Mark came in and checked Anastasia’s pulse.


    He turned to Xavier. "She’s doing perfectly normal, you just had to scare the hell out of me earlier," Mark yelled at Xavier but Xavier didn’t pay him any attention.


    He walked towards Anastasia and sat beside the bed.


    "Close the door when you leave," said Xavier, his eyes still on Anastasia, who felt somewhat ufortable under his gaze.


    Mark clenched his fist as he bit his tongue before he walked out, but he made sure to close the door quietly.


    "Why did youe to the Harrison mansion earlier?" Anastasia asked.


    She had been surprised when she saw Xavier suddenly barge into the living room earlier but was d that he’de. Because if he didn’t, she could have died.


    The Harrison family probably won’t need to finish her off since the sip of orange she took was more than enough to kill her. But she survived because he came.


    "Kace called me earlier. You tapped on your wrist watch and he knew you were in trouble. So, I rushed over quickly," Xavier replied.


    Earlier, he had feared he was going to lose Anastasia forever, especially when her breaths had be shallow andbored. Desperation had seized him as she clung to him, her grip weak but determined. He held her just as tightly, silently pleading for her to hold on a little longer. To his immense relief, she did.


    "I see," Anastasia mumbled, biting the bottom of her lips.


    Xavier gazed at her lips, gulping down his saliva as if he were thirty.


    <i>He wanted to kiss her. </i>


    "Now that I’ve survived their trap, I don’t think they are going to continue testing me," said Anastasia, her words pushing Xavier out of his thoughts. He tore his eyes away from her lips to look at her eyes.


    "But you put yourself in danger all in the name of passing their test, Ana. Aren’t you taking too much risk? You almost lost your life today," said Xavier.


    "This isn’t the first time I’m almost getting killed, Xavier. But I won’t let them sit there and enjoy their lives after what they have done to me. Those people deserve to be buried alive but I won’t give them an easy death without teaching them a lesson first."


    Xavier sighed. He knew that arguing with Anastasia wasn’t the best way to solve the issue. She’d already risked her life by getting closer to the people who once tried to kill her and he didn’t want her to do that again. But she was determined about her revenge.


    "I understand you," he said. "But you need to be careful with those people," he added.


    Anastasia nodded in understanding. Even though she was hellbent on her revenge, she didn’t want to die just yet without achieving anything.


    Xavier excused himself to bring her dinner.


    Downstairs, Xavier put on his apron as he opened the fridge to take out ingredients he was going to use to cook for Anastasia.


    Both Kace and Mark saw him since they hadn’t gone home yet.


    "Will you look at that? The great Xavier Wace, a business tycoon, is going to prepare dinner for his dear wife. Now, isn’t that sweet?" Mark teased.


    "What can I say? Love does change people," Kace added.


    At the mention of <i>love,</i> Xavier scowled at them.


    "Isn’t it high time you too went back to your homes? Get out!"


    "Aiyah...you are always so serious, Xavier. No one can joke with you," said Mark. He turned to leave.


    "We are not entirely joking though, Xavier. You might be in love with Anastasia," Kace added before following behind Mark as they left the mansion.


    ’Might,’ Xavier thought to himself.


    In Xavier’s room, Anastasia scrolled through her phone, ignoring Michelle’s messages asking her when they should hang out again.


    "Seems I was wrong. They are still going to set traps for me," Anastasia thought out loud.


    Her thumb paused when she saw a notification banner appear on the screen of her phone.


    Instantly, she tapped on it and read through the article.


    A smile crept on Anastasia’s lips when she was done reading the article.


    "Bingo."