Confused, she turned her head to look at Theodore, only to find that he was still in a deep slumber.

Ariana tried to extricate herself, but the grip was too strong.

At this moment, she heard Theodore murmuring, "Don't go. Don't leave me."

As Ariana heard Theodore's faint whisper, her heart fluttered with hope. For a moment, she allowed herself to bask in the possibility that he didn't want her to leave him.

But her optimism was short-lived as he uttered the word, "Mom."