A pang of sorrow accompanied her thoughts, recalling Theodore's earlier sentiments of unworthiness to be Marley's brother.

Why would he think that? He was just a child back then. She could not accept such self-deprecation from him, for he had proven himself a protector beyond measure.

Theodore, however, shook his head.

"Marley was a kind soul. Though she misunderstood, she never bore me any hatred. Instead, she withdrew in silence. She often visited our mother in the southern suburbs since she knew she was lonely there. Over time, her bond with our mother grew stronger. This was originally a good thing.”

Theodore's voice wavered, his grip tightening around Ariana.

"But then, I did something that made Marley truly despise me."

Theodore's voice shook as he recalled Marley's piercing screams. In her enraged state, she accused him of being a murderer.

“It's all right, Theodore. All of it is now in the past. What you did wasn't wrong." His admission tugged at Ariana's heart, and she held him with tender care, her lips planting gentle kisses upon his face.

“That year, when I paid a visit to our mother, I found her attempting to hang herself," Theodore‘s voice trembled with suppressed emotions.

"As I rushed to save her, she tearfully begged me to let her die.

Tormented by a life devoid of true joy or release, she just wanted to seek freedom from her pain!"

Tears welled up in Theodore's eyes, and his voice cracked with emotion, “And in that fateful moment, I hesitated! I just stood there, paralyzed, watching her suffer and suffocate before my very eyes! At that very moment, Marley, who came to see our mom, saw the whole thing. That's when her hatred of me really began.”

Ariana's heart wrenched after hearing this, and she hugged Theodore tightly. As he sobbed against her neck, she could feel the warmth of his tears. He cried, "Marley was right. I am a murderer! How could I ever watch my mother die without stopping her?"

"It's not your burden to bear, Theodore. You mustn't let it weigh on your heart." Ariana embraced Theodore tightly, her compassion a soothing balm to his restless soul.

"This is Darian's wicked doing, not yours. You went above and beyond, fighting with every fiber of your being."

Her gentle hand caressed his back, a soothing melody amidst the chaos.

“Marley was just a tender bud back then, unable to grasp the intricacies of life's trials. But mark my words, she's a wise and sensible soul, and one day, she will comprehend and absolve you. This burden is not of your making.”

Ariana held him close until his tears subsided. With eyes tinged red, Theodore spoke, his voice devoid of emotion.

"Soon after that dreadful incident, Marley decided to kill herself by jumping off the building.”

Ariana was stunned. She now understood the burden Theodore had been bearing for so long as a result of this series of events.