Normally, even in her impulsive moments, Sarah was never the type to play recklessly with someone else's emotions.

Ariana revisited their past conversations, her eyes coming to rest on the apology message Aziel had sent Sarah.

The timestamp indicated it was the day they were discharged from the hospital following the accident.

It was after receiving that unexpected apology message from Aziel that everything took a wrong turn.

Ariana couldn't help but recall the events of that fateful day.

The vulgar words, the violent actions, the unsettling DVD, and the horrifying ordeal Sarah had almost endured. The memory sent shivers down Ariana's spine.

Looking up at Sarah, Ariana mustered her courage and cautiously inquired, "Sarah, is it because of that night?"

Sarah's body immediately tensed up, her silence speaking volumes. Even her smoking came to an abrupt halt, while the falling ashes from her hand danced their way to the ground. The once-quiet room now seemed suffocatingly still, infused with the lingering scent of tobacco. Sarah's fragile figure appeared on the verge of shattering with the slightest touch.

Overwhelmed by Sarah's vulnerable state, Ariana's heart ached, and she instinctively wrapped her arms around her from behind.

The moment Ariana's embrace enveloped Sarah, she felt a solitary tear cascade down her arm.

Then, Sarah's body trembled ever so slightly, tears streaming down her face as she let out a sob-filled voice, “Ariana, I can't help but feel that I'm not worthy..."

Ariana's heart bled for Sarah, consumed by a feeling of overwhelming sorrow. She firmly turned Sarah's face, cradling it gently with both hands and spoke with utmost seriousness.

"I will not tolerate your self-deprecation, my dear. You are a force to be reckoned with, and admired by many. What distorts your perception of yourself? Is it the haunting memories of that fateful night?"

At the mere mention of that night, Ariana felt Sarah's tremors, and without hesitation, she enfolded her in a tight embrace, offering solace.

"Don't worry, it is all in the past. Those responsible should face the consequences, not you. You are blameless. That night holds no power over you. Theodore has obliterated the damning video. Everything will be fine."

Sarah couldn't hold back her sobs, burying her face in her hands.

"But I cannot simply move on. Paranoia grips me relentlessly. I confine myself indoors, afraid to venture beyond my doorstep, even for a simple takeout or interactions with men."

Sarah's meltdown revealed the agonizing toll her existence had taken.

She lived in constant fear, plagued by sleepless nights and an inability to concentrate. Though she attempted to lose herself in composing music, the images of that dreadful night played on an endless loop in her mind.

Seeing Sarah's anguish, Ariana gently patted her back, her eyes glistening with tears.