The previous week, she had gone to the manor in the southern suburb, hoping to develop a relationship with Theodore.
To her dismay, he spent only a day with her and remained silent.
The day after Marleyâs death anniversary, he promptly sent her back to the hospital.
She didnât want the surgery because Marleyâs wish to cure her heart condition was the reason Theodore cared for her.
She had a nagging feeling that once she recovered from her illness after the operation, Theodore might cease to care for her in the future.
Helen couldnât bear to think about losing Theodore entirely, so she needed to prolong her illness as much as possible.
Her sickness was her bargaining chip and the sole aspect that could kindle Theodoreâs compassion.
âWhatâs the matter, Helen? Are you worried?â The doctor was writing in the medical record when he noticed Helenâs silence and assumed she was feeling unwell.
Helen shook her head, gazing up at the doctor with her large, pleading eyes.
âDo I really need to have the surgery so soon? I donât feel prepared, and lately, Iâve been struggling with insomnia, with my heart rate frequently increasing for no apparent reason.
â
âIf youâre staying up late, itâs only natural for your heart rate to rise.
From now on, make sure you sleep on time.
Iâll prescribe some sleeping pills for you; just rest well for a couple of days,â the doctor reassured her with his customary smile.
Helen mumbled, âCan we delay the surgery? Iâd prefer to undergo the procedure when Iâm feeling better.
â
âNo.
â The doctor, still smiling, firmly denied Helenâs request.
âYouâre in good condition right now.
If you donât have the surgery soon, your heart might not be able to hold on.
â
Helenâs lips tightened, and her eyes grew cold.
The doctor didnât seem to notice the change in Helenâs demeanor.
He proceeded to inspect the medical equipment in the ward, ensuring that everything was in good working order.
Tuning to Helen, he offered reassuring words.
âRest assured, Helen.
Our Mercy Hospital has excellent resources, and there will be no issues with your operation.
Get yourself prepared by then.
Your surgery is scheduled for next Thursday.
â
Helen realized there was no way to postpone it any longer.
She bit her nails, sinking into a state of anxiety and tension.
No, she had to find a way to sabotage the surgery.
She couldnât afford to lose Theodore!
Two days later, the gate of the manor in the southern suburb of the city finally opened.
This was the first time this had happened since half a month ago.
âA dozen cars were parked along the driveway.
Horace was waiting dutifully in front of one of the cars, an exquisite black Rolls-Royce.
He glanced down at the watch on his wrist.
Horace looked up quickly when a man slowly exited the manor.
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âWhy have you come out two weeks earlier this time around, sir?â It was rare for Horace to be unable to discern what his boss was thinking.
In the past, after the anniversary of Marleyâs death, Theodore would lock himself up in the manor for a month and cut himself off from others.
This was the first time he had come out in advance.
Theodore didnât know how to answer.
He had no one he cared about before.
The manor had become a place for him to escape and hide from the world.
If it werenât for the sake of his revenge, he might have stayed inside, away from the world, for the rest of his life.
But this time, he found himself too restless to calm down, and he couldnât stop thinking about a certain someone.
When he caught his mind straying, he felt shocked and despaired that he wasnât able to control his thoughts.
With time, he came to a realization.
The world without Ariana was as boring as hell.