Theodore remained composed, not the slightest hint of unease showing in his expression. "O’Neil’s issue is with me, not Bella," he explained smoothly. "He tried to sell me a disputed piece of land. Bella discovered the fraud and exposed him. I canceled the deal and filed charges against him for fraud. He has been dealing with the legal fallout ever since."
He shrugged. "I assume he was frustrated and saw Bella as a way to get back at me."
Officer Steward squinted at Theodore, tilting his head slightly with suspicion. "What is your relationship with Bella Dawn?"
"She is my wife," Theodore replied without hesitation.
Steward’s frown deepened, disbelief coloring his face. "I see. Sorry that she was hurt."
Theodore’s expression turned cold as he said the next words. "She was pregnant." His voice was thick and cutting. "This attack caused her miscarriage. I want justice for both my wife and my child."
Steward fell silent, his sharp eyes studying Theodore intently. After a pause, he spoke again, shifting the conversation. "We’re doing everything we can to locate O’Neil. By the way, where were you last night?"
O’Neil’s sudden disappearance had sparked suspicions and the cops were beginning to wonder if Theodore had anything to do with it.
"I came home from the hospital late at night," Theodore replied curtly.
Steward’s brow furrowed further. "You left your wife alone in the hospital. That seems... unusual."
Theodore sensed the officer’s growing doubt, but he didn’t let it shake him. His response was steady, almost dismissive. "I had an important meeting today, and I couldn’t go in looking exhausted and unfit. Another sleepless night, and I would’ve collapsed. So, yes, I came home to rest. Is that wrong, Officer?"
"No, no," he said slowly, "there is nothing wrong with needing rest. I’m just curious why you left your wife alone when you could have rested at the hospital as well. It would have been more convenient."
Theodore’s calm demeanor remained intact, but there was an unmistakable tension in the room as the officer’s probing questions lingered. "As I mentioned earlier, officer, I have a meeting to attend," Theodore repeated calmly. "I needed time to prepare."
Steward nodded in acknowledgment, but his suspicion didn’t go away. He wasn’t entirely convinced.
"Do you have any more questions?" Theodore asked, his tone still polite but carrying an undertone of impatience.
"Not at the moment." Steward stood up slowly, a faint, almost sly smile playing on his lips. "But I may return if more questions arise. I’ll let you know if I need further assistance."
"Of course," Theodore replied, rising to his feet as well. "I’m more than willing to help with the investigation. Just make sure you catch the culprit. Don’t let him slip through your fingers."
"We’ll find him. With that, the officer made his exit.
Theodore’s expression turned gloomy as he watched Steward leave. There was something unsettling about the officer’s manner—too many questions, too much scrutiny. Shaking off the uneasy feeling, Theodore headed back to his bedroom.
Outside, as Steward approached his car, he noticed a figure rushing toward the house. It was Theodore’s driver, moving with a sense of urgency. Intrigued, Steward called out, "Wait a minute."
The driver halted, looking back at the officer with a puzzled expression. "Yes, sir?"
"How long have you been working here?" Steward asked.
"I’ve been working for the Reid family for five years now," the driver responded proudly. "My father worked for them before me. When he fell ill, I stepped in to take his place."
"I see. That means you know this family quite well."
The driver smiled, his chest swelling with pride. "Yes, sir. Very well."
Steward’s voice grew more cautious as he probed further. "Tell me, how is Theodore Reid?"
"He is a good man, very caring," the driver replied. "He looks after all of us—our families too. If anyone needs help, he’s the first to offer a hand. Humble and down-to-earth. But..." He paused, a knowing look crossing his face. "He is fierce when it comes to anyone who wrongs him or his family."
"Fierce, you say!" Steward raised an eyebrow. "How fierce? Could he hurt someone out of anger?"
The driver chuckled lightly as if the question was a joke. "Sir, he is a boxer, a champion. Of course, he is fierce in the ring, where he is meant to be. But outside the ring? He is harmless."
Steward smirked at the word ’harmless.’ The idea seemed absurd given the violence Theodore had inflicted on the three men. A harmless man couldn’t beat anyone like that. It was a brutal assault.
His gaze shifted to the row of cars parked in the lot. "These are all his cars."
"Yes... Mr. Reid has a penchant for collecting cars," the driver replied with a hint of pride.
"Hmm..." Steward scrutinized the lineup of vehicles, his mind working through the implications. "When did he return home last night?"
The driver thought for a while, recalling the events through the haze of a stormy night. "I didn’t check the time. But it was late and the rain was coming down hard."
"Alright." Steward nodded. "Thank you for speaking with me." With a curt smile on his face, he patted his shoulder.
The driver managed a polite smile in return before heading back toward the house. As Steward watched him go, he felt a gnawing suspicion. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Theodore might be entangled in O’Neil’s disappearance. With a determined resolve, he got into his car and drove off.
Theodore, from the confines of his study, observed Steward’s departure through the window with a tight-lipped expression. The realization that the police were narrowing in on him prompted him to take immediate action.
He dialed Hugo and said solemnly, "The cops are suspecting me. The officer even questioned the driver. We need to be cautious. Double-check that everything is cleaned up."
"I’ll make sure of it, sir," Hugo’s voice crackled through the line, his tone steady.
Ending the call, he headed back to his bedroom and prepared to leave for the meeting.
At the hospital...
Bella stirred awake, her eyes slowly adjusting to the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. She found a handwritten note from Theodore on the side table. With a sigh, she unfolded the paper and read his brief message:
"Sorry, my love. I’ve to leave like this. I have a meeting to attend tomorrow morning and I need to prepare for it. I hope you don’t mind. Willow will come to accompany you. I’ll be back once the meeting is over."
Bella folded the note and placed it back on the table, a hint of sadness in her eyes. Wincing slightly from the discomfort, she carefully got out of bed and made her way to the bathroom, her movements slow.
After attending to her morning routine, she returned to the bed just as a nurse entered the room. The nurse approached with a gentle demeanor, informing Bella that she needed to change the bandage. Bella complied, lying down on her stomach with a resigned sigh.
As the nurse methodically removed the old bandage and began tending to the wound, Bella’s gaze fixed on a distant point on the wall. A shadow of sadness crossed her face as she asked quietly, "Can I get pregnant again?"
The nurse responded reassuringly, "You’re still young. If you take care of your health, you should be able to conceive again. However, it’s best to avoid trying for the next six months. After that, you can certainly give it a go. The doctor will be able to give you more details."
"Thank you," Bella murmured, a faint hope lingering in her heart.
The nurse finished her task and helped Bella adjust, her movements were tender and attentive. "It’s done," she said, offering a warm smile. "The doctor will be here soon for the round. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask her." The nurse gave Bella one last encouraging glance before leaving the room,
Bella remained lying, her eyes fixated on the ceiling. Tears seeped through the corners of her eyes as she thought of her child. Before she could know how it felt like to be pregnant, she had miscarried. Her hand reached her tummy, an emptiness settling on her heart. She didn’t know how to fill that void. Maybe another child could erase the pain.
The soft creak of the door opening pulled Bella from her reverie. She shifted her gaze and saw Skyler stepping into the room, a look of surprise crossing her face. Her mind raced, wondering why he was here instead of attending the meeting with Theodore.
Ignoring the pain in her back, she slowly sat up. "Good morning, Skyler. It’s a pleasant surprise to see you here."
Skyler glanced around the room, clearly searching for Theodore. "Where is Mr. Reid? Has he gone to see the doctor?"
Bella was even more surprised. "He left last night to prepare for the meeting. Aren’t you attending it?"
Skyler’s expression shifted to confusion as he processed her words. His jaw dropped slightly, and he gripped the file he was holding a bit too tightly. He had come to the hospital in a rush to deliver the file containing the meeting details, only to find that Theodore had left the night before.
Why did Theodore leave his wife alone at the hospital? Why did he say he was going home to prepare for the meeting?
Skyler’s mind raced as he tried to reconcile the situation. He had spent the entire night preparing the documents for the meeting. What was going on?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
