“Horace, gather them up and find her. If you can't, you will end up the same way,"

Theodore warned, his voice icy, his wrists working in slow circles.

On the high-speed lanes, a gleaming silver sports car was relentlessly shifting gears, overtaking one vehicle after another, leaving them all in the dust.

“Wow, Sarah, your driving skills are impressive!"

When Ariana noticed that there was no trace of the stalkers behind them, she looked at the open road in front of them and was relieved. Sitting in the passenger seat, she had to hold down her wind-tousled hair as she gave Sarah a thumbs-up.

“What was that? Can't hear you over the wind!" Sarah hollered back, her voice distorted by the gusts of air. She was so thrilled that she stepped on the gas.

Ariana raised her voice, "You're amazing, Sarah!"

“Of course." Upon hearing the compliment, Sarah couldn't help but burst into laughter. She sat up proudly with a smug look on her face.

At this moment, the streets were surprisingly quiet. The usual hustle and bustle had disappeared due to a recent fire that had destroyed nearby shops. The area was now empty, with only a few individuals walking by. Despite it being only ten o'clock, the area was eerily silent.

This lack of activity worked to their advantage, allowing them to reach the nearly devastated Blue Night Manor with remarkable speed.

Given that the elevator was out of order and using a wheelchair wasn't practical, Sarah fetched Ariana's crutches and helped her pass the barrier to enter the place.

Ariana carefully made her way up the scorched staircase to the familiar floor above.

The moonlight streaming through the damaged window painted an eerie glow on the charred remains of the chandelier in the middle of the hall. Memories and emotions washed over her.

She remembered everything from the moment Theodore rose from his wheelchair until he carried her out of the fire. It was only the thick smoke that had dulled her senses, making it impossible to keep her eyes open.

She remembered him rushing to her side, lifting the burning metal chandelier with his bare hands, disregarding his own safety. The scent and sound of his flesh burning was still fresh in her mind, as if imprinted on her heart.

At that moment, Ariana realized that the marriage she once treated as a game had become her prison, one she could no longer escape from.

Regardless of his flaws, his deceptions, and secrets, she found herself unable to resist falling for Theodore.

“Watch your step, it's really dark in here," Sarah murmured, clicking on the flashlight feature on her phone. The sudden beam of light jolted Ariana back to the present moment.

This was the place. She sidestepped the chandelier remains, scrutinizing the area meticulously. With her crutch providing support, she squatted, albeit with some difficulty, to inspect the ground inch by inch.

However, all that met her gaze was charred dust, discarded trash, and the remnants of the fire.