Inside Malcolm’s room...
Theodore had not mentioned anything about how Claudia had drugged him last night and tried to set him up with Gina. Instead, he focused his attention on gaining his grandfather’s approval for Bella.
"Grandpa..." Theodore’s gaze held a pleading look. "Over the years, I did everything you asked me to do. I never disobeyed you. But I can’t marry someone I don’t like. Please try to understand. Bella is the only woman I want. I won’t find any happiness without her."
Malcolm’s heart ached for his grandson. While he wasn’t entirely pleased with the idea of Bella, he couldn’t bear to see Theodore unhappy. With a heavy sigh, he nodded slowly. "If that woman matters to you so much, I will bless her," he conceded.
A radiant smile spread across Theodore’s face. Victory was his! "Thank you so much, Grandpa!" he exclaimed, engulfing the older man in a tight hug.
Malcolm chuckled, gently pushing Theodore away. "Okay, okay... don’t crash me."
Theodore grinned sheepishly, a blush creeping up his cheeks. "Sorry, I was too excited just now."
Malcolm’s expression turned serious. "But make sure the secret about her father doesn’t come out in public," he warned.
Theodore nodded solemnly. He wouldn’t risk exposing Bella to the truth about her father. "You can trust me on this," he promised.
A determined glint appeared in his eyes. As soon as the results of the blood test were in, he would take action against Claudia. He wouldn’t allow her or Franklin to manipulate him or his grandfather any longer.
~~~~~~~~~
Later that day, Selena had been moved out of the ICU, and Bella visited her with a heart full of relief. "Mamma, it’s relieving to see you recover quickly," she said, pulling her mother into a warm embrace.
Selena responded with a cheerful laugh. "I am relieved too. I was so bored in the ICU," she confessed, shaking her head dramatically. "I would have died with boredom if they hadn’t taken me out of there today. Huh! That place is horrible. All those wires, oxygen masks, and the constant beeping of the machines... uh... I feel exhausted just by recalling that."
Bella couldn’t help but smile at her mother’s complaints, which seemed almost childish in their intensity. Her eyes, however, were brimming with tears. After a grueling year of struggle, her mother finally received the transplant she needed. The weight of uncertainty and fear that had been pressing down on Bella seemed to lift.
For the first time in a long while, the future looked bright and hopeful. Life, it seemed, was finally offering her a taste of luck and happiness. She could now fully dedicate herself to her career and cherish precious moments with her loved ones.
"Now, I want to get out of this hospital," Selena continued with a touch of impatience. "It has been months since I have been staying here. I am bored looking at the white walls around me. I miss home and working with Mrs. Green in her bakery."
Bella nodded, her heart full of warmth as she saw her mother’s spirits lift.
Selena paused for a moment, her mind rushing back to Mrs. Green. Meeting Bella’s eyes, she asked, "How is she? Have you checked on her?"
Bella blinked her tears away. She wouldn’t tell her anything about what Lionel had done to Mrs. Green. Determined to keep her mother’s spirits high, she replied with a reassuring smile, "I am in touch with her. She is fine. I’ll go see her in a few days."
To divert her mother’s attention, Bella began to talk about her recent project. Peeling an orange, she offered it to Selena. "And I am also participating in a fashion show," she added with excitement. "It’s my first show, and I am quite excited."
Selena’s eyes lit up with pride. "I know my daughter is talented. You will shine in this show and become popular overnight."
Bella laughed. "Yes, yes... I will. Now finish the fruits. I’ll be back tomorrow." She waved goodbye to her mother and left the hospital.
As she stood on the sidewalk, searching for a taxi, a luxurious car pulled up beside her. Bella squinted, wondering if Zack had returned. But when the car window rolled down, she was met with the unexpected sight of Claudia.
Claudia lowered her sunglasses, her gaze sharp. "Get in," she commanded.
Bella hesitated for a moment, her surprise evident, but then complied and stepped into the car. As she settled into the plush interior, she looked at Claudia with a mix of astonishment and uncertainty.
She couldn’t quite figure out whether Claudia had come specifically to see her or if it was just a coincidence. The car’s luxurious interior and Claudia’s commanding presence only heightened Bella’s sense of unease and curiosity about the unexpected encounter.
"I wanted to talk to you," Claudia said, her voice as cold as ice.
Bella stared at her, her mind racing. "You wanted to talk to me," she echoed, disbelief coloring her voice. What had happened to prompt this sudden visit? Was it about Malcolm?
"Is Grandpa alright?" Bella asked with concern.
"You don’t have to worry about him," Claudia dismissed her concern with a haughty air. "You should think about yourself. Look, Bella... you should know clearly that your background is not a match for the Reid household. Theodore is thankful to you because of a favor he owes you. Don’t misunderstand it as love."
Bella’s expression hardened. She recognized the attempt to sow discord. But she refused to be swayed. "I have faith in him, and I know he is in love with me," she declared, her voice steady.
"Is that so?" Claudia sneered. "Then how about this?" She held up her phone before Bella’s face and showed her the photo of Theodore and Gina she had captured last night.
Bella’s expression froze. Her world seemed to tilt. The photo showed Theodore and Gina standing close together, their eyes locked. Gina’s hands rested on Theodore’s arms, the image a searing dagger to Bella’s heart. Tears welled up in her eyes as she snatched the phone from Claudia’s hand, her grip tightening around it.
Claudia watched with a satisfied smirk. She had planted the seed of doubt, and now it was time to watch it grow.
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