Theodore arrived at the mansion to find Malcolm seated at the breakfast table. A wave of relief washed over him, instantly erasing the lines of tension etched into his face.
"Grandpa!" he exclaimed, hurrying to embrace the older man. "You scared me to death last night."
Malcolm’s heart melted at the sight of his grandson, his emotions overwhelming him. The tightness in his chest from the previous night had made him fear it was his last day.
Seeing Theodore again, emotions swirled wildly within him. However, he pretended to be upset, not returning the hug. Though no longer angry with Theodore, he couldn’t agree with his decision to keep Bella with him.
"I am still strong," Malcolm said gruffly. "I won’t die so easily and let you do whatever you please."
Theodore chuckled at his grandfather’s scolding. "Yes, yes... you are still strong. And I want to see you like this – always." His expression then turned serious. "I need to talk to you." 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎
"Me too."
Before they could continue, Gina’s nasal voice cut through the air. "Theo!"
Theodore’s face contorted in disgust as he saw her descending the stairs, Claudia trailing behind her. The memory of the previous night’s events flashed through his mind. Claudia had been so desperate to marry him to Gina that she had not hesitated to drug him.
A bitter taste filled his mouth. He knew he couldn’t stay in the same room with them for long.
"You seemed sick last night," Gina said with a concerned look on her face. "How are you feeling now?"
A bitter scoff escaped Theodore’s lips as he scanned the faces of Gina and Claudia. "Are you disappointed to see me alright?" His tone was dripping with sarcasm.
Claudia grew anxious under his accusatory glare. She couldn’t meet his eyes, but her demeanor was still haughty.
Gina’s voice rose in a whiny pitch. "Theo! Do you think I am heartless? I’ve been in love with you since my teenage years. How could I enjoy seeing you in distress?"
Theodore, weary of the charade, offered no response.
Malcolm’s brow furrowed, a look of genuine concern crossing his face. "Are you not well?"
Theodore dismissed his grandfather’s worry with a wave of his hand. "It’s nothing, Grandpa," he assured him. "You know how dramatic Gina can be. Just ignore her. If you are done with your breakfast, let me take you to your bedroom."
Malcolm nodded, understanding the unspoken message. He couldn’t discuss what he wanted to with Gina present. With effort, he rose to his feet, his hand finding the support of his walking stick. Theodore offered his arm, guiding the elderly man towards the bedroom.
Claudia watched as Theodore and Malcolm disappeared into the bedroom, then turned her attention to Gina, whose lower lip trembled in disappointment.
A forced smile crept across her face as she patted Gina’s shoulder comfortingly. "Gina, dear... you should leave now," she urged gently. "Theodore doesn’t seem in a good mood. It’s not wise to provoke him."
Gina’s frustration spilled into her voice. "He is always in a bad mood when he is around me," she grumbled. "He never talks to me nicely - always grumbles." Her lips trembled with emotions as she said the next words, "Can’t he see how much I love him? When will he start valuing my love?"
"Soon... It’ll happen soon," Claudia assured her. "Keep your faith in me and follow my words. Now, dear..." Her tone grew firmer. "Go home. Your dad must be worried about you."
Gina’s chest deflated as she let out a deep sigh. Nodding in dismay, she walked out.
As the door closed behind Gina, a cold, calculating look replaced the comforting mask on Claudia’s face.
Inside Malcolm’s room...
The air was thick with tension. Malcolm sat beside Theodore, his face etched with concern as he tried to persuade his grandson to consider distancing himself from Bella. However, his pleas had met with resistance, leaving him frustrated and silent on the matter.
"Grandpa, you should think about yourself," Theodore urged, taking Malcolm’s hands in his. "You should stay vigilant. Keep a closer look at the people around you."
Malcolm felt a surge of confusion. He knew Claudia and Franklin were ambitious and cunning, but to believe they would hurt him seemed far-fetched. "What do you want to say, Theo?" he asked with skepticism. "Say whatever you want to say clearly."
Theodore met his grandfather’s gaze, his expression serious. "Last night, I was drugged when I came to see you," he revealed slowly.
Malcolm’s eyebrows shot up in astonishment. "Drugged?" he repeated, a deep frown creasing his forehead.
Theodore nodded, confirming his words. "You fell sick all of a sudden, and I was drugged. It can’t be a coincidence, Grandpa. I believe Claudia is behind your sudden illness."
"Are you sure?" Malcolm squinted further, doubt flickering in his eyes.
Theodore’s jaw tightened. "Until now, it’s just a suspicion. But it will be proved soon. Gary has taken your blood for a test. As soon as the report is out, we will have the proof. And then, no one can stop me from kicking Claudia and her son out of the mansion."
His eyes hardened with determination.
Outside Malcolm’s room, Claudia stood, her ears straining to catch every word. When she heard about Gary taking Malcolm’s blood for tests, her face paled dramatically. A cold dread seeped into her bones.
"No, I can’t get caught," she mumbled under her breath. "All those years of hard work – all will be dashed in a blink." She shivered, a wave of panic washing over her. "No, no...this can’t be happening. I have to stop Gary anyhow."
With a sense of urgency, she retreated to her room, slamming the door behind her. Her fingers fumbled as she dialed Franklin’s number.
Franklin was still in bed, his body draped over a woman he had picked up the night before. The harsh ring of his phone shattered the morning’s tranquility. With a groan, he reached for the phone, his voice thick with irritation. "Hello?"
"Franklin, we are in trouble."
Claudia’s panicked voice jolted him awake. His eyes flew open, his mind racing. "What?" he exclaimed.
Claudia launched into a breathless explanation. "Gary has sneakily taken that old man’s blood for tests. You need to stop him before he hands Theodore the reports. Otherwise, we are doomed."
Franklin’s gaze darted around the room as he processed the information. "Alright, don’t panic. I’ll do something," he replied, his voice steady despite the turmoil within.
He ended the call abruptly, tossing the phone onto the bed. A curse escaped his lips.
The woman beside him stirred, her voice husky. "Darling! Who are you speaking with?"
"Get out," Franklin roared.
The woman scrambled out of bed, hastily gathering her clothes. With a frightened glance at Franklin, she fled the room.
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