When Theodore arrived home, it was already 8 pm. "I’m home," he announced with a grin, expecting Bella to rush over and greet him. But the only response was an eerie silence.
His smile faded as he looked around the empty hall. Bella wasn’t in the kitchen either. Thinking she might be in the bedroom, he walked over there. "Bella, are you there?" he called out, but no reply came. The bedroom was empty as well.
He stood there, scanning the room with a puzzled frown. ’Strange,’ he muttered to himself. Normally, Bella returned home by 6 pm. Why wasn’t she home yet?
Theodore wondered if Bella was upset with him for not returning her calls. After leaving the hospital, he had been swamped with back-to-back meetings at the office. He had planned to take her out to dinner to make it up to her. But it seemed she was mad at him.
A sense of unease crept over him. "Maybe she has gone to meet Bridget," he speculated. Fishing out his phone from his pocket, he dialed her number. However, the call went unanswered.
He sighed, shaking his head. "Theodore, you deserve this," he murmured, scolding himself. "You shouldn’t have pissed your wife."
He tried calling her again, hoping to hear her voice, but it went straight to voicemail. Anxiety began to gnaw at him.
Theodore sank onto the bed, his mind racing. His earlier confidence about taking her out for dinner now felt hollow and misplaced. He needed to find Bella and make sure she was alright. Oblivious to the storm brewing around Bella, Theodore dialed Bridget’s number.
"Hello?" Bridget’s high-pitched voice pierced his ear.
"Bridget, it’s Theodore. Is Bella with you?"
Her reply was like a cold shower. "Bella? No..."
Theodore’s expression froze. A chill ran down his spine. If she wasn’t with Bridget, where could she be?
Bridget’s voice broke the silence. "I didn’t meet with her today. Why? What happened?"
Theodore didn’t reply immediately. Bella had mentioned her mother being moved to the ward. Perhaps she was still there. "It’s nothing," he replied, trying to sound nonchalant. "Maybe she is at the hospital."
"Hey..." Bridget started, but Theodore ended the call before she could say more. She was left staring at her phone, a frown marring her face. Something was definitely wrong.
"Is Bella not with him? What is going on?"
Meanwhile, Theodore dialed Tristan’s number. "Tristan, go to the hospital and check if Bella is with her mother. Bring her home safely," he ordered with urgency.
Ending the call, he headed to the bathroom. The sound of the water running filled the silence of the house as he took a shower. The warm water did little to ease his growing concern. He tried to reassure himself that Bella was simply at the hospital, but a gnawing worry persisted.
~~~~~~~~~
Bella arrived at her house in the countryside, a knot of apprehension tightening in her stomach. The house was still locked, and there was no sign of Lionel. She tried contacting him again, but his phone remained switched off. What kind of game was he playing?
She muttered a curse under her breath with frustration. Stepping onto the porch, she scanned the surrounding area, a sense of unease growing within her. She had no idea where Lionel was holding Mrs. Green captive.
A wave of regret washed over her for coming alone. She soon realized it was a trap. A chill passed through her back. Her hand fumbled for her phone, a lifeline in this terrifying situation. She needed to reach Theodore.
Before she could dial, a sharp blow to the back of her head sent her crashing to the ground. The world spun into darkness as she lost consciousness.
Lionel smirked as he looked down at her. "Welcome home, little girl."
He bent down and grabbed her by the arms, dragging her limp body away.
At Theodore’s villa...
Theodore stepped out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. His phone was buzzing on the bed, the caller ID displaying Tristan’s name. Hope surged through him as he answered. "Did you find her?"
Tristan’s voice was hesitant, his words filled with uncertainty. "Sir... um... Madam is not here. I talked to the nurse, who said she left earlier. I checked the surveillance footage, and she left around 5 pm."
Theodore grew serious. If Bella had left the hospital at five, where could she possibly be by now? A cold dread crept into his heart. Had something happened to her?
His mind raced, focusing on one name - Franklin. A dark suspicion took root within him. ’Franklin!’ he muttered through clenched teeth. ’If you’re behind this, you’re a dead man.’
"Check her phone location," he commanded, his expression turning murderous. "I need to find her."
"I-I’ll check it right away." Tristan ended the call and quickly went to carry out his boss’s command.
Theodore stood alone in the room, his mind a whirlwind of worry. The room felt colder and more silent than ever. "Where are you, Bella?" he whispered, a sense of impending doom washing over him.
Bella slowly regained her senses, finding herself sprawled on a cold, hard floor. Her hands were bound behind her back. However, it was completely different surroundings. Panic surged within her as she realized she wasn’t at her house.
The room was a dismal, claustrophobic space, filled with the musty smell of decay. Empty oil drums and cardboard boxes were piled haphazardly in the corners, and the peeling paint on the walls added to the room’s decrepit atmosphere. Bella had no idea where she was.
"Help, help!" she shouted, her voice echoing in the empty space.
"Stop shouting!" a harsh voice boomed, and Lionel appeared in the doorway. Fear gripped Bella as she scooted backward, her eyes wide with terror.
Lionel grabbed her jaw, his grip tight. "No one is coming to save you here. You’re at my mercy."
"What is this place?" Bella croaked out, trembling. "Where is Mrs. Green?"
Lionel chuckled, a sinister gleam in his eyes. "You’re still worried about her? Little girl, you should be worried about yourself. How are you going to escape from here?"
Bella struggled against his grip, her body writhing in desperation. Finally, with a burst of adrenaline, she managed to break free and scramble away from him. "Why did you bring me here?" she snapped, her chest moving up and down rapidly.
Lionel smirked, his eyes never leaving her. "It’s simple. I need money, and you have a sugar daddy who is filthy rich. You are going to call him and ask him to bring ten million dollars to me."
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