Her musings were interrupted by the buzz of her phone.
Seeing two missed calls from Sarah’s assistant, she promptly answered the third.
“Ariana, I hope you got home safely?” the assistant began.
“Yes, I’m here. Can you fill me in on last night? I can’t remember much,” Ariana responded, her voice tinged with anxiety.
The assistant recounted the evening’s events, explaining how Ariana, in her drunken state, had willingly jumped into Holden’s
car. However, it was Holden who had generously offered to ensure she got home safely.
As the assistant described how Ariana had darted towards Holden’s vehicle, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. She was
horrified by her actions, which she now saw in a different light.
Listening further, Ariana realized the magnitude of her actions from the night before.
The regret deepened, knowing she shouldn’t have consumed so much alcohol.
Once the call ended, she turned to Melon, attempting a casual tone.
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“Can you tell me about last night after we got back?”
As Melon narrated the events, Ariana’s face went from pale to crimson.
Being drunk was one thing, but her antics in the house, especially in front of her child, was a new level of mortification.
After detailing the previous night, Melon took a bite of his bread, looking displeased.
“This bread’s too hard.”
Ariana’s gaze landed on the peculiar-looking food. It reminded her of the bunny-shaped cupcakes Holden made for his daughter.
“When did he leave?” she quickly asked.
Melon responded, “Just a bit ago. He mentioned he had work.”
Without a second thought, Ariana darted outside, only catching a fleeting glimpse of the departing car’s taillights.
A mixture of gratitude and curiosity welled up. She had hoped to express her thanks and get a good look at Holden.
Yet, as she stood there, another face popped into her mind: Sadie.
Ariana reflected on the growing frequency of her interactions with Holden. Even if she did want to delve deeper into their
uncanny resemblance, what purpose would it serve? After all, Holden was already engaged to someone else.
She might not have a high opinion of Sadie, but Ariana was principled enough to know she shouldn’t meddle in their relationship.
Her introspection was interrupted by a familiar voice.
“Lost in thought out here?” Turning, she saw Mitchel, a gift box in hand.
“Just thinking. What brings you here? Please, come in,” Ariana welcomed. They made their way into the house.
Once inside, after a brief exchange with Melon, Mitchel presented the box.
“It’s my grandfather’s birthday banquet tomorrow. I thought you might like this gown for the occasion,” he explained, revealing an
exquisite dress.
Intrigued, Ariana decided to try it on right away.
The gown was a perfect fit, accentuating her natural beauty. Emerging from her room, Ariana found Mitchel momentarily
speechless, clearly taken aback by her elegance.
His gaze lingered on her slightly swollen lips, prompting him to inquire, “Are you alright? Your lips look a bit injured.”
Caught off-guard, Ariana responded, “Oh, just a minor incident from yesterday.”
Not wanting to pry, Mitchel simply offered advice on treatments that could help her lips recover faster.
As they continued their conversation, Melon reappeared, clutching a foreign language picture book. Eagerly, he hopped onto
Mitchel’s lap, anticipating another reading lesson.
Mitchel, ever the patient teacher, began helping Melon decipher the words, with Ariana watching the touching scene from a
distance. The bond between Mitchel and Melon had indeed deepened, something Ariana deeply appreciated. Her thoughts
drifted to Mitchel’s prominent background, as a heir to the esteemed medical dynasty in Eleymond.
Feeling it was the right moment, Ariana asked, “Mitchel, have you ever met or seen Holden Fredrick?”