"I've already forgiven you. Mom's death was not your fault."

However, her imitation ended abruptly, swallowed by a surge of static from the bear. A puzzled feminine voice called out from the recording, "Helen?"

At that moment, Helen spotted Theodore's car pulling up downstairs. She quickly silenced the teddy bear and concealed it.

She was about to welcome Theodore with counterfeit delight when another vehicle, a taxi, caught her attention. Someone she utterly despised emerged from the taxi.

As she watched the two figures, a sneer crawled onto her face.