out an off-handed remark,
“It can’t be mine, can it?”
Xander’s eyes flicked to her briefly, his grin widening.
“Bingo.”
Arianna blinked, her mouth slightly open in disbelief.
“Wait…what? You’re kidding, right?”
“Nope,” he replied casually, his tone laced with satisfaction.
She stared at him as he navigated the car effortlessly, her mind struggling to catch up. “You’re telling me this car is mine?”
“That’s what I said,” he confirmed with a smirk, as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
Her heart raced as she processed his words.
“Why would you—”
“It’s a gift,” Xander interrupted smoothly, cutting off her question just as they pulled up in front of the restaurant.
Before she could protest, he parked, shifted into neutral, and reached for her hand. Gently, he placed the car keys in her palm, his fingers lingering against hers. His touch was warm and firm, grounding her in the moment.
Arianna stared at the keys, then at him, completely dazed.
“But…why? Why would you just gift me a car?”
Xander’s gaze softened, his affection for her written all over his face. He leaned in slightly, his voice low but filled with warmth.
“Because I wanted to. You deserve it, Arianna. I don’t need a reason to spoil you.”
Her breath hitched, her cheeks heating at his sincerity.
“Xander…”
He gave her hand a gentle squeeze before stepping out of the car and moving around to her side. Opening the door for her, he extended his hand.
“Come on, let’s not keep the restaurant waiting. But we’re taking your car home tonight.”
Arianna allowed herself a small, shy smile as she placed her hand in his, letting him guide her out of the car. The weight of the keys in her hand suddenly felt a lot lighter.
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