Zack stood there, his body feeling heavy and numb. The sight of Theodore carrying Bella away shattered him. His chest tightened with an unbearable ache, and tears spilled down his cheeks, despite his efforts to hold them back.

The anguish was familiar, a brutal echo of the pain he had felt when he lost Rose. Bella had been a beacon of hope for him, a new light in the darkness, but that hope had been cruelly snatched away.

He staggered back, his legs feeling like lead as he hit the wall, slumping against it. The emptiness in his stomach, the sharp pang of loss—he felt as though he were reliving the agony of losing Rose all over again. Zack’s world seemed to crumble around him, and the weight of his despair pressed down hard, making it difficult to breathe.

The pain and sense of defeat overwhelmed him. There was no chance of reclaiming the future he had hoped for with Bella. The unbearable truth settled over him like a suffocating shroud, leaving him alone and broken, his heart shattered into a thousand irreparable pieces.

As Theodore stormed through the lobby, carrying Bella in his arms with fierce protectiveness, Gina lurked behind a wall, her eyes narrowing with envy. Her fists tightened as disappointment curled in her gut.

She had come to enjoy the scene of Bella’s humiliation, but she had witnessed the unexpected drama between Zack and Theodore. She was taken aback to discover that Zack, the man from Brico, harbored feelings for Bella.

The revelation was a golden opportunity for her, and she could use it against Bella. She saw Theodore’s anger and jealousy, and it was clear that any connection between Bella and Zack was a sore spot for him.

Gina’s mind raced with possibilities. "This is going to be fun," she murmured with a wicked grin as she pulled out her phone and dialed Claudia’s number. She walked away, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Something is interesting happening here..."

She narrated everything she had noticed. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

On the other hand, Franklin, who had been tailing Theodore, rounded a corner and nearly stumbled upon the scene. His eyes widened in surprise when he saw Theodore carrying Bella. The sight was puzzling, and he wondered if Theodore was planning some grand announcement about his marriage.

Gathering his composure, Franklin approached them, trying to mask his curiosity with concern. "What’s going on? Is she okay?" he asked with a feigned worry.

Theodore’s response was a low, threatening growl. "Franklin," he hissed, his eyes flashing with anger. "If I find out you’re messing with Bella, I swear I’ll bury you alive." Without waiting for a reply, Theodore brushed past him, his grip on Bella firm.

Franklin was left standing there, caught off guard. "Hey, I didn’t do anything," Franklin shouted, throwing his arm up. He exhaled heavily, a sense of unease settling over him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that something significant had happened to Bella, and he wondered who might be behind it.

The name that immediately came to mind was Gina. Franklin’s face twisted with irritation. "Can’t she just stay out of things?" he muttered under his breath, frustration clear in his voice.

Determined to get to the bottom of the situation, he set off to find her, his mind racing with questions and suspicions.

Franklin finally spotted Gina near the buffet table, her attention riveted on the array of delicacies before her. He stormed over and yanked on her arm, leaning in to hiss urgently in her ear. "What did you do with Bella?"

Gina pulled her arm away with a scowl, irritated. "Leave me alone. Why are you so worked up?"

Franklin’s frustration boiled over. "Gina, I’m warning you," he growled, low and dangerous. "If I end up dealing with fallout from your stupid actions, you’ll regret it."

Gina’s expression hardened as she shot him a defiant look. "What did I do?"

"That’s what I want to find out," Franklin snapped back, his patience wearing thin.

Gina shrugged nonchalantly, her chin held high. "Bella talked back to me. I just wanted to teach her a lesson."

Franklin’s eyes flashed with concern and anger. "And how did you think humiliating her would help? Your actions are only pushing them closer together. Can’t you see that?"

Gina remained silent, her lips pressed into a thin line. Her lack of response only fueled Franklin’s anger further.

"Gina!" Franklin grabbed her arm tightly, his frustration rising. "You’re making things worse. Their bond is growing stronger because of your interference. Haven’t you noticed that?"

Gina’s gaze was unflinching as she replied with a self-satisfied smirk. "They won’t be together for long."

Franklin’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What do you mean by that? How do you know?"

A glint of mischief danced in Gina’s eyes as she leaned closer. "I found something – something that will change everything."

Franklin’s curiosity was piqued, but his irritation still simmered beneath the surface. "What have you found?"

Gina gleefully recounted her latest scheme.

Franklin’s temper flared as he listened to her. He felt a surge of frustration, wishing he could knock some sense into her.

"Gina, Gina... How utterly foolish you are! Theodore is not an idiot. He is going to figure out you’re behind all of this in no time, and when he does, you’ll be finished. Don’t expect me to come to your rescue."

Gina’s jaw dropped in disbelief. She had expected Franklin to be pleased with her discovery, much like Claudia had been. Instead, she was met with his anger. "Aren’t you happy that I’ve uncovered Zack’s feelings for Bella? We can use this to drive a wedge between them."

Franklin shook his head, his anxiety mounting. "You don’t get it, do you? Theodore’s wrath is nothing to play with. Before you even have a chance to use Zack, Theodore will have you by the throat. I’m done with this. Don’t bother trying to reach out to me again."

With that, Franklin turned on his heel and stormed away, leaving Gina standing there, stunned.

"Hey!" she called after him, but Franklin had already disappeared through the doors. She huffed and muttered, "He doesn’t know how to appreciate me." With a petulant stomp of her foot, she turned her attention back to the buffet, determined to distract herself with something sweet.

As she approached the spread of food, her eyes caught sight of Zack, who was now talking to another woman. Gina’s curiosity was immediately piqued, her eyes narrowing as she studied the scene.

Her gaze zeroed in on the woman beside him, scrutinizing her every move. Who was she? And what was her relationship with Zack?

A new wave of speculation washed over Gina as she watched them, her mind already beginning to churn out possibilities. There was always something to uncover, something to exploit. And if she couldn’t use Zack’s feelings for Bella to her advantage, maybe this woman would be her next lead.