As she tiptoed toward the kitchen, Ariana's mind was preoccupied with what to cook for Theodore. She decided on a light, easy-to-digest porridge, and some fresh vegetables, but the question of whether there were any fresh ingredients in the fridge lingered in her mind.

Just as she was about to leave the room, Theodore's voice broke the silence, calling out a name that Ariana didn't recognize.

"Marley," he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Ariana's grip on the doorknob faltered as she hesitated before turning back to the bedside. Theodore's chest rose and fell rhythmically, his peaceful slumber undisturbed by her presence. She imagined his faint murmur, a figment of her exhausted mind.

Frowning, Ariana rubbed her temples, acknowledging the heavy weight of fatigue that had been pressing down on her for days. Her mind was playing tricks on her.

With a soft sigh, she leaned over and tucked Theodore in, ensuring that he was warm and comfortable before making her way out of the bedroom.

The kitchen greeted her with a stark reality—the fridge was practically empty. She rummaged through the meager contents, finding only a few eggs, potatoes, and some vegetables. Ariana surveyed the spotless stove.

Perhaps it was the housekeeper's tardiness or the overwhelming demands of Theodore's day that left him with no time to eat.

With a resigned sigh, she took out all the ingredients. Her mind began to race, conjuring up a recipe on the fly.

Meanwhile, in the bedroom, Theodore tossed and turned, consumed by a restless slumber. His breathing became labored as he was plagued by vivid, unsettling nightmares.

A part of him wanted to fight his way back to wakefulness, but a more profound desire for solace took over. In his dream, he found himself transported back to his childhood, cocooned in the gentle embrace of his mother's lullaby.

But soon, the comforting illusion shattered, giving way to a surreal vision of a young girl clad in white, frolicking merrily in a meadow as lush and green as emerald. She looked back at him, her infectious laughter ringing through the air.

Theodore's dreamscape was awash with vibrant blues—the sky stretched out endlessly, while the clear waters of the lake shimmered invitingly. It was as if he had been transported back to a time before life had become so complicated and before pain and resentment had taken root in his heart.

As he trailed after the girl in white, her laughter echoing in his ears, Theodore felt a profound sense of contentment. For a moment, he forgot all his worries and surrendered himself to the simple pleasures of the present.

But beneath the surface, a gnawing emptiness persisted, a reminder of something he had lost. Still, he could not help but admire the girl's unbridled joy, and he wondered if this was what paradise looked like.

They strolled through the verdant meadow, the grass brushing against their ankles until they reached a bridge. Just as Theodore was about to follow the girl across, his heart seized with terror—the serene landscape had been transformed into a perilous trap. The girl, oblivious to the danger, continued to move forward, inching closer to the gaping chasm that now loomed behind her.

"Marley!"

Theodore's heart plummeted as he watched the girl slip over the edge of the cliff, her form shrinking into nothingness. A sickening sense of weightlessness consumed him, and he reached out frantically, desperate to save her. But his grasp met nothing but air, and he was left to witness her tragic fate.

The dream world that had once been so idyllic now fragmented into jagged shards, piercing him with a pain so intense it felt like suffocation. At last, the agony jolted him out of slumber, his body drenched in a cold sweat.

He gasped for air, his chest heaving as he tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare. With trembling hands, he wiped his forehead, forcing himself to take deep, calming breaths.