CHAPTER 400
"You don't even know the truth about your perfect little world, Arianna. You just keep pretending, fooling yourself into thinking you have it all. But you don't."
Arianna clenched her fists, her breathing shallow. "If you think I'm going anywhere, leaving my husband because of your pathetic little manipulations, you're sorely mistaken."
Harmony's smile widened, but there was no humour in it. Her voice took on a taunting edge.
"You really think you're in control here? Do you think Xander sees you as his one and only? You're just the placeholder, sweetheart. He's been in love with me for longer than you've known him. And when he finally realizes that, when he's done with this little 'experiment' of his, he'll come back to me."
Arianna scoffed, crossing her arms. "Is that so? Then how come you haven't already had him, Harmony? Why are you still here? If he's so torn up over you, why hasn't he run back to you already?"
Harmony's eyes flashed, but her smirk remained. "Oh, I'll have him. You can count on that. And when I do, it'll be permanent. See, Xander cares about me too much to throw me away the way he does with all the others. He'll come looking for me when he's finally ready to settle down when he realizes that you... you were just a chapter in his life that he needed to get over." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "And I'll be here, waiting for him. I've always been here."
Arianna's eyes narrowed, her lips curling into a dismissive smile. "Keep telling yourself that, Harmony. Maybe one day, you'll believe it."
Harmony's eyes burned with the intensity of her certainty, her smile never fading as she sat back in her chair.
"Oh, I will, Arianna. Just wait. Because when Xander finally opens his eyes, he's going to come back to me. And you'll be left in the dust, just like the rest."
Arianna's smile didn't falter. If anything, it deepened, laced with something lethal. She leaned in, her voice steady, unwavering.
"You talk a big game, Harmony, but here's the thing you don't scare me. You're grasping at straws, clinging to a man who has already chosen me. And let me make one thing very clear..." Arianna's eyes darkened, her voice dropping to a near whisper, each word slicing through the air like a blade.
Arianna tilted her head, a cold, knowing smile playing at her lips. Her voice was calm, almost gentle, but laced with warning.
"I'm giving you one chance, Harmony—just one—to back off quietly. Walk away now, and I’ll overlook your manipulations and your pathetic little games. But if you push me again, if you try to come between me and my husband one more time..." She leaned in slightly, her eyes flashing with finality.
"I won’t be so forgiving." She let the words hang in the air for a moment before glancing toward the kitchen, her expression unreadable, yet full of quiet menace.
"If you try to come between Xander and me again if you so much as breathe another manipulative word in his ear, I won't think twice about putting you in your place. And trust me, Harmony, when I do, there won't be a single person left who will believe your pitiful little act."
Harmony's smirk wavered for a fraction of a second, but Arianna caught it. Saw the crack in the mask. Pressed harder.
"And as for Xander?" Arianna let out a quiet laugh, shaking her head.
"You think you have him wrapped around your finger, but you have no idea. Sooner than you think, I'll show him exactly who you are. I'll tear that mask right off your face, and when he finally sees you for what you are-" she leaned in further, her voice a whisper laced with poison
"-You'll be nothing to him. You’ll be nothing more than a forgotten memory… insignificant and erased."
Something snapped in Harmony. Her entire body went rigid before she shot to her feet, her eyes blazing with fury.
"You little-!" Before Arianna could react, Harmony lunged at her, hands reaching, nails bared.
Arianna barely had time to brace herself when-
"Bunny! What the hell!"
Xander's voice rang out, sharp and full of disbelief.
The clatter of ceramic echoed as he and Zach hurried into the room, setting down the coffee cups in a rush. In an instant, Xander was between them, his strong hands gripping Harmony's arms, yanking her back with more force than necessary.
Arianna inhaled deeply, steadying herself as Xander's eyes darted to her, scanning for any sign of harm.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.
She nodded, brushing off invisible dust with a shaky breath, her fingers trembling just enough to be noticeable. Her eyes darted downward as if struggling to hold herself together before she swallowed hard and offered a small, forced smile—one that wavered at the edges, perfectly mimicking fragility. She exhaled softly, as though steadying herself, then glanced up, her gaze filled with carefully crafted uncertainty.
"I'm okay…" she murmured, swallowing hard, letting her fingers fidget slightly, the perfect picture of someone trying to keep it together. "But it’s fine. Really. I should’ve known better."
Xander, however, was far from calm. His jaw clenched as he turned back to Harmony, his grip on her tightening.
"What the hell has gotten into you Bunny?"
His voice was sharp, demanding answers, his eyes burning with something Arianna had never seen before-disappointment.
Harmony, still fuming, wrenched herself free from Zach's hold, her face contorted with barely restrained rage. But as she met Xander's cold, unwavering glare, the fire in her flickered-just for a moment. Her fury twisted into something else, something dangerously close to panic.
Her breath hitched, and in the blink of an eye, her expression shifted. The anger melted away, replaced by something fragile, something breakable. Her shoulders trembled slightly, her eyes wide with hurt as she took a shaky step toward Xander.
"You... you didn't hear what she was saying," she murmured, her voice trembling just enough to sound wounded, betrayed.
"She twisted everything, Xander. She made it sound like I'm losing my mind." Harmony shook her head as if trying to steady herself.
“She just doesn’t understand us, Xander," Harmony whispered, her voice trembling as she looked up at him with wide, wounded eyes. "She twisted it into something ugly—like I’m some manipulative liar like I’m using you."
She shook her head, wrapping her arms around herself as if trying to hold herself together. "But you know that’s not true, don’t you?" Her voice cracked just enough, her lower lip quivering. "You know me. You know what we’ve been through, what we mean to each other. I would never—never—do anything to hurt you."
She stole a glance at Arianna, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I don’t know why she hates me so much. I never wanted to be in the way... I just want to heal."
Her voice broke on the last word, and she cast a hesitant glance at Zach as if searching for backup, for someone to see the injustice of it all.
Arianna's eyes widened slightly, and she let out a soft, almost wounded sigh, shaking her head as if she were truly concerned. She took a hesitant step closer, clasping her hands together in front of her, her voice almost too gentle.
"Harmony, no," she murmured, her gaze filled with carefully crafted sympathy.
"You're upset, I get it. But I think you're misunderstanding me." She glanced at Xander, her lips pressing into a thin line as if she were carefully choosing her words.
Arianna took a small, shaky breath, her hands trembling ever so slightly as she wrapped her arms around herself. Her expression was carefully composed, but the subtle tremor in her voice was impossible to ignore.
"I-I don't know what just happened,"
Arianna murmured, her voice laced with uncertainty as she cast a wary glance at Harmony, as if afraid she might lash out again. Then, with a measured breath, she turned to Xander, her expression carefully composed.
"I was only saying that she's been through so much," she continued gently, her voice tinged with quiet concern. "The accident, the loss, the trauma... it's a lot for anyone to bear. And I know, Xander. I know you'll always be there for her. You always have been." She paused, letting her words sink in before adding,
"But maybe this is bigger than you. Bigger than both of you."
She hesitated, her gaze flickering back to Harmony, before returning to Xander with a softness that felt almost hesitant, almost reluctant.
"I was just saying maybe it's time she gets the help she really needs.... maybe we should consult a doctor. Someone who can help her get through all this pain, you know? She's been through so much, and I just thought..." She trailed off, biting her lip, her shoulders curling inward.
She turned her gaze back to Xander, her voice barely above a whisper.
"But then she freaked out and started yelling at me, saying I had no right to give advice, that I don't understand anything." She swallowed, feigning hesitation before adding, "She... she called me a liar, said I was trying to turn you against her."
Xander's brows furrowed, his grip on Harmony tightening. "Is that true?" His voice was eerily calm, but his eyes-his eyes burned with suspicion.
Harmony's breath hitched. "I-No! She's twisting everything! I just lost my temper, okay? But can you blame me? She's standing here acting like she knows me, like she understands what I've been through! She doesn't know anything, Xander!"
Arianna flinched dramatically, taking a small step back.
"I-I was only trying to help," she murmured, looking down as if she were hurt by Harmony's words.
He exhaled slowly, raking a hand through his hair before stepping closer to Arianna. "I know, Ari" he said, his voice quieter now, steady but firm. "I know you were just trying to help."
"You care about her so much," Arianna said softly, her voice laced with just the right amount of hesitation. "I know how much she means to you, how much you worry about her well-being, how badly you want her to be okay." She let out a small sigh, glancing briefly at Harmony with what could only be described as false sadness almost sympathetic tilt of her head, her eyes filled with feigned concern.
"I just thought..." She trailed off, biting her lip as if she were carefully choosing her words. Then, with the perfect touch of hesitation, she looked up at Xander. "Maybe if she had someone professional to talk to... someone who could really help her..."
"Harmony..." His tone was careful now, measured.
"No one's turning this into anything ugly. We all just want what’s best for you." He sighed.
"But maybe Arianna's right. Maybe you do need more help than just me."
Harmony's nails dug into her palms, her fists clenching so tightly that her knuckles turned white. She knew exactly what Arianna was doing-playing the same game Harmony herself had mastered.
And it infuriated her.
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