Rodney snorted and, with determination, turned around, retorting, "I only want Melon, no other kids."

"Why?" Catalina caught up with him and pressed for an explanation, but Rodney remained tight-lipped.

Observing Rodney's reluctance to divulge his reasons, Catalina abandoned further questioning and sighed. “Well, if you don't wish to share, so be it. I only hope Mitchel can win Ariana's heart soon, so we can become a family."

Rodney was moved when he heard the term "family" and found it heartwarming. He nodded in agreement, acknowledging that his daughter was right and that Mitchel should hurry up to win Ariana's affection.

During the journey back, Ariana gazed at the bracelet in her hand and still harbored some uneasiness about it. Furthermore, she believed the bracelet must be quite costly. She decided to return it and said to Mitchel, "You should take the bracelet back; it's too valuable."

However, Mitchel echoed Catalina's sentiment, saying, "If she gave it to you, just accept it as a gift. That's what my mother wants, too."

Ariana hesitated for a moment, her fingers tracing the bracelet, and she timidly inquired, “Could it be that your mother misunderstood something?"

Mitchel turned to look at her, puzzled, and asked, "Misunderstood what?"

"I mean... you..." Ariana stammered, her words faltering as she struggled to convey her thoughts. She then gestured towards Mitchel and herself, tracing a heart shape in the air before shrugging.

Observing Ariana's hesitant gestures, Mitchel chuckled softly and gently turned her face toward him. He wore a warm smile as he reassured her, "Don't overthink it. My mother gave you the bracelet probably just because she Likes you and Melon. There's no other meaning behind it."

Ariana sighed in relief and patted her chest, saying, "Phew, as long as there's no misunderstanding."

Afterward, she turned her attention to Melon, engaging in playful interactions with him. Unbeknownst to her, she failed to notice the faint fading of Mitchel's smile and the tinge of melancholy in his eyes.

Upon dropping Ariana off at her home, Mitchel embarked on a solo trip to procure groceries and daily necessities for her. He meticulously arranged these items in her house, imparting important instructions and emphasizing the necessity of reaching out if any issues arose regarding her injury. After tidying up her residence, he finally departed from her villa.

Standing at the doorway, Melon and Ariana watched Mitchel's car recede into the distance. Melon clung to Ariana's arm affectionately, declaring, "Mitchel is really nice. If I didn't have a dad, I'd agree to have Mitchel as my dad."

Ariana hadn't yet responded when Melon adopted a serious tone, continuing, “But I do have a dad, and he's really good to me. Mommy, you can't like Mitchel."

Ariana was momentarily taken aback but quickly grasped that Melon was talking about Holden. She playfully tapped Melon's head and teased, “What? Just a few phone calls, and he's already your great dad? How shallow."

Melon, feeling the weight of unspoken sentiment, absently rubbed his forehead. In his heart, he knew it wasn't just a matter of phone calls. His dad was remarkable, especially considering his unwavering support during summer camps.

But this was a cherished secret among them. He had promised not to tell Mommy.

Ariana sighed, her love palpable as she knelt and affectionately ruffled her son's hair.

"Kids shouldn't utter such things. It could bring trouble, maybe even involving the police.”