Judy stopped talking as soon as she saw him. She greeted Theodore respectfully, before hurrying downstairs.

Ariana hadn't yet recovered from her embarrassment and couldn't face Theodore at the moment. She just said hello quickly and ran back to her room.

When Alina finally awoke, it was almost ten o'clock. Ariana helped the little girl put on the hat and scarf Judy had prepared upon her request. Then she took Alina to meet Molly Flynn, Sarah's mother.

Molly had been waiting for quite some time. She thanked Ariana and then she and Alina got into a taxi.

Ariana watched as it drove away, feeling a little sentimental.

Just then, her phone beeped. It was a message from Sonia.

She read it before hailing a taxi.

*

With red curly hair, Sonia sat at a corner table of a coffee shop in the south of the city.

Her face, which was sweet and delicate, was focused on her laptop screen. She was furiously typing, fighting against internet trolls.

The chimes on the cafe door sounded. She raised her head to see who it was, and her eyes lit up. She clapped her hands together.

“I'm over here, Ariana!"

Ariana turned her head, dimples appearing in her cheeks.

"Sonia, you look on edge."

“I'm so excited to see you!" Sonia exclaimed before running toward Ariana. The two sat down and Sonia said, "You're so bad! We haven't seen each other for so long. Did you not miss me at all?"

“Why do you say that? Of course I missed you," Ariana said affectionately as she leaned over and pinched Sonia's cheek playfully.

Sonia snorted at this, and took out the flash drive from her bag.

"This is what you came for. Lynch is going to attend the fashion banquet in three days' time. No media is allowed; it's very private. You can't get in without an invitation.”

Taking the flash drive, Ariana asked, “How am I going to get an invitation?"

“It's an exclusive banquet. It's not easy to get one." Sonia scratched her head, lost in thought. And then something crossed her mind. She knocked on the table excitedly.