After a prolonged bout of tears, Ariana gradually composed herself.

She disentangled herself from Holden's embrace, tears still blurring her gaze, staring at him with mixed emotions.

"But you've seen me before. Why didn't you recognize me? It's been five years, and you've never tried to find me," she said, a sob hitching in her voice, her reddened eyes fixed on him.

“And now, what should I call you, Holden or Theodore?" she asked.

Holden clung to Ariana's hand, his gaze locked onto her as if he aimed to imprint every detail of her being into his memory.

"I am Holden, and I am also Theodore," he said, placing a gentle kiss on the back of her hand before exhaling deeply. “Five years ago, after that car accident, I lost my memory. I woke up with no recollection, and my grandfather was the only one by my side."

Ariana was stunned, hit by his revelation. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

Holden continued, "When I came to, I was Holden. My grandfather, Devin, and the whole family painted a picture that I was the crown jewel of the Fredrick family. They conveniently didn't mention anything about my past and just fed me the narrative that I'd been groomed as the Fredrick scion since the get-go."

With a self-deprecating chuckle, Holden added, “Everything I saw and heard was a stage play they had orchestrated. But deep down, I sensed something missing. Those Lost memories? They Left a hole in my soul. I tried to dig them up, but it was like chasing a ghost. For five years, I've felt like I'm stuck in a vacuum, hearing nothing.

I'm really sorry."

Ariana's heart twinged at his words. She reached out, fingers grazing his hair as she asked, “But why the transformation into Holden? Why keep me a secret? What's the deal?"

As Ariana posed these questions, she recollected those moments with Holden five years ago, noting the peculiarities. A suspicion brewed in her mind.

Was Theodore playing a trick on her?

Why the constant absence of both Theodore and Holden at the same time? Masks hiding faces, a fabricated fire story; something didn't add up!

The more Ariana mulled over it, the more her expression darkened, suspicions becoming convictions.

Holden asked, "Back then, did I meet you as Holden?"

Ariana nodded, saying, "Yeah, but you had a mask on, playing the mysterious card. It was a real head-scratcher."

Holden awkwardly cleared his throat. "So, you never got a good look at Holden back then?"

Ariana nodded, and Holden understood something.

No wonder Devin had said he had met Ariana as Holden five years ago.