CHAPTER 407
"Harmony...why are you here?" Xander's voice was low, tinged with frustration as he ran a hand through his hair.
"You disconnected my call. I tried reaching you, over and over, but you weren't answering, and I... I thought something happened to you."
Her words faltered, and her gaze drifted toward the couch, where Arianna sat wrapped in a throw, her head slightly tilted, her eyes locked onto Harmony.
For a brief moment, Harmony's expression wavered, her carefully constructed mask cracking just enough to reveal a flash of something darker.
Xander took a breath, his voice steady but firm.
"Arianna fell. I couldn't leave my wife... And I told Zach to check on you-he was already on his way."
"I don't want Zach," Harmony snapped, her voice sharp, an edge of desperation in her tone.
Xander furrowed his brow, taken aback by her sudden outburst.
"Bunny..." he began, his voice softer, trying to calm her down.
"I'm sorry," she quickly added, her voice cracking with emotion.
"I didn't mean to snap. It's just... Zach, you know how he is. He doesn't take anything seriously. But you, Xander... you understand me."
She stepped closer, her eyes wide and pleading, as though searching for something-anything-from him.
"You always come. No matter what. You always come for me," she whispered,
“I didn’t know Arianna had hurt herself. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come… I wouldn’t have intruded like this.”
Harmony reached out, her fingers curling around Xander’s arm, her grip firm but her expression unreadable.
“I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice soft but fragile, as though it cost her something to say it.
She hesitated for a moment before continuing, her tone smooth but laced with a quiet edge.
“I just thought… I thought you didn’t care anymore. That you were ignoring me. I had no idea you were… taking care of Arianna.”
She glanced at Arianna, her gaze cool and calculating, but the words she spoke were laced with a thin layer of forced concern.
“I hope you’re okay…”
The words felt hollow, lacking any real warmth, though she tried her best to mask it with a fleeting look of concern that didn't quite reach her eyes.
Arianna’s smile widened, almost dazzling in its sweetness as she leaned back slightly.
"I’m much better now, thank you for asking," she said, her tone dripping with false innocence.
"My husband took very good care of me. Pampered me a lot, actually."
She glanced at Xander fondly, then flicked her gaze back to Harmony just in time to catch the flicker of irritation darkening her features — and Arianna savored every second of it.
His eyes flickered briefly to Arianna, his gaze softening.
"Always, my love," he murmured.
Harmony’s expression tightened as she watched the tender exchange. No. She didn’t get to be ignored — not like this.
With a sharp, theatrical hiss, Harmony jerked her hand up, cradling it dramatically against her chest. Her face contorted in an exaggerated display of pain, making sure the swollen wrist was right in Xander’s line of sight.
Xander's head snapped toward her immediately, his brows pulling together in a deep frown.
“What the hell, Bunny…” he muttered, his voice low with disbelief and concern as he reached instinctively for her injured hand.
“It’s swelling badly. Didn’t you ice it? Why the hell didn’t you take care of it?”
Before Harmony could respond, Xander gently grabbed her hand, inspecting it more closely, his brows furrowing.
"It's not as bad as it looks..." Harmony tried to brush it off, but her words lacked conviction.
"Well, I better get going. I'm sorry I crashed in on you both like this..."
Xander's gaze softened for a brief moment, but then his expression hardened, concern now fully taking over.
"Seriously, Bunny, I can't just let you walk out like this," Xander said, his tone firm but laced with concern.
His gaze moved over her, taking in the drenched clothes that clung to her body.
His eyes narrowed in concern.
"And why the hell are you drenched? Have you been standing out there in the rain?"
She feigned embarrassment, her eyes dropping briefly before she looked back at him.
"Yeah... I wasn’t sure if I should come in. You weren’t answering my calls, and I... I don’t know what I thought."
Xander’s expression hardened, his worry deepening.
"Are you out of your mind, Bunny? You could've gotten sick standing out there like that."
Harmony opened her mouth to respond, but he cut her off, his voice now laced with more sternness. His concern was evident, but so was his frustration.
"Look at you," he continued, stepping closer and gently gripping her arms as if trying to steady her.
"This isn’t healthy. You need help, Bunny. But more than that, you need to stop depending on me every damn time something goes wrong. I can't always be there."
Harmony took a shaky breath, her eyes meeting Xander's with a mixture of guilt and desperation.
"You're right," she whispered, her voice fragile.
"I shouldn't keep doing this. I promise I'll get that help... I just... I just need you to be there, Xander sometimes...."
Xander exhaled, nodding slowly, his expression softening despite the tension in the room.
"Of course I'll be there, Bunny. I will always be here for you. But you have to start taking care of yourself too."
Arianna chuckled quietly under her breath, her gaze flickering to Harmony.
She considered getting up, offering a round of applause for Harmony's impressive performance as the vulnerable, broken girl in need of rescue.
Xander glanced over at her. His eyes softened, and he gave Arianna a small smile.
He then led Harmony into the grand lounge, his hand steady beneath her arm.
"Sit," he said gently, guiding her to the velvet armchair across from the couch.
"Let me see." his brows knitting together as he inspected her wrist.
"How did you even do this?" he murmured, brushing his fingers lightly over the reddening skin.
"You've become so clumsy lately... always getting hurt."
Harmony didn't even try to hide her smile. Not tonight. Not when he was this close, this tender.
"I don't know," she whispered, feigning innocence.
"I was just trying to reach something on the top shelf, and I lost balance."
Xander sighed, still focused on her wrist, gently rotating it.
"You should've been more careful. You could've fractured something."
Arianna didn't move.
She only watched as her husband knelt before the other woman.
Why was he so gullible.
Harmony winced-deliberately-as she held out her wrist, and Xander took it carefully in his hands.
Xander's fingers moved over her skin gently, checking for swelling.
“I feel like I’m intruding,” Harmony said softly, her voice laced with a hint of genuine remorse. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you and Arianna.”
Xander glanced up from her hand, his expression softening slightly.
“It’s okay…” he murmured, focusing back on her wrist.
Arianna couldn't help but roll her eyes.
She wanted to get up-march across the room, grab her foolish husband by the shoulders, and shake him until he finally see what was right in front of him.
See Harmony for who she really was.
Manipulative. Calculated.
A woman who wore pain like perfume and tragedy like a crown.
But Arianna didn't move.
Not yet.
She simply sat there, eyes fixed on the scene unfolding before her. One hand gripped the edge of the couch cushion, nails digging into the velvet as Harmony soaked up every ounce of Xander's attention.
Watched her husband play the knight to a girl who cried wolf too often.
Watched Harmony bask in the warmth of his worry like it was hers to keep.
But she wouldn't allow this yo go on...
Shed make Harmony facade crack soon..
"I don't think it's broken, but we should ice it just in case," Xander murmured, standing up.
"Stay here. I'll get an ice pack...and a towel."
Harmony nodded, eyes shining.
"You've always taken such good care of me."
As soon as Xander stepped into the adjoining hallway, Harmony shifted in her seat, her entire demeanor changing for a heartbeat. Her eyes flicked toward Arianna-smug, victorious.
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