CHAPTER 402
Arianna lay still, staring up at the ceiling, feeling the slow, steady rise and fall of Xander’s chest against her back. His arm was draped over her, holding her close, as if even in sleep, he refused to let her go.
But her mind was restless.
She knew she wouldn’t find peace until Harmony was out of their lives for good. She had to prove to Xander, to Zach, to John—to everyone—that Harmony wasn’t the fragile, innocent woman they believed her to be. That every tear, every breakdown, and every desperate plea for help was a calculated move.
Slowly, Arianna shifted, carefully lifting Xander’s arm from around her. He stirred slightly, his brow furrowing, but then he relaxed again, mumbling in a deep, sleep-rough voice, “Ari… I love you.”
A small, involuntary smile touched her lips. Despite everything, despite her frustrations and doubts, she believed him.
He did love her.
She just needed him to believe her.
Slipping out of bed, she grabbed her phone and padded barefoot to the balcony, the cool night air brushing against her skin. She swiped through her contacts and pressed Rochelle’s name.
It barely rang twice before Rochelle picked up.
“Okay, it’s late, so this better be good,” Rochelle’s voice was thick with sleep, but there was a hint of curiosity.
“Or are you calling to tell me you finally kicked that psycho out of your life?”
Arianna sighed, leaning against the railing.
“Not yet. But that’s why I’m calling.”
Rochelle was silent for a beat, then groaned.
"I'm glad you and Xander worked things out," Rochelle said, her voice softer now.
"I really am, Ari. You deserve to be happy. But I hate that Harmony is still a problem. She’s not just some jealous ex or a clingy friend—she’s dangerous, and you know it. And the worst part? Xander doesn’t see it. He never has."
Arianna sighed, rubbing her temple. "I know. That’s why I have to prove it to him."
"Yeah? And how are you gonna do that?" Rochelle asked.
"Because I swear, Ari, if you don’t figure something out soon, she will ruin everything. And I refuse to sit back and watch her destroy you."
Arianna’s grip on the phone tightened, her frustration barely contained beneath her steady voice. “I don’t know how yet, but I will find a way.” She let out a slow, measured breath, running a hand through her hair as she tried to steady herself.
“The worst part?” Her voice dropped, laced with bitter disbelief. “I told Xander. I didn’t hint, I didn’t dance around it—I spelled it out for him. And you know what he did? He brushed it off, like it was nothing.”
She let out a humorless laugh, shaking her head. “All he kept saying was that she’s been through so much—like that excuses everything. Like that somehow erases the way she manipulates people, the way she twists things in her favor.”
Her jaw clenched, her voice hardening. “I’m so damn sick of hearing about her tragic past. Everyone is so blinded by it, so caught up in this image of her as some fragile, broken thing. But that’s all it is—an image. A performance.”
“If only Xander and his buddies could see what I see,” Arianna muttered, her grip tightening on the phone.
“They’d realize she’s not some helpless victim—they’d see the manipulative, conniving liar standing right in front of them.”
“Men are blind as hell when they feel responsible for someone. And Harmony? She knows that,” Rochelle said, her voice laced with disgust. “She plays into it, makes them feel like she needs them. And they eat it up every damn time.”
Arianna exhaled sharply, pacing the balcony. “Exactly. Which is why I need something solid. Something undeniable. Something so obvious that even Xander can’t explain it away.” She paused, gripping the railing. “I need to catch her in a lie so big that it shatters the image they have of her—for good.”
Rochelle hummed. “So, what’s the plan? You’re not gonna, like, trap her in some villain monologue, are you?”
Arianna smirked slightly. “I don’t need to. She’ll expose herself. I just have to set the stage.”
“Alright, schemer, tell me what you need.”
Arianna’s eyes hardened with unwavering determination.
“I need to catch Harmony in her lie—something undeniable, something Xander can’t excuse or brush aside.”
Her jaw clenched as she paced the balcony, the cool night air doing little to soothe the fire burning inside her.
“She’s fooled everyone for too long. But if I can expose her—really expose her—Xander will have no choice but to see the truth.”
Rochelle let out a slow, considering hum before clicking her tongue.
“So, we push her. Make her desperate enough to crack—to show everyone exactly who she really is.”
Arianna nodded, even though Rochelle couldn’t see her, her grip tightening around the phone.
“Exactly. We need the perfect moment, the perfect setup. Something that will force her to drop the act in front of Xander, Zach, everyone.”
Rochelle let out a low whistle, a smirk evident in her voice.
“Damn, girl… I like this side of you. Calculated, ruthless.” She chuckled darkly.
“Now this is gonna be fun.”
Arianna leaned further against the balcony railing.
“She won’t be able to hide forever, Rochelle. She’s already slipping. Earlier today, she attacked me in front of Xander and Zach.”
Rochelle’s sharp inhale came through the line, followed by a beat of silence before her voice dropped, laced with irritation.
“She what? And let me guess—Xander made excuses for her?”
Arianna let out a bitter chuckle, running a hand through her hair as she paced the balcony.
“Pretty much. He said he’d never seen her that aggressive before, but instead of questioning it, he chalked it up to stress, to her trauma.” Her voice dipped into sarcasm on the last word.
“Like everything she does—every outburst, every manipulative stunt—gets a free pass because she had a rough time.”
Rochelle scoffed. “Oh, please. Plenty of people go through hell and don’t turn into obsessive, conniving little—” She cut herself off, exhaling sharply.
Arianna’s grip on the railing tightened as she stared out into the night. “Exactly. And I’m done playing by her rules.”
Rochelle let out a sharp sigh. “I get it, though. In Xander’s mind, he feels like he owes her—like it’s his fault she can’t have kids. And Harmony? She knows exactly how to use that against him. She plays the part perfectly—this fragile, helpless girl who needs protection, who needs him. But the truth?” Rochelle’s voice turned cold. “She’s not helpless. She’s calculated. And she’s playing a game—one none of them even realize they’re trapped in.”
Arianna clenched her jaw, gripping the phone tighter.
“That’s the problem, Roch. He wants to believe her. He’s spent so long seeing her as this fragile, broken thing that he can’t see her any other way. It doesn’t matter what she does—he’ll twist it into something forgivable.”
Rochelle’s voice was cold now, steel beneath her words. “Then we make her unforgivable.”
Arianna’s jaw tightened. “That’s exactly why I need proof. I need something so blatant, so undeniable that not even Xander can justify it away.”
Rochelle was silent for a moment before she said, “Okay, so what’s the move? Because if you’re serious about this, we need to hit her where it hurts. Push her into making a mistake.”
Arianna’s mind was already racing, piecing together a plan.
“She thrives on being fragile and traumatised. That’s her power over Xander. If she feels like she’s losing her grip on him, she’ll lash out. If we can catch her in one of her manipulations—something big—Xander will have no choice but to see the truth.”
Rochelle hummed in approval. “I like where this is going. But how do we make sure she snaps?”
A slow smile crept across Arianna’s lips. “We give her exactly what she fears most.”
Rochelle’s voice sharpened with interest.
“Which is?”
Arianna exhaled slowly, her plan taking shape in her mind. “We need to plant the idea that she’s losing him. That no matter how much she cries, no matter how much she plays the victim, Xander is slipping through her fingers. She needs to feel like she’s losing control—because that’s when she’ll make a mistake.” She paused, a dangerous glint in her eyes. “And when she does, we’ll be ready.”
A wicked chuckle came through the phone. “Damn, Ari. I love this side of you. So, what do you need from me?”
Arianna’s eyes glowed with determination.
“I need you to help me set her up. I need a reason to get all of us in one place—somewhere public. Somewhere Harmony won’t be able to hide if she loses control.”
Rochelle thought for a moment before snapping her fingers.
“John’s birthday is coming up, right? He’ll definitely want Xander there. And if Xander’s there, Harmony won’t stay away.”
Arianna smirked. “Exactly. And all we have to do is make sure she feels just threatened enough to expose herself.”
Rochelle let out an excited sigh. “Oh, this is gonna be fun. Tell me when and where, and I’ll handle the rest.”
Arianna glanced back toward the bedroom, where Xander was still sleeping peacefully. Not for long, she thought. Because soon, Harmony’s reign over his guilt would be over.
Once and for all.
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