Bella was taken aback at his audacity. She had thought that Theodore’s warning would have kept Zack at bay, but it was clear now that Zack wasn’t deterred. Bella’s temper flared.
"I love my husband," she shot back firmly and defiantly. "And he loves me."
Zack’s expression darkened, a scowl forming on his face as he heard her words. He was frustrated, almost angry, that she continued to insist on her love for Theodore.
"Really?" he challenged, his tone sharp and disbelieving. "If he loves you, then why hasn’t he introduced you as his wife? Why hasn’t he announced your marriage to the world?"
Bella didn’t answer. It wasn’t Theodore’s fault that their marriage was still a secret. He had been ready to announce it, but she had insisted on keeping it under wraps until she had proven herself in her career. She wanted to be seen as more than just Theodore Reid’s wife; she wanted to stand on her own merit to prove that she was worthy of him.
"Our marriage is none of your business," she hissed, her eyes flashing with anger. "Whether we keep it private or reveal it publicly, it’s our choice—our understanding. Who are you to question it?"
"Come on, Bella, stop pretending you’re some lovey-dovey couple," Zack retorted, his irritation bubbling over. "I know the truth. Your marriage is nothing but a contract."
Bella’s jaw dropped in shock at his words. ’How did he know?’ she wondered to herself.
Zack continued, undeterred by her reaction. "The only woman he actually cares about is Gina Willis, his childhood sweetheart."
In an instant, Bella’s confusion cleared. It all made sense now—Gina had filled Zack’s head with lies, manipulating him to cause trouble. That woman was relentless, always finding ways to create chaos.
"Gina! Really?" Bella scoffed with sarcasm. "And you believe her? She is jealous of me, so she is making up stories. If Theodore really liked her, he would’ve married her. You should use your brain instead of blindly believing her nonsense."
With that, she brushed past Zack, leaving him standing there, stunned by her blunt dismissal.
"Bella!" Zack called after her, desperation in his voice. He started to follow, but the sudden ringing of his phone made him pause. Glancing at the screen, he saw it was a call from the police station. Reluctantly, he answered.
"Hello?"
"Mr. Hudson, your fiancée has escaped from the hospital," a deep voice informed him from the other end.
"What? Ivy ran away!" Zack exclaimed, disbelief coloring his tone. His mind raced, trying to process the situation.
As he stood there, reeling from the news, Ivy, now disguised in the waitress uniform, walked right past him. Her presence went unnoticed as Zack’s thoughts spiraled, consumed by the shock of Ivy’s escape. Unaware of the danger that was just behind him, he remained focused on the call, missing the threat that had slipped away into the crowd.
The officer’s voice, heavy with urgency, echoed in Zack’s ears. "She injured a nurse and ran away. We are looking for her. Be aware. She can come to you or call you. If you find anything about her, inform us."
The call ended with that, leaving Zack stunned. "Ivy escaped!" he muttered, his mind reeling. "How did this happen?"
Without hesitation, Zack dialed a number, his fingers trembling slightly. As he waited for the call to connect, he noticed two women walking toward the restroom.
"Hello...Listen carefully," he said in a hushed tone. "Ivy injured a nurse and ran away from the hospital. Go and find out if she has contacted her parents. I need to know everything."
"Ah!" Just as he finished speaking, a piercing scream echoed through the lobby, startling Zack and causing him to turn around. Two women, their faces pale and etched with terror, burst out of the restroom.
"Murder – murder," they shouted in unison.
"Hey...what is going on?" He stopped them.
The women trembled, their eyes wide with fear. "It’s blood all over," one of them managed to say.
"Someone killed Amy," the other woman added.
Zack’s heart froze, a cold dread gripping him as the hair on the back of his neck stood on end. Without thinking, he bolted toward the restroom, his mind a whirl of panic and disbelief. He skidded to a halt just inside the doorway, his breath catching in his throat as his eyes took in the horrifying scene.
A trail of blood led to a lifeless body sprawled on the floor. Zack’s hand shook violently as he stared at the gruesome sight, his brain struggling to process the reality before him. It was Amy—her once vibrant figure now lying still, her belly soaked in blood.
Zack’s legs gave out, and he collapsed onto the floor, his body trembling with shock. Who had killed her?
His mind screamed for answers, but only one name surfaced in the chaos of his thoughts: Ivy Hill.
The chilling realization that Ivy was in the building hit him like a freight train, the horror of it all sinking deep into his bones. His mind raced as he vaguely recalled seeing a waitress exit the restroom just moments ago. "So it was Ivy!"
Ivy had come to the office despite the immense risk, and the thought that she might be targeting Bella sent Zack into a panic. His fear for Bella’s safety propelled him into action, and he sprinted toward the hall. Bursting through the entrance, he shouted, "Bella!"
The sudden outburst drew everyone’s attention, including Bella’s. The entire room fell silent as they turned to see Zack standing there, disheveled and frantic. Bella’s face darkened with irritation, assuming he was about to cause a scene.
Zack rushed toward her, desperate to reach her. But just as he was about to close the distance, Ivy appeared from the shadows, moving with a terrifying swiftness. She grabbed Bella, twisting her arm painfully behind her back and pressing a knife to her throat.
"Don’t come any closer!" Ivy screamed. "Or else, I’ll kill her!"
The room erupted into chaos as people gasped in shock, some backing away in fear. The festive atmosphere of the party had been shattered, replaced by a tense, horrifying scene. Everyone stood frozen in place, too stunned and terrified to move.
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