Theodore raised his eyes at him, his expression turning icy cold. He suspected Franklin was somehow involved in this entire ordeal. Only two days ago, Franklin had discovered the truth about Bella’s real father. And then, the kidnapping. It couldn’t be a coincidence.
Franklin might have been in contact with Lionel. When he saw his trick to manipulate Malcolm against Bella had not worked, he planned this kidnapping with Lionel.
Theodore clenched his jaw. "Find out if that man is Franklin," he hissed. "I’m sure it’s his doing."
Tristan was puzzled but didn’t question his boss. With a nod, he left to carry out Theodore’s command.
Theodore’s gaze hardened. "Franklin!" he muttered with cold determination. "This time, you won’t escape."
Willow was bustling with urgency, her mind set on visiting Bella after the harrowing news of her kidnapping. But Ivy had called an urgent meeting, and she’d had to attend. She had been waiting for the moment she could leave, and with all her work finally wrapped up, she was ready to head out the door.
Just as she was about to leave, Ivy and Zack appeared, Ivy’s smile radiant and welcoming. "Are you heading out, Willow?" she asked, her tone light and friendly.
"Yes," Willow replied curtly, adjusting her bag on her shoulder. "See you tomorrow."
Ivy, undeterred by Willow’s brusque response, stepped closer and linked her arm with Zack’s. "We are also leaving. Zack and I are going out for dinner. We’d love for you to join us. We can discuss the project further."
Willow hesitated. If she went to dinner, it would be too late to see Bella. "Thank you for inviting me, but I have to go somewhere urgent," she declined politely with an apologetic look on her face.
"Oh, okay," Ivy said, but her tone suggested she wasn’t buying it. "Where are you heading, by the way?" she pressed, her curiosity piqued. She was eager to find out more about her. She had heard rumors about Willow and Theodore and wanted confirmation.
"It’s personal," Willow replied with a calculated grin.
Ivy chuckled lightly. "Of course, of course. Anyway, I haven’t seen Bella today. Where is she? Did she take a leave again?" She wouldn’t miss a chance to paint Bella as irresponsible.
Willow hesitated, unsure whether to reveal the truth about Bella’s absence. Then she decided to keep it a secret as she didn’t want the staff members to gossip about Bella. Instead, she opted for a simple lie.
"She called me saying she wasn’t feeling well," she explained, her voice steady. "I gave her a few days off."
"Okay! It’s like that," Ivy mumbled meaningfully. She had brought Zack deliberately to show him how irresponsible Bella was. But every time, her attempts to turn him against Bella didn’t work. She fumed in frustration inwardly.
Zack, however, reacted differently. Concern immediately crossed his features upon hearing Bella wasn’t well. He felt a strong urge to check on her, to make sure she was okay. He wished he could rush to her right away. But he couldn’t cancel the dinner with Ivy and upset her.
"I really have to go now," Willow said, breaking the brief silence. "See you tomorrow. Goodbye." Without waiting for a response, she quickly walked past them, her pace brisk as she made her way out of the office.
Zack watched her retreating figure, his mind consumed by worry. A tug on his wrist brought him back to the present. Ivy was looking at him expectantly.
"Do you think she is going on a date?" Ivy asked, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Zack frowned, not interested in Willow’s life. "Maybe, maybe not," he replied indifferently, his mind still on Bella. He turned and walked away, leaving Ivy to stew in her own disappointment.
Ivy hurried after Zack, her heels clicking rhythmically on the polished floor. "Uh, I’ve heard that she and Mr. Reid are quite close," she ventured with curiosity. "Maybe something is going on between them." 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞
Zack halted abruptly, irritation flashing in his eyes. "Are you interested in their private lives?"
Ivy immediately softened her tone, adopting a placating demeanor. "Zack, don’t take it the wrong way," she said soothingly. "They are both crucial to the company. Mr. Reid is our main investor, and Willow is leading our million-dollar project. We need to know them better. If Willow is Mr. Reid’s girlfriend, we should be extra nice to her. Winning her favor could secure more investments from Mr. Reid and possibly a long-term partnership with the Ace Group."
Zack’s expression shifted as he considered her words. Ivy had a point. If Willow and Mr. Reid were close, it could be beneficial for the company. "Alright," he conceded, nodding. "I’ll leave that to you."
"I won’t disappoint you." Ivy’s eyes lit up with triumph. Her plan to oust Bella had failed miserably, but a new strategy was forming in her mind. She would befriend Willow, turn her against Bella, and then watch their friendship crumble. A malicious grin spread across her face as she masked her true intentions with a cheerful facade.
"Shall we go?" she asked brightly.
Zack nodded, and they walked out of the office.
~~~~~~~~~~
Bella’s consciousness returned slowly. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself in a sterile white room. Theodore’s face, framed by concern, swam into focus.
"Hey, darling," Theodore said slowly, brushing his thumb against her forehead.
Relief washed over Bella as she found herself beside him. She was safe. She was out of Lionel’s clutches. "Theodore," she whispered, her voice hoarse. "You saved me again."
He took her hand and brought it to his lips. "I’m so sorry," he murmured. "I should have gotten to you sooner."
Bella shook her head, her voice filled with remorse. "No, I’m sorry," she apologized. She was sorry for suspecting him. "I shouldn’t have gone there alone. I knew how dangerous Lionel was. Yet, I went there without informing you. I put you in unnecessary danger." She sobbed, tears seeping through the corners of her eyes.
Theodore gently wiped away her tears. "Don’t cry," he soothed. "He’ll pay for what he did. He won’t trouble you anymore. You’re safe now."
But the memory of Lionel’s words haunted her. Bella’s gaze drifted to the empty space. "Is it true?" she asked, her voice trembling. "That my father abandoned me and my mother?"
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