Involuntarily, Ariana's grip tightened around the photo, as she tried to put on a brave front and forced a smile. Her voice quivered slightly as she assured Sonia, "I trust Theodore completely, and I am certain he would never betray me in such a fashion."

As Sonia observed Ariana's strained smile, a surge of empathy welled up inside her, understanding the distress Ariana was going through.

“But you're still in the hospital - how could Theodore abandon you to frolic with another woman?" she said in a glum tone.

Ariana's smile tightened, her eyes Locked on the image she clutched in her hand.

She knew Helen's true nature all too well, just as she believed in her heart that Theodore would never be unfaithful. Nevertheless, her heart ached incessantly at the sight before her.

Sensing Ariana's unease, Sonia wisely chose to steer the conversation in a different direction. Gently, she retrieved the photo from Ariana's tense grip, offering an awkward little laugh.

“Let's not dwell on this any longer. Have you eaten yet? What would you like for dinner tonight?"

Gathering her composure, Ariana mustered a feeble smile for Sonia.

"I have no particular cravings; order whatever you think is best."

Sonia playfully reproached her with a click of her tongue.

"That won't do at all. Even if you won't admit it, I know your tastes perfectly well. Come on, let's get you out of bed, and we'll go dine together."

With an encouraging smile, she Linked her arm with Ariana's to help her up. After placing an order for several of Ariana's favorite dishes, Sonia remained by her side throughout the meal, providing much-needed company. Witnessing Ariana's mood slightly improved, Sonia sensed it was time to give her some space to rest.

Now alone, Ariana sat quietly for a long moment, contemplating her feelings. Finally, she decided to reach out to Theodore and dialed his number on her phone.

The call connected instantly, but no voice greeted Ariana before she was redirected to voicemail.

Her brow furrowed in concern, prompting her to hit redial.

Once more, no response came from the other end. Undeterred, she persisted, dialing repeatedly over a dozen times, yet still met with silence. Finally, as she attempted once more, the phone had been completely switched off.

As she made more attempts, Ariana's agitation and unease grew.

Theodore's assurances did little to quell her anxiety about the possibility of him being with Helen.

Jealousy churned within her as her calls continued to go unanswered.

Determined, she set out to find Horace, only to discover he was nowhere to be found near her door. She searched the corridors as well, but her efforts yielded no results.