A knock interrupted her thoughts.
Hastily wiping her tears, she instinctively hid the report beneath her blanket and said, âCome in.
â
Ariana anticipated a nurse or perhaps Horace.
So, when a familiar figure appeared, she was genuinely surprised.
It was Theodore.
She stared at him in surprise.
It wasnât his presence that startled her, but rather the fact that Theodore did not break in without her permission.
He usually would employ a courtesy knock before entering.
This time, however, he waited patiently outside, demonstrating an unusual level of respect for her response.
The sight of Theodore made Ariana feel a sudden discomfort.
Instinctively, she held onto her blanket a little tighter, her emotions swirling as she met his gaze.
Their exchanges had been cold, with their argument still hanging in the air.
But after experiencing such danger and being rescued by Theodore like a personal savior, how could she remain unaffected?
Suddenly, Ariana was unsure of how to face this man standing before her.
She averted her gaze, evading his eyes, and whispered, âHorace mentioned you were busy.
â
âUh-huh,â Theodore responded with a muffled hum, moving towards her, âHorace mentioned you were looking for me?â
Ariana didnât answer immediately, which made him slightly uneasy.
He paused, his hand balling into a fist behind his back.
Did Horace get it wrong? Did she not wish to see him?
This possibility made his heart heavy.
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Just as he began to think sheâd deny his claim, a faint âuh-huhâ filled his ears.
The sound was subtle, yet unmistakably clear.
Theodore immediately loosened his tight grip, heaved a sigh of relief, and, with a heart lightened, continued his approach.
Drawing nearer, he caught sight of the remnants of dried tears on Arianaâs face.
His relief was swiftly replaced with concern.
His hand instinctively cradled her face, his voice a shade colder, âWhy have you been shedding tears? Who hurt you?â
Theodoreâs hands lacked delicacy, bearing the marks of years spent in the realm of public affairs and physical training.
A thin layer of calluses graced the pads of his fingers and the base of his thumbs.
As those rough hands made contact with Arianaâs smooth face, a tingling sensation coursed through her.
At the sound of his question, a ripple disrupted the peace within Arianaâs heart.
Particularly, the large hands caressing her cheeks imparted a profound sense of safety, yet it also unleashed an uncontrollable cascade of tears.
Before Ariana could utter a word, tears spilled down her cheeks, descending in solitary drops.
Contemplating the children growing within her belly, with the man before her as the main culprit, she suddenly voiced her grievance, imbued with a sense of injustice: âItâs always you, from the very beginning to the bitter end.
Youâve been tormenting me relentlessly.
Ever since I married you, every tear Iâve shed has been because of you.
â