After dropping Sonia off at home, Ariana checked the time. The afternoon interview was still a few hours away. Deciding to take Melon back home briefly to tidy up, Ariana began her tasks.

Once back home, Ariana helped Melon get cleaned up and changed, and then headed to the bathroom for her own shower.

She slowly peeled off her wrinkled clothing, catching her reflection in the mirror and pausing. Angry red marks littered her body, some darkening into bruises that would take time to fade.

These marks triggered hazy memories of the passion from the previous night, but the details remained elusive. She strained to remember the mystery man's face, but only Theodore's features came to her mind.

She questioned her sanity. How could that man be Theodore? She couldn't recall the stranger's identity, not a single feature.