She couldnât help but inwardly sigh with complicated emotions at the news about Lynchâs death.
But Lynch deserved death and didnât deserve any form of sympathy.
After regaining her composure, Ariana berated Theodore unhappily, âYou just went through an operation, yet you got the news before me.
Canât you have a good rest without having to worry about what others are up to?â
Theodore chuckled and patted the space on the bed beside him.
âWhy are you standing? Come and sit here.
â
Ariana walked over slowly and sat down.
She took Theodoreâs exposed arm and gently tucked it back under the warm quilt.
âNo.
Itâs hot.
â Theodore pouted and complained like a child, but one sharp look from Ariana immediately shut him up.
Ariana picked up an apple from the bedside table and began to peel it, chattering, âThe doctor says you should get some rest for now.
Donât focus on your work.
Oh, and if you need anything, just let me know.
â ©
âWhat about you? Do you feel well?â Theodore asked.
Ariana paused and raised her eyes to look up at Theodore.
Maybe it was because of the pain from his injuries that Theodoreâs handsome face looked haggard, which made his expression softer and less indifferent than usual.
It was because of this rare gentleness she saw in him that Ariana mustered the courage to sit close to him.
She nodded her head and said, âIâm fine.
Itâs my fault you got hurt so badly.
He had planned to come after me.
â
âBut you saved me, too,â Theodore comforted Ariana in a soothing voice.
He stretched out his fingers from under the quilt and touched Arianaâs hand.
However, Ariana didnât seem to notice at all.
Her eyebrows furrowed as she blamed herself.
âBut you got hurt anyway.
I really am useless.
I couldnât do anything right.
If Sarah hadnât asked Aziel to locate us because she couldnât reach me, we could be dead by now.
â
Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updatesâ¦
Theodore was about to comfort Ariana further, but she suddenly changed the subject.
âIâm sorry.
To be honest, I always suspected that you were pretending to be disabled.
From now on, I wonât doubt you anymore.
You donât know how desperate I felt when you were stuck in that car.
When it happened, I really hoped your legs were okay.
â
Arianaâs voice trembled.
She looked pale and frightened.
Theodore froze, hesitating.
He silently put his hand back under the quilt.
He went quiet for a long time.
At some point, he broke the silence and said bitterly, âWould you be angry if I were pretending?â ©
Ariana sobbed, tears dripping from her lashes.
She wiped the corners of her eyes with the back of her hand and said exasperatedly, âOf course, Iâd be angry! Wouldnât that be making fun of me? After getting to know you for so long, I think of you as my friend.
If you were making a fool out of me behind my back, I wouldnât know how to face you.
Luckily, it didnât turn out like that.
â ©
Theodore avoided looking at her.
He was caught in a dilemma.
He fell into an even longer silence.
Ariana raised her head.
Her eyes were wet and puffy from crying.
She tilted her head at Theodore curiously, confusion in her glossy eyes.
âBy the way, you said you were hiding something from me at that time.
What is it?â ©
Theodore let out an awkward cough and made up a lame excuse.
âItâs nothing.
I just wanted to tell you that Horace broke the water heater in your hotel room last time.
â @
Ariana was taken aback.
Was such an insignificant piece of information pressing enough to tell her in a life-or-death situation?
She felt a tinge of disappointment and pursed her lips.
She said disparagingly, âI thought you were going to tell me you have an illegitimate child or something.
â