There was a moment of silence as Horace processed this, understanding that Ariana must be involved. He knew Theodore wouldn't take action without a compelling reason.

The duo descended to the dimly lit basement level three via the elevator. The floor was filled with identical, unmarked doors, all secured by fingerprint locks.

Passing by one of the rooms, they heard the distressed cries and shouts of patients inside. Theodore stopped at a corner room, and alone, he unlocked it with his fingerprint and stepped inside.

As the door shut behind him, the beeping of medical equipment filled the room, and Helen lay on a hospital bed.

Helen shifted, her eyes fluttering open to the silhouette of a man next to her bed. Trying to prop herself up, she realized with a jolt that she was still locked in anesthesia's hold; all she could muster was a feeble whimper, aimed at Theodore.

Theodore cast a frosty gaze her way, his smile hinting at an underlying cunning as he asked, “How's the new heart?"

Her face twisted in pain, and tears began their journey down her cheeks. She willed words to spill from her mouth, but her voice remained stubbornly silent.

Unmoved by her evident distress, Theodore carried on, “You seemed dissatisfied with your perfectly fine heart. So I thought, why not a broken one? Let's see how you fight to survive now.”

Gathering the remains of her strength, Helen's weak voice stumbled over two words, "Marley Please..."

But invoking Marley's name had lost its effect on Theodore; it was like a deflated balloon. His face hardened, his voice chilling as he retorted, "I'll uncover the truth about Marley's death and the messages she left behind. Your help isn't required anymore."

Theodore held her gaze, his words a stern admonishment, “Be a good girl and stop poking your nose where it doesn‘t belong. Remember, Ariana is a no-go zone. Consider this a final warning. Cross me again by hurting Ariana, and you'll experience true torment."

Without another word, he strode out, the booming echo of the iron door shutting behind him filling the room. A tremor shook Helen, her expression a mask of mingled agony and hatred.

The truth was, Helen had been free of her heart ailment for some time.

To keep Theodore tethered to her and get him to fulfill Marley's dying wish, she had started to source shady medication that induced shock.

Regular intake would mimic the symptoms of a heart condition: stabbing chest pains and skyrocketing heartbeat, maintaining the illusion that her heart was still a ticking time bomb.

Yet Helen couldn't predict that Theodore would expose the truth of her recovered heart. She was equally unprepared for his ruthless act of swapping her heart with a faulty one, even worse than the original.

Each inhale now was a stark reminder of her torment. Using her only able hand, Helen gripped the bed covers, her eyes ablaze with resentment.

This wasn't the Theodore she knew. Ariana's entrance into his life was to blame! That woman had no business carrying his children or standing beside him. It was all down to Ariana! She had Theodore under her spell, and it was that cursed woman who was responsible for her current plight.

Why was Ariana still alive?

As Helen lay there, her eyes filled with loathing, fixated on the ceiling. Just go ahead and die. Please, just go...