Immediately after speaking, she regretted her words and mentally chastised herself for not staying quiet.

“No, no one else has ever set foot in this place. You're the first." Theodore locked eyes with her and spoke earnestly in a low tone.

As Theodore spoke with the tenderness of a love confession, Ariana found herself unable to contain her emotions. She scoffed, "Don't try to fool me. When you and Helen entered the estate together, you were photographed. I'm not the first one to be here, am I?"

A hint of jealousy laced her words. She wanted to be an independent woman, unburdened by a man's love, but Theodore's gentle words always managed to sway her.

She refused to believe anything he said.

Noticing Ariana's angry retort, Theodore furrowed his brow and quickly grasped the situation.

"I didn't lie to you. The pictures you saw were only captured during the times when Helen went in and out of the manor, right?”

Ariana bit her lip, remaining silent and visibly displeased.

“she only went to the cemetery. I never allowed her into this house. Besides, she was sent back to the hospital after just one day, without spending the night.”

Theodore took Ariana's hand in his, tenderly massaging her fingertips and soft palm as if he were stroking a kitten's fur.

"The reason I had Horace buy those photos is to prevent any unwanted attention that might disturd my mother's peace."

“How can I be sure you're telling the truth?" Ariana mumbled under her breath. She tried to pull her hand back but Theodore gripped it tightly. She had no choice but to let him continue toying with it.

What exactly were they doing now?

Their recent separation, without communication, seemed to have changed nothing, and they had reverted to their initial state of uncertainty.

Theodore sighed. Not releasing her, he led her to the study.

The study was very large, with towering bookshelves that reached the ceiling, and housed innumerable books.

Theodore led Ariana to the desk, opened a drawer, and pulled out a pile of photographs.

"These are the pictures they took, complete with dates and times at the bottom."

It was indeed accurate that Helen was not captured entering the house in the photo, and the timestamp indicated that she left the manor shortly after.

"I guess I misjudged you." Ariana's somber mood lightened considerably.