CHAPTER 387
Rochelle guided Arianna into the apartment, her arm firmly around her shoulders as she led her to the sofa. Once Arianna was seated, Rochelle disappeared into the kitchen and returned moments later with a glass of warm water. She placed it gently into Arianna’s trembling hands.
“Here, drink this. It’ll help.”
Arianna nodded faintly, wrapping both hands around the glass. She sipped the water slowly, letting the warmth soothe her dry throat and unsettled stomach.
Rochelle grabbed a pillow, hugging it to her chest as she sat down beside her. She waited for Arianna to relax, her gaze soft and patient.
“Now, Arianna, tell me. What happened? No holding back.”
Setting the glass down on the table, she recounted the events in halting words, her voice tinged with anguish and frustration.
Rochelle’s expression darkened as Arianna explained. By the time she finished, Rochelle’s grip on the pillow had tightened, her knuckles whitening as her anger simmered just below the surface.
“Are you kidding me?!” Rochelle burst out, her voice a mix of outrage and disbelief.
“That self-absorbed jerk and that conniving... I can’t believe this, Arianna! You’ve put up with so much already, and now this?”
Her voice softened slightly as she reached out and squeezed Arianna’s hand.
“You don’t deserve this, not any of it. And I swear, if they think they’re going to get away with it…” Rochelle’s words trailed off, her anger still evident, but her focus firmly on Arianna’s well-being.
Rochelle shot to her feet, her face flushed with anger.
“I knew that snake couldn’t be trusted! I warned her to stay in her lane, but clearly, she doesn’t know when to back off. That’s it. I’ve had enough of her games. I’m going to put an end to this right now, Arianna!”
Arianna’s heart warmed at Rochelle’s fierce loyalty, but she quickly reached out and grabbed her arm.
“No, Rochelle. Don’t. She’s not worth it. I don’t want you risking everything just to fight my battles.”
Rochelle’s jaw tightened as she pulled her arm free.
“Why not? After everything she’s done to you? I’d rather go down fighting than let her walk all over you like this!” Her voice was trembling with fury, but there was no mistaking the fire in her eyes.
Arianna tugged her back to the couch, her grip firm as she pulled Rochelle to sit down.
“Chelle, listen to me. I’ll deal with Harmony in my own way. She’s a snake, and I know every word she said was meant to get under my skin—but I need time to process it, to separate the truth from her venom.” Arianna took a shaky breath, her jaw tightening.
Rochelle hesitated, but her shoulders sagged slightly as she sat back down.
“Are you sure? Because someone needs to knock her down a peg.”
Arianna’s gaze hardened as her voice lowered.
“Oh, I’m sure. But the person I need to deal with isn’t Harmony.” She took a deep breath, her tone laced with bitterness.
“It’s Xander. He’s the one who betrayed me, but I can’t just walk away without hearing him out. I need to look Xander in the eye and hear him say it—whether what she said was true or just another one of her twisted games.”
At the mere mention of Xander, Rochelle’s face twisted with rage.
“I really thought he was different. God, how blind was I to even think he had a shred of decency left?”
She didn’t stop there, her fury bubbling over.
“Then again, what do you expect from someone who hangs around people like her? Birds of a feather flock together.”
Right now, all Rochelle wanted was to shove Xander and Harmony off a cliff and let nature take care of the rest.
The warmth of having a best friend who could match her fiery loyalty, even in moments of chaos, made Arianna’s heart ache in the best way.
Rochelle pulled her into a tight hug and asked, “So, what’s your next move?”
Then, with a spark of her trademark humor, she added,
“If you’re planning revenge, just say the word. I’ve got a shovel and plenty of time to help you bury the evidence.”
The absurdity of her offer broke through Arianna’s sadness, drawing a faint chuckle from her lips, despite the storm in her heart.
Arianna closed her eyes, drawing in slow, deep breaths before pulling herself from Rochelle’s comforting embrace. Her voice, though still hoarse, carried a steadiness that hadn’t been there before.
“Chelle, I need you to do two things for me.”
Rochelle’s heart clenched at the sight of Arianna’s pale, drained face.
How strong did someone’s heart have to be to endure this? How much anguish had Arianna suffered before this moment to make her so resilient?
Rochelle would have given anything to see Arianna let her guard down completely, to collapse into her arms and cry without holding back. But instead, here she was—standing tall amidst the wreckage, determined to keep fighting. It broke Rochelle’s heart even more.
Rochelle sighed softly, her heart heavy, but she nodded without hesitation.
“Alright, Arianna. Just tell me what you need. I’ll take care of it.”
Arianna reached into her bag and pulled out her phone, handing it to Rochelle.
“First, can you call Grandma King and let her know I’ll be staying with you tonight? Just… come up with any excuse.”
Rochelle took the phone, her lips pressing into a thin line, and dialed the number without question. She knew how to handle this. Arianna didn’t need the added stress of dealing with family inquiries.
After a brief conversation, Rochelle hung up and handed the phone back to Arianna, who powered it off immediately and tossed it back into her bag. Her movements were deliberate, a clear sign she wanted to shut out the world for the night.
Rochelle watched her with a quiet understanding but didn’t comment. Instead, she simply asked,
“Alright, and the second thing?”
There was no escaping the inevitable. Sooner or later, she would have to face it.
Arianna lowered her gaze to her stomach, her mind swirling with uncertainty. After a long moment of silence, she finally spoke, her voice quiet but steady.
“I need you to get me a pregnancy test.”
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