She told herself to stop overthinking and flattering herself. It was best to take it as a coincidence.

Ariana cast her questions aside and focused on finishing the food on her plate.

Being an extrovert, the landlady soon forgot her embarrassment and chatted happily with Theodore again.

"Theodore, where is your wife? Why isn't she living with you?"

Suddenly, Theodore looked a little lonely. He lowered his eyes and smiled bitterly.

The landlady sensed a potential for gossip and pressed on, "What's wrong? Is there something wrong with your relationship? How could she bear to let you rent an apartment alone when you are in this state?"

Theodore frowned and sighed as he said helplessly, "My wife is just too busy working to care about me."

Although he sounded emotionless, his words somehow aroused the pity of the landlady.

The landlady felt indignant for Theodore. She slammed the table angrily and cried, “Your wife is too cruel!"

Ariana was startled by the intense and sudden display of anger that she almost jumped up from her seat.

Ariana was caught off guard as Theodore and the landlady abruptly changed to the sensitive subject. She dropped her utensils and sat upright, unsure of what to do next.

He looked so sad and meek that even Ariana was almost fooled by his act, not to mention their landlady.

The landlady's fiery personality was on full display as her curly hair seemed to stand on end with fury. She was outraged that someone would neglect their husband, who was unable to even walk on his own.

"How can she leave you, her husband behind just because she's busy at work?" she scolded.

"A wife should be giving more attention to her husband, not neglecting him like this."

Ariana felt her throat constrict and her stomach knot up as she listened to the harsh words spewing from the landlady's mouth. She lowered her head, feeling guilty.

But as Ariana struggled to keep her composure, Theodore was calm and he seemed to be enjoying the scene, smiling slyly as he put on a show of disappointment and sacrifice.

"I should be understanding," Theodore said, his voice dripping with faux compassion.

"After all, my wife is ambitious. It's all my fault that I can't contribute more to her career. If only my legs worked properly, I could share some of her burdens."

Ariana's heart twisted with guilt. Had she really been neglecting him so much? She couldn't shake the feeling that Theodore was manipulating her, but she couldn't help but feel ashamed of herself as well.