Chapter 6
Arianne did not move at first.
The mausoleum was quiet except for the uneven sound of the young boy’s breathing and the patter of rain outside. The boy on the floor clutched the worn lion doll tightly, his small body curled inward as if trying to make himself disappear. A few steps away, the girl stood rigid, her eyes fixed on Arianne with suspicion.
Neither of them spoke a word.
Arianne lowered herself slowly, keeping her movements deliberate. She did not reach for them harshly. She did not speak right away, for fear of startling them. Instead, she took in the details she hadn’t noticed earlier. The young boy had flushed skin, his hands trembling, and his breathing hitching now and then.
She gently reached out and placed the back of her fingers against the boy’s forehead, confirming her assumption.
He was burning with fever.
Arianne straightened at once. This was bad. She needed to act immediately.
“We need to get you somewhere warm,” she said calmly to the other child.
The girl shook her head immediately, stepping closer to the boy. Her arms wrapped around him protectively, her small frame tense.
“No,” she said. “We’re waiting for Daddy p>
Arianne paused. How could she forget that these were Alex’s children? They surely inherited his stubbornness. This girl was truly a Rochefort, alright.
She met the girl’s gaze and held it. “Your brother has a fever,” she said evenly. “If we stay here, it will get worse p>
The girl did not respond. Her grip tightened around her younger brother. Arianne understood, then, what had caused the girl’s hesitation to accept her help. Lily didn’t know her.
’Smart, girl,’ Arianne thought. ’No matter how smart you are, you shouldn’t easily believe a stranger’s words p>
Rain continued to pour down outside. The temperature within the mausoleum dropped.
Arianne shifted closer, careful not to crowd them.
“What’s your name?” she asked, though she already knew the answer to the question. She just needed to earn the girl’s trust.
The girl hesitated before answering. “Lily p>
“And him p>
“Leo p>
“I’m Arianne Summers. I suppose your Dad has spoken about me before. We were friends p>
Arianne found it ridiculous that she could only say these words now. She used to avoid saying these words when Alex was still alive, because for her, action spoke louder than words, but now, she wished she’d been more vocal about her feelings.
Lily’s eyes slightly widened.
“You are Aunt Aria?” the young girl asked.
“Yes,” Arianne affirmed, relieved that Alex and Layla had mentioned her to their kids. “I’m your Aunt Aria p>
“Do you have proof?” Lily asked, and when Arianne gave her a pointed look, she added, “Dad said never go and accept things from strangers. You claim that you are our Aunt Aria, but where’s the proof p>
If they were in different circumstances, Arianne would have laughed at the girl’s words, but Lily made a good point.
Arianne took her phone from her coat pocket, opened the gallery app, and showed Lily the pictures she had with Alex and Layla. Lily took the phone from Arianne’s hands and scrolled to see more photos of her parents with Arianne. The three of them looked so young. Lily even saw her Uncle Gilbert and Aunt Samantha in some of the images.
Arianne nodded once. “Alright, Lily. I’m going to carry Leo. You can walk beside me the whole time p>
Lily’s eyes flicked to Leo’s face, then back to Arianne. She did not answer, but she did not pull away when Arianne reached for him.
Leo stirred weakly as Arianne lifted him into her arms. He was lighter than she expected, his body too warm, his head resting heavily against her shoulder. Lily followed closely, her hand gripping the edge of Arianne’s coat as they stepped out into the rain.
Arianne wanted to lift the girl too, but with the sick boy in one arm and her other hand holding her umbrella, the three of them couldn’t stay dry in this harsh weather.
The ground was slick beneath their shoes. Arianne adjusted her hold on Leo, tightening her grip as she moved carefully across the path. Her shoes slipped once, but she recovered quickly and kept going.
She did not stop, but deliberately shortened her steps to match the young girl’s pace beside her.
Voices rose ahead.
“Leo p>
“Lily p>
Franz Rochefort came into view first, his expression frantic as he scanned the cemetery. Relief flashed across his face when he saw the children—then froze when he noticed Leo in Arianne’s arms.
“What happened?” he demanded, already moving toward them.
“He has a fever,” Arianne said. “He needs to go to the hospital p>
Franz did not question her. He turned immediately, calling for the car.
Amanda reached them next, her hands flying to her mouth as she took in the sight. Vincent followed close behind, his face pale.
Lily pressed closer to Leo. “He’s sick,” she said, her voice breaking.
“I know,” Franz said quickly. “We’re taking care of it p>
Arianne did not release Leo until they reached the vehicle. She settled into the back seat with him still in her arms, Lily climbing in beside them without being told.
The ride was short and silent.
At the hospital, everything moved quickly. Doctors were called. Nurses took Leo from her arms. Lily resisted at first, but Arianne stayed beside her, one hand resting lightly on her shoulder until she allowed them to proceed.
Franz spoke to the staff. Papers were signed immediately, and instructions were given.
Everything passed in a blur for Arianne, who suddenly found herself seated in the waiting room with Lily crying next to her.
When the immediate urgency passed, the weight of the day finally settled. Lily sat quietly in a chair, her feet dangling above the floor, eyes fixed on the hallway where her brother had been taken.
“He’ll be alright,” Arianne said.
Lily did not answer, but she did not pull away when Arianne sat beside her.
Later, when arrangements had been made and the twins were settled, Franz turned to her.
“You should come back with us,” he said. “At least for now p>
She noticed the hint of nervousness in Franz’s tone, but quickly dismissed it.
Arianne looked at the children. She did not respond immediately to Franz’s suggestion.
For now, staying was enough.