CHAPTER 383
Xander froze the instant his eyes met Arianna’s, the raw shock on his face undeniable. For a heartbeat, he stood there as if caught in the act, his entire body stiff with the weight of being seen.
Then, almost too carefully, he peeled Harmony’s arms from around his waist, stepping away from her as though her touch burned him—or as though he had just realized how damning the image must have looked.
But the damage was already done.
He took a hesitant step closer, his gaze scanning her pale face, searching for answers in her expression.
“Ari…what are you doing here?” Xander’s voice came out uneven, laced with shock and confusion, as if the words had slipped out before he could gather his thoughts.
Arianna let out a breathless, bitter laugh, shaking her head.
“Funny… I was just about to ask you the same thing,” she shot back, voice trembling despite her attempt to sound composed. Her eyes narrowed, cutting past him to Harmony, who stood behind him with a delicate, almost triumphant smile curling on her lips.
“What are you doing here, Xander? Alone. In a VIP room. With her?”
Xander’s gaze flicked toward Harmony—just for a heartbeat—but it was enough. Enough for Arianna to feel the sting of betrayal twist deeper.
Harmony offered a gentle, almost bewildered smile, feigning the same confusion that Xander wore on his face.
Xander's throat bobbed, tension tightening his jaw as he turned back to Arianna, taking another step forward.
“Arianna…listen,” he began, his voice quieter now, almost pleading as he closed the distance between them.
She took a small step back, but he didn’t stop.
“You look pale,” he murmured, his gaze locking onto hers, deepening with concern as he took in the faint sheen of sweat on her forehead and the way her lips seemed drained of color.
“Ari, are you feeling okay? You’re shaking…” His hand lifted, trembling slightly, as he reached for her—fingers brushing near her forehead, lingering just shy of touching, as if torn between comforting her and bracing for the storm brewing in her eyes.
“Please… talk to me. What’s wrong?”
She jerked back, the movement sharp, like his touch burned her.
Her eyes didn’t linger on him but flicked past his shoulder—straight to Harmony, who remained by the table with arms folded smugly, her lips curled in satisfaction as she watched the scene unfold.
Arianna’s gaze returned to Xander, sharper now, piercing.
"Im fine! Let's not avoid the question, shall we? What are you doing here, Xander?" Arianna's voice remained calm, but the underlying sharpness in her tone cut through the thick tension in the room.
Her eyes, dark with suspicion, never wavered from his face, searching—demanding answers.
Xander parted his lips as if to speak, but nothing came. His gaze shifted—just for a heartbeat—back toward Harmony, lingering as if searching for words... or worse, permission.
That flicker of hesitation was all it took.
Arianna’s expression hardened, her jaw tightening. She stepped forward, refusing to let him hide behind his silence.
“No, Xander. Look at me.” Arianna’s words were steady, but there was a fierce, trembling edge to them now. “Why are you here? And don’t you dare lie to me.”
His eyes flickered toward her, guilt flashing across his face, but he said nothing. The silence between them was unbearable, thick with the weight of unspoken truths.
“Is this what we’ve become?” Her voice grew colder, sharp with disbelief, as if the very idea of it stung her more than she wanted to admit. “You’re here, in some private room, letting her cling to you like—” Her voice broke for just a moment, the pain too much to contain. But she quickly swallowed, forcing the tears back, her fists trembling at her sides.
“No... Arianna...” Xander’s voice was almost pleading, but it lacked the strength of certainty. It only made the ache in her chest intensify. He seemed to step closer, as though wanting to reach her, but she took a step back, as though distancing herself from the hurt he had caused.
“Are you really going to stand there and deny it, Xander?” Arianna’s voice cut through the heavy silence, each word laced with the hurt she could no longer contain. “I need to know. I need to hear it from you.”
Her eyes locked onto his, unwavering, as the storm inside her churned with a mixture of disbelief and fury. “Are you just going to keep me guessing, or are you going to be honest with me for once? I want the truth, now. Not the lies, not the silence. Not like last time—when you left me stranded, abandoned, at the altar. You won’t hide from this anymore.”
Her chest heaved with the weight of everything she was holding back, and she squared her shoulders, trying to hold herself together. “We’re adults, Xander. I can handle it. I’m not some naive girl anymore.” Her eyes, full of pain and frustration, bored into his. “Just tell me the truth. Whatever it is, I deserve to hear it from you.”
Her words hit him like a physical blow, the rawness in her tone making him flinch as if the past had suddenly resurfaced, threatening to swallow them both whole.
He finally spoke, but his voice was strained, lacking its usual confidence. "It's not like that, Arianna... I swear. Harmony... she called me. She said she needed to see me. She... she said it was important."
He took a step forward, his hand reaching out instinctively, as if to comfort her, his eyes desperate, trying to close the gap between them.
"Arianna, please," he pleaded, his voice raw with frustration, "I don’t want you to think it’s anything like you’re picturing... Please, just listen."
But Arianna stepped back sharply, her eyes narrowing, pushing herself away from him as if his proximity was something she couldn’t bear right now.
“Don’t, Xander.” Her voice was steady, but it trembled beneath the surface.
Arianna’s chest ached, her heart pounding against her ribcage as suspicion gnawed at her.
Her call was so important that you couldn't even answer mine?
Silence stretched between them, thick and stifling. And for the first time, Arianna felt like she was looking at a stranger standing before her.
Arianna let out a hollow chuckle, the sound sharp and humorless as she shook her head.
"Unbelievable," she muttered under her breath, turning on her heel to leave.
Xander’s frown deepened, confusion and desperation flashing across his face. Without thinking, he reached out, his hand wrapping gently but firmly around her wrist.
“Arianna, wait—where are you going?”
She stopped but didn’t turn around. Her posture was rigid, her arm tense under his grip. Slowly, she twisted free from his hold, her voice laced with cold sarcasm.
“You and Harmony clearly have something important to discuss. Please…don’t let me get in the way of your precious meeting.”
Xander’s jaw tightened. He stepped in front of her this time, blocking her exit as his hand captured hers again—tighter now, as if afraid she’d slip away completely.
“Arianna, you’ve got it all wrong. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s not like that. Harmony is just a friend—”
Arianna’s eyes narrowed, lips curling into a bitter smile as she interrupted him.
“Oh? Just a friend?” She pulled back slightly, her voice dripping with sarcasm.
“A friend who calls, and you drop everything to come running? A friend so important you ignore my calls? A friend you used your influence to land a job at Starlight TV?”
Xander flinched at her words, guilt flashing briefly across his face, but he stayed silent.
Arianna shook her head again, eyes glistening with unshed tears. “You can stop lying, Xander. I’ve seen enough.”
She tried to pull away, but this time his grip didn’t loosen.
Log in with Google Account
Chapters
Favorite
Settings
