“He had urgent business in Mistlyn," Shawn responded without evasion.

Ariana's myriad of suppositions remained unresolved, casting a shadow of disappointment over her. The thought of requesting Holden's social media profile crossed her mind, but she hesitated to voice it.

She doubted Shawn would share such details, and broaching the topic could invite potential misinterpretations.

Regardless, Ariana resolved internally to find a way to unveil the truth.

She felt it best to leave the Fredrick estate for the time being.

Given her current state, she believed she wasn't in the best position to continue Adele's therapy. After taking a brief respite, she made arrangements to depart, planning to return on another day.

Shawn courteously walked her to the door.

As they approached the exit, Ariana realized that Adele was tagging along closely, even making an attempt to join her in the car.

"Sweetie, I promise I'll be back soon and we can spend time together then, alright?" Ariana tried to reassure the little girl. But no amount of gentle persuasion seemed to change Adele's mind.

Feeling at a loss, Ariana searched for a solution. It was then that Shawn, after mulling over the predicament, made a suggestion, "Given Adele's reluctance to let go, would you consider taking her home with you? I can come by and retrieve her tomorrow."

"What?" Ariana stared at Shawn, taken aback by the proposal. She wondered if she'd misunderstood him. The implications were vast: if Sadie discovered that Adele was with her, it might ignite an immediate uproar.

Recognizing Ariana's hesitation, Shawn sought to allay her concerns.

"Mr. Fredrick has given the directive that decisions benefiting Adele's therapy rest in your hands."

Ariana's brow knitted in apprehension.

"But what about Sadie?"

From what Ariana had witnessed, Sadie, despite being Adele's mother, often seemed neglectful. The therapist worried about potential repercussions on Adele should Sadie discover the arrangement.

Shawn gestured dismissively.

“Leave Miss Pierre to me. I'll ensure she understands. Mr. Fredrick's decisions are not to be contested, and she won't pose any challenges."

Although he projected calm, internally Shawn was well-aware of Sadie's general indifference towards her daughter, especially when preoccupied with her own affairs. It was unlikely Sadie would even notice Adele's brief absence. And even in the off chance she did and raised objections, Mr. Fredrick's mandate would prevail.

After a moment of reflection and looking into Adele's hopeful eyes, Ariana finally conceded.