Perhaps Helen was right—voluntarily leaving would be the better option.

Ariana's heart ached, and her stomach churned once again.

She pushed aside her troubling thoughts and hurriedly made her way to the bathroom, unaware that after she departed, the waiter who had delivered the food had quietly returned and locked the room door.

When Ariana reached the bathroom, the discomfort in her stomach had significantly eased. She glanced at her pale reflection in the mirror and retrieved a ed lipstick from her bag to touch up her makeup.

Feeling relieved that her stomach was no longer causing her distress, she began to question whether she should return to the private room.

She realized she had become deeply entangled in her relationship with Theodore and found it difficult to resist him. His every action had an impact on her.

Despite being aware that he had kept many things hidden from her, she couldn't help but think in his favor and make excuses for him.

She believed he might be facing insurmountable difficulties, and she didn't want to abandon him. However, she wasn't willing to reconcile with him under these circumstances. She refused to be manipulated any longer. Until he honestly revealed everything to her, she didn't want her emotions to be controlled by him.

Ariana feared that her negative emotions would affect the baby growing inside her.

Her emotions had already caused her stomach pain today.

Looking at her reflection in the mirror, she took a deep breath. She decided not to return to the private room and let this birthday be filled with regrets.

With her bag slung over her shoulder, she stealthily navigated the corridor, ensuring no one was around, and made her way to the fire exit. She avoided using the elevator, fearing that she might encounter Theodore's men.

The parking lot on the first floor served as the mansion's rear entrance. Glancing back at the direction of the second-floor restaurant, Ariana felt a pang of guilt. She had promised Theodore she would retum and ask him to wait for her before leaving.

Recalling the obedient look in his eyes when he nodded, Ariana wavered.

However, she quickly reminded herself to stay rational. Theodore had lied to her multiple times, and one lie from her wouldn't be a big deal.

Ariana made up her mind, switched off her phone, and departed without looking back.

The Blue Night Manor stood in the heart of the bustling city center, prone to traffic congestion. Ariana struggled to flag down a taxi along the roadside, but after an extended period of time, she reluctantly resorted to taking a bus.

As she arrived at the bus station, a sense of unease weighed heavily on her mind.

She couldn't decipher if it was due to her guilt for deceiving Theodore.

After a prolonged wait, the bus finally arrived. Just as Ariana was about to board, a sudden exclamation caught her attention. A girl's voice echoed through the air, "Oh my god! Look! It's on fire!"