Chapter 5 Getting Strangled

Ariana's jaw dropped when she heard Theodore's question. She could only stare at him in a daze.

Darian flipped out. "What nonsense are you talking about, Theodore? The baby she's carrying is a descendant of the Anderson family!"

"And so what? Aren't there enough descendants already? Anyway, if you insist on keeping it, I have a thousand and one ways to get rid of it." The ice in Theodore's eyes now could have frozen lava. Every word that he said hit Ariana like a thunderbolt. Her forehead broke out in a cold sweat. She held her belly in panic.

"Damn it!" Darian grunted. Pointing at his son, he shouted, "How dare you speak to me in that manner? Have you forgotten that I'm your father?"

Theodore laughed sarcastically. "Did you just call yourself my father? Darian, you don't deserve to be called a father!"

In a fit of pique, Darian knocked off the glass lamp on the bedside table.

Ariana beat a hasty retreat. The matter was getting out of hand, and she didn't want to be caught in the crossfire.

Despite his father's fury, Theodore didn't flinch or become remorseful. It seemed like this wasn't a first for him. He even took the glass of water from the table and gulped it down.

They were stuck in a stalemate. Finally, Darian broke the silence. "Well, I guess arguing back and forth won't solve the problem. The artificial insemination operation was only done earlier today. We would only find out if it was successful in a month. Before then, I enjoin you to get to know Ariana. Perhaps you might have a change of heart once you both spend time together. If you are still adamant about getting a divorce, then we can discuss it. That's the least you can do, don't you think so?"

Darian stressed his last sentence while giving his son a pointed look.

Theodore sneered without responding. Although he wasn't as strong as he used to be due to his current condition, his domineering aura still outclassed his father's.

"Take your time to think it over." With these words, Darian stormed out angrily.

The air in the bedroom suddenly became thin. Sweat trickled down Ariana's back. She lowered her head, not knowing what to say or do to please her husband.

The deed had already been done. They were a married couple now, and there was a possibility she would fall pregnant for him any time soon. Wouldn't it be better if they just stayed married and put up with each other?

The more Ariana thought about Theodore and their marriage, the more she couldn't help but admit that this man was pretty miserable. He was disabled at a young age. Not only that, he was hitched without his consent.

Ariana felt that it was understandable for him to be cold toward her. With this thought in mind, she decided to win his favor by taking care of him. Doing that could also hasten up her quest for revenge.

Staring at Theodore nervously, she slowly walked toward the bed.

"Hi, Theodore. I'm Ariana Edwards, your..."

Just when Ariana wanted to introduce herself as his wife, she recalled that he vehemently kicked against their union a while back.

She coughed awkwardly and continued, "Well, you should consider me your new roommate. Don't hesitate to tell me if you need anything."

To show her sincerity and friendliness, Ariana gave him a big toothy smile.

The smile was hit back with a deep frown and death stare from Theodore.

"What can you do for me?" A cold grin suddenly curved the edges of his mouth.

That question threw Ariana off balance. She scratched the back of her head and faltered, "Well... I can push your wheelchair for you."

The moment those words rolled off her tongue, she bit her lower lip in regret. She had unintentionally sounded as if she was mocking him.

But that was the only thing she could come up with off the bat.

Unsurprisingly, Theodore's face darkened even more.

"Eureka! I can do something else!" Ariana uttered quickly in a bid to make amends. "I'm a good cook. I can cook whatever you want to eat. Just name..."

Ariana's words were cut short when Theodore suddenly grabbed her hand and pulled her into his arms.

A thrill chased down her back as soon as his pleasant and refreshing scent enveloped her. She could hear his heartbeat now.

Once she got over the shock, she tried to stand up.

In a split second, Theodore put his other hand on her nape and pressed her head closer.

Ariana's eyes bulged from the sockets. Her heart began to race as she envisioned what was about to happen next.

Theodore tilted his head and whispered in her ear, "You seem to be afraid of me. Do you have a guilty conscience about something?"

He leaned back to take a good look at the woman in his arms. At this moment, his slender fingers slid beneath the collar of her turtleneck blouse and then stroked her neck with the tenderness of a doting lover.

Goose bumps appeared all over Ariana's skin. Her hair also stood on end. His touch was just a mere flirtatious caress, but it sent a shiver down her spine.

Ariana held her breath for a while. With a trembling voice, she muttered, "No... I don't."

Theodore snickered, his eyes gleaming with mischievousness. He continued to caress her neck, like a cat who was toying with a mouse that was about to be his next meal.

Inexplicable fear filled Ariana's insides at this time.

What did he want from her? Why was he doing this?

Before Ariana could ponder deeply, she felt his fingers tightening around her neck. He was strangling her!

Ariana's face turned scarlet. The air in her lungs escaped, causing her throat to tighten. Her eyes became misty.

The huge hand around her neck was like a vice, trapping her.

Ariana stiffened as she began to gasp for air. And then it hit her. Theodore hadn't been caressing her neck. He had been stroking the red mark she found this morning!

How did he know she had that bruise? And why was he stroking it? Could it be that...

As if he read her mind, Theodore uttered in a cold voice, "I should have strangled you in front of Jasper last night."

Suddenly, he exerted more strength in his grip. Ariana was like a chicken who was about to be slaughtered ruthlessly.

In this moment of pain and fear, Ariana put two and two together. Theodore had been awake last night! He knew everything!