The tension in the room grew, every second stretching into an eternity as the situation teetered on the brink of disaster. Theodore’s mind raced, searching for a way to save Bella without escalating the danger. Every muscle in his body was coiled, ready to spring into action the moment an opportunity presented itself.
Meanwhile, Zack’s eyes flickered to Theodore inching closer to Ivy and Bella. A surge of hope coursed through him. All he needed to do was keep Ivy occupied in conversation and buy Theodore enough time.
"Fifty million!" Zack exclaimed, feigning shock to keep Ivy focused on him. "It’s impossible to arrange that kind of money in just half an hour. I need more time."
"But I don’t have time!" Ivy snapped. "The cops are after me. They’ll find me soon, and I need to get out of here now."
"Ivy, you’re making a terrible mistake," Zack snarled, trying to sound both stern and concerned. "You won’t be able to escape. The police will catch you. Stop this madness and surrender. I’ll do everything I can to get you the lightest sentence possible."
"Don’t waste my time," Ivy snapped fiercely. "Transfer the money right now."
But in her frantic demand, she failed to notice Theodore closing the distance behind her. Zack’s eyes briefly met Theodore’s, and he saw the determined glint in them. Theodore looked over at Tristan, who was also positioning himself closer. With a subtle nod, Theodore signaled to Tristan.
Tristan returned the nod and suddenly leaped forward, his unexpected movement startling Ivy. "You can’t escape, Ivy. The cops are on their way."
Ivy barely had time to react before Theodore lunged at her from behind. With a swift, decisive move, he snatched the knife from her grip and shoved her to the ground, pulling Bella securely into his arms. Tristan was on Ivy in an instant, forcing her down and making her kneel, securing her wrists with unyielding strength.
The hall erupted into chaotic murmurs as the tense atmosphere broke, everyone suddenly finding their voices. The fear that had paralyzed them moments ago was replaced by anger and disgust, directed squarely at Ivy. People who had been cowering now openly cursed her.
Zack, however, had eyes only for Bella. His heart ached to rush to her side, to ensure she was unharmed, but as he watched Theodore hold her close, he couldn’t bring himself to move.
His chest tightened with a mix of relief and pain—relief that she was safe, and pain at the sight of her finding comfort in another man’s arms. He remained rooted to the spot, his heart heavy as he watched them.
Theodore cupped Bella’s face gently, his thumb tenderly brushing away the small streak of blood on her cheek. His eyes were filled with concern as he looked into hers. "Does it hurt?" he asked softly.
Bella, overwhelmed by the flood of emotions coursing through her, could only manage a nod. Words escaped her at that moment. Her heart swelled with gratitude and relief, as it always did whenever Theodore came to her rescue.
No matter how dire the situation, he had a way of appearing just in time to save her. Today had been no different. When everyone else had been paralyzed with fear, Theodore had moved with calm precision, putting himself at risk to protect her.
Her eyes welled with tears, not just from the fear she had just experienced, but from the overwhelming sense of safety she felt in his presence.
"I am sorry," he apologized, feeling guilty. "I couldn’t come sooner."
"Don’t apologize," Bella whispered. "You saved me again, Theodore. That’s all that matters."
Meanwhile, the cops rushed in and apprehended Ivy, her hands cuffed tightly behind her back. Theodore turned to the lead officer, his expression hard and unyielding. "Take her away. She has caused enough trouble here."
The officer nodded in acknowledgment. "Thank you for informing us, Mr. Reid. We’ll handle it from here."
"Officer," Zack began solemnly, "she killed my secretary. Her body is in the restroom."
"Amy...dead?" Bella exclaimed, her face draining of color. The shock of the revelation hit her like a tidal wave. Her mind reeled, trying to process the news. "How could that happen? She was with me in the restroom, and she was fine."
As Bella’s mind raced, she replayed the events in the restroom. When she looked back at Ivy, the cold realization dawned on her. The waitress in the restroom with them was none other than Ivy, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"It was you," Bella’s voice trembled with shock and dread. A wave of chills ran down her spine.
"Yes," Ivy confessed, devoid of any remorse. Her face was twisted with pure hatred and anger, her heart burning with an unrelenting fury. "You were my target. I never intended to kill Amy. But she had the nerve to yell at me, to boss me around like she was better than me. She made a grave mistake, and I lost control. But I regret that I didn’t get to kill you."
Bella felt a deep disturbance settle over her. How could someone harbor such twisted thoughts, such blind hatred? The realization that Ivy had been ready to kill her over a misunderstanding left Bella shaken to her core. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦
"I told you I never had feelings for Mr. Hudson," Bella said with a mix of sadness and frustration. "I told you over and over, but you refused to listen. Now, you’ve killed Amy—because she yelled at you. Ivy, your previous crimes were nothing compared to this. Look at yourself now—you’ve become a murderer."
Ivy’s anger flared even hotter at Bella’s words. She thrashed against the hold of the policemen and spat, "It’s your fault! You’re the reason I’m in this mess! Why couldn’t you just die?"
"Take her away!" Theodore roared, taking Bella protectively in his arms. His voice echoed through the hall, silencing the murmurs that had begun to spread through the crowd.
The cops tightened their grip on Ivy, dragging her out of the room as she continued to scream her hatred at Bella. The hall felt heavy with the aftermath of Ivy’s wrath. Zack stood frozen, his gaze lingering on Bella for a moment, his face twisted in fury and frustration before he slipped away, retreating into the shadows.
Bella, overwhelmed by the ordeal, began to tremble uncontrollably, tears spilling down her cheeks. The fear, the shock, and the relief all collided within her, and she could no longer hold back her emotions.
Theodore, seeing her distress, didn’t hesitate. He gently scooped her up into his arms, cradling her as though she were the most precious thing in the world.
"I’ll take you to the hospital." He turned and started toward the exit, his steps firm and urgent.
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