Setting his attire aside, Mitchel moved to investigate, knocking on the door that separated him from the source of the sound.

“Ariana, did something happen to you?"

Ariana had managed to injure her ankle once again within the confines of her room.

The throbbing pain left her momentarily speechless, rendering a reply to Mitchel impossible.

The lines of Mitchel's face deepened as he knocked again, his tone impatient.

“What's going on?"

The clamor was reminiscent of a fallen object. Mitchel's mind immediately leapt to the worst-case scenario—Ariana fainting. He dove towards a nearby drawer, rummaging for the changing room key.

Ariana, meanwhile, pushed aside the wheelchair that had assaulted her ankle and endeavored to rise. But as she made the attempt, pain flared up anew, resulting ina cold sweat breaking out on her forehead.

It had been a day filled with unexpected falls. She ruefully reflected on her decisions. If only she had not sought Holden, this chain of mishaps could have been avoided. And to top it all off, she hadn't even been able to see him.

Just as her mind circled this thought, another knock resonated from the door.

Mitchel's voice, steady and calm, drifted in, "Ariana, if you don't answer, I'll have to come in."

The sound of a key turning in the lock followed his warning.

Ariana, who was not yet fully dressed, mustered a weak response.

"Please, wait outside. I'm alright, just not finished dressing yet."

Hearing Ariana's frail voice, Mitchel suspected her condition was far from alright.

“Have you fallen?" he questioned.

"Yes," she admitted, voice strained.

"I was leaning on my wheelchair when it tipped. I tumbled down with it." Annoyance flickered through her as she wrestled with the half-on pants, replacing them with her dirty skirt.

“Can you stand now?" Mitchel knocked twice on the door, concern lacing his voice.

Ariana made an attempt to rise, only to discover her other foot had suffered a twist.