Theodore arrived at the mansion and followed the butler to the sprawling backyard. As they rounded the corner, the sight of Malcolm seated at a grand patio table came into view. The older man quietly sipped his coffee, the steam curling up from the cup in the cool afternoon air.
"You’ve arrived," Malcolm observed, his voice carrying its usual grave undertone. He nodded toward the chair opposite him. "Sit down."
The butler, with a practiced grace, poured a fresh cup of coffee for Theodore, who accepted it with a brisk nod. "Thank you," he murmured, taking a measured sip. He then fixed his gaze on his grandfather. "You called for me urgently. Is there something you need to discuss?"
Malcolm dismissed the butler with a slight wave of his hand. With a respectful bow, the butler retreated, leaving the two men alone.
"It’s unfortunate, what Bella has endured," Malcolm began, his voice devoid of warmth, his face an unreadable mask. "No one should have to experience such horrors. I feel for her, truly. She must be terrified."
The words dripped with a seemingly genuine empathy, but his impassive expression betrayed no real emotion. It was as though the empathy in his voice was a mere formality rather than a heartfelt sentiment.
Yet, Theodore found solace in the fact that Malcolm had acknowledged Bella’s suffering.
"She has sustained a concussion, but the doctor has assured me she will recover within a few days," Theodore explained gently. "Indeed, she is traumatized. But I’m there for her. She’ll be fine soon."
"Huh..." Malcolm sighed deeply, a grimace twisting his features. "It is a shame that a father would kidnap and abuse his daughter. Even though they weren’t blood-related, he raised her. It’s madness. Theodore, if the words go out, people will not stop talking about Bella and her family background. Considering that you’ve chosen to be with her, I can’t bear the thought of our family’s daughter-in-law being the subject of ridicule."
Theodore recognized the lingering prejudice in his grandfather’s tone and the unspoken disapproval of Bella’s place in their family. He, on the other hand, could never leave Bella and at the same time, he couldn’t ignore his grandfather’s wish.
"I assure you, no one will know," he promised. "But Lionel is no longer alive. I received the news just before coming here."
Malcolm’s eyes narrowed as he absorbed the revelation. "Dead already? How?"
"The investigation is still going on," Theodore replied. "It seems he died under torture during the interrogation. The details will be clearer once the autopsy is complete."
Malcolm nodded slowly, his expression becoming more solemn as he processed the information.
"There is more," Theodore continued with a more serious tone. "During the interrogation, Lionel said something that raised eyebrows. He confessed that someone paid him to kidnap and torture Bella."
He didn’t mention any names, but his suspicion was clear. In his mind, Franklin was behind it, yet he held back, keeping the accusation to himself for the time being.
Malcolm squinted at his grandson, his mind reeling. "Someone paid him to kidnap Bella!" he echoed, bewildered.
Theodore confirmed with a grim nod. "Yes. I’m going to find out who and make them pay. Alright, I’ll leave now." He stood up. "I haven’t informed Bella that I was coming here. She might be looking for me.
Malcolm nodded, signaling him to leave with a wave of his hand. Left alone, he was consumed by the shocking revelation. Who could have been behind Lionel’s actions? Suspicion immediately fell on Franklin and Claudia.
He had tasked them to make Bella leave Theodore without alerting his grandson, but he never meant for things to escalate to such a horrifying extent.
Could it be that they had resorted to the method of threatening her to leave Theodore?
Anxiety gnawed at Malcolm, his brow furrowing in deep thought. The mere idea that Theodore might uncover his involvement in the scheme filled him with dread. The thought of his grandson hating him sent a chill through his veins. Anger boiled within him.
He had warned Franklin and Claudia not to hurt her, but they had blatantly disregarded his orders. He needed to confront them immediately.
Outside the mansion...
Theodore had just walked out the door when he collided with Franklin, who was hurrying towards the mansion. Both men froze, their eyes locking.
Franklin had not anticipated seeing Theodore there. Shouldn’t he be at the hospital with Bella? What was he doing at the mansion?
His mind raced with questions, a mix of curiosity and apprehension building within him. Had Theodore discovered something and come to inform the old hag?
Despite the growing unease, Franklin quickly masked his anxiety with a practiced smile. "Theodore," he greeted delightfully, though his eyes betrayed a hint of tension. "You came to meet Grandpa!"
Theodore’s sharp eyes fixed on him, scanning Franklin’s face for any trace of deceit. "Yes... What about you? You weren’t here when Grandpa was sick. Where were you?"
Franklin let out a nervous chuckle. "I was at a banquet with some friends that night. But the moment I heard about Grandpa, I rushed over to check on him." He quickly shifted the conversation, hoping to deflect Theodore’s scrutiny. "By the way, how is Bella? It’s terrible what she went through."
Theodore stepped closer, his gaze narrowing dangerously, a cold fire burning in his eyes. "I’m looking into this case very closely," he hissed, his voice low and threatening. "And I suspect you were in contact with Lionel."
Franklin’s face drained of color, his initial shock betraying him before he could mask it. He quickly regained his composure, forcing a look of incredulity. "Why would I do that? You’ve got it all wrong."
In a flash, Theodore seized Franklin by the collar, pulling him close enough to feel the heat of his breath. "Don’t think I’m in the dark," he growled. "The moment I have proof against you, you’re finished."
With that, Theodore shoved him aside and stormed off.
Franklin watched him go, his eyes narrowing into a glare as he smoothed down his rumpled shirt. He muttered under his breath, a dark resolve settling over him, "Before that, I’ll make sure to finish you first."
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