StarNovel
Chapter: 261
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 sender’s name wasn’t
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 couldn’t help but feel a sense of
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtintrigue 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. “Are you asleep?”
Ariana’s heart raced as she gazed at the message from Holden.
She couldn’t 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. “No. What’s wrong?”
Almost immediately, Holden’s response popped up on the screen. “Do you have insomnia since you’re
still awake at this ungodly hour?”
The two exchanged words with ease, providing a sense of comfort to Ariana, who wasn’t used to being
alone. The ordinary conversation was like a balm to her wounded soul.
Ariana could glean from Holden’s choice of words that he wasn’t home.
As the clock struck midnight, Ariana asked casually, “Where are you?”
Holden replied quickly, “I’m savoring the riverside view by Mount Bridge.”
Ariana’s heart skipped a beat at the thought of Holden’s proximity. She couldn’t help but wonder if it
was a mere coincidence that he was nearby.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmHer mind was flooded with possibilities, and she couldn’t 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 family’s mansion? A storm of thoughts
thundered through her mind. ©
Suddenly, Holden’s next message popped up, calming her worries. “I’m on the Ferris wheel. The view
here is very beautiful.” ©
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