He followed her gaze and saw a young boy sitting near a shop's entrance, waiting. He looked somewhat familiar.

In a flash, Holden remembered. This was the same boy who had been hiding beneath his table at the ball the previous night - Melon, if he recalled correctly.

As Holden pondered why Adele was reacting so strongly, she called out in a soft voice, "Melon."

It was the very first time he had heard his daughter address someone.

Holden found himself both astonished and delighted.

Promptly, Holden ordered, "Turn around! Stop here.

The place they had driven past was right along the train tracks, so when Shawn made the turn to go back, the crossing barriers had already come down, and a train was on its way.

Holden found himself without much choice other than to hold onto Adele and wait for the red light to change.

Seeing that look of longing in Adele's eyes as she stared across the tracks, Holden's impatience started to bubble up. But he kept a lid on it, not wanting Adele to see his frustration, Instead, he gently asked, “You know that boy?"

Adele stayed silent, her gaze locked straight ahead.

Even though she didn't answer, Holden wasn't let down, Hearing Adele speak earlier had given him more joy than signing a billion-dollar contract ever could. Maybe this was a turning point in her recovery, and that boy held the key to coaxing Adele back into speaking.

But when the train finally passed and they were able to turn around, the boy had vanished from in front of the shop. Holden looked around, but there was no sign of him.

Meanwhile, on a nearby street, Ariana was walking toward her car. One hand was holding shopping bags, while the other had a firm grip on Melon's small hand.

Melon shuffled alongside his mother, his head down, not saying a word.

The events of the previous night had left the five-year-old visibly shaken and downcast.

Seeing her son like this, Ariana's heart went out to him. She crouched down to meet his gaze. She gently held his shoulders and reassured him,

“What happened last night wasn't your fault. You were really brave. It's on me — I should've been there for you Melon just shook his head, remaining quiet.

Ariana ran her fingers through his hair in a comforting gesture.

"Tell me, sweetheart, are you still feeling guilty about everything, or is it more sadness."

After a long pause, Melon finally spoke up, his voice trembling.