CHAPTER 374
Xander stumbled back a few steps, momentarily caught off guard by the force of Arianna’s push. A flicker of surprise flashed across his sharp features before it disappeared.
Arianna immediately realized her overreaction, her pulse quickening with a mix of guilt and frustration.
Yet, the thought of Xander spending the previous night with Harmony, only to return and lie to her so smoothly, made her stomach churn all over again.
She hadn’t eaten much the entire day. Other than a glass of milk that morning and a few spoonfuls of soup at lunch, there was little left in her stomach.
The earlier piece of roast duck had been her only real food, but now, as the sour burn of bile rose in her throat, even that felt unbearable. She hunched over the toilet, dry heaving until only acidic remnants remained, the discomfort twisting her features.
Xander watched her silently for a moment, then grabbed a towel from the counter. Ignoring her earlier rejection, he crouched beside her, gently wiping her mouth. His free hand moved to the nape of her neck, his touch light and steady as he tried to soothe her trembling body.
Arianna wanted to pull away, to reject his care entirely, but her strength betrayed her. Completely drained, she slumped against him, her head resting against his chest even though every nerve in her body told her not to.
Xander easily lifted Arianna and took her back to the bedroom, moving quickly. He laid her gently on the bed and covered her with a blanket to keep her warm. Sitting at the edge of the bed, he frowned, concern in his voice.
“How do you feel now? Is there any relief?”
Arianna opened her eyes slightly, feeling dizzy and confused. Her thoughts were jumbled, and she tried hard not to reveal any weakness. She knew Xander understood her well, and she wasn’t ready for him to see how shaken she really was.
She swallowed, her voice a faint whisper. “I just need some water… warm water.”
“Sure,” Xander replied, quickly getting up to get it.
As he walked out, Arianna watched him go, her vision blurring as her thoughts swirled in a fog. She had always trusted him, believing his kindness and words… until now.
In the past, she had felt his love, which had helped her open up to him. But now, that trust felt broken because of the lies he had told her.
Arianna wasn’t sure if Xander had truly been cornered by circumstances, but one thing was certain: her trust in him had been shattered the moment he chose to lie.
When Xander returned with a glass of water, Arianna had already done her best to compose herself. She had learned long ago to hide her emotions, to quickly mask her vulnerability and regain her calm after life’s unpredictable storms.
Rather than handing her the water, Xander gently supported her, guiding her to lean against him as he lifted the cup to her lips.
Arianna’s hands tightened into fists as she fought to keep her emotions in check. She took the water, swallowing it down with effort, then let herself fall back onto the bed once more.
Xander set the cup aside, his hand tenderly grazing her cheek. He turned her face toward him, his voice soft but firm as he said,
“I’ve called the doctor. He’ll be here soon.”
Arianna knew her body was fine—there was nothing physically wrong with her. The overwhelming sickness she felt wasn’t from illness; it was from the disgust she couldn’t shake, the sting of Xander’s betrayal.
Arianna quickly realized that if the doctor came and found nothing physically wrong, Xander might start suspecting other things.
She hurriedly explained, “I didn’t eat much today, and I’m probably just feeling nauseous because my blood sugar is low. I’ll be fine after some glucose water and a bit of sleep. You don’t need to call the doctor.”
After a moment, she added, “Grandma King will worry if the doctor comes. She’s been having trouble sleeping lately, which is why she went to meditate at her place of worship. If she finds out, she’ll come rushing back, and I don’t want to cause her more stress.”
Xander’s expression darkened. “Are you sure you're alright?”
“Yes,” Arianna replied firmly.
“I just need some rest, and if the doctor comes, it’ll disturb me. I’ll feel better once I sleep.”
Xander’s gaze remained on her pale face, scrutinizing her every movement as he asked,
“Why didn’t you eat today?”
Arianna met his eyes without hesitation, her answer coming naturally.
“Didn’t I mention it two days ago? I’ve gained some weight recently. Since I’m going back to work tomorrow, I need to keep in shape, especially with being on camera every day. It’s important to maintain my figure and lose a little weight.”
“That’s a necessary part of my job!” Arianna insisted firmly.
Xander couldn’t argue with her logic.
Arianna had mentioned just two days ago that she’d gained some weight, and with her returning to work the next day, staying camera-ready was a valid concern.
Her explanation made sense, and Xander sighed softly, giving in.
“Alright. I won’t call the doctor, but you can’t keep pushing yourself to the point of exhaustion. Your health should always come first.”
His voice softened as he continued, with a hint of emotion, “You really scared me just now.”
Those words almost brought tears to Arianna’s eyes.
She couldn’t understand why Xander could be so tender with her after spending time with another woman the night before.
In that moment, she felt her resolve almost shatter again, as if she might let herself be deceived once more.
She blinked rapidly, fighting to keep the tears at bay, and struggled to regain control.
"Yes, I know," Arianna murmured, her voice faint. She didn’t want Xander to notice the discomfort she was feeling, so she quickly closed her eyes.
"I’m feeling a bit dizzy. I just need to rest."
Seeing her distress, Xander lowered his voice and responded gently, "I’ll make you some glucose water. Drink that, and then you can sleep."
Arianna nodded silently, not trusting herself to say more.
Xander stood and left the room.
She kept her eyes shut, but a single tear escaped and fell onto the pillow beneath her.
A few minutes later, Xander returned, bringing the glucose water. He helped her drink it, then carefully laid her back down. Instead of leaving, he remained at the edge of the bed, holding her hand softly.
"Rest, Arianna. I’m right here. Just let me know if you need anything."
Arianna didn’t respond, keeping her eyes closed as she tried to steady her emotions.
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