She couldn't help but wonder why Adrian had come to help. Considering their few previous encounters, he hadn't struck her as the type to intervene over trivial matters.

Perhaps it was merely because BRD Group had invested in the film. They likely wanted to protect their investment from flopping.

Still, Ariana couldn't help but be impressed that Adrian had access to such confidential audio from Jasper's office.

Little did she know that the true orchestrator was sitting right next to her, Theodore.

As Theodore drove, he overheard Ariana mentioning Adrian's name and couldn't resist glancing at her. He watched as she put down her phone and stretched lazily, seemingly lost in her thoughts.

Suddenly, Ariana's eyes sparkled with excitement as they passed a shopping mall that was hosting an event. She pointed at the mall and said to Theodore with enthusiasm, "We've never been shopping together. Let's go in now!"

"Sure," Theodore replied, his heart warmed by her enthusiasm. He parked the car as Ariana had suggested and gently held her hand as they strolled into the mall together.

Inside, Ariana's eyes were immediately captivated by a massive 5-foot-tall stuffed doll. Its undeniable cuteness overwhelmed her, and she playfully clung to Theodore, hoping to persuade him to get it for her.

“I want it," she said, pointing at the doll, giving Theodore a hopeful look.

Theodore glanced at a nearby plastic toy gun, deeming it a bit childish. Then he decided to tease her a bit and gently told her not to play such a boring thing.

Despite his initial refusal, Ariana's spirits remained high. She picked up the toy gun and attempted to hit some targets.

However, her shooting skills were far from perfect, and with a little meddling from the store manager, she couldn't manage to hit a single target out of ten. Her initial excitement slowly waned.

Observing Ariana's disappointment, Theodore couldn't help but smile. He affectionately ruffled her hair, took the toy gun from her, and showed her how to use it.

Aiming at the balloons, he popped them one by one, and Ariana's eyes lit up with delight. Once he finished, she pointed to the doll on display.

In no time, the doll was cradled in Ariana's arms, and she hugged it happily, unable to contain her joy. Spontaneously, she planted a grateful kiss on Theodore's cheek, expressing her appreciation.

Their adventure through the mall continued, with each passing moment strengthening their bond and adding to their shared delight. They savored each other's company, basked in the joy of the moment, and couldn't help but indulge in various treats that tempted them along the way.

Theodore found himself genuinely happy in Ariana's presence, and he felt the weight that had burdened him for the past few days steadily lift from his shoulders.

However, their tranquil time together was momentarily interrupted by the ringing of Theodore's phone. He excused himself and stepped aside to answer the call, not wanting to spoil their special outing.

The doctor's solemn voice came through the line, "Mr. Anderson, your wife's pre-op results are in.”

As Theodore took the call, Ariana found herself growing a little bored waiting for him. Her attention was soon drawn to a mother and baby store nearby, and her curiosity got the better of her. Deciding to explore the store while Theodore was occupied, she stepped inside.