Bella gasped as she straddled him, her body pressing against his, feeling the hardness of him beneath her. She could feel the longing in his touch, the way his fingers trailed up her back. She arched into him, her hands roaming over his chest, unbuttoning his shirt.
Theodore’s hands roamed down her body, slipping beneath the fabric of her dress and pulling down her panties with a swift motion. The sound of his belt being pulled free was followed by the distinct rasp of his zipper, and Bella could feel him, hard and ready for her. His lips left hers, moving to her neck, tasting her skin, breathing in the scent of her. His hands were everywhere, tracing the curves of her body.
Bella moaned softly in response to the heat that built between them. Theodore gripped her hips, lifting her slightly before guiding her down onto him.
A gasp escaped her as he filled her completely, the sensation overwhelming her senses. Her hands instinctively clung to his shoulders, nails digging into his flesh as waves of pleasure washed over her.
Theodore groaned deeply, the sound rumbling from his chest as he began to move. Every thrust drew a soft moan from Bella, her body responding to the deep, primal connection they shared.
The intensity between them grew, building with every second. Their kisses became more fervent, hands gripping harder, their need for one another overcoming everything else. Their breaths mingled in the confined space.
Theodore’s breath was ragged as he murmured her name. "Bella... I need you. Always."
She whispered back, "I’m yours," her lips brushing his ear.
Their movements became a blur of sensation. Theodore held Bella tightly as they both teetered on the edge, each thrust bringing them closer to release. The tension between them built until it finally broke, a wave of pleasure crashing over them both as they groaned, their bodies trembling together in the aftermath of their shared release.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The news of Bella leaving Theodore reached Claudia. At first, she didn’t believe it, not willing to believe that Bella wouldn’t give up on Theodore so easily. Besides, she couldn’t trust Theodore at all.
"They signed the divorce agreement!" Gina gushed with joy. "Theodore told me himself."
"He told you, and you believed him." Claudia sat with an air of disbelief; her eyebrows raised skeptically. "Did you see the divorce agreement?"
The question caught Gina off guard, and her initial excitement faltered for a moment. Her smile wavered as doubt began to creep in. But her enthusiasm returned quickly, unwilling to let Claudia’s suspicion take away her happiness.
"I know he is telling the truth. Lately, he has been distant toward Bella. He doesn’t even want to hear her name. Why would he want to stay in contact with a woman who cheated on him?"
Claudia watched her closely, the gleam of joy in Gina’s eyes unmistakable. She didn’t want to disappoint her with her skeptical remarks. She offered a soft, motherly smile, stroking Gina’s hair with a gentle touch. And for Bella and Theodore’s divorce drama, she would get to the bottom of it.
"Then you should get ready for the engagement," Claudia said.
Gina’s eyes widened in pure delight. "Really?"
"Why don’t you go shopping? Here..." Claudia nodded, reaching into her purse and pulling out a sleek black card. Go shopping, pick out whatever you like." She handed the card over with a loving smile, watching as Gina’s face lit up.
Gina beamed as she took the card. "Thank you, Aunt Claudia! I love you so much!" She threw her arms around Claudia’s neck, hugging her tightly.
Claudia held Gina close, her heart swelling with emotion. The word "Aunt" had always stung, a bitter reminder of the sacrifices she had made.
She had distanced herself from her daughter to pursue her ambitions, marry into the Reid family, and secure a future for her children. The path had been hard, filled with cold decisions and calculated moves. It was a sacrifice she had made for her children to give them a better life.
Finally, her dream was going to be fulfilled; her struggles were coming to an end. She couldn’t wait to hear Gina call her mother.
"I love you too, darling," Claudia whispered, cupping Gina’s face tenderly, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "Since you’re going to marry Theodore, you should call me Mommy."
Gina’s face lit up in pure delight. "Really? Can I call you Mommy?"
"Yes, darling!"
"Mommy!" Gina exclaimed with childlike excitement, her heart swelling.
She hadn’t seen her mother, didn’t know what motherly love felt like. But Claudia had been there for her, always caring for her, always loving her as if she were her own. Claudia’s love was what she considered mother’s love.
The word, "Mommy," felt foreign on her tongue, but it also filled a void in her heart she hadn’t realized was so deep.
Claudia’s heart skipped a beat as that long-awaited word finally reached her ears. "Say it again." She couldn’t believe she had just heard Gina call her mother. She longed to hear it again and again.
"Mommy!" Gina beamed.
Tears welled in Claudia’s eyes as she pulled Gina into a tight embrace. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, Claudia felt whole.
"Wait a minute." Claudia couldn’t control her excitement. She hurried into the closet and opened the safe, retrieving a sleek jewelry box from inside.
Returning to Gina, she gave her the box, anticipation bubbling within her. "Here – take a look."
Gina’s eyes sparkled with curiosity as she opened the box, revealing a stunning diamond necklace that shimmered under the light. Her mouth fell open in awe, her breath catching at the sight of the magnificent piece. The diamonds sparkled like stars, each facet catching the light in a dazzling display.
"It’s beautiful," she murmured, still in a daze as her fingers grazed the cold, flawless diamonds.
Claudia’s smile widened with pride. "This is the most expensive set in my collection. I purchased it last year at an auction. And now, it’s yours."
Gina’s excitement bubbled over. She could barely contain herself. "Thank you so much!" she squealed as she hugged Claudia tightly. "I am so lucky to have such a lovely mother-in-law."
Claudia’s smile waned a little. She was her mother, her biological mother, yet the distance she had created lingered in the air. But she quickly pushed the thought aside, forcing her smile to return as she envisioned the future where everything would fall perfectly into place once Gina married into the Reid family.
Everything would be theirs. Theodore could do nothing. He would be just a puppet in her hand. Once Gina bore Theodore’s child, she would get rid of him by herself.
"Now, go and enjoy yourself. I have other things to do."
"Okay, I’ll leave now." Gina jumped to her feet, stuffing the jewelry box into her bag. Waving goodbye to her, she hopped out of the room.
As soon as Gina disappeared from view, Claudia’s demeanor shifted from warm affection to steely determination. She would ensure Theodore wouldn’t hurt Gina. With a swift motion, she reached for her phone and dialed Franklin’s number.
After a few long rings, the call connected, but Claudia grimaced at the cacophony that assaulted her ears. The raucous laughter and loud music from a party made it clear that Franklin was far from concerned about their family’s affairs.
"Hello?" Franklin shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Where are you?" Claudia barked, her annoyance rising. She had been trying to secure their future, but her son knew nothing but partying with his friends, wasting money and time, and not bothering about working seriously at the office.
"Huh? Sorry, I can’t hear you. I am at a party. I’ll call you later."
"Wait," Claudia shouted before he could end the call. "Get out of there. I have something important to tell you."
"Mom don’t be pushy," Franklin whined, clearly enjoying himself as he glanced at the two women flanking him, their hands playfully roaming over his neck and chest. He was reluctant to ruin the moment he was soaking in. "I’ll call you; I promise."
"If you don’t come out of there right away, I’ll seize your cards," Claudia threatened him.
The lightheartedness in Franklin’s expression vanished, replaced by a sullen look. Pushing the women away, he sprang to his feet, frustration sparking in his eyes as he walked out of the club.
"What is it?" he hissed as the heavy door closed behind him, muffling the chaos of the party. "Why are you acting like you’re on fire? I told you I’d call you later. Couldn’t you wait patiently?"
"If I could, I wouldn’t have disturbed you," Claudia spat with exasperation.
"What on earth happened that you couldn’t wait one night?" Franklin shot back, his irritation flaring.
"Franklin!" Claudia hissed. "If you keep this up, how do you expect to take control of the company? When are you going to start taking my words seriously? Everything I’m doing to secure the Reid fortune is for you! And here you are, wasting your time partying!"
"I’m not interested in hearing your lectures right now," he grumbled. "So, why did you call me?"
Claudia took a deep breath, trying to rein in her frustration. "Theodore told Gina that he had divorced Bella, but I’m suspicious about that. I need you to confirm what’s really going on between Bella and Theodore. I want all the details."
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