Claudia couldn’t believe what she was hearing. "Have you lost your mind? Do you even know what you’re saying?" she hissed, her anger bubbling over. She had expected Keith to act with urgency, to take control of the situation, not to resign himself to it.
"The surveillance cameras at the mayor’s residence captured them," Keith explained, still frustratingly calm. "I can’t tamper with the footage there. If I tried to protect the guards, Theodore would come straight to my door."
Claudia’s irritation deepened. She clenched her fists, feeling like she was dealing with a fool. "And you think he won’t come now?" she shot back, her tone as sharp as a blade. "He’ll soon find out who those men are and who ordered them to hurt Bella."
"He won’t," Keith replied, his voice brimming with quiet confidence.
Claudia was taken aback. How could Keith be so certain the guards wouldn’t divulge Gina’s name? His unwavering confidence was both perplexing and reassuring. Certainly, he had done something.
Intrigued, she pressed further. "How are you so sure they wouldn’t expose Gina? What did you do with them?"
A smug smirk crept across Keith’s face. "Everyone has their own weakness. You just need to find it. They would choose death over exposing Gina."
Claudia’s lips curled into a satisfied smile, her anxiety finally easing. She was beginning to see why Keith was so confident. He had clearly thought this through, and his plan seemed foolproof.
"On top of that," Keith continued, "I’ve kept Theodore occupied with his wife’s matter. He won’t be able to focus on this."
Claudia’s curiosity was piqued even more. "What did you do to Bella?"
"Nothing special," Keith replied casually. "I simply reminded them that Lionel’s body is still in the morgue."
"You are truly a cunning man, Keith." Claudia couldn’t help but praise him, seemingly delighted. "Lionel will remind her of her real father. Maybe she will look for him. Anyway, I don’t care what she does. Just ensure Gina’s safety. Theodore shouldn’t get a hint of her involvement."
"Nothing will happen to our daughter," Keith assured her.
Claudia felt a deep sense of contentment settled over her. Keith had the situation under control, and Gina was safe—for now. The tension in her shoulders eased as she allowed herself to trust in his plan. Keith’s cunning had once again proven invaluable.
~~~~~~~~~~
After the paperwork was done, Theodore dropped Bella to the hospital. He planned to stay with her, but Hugo’s urgent call made him change his mind. He was a bit shocked when he learned that those guys didn’t know about Gina. The matter grew shadier, and Theodore had to intervene.
"I won’t be staying here," he said guiltily. "Some urgent matter has come. I need to go."
Bella nodded understandingly. She didn’t stop him since she wanted to talk to her mother privately. "Okay. Drive safely and try to come home early."
"I will." Theodore cupped her face and pressed his lips against her brow longingly. He reluctantly released her and got into the car.
Bella waved until his vehicle vanished from sight, her heart heavy. She collected her thoughts, knowing she had to stay strong. Pushing through the hospital doors, she made her way to her mother’s room.
Selena greeted her with a bright, infectious smile. Selena looked fresh; her skin didn’t look as pale as before.
Bella returned her smile, though it didn’t reach the depth of her eyes. She leaned in, embracing her mother, trying to absorb some of the warmth and strength Selena exuded. "Mamma. How are you feeling today?"
"I’m feeling good," Selena replied with optimism. "The doctor says I can start eating solid food."
Bella’s heart lifted slightly. "That’s great news."
"And I might even be able to go home in a few days," Selena added with a spark of enthusiasm. "I miss my house, and I can’t wait to see my friends again. How is Mrs. Green? Have you checked on her?"
Bella’s smile wavered as she tried to match her mother’s cheerfulness. She had recently learned from Theodore about Mrs. Green’s condition. It was distressing.
She gently tucked a stray hair behind Selena’s ear. "She is not well – suffering from lung cancer."
She didn’t want to keep anything secret anymore. She was determined to uncover all the hidden secrets today.
Selena’s joy, sparked by the prospect of recovery, evaporated instantly. "Lung cancer?" she exclaimed, shock evident in her voice.
Bella nodded, looking down at her fingers. "4th stage. She doesn’t have much time."
Selena’s hands flew to her lips, tears glistening in her eyes.
"Sometimes fate is cruel – mocks us," Bella said in a trance-like state, a bitter smile spreading across her lips. Her tone was heavy from sadness. "And we can do nothing but face the situation."
She lifted her head and met her eyes. She took a few moments before delivering the news. "Lionel is dead."
"What?" Selena squinted at her in disbelief. The thought of Lionel dying so abruptly was inconceivable to her. "Don’t believe such news. He might be faking his death to avoid the loan sharks and the police."
Bella saw the underlying tension in Selena’s eyes, masked by a veneer of coldness. The sight of her mother’s distress caused her own pain to intensify. Suppressing her emotions, she explained, "He died right after interrogation. The autopsy report claimed he had a heart condition and couldn’t handle the pressure."
"Heart condition!" Selena scoffed. "How could a cruel man like him have a weak heart? He is a monster with a cold heart – merciless. I don’t believe it. He might have conspired with the cops." 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦
Fear gripped Selena as she rocked back and forth. She didn’t believe the news, but doubt crept into her mind. What if he was truly gone?
Bella watched as the reality of Lionel’s death slowly dawned on Selena. The woman who had endured so much at his hands was now grappling with the finality of his absence.
Bella could sense the rising tide of distress in her mother. She was afraid it would affect her health adversely.
"Let’s not talk about it. I’ll peel some oranges for you." Bella tried to change the topic, but Selena lingered on it.
Selena’s initial defiance gave way to a hollow emptiness, her attempts to dismiss his death ringing hollow even to her own ears. The fierce determination to show indifference was crumbling, revealing the vulnerability underneath. Despite everything Lionel had done, he had been a constant presence in their lives—Selena couldn’t easily sever the bond.
"If he had a weak heart, he wouldn’t be able to beat us," Selena continued. "I never saw him complaining of chest pain. These are all lies. He is not dead."
Bella drew a deep breath. "Mamma...I saw his body. He is gone."
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