Meanwhile, Holden took in Ariana's relaxed demeanor as he ate.

Inwardly, he was thinking about his plan.

He was plotting the right moment to approach the brewing storm, once her defenses were down.

The dinner concluded quietly, their silence filled with unspoken thoughts of the love-variety show that neither addressed.

Afterward, as Ariana was about to leave with Melon, Holden grabbed her hand to stop her, his eyes mirroring his discomfort. "My headache persists. Are you really going to leave me here?" he said.

Ariana remembered him mentioning a family physician. “Isn't there a doctor in the family for you?"

Holden's gaze intensified, but his grip remained gentle. "That doctor won't do. You're the one I need."

Ariana offered him a knowing smile and decided not to voice her thoughts. Seeing this, Holden let out a weighted sigh. "Just leave me. Let me be sick and alone..."

Interrupting him with a gentle touch to his lips and a resigned smile, Ariana said, “Alright, I'll stay."

As night fell, Ariana found herself reading stories for the children, her voice a soft cadence coaxing them towards dreams.

But as weariness crept over her, her words tapered off to a whisper, and she succumbed to sleep amidst the storytelling.

The children were seated on the bed, exchanging quiet looks.

When Holden stepped in, he found Ariana in a deep slumber. With a smile, he signaled for quiet and coaxed the kids to get comfortable for the night. He then made his way to Ariana, lifted her gently, and carried her to his room without a sound.

As they reached the sanctuary of his room, Ariana's eyes fluttered open. She locked eyes with Holden, her voice soft and hazy. “Oh, it's you."

She then nestled into his embrace and quickly succumbed to sleep once more.

Holden paused, struck by her implicit trust in him. A wave of joy washed over him, knowing she felt secure in his care.

He laid her down with gentle hands, ensuring she was comfortable, then sat watching over her, a contented smile playing on his Lips.

Yielding to an impulse, he placed a soft kiss on her cheek. Then, holding her, he joined her in slumber.

Ariana emerged from a deep sleep to the insistent beep of her alarm, her hand blindly searching to silence it. However, her fingers met the solid warmth of a chest, and another hand swiftly clicked off the alarm.

Blinking into consciousness, she found Holden's grin greeting her.