Late at night...
It was drizzling. Theodore learned that O’Neil had been captured. He sneaked out of the hospital while Bella was fast asleep and went to where Hugo and his men had captured him.
It was an abandoned factory, the crumbling structure surrounded by overgrown bushes, shrouded in an eerie silence broken only by the sound of rain hitting the earth.
As the car stopped, Hugo rushed over with an umbrella in his hand and opened the door for Theodore. He greeted him with a nod.
Theodore got out of the car and gazed around at the gloomy surroundings. The air was thick with tension, and the occasional flash of lightning illuminated the grim surroundings, adding to the sense of foreboding. "What’s the situation? Have you made sure there’s no trace?"
"We have taken enough precautions, sir," Hugo informed. "The police won’t find any lead."
"Okay. Let’s get in."
Satisfied with the response, Theodore motioned for him to proceed inside the dilapidated building. The air inside was stale and thick with dust, the faint glow of a lantern barely cutting through the gloom. In the center of the room, O’Neil lay unconscious on the floor. The wounds on his face and the blood stain in the corners of his lips were visible clearly even under the dim light.
Theodore stepped closer to take a good look at him. Looking at his injuries, he could tell Hugo had given O’Neil a good treatment.
"He was trying to board a ship, trying to escape the country," Hugo said, his tone steady. "But we got to him in time."
Theodore’s eyes darkened as he stared down at O’Neil, the fury he had been holding in check simmering beneath the surface. "How dare he think that he can escape after what he did?" His hands clenched into fists, the thought of his unborn child—lost because of this man—filling him with a fresh wave of pain and rage.
"Wake him up," he commanded vehemently.
A guard nearby splashed water on his face. O’Neil woke up with a start and gasped. His eyes widened in panic as he scrambled backward, flailing his arms in a desperate attempt to shield himself. "Leave me alone... Don’t hurt me," he cried out, his voice shaky with fear.
But then he saw him—Theodore Reid, towering over him like a looming shadow. O’Neil’s heart sank, the blood in his veins turning ice-cold. He had been running from this very man, yet here he was, standing right in front of him.
Memories of Theodore’s brutal strength flashed through his mind—the way he had mercilessly beaten men, leaving them broken and unconscious. A terrifying realization hit O’Neil like a punch to the gut: he could be next.
"Mr. Reid, please!" O’Neil pleaded as he kneeled in front of him. "I know I was wrong. I beg you, forgive me."
"I don’t accept your apology," Theodore hissed coldly. "You hurt my wife."
O’Neil froze, his face draining of color. The word ’wife’ echoed in his ear, his chest tightening with dread. Wasn’t Bella his secretary? He felt chills coursing through his body, realizing he had touched someone who he shouldn’t messed with. He had made a grave mistake.
Theodore crouched in front of him, grabbing O’Neil by the collar and yanking him closer. Their faces were mere inches apart, and O’Neil could see the fury burning in Theodore’s eyes.
"Do you know she was pregnant?" Theodore snarled dangerously.
"I-I didn’t know about it," O’Neil stuttered. "Please spare me. I didn’t mean—"
"Spare you?" Theodore’s lips twisted into a snarl, his grip tightening around O’Neil’s collar. "You tried to kidnap my wife and stabbed her." His voice grew more dangerous with every word.
"I didn’t..." O’Neil shook his head frantically, trying to speak, but fear choked him. "I-I didn’t mean to hurt her," he gasped. "My aim was you! She... she jumped in the way. It was an accident, I swear!"
"That accident killed my child," Theodore growled before driving his fist into O’Neil’s face with brutal force.
"Uh..." A sickening crunch echoed in the room, and O’Neil’s agonized scream followed, blood pouring from his broken nose.
Theodore wasn’t finished. He grabbed O’Neil’s hand, his grip like a vice. "Which hand did you touch her with?"
O’Neil whimpered, his body trembling uncontrollably, knowing there was no escape from the storm he had brought upon himself. "I am sorry," he apologized, desperate. "Ah..." But his plea was drowned out by his own scream as Theodore snapped his finger, the sharp crack of bone breaking through the air.
Theodore didn’t stop. Without hesitation, he continued to break O’Neil’s fingers, one after another.
O’Neil’s body convulsed in pain, and his cries grew weaker, his strength slipping away. His face twisted in agony, blood and saliva mixing as they dripped from his mouth. His vision blurred, barely able to keep his eyes open as the excruciating pain threatened to pull him into unconsciousness.
"Please," he gasped. "I’m sorry. I’ll never cross your path again... just let me go."
Theodore’s eyes gleamed with a cold, unrelenting fury. "You want to escape?" he growled. "Alright, I’ll let you go."
For a brief moment, hope flickered in O’Neil’s chest. He forced his swollen eyes open, a faint glimmer of relief crossing his face. But that flicker of hope was extinguished when Theodore spoke again.
"I’ll let you go... if you can bring my child back to life."
The blood drained from O’Neil’s face, his heart sinking like a stone. The tiny spark of hope that had ignited within him vanished completely. His entire body went numb as he realized there was no escape. His fate was sealed. He felt warm liquid sipping between his legs.
"What’s wrong?" Theodore sneered, towering over him. "Don’t you want to leave?"
O’Neil’s gaze was unfocused, his mind dazed by the pain and terror. "I wronged you," he admitted. "I shouldn’t have thought of hurting your wife. I didn’t know she was your wife... I’m sorry."
Theodore’s expression hardened. "It’s too late. Your sorry won’t change anything." He pushed him down and rose to his feet. "Take him out and bury him alive."
O’Neil’s heart nearly stopped in his chest. Pure terror gripped him as he crawled forward, clutching desperately at Theodore’s leg. "No... no, please," he sobbed. "Have mercy. Kill me! I beg you!"
"You don’t deserve mercy," Theodore hissed. He kicked O’Neil away with brutal force, leaving him crumpled on the ground. Without another glance, Theodore strode out of the room into the pouring rain, leaving O’Neil to his fate.
"Mr. Reid, please..." O’Neil cried out from behind. But Theodore didn’t pay attention to it. His heart had turned cold. He had lost his child—an innocent life taken before it even began—and the one responsible had to pay the price. This was justice, an act of vengeance for his unborn child and his injured wife.
He walked briskly to his car, his face set in stone. As the engine roared to life, he drove not to the hospital where Bella was, but to the mansion. The intensity of the rain decreased by the time he had arrived at the mansion. He called his driver, instructing him to clean the car. He didn’t want to leave any trace of his visit to that abandoned factory. With brisk steps, he walked into the house.
Discarding his damp clothes into the laundry bag, he made his way to the shower, the warm water cascading over him as if it could wash away the grime and blood on his hands. 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖
He ran his fingers through his hair, eyes closed. He ran his fingers through his hair. He had taken his revenge, but the ache in his heart didn’t disappear. His child was dead before it was born, leaving a scar on Bella’s heart.
How was he ever going to heal the wound?
"Sorry, Bella. I couldn’t protect you." He hung his head down, placing his hands against the glass wall. His tears mingled with the water, silent and unseen.
He stood there for a long moment, the water streaming down his back, his mind a whirl of regret and anger. When he finally stepped out, the weight of the world still hung heavy on his shoulders. His phone buzzed, cutting through the thick silence. It was Hugo.
Theodore answered, his tone grave. "Yes?"
"O’Neil’s Chapter is closed," Hugo reported, his voice equally solemn. "He was buried alive, just as you instructed."
Theodore exhaled deeply, his jaw tightening as he absorbed the words. "Good. Make sure there is no trace left behind. I don’t want the police sniffing around."
"Understood, sir."
Ending the call, Theodore dropped the phone and went into the changing room.
The next morning...
Ding-Dong...
Theodore’s sleep was interrupted by the piercing sound of the doorbell ringing through the quiet morning air. Groggy and disoriented, he stirred from his bed, rubbing his eyes as he wondered who could be at the door so early.
’Skyler maybe,’ he thought. But as he approached the door and opened it, he was surprised to find a police officer standing on the doorstep.
Keeping his expression calm and composed, Theodore addressed the man. "Officer? How can I help you?"
"Good morning, Mr. Reid. I’m Officer Steward, the investigator in charge of the attack on Miss Bella Dawn," the policeman introduced himself, his gaze sharp and observant, subtly sizing Theodore up. "I’m here to discuss the incident."
Theodore nodded and gestured politely. "Please, come in." He led the officer inside, guiding him toward the plush sofa in the living room. As they sat down, Theodore maintained an air of control, his face unreadable.
"What do you want to know?" Theodore asked smoothly, keeping his tone neutral.
Steward started, "We’ve reviewed the surveillance footage from outside the bar. It’s unfortunate that Miss Dawn was hurt. We’ve apprehended the three men involved in the assault, but O’Neil, the main suspect, managed to slip away."
A flicker of anger briefly flashed in Theodore’s eyes, but his expression remained steady. He gave nothing away, his demeanor calm and composed.
"I am wondering what enmity O’Neil has with Miss Dawn," the officer continued. "Can you shed some light on it?"
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