Bella’s breath caught in her throat. "What?" she gasped, her eyes flicking between the key and the house before her. She was struggling to comprehend what Theodore was telling her. "You... bought this?"
She couldn’t make sense. Her mind raced. Why did he feel the need to buy such a grand house in this exclusive neighborhood when they already had his villa? Confusion filled her as she tried to piece it together.
"Why? I mean, we live in your villa. Are you planning for us to move here?"
"Consider it a wedding gift," he murmured, his fingers gently brushing over hers. "If you want, we can move in here. Or...you could bring your mom here. She lives alone, and it’s hard for you to visit her as often as you’d like. If she is here, you could look after her more easily."
The realization hit Bella all at once. Theodore wasn’t just buying a house—he was trying to keep her close, to ensure she didn’t have to leave him to care for her mother. The depth of his thoughtfulness touched her deeply, warming her heart. At the same time, the gesture amused her.
"This is too much," she said, shaking her head. "You have done so much for me and my mother already. I can’t take this." She handed the key back to him.
"This is not a favor," Theodore said. "It’s my gift to my wife. Are you going to refuse it?" His fingers tilted her chin up, their faces so close now that she could feel his breath on her skin. His lips hovered just inches from hers, teasing the inevitable.
Bella’s heart began to race, her pulse quickening as his presence filled her senses. She tried to respond, but the words caught in her throat. All she could focus on was the nearness of him, the intoxicating anticipation of his lips on hers. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach, her mind going blank except for the aching need to feel his kiss.
"Answer me," Theodore demanded hoarsely, his voice commanding yet filled with tenderness.
"I—I’ll accept it," Bella stammered, breathless.
A slow, satisfied smile curved Theodore’s lips before he closed the gap between them, sealing her answer with a deep, passionate kiss.
Bella melted into him, her fingers instinctively weaving into his hair as she kissed him back. His lips were familiar, yet every time they met hers, it felt as though they ignited something new within her.
They were so lost with each other that they didn’t notice someone sneakily watching them.
Gina, who had just arrived there to meet a friend, sat frozen in her car, her eyes glued to the scene unfolding in front of her. Her heart clenched, the image of their intimacy searing into her mind. Her grip tightened around the steering wheel as jealousy and fury coiled within her.
"Theodore!" She gritted her teeth. "Why couldn’t you just let her go?"
She wanted to scream, to charge out of her car and rip them apart, to lash out at Bella for being the obstacle in her path. But before she could react, she saw them heading into the most expensive house in the neighborhood—his hand resting on the small of her back. Her eyes widened in shock.
"Why is he taking her there?" she wondered aloud. "Did he... did he buy that for her?"
The thought hit her like a blow to the chest. Her anger reached the pinnacle. "Bella!" she hissed, her nails digging into the steering wheel. "I won’t let you take him away from me!"
"Bella!" she hissed, baring her teeth. "I won’t let you take him away from me."
She could feel Theodore slipping further from her grasp, her efforts to win him over now seeming in vain. All the schemes, the manipulations—it wasn’t enough. But she wouldn’t give up. "If I have to force you to marry me, Theodore," she muttered under her breath, "I won’t hesitate."
She grabbed her phone and quickly dialed a number. Claudia answered almost immediately.
"Aunt!" Gina’s voice cracked with urgency. "Theodore has bought Bella a house. A luxurious one!"
"What?" Claudia exclaimed with disbelief. "He bought her a house?"
"Yes, at the most expensive residential complex in town," Gina explained. "He is spoiling her with lavish gifts. It’s not just gratitude anymore. He is falling in love with her, I’m sure of it. If it continues like this, he will give her everything he has."
She seethed in anger as she continued, "Bella miscarried this time. But she’ll get pregnant again, with his child. And if that happens, everything you’ve worked for—everything you’ve dreamed of—it’ll all be gone. Bella will replace you in the Reid family, and she’ll kick you and your son out. Theodore won’t even look back."
"Gina, mind your language," Claudia fretted.
"Why would I?" Gina snapped. "I am really mad. You always asked me to be patient, but I can’t. I can’t take it anymore. If you don’t do something quickly, I’ll deal with that bitch on my own." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺
"Listen, sweetheart, don’t do anything stupid," Claudia tried to appease her, fearing Gina would make a mistake out of anger. "I promise I won’t let Bella win, okay? Why don’t you come here? I have got something to tell you."
Gina sighed, exasperated. She didn’t want to go back to the mansion. She wanted to see what Theodore and Bella were doing inside that house. But she knew she needed Claudia’s help to get Theodore back.
"Okay, I’ll be there." Turning the wheel, she drove straight to the Reid family mansion.
Unaware of all this, Bella slid the key into the lock, turning it with a soft click. Her hands trembled slightly.
The door opened to reveal a stunning foyer bathed in natural light. Her eyes widened as she stepped inside.
The space was vast yet impeccably designed—elegant, but not cold. The walls were a soft, warm cream, and the floors were a rich oak that gave the house a grounded, inviting feel. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed the living room, flooding it with sunlight and offering a breathtaking view of the private garden and infinity pool beyond.
Theodore moved beside her, his presence steady and reassuring as she wandered further into the open-concept living area. Her eyes roamed over every detail—the minimalist yet elegant furniture, the fireplace embedded in the wall, sleek and sophisticated. Everything about this place was perfect, a dream.
"Do you like it?" Theodore asked, pulling Bella from her daze. She turned to look at him, her heart swelling with emotion.
"I...I don’t know what to say," she whispered. "This place... it’s incredible."
Theodore smiled, a look of pure satisfaction crossing his face. "I wanted to give you something special," he said, taking her hand in his. "A place where you can feel at peace."
"This is too much, Theodore. I don’t know how to thank you."
Theodore stepped closer, cupping her face in his hands. "You don’t need to thank me. All I want is for you to be happy."
Bella gazed up at him, her heart full. She couldn’t find the words to express what she was feeling, so instead, she leaned in and kissed him softly. Theodore wrapped his arms around her, deepening the kiss.
"The kitchen is through here," he said softly when they pulled back and guided her towards a massive marble island that gleamed under stylish pendant lights. Bella ran her fingers across the cool surface, still in awe.
"I thought you’d like the space for your cooking experiments," he added.
She let out a breathless laugh, overwhelmed. "Theodore... this is beautiful," she whispered, her voice filled with wonder. "You did all of this for me?"
"For myself," he admitted, turning her toward him. Looking into her eyes, he confessed, "When you left for your mother’s place, I realized how lonely I was. Actually, I was scared. I couldn’t sleep without you, Bella."
He rested his forehead against hers. "Since I was a child, I longed for someone to love me. But no one ever did. My dad was too busy with work and never had time for me. When he was home, he was cold and distant. He never stood up for me when Franklin and Claudia bullied me. He always blamed me and scolded me."
His voice grew heavy with bitterness as he recounted the past. "I shut myself away, pretending to be strong and indifferent. But inside, I was lonely—scared." His voice quivered slightly, betraying the vulnerability he rarely allowed himself to show.
Bella’s heart ached as she listened. "Theodore," she whispered, reaching up to gently touch his face.
He held her face, brushing his fingers against her cheeks. "Slowly, I became cold, believing that love was meaningless and made people weak. I vowed never to fall in love until you came into my life. You’ve changed me, Bella. Now, I can’t imagine my life without you. I’m hopelessly in love with you. If you were to leave me, I don’t think I could go on."
"I will never leave you," Bella whispered, tears making her throat heavy. She cupped his face and kissed him.
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