He clutched the pill bottle in a firm grip, yet no anger surged within him.

He recognized that Ariana had likely replaced the medication out of concern for its potential side effects. She held him dear, keeping him close to her heart.

Theodore held onto the pill bottle, his gaze affixed to the vacant room. His longing and anxiety amplified in that moment. An abrupt thought crossed his mind-would Ariana return if he suffered a seizure and ended up in the hospital?

With this thought in mind, he loosened his hold on the pill bottle and allowed himself to sink to the floor, the throbbing pain in his head intensifying until his consciousness spiraled into darkness.

Seconds after Theodore lost consciousness, his phone began ringing incessantly.

Simultaneously, in a shadowy basement, two masked abductors cursed in impatience.

"Damn it! Why isn't he picking up? Doesn't he care about her life?"

Frustrated with their futile attempts, the two continued to vent their vexation. At their feet, bound and unconscious, lay Ariana.

Horace, gripped by unease when he couldn't reach Theodore via call, scoured the city. His search ended at Ariana's apartment where he found Theodore. Theodore, as pale as a ghost, was unconscious. Fear ran through Horace. He hurriedly rushed Theodore to the hospital.

In the hospital, Horace sat tense, anticipating the unknown.

Still reeling from the shock, he was visibly shaking.

If Theodore had not been found in time, the consequences were too ghastly to contemplate.

With Ariana's noticeable absence from the hospital last night, Horace had tried to reach Theodore, only to be met with a turned-off phone.

Ariana was unreachable as well.

With Theodore missing, alarm bells rang in Horace's head and he sent out a search party.

His suspicion was confirmed when Theodore was discovered in a poor state.

ALL they could clutch onto was a thread of hope, praying for Theodore's recovery.

Soon, the doctor emerged with a grim expression, holding the medical report.

“His brain tumor is pressing against vital nerves. It's a ticking time bomb, threatening his life without immediate surgery," informed the doctor.

Horace held the report, hesitant to make a decision alone. He quickly dialed Aldus to relay the critical situation.