"Did he open his mouth?" Steward asked.
Theodore sighed heavily, running a hand through his disheveled hair. "She is not with him," he said with a mix of frustration and despair. "Someone else has taken her."
Steward frowned, skepticism etched into his features. "Are you certain? You can’t trust a man like Keith. Give me some time—I’ll get the truth out of him."
Theodore shook his head, stopping him. "It’s no use. He doesn’t know anything. "Someone else took her away." The thought of Bella being with Zack made his heart clench.
Steward studied him. "If it’s not Keith, who else could have taken her? Do you suspect anyone?"
"I do," Theodore said with a firm nod. "It’s Zack Hudson."
"Zack Hudson," Steward repeated the name, tilting his head slightly. "Why do you suspect him?"
"Because he is obsessed with Bella," Theodore muttered in frustration. "She looks like his dead girlfriend. He has been following her for so long, even after she told him she was married to me. But that psychopath doesn’t care. I’m certain he is involved in her disappearance." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶
Steward nodded grimly, absorbing the information. "A delusional admirer," he muttered. "That makes him dangerous." After a moment of pause, he added, "Don’t worry. I’ll pick him up and interrogate him."
"Don’t do anything reckless," Theodore interrupted him. "If Bella is with him, we can’t risk alerting him. He might hurt her. I need to confirm she is there first, then figure out how to get her back safely."
Steward gave a slow nod, acknowledging Theodore’s reasoning. "Understood. If you need my help, don’t hesitate. I’ll wait for your call."
Theodore’s lips pressed into a thin line as he opened his car door. "I’ll let you know," he said shortly before sliding into the driver’s seat. The car roared to life and sped off down the desolate road.
The next day...
Skyler knocked gently before stepping inside. His usual confidence wavered as his gaze landed on Theodore, slumped behind his desk. Dark circles framed his bloodshot eyes, and the weight of sleepless hours etched deeply into his face.
"You haven’t slept all night," Skyler ventured with concern. "Why don’t you go home and rest? I can take care of things here."
Theodore didn’t even look up, his fingers massaging his temple as though to push back the relentless pounding in his head. "Tell me you’ve found out where Bella is."
Skyler hesitated, his unease evident. "We checked into Zack Hudson’s activities," he began cautiously. "He left the city the day before yesterday to oversee issues at his company’s new branch. I don’t think Bella is with him."
Theodore froze, his hand falling away as his sharp eyes locked onto Skyler. "What did you just say?" he asked, his voice rising. "Zack left the city?"
Skyler nodded, shifting his weight uncomfortably under the intensity of Theodore’s stare. "Yes. According to our sources, there has been trouble at the new branch, and he’s gone to deal with it. Nothing unusual has been reported."
Theodore’s jaw tightened, his expression hardening as realization dawned. "No, that’s not a coincidence," he said with certainty. "This isn’t about business. He has Bella with him. That’s why he left so suddenly."
Skyler furrowed his brow, attempting to reason. "But the records show it’s a legitimate business issue. He could be managing it himself."
Theodore’s hand slammed onto the desk, silencing him. "He didn’t need to go personally. He has a team for this. Why now, and why so abruptly?" Theodore’s eyes burned with suspicion. "He is covering his tracks. Zack is a cunning man, and this is a calculated move. We need to monitor him closely."
Skyler hesitated, doubt lingering in his mind. What if Bella wasn’t with Zack? Yet, Theodore’s unwavering determination made it clear—this wasn’t a request; it was a directive he had to follow.
Skyler exhaled slowly, relenting. "I’ll mobilize the team. We’ll find out everything we can about his activities."
Theodore shook his head, his expression fierce. "No, wait." He raised his hand to stop Skyler. "I’ll go there myself."
Skyler blinked in surprise, his mouth slightly ajar. "You? Are you sure?" He struggled to process Theodore’s decision. "I mean, we don’t even have confirmation that Bella is with him. Let me find it out first."
"I can’t wait that long," Theodore snapped. "Knowing she might be with that lunatic and in danger—how do you expect me to sit back and wait? I have to go."
Skyler sighed, realizing it was futile to argue. "I understand," he said quickly in surrender. "I’ll arrange everything for your travel."
Theodore’s intense gaze locked onto Skyler, his voice commanding. "Keep it quiet. No one can know where I’m going—not even Willow."
Skyler nodded firmly, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Understood. I’ll call you once the arrangements are finalized." He left the office, already pulling out his phone to make the necessary calls.
Theodore’s fists clenched tightly. His eyes burned with a mixture of rage and desperation. "Zack," he muttered under his breath. "You messed with the wrong man. If you’ve harmed her, I’ll make you regret it."
A flicker of pain crossed his hardened features as Bella’s image surfaced in his mind—her radiant smile, her gentle voice. His expression softened, his anger momentarily replaced by aching longing. "Bella," he murmured. "Hold on, my love. I’m coming for you. Don’t be afraid. Just stay safe until I get there."
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bella’s eyes lit up with joy as she embraced Hazel and Cole, overwhelmed. Though her memory was a blank slate, their warmth felt genuine, and she found herself instinctively trusting them.
"Oh, sweetheart," Hazel murmured, her arms tightening around Bella in a motherly embrace. "It’s been for a while."
Cole, on the other hand, stood rooted in place, his eyes fixed on Bella with a mixture of astonishment and disbelief. He didn’t return her hug, his mind racing with conflicting thoughts. ’She is an exact replica of her. No wonder Zack is obsessed with this woman.’
Pulling back slightly, Hazel’s gaze fell to Bella’s bandaged leg, a flicker of concern clouding her features. "I’m so sorry we couldn’t come to see you sooner. How are you feeling, dear?"
Bella offered her a bright, reassuring smile. "I’m doing much better now. And I’m sure I’ll recover fully if I stay here with you."
Before Hazel could respond, Zack interjected with a subtle firmness. "Actually, they can’t stay for long. Dad has business commitments to attend to." His gaze shifted to Cole, silently urging him to support his statement.
Cole forced a smile. "That’s right. I have to return home tomorrow."
Bella blinked in surprise, her cheerful expression faltering. "Tomorrow? So soon?"
"You know how it is with my import-export business. It needs constant attention, and I can’t leave it in someone else’s hands for too long."
Hazel reached out to take Bella’s hand. "Don’t worry, darling," she said reassuringly. "We can always talk whenever you want. Just give me a call, and I’ll be there."
Bella’s heart sank slightly. Her instincts stirred uneasily as she observed Hazel. The woman, who claimed to be her mother, seemed oddly detached from the gravity of the situation.
Despite learning about Bella’s memory loss, she didn’t exhibit the worry or urgency one would expect. Hazel made no effort to recount stories or moments from the past as if the idea of helping Bella recall her memories was of little concern.
Though Hazel’s demeanor was warm and inviting, something about her interactions felt off. Bella couldn’t shake the nagging sense of missing the motherly connection. ’Maybe I’m just overthinking,’ she mumbled to herself, shaking her head to dispel the uneasy thoughts.
She mustered a hopeful smile and squeezed Hazel’s hands gently. "Mom, can you stay with me for a few days?" she urged. "I’d be so happy if you did. And maybe... maybe it’ll help me remember."
Hazel’s face flickered with hesitation. Her eyes darted to Zack, who gave her a curt sharp nod. She turned back to Bella with a reassuring smile.
"Okay, I’ll stay."
Bella’s face lit up, her earlier doubts momentarily swept aside by relief.
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