Ariana had waited so long that she began to believe Theodore had fallen asleep.

Finally, his indifferent reply came, "It's late now. You should go to sleep. Don't stay up late."

Anger surged through Ariana, quickening her heartbeat. She sat upright on the sofa and knocked forcefully on the wall twice, but received no response.

She read Theodore's last message repeatedly, sinking deeper into a state of depression and anger. Tears streamed down her face once again.

Ever since she had been with Theodore, Ariana suspected she suffered from tear-incontinence. Anything related to Theodore would unleash an uncontrollable wave of emotions within her, rendering her delicate. Both joy and sorrow became magnified with ease.

Sobbing, she typed out her frustrations, "If you don't want to explain, then let's end it"

She typed it, and then deleted it, repeating the process over and over. Each variation of the words carried the same meaning, yet she hesitated to send the message. Fear gripped her, fearing that if it were to be sent, their relationship would truly come to an end.

In the end, Ariana painstakingly deleted each word in the input box, one by one.

She had never felt so humble before. The other party didn't take her seriously, but she still cherished this relationship.

Ariana finally grasped the irrationality that love instilled in people.

She vigorously wiped away the tears on her face, angrily tossing her phone aside before retiring to bed. As usual, she took her medicine to protect the baby before settling down.

On the other side of the wall, Theodore gazed at the top of the chat box. It displayed that the other party had been typing for quite some time. Eventually, the chat box fell silent, and the other party ceased to respond.

He took a drag from the cigarette, flicked the lighter twice, and brought the flame to the tip, casting a flicker of light upon his fingertips. The smoke curled and veiled his face, leaving only the faint glow of the cigarette in the surrounding darkness.

As the cigarette burned down to its end, the room plunged back into complete obscurity. Theodore remained motionless in his chair, his mind consumed by a sense of stillness. Retrieving the last cigarette from its case, he lit it with a steady hand, seeking solace in the grip of nicotine. Only this could provide respite, paralyzing his frayed nerves.

Amidst the faint glow, he exhaled the smoke with an indifferent expression, resembling an emotionless sculpture. It was as if his soul had long abandoned his body, leaving behind only raw instinct.

Before long, the final cigarette waned and died out. Theodore silently surveyed the enveloping darkness, finding himself caught in another illusion. A girl in a white dress materialized before him, emerging from thin air. Her figure grew increasingly distinct, as if she truly stood before him.

"Marley..." Theodore's voice emerged low and hoarse, beckoning the white-clad girl.

She tilted her head and smiled, but her countenance soon turned ferocious.

"Theodore, you don't deserve happiness. Those who love you will inevitably depart from your side."

"She said she would stay with me forever," Theodore countered. His hands clenched tightly upon his thigh, battling against the surging desire for destruction that he had long suppressed. The prospect of a life without Ariana seemed unimaginable, threatening to tip him into the depths of madness.