Chapter: 932
“Where did you meet this handsome man?” Ariana asked curiously.
Melon pointed in Holden’s direction with his small hand and said with a sigh, “He looks so much like
Dad and he is also handsome. I almost thought he was my dad.”
Ariana was stunned by the little boy’s words and she looked in the direction he was pointing. She was
shocked to see that it was the man with whom she had danced earlier.
Ariana’s lips curved gently, a helpless smile forming in response to Melon’s words, which she regarded
as mere innocent chatter. She chose not to take them to heart.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtSetting aside the remote chance of Theodore’s miraculous resurrection, she held a firm conviction that
the man who had just danced with her couldn’t be him,
Ariana’s faith in Theodore’s unwavering loyalty remained unshaken. His reaction to seeing her would
have been anything but indifferent if he were alive. This, she believed with every fiber of her being.
Despite her certainties, she refrained from outright dismissing Melon’s words, instead opting to tenderly
stroke his head, her affectionate gesture masking the complexities within her.
Ariana was acutely aware of her young child’s yearning for the father he had hardly known, It must be
the reason he had mistakenly identified another man as his dad.
Holding little Melon in her embrace, she tasted the bittersweet tang of guilt.
Melon, ever wise beyond his years, nurtured a silent longing for his father, rarely allowing it to surface
in Ariana’s presence.
Except for that one time — a time when he’d seen a picture of Theodore on her phone and curiosity
had compelled him to ask.
Bearing the weight of a truth too cruel for such a tender soul, Ariana chose to shroud it in shadows; lest
it unleash pain beyond measure.
While he refrained from voicing it, Ariana could see the ache that swam in Melon’s eyes whenever
other fathers materialized before them, a poignant yearning that tugged at her heartstrings.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmDrawing her son closer, she tamed the bitterness within, assuring him, “As time stretches its arms,
you’ll get to see Daddy.”
Melon’s fervent nod bore the imprint of his devotion, his voice a steadfast declaration.
“Daddy is a great hero. I’ll wait, Mommy.”
The scene caught Sonia’s eye. A quick flutter of her hand erased the tear that dared to drip down her
cheek, and her voice cut through the moment.
“Oh, look over there, desserts! There has to be something for young Melon.”
Understanding the unspoken cue, Ariana shrouded her emotions. She led the child toward the
desserts.
After finishing up with the interview, Sadie saw the ship’s supervisor waving her over. She followed the
supervisor to a quiet corner