But every time she wanted to do so, an inner voice reminded her, "Melon said that Holden has a striking resemblance to Theodore. And there is an uncanny similarity in their voices. Does it suggest that Theodore might still be alive? Isn't the idea of meeting this look-alike worth considering, even if only as a substitute?"

Ariana grappled with a dual tug within her, one fueled by moral condemnation, urging her to distance herself from Holden, and the other, driven by her personal desires, tempting her to remain close to him.

Ariana had wrestled with her thoughts for a long time, but it appeared she had finally made a decision.

Although she found her own thoughts somewhat absurd, she was resolute about meeting Holden. She believed seeing him would bring her peace of mind.

In her determination, Ariana reached out to Shawn directly, asking about the partnership proposal and when she could arrange to meet Holden.

Shawn's response took a while, and it simply stated, "Mr. Fredrick says the proposal needs a few corrections. Please make the necessary changes."

Ariana didn't respond for a while and eventually replied with, “Alright.”

That night, Ariana's frustration led her to burn the midnight oil, tirelessly revising the proposal. When she finally completed it, her mind was hazy from exhaustion. In her fatigued state, she accidentally sent the document to Holden instead of Shawn.

Meanwhile, in his study, Holden, who had yet to retire for the night, was taken aback when he received the proposal from Ariana. An unexplainable uneasiness gripped him.

Did Ariana now know his true identity?

Holden's grip on his phone tightened slightly. He knew all too well that Sadie was still between them. Despite having no genuine feelings for her, the public still viewed her as his fiancée.

Anxiety gripped Holden as he feared that Ariana had uncovered his true identity and might sever their ties because of it.

He pressed his lips tightly together. It was an unexpected dilemma for him.

Throughout his life, Holden had confronted internal power struggles within the Fredrick family and the loss of Aldus, who had protected him in troubled times, without a hint of fear. Even formidable adversaries hadn't shaken him. Yet, the mere possibility of Ariana dismissing him left him apprehensive.

He scolded himself for his irrational behavior. Even Shawn had noticed his inability to maintain composure when it came to Ariana.

Holden struggled to comprehend his own actions.

His relationship with Ariana was a complex web which required him to be discreet in his interactions with her. He would need a plausible excuse to even get any close to her.

Adding to the complication was Sadie's presence in his life. Despite his lack of emotional attachment or memories tied to their past together, she was Adele's birth mother and it was impossible for him to just cut ties with her.

But he understood that letting these unresolved tensions Linger wouldn't be fair to Ariana. He wondered how it would affect her.

Holden's mind was in disarray, and after a brief pause, he opted not to directly inquire whether she had discovered anything. Instead, he responded with just a question mark.