When Zack returned to the bedroom, he found Bella struggling to sit up. He hurried to her side, slipping an arm under her shoulders to help her. Gently, he adjusted the pillows behind her back.
Bella offered him a faint smile. "Thank you."
Zack settled down beside her, his hands resting lightly on her arms. His gaze was filled with tenderness and yearning. "Taking care of you is my duty," he said softly. "Don’t thank me for that."
Zack’s heart raced as he studied her face. She looked so much like Rose that it was almost unbearable. Overcome by emotion, he leaned in closer, lowering his head toward her lips.
But Bella flinched, her hands pressing against his chest to push him away. "Zack, please, no..."
Zack froze, pulling back as a shadow of disappointment clouded his face. His gaze fell on his empty hands. "Why, Rose? Why did you push me away? We’re engaged..."
Bella lowered her eyes. "I’m sorry, Zack," she murmured. "I just... I don’t remember anything. Can we keep some distance, at least until I recover my memories?"
Zack’s jaw tightened, but he forced a smile. He couldn’t push her, not now. ’She’ll come around,’ he thought. ’Slowly but surely, I’ll make her mine.’
He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I promise, I won’t do anything to make you uneasy."
Bella clasped her fingers together tightly, discomfort rippling through her as his hand lingered briefly against her head. Yet, she didn’t move away this time. ’He is my fiancé,’ she reminded herself, trying to quell the unease bubbling in her chest.
After a moment, she broke the silence. "Zack..." she said softly. "Can you call my parents and ask them to come see me?"
Zack stiffened, a sudden chill creeping down his spine. ’Why is she asking about them now? Could she be remembering something?’
"Your parents?" he echoed. "Why... why do you want to see them?"
Bella’s brow furrowed, confused. "Maybe I’ll remember something if I meet them," she reasoned. Her gaze turned skeptical. "Why haven’t they come to see me? Don’t they know what happened to me?"
Zack hesitated, searching for the right words, but his thoughts were a jumbled mess. "You... you remember your mom?" he asked cautiously.
Bella’s chest tightened at his question, her unease deepening. "I don’t remember anything. Why are you asking like that? What happened to my mother?"
Zack let out a quiet sigh of relief. ’She doesn’t remember anything,’ he thought, reassuring himself. Taking Bella’s hands in his, he said, "Actually, your mom had a small surgery. She is fine now, but...I haven’t told your parents about your accident yet. I didn’t want to worry them unnecessarily."
"Oh," Bella murmured with disappointment. Doubts swirled in her mind. She had hoped to see her parents, believing they might help her recall her past. But Zack’s explanation felt like an excuse to keep her away from them.
Noticing the shadow of sadness crossing her face, Zack reached out to cup her cheeks, tilting her head up to meet his gaze. "Hey, don’t be upset," he said gently. "If you want, we can go see them."
Bella’s eyes lit up with excitement, her lips curving into a hopeful smile. "Really?"
Zack nodded. He made a decision. Staying in this city with Bella was becoming too risky. Alan Walton and Theodore were relentless—sooner or later, they’d find her. The new branch of his company in a neighboring city had already started operating. It was the perfect escape. No one would suspect him.
"Yes," he affirmed. "I’ll arrange everything. We’ll leave tomorrow."
Bella’s heart leaped with joy at the promise of seeing her parents. Perhaps this visit would be the key to unlocking the missing pieces of her past. She clung to the hope that meeting them might help her regain her memory.
"Rest now. I’ll go cook dinner for you." He gave her a small smile before stepping out of the room.
As the door closed behind him, Zack’s face darkened, the cheerful facade melting away. His expression turned grim. ’No one can find us there. No one will take her away from me.’
His resolve hardened as he walked down the hall. Pulling out his phone, he dialed his mother’s number. When she answered, he wasted no time. "Hey, Mom, listen to me carefully," he began.
He narrated the chain of events, from Bella’s accident to her memory loss, leaving no detail untouched.
"I can’t take her to the hospital here," he added, his hand brushing through his hair. "So, I’m taking her to the neighboring city. But I need your help."
On the other end, Hazel’s voice softened. "Anything for you, son. Tell me, how can I help?"
Zack took a deep breath, carefully choosing his words. "Bella doesn’t remember anything about her past. The doctor says forcing her to recall it might worsen her condition. But..." He paused, his heart pounding. "We can help her build new memories. She has already forgotten her name is Bella. She can be Rose. My Rose. Help me, Mom."
A stunned silence followed before Hazel’s sharp voice cut through. "Have you lost your mind, Zack? She is not Rose."
His chest tightened, but he refused to back down. "Mom, I lost my first love. Bella reminds me of Rose. She is the only one who can heal me, who can fill the emptiness in my heart. If I lose her, I’ll die. Please, Mom, help me."
Hazel sighed heavily, her hesitation evident. "What do you want me to do?"
Zack pressed further, seizing the moment. "Bella wants to meet her parents. I’m taking her to my new house in the neighboring city. I need you and Dad to come there and pretend to be her parents."
"Her parents?" Hazel’s voice rose with disbelief. "Zack, what if she regains her memory? She’ll be devastated."
"She won’t," Zack said with unshakable determination. "And even if she does, it will be too late. By then, she’ll be mine. I’ll marry her, give her a family, and she’ll have no reason to leave."
Hazel’s hesitation lingered, but her son’s plea tugged at her conscience. Finally, she relented reluctantly. "I don’t know if this will work, Zack, but for your happiness...I’ll help you."
A broad grin spread across Zack’s face. "Thank you, Mom," he said, brimming with excitement. "I’ll see you soon. Bye."
Ending the call, he stepped into the kitchen. The tension that had gripped him earlier melted away, replaced with a renewed sense of purpose. Humming softly, he began preparing dinner. Bella would be his, no matter the cost.
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