Theodore felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders, only to be replaced by a crushing sense of guilt. The realization of his wrongful accusations hit him like a ton of bricks. He had acted rashly, driven by jealousy and anger, without seeking the truth first. The shame of it washed over him, making him feel sick to his stomach.
Bella continued, her voice quivering with both hurt and frustration. "Instead of thanking him, you yelled at him. And now you’re doubting me."
"Bella... I’m sorry," Theodore said urgently with remorse. "I was enraged when I saw you with him, and I lost my rationality." He reached out to take her hands, his eyes pleading for forgiveness, but Bella jerked away from him.
"I am a living person," Bella hissed, defiant. "Not your possession. You can’t dictate who I should meet and who I shouldn’t."
She had seen Lionel always suspecting her mother and beating her with false accusations of infidelity. She couldn’t take it when Theodore questioned her loyalty. her heart heavy.
Theodore stumbled over his words, his guilt consuming him. "I was... I was a jerk just now," he stuttered. "I’m sorry, Bella... Please don’t stay angry with me." He grasped her shoulders, his eyes filled with desperation.
"Leave me," Bella snapped, pushing him away with renewed force.
Despite her resistance, Theodore was relentless. He pulled her into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around her protectively. "No, I won’t... I apologize for being a jerk," he murmured into her hair.
Bella’s struggles weakened as the emotional exhaustion took its toll. Her resistance faded, and she eventually grew still in his arms. Theodore’s grip softened, his hold on her becoming gentler as he looked down at her with eyes full of remorse.
"Do you know who they are?" Theodore asked quietly. The thought of avenging Bella’s ordeal surged through him.
Bella shook her head, her tears flowing freely as she recounted the traumatic events. "I don’t know. I’ve never seen them before. They just barged into the bathroom and... and molested me." The memories of the assault were still vivid, and the pain of recalling them made her tears fall faster.
Theodore’s eyes narrowed as a sudden memory flashed through his mind. He recalled the two men he had collided with earlier on his way to the restroom.
They had been in a rush, their movements frantic and disoriented. One of them had been wiping blood from his nose.
At the time, Theodore had dismissed them, not thinking much of the encounter. But now, after hearing Bella’s explanation, everything clicked into place.
Those men were the ones who had hurt her.
Anger surged through Theodore’s veins, hot and uncontrollable. "I’ll make them pay for this," he snarled, his jaw clenching. "They will regret the moment they set their eyes on you."
He pulled Bella back into his embrace, his expression softening as he tried to soothe her. "Don’t be mad at me, okay? I promise I won’t do anything like this again. Can you forgive me?"
Bella’s heart softened at his sincere apology, but the sting of his earlier actions lingered. She wasn’t as angry as before, but she couldn’t simply brush aside the hurt he had caused. "I’ll forgive you if you promise you won’t suspect me again."
"I’ll forgive you," she said, "if you promise you won’t suspect me again."
Theodore held her hands tightly in his own. "My faith in you is unwavering," he reassured her. "I just lost my temper when I saw you with him. Bella... I can’t stand the thought of you with another man. Just... try not to keep any contact with him."
Bella’s eyes flashed with renewed anger as she pulled her hands away. "Theodore, he is my boss. Isn’t my reassurance enough for you?"
Theodore hesitated, momentarily at a loss for words. He licked his lips, trying to find the right response. "It’s not you I don’t trust. I don’t have any faith in that man. He could take advantage of you."
As he spoke, another thought struck him. He remembered the Hills’ connection to the sharpshooter and Ivy’s potential involvement in the plot to tarnish Bella’s image. The idea of Bella continuing to work with Zack only fueled his concern. The risks were too great, and he didn’t want to see her entangled in any further trouble.
"Why don’t you resign from Brico?" Theodore suggested, his tone filled with urgency.
Bella cocked her head, squinting at him with disbelief. It seemed that he wouldn’t trust her no matter how much she explained to him.
"You still suspect me!" she snapped.
"No, it’s not like that." Desperation crept into his voice as he continued, "I worry about you. I’m trying to protect you," he insisted. "I don’t want you anywhere near him."
Bella shook her head, frustration bubbling up inside her. "You can’t control my life like this," she retorted. "I’m not going to quit my job just to ease your insecurities."
Theodore reached out to her again, desperation in his eyes. "Bella, please... I’m only asking because I care about you. I want to keep you safe."
Bella sighed, her voice softening. "I understand that you care, but I need you to trust me. I can take care of myself."
Theodore’s shoulders slumped slightly, helpless. "Zack is not single. I don’t want you to become someone else’s target."
Bella fell silent. She couldn’t deny his concern. It was no secret how much Ivy hated her. Working at Brico had never been easy, but she couldn’t leave in the middle of a project.
"You know why I’m there," she reasoned. "I’m working for Willow now, and I can’t abandon her in the middle of this."
"Willow will understand," Theodore pressed. "I’ll talk to her. It’s time you take your career seriously and focus on working on your designs."
"I’ll resign once the project is over," Bella promised.
Theodore sighed, recognizing the determination in her eyes. "Okay, I get it. But be careful. That woman, Ivy, is vicious. She might try to harm you."
Bella nodded, her heart softening as she saw the genuine worry in his eyes. A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. "The evening is ruined because of me," she murmured. "You missed the auction."
"That wasn’t important. You matter to me the most." He cupped her face tenderly and placed a gentle kiss on her brow. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Bella felt a warmth spread through her at his touch. Despite the tension and misunderstandings, she could feel his love and concern. She rested her head against his chest, finding solace in his steady heartbeat.
"I’m sorry I slapped you," she whispered with regret. "I was just... I was scared and hurt."
"I deserved it," Theodore admitted, stroking her hair. "I shouldn’t have lost my temper like that."
He held her chin and lifted her face, making her meet his eyes. His gaze was filled with a swirl of emotions—guilt, apology, and a deep yearning that was palpable between them.
The space between them felt almost non-existent, the air charged with the familiar, irresistible pull that always drew them together. The proximity was intoxicating, igniting a fire within them
Theodore’s attention drifted down to her lips. He marveled at their fullness, the tempting red hue, and the way they seemed to beckon him. The urge to claim them, to taste the sweetness that he knew so well, became overwhelming. He leaned in, ready to immerse himself in her completely.
The harsh jarring sound of Bella’s ringtone sliced through the moment.
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