Ariana felt her mind go numb. Her usually obedient Melon! How could he have just wandered off?

She glanced at Sonia, hoping this was some kind of prank.

“You’re joking, right? This isn’t something to joke about,” she stammered.

“I wish I were,” Sonia replied, her face a portrait of genuine anxiety.

A wave of dread washed over Ariana, seeing Sonia’s obvious distress.

Quick to act, Sarah said, “We need to check the security footage right away. Melon can’t be far.”

“You’re absolutely right,” Betsy chimed in.

“The front desk should be able to access all the building’s cameras. We’ll find him.”

“Then let’s move,” urged Sonia, grabbing Ariana’s arm to lead her toward the lobby. Sarah and Betsy followed, their strides filled with purpose.

Angela’s Library

Melon, they burst into the expansive

had planned to ask the reception staff about a young boy wandering alone. But then a crowd of people around a man caught

head, a familiar silhouette seized Ariana’s

nose. She would recognize them

name. Ariana lunged after the crowd, but security

straining to see as the man disappeared into a

on the departing car. After a moment to

allure, the guards offered nothing more than a curt “no comment” before walking away. Many were captivated by him these days and hoped

her face fraught with

happened?” she asked, taking Ariana’s trembling

hands with a grip that bordered on painful, Ariana whispered, her voice shaky, “I saw him. I saw Theodore. I know it was him. He’s

down and think rationally,” Sonia advised gently, her

your mind

Sonia’s reasoned words, Ariana teetered on the brink

imagined it? She was certain

familiar profile was etched into her memory. She couldn’t

trance, murmuring more to herself than anyone

so identical, unless they were twins.

The Novel will be updated daily. Come back and continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

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