Bella came out of the room. The hall was silent, the soft hum of the rain against the windows the only sound accompanying her. She glanced around, expecting to see Theodore, but the hall was quiet.
’Maybe he is taking a bath,’ she thought.
Not wanting to idle, she headed to the kitchen. With practiced ease, she moved to the stove and began preparing ginger soup. The aroma of fresh ginger and simmering broth soon filled the air, wrapping her in warmth.
Tonight, they would talk. And maybe she’d take the first step toward rediscovering the love that once existed between them.
Meanwhile, Theodore stepped out of the guest room, running a hand through his freshly dried hair. As he made his way down the hall, a familiar scent wafted through the air.
He followed it into the kitchen, where he found Bella standing by the stove, focused on carefully pouring soup into two bowls.
"Do you need something?" he asked.
Bella looked up, her eyes meeting his. "I made ginger soup," she said, offering him a small smile. "It’s ready now. Let’s have it while it’s still hot."
She picked up both bowls, balancing them in her hands as she walked past him toward the dining table. Theodore watched her, a sense of quiet admiration settling over him. She looked so at ease, moving about as if she had always belonged here.
Just as she placed the bowls on the table, a sudden boom of thunder cracked through the night, shaking the windows.
Bella gasped, startled. Before she could think, she flung herself into Theodore’s arms. Her hands clutched at his shirt, her face buried in his chest.
Theodore froze for a second, taken aback by the sudden contact. But then, instinctively, his arms came around her, holding her close. The warmth of her body against his sent a jolt of something deep through him, something that made his heart pound a little harder.
The rapid beating of her heart slowly settled. A breath passed, then another, before she realized what she had done.
Lifting her face, she met his gaze. A deep blush crept up her cheeks, and she quickly stepped back, breaking free from his hold.
"Uh, we should finish the soup first," she mumbled and hurriedly pulled out a chair and sat down, grabbing a bowl as if it were a lifeline.
Theodore exhaled, forcing himself to relax. He cleared his throat and took his seat across from her.
They finished their soup in comfortable silence. As Bella set her bowl down, Theodore reached over and took it from her hands.
"Give this to me," he said. "I’ll wash the bowls. You should rest early."
Before she could protest, he was already heading into the kitchen. Bella watched his retreating figure for a moment, a soft smile tugging at her lips as she turned toward the bedroom.
Just as she reached the hallway, a deafening boom of thunder split the air, shaking the walls. The sudden, violent sound sent a sharp jolt through her body. She gasped, her hands flying up to her ears as an overwhelming wave of fear crashed over her.
A scene, blurry but vivid, surfaced in her mind.
A car. Spinning out of control. The sharp screech of tires. A collision—metal crumpling, glass shattering.
The memory struck her like a physical force. Her knees buckled, and she stumbled, her breath coming in short, panicked gasps. She crouched down, pressing her hands against her temples, trying to shut out the echoes in her head.
Theodore, still in the kitchen, heard a soft whimper. He spun around, his heart lurching at the sight of her curled up in the hallway.
"Bella!"
In an instant, he was beside her, crouching down, his hands gripping her shoulders with concern.
"Are you okay?"
But Bella didn’t answer. Instead, she threw her arms around his neck, clinging to him desperately.
Theodore wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. His chest tightened as he felt the tremors running through her body. He had never seen her this shaken before. She had never been afraid of thunder—so why now? What had triggered this fear so suddenly?
"Don’t be afraid. I’m with you," he soothed.
Her grip on him tightened, her fingers fisting the fabric of his shirt.
"Don’t leave me," she breathed against his neck.
A sharp pang shot through Theodore’s heart. He tightened his hold on her.
"I won’t leave you," he promised.
With ease, he slid one arm beneath her legs and lifted her into his arms. She simply curled into his warmth, seeking refuge. Carrying her to the bedroom, he gently laid her on the bed, tucking the blanket around her.
Sitting beside her, he reached out, his fingers threading through her hair in a soothing rhythm. "Try to get some sleep," he said quietly.
Bella clutched his hand. "Please stay with me," she pleaded.
Theodore froze momentarily, caught off guard by her request. He hadn’t expected her to ask him to stay, but as he looked at her anxious face, he knew there was no hesitation in his answer.
"I’m not going anywhere," he assured her. "I’m right here with you."
He adjusted the blanket over her, then lay down beside her, his hand still clasped in hers. Bella finally began to relax, safe in the warmth of his presence.
"Sleep," he murmured soothingly, his thumb tracing light circles on the back of her hand. "I’m right here."
Slowly, her body relaxed, her breathing evened out, and her eyelids fluttered closed. She soon drifted into sleep.
The warmth of her presence next to him was oddly comforting. With a final glance at her peaceful face, he allowed sleep to pull him under.
But as the night deepened, Bella had a nightmare.
She found herself falling—plunging into an endless abyss. The darkness swallowed her whole, its icy grip tightening around her body. She flailed desperately, trying to grasp onto something—anything—that could stop her descent. But there was nothing. No light. No escape.
Then, suddenly, her body crashed into something solid, sending a shock through her entire being.
Bella’s eyes snapped open. Her chest rose and fell in rapid gasps, beads of sweat clinging to her forehead.
"Bella," a voice called, thick with concern.
She turned and met Theodore’s gaze.
"Are you okay?" he asked, his hands finding her shoulders. His expression was tense, his brows drawn together in worry.
Bella pressed her fingers against her forehead, a sharp throb spreading through her temples. "My head hurts," she whispered.
Theodore’s grip on her tightened protectively. "Lie down. I’m here. You’re safe."
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