Hearing them enter, they all looked up, each with a comical piece of paper stuck to their faces.

Rodney and Catalina were caught off guard by Mitchel and Ariana's sudden arrival. Their smiles went stiff, and their laughter halted abruptly. Only Melon, unfazed and delighted, ran towards Ariana with papers stuck all over his face. "Mom!" he chirped. “We're playing!"

Ariana couldn't help but grin, giving Melon's cheek a little squeeze before acknowledging the two adults with a nod.

Trying to appear unaffected, Catalina attempted to clear her throat and hold onto her usual cool exterior. But, catching sight of her paper-clad face in a mirror, she gave up and laughed. “Melon's been such a bundle of joy. He's brought so much life to this place."

Ariana found it hard not to find Catalina charming; underneath that tough front was a genuinely warm soul. “I just hope he isn't too much of a handful for you guys," Ariana said.

Inviting her to take a seat, Rodney shifted the topic. "You were out of the hospital in no time. How's the injury?"

“Much improved. Nothing to worry about," Ariana reassured.

Joining the conversation, Catalina sat next to Ariana, curiosity evident in her voice. “I've always wondered about your day-to-day.

Busy at work? And which school did you go to before?"

Ariana responded to Catalina's questions, which seemed to get more personal as they went on. From her food preferences to how she Liked her room temperature, Catalina wanted to know it all.

With each answer, Catalina grew more satisfied with Ariana. After all, if Mitchel saw something in her, who was she to judge? And with Melon being the cherry on top, it felt like she was getting a cute family member without even trying.

Rodney occasionally piped up, adding to the barrage of questions.

Cornered by the inquisitiveness of the two, Ariana felt like she was on her toes the entire time. She had thought previous meetings were nerve-wracking, but this felt like she was undergoing a rite of passage: the intimidating ‘meet the parents’ phase.

Later, after sharing a meal, Ariana got ready to leave with Mitchel, who had offered to drive her and Melon back.

But just as she was about to step out, Catalina's voice halted her.

Turning around, Ariana was taken aback to see a stunning jade bracelet in Catalina's hand.

Even without being a jewelry aficionado, Ariana could tell it was something special. Her heart raced when Catalina extended her hand, intending to slip it onto Ariana's wrist. “Consider it a small gift,"

Catalina said.

Ariana's eyes widened. The bracelet looked like a family treasure.

Why would Catalina want to give her something so precious?