Bella turned her head toward Theodore, her phone still pressed tightly against her ear. "Mamma, actually..."
"I don’t want to hear anything," Selena’s firm voice cut through her hesitation. "Driving is not safe in this weather. I don’t want you to get hurt again. You are not coming back. Call Theodore."
"Mamma, listen to me," Bella tried to explain, but Selena was too anxious to hear her out.
"If you are hesitating to call him, I’ll do it myself," Selena insisted. "But I won’t allow you to drive in this weather."
Bella exhaled softly, glancing at Theodore before finally conceding. "Mamma, I am with him. Don’t worry about me. I’m not driving."
There was a brief silence on the other end before Selena’s voice burst through with relief and surprise. "He is with you! You met him."
Bella nodded. "Yes, we had lunch together."
"That’s wonderful," Selena beamed. "Go to his place with him."
Bella hesitated, her eyes flickering toward Theodore. He was already watching her. A silent conversation passed between them in that moment.
"I’m hanging up now." Bella ended the call. Her heart pounded in her chest, nervousness coursing through her.
She swallowed, her voice dropping to a murmur. "It was my mother. She said it’s raining heavily there, and she is worried. She wants me to stay at your place."
For a moment, Theodore didn’t say anything. Then a slow, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. Warmth spread through his chest, a deep gratitude filling him for Selena’s insistence.
"She knows what’s best for her daughter," he murmured. "Let’s go home."
Without another word, he turned the wheel, guiding the car toward his villa.
By the time they reached the villa, the sky had fully surrendered to the rain, sheets of water cascading down in rhythmic patters. They hurried inside, shaking droplets from their clothes.
Theodore ran a hand through his damp hair and looked at Bella. His gaze softened as he took in her slightly drenched figure. "Uh, the bedroom is upstairs. Your clothes are still there. Go and change. You shouldn’t stay in these wet clothes—you might catch a cold."
Bella nodded, her fingers brushing absently over her sleeves as she turned toward the stairs. As she ascended, her eyes roamed over the villa’s opulent interior. Every corner spoke of luxury—high ceilings adorned with elegant chandeliers, polished marble floors reflecting the dimmed golden light, and large windows revealing the rain-streaked world outside. It was breathtaking.
Her feet carried her toward their bedroom. As she entered, her gaze instinctively wandered around the space, and then she saw it—a large framed photo hanging prominently on the wall.
In it, she sat gracefully on a plush sofa while Theodore stood beside her, his expression calm yet commanding. The picture exuded a quiet intimacy.
Bella found herself moving toward it, almost entranced. Her fingertips reached up and traced the outline of his figure on the glass—a slow warmth spread through her.
’He is really handsome,’ she thought, her lips parting slightly. ’And he is mine.’
A soft blush spread across her cheeks. The thought of spending the night under the same roof, in his house, made her heart flutter unexpectedly. She clenched the fabric of her skirt at her sides, a small, almost shy smile curving her lips.
Outside, the rain continued to fall, but inside, a different kind of storm stirred within her—a quiet, growing awareness that she was finally with her husband.
Knock-Knock...
The soft rapping on the door pulled Bella out of her thoughts. She turned, blinking as she returned to the present, and walked over to open it.
Standing outside the door was Theodore, his tall frame relaxed but his gaze unreadable. In his hands, he held a neatly folded stack of towels.
"I forgot to leave fresh towels in the bathroom." He extended them toward her. "I brought these for you."
Bella hesitated only for a second before reaching out and taking them. "Thanks," she murmured, her fingers brushing against his briefly.
Theodore lingered, as if caught between the desire to stay and the restraint he imposed on himself. The air between them was charged. He wanted to be near her, to stay in the same room, but he didn’t want to push. Perhaps she wasn’t ready. Perhaps she still needed time.
Clearing his throat, he stepped back slightly. "Uh, I’m in the guest room. Call me if you need anything."
"Sure."
A beat of silence passed between them. She studied his face, sensing the unspoken hope behind his words. A part of her wanted to ask him to stay, to share the space with her. But uncertainty held her back.
It wasn’t fear. It wasn’t distrust. She simply wanted to remember their past before surrendering herself fully.
"I should freshen up first," she murmured.
The spell between them broke.
Theodore exhaled, his hesitation evident. "Yeah... I’ll also change my clothes."
With one last lingering glance, he turned and walked away, disappearing down the hallway.
Bella closed the door and leaned against it, pressing her back on the cool wood. Her heart pounded, thrilling experience coursing through her. A smile played on her lips.
’He is so understanding,’ she thought, warmth flooding through her chest. ’Maybe I don’t have to wait for my memories to return. Maybe I should just get to know him again. Maybe... I’ll fall for him.’
The very idea sent heat rushing to her cheeks. She bit her lower lip, flustered by her own thoughts, before quickly hurrying into the bathroom.
After freshening up, Bella wrapped the towel snugly around herself and stepped out of the bathroom, her damp hair clinging to her shoulders. She slipped into the closet.
The space was vast—elegantly arranged with rows of luxurious clothing hanging in perfect alignment. Her fingers traced the smooth silk of a gown, then moved to the soft cashmere of a sweater. Each piece felt like a whisper from a past she couldn’t remember.
"He kept all of this for me," she murmured, a strange mix of wonder and disbelief welling in her chest.
Her gaze drifted downward, landing on an array of branded handbags neatly arranged on the shelves. Some still had their tags. A small, breathy chuckle escaped her lips.
"Wow, Bella—looks like Theodore really loved you."
How had she ended up marrying a man like him? What had their love story been like before the accident?
She could feel that he cared, but the missing pieces of their past left her restless. ’Maybe it’s time for us to sit down and talk.’
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