And there, in the corner, she spotted a familiar doll. Steeling herself, she feigned composure.

“Is that doll part of Marley's belongings?"

As expected, Helen was drawn to her words.

A thought crossed her mind, and a wicked smile crept across her face.

She rose to her feet, clutching the doll.

Simultaneously, Ariana took the opportunity to gather pieces of rubble nearby and surreptitiously ground the rope in her hand, keeping a vigilant eye on Helen's every move.

Ariana noticed Helen picking up the doll, fiddling with its arm and staring at it. Helen smiled.

"You even recognize this. Yes, this one is true."

“It's just a doll, so why go to the trouble of using a fake one to deceive him? What did Marley say before she passed away?" Ariana strained to maintain a calm voice, inadvertently quickening her rope-cutting actions.

Helen gazed at the doll for a moment and then broke into a smile.

“Why? No reason at all. I won't give Theodore anything he desires, and I won't utter a word that he wishes to hear. I want to keep him hanging like this. I relish seeing him struggling in a sea of misery with no chance of redemption!"

Hearing those words, anger surged within Ariana, yet she hesitated before severing the rope. She couldn't help but inquire, "Do you hate him?"

“Hate? No! No! I love him, I'm infatuated with him!" Helen's face contorted into a sinister grin.

“But it's when he writhes in pain, torn within himself, longing but never obtaining, eternally filled with regret and brokenness, that Theodore becomes the most captivating, the one I love the mos'

Helen was completely off her bearings!

Ariana cursed inwardly at Helen's madness. Since she hadn't finished cutting the rope, she had to continue the conversation with Helen and buy some time. She Looked at Helen and continued, “Doesn't he treat you well?"

“He does," Helen replied absentmindedly, "But in the past, he cared the most about Marley, never sparing a glance for me. Even though I saw him as my everything, his gaze was always fixed on Marley. He poured all his efforts into protecting her. Why couldn't he just look at me? Even in these past few years, his care for me was merely an act of charity he bestowed upon me because of Marley!”

Helen's tone abruptly turned venomous.

“But Marley was just a bastard, a wretched being born out of rape. She certainly didn't deserve to live!"

Hearing the unexpected revelation, Ariana was shocked and furious. She blurted out, “Wasn't Marley your best friend?! How can you say such things about her!"