The click of the doorknob turning and the door swinging open sounded from the bathroom. She quickly yanked the quilt over her head, turned over, and shut her eyes, pretending to be fast asleep.

The sound of the rolling wheels of the wheelchair was getting closer and closer. She held her breath, trying to calm herself down, Her heart was pounding against her chest like a war drum.

When Theodore came out, only a dim bedside lamp was on and everything else was shrouded in darkness.

One side of the bed bulged slightly, the quilt revealing only tufts of her hair. The bulge rose and sunk slightly with her breathing, but she made no sound.

Was she asleep?

Theodore raised his finger to his chin thoughtfully. After a few seconds of silence, he maneuvered his wheelchair toward the bed and reached for the lamp. He was about to turn off the bedside lamp when he saw her trembling eyelashes from the corner of his eye.

Theodore's lips curved, but he remained quiet and turned off the light.

The hotel bed was very soft. Ariana could feel the other side of the bed sink slightly with weight when Theodore carefully got into the bed.

She willed herself to stay still for a long time, even though her mind was a frantic mess. It was so quiet, and she could hear him breathing.

“Are you asleep?" Theodore's low, husky voice broke the silence.

Ariana muttered something incoherent under her breath and turned over as naturally as she could, trying her best to look as if she were stirring in her sleep.

“Really?” Theodore prompted incredulously.

Ariana felt annoyed and a little sheepish for being so obvious.

She tried as best as she could to avoid him. Why couldn't he just let it go?

The room quieted down again as neither of them said anything.

But about ten seconds later, Theodore spoke again.

"You took the quilt away. I'm cold."

His tone was somewhat helpless and aggrieved, which almost made

Ariana give up on her plan of pretend.

She couldn't bear this embarrassment. Pretending to be disturbed and a little sleepy, she turned over and pulled out the quilt from under her, giving half of it out to him.