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?”
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtRather 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
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmsearch 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!”