Surprisingly, the bodyguards made no move to impede her, likely assuming she was merely stretching her legs after a meal.

A glimmer of a plan began to take shape in Ariana's mind as she realized her path was clear.

Meanwhile, Theodore was en route back to Mercy Hospital. Seated in the back, he took a moment to rest, closing his eyes as he leaned against the car seat. Adjacent to him was a blue teddy bear, a gift from Helen earlier that day.

The bear, though aged, was in pristine condition, and it held familiar traces of Marley.

Helen mentioned finding the bear among Marley's keepsakes while cleaning.

Theodore recognized it immediately as one of Marley's cherished items.

However, why it ended up with Helen was a mystery.

A wave of unease washed over Theodore, prompting him to massage his furrowed brows.

Over the years, Helen had persistently encroached upon his personal space, using Marley as her pretext. In the past, he had the energy to handle her, even turning a blind eye to some incidents. However, now, he felt a trace of fatigue.

Did the truth still matter?

For the first time in many years, such a thought crossed Theodore's mind.

Regardless of the truth, neither Marley nor his mother could be brought back to life.

As the scenery whisked by outside the window, his thoughts drifted towards Ariana, his future.

He wondered if her anger had dissipated after the day's events.

Theodore found himself worrying. His original plan had been to spend the day with Ariana, but an untimely summons from Helen had forced him to send Horace in his stead.

He contemplated checking his phone for any messages from Ariana, only to realize it was missing. Despite searching the car, his phone was nowhere to be found.

Had he left it with Helen?

Frustrated, Theodore instructed the driver in a cold tone, "Turn around, we need to go back."

Meanwhile, in the apartment, Helen held Theodore's phone in her hands.

A malevolent expression crossed her face as she examined the rabbit pendant dangling from the device. She mindlessly stroked the rabbit's neck, her grip hinting at an intent to snap the pendant off any second.