Ariana jerked her head up, and even with her eyes clouded with tears, she thought she saw Theodore standing there.
ALL the pent-up feelings of fear, sorrow, and longing came rushing out like water escaping a broken dam.
Was this just another cruel trick played by her mind? Why did this vision feel so sharp, so tangible?
If her mindâs escape was to weave these delusions and let her see him again, maybe that wouldnât be so bad.
The buzzing in Arianaâs ears was deafening, making the manâs words a distant murmur.
When he knelt down next to her, she couldnât help but wrap her arms around him, releasing a sob that seemed to come from her very soul.
âIs that you? Whyâd you take so long?â Her voice was raw, reflecting the chaos inside.
Holden paused, his hand almost reaching hers.
Heâd just wrapped up his duties and was looking forward to meeting the new child psychologist.
But all he found was little Adele munching on snacks alone.
He spotted her phone left behind.
She couldnât be too far.
Following the faint sounds, he stumbled upon the bathroom door that refused to budge.
But when he finally got it open, there she was.
Arianaâs face, stained with tears, caught in the faint light.
For a second, he wondered if he was seeing things.
But her unmistakable voice and the scent he remembered so well made him realize she was really there, and she was in distress.
Holdenâs instinct was to distance himself, to get a better look at her face, but Ariana wasnât letting him.
She held on tight, her cries echoing softly in the room as she whispered, âDonât ever leave me again.
â She felt so fragile as she shuddered in his embrace.
Tears soaked through to his shirt, giving him an unexpected twinge of pain in his chest.
Holdenâs frustration started to evaporate.
He began to lift his hand, aiming to comfort her, but her next words stopped him in his tracks.
âTheodore.
.
I miss you so much,â Ariana said, her voice trembling with grief.
Holdenâs hand stopped mid-air, a sharp burst of anger surging in him, powerful and wild.
His brow creased, and he let out a scoff of disbelief.
This Theodore must be her late husband, the name heâd caught in passing conversations.
A part of him wanted to push Ariana away, but propriety held him back.
Before he could make a move, Arianaâs head tilted back, and she went limp in his arms.
Suddenly, Shawn appeared, catching sight of Holden and saying, âIâve looked everywhere, and I canât find the doctor.
â His eyes landed on Ariana, and he paused, wide-eyed.
Was Ariana the psychologist they were talking about?
Holdenâs expression turned thunderous.
Without a word, he gently lifted Arianaâs unconscious form.
He shot a stern look at Shawn and said, âDonât just stand there.
Find the doctor.
Now.
â
Shawn shook off his surprise and darted away.
In a nearby guest room, Holden placed Ariana on the bed, but he found he couldnât move away.
He just stood there, almost hypnotized, unable to tear his gaze from her.
Holden struggled to understand the whirlwind of feelings he was experiencing, sensations that pulsed and electrified his heart.
Seeing her in person was different from glimpsing her in photographs or videos.
The emotions were stronger, more intense.
His eyes caught a stray strand of hair clinging to her cheek, wet from her tears.
Without even thinking, Holdenâs hand reached out, as if drawn to brush it aside.