There was a hint of distress in his eyes as he attempted to speak, but before he could continue explaining, the door to the testing room swung open. A police officer called out, "Tom Rivas, come over for the drug test."

Upon witnessing Tom's apprehension, Ariana sought to reassure him, her words carrying a weight of trust, “It's okay, Tom. Go for the drug test. I believe in you. Don't be afraid. We'll handle this together. I'll be waiting for you outside.”

Touched by Ariana's unwavering faith, Tom nodded in agreement and stepped into the testing room.

As she waited outside, a deep sense of certainty enveloped Ariana.

Tom's demeanor and appearance didn't align with that of a drug user but rather someone wrongfully accused and frustrated. Additionally, an unsettling intuition told her that something was amiss about this situation.

Contemplating the unfolding events, Ariana couldn't ignore the rapid release of high-quality photos, an unusual occurrence after an arrest.

She also pondered her interactions with Tom over the past weeks.

Despite occasional temperamental outbursts, he maintained a healthy and disciplined lifestyle, with regular sleep and fitness routines.

He showed no signs of seeking thrills and spills.

Pulling out her phone, Ariana delved into news and comments related to the incident. Among all the images, Tom's stood out, appearing frequently from various angles, resembling paparazzi shots more than typical police evidence.

While scrolling through the comments, she stumbled upon a post from an alleged informed source.

This source claimed Tom had been consistently using drugs and had frequented their establishment multiple times. The post even included a close-up photo of Tom holding drugs.

Ariana knew this was false.

The entire situation reeked of suspicion. Her initial instinct told her the photograph looked too staged. Normally, underground bars were dimly lit, yet this particular image was exceptionally clear and well-lit. Moreover, the quality resembled that of a camera photo rather than a smartphone snapshot, hinting at possible manipulation.

Determined to dig deeper, Ariana clicked on the profile of the supposed informant, discovering it was an alt account with limited following. She scrolled through their followed accounts and eventually found Carl Manny's profile among them.

Upon seeing Carl's account, Ariana's brows furrowed in concern.

She immediately wondered if this incident had any ties to Rollingrock Media.

Ariana decided to dig deeper and began gathering information about the underground bar that was at the center of this incident.

Her research quickly revealed that the founder of this particular underground bar was a minor shareholder in Rollingrock Media.

This discovery heightened Ariana's suspicions that there might be a connection between the media company and the incident. Taking swift action, she instructed her assistant to arrange for comment management. She then posted a concise public relations message, explaining that nothing had been confirmed yet, and they were eagerly awaiting the results of Tom's drug test. She expressed hope that everyone would have faith in Tom and the rest of them.