"Yes, Bella is the daughter of a wealthy man," Willow confirmed. "And he is doing everything to find her. And you... you’re doing nothing but wasting time. I thought you loved Bella. But now I see—you only care about easing your own pain. Have you ever considered hers?"
Willow stood rigid, her eyes blazing with frustration as she confronted Theodore. Her words were as sharp as daggers, cutting through Theodore’s heart.
"Stop it, please stop it," he grunted, his face twisting with a mixture of shame and despair. He staggered backward, collapsing onto the edge of the bed.
But Willow was relentless, her anger pushing her forward. "Look at yourself," she pressed, her tone biting. "You can’t even stand properly. How are you supposed to find Bella like this?"
A flicker of determination flashed in Theodore’s eyes. "I will..." he said firmly despite his crumbling composure. "I will definitely find her."
Willow scoffed, her disdain clear. "In this state? Go clean yourself up first. I’ll have the maid bring you some food. Skyler and I will go to the police station."
With a wave of her hand, she signaled Skyler to follow her and stomped out of the room.
Left alone, Theodore hunched over, his elbows digging into his knees as he buried his face in his hands. Regret and sorrow radiated from him. "Where are you, Bella?" he murmured. "Come back to me."
~~~~~~~~~~~
Nathan came and checked Bella’s vitals. "Any pain?" he asked.
Bella nodded weakly. "Yes, my head hurts a bit," she said with weariness. Her gaze dropped to her left leg, wrapped tightly in gauze. "And my leg. It’s painful."
"You’ve sustained some injuries, but don’t worry. These will heal in a few days. Just keep up with the medication, and you’ll be fine." Nathan assured her with a smile.
Bella hesitated before asking the question that had been gnawing at her. "What about my memory? Why can’t I remember anything?" Anxiety flickered in her eyes as she looked at him, searching for answers.
Nathan’s expression grew serious, and he paused before answering. "You have a concussion. It’s causing the memory loss. But it’s temporary. Once the swelling subsides, your memories should start coming back gradually. But you mustn’t push yourself too hard. Relax and focus on healing."
"Yes, Rose." Before Bella could respond, Zack, who had been quietly standing by her bedside, spoke up. "You don’t have to worry. You have me, and I’ll make sure you remember everything about us."
Bella offered him a faint smile, but it didn’t reach her eyes. Something was unsettling about Zack. His words seemed sincere, and yet a deep unease gnawed at her. Whenever he was near, a vague sense of dread filled her, as though he were more foe than fiancé.
Nathan’s gaze flicked to Zack, his hesitation evident. He had so much to tell him but couldn’t voice it in front of Bella. Clearing his throat, he said carefully, "Zack, I need to speak with you. Privately."
Zack nodded, his smile fading. "Alright. Let’s talk in the study." He cast Bella a reassuring look before leaving the room with Nathan.
Left alone, Bella exhaled a soft sigh, her thoughts swirling like the clouds she could see through the window. The afternoon light filtered into the room, warming the space. But it did little to dispel the chill of her doubts.
"Why do I feel like Zack is hiding something from me?" she murmured. Her fingers absently brushed against the blanket draped over her. "Is he really my fiancé?"
Inside the study...
Zack locked the door once they were inside the room, ensuring their conversation remained private. He turned to Nathan, his face taut with concern. "What is it? Is she okay? There is nothing serious about her condition, right?"
"She lost her memory," Nathan snapped, scowling at him. "What could be more serious than that? She needs a neurologist and proper medical care. I’m not qualified to handle this. Take her to a hospital where she can get the treatment she needs."
Zack bit the inside of his cheek, his thoughts swirling. He couldn’t let that happen. Bella couldn’t regain her memory—it would ruin everything. The past was better left buried, and he was determined to craft a new future for them.
"She is fine with me," he said adamantly. "She doesn’t need to remember the past. We’ll build something better, something brighter. A future together."
"Zack, come to your senses." He grabbed Zack by the arms, shaking him as though to jolt some sense into him. "She is not Rose."
"She is my Rose," Zack shot back, his eyes blazing with an almost manic intensity. "And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her with me as my Rose."
Nathan stepped back, staring at him in disbelief. "You’re insane," he muttered, shaking his head. "You don’t realize the dangerous game you’re playing. If you keep this up, you’ll lose everything."
Zack’s eyes softened for a moment, the pain in them surfacing. "My life has been a nightmare since I lost Rose. For years, I’ve lived with nothing but vengeance in my heart. And then Bella came into my life—she is my second chance, my hope. I can’t lose her. Losing her would mean losing myself entirely."
The room fell into a tense silence, Nathan staring at Zack as though he were a stranger. "You have no idea what danger is approaching you," he said with a warning tone.
Holding up his phone in front of Zack’s face, he continued gravely, "Look at this. Alan Walton is desperate to find his daughter. He is offering a million-dollar reward to anyone who can locate her and bring her home. The cops are already involved, searching for her. And her husband... Do you really think a man like Theodore Reid will sit idly by doing nothing?"
Zack grabbed the phone, his eyes scanning the news article. The words blurred as his mind raced, a storm of emotions brewing within him—fear, anxiety, and relentless determination.
Alan Walton wasn’t just powerful; he was a man who could crush him with a single move. If Alan discovered Bella was with him, Zack knew the consequences would be catastrophic, not just for himself but for his whole family.
But he wouldn’t lose Bella either. She was his salvation, his second chance at life. He wouldn’t let her slip away, no matter the cost.
"There is still time," Nathan’s voice broke through his thoughts. "Call him and tell him Bella is safe. He’ll listen to you."
Zack glanced at his old friend, someone he had trusted for years. But now, doubt crept in, clawing at the edges of his mind. What if Nathan betrayed him? What if the promise of a million dollars was enough to make him call Alan and reveal Bella’s whereabouts?
Zack couldn’t take that risk. He couldn’t let him treat Bella anymore.
Zack handed the phone back with measured words. "Thanks for the advice. I’ll think about it. But you have to promise me you won’t say anything to Alan about Bella. I’ll handle it myself."
Nathan hesitated, his expression torn. Finally, he sighed and nodded. "I won’t tell anyone. You have my word. But Zack, you need to act quickly. Bella’s condition could worsen."
"I understand," Zack replied dismissively. "You should go. Your patients must be waiting for you."
Nathan stepped closer, placing a reassuring hand on Zack’s shoulder. "I hope you’ll come to your senses before it’s too late." With that, he turned and left the room.
As the door clicked shut, Zack’s expression darkened, a dangerous glint flickering in his eyes. "No one will take her from me. No one can come between me and my Rose."
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