After satisfying her appetite and indulging in a comforting bath, Ariana felt much better.
She still checked her phone periodically, though, hoping that a text or call would come.
But the phone stayed silent, and as the night wore on, she started to feel drowsy.
Suddenly, her phone chimed with a new message.
Ariana bolted up in bed.
She lunged for it, eagerly checking the screen, only to feel a pang of disappointment when she saw the senderâs name wasnât Theodore.
It was Holden.
Confusion replaced her disappointment as she wondered why Holden had messaged her so late.
They had not talked in days, ever since she celebrated his birthday.
She couldnât help but feel a sense of intrigue as she stared at the message.
What could he want?
She clicked on the chat box, and her eyes scanned the short line of words.
âAre you asleep?â
Arianaâs heart raced as she gazed at the message from Holden.
She couldnât fathom why he would send her a message so late, only to ask if she was asleep.
Was it a coded message? Was there something more he wanted to say?
Normally, she would ignore messages like these and only reply the next day, but the feeling of isolation was too much for her to bear.
She longed for someone to talk to, someone to fill the empty void in her heart.
So, Ariana decided to break her rule and reply.
She typed her reply to Holden.
âNo.
Whatâs wrong?â
Almost immediately, Holdenâs response popped up on the screen.
âDo you have insomnia since youâre still awake at this ungodly hour?â
The two exchanged words with ease, providing a sense of comfort to Ariana, who wasnât used to being alone.
The ordinary conversation was like a balm to her wounded soul.
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Ariana could glean from Holdenâs choice of words that he wasnât home.
As the clock struck midnight, Ariana asked casually, âWhere are you?â
Holden replied quickly, âIâm savoring the riverside view by Mount Bridge.
â
Arianaâs heart skipped a beat at the thought of Holdenâs proximity.
She couldnât help but wonder if it was a mere coincidence that he was nearby.
Her mind was flooded with possibilities, and she couldnât stop fidgeting with her fingers.
The apartment Ariana recently rented was situated in the quiet suburbs, far from the bustling commercial center.
The surrounding buildings were mostly residential, occupied by working-class people and office workers who rented apartments in the area.
Holden was not one to engage in meaningless activities, so there had to be a purpose behind his visit.
Was he here for business? If so, why would he bother messaging her at such a late hour?
The longer she dwelled on it, the more suspicious she became.
Was Holden somehow keeping tabs on her? Did he know she had moved out of the Anderson familyâs mansion? A storm of thoughts thundered through her mind.
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Suddenly, Holdenâs next message popped up, calming her worries.
âIâm on the Ferris wheel.
The view here is very beautiful.
â ©