With a sigh etched deep within her heart, Ariana lowered her gaze.

Her obsession with finding Theodore had held her captive for far too long; it was time to release it.

Summoning a forced smile, Ariana turned to Shawn.

"Well, let's put this aside for now. Perhaps another time."

Ever perceptive, Shawn noticed the discord in Ariana's emotions and inwardly sighed.

He held a deep admiration for Ariana; she possessed capability and a commendable character, but fate had conspired against her, arriving too late on the scene.

Meanwhile, on the top floor, Sadie stood draped in a wedding dress, tirelessly adjusting her posture and striking poses before the mirror.

The wedding dress designer stood at the ready, attempting to meet her exacting demands.

Sadie carried an air of entitlement about her, a demeanor demanding perfection, incessantly pointing out the slightest imperfections in each dress. It seemed that none were glamorous enough for her elevated status, nor did they quite accentuate her figure to her satisfaction. She cycled through several outfits, and the designer struggled to maintain a forced smile while grappling with mounting frustration.

It wasn't until Sadie grew tired of changing outfits that she finally stopped.

She cast a fleeting glance toward Holden, who had maintained his quiet composure throughout, immersed in his own thoughts, never uttering a word or casting a glance her way. With calculated intent, Sadie approached Holden, performed a graceful twirl, and posed the question, "How does this one fare, in your opinion?"

Holden remained unfazed, his eyelids unmoved as he nonchalantly replied, “Looks good."

Sadie pouted and playfully chided, "You didn't even take a look."

Holden, still engrossed in his own thoughts, paid her no heed.

Nonetheless, Sadie didn't mind; his presence was solely to accompany her in the quest for the perfect wedding dress.

With a continued smile, she pressed on, "I've sought advice from someone, and I believe we should schedule the wedding for Adele's birthday next month. It holds significance, and the weather will be more agreeable, not too scorching.

Sadie was in the midst of expressing her thoughts when Holden's phone abruptly rang. It was the manager of the Fredrick Group's real estate division, calling regarding a crucial land bidding in the West City area. Without hesitation, Holden accepted the call.

On the other end of the line, the manager reported that the bidding for the West City land had proceeded smoothly, but an essential document required Holden's signature.

"Alright, I'll come over," Holden responded succinctly before hanging up the phone. He made his way toward the exit without sparing a glance for Sadie. It was only upon reaching the doorway that he remembered to add, “You have free rein over all wedding decisions."

With that parting statement, he departed without a backward glance.