Chapter: 726
With her neck proudly straightened, Rin wagged her tail even more energetically, evoking a growing fondness within Ariana. She
couldn’t resist petting Rin a few more times, gradually viewing her as a loyal and obedient companion, no Longer harboring fear.
However, Ariana’s emotions remained somewhat complicated after Theodore’s earlier revelation.
As she absentmindedly stroked Rin without glancing at Theodore, she casually inquired, “Do you often come here?”
Only the whisper of the wind remained in the depths of the woods.
Theodore took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding with a soft, “Mhm.”
“I come here once a year.” He spoke gently, as if expressing a casual fact.
Ariana’s curiosity piqued as she inquired, “For a vacation?”
Rather than answering directly, Theodore countered, “What brought you here?”
The mention of this made Ariana feel a surge of anger and suffocation, but she managed a chuckle and replied, “It’s not as if it’s
private property. You can come, so why can’t 1?”
Theodore regarded her with a hint of amusement in his eyes. He opened his mouth to speak, but before any words could
escape, Ariana huffed and stormed ahead, Leaving him behind.
Undeterred, Theodore followed closely, stepping in line with her as they walked. He couldn’t resist asking, “Did you come looking
for me?”
Ariana chose not to respond, refusing even to turn her head towards him.
“I thought I heard someone calling me just now. Was that you?” Theodore persisted, his curiosity driving him forward.
No matter how many questions he posed, Ariana remained silent, her anger fueling her swift pace.
The night path proved treacherous to navigate, especially the untamed mountain trail they found themselves on.
Ariana, dressed in thin clothes, shivered and wrapped her arms tightly around herself whenever the wind howled. The kerosene
Lamp she had carried slipped from her grasp earlier, tumbling down the slope and extinguishing its light, making the path even
more treacherous to discern.
The ground beneath them was uneven, littered with protruding branches and rocks. Ariana narrowly avoided stumbling multiple
times, her feet meeting obstacles along the way.
With her vision obscured, Ariana’s face suffered scratches from the unforgiving tree branches that reached out to hinder her
progress.
As Ariana’s agitation grew, the thought of returning to the damp, moldy room only served to worsen her irritation. Fueled by
frustration, she forcefully pushed past the obstructing branches, forging ahead on her journey.
Regret filled Ariana’s heart as she reflected on her decision to embark on this ill-fated journey, her search for truth mired in
wishful thinking. She had believed there was a hidden motive behind Theodore’s actions, only to discover that he returned to this
place every year to reminisce about his first love, leaving her to bear the brunt of the consequences.
Lost in her own annoyance, Ariana failed to notice that the person behind her had ceased speaking.
In a sudden turn of events, she found herself unexpectedly Lifted off the ground, and instinctively, she let out a piercing scream
while clinging desperately to Theodore’s neck.
It was then that she realized Theodore had scooped her up in a horizontal hold, an unconventional embrace that left her both
annoyed and embarrassed. “What are you doing?”
Theodore’s gaze met Ariana’s furious expression as she hung in his arms, resembling an angry kitten. Despite her ire, he
couldn’t help but smile helplessly. “You were heading in the wrong direction,” he explained.
With those words, he carried Ariana and veered off in another direction, leaving her face flushed with embarrassment.
Determined to maintain her defiance, she stubbornly declared, “I can go wherever I please. It’s none of your business. Put me
down!”