Ariana's heart ached to see a child like this. She took out a piece of candy from her pocket and held it to Alina's eye level.

“Look, here's a piece of candy. The nurse told me you like candy. Do you want this one?"

Alina's eyes didn't light up at the sight of candy. She just lowered her head and fiddled with her fingers.

Ariana let out a sigh. She pressed the candy into Alina's hand. Turning around, she picked up an orange and started peeling it.

Several minutes passed before Theodore returned.

“You are back," Ariana commented casually and returned her attention to Alina. She tried to feed her the orange.

Theodore nodded and said, "We should get going now."

“Please can I bring Alina along? I have to take care of her for tonight. She will stay with us just for one night. Sarah's mother will pick her up tomorrow morning." Ariana pleaded with him.

“Suit yourself. Just make sure she doesn't disturb me when we are at home," Theodore said flatly.

“She won't. Alina is a good girl." Ariana smiled and touched Alina's head. After hesitating for a moment, she asked casually, "By the way, who was that girl?"

“Did you just ask me that?" Theodore's face darkened immediately. He uttered seriously, “Mind your business, Ariana. Don't ask me such a question ever again.

A gloom fell on Ariana's face as soon as she got this warning. Embarrassed, she pursed her lips and thought of what to say to him. But for some reason, an inexplicable sense of anger was welling up in her heart.

Although she couldn't find the right words to say, she was certain that he wouldn't believe her no matter what. He would definitely think she was prying into his business and scheming something.

Ariana sealed her lips and got up to pack her stuff. The ride home was utterly silent. It wasn't until the car parked in front of the Anderson family's residence that Theodore broke the silence.

“What do you intend to do about Sarah now?"

“It's none of your business," Ariana replied coldly, glancing at him for a second.

She then picked up Alina and tried to open the door of the car.

Those words hit a sore spot for Theodore. His eyes were aflame. He locked the door and uttered, "Did I say you could leave? I'm not done talking!"

She had walked out on him twice before. He couldn't let that happen again. The nerve of this woman!

Theodore restrained his anger and said as calmly as he could, “Stubbornness and secrecy will get you nowhere. You can't handle it on your own. Remember I said I could help as long as you-"