Her distant tone pierced Holden's heart.

He hesitated before cautiously inquiring, "How have you been lately?"

"I'm okay. I've returned to Melcorn," Ariana replied casually.

Holden wanted to broach the subject of those scandalous tabloid photos, but he couldn't bring himself to ask the burning question. He wanted to ask her if she was seeing someone new. But no matter how hard he tried, the words stuck in his throat.

He sensed that asking that question would strip away every layer of his vulnerability. It seemed as though there was nothing substantial between them, not even a proper conversation. So, what weight would his hesitant probing carry in the end? His remaining dignity prevented him from laying it all bare.

A whirlwind of emotions brewed inside Holden, words swirling like a tempest in his heart. In the end, all he managed to say was a feeble, pale response. “That's good."

“Hmm," Ariana responded dispassionately, plunging them back into a profound silence.

This silence weighed heavily on Holden. Clutching his phone, he said, “Just wanted to ask. If that's all, I'll hang up."

"Okay." Ariana's tone remained cold, and two seconds later, Holden disconnected the call.

Ariana stared at her phone screen, lost in thought. The villa enveloped in silence mirrored her mood.

After hanging up, Holden sat on the sofa, his phone in hand. He stared into nothingness, a sudden void gnawing at his heart, unsettling him.

As the sky dimmed, Ariana snapped back to reality, giving herself a pat on the cheek. She said to herself firmly, "This can't go on like this."

Gathering herself, she changed her clothes, freshened up, and powered up her computer to tackle the backlog of work.

The group's popularity surged after the variety show, necessitating fast arrangements for official signings and schedules.

Ariana skimmed collaboration projects and then sent a message in the six-member group chat. “I'm back. Any free time tomorrow for the contract signings?"

ALL six quickly confirmed their availability. After finalizing their schedule, Ariana delved into other pending tasks.

Completing her busy agenda, Ariana felt a pang seeing the vacant villa. She grabbed her keys, planning to spend the night at the apartment.

Ariana discovered the notes were missing as soon as she arrived at the apartment. Shocked, she hurried into the room.

That thief! She had almost forgotten about that. That person was blatantly shameless.

She hastily checked the surveillance video.