Though Sonia had meted out retribution to Sadie on the deck, Ariana found herself vexed by Sadie for no apparent reason. And Sadie's imperviousness to Adele's condition only fanned her ire.

Many therapies necessitated parental cooperation, but foreseeing Sadie's stance was a slippery slope.

Further, Ariana worried that any discord with Sadie could perturb Adele. She needed a strategy to sidestep face-to-face encounters with Sadie.

At that moment, another message arrived from Jessie.

"By the way, the child's parents are caught in the whirlwind of their obligations lately. They'll reach out when the timing aligns. No need for you to initiate contact."

This tidbit brought Ariana solace. She had time for preparation and wouldn't be confronted by Sadie immediately.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, a plane landed at Eleymond International Airport.

Sarah stepped out of the jetway, shades on her face.

She hadn't changed much over the past five years. In fact, she seemed even more extraordinary than before.

She gave off a vibe of maturity mixed with a dash of newfound confidence.

Her tall frame and elegant neck sent a clear message of self- assurance. Despite a flight delay, a throng of eager fans waited for her. They held welcoming signs and when they saw her, their hands reached out, and shouts filled the air, nearly causing a ruckus among her security team.

Sarah took a moment to engage with some of the excited fans and sign a few things. Out of nowhere, a loudspeaker came to life, booming,

“Sarah, I love you! You're the ultimate super beauty!"

Even Sarah, usually so composed, looked surprised. Her hand shook and nearly messed up the autograph she was working on.

Turning her head, she spotted a masked and hat-wearing female fan.

She was wrapped up snug, even more than Sarah. With a loudspeaker in one hand and a cardboard cutout of Sarah in the other, she was a one -woman cheer squad.

Sarah felt both amused and perplexed. She'd never seen anyone use a boombox the size of a fridge to show their support. It was like they wanted the whole city to know about it.

Yet the loudspeaker-wielding fan never came over for an autograph.

Sarah shrugged it off and after signing a couple more things, she made her exit.

The loudspeaker didn't let up though. It kept on belting out declarations of love and cringeworthy pick-up lines.