"Perhaps I made a mistake," she conceded quietly.

The conversation shifted to other medical matters, filling the room with enthusiastic discussions. Ariana, absentmindedly nibbling on her juice straw, couldn't shake off her sense of bewilderment.

She was certain that she had met Adrian during the interview at BRD Group. There was no doubt about that.

Furthermore, she had encountered Holden on several occasions, often in the presence of Adrian. It seemed inconceivable that she could have gotten it wrong.

Yet, upon reflection, it was Jennifer who had informed her about Holden's disfigurement. Holden himself had never admitted to it.

Why would Jennifer lie to her? And why did Holden consistently wear a mask whenever they met?

Was it possible that his face couldn't be seen? Or was it because Holden himself didn't want her to see his face?

But it didn't make sense. Debora said that Holden was not ugly.

"Mr. Fredrick is here!"

The sudden eruption of noise from the crowd swiftly seized Ariana's attention, diverting her from her pensive musings. She shifted her gaze toward the bustling entrance, where the throng sought eagerly to catch a glimpse of Holden, rendering the doorway densely packed. Regrettably, confined to her wheelchair, Ariana found herself unable to behold his presence.

Unnoticed amidst the commotion, she endeavored to rise onto one foot, hoping for a better vantage point. Alas, her short height hindered her view.

Mitchel, astutely observing her curiosity, questioned, "Why are you so intrigued?"

“I wish to ascertain if he is the same person Debora mentioned," Ariana responded, her gaze fixed ahead.

Mitchel was about to take her to the doorway when he was abruptly pulled away by a hurrying companion who told him that there were pressing matters to attend to.

Sighing, Mitchel said to Ariana, "Stay here. I shall be back shortly."

“Go ahead." She waved at him.

Still separated by a considerable distance from the gate, Ariana could discern nothing from her present position. Nevertheless, she stubbornly maneuvered her wheelchair toward the gate.

From afar, she spotted a retinue of bodyguards ushering a tall and distinguished gentleman into the hall.

Why did he strike her as so familiar? Had she encountered him somewhere before?

Ariana rubbed her eyes in an attempt to perceive more distinctly, yet the crowd's sheer density and the man's rapid disappearance thwarted her efforts.