Louis entered the room and settled onto the couch, his expression a mix of anticipation and curiosity.
His brows were slightly furrowed, and he appeared eager to share something exciting.
"Louis, what happened? Why did your Grandpa called you?" Joanne asked, noticing his return, and leaned forward inquisitively.
Her eyes sparkled with curiosity, and she tilted her head ever so slightly, waiting for his response.
"Grandpa invited Verena to the mansion." Louis met her gaze, and a warm smile played on his lips as he delivered the news.
Joanne's eyes lit up with happiness as she nodded warmly. Her face lit up with a genuine smile, and her eyes conveyed a sense of joy and approval.
"That's wonderful news! You should both go and get ready."
Louis turned to Verena, who was still present in the room, his voice soft and gentle as he addressed her. "Verena, please go and wait for me in the car."
Verena acknowledged his request with a nod, her expression reflecting her understanding. She leaned in and kissed Joanna's hand, displaying a sign of gratitude and respect before leaving the room.
As she left, Louis approached his mother with a loving hug. His posture conveyed a sense of tenderness and affection as he embraced her. "Mother."
Louis added. "CEO of H&B is standing right before you, Mrs. Heisenberg."
His voice filled with pride as he shared the remarkable news with her. He stood tall, exuding a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction.
"What did you just say, Louis?" Joanne embraced him tightly, her joy overflowing, and she almost shouted in delight.
"We finally succeeded, Mother." The surge of emotions overwhelmed her, and she reluctantly let go before tears could spill from her eyes. Her expression shifted from elation to a more subdued, heartfelt moment of realisation.
Louis's voice was also filled with emotion as he spoke, his pride and joy evident in his tone. His gaze conveyed a deep sense of affection and appreciation for his mother.
Their journey from a modest home to the grandeur of a mansion, akin to where Olivia, Alexander's mother, lived, had been a long and challenging one, but they had achieved their dream.
Ariana sat in the car, her face etched with frustration and anger.
She had been tirelessly applying for modelling gigs, pouring her heart and soul into each application, only to be met with disappointment time and time again.
It felt like the industry was shutting its doors on her, no matter how hard she tried to break through.
Her phone had buzzed earlier—a message from yet another modelling agency she had applied to. They had called her in for an audition, giving her a glimmer of hope.
But as she walked into the casting room, the same old story played out. They told her she was qualified, but not for the prestigious runway, but for their collection instead.
It was a recurring pattern that grated on her last nerve.
Ariana's anger had reached its peak today. She had caused a scene in the agency's office when they delivered the news, making a ruckus that echoed through the building.
Now, she sat seething in the car, her hands gripping the steering wheel tightly.
Jen, her loyal and understanding assistant, tried her best to console Ariana.
She placed a comforting hand on Ariana's shoulder and said, "Ariana, I know it's frustrating, but you can't let this get to you like this. You're incredibly talented, and your time will come."
Ariana turned to Jen, her eyes still burning with anger. "I'm tired of waiting, Jen," she snapped. "I've given my all, and I deserve better than this."
Jen nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "I'll do everything I can to find you the opportunities you deserve, Ariana," she promised.
Ariana sighed, her anger slowly giving way to resignation. "Just fetch any opportunity they give me," she said, her voice tinged with bitterness.
She added. "I'll prove myself, no matter where they place me. I won't let them hold me back any longer."
As they drove, the anger within Ariana swirled anew as she thought about the malicious rumours that had spread online, tarnishing her reputation.
It was bad enough dealing with the modelling industry's rejection, but the false accusations of drug use were like salt in the wound.
Turning to Jen, she asked with a hint of frustration, "Jen, any progress on finding out who's behind those drug rumours? This is getting out of hand."
Jen sighed, her brows furrowing with concern. "We've been looking into it, Ariana, but so far, we haven't been able to track down the source. It's like they're hiding in plain sight."
Ariana's mind immediately jumped to Verena, a former friend turned bitter rival who had a history of spreading false stories about her.
"Do you think it's Verena?" she asked, suspicion creeping into her voice.
Jen shook her head. "Honestly, Ariana, we can't say for sure. But Verena? Nah, she's far from our main suspect. Last I heard, she was living a quiet life, washing dishes or something," Jen replied, a smirk forming on her lips.
Ariana couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of Verena doing such a mundane job. It was a pleasant distraction from her anger and anxiety.
"You know what, Jen? You might be onto something there. Verena's not the type to pull off something this elaborate."
Jen grinned, pleased to see Ariana's mood brightening. "Exactly, Ariana. Let's focus on what's ahead and not let these rumours get to us. We've got a lot to achieve, and nothing's going to stand in our way."
Ariana nodded, a renewed determination in her eyes. "You're right, Jen. I won't let anyone bring me down. Let's keep pushing forward and prove all the doubters wrong."
With a shared sense of purpose, they continued their journey, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead and put an end to the damaging rumours once and for all.
Where are we heading right now? As she sat in the passenger seat, Jen inquired. Despite the fact that Jen drove, Ariana preferred to do it when she was agitated in order to clear her head.
"To the club... everyone is going to be there tonight," Ariana replied with a thought. "You have to take my good photos there so I can post them."
Jen nodded and responded. "Don't worry. I have never disappointed you, have I?"
"No, you never have. I know I can always count on you to capture the perfect moments. Tonight is important, not only for the photos but also for me to show everyone that I am stronger than the rumours."
"You are stronger, Aria." Jen said reassuringly, placing a comforting hand on Ariana's shoulder.
"Mm, try to make an appointment with Louis again by any means. I need to meet him. I should keep coming in front of him no matter what."
"About Louis, do you know his mother is in the hospital?"
"What happened to my aunt?" Ariana asked, shocked. However, Jen wanted to roll her eyes at the fake concern about her aunt; instead, she was worried for Louis.
"She has cancer." Jen declared.
"That's good news. We will live alone without her disturbing us." Ariana laughed as she turned the car. Jen frowned and took a glance at her friend and boss. In the end she simply heaved a sigh.