He had always anticipated such a day after Ariana showed up at the Fredrick family estate the other day, but the arrival was as unexpectedly sooner.

Bound by Aldus's directives, Devin couldn't help but feel the tremors of anxiety creeping up his spine. Nevertheless, he responded, "I possess the same knowledge as you, sir."

A moment of silence hung in the air like a heavy curtain before Holden asked, "And what of Sadie? What do you have about her?"

Devin knew little to nothing about Sadie. She had suddenly materialized out of nowhere, and he hadn't had much time to get to know her.

After thoughtful consideration, Devin replied, “In truth, Miss Pierre's arrival, accompanied by Adele, caught me by surprise as well.