CHAPTER 82
Arianna looked away from Xander and replied honestly, “He inhaled a powerful aphrodisiac. Mrs. Schmidt and her daughter are responsible for it.”
“What?” Ronald gasped, pressing his fist against his lips in shock. “So, um, did Mr. King get injured because you were trying to stop him from, well, doing something to you?”
Arianna fought the temptation to roll her eyes.
"No, he hurt himself."
"Seriously, stop blaming me for everything!"
Ronald was speechless.
After a brief pause, he cautiously inquired,
"Should I...search for a different lady for Mr. King?"
The instant the words left his mouth, he felt a chill down his spine. He glanced up at the rearview mirror and met the piercing gaze of his boss, whose eyes had been closed since entering the car.
It was a death glare!
Realizing his mistake, Ronald quickly shut his mouth and lowered his head, saying nothing more.
Ronald decided against driving back to the villa, not wanting to alarm Grandma King. Instead, he headed to a five-star hotel where Xander had an exclusive presidential suite.
Inside the suite, the doctor examined Xander, administering an injection to counteract the aphrodisiac's effects. Once that was done, he began treating the wound on Xander's thigh.
After attending to the injury for a while, the doctor wiped the perspiration from his brow and walked over to Arianna and Ronald.
"Mr. King's condition is stable at the moment," he explained, "but he requires close monitoring. If the wound on his thigh becomes infected, he might develop a fever tonight. It's crucial that someone stays with him and monitors his temperature every two hours."
Arianna frowned. "Wouldn't it be better to take him to the hospital? He'll get prompt treatment if any problems arise."
Ronald shook his head decisively. "No way. If we take him to the hospital, Grandma King will find out. If she learns Mr. King is hurt, he'll have my head."
Arianna shared Ronald's concern about alarming the elderly lady.
After the doctor left and gave them instructions, Arianna checked the time and prepared to bid Ronald farewell. However, before she could speak, Ronald anticipated her.
"It's getting late, Ms. Johnson, and I should take my leave. I'll leave Mr. King in your capable hands," Ronald said, expressing his gratitude to Arianna.
Arianna was left momentarily speechless. That was her argument!
"No..." Arianna interjected, rushing to intercept Ronald as he moved to leave. "Mr. Crawford, shouldn't you be the one staying to take care of Xander? He's your boss!"
Ronald countered firmly, "But Ms. Johnson, Mr. King is your husband."
Arianna found herself at a loss for words.
In that moment, Ronald's assertion, grounded in his role as Xander's executive assistant, rendered her unable to offer a rebuttal.
"Besides, Ms. Johnson, I'm not exactly known for my gentle touch. You're much more suited to handle Mr. King's care in this delicate situation. I really appreciate your willingness to take on this responsibility!"
With that, Ronald swiftly departed from the suite, almost as if he had springs on his feet. He didn't linger for Arianna's response, and the only sound that followed was the soft click of the door closing behind him.
It was only inside the elevator that he finally exhaled a sigh of relief.
If he hadn't misread the situation, it seemed evident that his boss wanted some private time with Arianna. After all, Xander didn't object when Ronald suggested Arianna accompany them in the car earlier. But the moment he mentioned finding another woman, Xander's intense glare was enough to silence him.
The more Ronald mulled over his decision, the more convinced he became of its correctness. If that was indeed the case, he resolved to be a better assistant and grinned as a sudden idea struck him.
Leaving the hotel behind, Ronald made his way across the street to the sprawling shopping mall.
*******
Inside the room, Arianna hesitated. She felt the urge to leave, knowing she had already done enough for Xander. They weren't truly husband and wife, after all. There was no obligation tying her to his bedside.
She lifted her foot, poised to depart, yet each passing moment made it harder to take that step.
With clenched fists and gritted teeth, Arianna fought her inner conflict. Eventually, she surrendered to her sense of duty and returned to Xander's bedside.
Reluctantly, Arianna acknowledged that ingratitude wasn't part of her nature. Despite their complicated relationship, Xander had also nursed her through a night of sickness not long ago. With this realization, she set aside her initial hesitation.
As Arianna settled into her decision, her concern shifted to Xander, who lay asleep but far from peacefully. His brow furrowed deeply, suggesting a troubled sleep. Whether it was the pain from his thigh wound or the lingering effects of the aphrodisiac, cold sweat continued to bead on his forehead.
She hovered uncertainly by the bedside, debating whether to fetch a cloth to wipe his brow or simply watch over him quietly. Eventually, she opted to stay close, silently hoping for his discomfort to ease with the passage of time.
