Ariana stilled, her eyes wide in surprise.
âWhat? Hair loss?â she echoed, unable to wrap her head around his statement.
Theodoreâs gaze fell on her confused face.
With a sigh, he gently ran his fingers over her hair.
âIt all started after the accident,â he admitted, a flush of embarrassment coloring his cheeks.
âIâve been dealing with sleepless nights.
The insomnia, itâs⦠causing my hair to thin.
â
His words hung heavily in the air, his voice wavering with discomfort.
Clearing his throat, he added, âSo, the medication Iâve been taking, itâs supposed to help with the sleeplessness and slow down the hair loss.
â
Ariana remembered something about this.
Holden had mentioned the medicine was for treating insomnia too.
But still, something didnât sit right with her.
If the medication was only for insomnia and hair loss, why had Horace sternly warned him against it? Plus, the idea of it being addictive didnât add up.
Brow furrowed in suspicion, she reached out, running her fingers through Theodoreâs hair.
It felt healthy, thick, showing no evidence of thinning.
Glancing at her hand, she found it devoid of any stray strands.
âThatâs not true! Your hair is even thicker than mine! I find more hair in my comb in the morning than youâve apparently lost!â
Theodore stammered, âThe⦠the hair Loss is sporadic.
â
âSporadic, you say?â Ariana shot back, her patience thinning.
âSo, you want me to believe your hair grows back faster than itâs falling out?
What are you doing? Downing hair growth tonics on the sly?â Her voice laced with frustration as she attempted to make sense of the perplexing situation.
With a Lump in his throat, Theodore admitted, his voice barely above a whisper, âI⦠I got a secret hair transplant.
â
Ariana held back her chuckles, finding the situation a blend of amusing and mildly frustrating.
She eyed Theodore seriously before responding, âAlright, for now, Iâ1l choose to believe you.
â
However, before Theodore could let out a sigh of relief, she promptly added, âBut if I find out youâve been fibbing, what happens then?â
Caught off guard, Theodore stuttered, failing to piece together a coherent response.
Ariana Looked at him sternly, her voice ringing with conviction, âIf I discover youâve been lying, thatâs it.
No more talks, no more us.
You wonât see me around anymore.
â
Theodore froze at her words, a sharp pang of dread shooting through him.
Nonetheless, he managed to plaster a smile on his face, chuckling weakly at her ultimatum.
The next day, Ariana and Theodore were dressed casually, their heads adorned with twinning caps and their eyes concealed behind matching sunglasses.
They were on their way to the unveiling of the film âThe Missing Bodyâ.
Ariana had originally intended to venture solo, imploring Theodore to remain at the hospital and recuperate.
But Theodore wasnât one to sit on the sidelines.
The moment Ariana hinted at her plans, he put on a show of frustration and pathos, adamantly declaring his role as her self-determined protector.
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Ariana found herself in a whirl of bemusement and slight irritation, yet, seeing his determination, she gave in and accepted his company.
Upon reaching the venue, they spotted Sarah along with a few others already there.
When he noticed Ariana, Tylerâs face Lit up like a Lightbulb.
He made his way to her at a brisk pace, a look of concern etched on his face.
âHowâve you been holding up? Any better? Anything troubling you?â
Ariana offered him a warm smile.
âIâm on the mend.
No worries; I just need to rest up a bit.
â
At her words, Tyler seemed to Let go of some tension, about to engage further, when Theodore expertly intervened.
Grasping Arianaâs hand tightly, he suggested with a cool countenance, âLetâs check out that spot over there.
â
Before Ariana could even manage a goodbye to Tyler, Theodore was already leading her away.
Casting a sideways glance at him, she couldnât shake off the feeling of both amusement and annoyance.
Yes, Theodore was undeniably one with a streak of jealousy.