Bella couldn’t help but be surprised. A wealthy, successful man like Theodore, doggedly searching for a complete stranger just to express his thanks? It was beyond her imagination.
He could have easily dismissed her as a fleeting memory, a footnote in his life. Despite knowing nothing about her and having no clue about how to find her, he had not stopped looking for her.
It was overwhelming.
"You startled me when you appeared in front of me that night," Theodore recounted the unexpected encounter at the nightclub. "Your hair, your eyes – reminded me of my savior. In that rush of emotion, I blurted out a marriage proposal."
A sudden clarity dawned on Bella. This, then, was the reason behind Theodore’s sudden proposal.
"Honestly, I couldn’t pinpoint when the feelings for my savior bloomed," Theodore confessed. "My initial purpose was solely gratitude. But somewhere along the way, I realized I had developed a fondness for my angel, even without knowing anything about her."
Bella’s heart swelled with emotion. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, the genuine affection he held for her. It was a revelation that filled her with a mix of joy and disbelief. Here was a man who had searched for her relentlessly, not just out of gratitude, but because he had unknowingly fallen for her.
It was amazing and, at the same time, felt surreal, as if she were listening to some kind of fantasy story.
Theodore chuckled. "And fate has conspired to make you my wife. We were destined to be together, don’t you think?"
"Hmm!" Bella’s smile faltered, replaced by a playful squint. There were questions lingering, doubts that needed clarification.
"Despite having feelings for your angel, you married me. Technically, I was the one who pulled you from the wreckage. You didn’t know it then, of course. But that begs the question – Why did you marry me?"
Theodore’s hold on her hands tightened slightly. "Remember I told you I was desperate to escape my grandfather’s constant matchmaking schemes," he began, his voice taking on a more serious tone. "The thought of marrying someone solely interested in my wealth and name was unbearable. So, to put a stop to the endless blind dates, I needed a quick solution."
A flicker of regret crossed his features. "If I had known you were my angel, my savior, that ridiculous contract would never have existed. Believe me, Bella, I am truly sorry."
Bella was pleased to hear that. But there were still lingering questions, loose threads that needed tying up. "But you made it very clear that love was off the table in our marriage," she said flatly. "You even said you couldn’t possibly fall for me because I wasn’t your type."
A flush crept up Theodore’s cheeks, betraying his embarrassment. He remembered those words all too well. His love was only for the woman who had saved him and that was why he had said that. He had intended to remain detached, emotionally unavailable. Yet, an unexpected spark had ignited between them, a pull he couldn’t ignore.
Awkwardness settled over him as he fumbled for an explanation. "I... I wanted to keep my affection only for my angel," he mumbled, hesitantly rubbing the back of his head.
Bella’s eyes widened. This was an answer she hadn’t anticipated. If that was his intention, then why the kiss? A flurry of new questions swarmed her mind.
"You never fell in love with anyone else!" she asked with disbelief.
Theodore shook his head. "Falling in love was never in my dictionary. My focus was solely on work. But things started to change slowly after that accident. I couldn’t forget those blonde hair and deep blue eyes."
Bella grew confused as she listened to him. It was clear that he was smitten with his savior, but at the same time, he was attracted to his temporary wife. Even though she was his savior and his wife, she still felt it was wrong.
"Don’t tell me that you were attracted to me while harboring feelings for your angel?" she snapped, a hint of anger creeping into her tone.
Her sharp outburst caught Theodore off guard. "But you are my angel," he stammered, blinking in confusion.
Bella understood his logic, and yet, a strange sense of betrayal gnawed at her. A heavy weight settled in her chest, stealing her breath. "You didn’t know, did you?" she pressed. "You kissed me. I could feel the attraction, the spark of desire. You forgot about your feelings for your savior."
Theodore wanted to ignore this conversation, but he knew he couldn’t hide anything from her. He shouldn’t hide it. He tucked his chin to his chest, thinking about how to answer it.
"I must admit that I am attracted to you," he murmured slowly. "You captivated me, drew me in with your kindness and strength. Even if you weren’t my angel, I would have fallen for you."
Bella’s heart fluttered, a strange mix of relief and lingering doubt. The sincerity in his eyes, the earnestness in his voice, reassured her.
"I thought marrying you was not at all bad entirely," he continued. "I thought I should give us a chance." After a moment of pause, he said dejectedly, "Besides, I made a terrible mistake. I mistook someone else for my angel. I misunderstood she had someone else in her life."
Theodore then recounted how he had witnessed a blonde kissing a guy when he went to meet with her for the first time.
"The resemblance was uncanny," Theodore continued with regret. "I convinced myself it was my angel. But when I saw her kissing someone else, I felt like lightning had struck me. Dejected, heartbroken, I left without another thought."
Bella suddenly remembered Joe planning a surprise dinner for Bridget’s birthday. The same day, she had asked Theodore to meet with her, but he had never appeared. It turned out that he had left without meeting her because of a silly misunderstanding. She was amused and frustrated at the same time.
Laughter bubbled up. "That was Bridget," she explained. "It was her birthday, and Joe had this whole elaborate surprise planned. I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to introduce you to my friends. But you left, just like that, without even meeting me. You could have known the truth then if only you hadn’t jumped to conclusions."
Laughter faded, replaced by a grimace. Disappointment gnawed at her. It pained her to think that he had misunderstood her before confirming the truth.
"I know," he said gently. "I acted impulsively, and I’m sorry. I was foolish to let my assumptions cloud my judgment."
Theodore lamented his actions. "A simple apology can’t erase the blunder I made. That misunderstanding... took its toll. I felt lost, tormented by the image of my angel seemingly rejecting me. Like a lovesick fool, I convinced myself it was best to move on."
Bella studied him, a flicker of understanding softening her features. "So that explains it," she murmured, piecing together the puzzle. She understood why he had been ignoring to meet with her, entrusting Tristan with the task of handing over the pendant instead.
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