Immaculately clean and imbued with a faint warmth, as if the roomâs owner still resided there.
The furnishings in the room were simple and warm, with a predominant blue color scheme.
There was a light-colored sofa, floral curtains, a cello in the corner, and several dolls, crystal balls, and young girlsâ comic books neatly arranged on the shelves.
At the head and end of the bed, there were dolls adorning the space.
Ariana meticulously observed each corner of the room before her gaze settled upon.
the cloakroom.
There were two rows of pristine white wardrobes, with over ten doors in all, waiting to be explored.
Driven by an inexplicable curiosity, Ariana found herself drawn to open the wardrobe.
To her astonishment, the wardrobe contained an assortment of brand new dresses, each exuding a distinct air of luxury.
Some of the dresses still had their tags attached, indicating their recent acquisition.
It was evident that these dresses had been carefully chosen and acquired over the years.
Helen approached Ariana, her expression marked by a mixture of complexity and intrigue.
She directed her attention towards the dresses, her words tinged with a hint of melancholy.
âEvery year, for Marleyâs birthday and various other special occasions, Theodore personally selects one of Marleyâs favorite garments and arranges it here.
â
âs
She continued, her voice carrying a weight of nostalgia.
âThese wardrobes simply cannot contain them all, and as a result, many have been relocated to the attic after meticulous organization.
â
âWho is Marley?â ©
Arianaâs memories stirred as she pondered the information Judy had shared shortly after her arrival at the Anderson mansion.
According to Judy, Darian, Theodoreâs father, had only two childrenâTheodore and Jasper.
With Jasper being brought back to the family when Theodore was twelve years old, Ariana deduced that the girl named Marley couldnât possibly be a relative of Theodore.
This realization left her with burning questions: If they were not related, why did Theodore exhibit such care and concern for Marley? How was it that she could live here? Could she be his first love?
The mere possibility of Marley being Theodoreâs first love left a bitter taste in Arianaâs mouth.
If Marley truly held a place in his heart, then Theodore would never forget her.
This would explain why he kept the room locked, refusing entry to anyone else.
Arianaâs complexion grew paler as these thoughts swirled in her mind.
Sensing her distress, Helen couldnât help but smile, a hint of mischief in her eyes.
âTheodoreâs mother has a devoted maid named Marianna,â she began, her voice laced with intrigue.
âMarianna has been by his side for many years, raising him practically as her own child.
Their relationship is far from ordinary.
â ©
A pause followed, as if Helen relished the anticipation.
âMarley is Mariannaâs daughter,â she finally revealed, her fingers delicately grazing the beautiful dresses before her.
âTragically, Marleyâs father passed away in a car accident shortly after her birth.
Due to Mariannaâs close ties with Theodoreâs mother, Marley has resided here since childhood and even possesses her own room, making her a true member of the Anderson family.
â ©
âSo Theodore and Marley arenât siblings?â Ariana asked, her voice steady.
Helen, her smile undeterred, swiftly responded, âNo, they are not siblings in the conventional sense.
Their connection runs much deeper.
In Theodoreâs heart, Marley represents his first love, a love untouched by impurity.
â Helenâs lips curled, and her white teeth peeked through.
âGrowing up together, their bond is unbreakable.
Marley possesses a gentle spirit that surpasses any words used to describe her beauty.
Even Theodoreâs mother holds a deep fondness for her.
â ©
âSo what?â Arianaâs gaze flickered coldly.
Unfazed by the lack of reaction, Helen pursed her lips and pressed on, determined to elicit a response.
âDonât you feel any sorrow, Ariana? If Marley had not met her untimely demise at the age of fifteen, you would not have found yourself married into the Anderson family.
â
âThat is all in the past, is it not? Iam Theodoreâs rightful wife now.
The past cannot be altered.
â Ariana sneered, her voice dripping with defiance.
Books Chapters Are Daily Updated Join & Stay Updated For All Books Updatesâ¦
No matter the depth of her sadness, she refused to reveal it to Helen.
She knew very well that Helen wanted her to be sad, but she would not give her that satisfaction.
âNo, the past can never truly be left behind.
And Theodoreâs love for Marley has softened him.
When it comes to her, he is not as cold and ruthless as he once was,â
Helen persisted in provoking Ariana.
She didnât come here to engage in idle conversation, but to compel Ariana to give up.
Regardless of how much Helen may have despised Marley, the reality remained that the deceased could not be brought back to life, and despite her efforts, the past could not be changed.
However, the situation with Ariana was different.
Helen was uncertain about the tactics Ariana had employed to truly win over Theodoreâs heart.