Theodore silently stared at her, a war going on in his heart. He, however, maintained his cold look and asked, "Why shouldn’t I doubt you? You know what is Grandpa’s situation. He is still unconscious. The doctors can’t say when he will wake up. I haven’t slept for two days. Do you even care about what I’m going through?"
Bella’s expression softened. She could see his distress. Forgetting about her pain, she approached him and reached out to hold his hand. "I know you are worried. I wanted to be there for you, but you pushed me away. You said you didn’t need me. It hurt me."
"So you went to Zack," he said with pain in his eyes.
"No." Bella tightened her grip on his hand, trying to soothe him. "It was a coincidence. He offered me a ride, and I didn’t know how to refuse."
"Humph!" Theodore snorted, pulling his hand back sharply. "You know what? I regretted being so harsh with you. I wanted to apologize, so I went looking for you. We could have dinner together. But instead, I saw you with Zack." His voice cracked as he added, "I waited for you all night, and you never came home. What should I think, Bella?"
The bitterness in his tone, the suspicion in his eyes, crushed Bella. Her composure wavered, and her heart sank under his accusation.
"I am telling the truth." Her voice faltered. "I was sad when you ignored me. I wanted to be with my friends, so I went to Bridget’s apartment. You can confirm it with her.
Theodore sneered. "Of course, your friend will back you up. She’ll say whatever you want her to say."
The sting of his mistrust pierced her deeply, widening the growing chasm of misunderstanding and doubt. Bella’s heart trembled as she realized how deeply Theodore’s distrust had rooted itself.
Bella couldn’t bear the humiliation any longer. Bridget’s warning echoed in her mind. Insecurity and distrust could ruin a relationship.
Theodore never truly loved her. It was clear now: if Theodore truly loved her, he wouldn’t let his trust waver so easily.
She nodded, realizing it was useless to explain anything. "Since you don’t trust me, there is no point in us staying together. We should get a divorce."
The words struck Theodore like a ton of bricks. The walls seemed to close in on him.
Divorce?
Although he had agreed for Claudia to divorce Bella, he had never actually meant to lose Bella. It was a ploy to buy time, to find the original video Claudia had kept hidden.
But he had never imagined Bella would want to break up with him. It was too much. Had he driven her away? His heart pounded with panic and rage. He wouldn’t let her leave him.
"Divorce?" he snapped. "You want to divorce me?" He lunged toward her, grabbing her shoulders with an iron grip, his eyes blazing. Anger radiated from his every pore. "How could you even think of leaving me?"
Bella winced at the force of his hands digging into her skin. "You’re hurting me," she whimpered, squirming under his grasp, but Theodore’s grip only tightened, her struggles only adding to his anger.
"You’re my wife," he growled. "I won’t let you leave me."
He squeezed her jaw and claimed her lips in a violent kiss. It wasn’t passion—it was pain, fear, and a fierce need to control the chaos spinning out of his grasp.
Bella’s heart raced with terror. She tried to push him away, but the harder she fought, the more insistent he became. His kiss was suffocating, overwhelming, and her body went limp, her legs weak as if the very ground had disappeared beneath her.
Just when she thought she might collapse, Theodore pulled her to his chest securely. The kiss became gentler, almost pleading, as though the raw fury had melted into something else entirely.
His phone rang on the central table in the meantime, interrupting them. He pulled back reluctantly.
Theodore’s breath was shallow as he pressed his forehead against Bella’s. "Don’t ever think of leaving me," he murmured. "Things are messy now, but this will pass."
He wanted to confide in her, to tell her everything, but he stopped short. He didn’t want Bella to entangle herself in Claudia’s dangerous scheme. She didn’t need to know the full extent of the threats that loomed over them.
"Stay away from Zack," he warned her as he didn’t want Claudia to use Zack against her further. "Or you will fall into trouble."
With one last lingering gaze, Theodore turned away, picked up his phone, and walked out of the house.
Bella sagged onto the sofa, sobs wrecking her body. She thought Theodore had warned her because of his jealousy and insecurity.
"I don’t want to leave you either," she whispered, choking with emotion. "But your behavior is hurting me, Theodore. Why did you lose your trust in me?"
Outside, Theodore glanced at his phone, his heart racing with a mix of dread and hope. The call was from the hospital.
"Hello?" he answered, his voice tight.
"Mr. Reid, your grandfather is awake," a female voice spoke. "He is looking for you."
"I’m on my way." Theodore hung up, his mind spinning as he jumped into his car. In a blink, he started the engine and drove straight to the hospital.
Theodore’s heart thumped with anticipation, his thoughts racing as he planned to talk to his grandfather and explain the situation. Malcolm had to know about Claudia’s plot to seize control, and Theodore hoped he could be able to explain everything to him.
He finally arrived at the hospital and rushed to his grandfather’s ward; all his hopes came crashing down. There, on the sofa, sat Claudia.
Theodore froze in the doorway, feeling his stomach churn as Claudia turned to meet his eyes with a calm, knowing smile. The sight of her drained the excitement from his body, and his plan to persuade Malcolm dashed.
Claudia might have already manipulated Malcolm.
However, Theodore forced himself to suppress the turmoil roiling inside him as he approached his grandfather’s bed. "Grandpa," he murmured, his eyes teary.
Malcolm fluttered his eyes open and looked up. "Theodore!" he called out, his voice breaking. He stretched out a shaky hand, and Theodore grasped it tightly, his heart aching. "I’m here, Grandpa. I’m right here." He sank into the chair beside the bed, desperate to provide comfort.
"You should listen to me." Malcolm’s breathing was quick and shallow, anxiety etched across his features.
Theodore was worried his condition would worsen. "Calm down, Grandpa. Don’t talk."
"No, I’m fine!" Malcolm insisted, his urgency palpable. "You need to leave that woman, Bella. She is not right for you."
"Grandpa..." Theodore attempted to intervene, but Malcolm’s determination was unwavering.
"She is unfaithful to you," Malcolm asserted. "The sooner you get rid of her, the better. Such a woman is materialistic. I told you earlier, and you didn’t listen. But it’s not too late—divorce her."
Theodore felt a knot tighten in his stomach. The thought of leaving Bella was unbearable; he still held onto hope that they could navigate their issues without resorting to divorce. "I understand your concern," he replied softly. "I’m looking into this matter. You shouldn’t worry about Bella. I won’t let anyone who wronged me go."
With that cryptic remark, he warned Claudia. However, Claudia wasn’t someone to be suppressed easily.
"Why shouldn’t we worry?" Claudia interjected, her tone icy and cutting. "She is the reason father-in-law is in this state. You know everything. Yet, you seem hesitant to divorce her."
Theodore silently clenched his jaw, his anger simmering beneath him. "Claudia, can you please shut your mouth?" he hissed, gritting his teeth. "Grandpa has just woken up. He doesn’t need to be instigated."
"Do you think I am troubling him?" Claudia shot back. "I am saying what he has on his mind. That woman is the source of his distress. His stress won’t ease until you divorce her."
"I don’t need your advice, Claudia," Theodore hissed defiantly. "Don’t push me. I know what to deal with her."
Claudian gave her a cold look. "Really? Then perhaps I should show the video to your grandpa." She pulled her phone from her bag and approached Malcolm.
Theodore felt his heart drop. He couldn’t let her show that video.
"Father-in-law, take a look at it." Claudia held out her phone.
"Wait!" Theodore barked, lunging forward and snatching the phone from her hand. "There is no need for that. I’ll divorce her."
Claudia smirked meaningfully, satisfaction flickering in her eyes.
She only wanted to show Malcolm the video of Bella getting into Zack’s car. But she intentionally hadn’t specified which video it was – just to make Theodore believe that it was the video of him torturing O’Neil. Her plan to scare him had worked flawlessly.
"You’re making the right decision," Malcolm said. "You deserve someone who truly loves you, who will be loyal to you forever. Bella’s intentions were always about money. She can never love you genuinely." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Theodore’s heart sank as he heard his grandfather’s words. He wanted to argue, to defend Bella, but Malcolm suddenly started coughing, and his breathing became erratic.
"Grandpa!" Theodore panicked. "Doctor!" he shouted for help, gently rubbing his chest. "Stop talking for God’s sake. You just came out of a coma!"
Malcolm’s coughing eventually subsided, and he nodded slowly, weariness creeping into his features. "Okay, okay. I’ll listen to you."
Theodore shoved the phone back into Claudia’s hands. "You should leave now. I can take care of him alone."
Claudia walked out of the ward without wasting a second, a triumphant smile on her face.
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