Outside the house...
Hazel hurriedly called Zack as she walked briskly down the street, her fingers trembling slightly. When the call connected, she immediately blurted out, "Zack, I think Bella is growing suspicious of us. We need to tell her the truth. I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up."
"What’s wrong?" Zack asked anxiously.
Hazel glanced around nervously, lowering her voice as she spoke. "She asked me to take her to our home," she explained. "She believes being there will help her recover her memory. I couldn’t outright refuse her—it would make her even more suspicious. So I told her she’d need your permission first."
There was a pause on the other end of the phone. "Stay calm, Mom," Zack said reassuringly. "I’ve got this under control. She is not going anywhere. I’ll handle everything when I get back. I’m a bit tied up right now, but don’t worry."
The call ended, and Hazel sighed as she slipped the phone into her bag. As she continued down the street, lost in her thoughts, a man brushed past her and snatched her handbag.
"Hey..." Hazel shouted, startled, but before she could react further, the man shoved her forcefully, sending her sprawling onto the pavement. Her heart raced as she watched him sprint away.
Hazel winced, her face contorted in pain as she tried to push herself off the ground. "Stop right there!" Her attempt to stand was futile; her ankle gave way, and she collapsed back onto the pavement with a groan. "Uh," she hissed, clutching her injured ankle. "Thief! Thief!"
Her cries drew the attention of a nearby man, who hurried over to her side. "Ma’am, are you alright?" he asked with concern as he crouched down, his eyes darting to her hand pressing against her ankle. "You look hurt. Let me help you to the hospital."
Hazel shook her head. "Forget me—catch that thief!" She pointed shakily in the direction the thief had disappeared. "He ran that way. He took my bag!"
"Alright, I’ll go after him. Stay here." He darted off, his figure disappearing into the distance.
"Uh..." Left alone, Hazel grimaced, rubbing her aching ankle. "It’s sprained," she muttered through clenched teeth. "That bastard!" Her gaze flicked toward the direction the man had run. "I just hope he catches that thief and gets my bag back."
Around the corner, Theodore spotted Skyler leaning casually against the wall of the alleyway, a triumphant smirk plastered across his face. In his hand dangled Hazel’s stolen bag.
"The plan worked like a charm," Skyler quipped with playful amusement. "Now go play the hero and help that poor lady."
"Thanks." Theodore extended his hand to grab the bag. Before he could reach the bag, Skyler’s fist shot out, landing a solid punch squarely on Theodore’s jaw.
"Ugh," Theodore staggered back, clutching his face as pain radiated through his jaw. "What the hell was that for? Are you insane?"
Skyler shrugged nonchalantly. "Think about it. You’re supposed to be chasing down a thief. What kind of scuffle doesn’t leave a mark? The bloodied lip adds realism. Plus, the sympathy factor will play in your favor."
The smug look on his face made Theodore frown even harder. He wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth. "You could’ve given me a warning, you idiot!"
Skyler chuckled, entirely unrepentant. "Where is the fun in that? The look on your face was priceless."
Theodore’s gaze narrowed further. "Why do I feel like you’re enjoying this a little too much?"
Feigning innocence, Skyler raised his hands in mock surrender. "Me? Never. I’m just doing my duty to help you." With a grin, he tossed the bag toward Theodore, spun on his heel, and disappeared down the alley. "Good luck, hero!"
"Bastard," Theodore muttered under his breath, rubbing his jaw. "I’ll deal with you later."
He picked up the bag and turned back toward the street. As he approached, he saw Hazel still seated on the pavement, clutching her ankle.
Hazel’s face lit up with relief as Theodore approached, holding out her bag.
"That thief got away," Theodore said. "But I managed to get your bag back." He winced slightly, brushing his hand over the corner of his mouth.
"Thank you." Hazel smiled at him, taking the bag. But her expression quickly turned to one of alarm as she noticed the bruise on his face. "You are hurt!" Worry clouded her eyes.
Theodore waved her off with a dismissive gesture. "It’s nothing. What’s important is that you have your bag back. You should check if everything is still there."
Nodding quickly, Hazel rummaged through the bag and let out a sigh of relief. "Nothing is missing. Thank you, young man. What’s your name?"
"My name?" The question caught Theodore off guard. For a fleeting moment, he froze, his mind scrambling. He couldn’t possibly reveal his real name. With a quick recovery, he forced a grin. "It’s Lance." He took his driver’s name. "My name is Lance." He grinned.
Hazel offered him a warm smile. "Lance, you’ve done me a great kindness today. Thank you again. You even got hurt because of me. Please, come to my house so I can treat your wound."
Theodore’s pulse quickened with excitement at the opportunity. If Hazel brought him home, he might have a chance to sneak around and find out if Bella was there. But he didn’t show his excitement.
"It’s really just a scratch. I’m fine. But your injury looks serious. Let me take you to the hospital—or perhaps call a family member to help you?"
Hazel waved off the suggestion. "There is no need for that. I don’t want to go to the hospital. My daughter is at home alone, and she must be worried. I need to get back to her."
"Your daughter?" Theodore repeated with astonishment. Zack had never mentioned having a sister. Was Hazel referring to Bella?
His heart thumped with anticipation.
"Yes, my daughter must be waiting for me. Can you take me home, please? With this sprained ankle, I can’t walk properly. Besides, I want to thank you properly."
"Yes, yes," Theodore replied, steadying her as they moved toward the street. He raised his hand to flag down a taxi and helped her into the car before sliding in beside her.
They soon arrived at Zack’s house. Hazel unlocked the door and invited him in.
Bella, who had been watching TV, turned her head toward the door and noticed Hazel walking in with a man. Her heart sank when she saw her limping.
"Mom, what happened?" Bella quickly turned off the TV and hurried to her side, concern etched across her face. Her eyes flicked to the stranger, standing just behind Hazel.
Theodore froze in his tracks, his heart skipping a beat. There she was—Bella. She looked the same yet somehow different, as though an invisible wall now stood between them. Her eyes met his, blank and unrecognizing. She showed no signs of knowing who he was, no flicker of the connection they once shared. And most baffling of all, she addressed Hazel as her mother.
’What the hell is going on?’ Theodore’s mind spun with questions and doubts.
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