Judy stood behind Ariana, deftly fixing her hair. Her eyes caught a faint pink petal-shaped mark just above Ariana‘s scapula, and she casually inquired, "Madam, is this a tattoo?"

Ariana smiled and replied, "No, it's a hereditary mark. My mother had a similar mark in the same spot."

“A beautiful mark indeed," Judy complimented, unable to resist stealing a few more glances.

At six o'clock in the evening, the mansion fell into silence. Ariana had given Judy and the other servants some time off in advance. After a refreshing shower, she dressed elegantly, a faint fragrance embracing her. Then she waited eagerly at the door for Theodore's return.

But as the minutes ticked by, there was no sign of him. Ariana started to worry, tempted to call him, but she resisted, not wanting to spoil the surprise.