Theodore’s heart clenched at the pain in her voice, knowing that the truth would deeply affect her. He was speechless for a while as he couldn’t understand whether he should tell her or not. But then decided not to give her more tension at this moment.
"Don’t think about it," he said finally. "He is a cunning man. He’ll say anything to upset you."
But Bella was convinced. She had seen the raw emotion in Lionel’s eyes when he revealed the truth. "It’s not a lie," she insisted with certainty. "I know it."
"Bella!" Before Theodore could continue, the door creaked open and Willow entered, interrupting him. The words that he was about to say remained stuck to his throat.
"Bella, you are awake." Willow smiled, approaching her. Relief was evident in her face. "How are you feeling now?" Her gaze softened as she took in the extent of Bella’s injuries. Bruises marred Bella’s face, her left eye was swollen shut, and there was a dark bruise on her lip. Willow couldn’t imagine the pain Bella must have endured.
Bella managed a weak smile through her pain. "I’m fine. Thank you for coming."
Willow nodded, her expression still filled with concern. "Of course, I had to come see you." Her gaze turned apologetic. "I had an important meeting, that’s why I couldn’t come sooner."
Observing her remorseful look, Bella smiled again, trying to reassure Willow. "It’s okay. You are here now, that’s all that matters."
Theodore’s phone vibrated, piercing the peaceful surroundings. The sight of Tristan’s name on the caller ID made him rise to his feet. "Okay, you two have a bit of conversation. I’ll be right back."
Stepping out into the corridor, he answered the call. "Yes?"
Tristan’s voice, laced with anxiety, cut through the line. "Sir, there is bad news."
Theodore’s eyebrows rose in query. "What’s wrong?"
"Lionel...he is dead."
"Lionel... he is dead." The words hung in the air, heavy and shocking.
Disbelief painted Theodore’s face. "What?" he exclaimed. "How could someone die in police custody? His interrogation was ongoing. How did that happen?"
"The cops are as baffled as we are," Tristan replied. "During the initial questioning, Lionel revealed that someone had paid him to torture Bella. But he adamantly claimed not to know the man. The officer took a break for an hour, only to find Lionel dead when he returned."
Theodore’s jaw clenched, frustration boiling within him. He had suspected a connection between Franklin and Lionel. The hope of extracting Franklin’s name from Lionel’s mouth had been dashed.
How had Lionel died in custody? Were the cops involved? Or was there something more sinister at play?
Suspicion gnawed at him with each question crossing his mind, his brow furrowing. "Did the cops torture him during the interrogation?"
"To a certain extent, yes," Tristan admitted. "The officer didn’t expect this outcome after a few slaps and punches. He is under investigation and will be suspended until the forensic reports are released." 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ𝓋𝑒𝑙.𝑐𝘰𝑚
Theodore’s face darkened with frustration and anger. The sudden death of Lionel, combined with the potential foul play, only deepened his suspicions about Franklin’s involvement.
He grimaced, a low curse escaping his lips. "Keep digging into this. Find out who else visited him during the break. This isn’t normal. I think someone wanted him dead. And one more thing," his tone turned icy, "find out what Franklin’s been up to since last night."
"Alright, sir."
"Understood, sir," Tristan replied before the line went dead.
Theodore ground his teeth as he muttered, "Franklin!"
Inside the ward...
Willow listened intently to Bella’s harrowing tale of the kidnapping. A wave of terror washed over her as she imagined the ordeal Bella had endured. Empathy and a profound sense of kinship surged within her.
Her own father had abandoned her mother for another woman. He had rarely contacted her or visited her when he was alive. Thankfully, her mother had remained single and had not brought a step-father for her. Yet, she always felt the pain of her father’s absence by her side.
Willow was terribly disturbed as she thought about the sufferings Bella had gone through. "Bella, the past is behind you," she murmured softly, offering solace. "The important thing is that he won’t hurt you again. Focus on your present."
Bella nodded slowly, the wisdom of Willow’s words sinking in. "You’re right. What’s done is done. I shouldn’t dwell on it." Still, a flicker of curiosity remained. She longed to know her mother’s story, to understand why her father had left them.
Pulling an apologetic smile onto her face, Bella said, "I’m sorry. I couldn’t go to work for a few days."
"Don’t worry about that. I’ve already approved your leave. First of all, you need to recover. Work can wait," Willow assured her.
"Thank you, Willow. You’re a lifesaver. I hope Ms. Hill won’t give you a hard time about this," Bella replied with a tinge of sarcasm in her tone.
Willow rolled her eyes playfully. "She can be annoying at times. Speaking of work, I got a call from Joshua this morning. The dresses are ready. You can check them out once you’ve recovered."
A genuine smile spread across Bella’s face, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Really?"
"Yes, darling. Those dresses looked just awesome. Finally, your designs are all set to hit the ramp."
Despite the lingering pain and the shadow of recent events, Bella felt a surge of joy. Her heart swelled at the thought of her creations finally coming to life on the runway.
Theodore walked back to the ward, his hand reaching for the door handle. Just as he was about to enter, the driver’s voice called out from behind. He paused, squinting at the man.
"Sir, the butler from the mansion is waiting for you outside," the driver said.
"What is he doing here?" Theodore mumbled puzzled by the butler’s unexpected visit. Sensing there might be something important message from his grandfather, he hurried outside.
The familiar limousine was parked at the curb. Theodore climbed in, finding the middle-aged butler waiting for him. "What is it?" he asked, settling into his seat. "How is Grandpa?"
"He is doing fine," the butler replied. "He sent me to bring you to the mansion."
Theodore nodded, indicating to the driver to start the car.
As the limousine pulled away, Claudia stepped out of her car, her head covered by a scarf. She made a beeline for the hospital, slipping inside unseen. Her destination was Selena’s ward.
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