“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?"

No answer came from the bathroom. Feeling a knot of worry tighten in her chest, Ariana called out again, "Theodore?"

Yet, the silence remained. Ariana bolted toward the bathroom, swung the door wide open, and was met with the chilling sight of Theodore sprawled unconscious on the floor.

Fear gripped Ariana as she took in the sight of Theodore’s unconscious form. She hurriedly ran to his aid and held him.

“Theodore, can you hear me?" she whispered, her voice barely audible in the silence of the room, her hands trembling as she held him.

"Don't scare me Like this."

As the gravity of the situation set in, Ariana hollered for Horace, who had been lingering outside the room.

“Horace, help!" Her cry for assistance echoed through the ward.

Horace was quick to react to Ariana's distressed cry. As he dashed inside, the sight of an unconscious Theodore held by a frantic Ariana filled his eyes. The alarming scene jolted him, and without a moment's delay, he rushed out to fetch a doctor.

A whirlwind of medical personnel descended upon the room, and Theodore was swiftly wheeled away for emergency treatment.

Ariana, powerless and afraid, followed the team until she reached the cold, unwelcoming entrance of the emergency room. She watched, heart pounding, as the heavy doors swallowed Theodore from her sight.

In the stark waiting area, she found herself seated, her mind a whirlwind of what-ifs and if-onlys. She berated herself for not paying closer attention to Theodore’s health. Had he been taking that dangerous medication behind her back?

The memory of Mitchel's warnings about its harmful side effects sent a cold shiver down her spine. Fear gnawed at her, the thought of losing Theodore unbearable. Each time she'd tried to broach the subject of his health and the medication, he'd always sidestepped her questions, keeping her in the dark.

Back at the entrance to the emergency room, Horace maintained his calm.

He regarded Ariana, her face a picture of desolation, and suggested, "You should go get some rest. I'll stay here and keep you updated on his condition."

Ariana vigorously shook her head, her body numb with fear.