CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY SIX: STIL SUSPICIOUS

Though Jonathan cherished the renewed closeness with Ariana and Oliver, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was amiss. Ariana’s behavior, at times, seemed erratic. She was loving and attentive, but there were moments when she appeared distant, lost in her thoughts. Jonathan tried to dismiss his worries, but as time went on, his unease grew. One evening, after tucking Oliver into bed, Jonathan sat in the living room, the house quiet around him. Ariana had retreated to the study, ostensibly to work on some volunteer projects she had taken up. Jonathan watched the flickering shadows cast by the fireplace, his mind replaying the subtle changes he had noticed in her. She had always been an open book, her emotions clear and easy to read. But lately, there were times when she seemed guarded, her eyes clouded with thoughts she wouldn’t share. She often received late-night phone calls, which she took in private, her voice hushed. When Jonathan asked, she brushed it off, saying it was