MARKED FOR XAVIER

CHAPTER ELEVEN:WHAT THEY NEVER TOLD YOU

“…What did you prepare me for?”

The question still lingered in the air.

Unanswered.

Heavy.

Ariana’s gaze didn’t leave Xavier.

Not this time.

Not when everything inside her was unraveling faster than she could hold together.

She expected little or nothing from Xavier,because she knew he was cold and ruthless.

But Brittany…….no,no she couldn’t believe that the only friend she thought she had was sent to watch her.

Just a spy!

All of these were too much for her to take in at once.

But she couldn’t break down.

At least,not yet.

Not now.

He had said she was protected.

Brittany had said she was watched.

And neither of them had denied it.

Her breath came slower now.

Controlled.

But her mind—

Her mind refused to settle.

“You’re both very good at speaking without actually saying anything,” she said finally, her voice quiet—but edged with something sharper.

No one responded.

That silence again.

That same, suffocating silence.

Ariana let out a slow breath.

Then—

She stepped back.

Not in fear.

Not in retreat.

In distance.

“Then I’ll ask differently,” she said.

Her gaze shifted between them.

Measured.

Focused.

“Who decided my life?”

The question landed harder than the others.

This time—

Brittany looked away.

She couldn’t bring herself to look at her.

And Xavier…

Xavier didn’t.

He kept his eyes fixated on her,almost as if he was trying to know what was going on inside that head of hers.

“You’re asking the wrong question,” he said.

Ariana let out a quiet laugh.

“Of course I am,” she muttered. “Because every time I ask the right one, you always refuse to answer it.”

A pause.

Then—

“You should be asking why.”

Her eyes narrowed slightly.

He was right though,she needed to know why,maybe if she did it might start making sense although.

“Fine,” she said. “Why?”

Another pause.

Longer this time.

And then—

“Because you were never meant to live an ordinary life , Arianna .”

His deep,baritone voice sends chills down her spine.

The words settled into the room like something inevitable.

Ariana stared at him.

“…That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one that matters right now.”

Her jaw tightened.

“No,” she shook her head slowly. “You don’t get to decide what matters to me.”

Of course he already did.

Silence.

And then—

“No,” Xavier said quietly.

A beat.

“I decide what keeps you alive.”

The words didn’t sound like a threat.

That was what made them worse.

They sounded like a fact.

Ariana’s breath caught.

For a moment—

Just a moment—

Something inside her hesitated.

Then—

She stepped closer.

Closing the distance between them again.

Her voice dropped.

“Then explain it,” she said. “Explain why my entire life had to be controlled just to keep me alive.”

His gaze didn’t waver.

“Because there are people who would take you the moment you’re unguarded.”

Her pulse spiked.

“…Why?”

A pause.

Then—

“Because of who you are.”

Her brows drew together.

“I already know who I am.”

Something flickered in his expression.

“No,” he said quietly.

“You don’t.”

That hit differently.

Ariana’s mind moved quickly.

Too quickly.

Moments.

Memories.

Things that had never made sense before—

Now began to feel… intentional.

The way certain people had disappeared from her life.

The way Brittany had always been there.

The way opportunities had come and gone without explanation.

Her breath slowed.

“…You controlled everything,” she whispered.

Brittany’s voice came softer this time.

“Not everything.”

Ariana turned to her sharply.

“Enough.”

A pause.

Then—

“Enough to make sure nothing got too close.”

Her chest tightened again.

“Nothing?” she repeated.

Brittany hesitated.

Then—

“No one.”

That landed harder.

Ariana stared at her.

Really stared this time.

Trying to find something familiar in her expression.

Something real.

“…Was any of it real?” she asked quietly.

Brittany’s gaze softened slightly.

“Yes.”

Ariana’s voice sharpened instantly.

“Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not,” Brittany said firmly this time.

A pause.

“I wasn’t supposed to care.”

That made Ariana still.

“But I did.”

Silence followed.

Not comforting.

Not resolving.

Just… complicated.

Ariana turned back to Xavier.

“You keep saying I’m in danger,” she said slowly.

Her voice ,steadier now.

“But you’re not telling me what that danger is.”

His expression didn’t change.

“Because knowing it won’t protect you.”

Her jaw tightened.

“Not knowing it won’t either.”

A pause.

Then—

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?”

That did it.

Something inside her snapped again.

“Stop saying that like it explains everything!”

Her voice echoed slightly in the room.

For the first time—

She wasn’t controlled.

She wasn’t measured.

She was angry.

And it showed.

Silence followed.

Heavy.

Then—

Xavier spoke again.

Quieter this time.

More deliberate.

“There was an incident.”

Ariana stilled.

“…What?”

A pause.

Then—

“When you were younger.”

Her heart began to race.

“What kind of incident?”

He didn’t answer immediately.

And that delay—

That hesitation—

Made everything worse.

Finally—

He looked at her.

Really looked at her.

And said—

“One you were never supposed to remember.”

Ariana’s breath stopped.

“…Remember?” she whispered.

A beat.

Then—

Xavier’s voice dropped.

“Because you weren’t supposed to survive it.”