At Theodore’s office...
Theodore was reviewing a contract when his phone buzzed, breaking his concentration. He glanced at the screen—Willow.
"Hello."
"I have something exciting for you!" Willow’s voice bubbled with enthusiasm.
Theodore leaned back in his chair, intrigued. His curiosity grew. He set the file aside. "What is it?"
"Bella and Kate are going out for lunch. I spoke with Kate, and guess what? We can join them."
"Are you telling the truth?" Theodore’s heart thumped at the prospect of meeting Bella.
Willow chuckled. "Yes, I arranged this meeting just for you. It’s your chance, Theo. You can get close to Bella, talk to her, maybe even remind her of something about you." Her voice brimmed with hope, but Theodore’s heart clenched with unease.
Theodore was excited. He wanted nothing more than to see Bella, to be near her again. But his mind couldn’t shake the memory of her reaction in the hospital—the way her anxiety had spiked the moment she saw him. What if this only made things worse?
"I don’t know," he exhaled deeply, rubbing his temple. "I do want to see her, but what about her? What if she refuses to talk to me? What if she panics again?"
"Don’t worry," Willow reassured him quickly. "This isn’t just a casual meeting. It’s a business luncheon. I told Kate I’m interested in collaborating with Limeart Fashion. Bella won’t suspect a thing."
"Alright then," he said, a quiet determination settling in his voice. "I’ll come with you."
As the call ended, a slow, hopeful smile stretched across Theodore’s face. The anticipation thrummed in his chest. ’I’m going to see her again.’
At the Restaurant...
Theodore and Willow stepped into the elegantly decorated private dining room. He carefully placed a bouquet of fresh white lilies on the table before he settled into a chair, his gaze locked on the closed door. His heart thrummed in anticipation, silently urging it to open, revealing the one person he had been aching to see.
Willow smirked, observing the way his eyes darted to the door every few seconds. She leaned forward and teased him, "They’ll be here soon. Don’t be so impatient."
Theodore cleared his throat, attempting to mask his eagerness. "I’m not impatient," he muttered, though his restless glances betrayed him.
Willow chuckled but soon shifted the conversation. "Limeart Fashion is planning a success party. They’ll be revealing the designer Muse’s identity. It’s a great opportunity for Bella."
"She deserves it," Theodore murmured, his chest swelling with pride.
Willow, however, sighed, her earlier amusement fading into concern. "I am a bit worried, though. Bella still hasn’t regained her memory. With this condition, she might struggle to keep up with work. If she can’t produce compelling designs, the pressure could be too much for her."
Theodore grew solemn as he processed Willow’s words. He had never doubted Bella’s talent, but the thought of her feeling overwhelmed, lost in a world she no longer remembered, unsettled him. Maybe everything was moving too fast. She needed time—time to adjust, to heal, to rediscover herself.
After a thoughtful pause, he spoke. "You’re about to propose a business deal with them, right? Add a clause stating that as long as they work with you, they can’t partner with other ventures."
Willow arched a brow. "You want to limit their commitments!"
He nodded. "This way, Bella won’t have too many responsibilities piling up. She’ll have time to ease into work without unnecessary pressure."
Willow considered his proposal. "That’s not a bad idea. But it depends on Kate. I can’t force her into accepting the terms."
"We’ll see," Theodore said, his gaze once again flickering to the door.
The door swung open, and Kate strode in first, with Bella following closely behind. The moment Theodore’s eyes fell on her, the world around him seemed to blur. He instinctively rose from his seat, unable to tear his gaze away.
Bella’s steps faltered when she saw him. A wave of emotions crashed into her, unsteady and confusing. ’Theodore Reid... my husband!’
"Hello, beautiful ladies," Willow greeted. "You’re finally here."
Bella’s eyes flickered toward her before she quickly lowered her gaze, a sudden fluttering sensation stirring in her stomach under Theodore’s unwavering stare.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Kate said apologetically. She turned to Bella, gesturing toward Willow. "Bella, this is Willow, the renowned designer. She is very interested in working with you."
Bella hesitated for a moment before lifting her eyes to Willow. She mustered a polite smile and extended her hand. "Hello, I am Isabella."
Willow longed to embrace her, to remind her of everything she had forgotten, but she held back. With a composed smile, she grasped Bella’s hand firmly. "I don’t know what I should call you—Muse or Bella?"
A strange feeling of familiarity washed over Bella as she stared at Willow. Something about her—her warm gaze, her friendly demeanor—felt comforting, almost nostalgic. It was as if she had known her for a long time.
"You can call me Bella," she murmured, almost dreamily.
Willow beamed. "Thank you, Bella." Then, with deliberate ease, she pointed toward Theodore. "Let me introduce you to my brother—Theodore."
Bella turned her head slightly, her eyes meeting Theodore’s once more. Her heart skipped a beat. ’So he is Willow’s brother,’ a voice screamed in her mind. ’That means Willow is my sister-in-law.’
The realization struck her like a wave, explaining the strange sense of familiarity she had felt with Willow. ’They haven’t told me the truth... because I refused to acknowledge him as my husband.’
A pang of regret twisted in her gut. Had she been too harsh?
"Hello," Theodore’s deep voice cut through her spiraling thoughts, sending ripples through her stomach.
Bella’s pulse quickened. Their last meeting had been tense, filled with confusion and resistance. Now, standing before him again, she was surprised by her own reaction—she wasn’t angry. She didn’t feel the urge to push him away.
Instead, she wanted to put her faith in him, get close to him, and rekindle their bond. Bella believed he was trustworthy, unlike Zack, who had imprisoned her.
"Hello," she murmured.
Theodore pulled out a chair for her. "Have a seat."
"Thank you." She sat down gracefully, feeling oddly at ease.
Willow watched their interaction, a quiet joy filling her chest. At least this time, Bella hadn’t pushed Theodore away. It was a small victory. If they continued to spend time together, she believed, Bella would come to know him again.
Turning her attention back to Bella, Willow took her seat. "So, Bella," she began, "I was wondering if we could work together."
Bella cast a playful look at her. "You are saying like we haven’t worked together before."
Willow’s smile froze in the corners of her lips. Surprise flickered across her face, quickly replaced by hope. "Do you remember?"
Bella had just guessed, but Willow’s reaction confirmed that they had indeed worked together in the past.
"Kate told me that I used to work as your assistant," Bella recounted. "I’m sorry, I can’t remember anything about my past."
Willow’s expression softened as she reached across the table, gently clasping Bella’s hand. "Don’t say sorry. I’m just glad you’re here, safe and well."
The next minute, she straightened herself, her demeanor shifting into something more businesslike. "Now, back to business...Yes, you were my assistant before, but I don’t want you to be my assistant anymore—I want you as my partner."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
