Recollections of her life with Theodore flooded her thoughts. She wondered if he was thinking of others in every moment he spent with her, longing for someone else with every glance he cast at her.

Abruptly, her phone vibrated. Lowering her head, she saw a message from Theodore.

"Are you asleep?"

Shortly after, a second message followed.

"I have returned from the hospital."

Ariana sat and did nothing, watching the screen of her device fade to black.

She was waiting, waiting for Theodore to reach out, to initiate a conversation.

However, after an agonizing period, the screen remained dark. An unspoken agreement seemed to exist between them - she feared being confronted, and he did not dare to confront her.

Ariana laughed, a bitter, self-mocking sound, as she buried her head into her knees, feeling both aggrieved and sad.

If Theodore had wanted to explain, he wouldn't have greeted her with silence at the hospital. That was already a silent answer.

Perhaps she truly held no significant place in his heart.

Her eyes were sore, and her throat seemed to be stuck with something, bitter and swollen.

She tried to keep her emotions in check, but ultimately, she gave in to a quiet bout of crying, her phone slipping from her grasp.

At this time, the screen lit up again, especially dazzling in the darkness.

Ariana hurriedly reached for her phone, only to feel a sinking disappointment wash over her as she glanced at the screen.

It wasn't him. It was Holden.

Glancing at her phone, Ariana's tears streamed down even more, filled with deep sadness. Why hadn't Theodore sent her a message? Why hadn't he called her? He claimed he wanted to be with her again, but it seemed like she was just a replacement for someone else!

Her sobs intensified, soaking her face in a fresh flood of tears and sweat beading on her forehead despite the chill in the air.

Fortunately, there weren't many people living on this floor. Otherwise, the eerie cry in the middle of the night would have frightened them.

The vibration of her phone startled her once more. Through her tear-blurred vision, she glanced at the screen. It was Holden. Again.