FreeNovelAriana shook her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. “I've always wondered about his appearance.” Taking a breath, she confessed, “A part ofhas never accepted that Theodore is truly gone. Their voices, Holden's and Theodore’s, are uncannily similar. Sometimes | wonder... could this all be selaborate ruse by Theodore?” Ariana’s voice quivered, “Sometimes, these thoughts seem so irrational, yet the idea gnaws at me. If this is scruel jest of Theodore’s, I'm not sure if forgiveness is within me. But the longing for him to be alive is so intense. And if Holden were truly Theodore, what path should I tread? He has a family now. Do | yearn for a Holden who's alive but distant, or a Theodore who's gone but cherished me?” Mitchel, lost in Ariana’s torrent of emotions, took a moment to process. He never envisioned their lives entwining like this.
Drawing a deep breath, he began, “Theodore’s chapter in your life has closed.
He’s a memory now. Why would Theodore, if he were Holden, not reach out? Why a different life, a different family? Can you truly build a life with someone who's juggled your heart like this? You've got to see it clearly, Ariana. Theodore is a memory; Holden is reality. And they're different people. You can’t let the past tether you forever. There's a whole future ahead.” Ariana’s gaze dropped to the floor, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down. Taking a moment, she said, “I get it. | really do. But letting go of him isn’t easy for me.” She was caught in a torrent of emotions. Recognizing Holden for who he was and not seeing Theodore in him was a daily struggle. Aware of Holden's upcoming wedding, she chided herself for not distancing from him sooner.
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtYet, when Holden was around, it felt as if Theodore still had a place in the world. Every tshe heard Holden's voice, she clung to the illusion that Theodore was still breathing.
Mitchel took in her pain, guilt knotting in his stomach. He reached out, his hand comforting on her back.
He grappled with his secret; he knew the truth about Holden's real identity.
But revealing that Holden was indeed Theodore felt like a_ potential catastrophe. How would Ariana handle such a revelation? 1 Could he watch her witness her love marry someone else? Or let her discover that her years of pain had been for naught? Ariana had the strength to live without Theodore. So, maintaining the peace, even if it was built on an illusion, felt right. This way, the Theodore in her memories remained hers, loving her unconditionally.
A sob escaped Ariana, her face hidden in her hands. Her voice was a mere whisper, filled with pain.
“I just miss him so, so much.” Every word she uttered only added to her guilt and heartache. 1 “Maybe | made a mistake. If | hadn't run for help that day, perhaps I'd be with him right now. We wouldn't be worlds apart,” she said.
Mitchel, catching the weight of her words, responded gently but firmly, “Don’t say that.” He drew her into a comforting embrace. “You need to clear your head. The accident wasn’t on you. Neither was seeking help. You've done so much, and you've got Melon to think about. Look ahead; life is teeming with potential.
What you've weathered so far is commendable.” Meanwhile, at the Fredrick residence, Holden had just coaxed Adele to sleep when Sadie eagerly approached.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏm“Holden, any thoughts on the wedding décor?” Holden took a step back, his response icy. “Handle the wedding details yourself.” Sadie’s expression soured. “It’s our wedding, isn’t it?” she retorted.
Holden's patience thinned. Handing her a card, he curtly replied, “You decide.” Then, he retreated to his study.
Upon entering and attempting to settle down, he immediately noticed the misplaced state of his phone. It had been on his desk earlier, but now it lay haphazardly on the couch.
Annoyance was etched on his face; nobody typically dared to meddle with his belongings. That was why he had never felt the need for a password.
A cursory check revealed no apparent alterations or breaches on his phone.
However, as he was lost in his thoughts, a new message lit up the screen. It was from Ariana.
“You up?” Without hesitation, Holden tapped a quick response. “Yes. What's up?”
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