Chapter 322
Theodore’s dreamscape was awash with vibrant blues—the sky stretched out endlessly, while the clear waters of the lake shimmered invitingly.
It was as if he had been transported back to a time before life had become so complicated and before pain and resentment had taken root in his heart.
As he trailed after the girl in white, her laughter echoing in his ears, Theodore felt a profound sense of contentment.
For a moment, he forgot all his worries and surrendered himself to the simple pleasures of the present.
But beneath the surface, a gnawing emptiness persisted, a reminder of something he had lost.
Still, he could not help but admire the girl’s unbridled joy, and he wondered if this was what paradise looked like.
They strolled through the verdant meadow, the grass brushing against their ankles until they reached a bridge.
Just as Theodore was about to follow the girl across, his heart seized with terror—the serene landscape had been transformed into a perilous trap.
The girl, oblivious to the danger, continued to move forward, inching closer to the gaping chasm that now loomed behind her.
“Marley!”
Theodore’s heart plummeted as he watched the girl slip over the edge of the cliff, her form shrinking into nothingness.
A sickening sense of weightlessness consumed him, and he reached out frantically, desperate to save her.
But his grasp met nothing but air, and he was left to witness her tragic fate.
The dream world that had once been so idyllic now fragmented into jagged shards, piercing him with a pain so intense it felt like suffocation.
At last, the agony jolted him out of slumber, his body drenched in a cold sweat.
He gasped for air, his chest heaving as he tried to shake off the remnants of the nightmare.
With trembling hands, he wiped his forehead, forcing himself to take deep, calming breaths.
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Why did he dream of this same nightmare again? Theodore’s mind searched for an answer, but it was as if his memories were shrouded in a thick fog.
All he could recall was a sense of feverish delirium before everything went black.
He lifted the covers and sat up, his gaze drawn to an empty cup resting on the nightstand.
A frown etched itself onto Theodore’s face as he tried to retrace the events that had led him to this moment.
He had never used this cup before.
So why was it here?
As he mulled over it, the sound of clang and sizzling wafted through the air, indicating that someone was in the kitchen.
A sudden intuition struck him—could it be Horace?
Theodore couldn’t bear to think of what kind of disaster Horace might be causing in the kitchen.
With a resigned sigh, he rubbed his temples and resolved to intervene before it was too late.
He made his way out of the bedroom, settling into his wheelchair and rolling through the brightly-lit apartment.
The aroma of food wafted through the air, making his stomach grumble.
As Theodore turned the corner and entered the living room, he caught a glimpse of a lithe figure moving gracefully in the kitchen.
He could hardly believe his eyes—it was Ariana.
The mere sight of her stirred something deep within him, banishing the pain and weariness that had plagued him just moments before.
In that fleeting moment, he was struck by a powerful yearning, a desperate wish for time to come to a halt so that he could bask in the pure joy of this encounter.
Unbeknownst to Ariana, she was being observed by a pair of intense eyes.
She was a blur of activity, donning a crisp apron and wielding a knife with expert precision as she prepared a meal.
The pot beside her was a symphony of steam and savory aromas, tantalizing Theodore’s senses and beckoning him closer.
Just as he was about to make his presence known, Ariana turned around, and their eyes met.
“Oh, thank goodness you’re up!” she exclaimed, relief washing over her features.