“Really?” Ariana couldn't trust her own ears.

Unruffled by her surprise, Theodore calmly added a juicy piece of meat to her bowl. He reasoned that since he had financially backed the film, it only made sense to view it-especially if it meant spending the time with Ariana.

After their meal, Theodore moved on to his usual routine of preparing a selection of fresh fruits for Ariana. He carried the fruit basket to the bathroom to rinse them while Ariana Lounged on the couch, leisurely leafing through a book.

As Ariana turned a page, a loud crash from the bathroom jolted her.

Ariana's heart skipped a beat, figuring Theodore must have dropped something. She called out in alarm, "Everything okay in there?"