Zack’s hand slammed against the door with a force that made it rattle. "Rose...Open the door." His second knock was louder, almost desperate.
Bella inhaled deeply, trying to compose herself. She moved toward the door. When she opened it, her eyes met his, filled with a mix of frustration and confusion. "What is it? Why are you banging on the door?" she demanded with annoyance.
Zack’s hand shot out, grabbing her arm firmly. "You said you’d sleep, but I heard you moving around the room. What were you doing?"
Bella jerked her arm, trying to free herself, but his grip only tightened. The pressure was sharp, and she winced. "You are hurting me," she gasped, the pain seeping through her words.
"Are you lying now?" he growled.
The sting of his words cut through her frustration, but Bella gathered her strength and shoved him away with as much force as she could muster.
"What’s wrong with you?" she snapped. "I came out to drink some water. Is that so hard to believe? You’ve been keeping me locked inside the house like I’m a prisoner. Are you going to lock me in my room too? Am I even your fiancée anymore?"
For a moment, Zack faltered. His hands fell from her arms as his eyes softened, guilt flashing across his face. "It’s not like that," he murmured, almost pleading. He reached out for her again, grabbing her arms, his grip gentler this time. "I was worried. You didn’t let me in. It made me angry, and I—"
"I don’t want to talk," she cut him short. "You are making my headache worse." She winced, her hand coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose.
Zack stood frozen for a moment, his gaze fixed on Bella as she stood there, her posture and tone completely different from what he was used to. There was a stark contrast in her demeanor now, something was off. Bella had always been distant, even guarded, but never had she shown this kind of defiance before. She used to shrink under his gaze, but tonight, she wasn’t backing down.
’Something is not right,’ he thought. ’Did she remember something?’
The shift was unsettling, and Zack’s thoughts spiraled. ’Had she remembered something?’
The possibility felt too real to ignore. Zack’s mind raced. The stranger who had visited their home earlier only added to his unease. This place, which had once seemed like a safe haven, no longer felt secure. They had to get out of there before Theodore and Alan’s men could get Bella.
"What is going on?" Hazel’s voice broke through his thoughts.
Zack snapped out of his trance, his face hardening. "Mom, pack your bags. My assistant will come and pick you up soon."
Hazel’s eyes widened with confusion and worry. "What? Where are you sending me?"
Zack didn’t have the time or patience for her questions. He didn’t stop to explain. Instead, he grabbed Bella’s wrist and pulled her towards the door.
"What are you doing?" Bella struggled against him, twisting her wrist in an attempt to break free from his iron grip. Her body strained against him, but his hold was unyielding.
"We are going out," Zack muttered through his gritted teeth.
Alarmed, Hazel limped toward them. "Zack, wait!" she called out, her breath quickening. "Where are you going?"
Zack stopped just long enough to glance over his shoulder, his face cold and unreadable. "I’ll call you later," he muttered dismissively. Not giving her a chance to say anything else, he stormed out of the house, pulling Bella along with him.
Bella’s pulse thundered in her ears as she yanked her wrist to free her from his hold. "Let go of me!" she protested. "Where are you taking me?"
"Didn’t you want to go out of this house?" he hissed as he dragged her out to the cold air of the night. "I’m fulfilling your wish."
Bella’s confusion deepened, her throat tightening. "Zack, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong with you? Why are you acting like this?"
Without a word, Zack shoved her into the passenger seat of the car, not even sparing her a glance. Before Bella could react, he slammed the door shut.
"Zack!" Bella’s voice cracked as she called out, but he was already in the driver’s seat, starting the engine with a growl of frustration. The car lurched forward, the tires screeching as he accelerated down the road.
Bella, still trying to make sense of the situation, shot a glare at him. "You left Mom alone! Why can’t she come with us?"
Zack scrunched up his face and ignited the engine.
Bella’s hands clenched against her chest, the coldness of the night seeping into her skin. As the car sped down the road, she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease, her mind racing with questions she had no answers to. She had no idea what had gotten to this man and where he was taking her. Her eyes drifted to the scenery outside the window, hoping she would find a way to get out of his grasp.
On the other hand, Theodore and Skyler sat in tense silence, the minutes stretching on as they waited in the car parked a few blocks away from Zack’s house. Skyler’s impatience was palpable, his fingers drumming restlessly against the steering wheel.
"Why aren’t the cops here yet?" he muttered, frustration edging his tone. "Did Steward fail to convince the authorities?"
Theodore remained composed, his posture relaxed as he leaned back in his seat, his eyes closed in quiet contemplation. "Patience. Steward already talked to the officer on duty and passed the message. They’ll be here soon."
Skyler huffed, unconvinced, his gaze darting around as he looked for any sign of movement. He caught the sight of Zack’s car rolling out of the gate.
"Isn’t it Zack’s car?" he asked, straightening in his seat. "Didn’t he come back a while ago? Why is he going out again?"
At that, Theodore’s eyes snapped open, his gaze immediately shifting to Zack’s house. He saw Zack’s car roll past them, and in the passenger seat, just for a brief moment, Theodore caught a glimpse of Bella’s figure.
"Bella," he exclaimed, tensing up. "She is inside the car. Follow him."
Skyler didn’t need to be told twice. He hit the ignition with a swift motion, the car coming to life as he carefully pulled out behind Zack’s vehicle. His nerves were on edge, but his focus was absolute. "Are you sure you saw her?" he asked skeptically.
"Yes, I saw her," Theodore replied sharply, his eyes never leaving the moving car ahead. His hands clenched into fists on his thighs as the tension coiled within him. "Just don’t lose sight of him. This time, I’ll rescue her."
Skyler’s mouth set into a grim line as he narrowed his focus on the road.
Zack’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as he glanced into the rearview mirror, his eyes narrowing when he saw the black Range Rover tailing them. His face darkened in an instant, his anger flaring as he recognized that they were being followed.
His voice dropped to a dangerous hiss. "Did you contact anyone?"
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