With Adele cradled in her arms, Ariana fell silent.
After a brief pause, she looked down at Adele and suddenly blurted out, âWhere is Mr.
Fredrick? Is he here in the mall as well?â
âYes,â Shawn replied.
Arianaâs heart quickened, her thoughts descending into chaos.
If Holden was present, could it be him in the photograph Sarah had captured?
Shawn added, âBy the way, Miss Edwards, your partnership proposal has been approved.
When will you have time to meet with Mr.
Fredrick?â
Hearing this, Ariana looked up at Shawn with a hint of anxiety in her eyes.
âCould we arrange a meeting today? I can talk to him right now.
â
Ariana couldnât help but feel the impatience welling up within her, her yearning to catch a glimpse of Holden had soared to its zenith.
She longed to bring an end to this internal turmoil, to unravel the mystery of Holdenâs true face.
Shawn hesitated briefly before gently shaking his head.
âIâm afraid thatâs not possible, Miss Edwards.
Mr.
Fredrick is currently engrossed in helping Miss Pierre choose her wedding dress.
â
Those words instantly jolted Ariana back to her senses.
Indeed, Holden was already betrothed, on the cusp of exchanging vows.
Even if she were to discover his current appearance, what purpose would it serve?
A heavy silence enveloped Ariana.
Even if Holdenâs voice resonated like Theodoreâs and he bore a resemblance, he was not her Theodore.
He had Sadie and Adele.
So, even if he sounded like Theodore and looked like Theodore, he could never be her Theodore.
The man she had loved had departed five years ago.
If her Theodore still breathed, he would have sought her out without delay, never having taken another as his bride, let alone siring a child with Sadie.
If he were capable of such betrayal, she would rather believe him dead.
With a sigh etched deep within her heart, Ariana lowered her gaze.
Her obsession with finding Theodore had held her captive for far too long; it was time to release it.
Summoning a forced smile, Ariana turned to Shawn.
âWell, letâs put this aside for now.
Perhaps another time.
â
Ever perceptive, Shawn noticed the discord in Arianaâs emotions and inwardly sighed.
He held a deep admiration for Ariana; she possessed capability and a commendable character, but fate had conspired against her, arriving too late on the scene.