CHAPTER 373
A sleek black car arrived at the villa, its tires crunching on the gravel as it stopped. The driver’s side door opened, and Xander stepped out, tall and lean.
Arianna couldn’t help but walk toward him.
When Xander noticed her, his eyes softened, and surprise flickered across his face. His eyebrows raised slightly. “What are you doing out here?” he asked, his voice warm and curious.
Arianna examined his face, looking for any sign of guilt or avoidance, but found none. After a moment, she smiled gently and said playfully, “I missed you.”
Her words caught him off guard. He swallowed hard, and before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her tightly. He bent down and kissed her forehead. “I missed you too.”
Just as he leaned in to kiss her lips, Arianna placed a hand on his chest, gently pushing him away. With a teasing smirk, she said,
“No funny business, not out here.”
Xander chuckled softly, mischief lingering in his eyes, but stepped back with a reluctant grin.
As they entered the house, Xander noticed that his grandmother and Aunt Julia were missing. He looked around with a furrowed brow.
“Where’s Grandma King and Aunt Julia?” he asked.
Arianna helped Xander remove his suit jacket as she replied, “Grandma and Aunt Julia went to a temple. They won’t be back until tomorrow.”
The old lady had been unable to sleep after the incident with Harmony, feeling unusually restless. By morning, she had decided to visit a temple for some quiet prayer and reflection, and Aunt Julia went with her. Arianna, however, chose not to mention the real reason for her grandmother’s trip.
Xander, aware that his grandmother would likely be there to pray and practice her usual rituals, gave a brief nod without pressing the matter further.
“Have you eaten yet?” he asked.
“No, I was waiting for you so we could eat together,” Arianna replied, pausing for a moment before adding,
“Unless you’ve already eaten?”
“I haven’t had anything either,” Xander chuckled.
“What are you in the mood for? I’ll order something.”
Arianna, despite not feeling particularly hungry, thought for a moment.
“How about that place we went to last time? The one with the amazing duck. I’ve been craving it for days now.”
"Greedy little thing!" Xander teased, gently tapping the tip of Arianna's nose. He then took out his phone and began ordering the food.
Once the order was placed, Xander walked into the bedroom and headed for the bathroom to take a shower.
Arianna held the clothes Xander had removed, her gaze briefly scanning them. She noticed there were no signs of anything unusual, like lipstick stains or anything out of the ordinary.
Arianna could detect the faint scent of perfume lingering on Xander's clothes. It was subtle, but unmistakable.
The perfume was unique to Harmony—a blend she always wore, a signature scent she crafted herself.
Arianna's eyes narrowed as she processed this new information.
In the 24 hours Xander had been absent, she was certain he had been with Harmony. There was no other explanation for the perfume lingering on his clothes.
The sound of the shower stopped, pulling Arianna’s attention to the bathroom. She paused for a moment, then carefully placed the clothes in the laundry basket.
By the time Xander emerged from the shower, his damp hair still glistening, and dressed in comfortable clothing, the food had arrived. He made his way downstairs with a casual ease.
Arianna struggled with the tight knot on the plastic bag, her fingers slipping as she tried to free it. She frowned, wondering if the knot had been tied too securely.
Xander, noticing her struggle, moved closer and extended his hand. "Let me help."
When his fingers brushed hers, Arianna’s hand tensed for a brief moment before she casually pulled it back.
Xander untied the knot with ease, laying out the boxes of food one by one and opening their lids.
They sat down together, the quiet between them only interrupted by the clink of cutlery.
Xander picked up a piece of roast duck with his fork and placed it in Arianna’s bowl. "Go ahead, eat," he said, his voice gentle.
Arianna lowered her gaze to the piece of roast duck in her bowl. She hesitated for a moment before using her fork to lift it to her mouth, chewing slowly before swallowing.
Arianna looked up, her eyes locking onto Xander as he ate slowly and deliberately. She pursed her lips and, in a tone that carried a hint of reproach, said, "You didn’t answer my calls last night, Xander, and you even turned your phone off."
Xander's dark eyes flickered for a moment, but the emotion behind them was unreadable to Arianna.
He responded simply, "I was busy."
"Busy…" Arianna echoed, her voice softening as she tried to mask her concern. "Were you at the office working late last night?"
Xander met her gaze, his expression calm, almost serene, as he raised an eyebrow and replied with a teasing smile,
"Of course. How else would I be able to provide for you?"
Arianna studied his face for any sign of discomfort, guilt or hesitation but found none. His answer seemed genuine, and there was nothing in his demeanor that gave her cause for doubt. She couldn’t find a reason to challenge him.
Had Arianna not personally gone to the office the night before to search for Xander and confirmed that he wasn't there, she might have believed his words without question.
It struck her how easily Xander was able to lie. She wondered how she never noticed it before. But then again, how could she forget what had happened two years ago? She had believed his feelings were real, only to discover he had been deceiving her all along.
He always played the part so convincingly when he was with her.
The roast duck she had eaten earlier suddenly felt heavy in her stomach, and nausea quickly overtook her. She wasn’t sure if it was the stress of the situation or something more physical, but she barely had time to cover her lips before rushing to the bathroom.
She knelt by the toilet, retching as she emptied her stomach.
Xander was quick to follow, his face etched with concern as he crouched beside her. "Arianna, are you alright?" His voice was filled with genuine worry as he reached out to help her.
The moment his hand touched her, Arianna recoiled and pushed him away. "Don't!" she snapped, her voice tight with discomfort.
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