Ariana couldn't help but notice the date on Holden's messages. He had messaged her only on the first two days of her stay at Melcorn.

After that, he hadn't tried to contact her again.

Ariana took a deep breath as she scrolled through the messages. She strengthened her resolve not to reply to Holden's texts.

It was better for both of them this way. No more enmeshment. Each of them could live their lives separated from now on.

Ariana only responded to a few business messages that seemed urgent.