14

" Alice?" Luna Brianna called.

Alice released her hold on the doorknob and Arianna heaved a sigh of relief at the sound of her mother's voice.

'Take her away from the room.' She prayed.

"Please come to my room, I need your help with something," Brianna said.

" Okay, ma," Alice replied and followed her to the door, and into her room.

Arianna took the brown envelope and ran straight to her room, locked the door after her, and let out a deep breath she didn't know she was holding. 'Thanks for the timely intervention, Mom.' She whispered.

As she moved toward her bed, a knock sounded at her door. She stashed the envelope under her dressing table before going to open the door.

Alice smiled on the other side of the door, " Hey. Where did you go?" She noticed Arianna's hold on the door.

Arianna wrinkled her nose. " I had a stomach upset, so I decided to take a nap." She lied and faked a yawn, still not letting go of the door.

"Aww, that's so sad, so you will have to skip dinner tonight again?