CHAPTER 69
Xander settled onto the sofa with a commanding air. "Come here," he instructed in his usual authoritative tone.
Arianna shook her head with a small smile. "I don't have any new wounds, Xander. In fact, I barely got hurt today. It was the other party who came out worse off."
"Come here! Don’t make me repeat myself!” Xander's tone was laced with impatience.
Arianna, sensing the futility of resistance, complied and moved to sit opposite him. She sat down gingerly, her eyes meeting his with a mix of curiosity and defiance.
Without another word, Xander reached out and gently untied her robe, opening it to inspect her for any hidden injuries. His touch was firm yet surprisingly tender, betraying a concern that his gruff demeanor couldn't hide.
Arianna instinctively covered her chest, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment and anger. "Xander!" she scolded, her voice a mix of bashfulness and frustration.
She had agreed to let him check her for injuries and apply ointment, not to have him take advantage of her vulnerability. However, Xander's demeanor remained calm and indifferent, as if he were entirely unaffected by the situation. This unexpected composure from him caused Arianna's rage to slowly ebb away, leaving her feeling more confused than ever.
Arianna couldn't shake off the feeling that she might be reading too much into the situation.
With a deep blush staining her cheeks, she allowed Xander to inspect her injuries. Once satisfied that she wasn't seriously hurt, he gently rearranged her robe, covering her exposed skin.
As Xander's cool fingertips grazed her, a shiver ran down Arianna's spine. She couldn't determine if it was intentional, but she caught a glimpse of a mischievous glint in his eyes and a hint of a smile playing on his lips.
Suppressing her own fluttering emotions, Arianna cleared her throat to break the tension. She tightened her grip on the robe, feeling suddenly self-conscious.
"Thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't expect... this... from you."
Her gaze dropped to her lap, where she fidgeted with the fabric of her robe, unsure of how to interpret the sudden intimacy between them.
Even as the surreal moment unfolded before her, Arianna struggled to grasp the reality of Xander's unexpected appearance. In their strained relationship, she had grown accustomed to expecting the worst from him. Yet here he was, standing by her side in a critical moment.
Her words seemed to catch Xander off guard, his eyebrows arching in surprise as his gaze locked onto her face. His voice carried a hint of complexity as he responded, "I never expected a thank you from you either."
There was an undeniable tension lingering between them, a mixture of disbelief and unspoken emotions. Arianna couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Xander's sudden act of kindness, and she found herself searching his eyes for answers.
Previously, Xander had come to Arianna's rescue just in time, arranging for medical treatment and staying by her side throughout the night. However, she hadn't expressed any gratitude towards him.
Arianna furrowed her brows in confusion, meeting Xander's gaze with a questioning look. "What do you mean? Even though... I'm not one to overlook kindness. If you helped me, I would definitely thank you."
"Is that right?" Xander's lips curved slightly, hinting at his skepticism towards her assertion.
Arianna's frown deepened as she mulled over Xander's words. What had she done to make him doubt her gratitude?
Memories of their recent interactions flooded her mind, prompting a sudden realization.
Could it be that Grandma King had been telling the truth? Was it truly Xander who had found her when she was unwell, coming to her rescue just in time?
And the person who had stayed by her side throughout the night... was that also Xander? It couldn't have been just her imagination, could it?
The possibility left Arianna baffled and uncertain, her mind reeling with questions.
Arianna's heart raced with uncertainty. She pursed her lips, the question lingering on her tongue. "Xander, when I was unwell previously... was it you who came to my aid?"
Xander's response was a derisive sneer. Instead of confirming or denying, he countered with a question of his own. "Who else would it have been?"
Arianna was taken aback, momentarily speechless. It truly was Xander...
Yet, despite the evidence pointing to his involvement, Arianna hesitated to fully accept it. It was Xander's demeanor that left her doubting the truth of the matter.
"I..." Arianna faltered, struggling to find the right words. She wanted to explain herself, but the fear of offending Xander silenced her before she could even begin.
Admitting to her previous doubts about his kindness seemed out of the question, especially now when their relationship was already tense.
Arianna cleared her throat awkwardly, adjusting her bathrobe as she rose from her seat. With a polite nod towards Xander, she began, "I want to sincerely thank you for your help on both occasions, and for rescuing me today."
Xander tilted his head slightly, his gaze lingering on the woman before him. Though he had no intention of taking undue credit for her rescue, he saw no harm in allowing her to express her gratitude.
A sly smile crept onto his lips, his voice taking on a teasing tone. "Is a mere 'thank you' all your life is worth?"
Arianna blinked in surprise, taken aback by his unexpected question. "What do you mean?"
His smile deepened, his eyes dancing with mischief.
"Surely you haven't forgotten your past actions?"
