Do you truly love me?"

"Tlove you."

This time, Theodore didn't hesitate for a moment. His voice held firmness and determination, yet his eyes revealed an even deeper, unwavering love.

“Okay.” Leaning against his hand, her soft skin caressing his palm, Ariana locked eyes with him, refusing to break their connection.

"Theodore, let's leave the past behind us. I can accept your stubbornness, your dominance, your possessiveness. If you wanted to place a GPS on me, I would comply."

Her words caused Theodore's eyes to tremble slightly, a blend of joy and restraint.

Ariana's response and willingness to compromise filled him with overwhelming happiness, yet her words also weighed on him.

He no longer desired to confine a free bird within a gilded cage. A caged canary could never experience true happiness.

Before Theodore could utter a word, Ariana pressed on, her voice steady.

"However, all of this hinges on one condition. I need to understand what you're hiding from me. Who is Helen, and who is Marley? As long as you tell me, | will believe you.

Clarify it, and from now on there will be no secrets, no deception, no betrayal between us, okay?”

The room fell quiet as Ariana sat, her expectation hanging in the air.

She had prepared herself for any response, her fingers tenderly brushed her abdomen. Her decision was made.

In the silent corners of her mind, she murmured, "Theodore, when you find your words, I'll let loose the secrets I've kept."

But the prolonged quietness, heavy and suffocating, hadn't been on her list of anticipations.

Time stretched on, with Theodore's silence pushing Ariana towards the edge of frustration. At last, he found his voice, "Marley—she is my—"

His breaths came in short gasps, his lips trembling, unclear whether from the act of speaking or something else.

“she is—" Theodore tried again, yet his voice faltered halfway. A deep breath attempted to steady him; it was to no avail.

“Marley—is—"

And again, his words hung incomplete.